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Along their path from source to observer, gravitational waves may be gravitationally lensed by massive objects leading to distortion in the signals. Searches for these distortions amongst the observed signals from the current detector network have already been carried out, though there have as yet been no confident detections. However, predictions of the observation rate of lensing suggest detection in the future is a realistic possibility. Therefore, preparations need to be made to thoroughly investigate the candidate lensed signals. In this work, we present some follow-up analyses that could be applied to assess the significance of such events and ascertain what information may be extracted about the lens-source system by applying these analyses to a number of O3 candidate events, even if these signals did not yield a high significance for any of the lensing hypotheses. These analyses cover the strong lensing, millilensing, and microlensing regimes. Applying these additional analyses does not lead to any additional evidence for lensing in the candidates that have been examined. However, it does provide important insight into potential avenues to deal with high-significance candidates in future observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article highlights the success of a collaborative project between ELFT and Barts Health NHS Trust, which won the 'Wellbeing' category at the 2022 Quality in Care Diabetes Awards for its MH treatment pathway for recurrent diabetic ketoacidosis, leading to significant reductions in admissions and bed days, with the judges praising the project's value and adaptability during the pandemic.

The Kirchhoff–Helmholtz representation of linear acoustics is generalized to thermoviscous fluids, by deriving separate bounded-region equations for the acoustic, entropy, and vorticity modes in a uniform fluid at rest. For the acoustic and entropy modes we introduce modal variables in terms of pressure and entropy perturbations, and develop asymptotic approximations to the mode equations that are valid to specified orders in two thermoviscous parameters. The introduction of spatial windowing for the mode variables leads to surface source and dipole distributions as a way of representing boundary conditions for each mode. For the acoustic mode the boundary source distribution is expressible in terms of the fluid normal velocity, the normal heat flux, and the vector ω × n ̂ , where ω is the vorticity on the boundary and n ̂ is the unit normal; only the first of these is present in the usual lossless-fluid version of the Kirchhoff–Helmholtz representation. Use of the generalized thermoviscous representation to project exterior sound fields from surface data, where the data may contain contributions from all three linear modes, is shown to be robust to cross-modal contamination. The asymptotic limitations of the thermoviscous modal equations are discussed in an appendix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical analysis is a critical part of any failure investigation. With the right planning and proper analytical equipment, a myriad of information can be obtained from a sample. This article presents a high-level introduction to techniques often used for chemical analysis during failure analysis. It describes the general considerations for bulk and microscale chemical analysis in failure analysis, the most effective techniques to use for organic or inorganic materials, and examples of using these techniques. The article discusses the processes involved in the chemical analysis of nonmetallics. Advances in chemical analysis methods for failure analysis are also covered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Normalization of deviance is a phenomenon in which individuals and teams deviate from what is known to be an acceptable performance standard until the adopted way of practice becomes normalized. In health care, this phenomenon erodes the safety culture, and it can be particularly concerning in high-risk work environments, such as the operating room (OR). The purposes of this study were to: (a) Explore the concept of normalization of deviance in the OR; (b) Identify reasons for normalization of deviance; and (c) Identify factors that protect against normalization of deviance. This focused ethnographic study included a sample of 10 perioperative nurses who were interviewed. Our findings demonstrated that normalization exists in the OR. Reasons for normalization of deviance included productivity pressures, generalized complacency, complacency related to length of experience, social pressures, and negative acculturation. Factors that protect against normalization of deviance included nurse engagement and having supportive managerial relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field experiments were undertaken in the summer of 2015 in Manchester, UK, to investigate the dispersion behaviour and infiltration into buildings of gas-phase pollutants over horizontal distances of 1–5 km. Inert cyclic perfluorocarbon tracers were released for 15 min at either one or three release points and samples taken in locations indoors and outdoors up to 2 km downwind. Background measurements of these cyclic perfluorocarbons range between 5.6 and 12.6 parts per quadrillion (ppq). On most occasions, tracer concentrations are higher on the sixth floor than at ground level. Tracer concentrations persist in the least well-ventilated rooms after concentrations return to background levels outdoors. The highest tracer concentrations, 329 ppq above background, occur at dawn on 23 July from a sixth-floor sampling position during thermally stable conditions. At low wind speeds, tracer is detected upwind of the prevailing wind direction; on 24 July, tracer is detected to the north-west of the release point for north-north-east wind direction. A simple street network model does not predict tracer concentrations at low wind speeds over the km scales in this investigation due to tracer likely escaping the urban canopy. Predictions from a simple correlation model overestimate concentrations originating from distant sources, which is believed to be due to infiltration into buildings along the journey from source to receptor. A Gaussian plume model predicts the highest tracer concentrations for most receptor points on 23 July when the lowest Obukhov length of – 26 m was measured, agreeing with tracer measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) expression increases extracellular matrix deposition and contributes to interstitial fibrosis in the kidney after injury. While PAI-1 is ubiquitously expressed in the kidney, we hypothesized that interstitial fibrosis is strongly dependent on fibroblast-specific PAI-1 (fbPAI-1). Methods Tenascin C Cre (TNC Cre) and fbPAI-1 knockdown (KD) mice with green fluorescent protein (GFP) expressed within the TNC construct underwent unilateral ureteral obstruction and were sacrificed 10 days later. Results GFP+ cells in fbPAI-1 KD mice showed significantly reduced PAI-1 expression. Interstitial fibrosis, measured by Sirius red staining and collagen I western blot, was significantly decreased in fbPAI-1 KD