Transgenic maize engineered to express insecticidal proteins from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) has become widely adopted in U.S. agriculture. In 2009, Bt maize was planted on more than ...22.2 million hectares, constituting 63% of the U.S. crop. Using statistical analysis of per capita growth rate estimates, we found that areawide suppression of the primary pest Ostrinia nubilalis (European corn borer) is associated with Bt maize use. Cumulative benefits over 14 years are an estimated $3.2 billion for maize growers in Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, with more than $2.4 billion of this total accruing to non-Bt maize growers. Comparable estimates for Iowa and Nebraska are $3.6 billion in total, with $1.9 billion for non-Bt maize growers. These results affirm theoretical predictions of pest population suppression and highlight economic incentives for growers to maintain non-Bt maize refugia for sustainable insect resistance management.
During the last fifteen years there has been a paradigm shift in the continuum modelling of granular materials; most notably with the development of rheological models, such as the $\mu (I)$-rheology ...(where $\mu$ is the friction and I is the inertial number), but also with significant advances in theories for particle segregation. This paper details theoretical and numerical frameworks (based on OpenFOAM) which unify these currently disconnected endeavours. Coupling the segregation with the flow, and vice versa, is not only vital for a complete theory of granular materials, but is also beneficial for developing numerical methods to handle evolving free surfaces. This general approach is based on the partially regularized incompressible $\mu (I)$-rheology, which is coupled to the gravity-driven segregation theory of Gray & Ancey (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 678, 2011, pp. 353–588). These advection–diffusion–segregation equations describe the evolving concentrations of the constituents, which then couple back to the variable viscosity in the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. A novel feature of this approach is that any number of differently sized phases may be included, which may have disparate frictional properties. Further inclusion of an excess air phase, which segregates away from the granular material, then allows the complex evolution of the free surface to be captured simultaneously. Three primary coupling mechanisms are identified: (i) advection of the particle concentrations by the bulk velocity, (ii) feedback of the particle-size and/or frictional properties on the bulk flow field and (iii) influence of the shear rate, pressure, gravity, particle size and particle-size ratio on the locally evolving segregation and diffusion rates. The numerical method is extensively tested in one-way coupled computations, before the fully coupled model is compared with the discrete element method simulations of Tripathi & Khakhar (Phys. Fluids, vol. 23, 2011, 113302) and used to compute the petal-like segregation pattern that spontaneously develops in a square rotating drum.
The Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) has been directly detecting gravitational waves from compact binary mergers since 2015. We report on the first use of squeezed vacuum ...states in the direct measurement of gravitational waves with the Advanced LIGO H1 and L1 detectors. This achievement is the culmination of decades of research to implement squeezed states in gravitational-wave detectors. During the ongoing O3 observation run, squeezed states are improving the sensitivity of the LIGO interferometers to signals above 50 Hz by up to 3 dB, thereby increasing the expected detection rate by 40% (H1) and 50% (L1).
► We present spectroscopic data from McDonald Observatory covering almost 30years and 130 comets. ► We find that 9% of the comets are carbon-chain depleted by the strictest definition (25% by a more ...customary definition). ► Jupiter Family comets are more likely to be depleted than Long Period comets. ► On average, there are few compositional differences with increasing orbital semi-major axis.
We report on the results of a spectroscopic survey of 130 comets that was conducted at McDonald Observatory from 1980 through 2008. Some of the comets were observed on only one night, while others were observed repeatedly. For 20 of these comets, no molecules were detected. For the remaining 110 comets, some emission from CN, OH, NH, C3, C2, CH, and NH2 molecules were observed on at least one occasion. We converted the observed molecular column densities to production rates using a Haser (Haser, L. 1957. Liege Inst. Astrophysics Reprint No. 394) model. We defined a restricted data set of comets that had at least three nights of observations. The restricted data set consists of 59 comets. We used ratios of production rates to study the trends in the data. We find two classes of comets: typical and carbon-chain depleted comets. Using a very strict definition of depleted comets, requiring C2and C3 to both be depleted, we find 9% of our restricted data set comets to be depleted. Using a more relaxed definition that requires only C2 to be below a threshold (similar to other researchers), we find 25% of the comets are depleted. Two-thirds of the depleted comets are Jupiter Family comets, while one-third are Long Period comets. 37% of the Jupiter Family comets are depleted, while 18.5% of the Long Period comets are depleted. We compare our results with other studies and find good agreement.
•3-phase segmentation important to understand the role of resolved macro-pore phase.•Partial volume effects impact transport properties at different scanned resolutions.•Numerical coarsening ...preserves the pore-space properties at coarser resolutions.
