We report the first high-significance GeV γ-ray detections of supernova remnants HESS J1731−347 and SN 1006, both of which have been previously detected by imaging atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes ...above 1 TeV. Using 8 years of Fermi-LAT Pass 8 data at energies between 1 GeV and 2 TeV, we detect emission at the position of HESS J1731−347 with a significance of and a spectral index of . The hardness of the index and the good connection with the TeV spectrum of HESS J1731−347 support an association between the two sources. We also confirm the detection of SN 1006 at with a spectral index of . The northeast (NE) and southwest (SW) limbs of SN 1006 were also fit separately, resulting in the detection of the NE region ( ) and the non-detection of the SW region. The significance of different spectral components for the two limbs is , providing first indications of an asymmetry in the GeV γ-ray emission.
Lupus nephritis (LN) is a serious complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). All current treatment regimens include oral steroids, which are associated with severe adverse events and ...long-term damage. We have piloted a steroid-avoiding protocol (rituxilup) for the treatment of biopsy-proven active International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society (ISN/RPS) class III, IV, or class V LN.
We report the findings from the first 50 consecutive patients, treated with 2 doses of rituximab (1 g) and methyl prednisolone (500 mg) on days 1 and 15, and maintenance treatment of mycophenolate mofetil. Patients on maintenance steroids or with life-threatening SLE or requiring dialysis were excluded. Renal remission was defined as serum creatinine no greater than 15% above baseline; complete biochemical remission (CR) was defined as urine protein : creatinine ratio (PCR)<50 mg/mmol or partial remission (PR) if PCR>50 mg/mmol but non-nephrotic and >50% reduction.
A total of 45 (90%) patients achieved CR or PR by a median time of 37 weeks (range 4-200). Overall, 72% (n=36) achieved CR (median time 36 weeks (11-58)) and a further 18% (n=9) achieved persistent PR (median time 32 weeks (19-58)). By 52 weeks, CR and PR had been achieved in 52% (n=26) and 34% (n=17) respectively. In all, 12 relapses occurred in 11 patients, at a median time of 65.1 weeks (20-112) from remission. A total of 6/50 patients had systemic flares. Of the 45 responders, only 2 required >2 weeks of oral steroids. Adverse events were infrequent; 18% were admitted, 10% for an infective episode.
The rituxilup cohort demonstrates that oral steroids can be safely avoided in the treatment of LN. If findings are confirmed, it could mark a step change in the approach to the treatment of LN.
The central goals of mechanobiology are to understand how cells generate force and how they respond to environmental mechanical stimuli. A full picture of these processes requires high-resolution, ...volumetric imaging with time-correlated force measurements. Here we present an instrument that combines an open-top, single-objective light sheet fluorescence microscope with an atomic force microscope (AFM), providing simultaneous volumetric imaging with high spatiotemporal resolution and high dynamic range force capability (10 pN - 100 nN). With this system we have captured lysosome trafficking, vimentin nuclear caging, and actin dynamics on the order of one second per single-cell volume. To showcase the unique advantages of combining Line Bessel light sheet imaging with AFM, we measured the forces exerted by a macrophage during FcɣR-mediated phagocytosis while performing both sequential two-color, fixed plane and volumetric imaging of F-actin. This unique instrument allows for a myriad of novel studies investigating the coupling of cellular dynamics and mechanical forces.
Nanotechnology (NT) deals with materials 1 to 100 nm in length. At the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), NT is defined as the understanding, manipulation, and control of matter at the ...above-stated length, such that the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the materials (individual atoms, molecules, and bulk matter) can be engineered, synthesized, and altered to develop the next generation of improved materials, devices, structures, and systems. NT at the molecular level can be used to develop desired textile characteristics, such as high tensile strength, unique surface structure, soft hand, durability, water repellency, fire retardancy, antimicrobial properties, and the like. Indeed, advances in NT have created enormous opportunities and challenges for the textile industry, including the cotton industry. The focus of this paper is to summarize recent applications of NT as they relate to textile fibers, yarns, and fabrics.