compared with TNC Cre mice. There was no significant difference in transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) expression or its activation between the two groups. However, GFP+ cells from fbPAI-1 KD mice had lower TGF β and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression. The number of fibroblasts was decreased in fbPAI-1 KD compared with TNC Cre mice, correlating with decreased alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression and less fibroblast cell proliferation. TNC Cre mice had decreased E-cadherin, a marker of differentiated tubular epithelium, in contrast to preserved expression in fbPAI-1 KD. F4/80-expressing cells, mostly CD11c+/F4/80+ cells, were increased while M1 macrophage markers were decreased in fbPAI-1 KD compared with TNC Cre mice. Conclusion These findings indicate that fbPAI-1 depletion ameliorates interstitial fibrosis by decreasing fibroblast proliferation in the renal interstitium, with resulting decreased collagen I. This is linked to decreased M1 macrophages and preserved tubular epithelium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees ("AFSCME"), the Supreme Court held that public sector unions can no longer collect fees from nonmembers to fund the costs of representing them in collective bargaining and grievance proceedings. The Court determined that virtually all union speech is political speech and that collection of these fees is impermissible compelled speech under the First Amendment. However, not everything in Janus harms public union interests. The Janus Court's discussion of Garcetti v. Cabellos and Connick v. Myers actually helps protect union member speech in the context of First Amendment retaliation cases. This Article argues that, after Janus, speech by union representatives on behalf of their union is not "employee speech" under Garcetti and is almost always a matter of public concern under Connick. Further, this Article argues that ordinary union member speech and union grievance filings are not "employee speech" either. In support of the latter, this Article also looks to the Supreme Court's decision in Lane v. Franks as well as the nature of union membership generally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milk production responses were measured in grazing cows offered mixed rations with or without canola meal. Experiments were conducted in spring (Experiment 1; early lactation) and autumn (Experiment 2; late lactation). The experiments used 140 (Experiment 1) or 96 (Experiment 2) Holstein-Friesian multiparous dairy cows that had calved in late winter/early spring. Each experiment lasted 28 days including a 14-day adjustment period and a 14-day measurement period during which intake and milk production was measured. In each experiment, there were two dietary treatments: PMR: cows grazed a restricted pasture allowance (10–15 kg DM/cow per day, measured to ground level) supplemented with a PMR comprising wheat grain (60%, DM basis), lucerne hay (21%) and maize grain (19%); and PMR+C: cows were fed the same as the PMR cows, but some wheat grain in the PMR was replaced with solvent-extracted canola meal so that it comprised wheat grain (39%, DM basis), lucerne hay (21%), maize grain (19%) and canola meal (21%). The two treatments were randomly allocated to half the cows in each experiment. Cows were then further allocated into 10 groups of 7 cows (Experiment 1) or 8 groups of 6 cows (Experiment 2). Two groups of cows were assigned to receive a different amount of each ration: 8, 10, 12, 14 or 16 kg DM total supplement/cow per day for Experiment 1 and 6, 8, 10 or 12 kg DM total supplement/cow per day for Experiment 2. In Experiment 1, yields of energy corrected milk (ECM), milk fat, and milk protein were greater for PMR+C cows than PMR cows when 12 kg/cow per day of supplement or more was offered. Milk protein concentration was greater in PMR+C cows than PMR cows but only when 16 kg DM supplement/cow per day was offered. These changes in milk yield and composition were associated with increases in the intakes of pasture, supplement and total DM intake in the PMR+C cows compared with the PMR cows. In Experiment 2 there were no differences in milk yield or composition between PMR and PMR+C cows at any amount of supplement offered, nor were there any differences in intakes of pasture, supplement or total DM intake. It is concluded that replacing some of the wheat in a well-formulated PMR with canola meal can stimulate DMI and increase per-cow production of ECM when high amounts of supplement are fed in early lactation, but not late lactation. Grazing cows were fed supplementary mixed rations with or without canola meal. In early lactation, the addition of canola meal resulted in increased yields of milk, milk fat and milk protein when high amounts of ration were offered, but this effect was not seen in late lactation. These data could be used to formulate cost-effective rations for grazing dairy cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The behavior of electron beam initiated discharges in HN3 and inert gas mixtures for different E/N values are presented. These results are the first reported investigations of this highly energetic azide gas under plasma conditions. Using a 3 ns, 600 KeV ionizing electron beam, the temporal decay of the discharge current shows HN3 is electronegative. HN3 attachment rate constants in Ar are 5.0–10.0×10-11 cm3 s-1 for E/N values in the range 1–4 Td (10-17 V cm2). With the other inert gases (He, Ne, Kr, and Xe), HN3 attachment rate constants are 0.5–4.5×10-10 cm3 s-1 for the E/N range of 0.5–7.0 Td. Plasma excitation of Ar and HN3 gas mixtures produce intense N2(C→B, v’=0→v‘=0) electronic transition radiation at 3371 Å. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spongiolactones are marine natural products with an unusual rearranged spongiane skeleton and a fused β-lactone ring. These compounds have potential anticancer properties but their mode of action has yet to be explored. Here we employ activity-based protein profiling to identify the targets of a more potent spongiolactone derivative in live cancer cells, and compare these to the targets of a simpler β-lactone. These hits provide the first insights into the covalent mechanism of action of this natural product class. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milk production was measured in Holstein-Friesian cows offered low, medium or high allowances of ryegrass pasture (15, 25 or 40 kg DM/cow.day to ground level) and receiving different amounts of supplement (6, 10, 12 or 14 kg DM/cow.day) as a partial mixed ration (PMR). The 27-day experiment was conducted in spring whencows were 45 ± 17.3 days in milk (mean ± s.d.). Two groups of six cows received each of the 12 combinations of pasture allowance andPMRamount. The PMRcomprised wheat grain (38%,DMbasis), maize grain (18%), lucerne hay (22%) and canola meal (22%). When 6 kgDM PMR/cow.day was offered, cows grazing the low allowance produced less milk and energy-corrected milk than did cows grazing the medium and high allowances. There was no effect of pasture allowance on production of milk or energy-corrected milk at any other amount of PMR offered. When cows were offered 14 kgDMPMR/cow.day, milk fat concentrations were lower for cows grazing the high pasture allowance than for cows grazing the medium allowance. There were no differences in milk fat concentrations between cows grazing the different pasture allowances at any other amount of PMR offered. When cows were offered 6 kg DM PMR/cow.day, cows grazing the low pasture allowance yielded less milk fat than did cows grazing the medium pasture allowance. Cows grazing the high allowance had greater concentrations and yields of milk protein than did cows grazing the low allowance at all amounts of PMR offered, while cows grazing the medium allowance yielded more milk protein at some amounts of PMR. Pasture utilisation decreased with increases in both pasture allowance and amount of PMR. These results will enable farmers to better optimise feeding systems that combine both pasture andPMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dry matter intake and feeding behaviour were measured in grazing dairy cows fed partial mixed rations with (PMR+C) and without (PMR-C) canola meal. In spring (early lactation), 32 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows were offered two amounts of the two supplement treatments in a two · two factorial arrangement of treatments for 24 days. Amounts of supplement were low (8 kg DM/cow.day) versus high (14 kg DM/cow.day). The PMR-C ration comprised wheat grain (59.5%,DMbasis), maize grain (18.9%) and lucerne hay (21.6%). ThePMR+Cration was the same, except some wheat grain was substituted with canola meal (21.6%). Both rations were isoenergetic, with a grain to forage ratio of 78 : 22 (DM basis). All cows were offered a low pasture allowance of 10 kg DM/cow.day to ground level. Replacing some wheat in a ration with canola meal increased pasture and total eating time. Dry matter intake did not differ between PMR-C and PMR+C cows. The present experiment also demonstrated that altering the amount of supplement did not influence the increase in eating time that occurred as a result of the inclusion of canola meal. Increasing the amount of supplement reduced pasture intake as a result of a reduction in grazing time and grazing intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An essay concerning the social and professional progress of nurses at a mental health hospital in Great Britain in the early 20th century is presented. Topics mentioned include the neglect of nursing in the asylums and mental hospitals, the opening of the West Sussex Asylum, and the attitude towards immorality among working-class nurses.

Background:Unlike other chronic injuries, acquired brain injuries (ABI's) affect physical, cognitive, social, and emotional functioning. Although collaborative decision-making, high patient engagement, and positive healthcare relationships are generally encouraged within the patient-centred care (PCC) framework, little is known about how ABI patients experience healthcare relationships and decision-making and whether their experiences align with PCC principles. Method:The purpose of this study was to obtain a better understanding of how mild to moderate ABI patients in the chronic phase of recovery (i.e. minimum 2 years post-injury) experience and navigate healthcare using narrative methods. Participants were 11 Canadian adults living in the community and recruited from their local brain injury association. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed for their thematic content, structural aspects, and performative aspects in order to get at the meaning-making underlying the narrated stories. Findings:These participants told one coherent narrative with two main storylines: one in which they positively portrayed their doctors and their healthcare relationships – reporting feeling lost and needing their doctor's help; and another in which they negatively portrayed their doctors and their healthcare relationships – reporting being capable and therefore not needing their doctor's help. Although seemingly contradictory, these two storylines speak to one coherent experience in which capability served as a counter-narrative to what they perceived as a global narrative of being devalued, dismissed and patronized. Discussion:The implication of how this counter-narrative affects their experience of healthcare is discussed, including implications for why doctors may want to focus on fostering a positive doctor–patient relationship by conveying that they care for and value their ABI patients, and why simple interactions may contribute to this positive relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variation in feeding behavior and milk production of grazing dairy cows fed a mixed ration was measured. Experiments were conducted in spring (early lactation) and autumn (late lactation) with 48 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows. Pasture allowance (low vs. high) and amounts of supplement (low vs. high) were applied to determine the effect on variation among cows in feeding behavior and milk production. The experiments investigated 4 dietary treatments in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Daily pasture allowances were 15 kg of DM/cow per day (low) and 37 kg of DM/cow per day (high; to ground level); and 12 kg of DM/cow per day (low) and 31 kg of DM/cow per day (high; to ground level), for the spring and autumn experiments, respectively. Supplements were offered at 6 kg of DM/cow per day (low) and 14 kg of DM/cow per day (high); and 6 kg of DM/cow per day (low) and 12 kg of DM/cow per day (high), for the spring and autumn experiments, respectively. There were 2 groups of 6 cows per treatment. All treatments received a partial mixed ration, defined as a total mixed ration fed between periods of grazing that contained wheat grain, corn grain, alfalfa hay, and canola meal. The grain-to-forage ratio of the supplements was 78:22 (DM basis) in both spring and autumn. In both experiments, the pre-experimental period was 14 d followed by a 10-d experimental period. The variation among cows within a group in feeding behavior was influenced by the amount of supplement but not the amount of pasture offered. The variation among cows in pasture eating time approximately doubled when the amount of supplement offered increased, indicating that to reduce the variability among cows, supplement feeding management strategies need to be considered. Increasing pasture allowance had no effect on pasture eating time although pasture intake increased as a result of increased grazing intensity compared with the low pasture allowance. However, increasing the amount of supplement in the partial mixed ration feeding system reduced pasture eating time by 51 min/cow per day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SELENON-related congenital myopathy is characterized by proximal weakness starting in infancy, early respiratory insufficiency, and early development of severe scoliosis. While changes in the SELENON gene, which encodes the protein SelN, are known to cause this disease the mechanisms through which loss of SelN lead to myopathy are not well understood. Previous studies suggest that SelN may have multiple roles in muscle, including regulating development of Type II