A fundamental understanding of flow in porous media at the pore-scale is necessary to be able to upscale average displacement processes from core to reservoir scale. The study of fluid flow in porous media at the pore-scale consists of two key procedures: Imaging - reconstruction of three-dimensional (3D) pore space images; and modelling such as with single and two-phase flow simulations with Lattice-Boltzmann (LB) or Pore-Network (PN) Modelling. Here we analyse pore-scale results to predict petrophysical properties such as porosity, single-phase permeability and multi-phase properties at different length scales. The fundamental issue is to understand the image resolution dependency of transport properties, in order to up-scale the flow physics from pore to core scale. In this work, we use a high resolution micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scanner to image and reconstruct three dimensional pore-scale images of five sandstones (Bentheimer, Berea, Clashach, Doddington and Stainton) and five complex carbonates (Ketton, Estaillades, Middle Eastern sample 3, Middle Eastern sample 5 and Indiana Limestone 1) at four different voxel resolutions (4.4 µm, 6.2 µm, 8.3 µm and 10.2 µm), scanning the same physical field of view. Implementing three phase segmentation (macro-pore phase, intermediate phase and grain phase) on pore-scale images helps to understand the importance of connected macro-porosity in the fluid flow for the samples studied. We then compute the petrophysical properties for all the samples using PN and LB simulations in order to study the influence of voxel resolution on petrophysical properties. We then introduce a numerical coarsening scheme which is used to coarsen a high voxel resolution image (4.4 µm) to lower resolutions (6.2 µm, 8.3 µm and 10.2 µm) and study the impact of coarsening data on macroscopic and multi-phase properties. Numerical coarsening of high resolution data is found to be superior to using a lower resolution scan because it avoids the problem of partial volume effects and reduces the scaling effect by preserving the pore-space properties influencing the transport properties. This is evidently compared in this study by predicting several pore network properties such as number of pores and throats, average pore and throat radius and coordination number for both scan based analysis and numerical coarsened data.
Functional characterization of bacterial proteins lags far behind the identification of new protein families. This is especially true for bacterial species that are more difficult to grow and ...genetically manipulate than model systems such as
and
To facilitate functional characterization of mycobacterial proteins, we have established a Mycobacterial Systems Resource (MSR) using the model organism
This resource focuses specifically on 1,153 highly conserved core genes that are common to many mycobacterial species, including
, in order to provide the most relevant information and resources for the mycobacterial research community. The MSR includes both biological and bioinformatic resources. The biological resource includes (i) an expression plasmid library of 1,116 genes fused to a fluorescent protein for determining protein localization; (ii) a library of 569 precise deletions of nonessential genes; and (iii) a set of 843 CRISPR-interference (CRISPRi) plasmids specifically targeted to silence expression of essential core genes and genes for which a precise deletion was not obtained. The bioinformatic resource includes information about individual genes and a detailed assessment of protein localization. We anticipate that integration of these initial functional analyses and the availability of the biological resource will facilitate studies of these core proteins in many
species, including the less experimentally tractable pathogens
,
,
,
,
,
, and
Diseases caused by mycobacterial species result in millions of deaths per year globally, and present a substantial health and economic burden, especially in immunocompromised patients. Difficulties inherent in working with mycobacterial pathogens have hampered the development and application of high-throughput genetics that can inform genome annotations and subsequent functional assays. To facilitate mycobacterial research, we have created a biological and bioinformatic resource (https://msrdb.org/) using
as a model organism. The resource focuses specifically on 1,153 proteins that are highly conserved across the mycobacterial genus and, therefore, likely perform conserved mycobacterial core functions. Thus, functional insights from the MSR will apply to all mycobacterial species. We believe that the availability of this mycobacterial systems resource will accelerate research throughout the mycobacterial research community.
Abstract
Background
The health needs of those under probation are likely high, but they have received very little public health attention. Limited evidence exists on the public health needs and ...interventions to support this cohort.
Methods
Surveys were completed by 257 people on probation as part of a local health needs assessment. Results were compared with the general population responses from the National Survey for Wales (2021–22).
Results
People on probation were 4.2 times more likely to self-report not-good general health (fair, bad or very bad) than the general population (adjusted Odds Ratio aOR 4.2, 95% Confidence Intervals CI 3.2–5.4). The odds of having a mental health condition were over eight times higher than the general population (aOR 8.8, 95% CI 6.8–11.4). Prevalence of smoking (52%), drug use (60%), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (21%), autism (4%) and dyslexia (15%) were all higher than the general population. General Practitioner usage and hospital stays were higher, but dentist or optician usage lower than the general population (P < 0.05). Emergency departments were accessed by 35%, with 9% frequenting them three or more times.
Conclusions
People on probation have poorer self-reported health, higher prevalence of unhealthy behaviours and higher accessing of reactive health services than the general population.
STUDY QUESTION
Is first trimester phthalate exposure associated with anogenital distance (AGD), a biomarker of prenatal androgen exposure, in newborns?