The transmission of infectious agents can occur through secondary routes by contact with contaminated inanimate objects in clinical and food service settings. Effective disinfection of exposed ...surfaces can aid in reducing secondary transmission of infectious agents. Quaternary ammonium compounds (quats) are biocides widely used as active ingredients in disinfecting solutions and are effective against a wide range of microorganisms, including those with antibiotic resistance. Cellulosic fibers such as cotton are desirable as disposable substrates for the application of disinfecting solutions, since they have good absorbency and cleaning properties and are sustainable and biodegradable. However, cotton fibers deplete quats from solution through strong ionic interactions at the solid–liquid interface, thereby reducing the amount of quat deposited onto a surface for effective disinfection. In this study, we used response surface methodology to model the depletion of the quat, alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride (ADBAC), onto cotton wipe substrates in the presence of chemical compounds that interfered or competed with the ionic interactions between the quat and the cotton fiber surface. Preliminary efficacy testing successfully demonstrated that an optimized disinfecting ADBAC co-formulation applied with a raw cotton disposable wipe maintained efficacy against representative gram negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria compared to a control disinfecting solution containing only ADBAC. Our optimized disinfecting ADBAC co-formulation remained efficacious against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis, demonstrating for the first time that quat adsorption onto cotton substrates can be minimized and efficacy maintained with inexpensive added chemistries.
Pregnancy associated osteoporosis (PAO) is a rare and complex condition. Its etiology is unclear, but possible predisposing factors include osteoporosis in a first degree relative, low body mass ...index, celiac or other malabsorption disorders, poor nutrition, low vitamin D and calcium intake, long-term use of medications associated with bone loss, physical inactivity, and prolonged amenorrhea. There is no standard for diagnosis or treatment. Diagnosis is typically made following reports of severe pain and imaging establishing the presence of fractures in vertebrae, pelvic structures, or the femoral neck. Research has focused on diagnosis and effective treatments. The absence of descriptive statistics and qualitative data about the presentation, recovery, and psychosocial dimensions of PAO represents a striking gap in the existing literature. The objectives for this preliminary study were to identify key features and the range of experiences of individuals with PAO to aid midwives, who are uniquely situated to identify the condition early in the postpartum course, and to inform future midwifery research on supporting recovery from this complex condition.
A 39–47 question survey was developed in Qualtrics; questions were primarily quantitative. Members (N = 306) of a closed, international Osteoporosis and Pregnancy Facebook group were recruited with a post announcing the study and a link to the survey, followed by 2 reminders between June and August 2020. Data were analyzed in Qualtrics. Descriptive statistics were compiled. Qualitative data were analyzed using a grounded theory approach with both open and selective coding.
Sixty-nine individuals (22% response rate) representing 12 countries responded to the survey, with most respondents from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Respondents frequently reported delays in diagnosis; only 4.4% of respondents were diagnosed within one month of the onset of fracture pain. Cessation of breastfeeding to reverse physiologic hypoestrogenemia and to stop calcium loss, dietary supplementation, orthopedic braces, and osteoanabolic medications or parathyroid hormone analogues were commonly reported treatment approaches. PAO has a prolonged impact on mobility and infant care. Six months from the onset of fracture pain, only 42% of respondents were physically able to care for their infants alone.
PAO is a rare and complex condition in need of further research. Dismissal of pain and lack of knowledge about PAO are frequently encountered by those seeking care, which midwives may be able to mitigate with timely referrals to appropriate specialists. PAO often has a prolonged impact on the ability to care for an infant alone. This should be considered in the development of comprehensive care plans.
The core competencies of the International Confederation of Midwives include assessing health status and screening for risks, facilitating individualized decision-making about care, and recognizing conditions outside midwifery scope of practice and referring appropriately (ICM 2019). As members of diverse health care teams, midwives may have opportunities to facilitate diagnosis through timely referral, encourage collaborative decision-making on treatment and future perinatal care, and weigh in on the impact of individual social determinants of health.