muscle fibers, modulating excitation-contraction coupling through interactions with RYR1 and other muscle calcium channels, and possibly supporting satellite cell activation and proliferation following muscle injury. One particular challenge to understanding the role of SelN in skeletal muscle has been the inability to directly visualize SelN expression within muscle fibers and supporting cells due to a lack of robust antibodies for immunohistochemistry. Studies of mRNA expression and Western blot analysis of protein expression suggest significant post-transcriptional regulation of protein expression with an overall pattern of high expression in developing muscle and other developing tissues and low-level ubitquitous expression in mature tissues but evaluation of SelN expression in more limited sub-populations of cells has not been possible. Experiments in mouse suggest that loss of SelN expression results in decreased satellite cell proliferation following muscle injury. Here, I use a newly developed zebrafish model with mNeonGreen-tagged SelN to directly visualize SelN expression in satellite cells following muscle injury and show that SelN expression increases in activated satellite cells following mechanical muscle injury. This provides support SelN playing a role in satellite cell activation and proliferation during muscle repair following injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which observed distinct differences in the emission spectra from the breakdown of hydrogen azide (HN[sub3]) for transverse excitation of HN[sub3] gas mixtures by ultraviolet (UV) pre ionization relative to pulse microwave discharges. Description of the modified Lambda Physik EMG 102 excimer laser used; Result of initial UV pre ionized transverse excitation experiment; Observation on microwave excitation experiments.

Offers information on the spectral/kinetic behavior of boron trichloride breakdown with and without hydrogen azide. Review of related literature; Methods used; Results.

Reports a study on the plasma breakdown behavior of hydrogen azide gas mixtures. Qualities of azide gases; Test cell configurations employed in the study; Characteristics of hydrogen azide.

13C-Liver-function breath tests have been used in clinical diagnostics and, to a limited extent, to investigate hepatic function. From a practical perspective, tests such as the 13C-aminopyrine and 13C-methacetin breath tests are simple to administer, safe, and relatively inexpensive to perform. Surprisingly, they have not entered the mainstream of clinical practice, because they are perceived to lack the specificity and adequate precision needed to give accurate results in real time. The dynamic nature of 13C-liver-function breath tests, their possible versatility in terms of assessing a range of different liver functions, and the ease with which they can be repeated to follow relative changes in liver function with time, all imply the potential for wider clinical application. Therefore, there is a need for these tests to be critically evaluated and their potential clinical application be tested systematically against defined objectives. We describe refinements in the methodology of the tests and propose several situations in which currently reliable methods for assessment of liver function do not exist and where 13C-liver-function breath tests might be of use. We propose that use has been constrained by practical methodological considerations which could be addressed to offer tests better suited to routine application in the out-patient or community setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covering: 2010 up to 2016 Deconvoluting the mode of action of natural products and drugs remains one of the biggest challenges in chemistry and biology today. Chemical proteomics is a growing area of chemical biology that seeks to design small molecule probes to understand protein function. In the context of natural products, chemical proteomics can be used to identify the protein binding partners or targets of small molecules in live cells. Here, we highlight recent examples of chemical probes based on natural products and their application for target identification. The review focuses on probes that can be covalently linked to their target proteins (either via intrinsic chemical reactivity or via the introduction of photocrosslinkers), and can be applied “in situ”– in living systems rather than cell lysates. We also focus here on strategies that employ a click reaction, the copper-catalysed azide–alkyne cycloaddition reaction (CuAAC), to allow minimal functionalisation of natural product scaffolds with an alkyne or azide tag. We also discuss ‘competitive mode’ approaches that screen for natural products that compete with a well-characterised chemical probe for binding to a particular set of protein targets. Fuelled by advances in mass spectrometry instrumentation and bioinformatics, many modern strategies are now embracing quantitative proteomics to help define the true interacting partners of probes, and we highlight the opportunities this rapidly evolving technology provides in chemical proteomics. Finally, some of the limitations and challenges of chemical proteomics approaches are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the role of visual inspections in the UK highways bridge inspection regime, and how current practice results in inspection data that are less reliable than they could, and should, be. Evidence that visual inspections in general are not totally reliable is discussed. Similar problems have been overcome in other areas, such as pavement inspection, by using technological aids during the data collection and inspection process. It is hoped that better bridge condition data could be obtained by making use of technology to assist the visual inspection process on bridges. Some of the ways in which images could be recorded to make the inspection process more reliable and reproducible are discussed, and a prototype system that has been developed with the aim of providing a full, high-resolution image record of the visual condition of a bridge, which is suitable for use, is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feri Farassat was one of the pioneers of the use of the Ffowcs Williams & Hawkings formulation of Lighthill's acoustic analogy as a way to extrapolate radiated waves from simulations of unsteady flows. Current computational limits mean that volume source terms are often neglected, causing inaccurate acoustical predictions when entropy fluctuations or vorticity pass across the extrapolation surface. The derivation of the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings equation is modified to allow the equivalent surface sources to be distributed over a transition layer of finite thickness rather than being confined to a single layer, in order to reduce the effect of vorticity exiting the computational domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although human alcoholics exhibit lasting cognitive deficits, it can be difficult to definitively rule out pre-alcohol performance differences. For example, individuals with a family history of alcoholism are at increased risk for alcoholism and are also behaviorally