SUMMARY ANSWER
Concentrations of diethylhexyl ...phthalate (DEHP) metabolites in first trimester maternal urine samples are inversely associated with AGD in male, but not female, newborns.
WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY
AGD is a sexually dimorphic measure reflecting prenatal androgen exposure. Prenatal phthalate exposure has been associated with shorter male AGD in multiple animal studies. Prior human studies, which have been limited by small sample size and imprecise timing of exposure and/or outcome, have reported conflicting results.
STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION
The Infant Development and the Environment Study (TIDES) is a prospective cohort study of pregnant women recruited in prenatal clinics in San Francisco, CA, Minneapolis, MN, Rochester, NY and Seattle, WA in 2010–2012. Participants delivered 787 infants; 753 with complete data are included in this analysis.
PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS
Any woman over 18 years old who was able to read and write English (or Spanish in CA), who was <13 weeks pregnant, whose pregnancy was not medically threatened and who planned to deliver in a study hospital was eligible to participate. Analyses include all infants whose mothers provided a first trimester urine sample and who were examined at or shortly after birth. Specific gravity (SpG) adjusted concentrations of phthalate metabolites in first trimester urine samples were examined in relation to genital measurements. In boys (N = 366), we obtained two measures of anogenital distance (AGD) (anoscrotal distance, or AGDAS and anopenile distance, AGDAP) as well as penile width (PW). In girls (N = 373), we measured anofourchette distance (AGDAF) and anoclitoral distance (AGDAC). We used multivariable regression models that adjusted for the infant's age at exam, gestational age, weight-for-length Z-score, time of day of urine collection, maternal age and study center.
MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE
Three metabolites of DEHP were significantly and inversely associated with both measures of boys' AGD. Associations (β, 95% confidence interval (CI)) between AGDAS and (log10) SpG-adjusted phthalate concentrations were: −1.12 (−2.16, −0.07) for mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP), −1.43, (−2.49, −0.38) for mono-2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl phthalate (MEOHP), and −1.28 (−2.29, −0.27) for mono-2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl (MEHHP). Associations were of similar magnitude for AGDAP. Associations were weaker and not statistically significant for PW. No other phthalate metabolites were associated with any genital measurement in boys. No phthalate metabolites were associated with either AGD measure in girls.
LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION
Exposure assessment was based on a single first trimester urine sample, which may have introduced exposure misclassification. In addition, significant between-center differences suggest that this measurement is difficult to standardize.
WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS
Our findings are consistent with multiple rodent studies and most human studies which were far smaller. The data we report here suggest that even at current low levels, environmental exposure to DEHP can adversely affect male genital development resulting in reproductive tract changes that may impact reproductive health later in life. These findings have important implications for public policy since most pregnant women are exposed to this ubiquitous chemical.
STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)
Funding for TIDES was provided by the following grants from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences: R01ES016863-04 and R01 ES016863-02S4. The authors report no conflict of interest.
The implementation of novel therapeutic interventions has improved the survival rates of melanoma patients with metastatic disease. Nonetheless, only 33% of treated cases exhibit long term responses. ...Circulating tumor cell (CTC) measurements are currently of clinical value in breast, prostate and colorectal cancers. However, the clinical utility of melanoma CTCs (MelCTCs) is still unclear due to challenges that appear intrinsic to MelCTCs (i.e. rarity, heterogeneity) and a lack of standardization in their isolation, across research laboratories. Here, we review the latest developments, pinpoint the challenges in MelCTC isolation and address their potential role in melanoma management.
•This review discusses Melanoma CTCs (MelCTCs).•MelCTCs are promising liquid biopsy biomarkers in melanoma.•They are heterogeneous with no common marker for their detection, unlike epithelial cancers.•Label-independent methods are preferred for isolation of diverse MelCTCs.•Identification of MelCTC subtypes provides significant clinical utility.
As genomic sequencing expands, so does our knowledge of the link between genetic variation and disease. Deeper catalogs of variant frequencies improve identification of benign variants, while ...sequencing affected individuals reveals disease‐associated variation. Accumulation of human genetic data thus makes reanalysis a means to maximize the benefits of clinical sequencing. We implemented pipelines to systematically reassess sequencing data from 494 individuals with developmental disability. Reanalysis yielded pathogenic or likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants that were not initially reported in 23 individuals, 6 described here, comprising a 16% increase in P/LP yield. We also downgraded 3 LP and 6 variants of uncertain significance (VUS) due to updated population frequency data. The likelihood of identifying a new P/LP variant increased over time, as ~22% of individuals who did not receive a P/LP variant at their original analysis subsequently did after 3 years. We show here that reanalysis and data sharing increase the diagnostic yield and accuracy of clinical sequencing.
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