Department of Physiology and Developmental Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
Submitted 14 June 2007
; accepted in final form 3 October 2007
5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), by way ...of its inhibition of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), plays an important role in regulating malonyl-CoA levels and the rate of fatty acid oxidation in skeletal and cardiac muscle. In these tissues, LKB1 is the major AMPK kinase and is therefore critical for AMPK activation. The purpose of this study was to determine how the lack of muscle LKB1 would affect malonyl-CoA levels and/or fatty-acid oxidation. Comparing wild-type (WT) and skeletal/cardiac muscle-specific LKB1 knockout (KO) mice, we found that the 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β- D -ribofuranoside (AICAR)-stimulated decrease in malonyl-CoA levels in WT heart and quadriceps muscles was entirely dependent on the presence of LKB1, as was the AICAR-induced increase in fatty-acid oxidation in EDL muscles in vitro, since these responses were not observed in KO mice. Likewise, the decrease in malonyl-CoA levels after muscle contraction was attenuated in KO gastrocnemius muscles, suggesting that LKB1 plays an important role in promoting the inhibition of ACC, likely by activation of AMPK. However, since ACC phosphorylation still increased and malonyl-CoA levels decreased in KO muscles (albeit not to the levels observed in WT mice), whereas AMPK phosphorylation was entirely unresponsive, LKB1/AMPK signaling cannot be considered the sole mechanism for inhibiting ACC during and after muscle activity. Regardless, our results suggest that LKB1 is an important regulator of malonyl-CoA levels and fatty acid oxidation in skeletal muscle.
5'-AMP-activated protein kinase; acetyl-coenzyne A carboxylase; 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β- D -ribofuranoside; electric stimulation; muscle contraction
Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: W. W. Winder, 545 WIDB, Dept. of Physiology and Developmental Biology, Brigham Young Univ., Provo, UT 84602 (e-mail: william_winder{at}byu.edu )
Measles (rubeola) is a highly contagious virus. Vaccination has nearly eradicated measles in the United States, yet sporadic outbreaks persist. Although the live‐attenuated measles, mumps, rubella ...vaccine has not been found to cause fetal harm, pregnancy is considered a contraindication for the vaccine and contracting measles during pregnancy can have serious sequelae. Furthermore, lifelong immunity conferred by childhood vaccination is questionable as the vaccine's protection may wane during the childbearing years. Reluctance to vaccinate, or vaccine hesitancy, may leave a proportion of people of childbearing age unprotected. It is unlikely that many clinicians providing preconception, primary, and perinatal care have had occasion to diagnose measles. Susceptibility to infection combined with clinician inexperience may contribute to missed opportunities to halt the spread of this highly contagious, preventable illness. A case of parents’ religion‐based vaccine hesitancy complicating the pregnancy of their adult daughter is presented. Guidelines for screening for immunity, identifying measles in the clinical setting, and protocols for mitigating spread are reviewed.
An X-ray diffractometer was used to study the crystalline structure of cotton fibers after bleaching, crosslinking and a combination of bleaching and crosslinking treatments. Wet crosslinking was ...accomplished with formaldehyde (Form W) and dry crosslinking was carried out with either dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) or citric acid (CA). Results indicated that crosslinking of bleached cotton did not change the crystalline nature of cotton (i.e. it was Cellulose I), but did increase its degree of crystallinity when crosslinked with either DMDHEU or CA; crosslinked formaldehyde (Form W) was relatively less crystalline.
Companies are looking to harness the power of data, both big and small, to take their business to new levels. One major hurdle for companies seeking to become data-centric is facing a lack of data ...literate talent for hire in the current market of recent college graduates. This article establishes a conversation about data literacy in business education, discusses the role of the librarian in this work, and proposes a set of data literacy competencies that librarians could help incorporate into business school education, as has been similarly seen in other disciplines.
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