impaired. Animal models of controlled alcohol exposure permit balanced group assignment, thereby ruling out the effects of pre-existing differences. Periadolescent male rhesus macaques ( N = 5) consumed alcohol during 200 drinking sessions (M–F) across a 10-month period (mean daily alcohol consumption: 1.38 g/kg/day). A control group ( N = 5) consumed a fruit-flavored vehicle during the same period. Spatial working memory, visual discrimination learning and retention and response time behavioral domains were assessed with subtests of the Monkey CANTAB (CAmbridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery). Spatial working memory performance was impaired in the alcohol group after 120 drinking sessions (6 mo) in a manner that depended on retention interval. The chronic alcohol animals were also impaired in retaining a visual discrimination over 24 hrs when assessed 6–8 weeks after cessation of alcohol drinking. Finally, the presentation of distractors in the response time task impaired the response time and accuracy of the chronic alcohol group more than controls after 6 months of alcohol cessation. Chronic alcohol consumption over as little as 6 months produces cognitive deficits, with some domains still affected after acute (6–8 wks) and lasting (6 mo) discontinuation from drinking. Animals were matched on alcohol preference and behavioral performance prior to exposure, thus providing strong evidence for the causal role of chronic alcohol in these deficits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment measured milk production responses of grazing cows offered supplements in different ways. Holstein-Friesian cows averaging 89 days in milk, were allocated into six groups of 36 (each group including three rumen-fistulated cows). Two groups were randomly assigned to each of three dietary treatments: (1) cows were offered milled barley grain twice daily at milking and pasture silage in the paddock (Control); (2) the same amounts of milled barley grain and pasture silage were fed as a partial mixed ration (PMR) once a day following morning milking (PMR1); and (3) cows were supplemented with a PMR containing milled barley grain, lucerne hay, maize silage and crushed maize grain fed once a day following morning milking (PMR2). All dietary treatments were formulated to provide the same metabolisable energy and cows were offered a restricted allowance of ~14 kg DM/cow.day (to ground level) of perennial ryegrass pasture in addition to their supplement. Each group of 36 cows was further divided into four groups of nine, each of which were offered supplements at either 6, 8, 10 and 12 kg DM/cow.day. The experiment consisted of a 14-day adaptation period and an 11-day measurement period. Cows fed PMR1 and PMR2 once a day did not show an increase in milk production compared with the traditional feeding system (Control). Presumably this was a result of asynchronous supply of nutrients to the rumen (in isoenergetic diets) compromising conditions for digestion and milk production. Milk production responses of dairy cows in early lactation grazing perennial ryegrass and offered supplements in different ways were investigated. Feeding supplements as a partial mixed ration (PMR) once a day did not result in any production advantages over the more traditional twice daily bail feeding system under the conditions imposed in this experiment. This information will be important for farmers feeding supplements as a PMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented on normalization of deviance identifying health care. Topics include normalization of deviance representing a distinct risk for health care organizations by increasing patient vulnerability to harm; and shortcuts being prone becoming the cultural norm and unhinging the safety culture within an organization by gradually tolerating lower safety standards.

Objectives: Up to 7 percent of all school age children suffer from issues with auditory processing of information. These children cannot process what they hear in the same way as other children resulting in significant difficulty in an educational setting. Gathering information from parents/educators about the conditions in which these children falter is most often obtained via a questionnaire. Two questionnaires have been used routinely by our department: The Auditory Processing Domains Questionnaire (APDQ) and Evaluation of Children's Listening and Processing Skills (ECLiPS) Questionnaire. Completion of multiple questionnaires is time consuming and not well liked by families. This study allowed us to compare these two commercially available questionnaires in order to determine which provided the greatest degree of specificity in identifying auditory processing disorders as well as co-disorders. We hoped to determine which parent questionnaire aligned most closely with the patient's clinical diagnosis on the variables of Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), Attention Deficit Hyperacidity Disorder, (ADHD), Nonspecific Learning Disability (NOS) and Language Disorder (LD) as well as final/overall diagnosis. Material: Parents were asked to complete two questionnaires as part of our APD evaluation process: The Auditory Processing Domains Questionnaire (APDQ) and the Evaluation of Children's Listening and Processing Skills Questionnaire (ECLiPS). Methods: We analyzed data from all pediatric patients who were assessed for Auditory Processing Disorders during the time period July 1, 2018 -- July 1, 2019 whose families completed both questionnaires, with a total of 42 patient's data included in this study. Chart review allowed us to identify previous diagnosis of APD, ADHD, No-S and LD. We compared predictability for group performance for each of these variables for both questionnaires. Results: Results from parental questionnaires were very reflective of professional diagnosis for these children. Overall, the APDQ had greater predictability for final/overall diagnosis of the patient (88% agreement for the APDQ vs 21% for the ECLiPS). It was also more predictive for APD (68% vs 62%) ADHD (78% vs 47%), No-S (85% vs 56%) and LD (85% vs 35%). Conclusions: Obtaining a chart review for these complicated children revealed an essential flaw in our comparison: for some diagnoses, parental report served as the factor that created the diagnosis (i.e., many children had not received formal evaluation for issues such as non-specific learning disability). We believe that education-particularly to primary care physicians/pediatricians is critical in insuring that children receive the assessments required to create formal evaluation and treatment. Based on the results previously presented, our team has adopted using the ADHQ only with our APD assessments. In addition to parents found the APDQ required less time to complete but it more accurately correlated with patient diagnosis for other non-APD variables as well as our diagnosis following APD assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose Recent human studies suggest that recreational cannabis strains that are relatively high in cannabidiol ( CBD) content produce less cognitive impairment than do strains with negligible CBD and similar Δ9tetrahydrocannabinol ( THC) content. Self-selection in such studies means it is impossible to rule out additional variables which may determine both cannabis strain selection and basal cognitive performance level. Controlled laboratory studies can better determine a direct relationship. Experimental Approach In this study, adult male rhesus monkeys were assessed on visuospatial Paired Associates Learning and Self-Ordered Spatial Search memory tasks, as well as additional tests of motivation and manual dexterity. Subjects were challenged with THC (0.2, 0.5 mg·kg−1, i.m.) in randomized order and evaluated in the presence or absence of 0.5 mg·kg−1 CBD. Key Results CBD attenuated the effects of THC on paired associates learning and a bimanual motor task without affecting the detrimental effects of THC on a Self-Ordered Spatial Search task of working memory. CBD did not significantly reverse THC-induced impairment of a progressive ratio or a rotating turntable task. Conclusions and Implications This study provides direct evidence that CBD can oppose the cognitive-impairing effects of THC and that it does so in a task-selective manner when administered simultaneously in a 1:1 ratio with THC. The addition of CBD to THC-containing therapeutic products may therefore help to ameliorate unwanted cognitive side-effects. Linked Article This article is commented on by Mechoulam and Parker, pp 1363-1364 of this issue. To view this commentary visit [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Analysis of the distribution of reaction times (RTs) in behavioral tasks can illustrate differences attributable to changes in attention, even when no change in mean RT is observed. Detrimental attentional effects of both acute and chronic exposure to alcohol may therefore be revealed by fitting RT data to an ex-Gaussian probability density function which identifies the proportion of long-RT responses. Methods: Adolescent male rhesus macaques completed a 5-choice serial reaction time task (5CSRT) after acute alcohol consumption (up to 0.0, 1.0 and 1.5 g/kg). Monkeys were next divided into chronic alcohol (N = 5) and control groups (N = 5); the experimental group consumed 1.5–3.0 g/kg alcohol for 200 drinking sessions. Unintoxicated performance in the 5CSRT task was determined systematically across the study period and the effect of acute alcohol was redetermined after the 180th drinking session. The effect of extended abstinence from chronic alcohol was determined across 90 days. Results: Acute alcohol exposure dose-dependently reduced the probability of longer RT responses without changing the mean or the standard deviation of the RT distribution. The RT distribution of control monkeys tightened across 10 months whereas that of the chronic alcohol group was unchanged. Discontinuation from chronic alcohol increased the probability of long RT responses with a difference from control animals observed after 30 days of discontinuation. Conclusions: Alcohol consumption selectively affected attention as reflected in the probability of long RT responses. Acute alcohol consumption focused attention, chronic alcohol consumption impaired the maturation of attention across the study period and alcohol discontinuation impaired attention. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

B Methods: b A prospectively maintained; single institution database of all pancreatic resections was queried for patients undergoing surgical resection for a neuroendocrine tumor. Patients in the DANETs group were significantly older (60.0yr vs 59.6yr; p = 0.018), had higher grade tumors (22.0% G2 or G3 tumors vs. 9.3%; p = 0.019), and had more node positive resections (70.0% vs. 36.9%; p < 0.001). [Extracted from the article]

AimsThere have been significant changes in the management of out of hours services in ophthalmology recently. The European Working Time Directive (EWTD) and economic measures have anecdotally reduced the availability of staff and facilities outside normal working hours, and there have been various responses to the provision of emergency surgical care. There are disparate attitudes to the optimum management of the emergency surgical case. We sought to establish a nationwide picture of the management of out of hours surgery.MethodsA questionnaire was distributed to every consultant ophthalmologist working in the NHS and registered with the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (n=947). Information was requested regarding departmental and personal policies, local facilities, and personal beliefs regarding emergency surgery.ResultsA total of 440 (46.5%) questionnaires were returned from 155 units; 18.7% of the units had no out of hours services or no operating facilities. Sixty-three percent of units reported a local policy regarding a time after which patients should not be taken to theatre. For 57%, this time began between 2100 hours and midnight. The most common reasons for not operating after a certain time were 'belief that delay does not significantly affect the outcome' (41.6%), 'delayed access to theatre due to competition with other surgical specialities' (40%), and 'no specialist ophthalmic-theatre nursing input' (32.7%).ConclusionWe report the first nationwide study on out of hours ophthalmological surgical working practices. This demonstrates variation in work patterns. It is significant to patients and ophthalmologists that there should be units in United Kingdom without full local facilities and staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C-Liver-function breath tests have been used in clinical diagnostics and, to a limited extent, to investigate hepatic function. From a practical perspective, tests such as the C-aminopyrine and C-methacetin breath tests are simple to administer, safe, and relatively inexpensive to perform. Surprisingly, they have not entered the mainstream of clinical practice, because they are perceived to lack the specificity and adequate precision needed to give accurate results in real time. The dynamic nature of C-liver-function breath tests, their possible versatility in terms of assessing a range of different liver functions, and the ease with which they can be repeated to follow relative changes in liver function with time, all imply the potential for wider clinical application. Therefore, there is a need for these tests to be critically evaluated and their potential clinical application be tested systematically against defined objectives. We describe refinements in the methodology of the tests and propose several situations in which currently reliable methods for assessment of liver function do not exist and where C-liver-function breath tests might be of use. We propose that use has been constrained by practical methodological considerations which could be addressed to offer tests better suited to routine application in the out-patient or community setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundGenetic studies in adults indicate that genes influencing the personality trait of neuroticism account for substantial genetic variance in anxiety and depression and in somatic health. Here, we examine for the first time the factors underlying the relationship between neuroticism and anxiety/depressive and somatic symptoms during adolescence.MethodThe Somatic and Psychological Health Report (SPHERE) assessed symptoms of anxiety/depression (PSYCH-14) and somatic distress (SOMA-10) in 2459 adolescent and young adult twins [1168 complete pairs (35.4% monozygotic, 53% female)] aged 12–25 years (mean=15.5±2.9). Differences between boys and girls across adolescence were explored for neuroticism, SPHERE-34, and the subscales PSYCH-14 and SOMA-10. Trivariate analyses partitioned sources of covariance in neuroticism, PSYCH-14 and SOMA-10.ResultsGirls scored higher than boys on both neuroticism and SPHERE, with SPHERE scores for girls increasing slightly over time, whereas scores for boys decreased or were unchanged. Neuroticism and SPHERE scores were strongly influenced by genetic factors [heritability (h2)=40–52%]. A common genetic source influenced neuroticism, PSYCH-14 and SOMA-10 (impacting PSYCH-14 more than SOMA-10). A further genetic source, independent of neuroticism, accounted for covariation specific to PSYCH-14 and SOMA-10. Environmental influences were largely specific to each measure.ConclusionsIn adolescence, genetic risk factors indexed by neuroticism contribute substantially to anxiety/depression and, to a lesser extent, perceived somatic health. Additional genetic covariation between anxiety/depressive and somatic symptoms, independent of neuroticism, had greatest influence on somatic distress, where it was equal in influence to the factor shared with neuroticism. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Achondroplasia, o ne of the skeletal dysplasias and the commonest form of disproportionate short stature, has a different developmental and growth profi le compared to average stature children. In addition, a specifi c group of complications occur more frequently in children with achondroplasia. These include common but usually relatively minor complications such as recurrent otitis media, and rarer but more severe problems such as cervicomedullary compression. Knowledge of these complications, appropriate surveillance strategies and treatment options is essential for the paediatrician. The authors review the published literature in this area and provide a system based approach to the management of the healthcare needs of the child with achondroplasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The standard regularity analysis for spike trains in cochlear nucleus neurons evoked by tonebursts first proposed by Bourk is widely used, primarily as one of the criteria for classification of such neurons. It is shown that this procedure does not estimate quite what it is supposed to, and introduces unnecessary noise to its results due to its use of bins. Instead the desired quantities (mean and coefficient of variation of the lengths of all inter-spike intervals in progress as a function of time since stimulus onset) can all be exactly calculated directly from the spike train without the need for data binning. The implications for classification and other studies are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ionized core in the Sgr B2 Main star-forming region was imaged using the Submillimeter Array archival data observed for the H26α line and continuum emission at 0.86 mm with an angular resolution 0"3. Eight hypercompact H26α emission sources were detected with a typical size in the range of 1.6-20 x 10² AU and electron density of 0.3-3 x 107 cm-3, corresponding to the emission measure 0.4-8.4 x 1010 cm-6 pc. The H26α line fluxes from the eight hyper-compact H II sources imply that the ionization for each of the sources must be powered by a Lyman continuum flux from an O star or a cluster of B stars. The most luminous H26α source among the eight detected sources requires an 06 star that appears to be embedded in the ultra-compact H II region F3. In addition, ~23 compact continuum emission sources were also detected within the central 5" x 3" (~0.2 pc) region. Under the assumption of a power-law distribution for the dust temperature, with the observed brightness temperature of the dust emission we determined the physical properties of the submillimeter emission sources, showing that the molecular densities are in the range of 1-10 x 108 cm-3, surface densities between 13 and 150 g cm-2, and total gas masses in the range from 5 to ≿ 200 M⊙, which are one or two orders of magnitude greater than the corresponding values of the Bonnor-Ebert mass. With a mean free-fall timescale of 2 x 10³ years, each of the massive protostellar cores is undergoing gravitational collapse to form new massive stars in the Sgr B2 Main core. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We hypothesized that maternal size, fetal size and childhood growth are associated with childhood blood pressure, left ventricular mass (LVM) and arterial stiffness. The Vulnerable Windows Cohort is a longitudinal study of 569 mothers and their offspring. Anthropometry was measured on each child at birth, at 6 weeks, once in 3 months upto 2 years and then every 6 months. Blood pressure and body composition were assessed in 185 children (age 11.5 years) and echocardiography performed. LVM was not associated with maternal size after adjustment for child's weight. LVM was significantly associated with faster growth in childhood and with current weight, fat mass and lean mass. Systolic blood pressure was not related to maternal, fetal or newborn anthropometry, but was positively associated with infant and childhood growth, as well as current body size and fat mass. The pulse pressure/stroke volume ratio (an index of arterial stiffness) was inversely associated with maternal size, placental volume at 20 weeks, fetal size at 35 weeks and childhood growth even after adjustment for current weight. In conclusion, LVM in childhood is positively associated with maternal height, child's current size and rate of growth. Arterial stiffness is inversely related to maternal, fetal and placental size as well as growth throughout childhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efforts were made to evaluate the source of enterococci levels at a recreational beach. Four monitoring efforts were implemented which included tidal studies, hourly sampling, runoff sampling, and spatially intensive sediment sampling. Spatially intensive sediment sampling indicated that enterococci concentrations consistently decreased away from the inter-tidal zone, both seaward and landward. During dry conditions, the highest concentrations in the water were observed during high tide (71±48 CFU/100 mL) and lower concentrations were observed during low tide (4±3 CFU/100 mL). Runoff was characterised by very high levels (11,700 CFU/100 mL). Results from these monitoring efforts collectively showed that the source of enterococci to the study beach is geographically located within the inter-tidal zone. Wash-in from the inter-tidal zone through tidal action and runoff plays a major role in controlling enterococci levels within the water column. Such results are significant in identifying the source and transport mechanisms of enterococci, which can subsequently be used as part of a modelling effort aimed at predicting enterococci levels at recreational beaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although common sense suggests that environmental influences increasingly account for individual differences in behavior as experiences accumulate during the course of life, this hypothesis has not previously been tested, in part because of the large sample sizes needed for an adequately powered analysis. Here we show for general cognitive ability that, to the contrary, genetic influence increases with age. The heritability of general cognitive ability increases significantly and linearly from 41% in childhood (9 years) to 55% in adolescence (12 years) and to 66% in young adulthood (17 years) in a sample of 11 000 pairs of twins from four countries, a larger sample than all previous studies combined. In addition to its far-reaching implications for neuroscience and molecular genetics, this finding suggests new ways of thinking about the interface between nature and nurture during the school years. Why, despite life's 'slings and arrows of outrageous fortune', do genetically driven differences increasingly account for differences in general cognitive ability? We suggest that the answer lies with genotype-environment correlation: as children grow up, they increasingly select, modify and even create their own experiences in part based on their genetic propensities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clin Microbiol Infect 2010; 16: 780–786 Tunnelled haemodialysis catheters (t-HDC) are prone to colonization by microorganisms, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. A previous study concluded that all culture-negative catheters removed from cancer patients were colonized by microbial biofilms when examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Examination of t-HDC by SEM has not been published before. A total of 44 segments (0.5 cm each) from 11 ex-vivo t-HDC were examined by SEM prior to endoluminal brushing and quantitative culture to determine their colonization status. Endoluminal brushing yielded a positive culture from two catheters. Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus was grown from one catheter and a Streptococcus species was cultured from the second. SEM examination revealed universal endoluminal coverage by adherent biological material (ABM), which was composed of fibrin, platelets and other host-derived products. However, bacterial cells were visible on the two culture-positive catheters and on two out of nine culture-negative catheters, and were possibly present on one culture-negative catheter. In conclusion, in this study the prevalence of microbial colonization of ex vivo t-HDC was 18% using the endoluminal brushing technique and 36% when examined by SEM. The previously reported universal microbial colonization of central venous catheters is likely to represent coverage by ABM rather than by microbial biofilms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Correction for ‘Chemical proteomics approaches for identifying the cellular targets of natural products’ by M. H. Wright et al., Nat. Prod. Rep., 2016, DOI: 10.1039/c6np00001k. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents basic information on the life cycle, seasonal phenology, and parasitism of the endemic Hawaiian moth Udea stellata (Butler) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), a species for which little biological information is available, even though it was described more than a century ago. By observation of ecdysis and measurements of corresponding head capsule widths under laboratory conditions, we determined that U. stellata undergoes six larval stages. All larval stages had distinct ranges in head capsule width. Duration of each larval stage as well as the egg and pupal stage are reported. Endemic host plants of U. stellata, Pipturus spp. (Urticacea), were sampled at eight field sites between July 2004 and July 2006. Temporal differences in density of larvae were most pronounced in medium- and high-elevation sites, possibly an effect of more marked seasonal temperature changes. The parasitoid assemblage associated with U. stellata consisted of seven species: three adventive species, two purposely introduced species, and two of unknown origin. Adventive parasitoids rather than purposely introduced parasitoids were responsible for the greater part of the apparent mortality observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field experiments were conducted in Oahu, Hawaii, to investigate the effects of banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) infection on growth and morphology of banana ( Musa acuminata). The time interval between aphid inoculation of BBTV and the initial appearance of disease symptoms (i.e. incubation period) was also determined. Plants infected with BBTV showed a significant reduction in petiole size (i.e. length and distance), plant canopy and height, leaf area, pseudostem diameter and chlorophyll content compared with control plants. Growth differences between virus-infected and control plants were not observed until 40–50 days after the plants were inoculated with viruliferous aphids. Other growth parameters such as petiole width and leaf production were not statistically different between infected and control plants. The incubation period of banana bunchy top disease or appearance of symptoms ranged from 25 to 85 days after aphid inoculation. However, PCR assays provided earlier detection of BBTV in banana plants compared with visual symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With Simson's 1753 paper as a starting point, the current paper reports investigations of Simson's identity (also known as Cassini's) for the Fibonacci sequence as a means to explore some fundamental ideas about recursion. Simple algebraic operations allow one to reduce the standard linear Fibonacci recursion to the nonlinear Simon's recursion that is equivalent to Simson's identity and then further to a nonlinear recursion dependent only on a single preceding term. This leads to a striking nonrecursive characterization of Fibonacci numbers that is much less well-known than it should be. It is then discovered that Simson's recursion itself implies a family of linear recursions and characterizes a class of generalized Fibonacci sequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formulas based on the theory of Weyl are widely used to obtain the average number of modes at or below a given frequency in acoustic and vibrational waveguides. These formulas are valid at asymptotically high frequencies; at finite frequencies they are subject to some error, due to fluctuations in the mode count, which depend on the shape of the waveguide. The periodic orbit theory of semiclassical physics is used to give estimates of the variance of these fluctuations and these results are compared with numerical estimates based on eigenvalues obtained by root-finding. The comparison is good but shows errors that can be related to the nature of the periodic orbit theory. Engineering formulas are provided that give an accurate approximation without significant computational cost. The results are valid for membranes, ducts, and thin plates with clamped and/or simply supported boundary conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]