This study was undertaken to determine whether changes in the amniotic fluid index accurately reflected measured amniotic fluid loss after artificial rupture of membranes and whether this acute loss ...of fluid volume affected umbilical artery resistance as measured by Doppler velocimetry. Twenty-five uncomplicated term pregnancies underwent umbilical artery velocimetry and amniotic fluid index determination in the active phase of labor before and after amniotomy. Amniotic fluid loss was measured by direct collection of fluid during and immediately following rupture of the membranes. The preamniotomy and postamniotomy data were compared using the paired t test, and the relationship between amniotic fluid index change and actual fluid loss was tested by linear regression. The change in the amniotic fluid index after amniotomy was significant (paired t test, P < .0001), and a significant relationship was found by linear regression between the actual amniotic fluid loss and the change in the amniotic fluid index (P < .01, r2 = .28). Despite significant changes in the amniotic fluid index, however, no significant change in the umbilical artery systolic/diastolic ratio could be demonstrated. Our data suggest that amniotomy in the active phase of labor in uncomplicated pregnancies does not affect umbilical artery resistance and that the amniotic fluid index is a limited, semiquantitative method of assessing acute changes in amniotic fluid volume.
Abstract Purpose Peer support intervention trials have shown varying effects on glycemic control. We aimed to estimate the effect of peer support interventions delivered by people affected by ...diabetes (those with the disease or a caregiver) on hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c ) levels in adults. Methods We searched multiple databases from 1960 to November 2015, including Ovid MEDLINE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, and Scopus. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of adults with diabetes receiving peer support interventions compared with otherwise similar care. Seventeen of 205 retrieved studies were eligible for inclusion. Quality was assessed with the Cochrane risk of bias tool. We calculated the standardized mean difference (SMD) of change in HbA1c level from baseline between groups using a random effects model. Subgroup analyses were predefined. Results Seventeen studies (3 cluster RCTs, 14 RCTs) with 4,715 participants showed an improvement in pooled HbA1c level with an SMD of 0.121 (95% CI, 0.026–0.217; P = .01; I2 = 60.66%) in the peer support intervention group compared with the control group; this difference translated to an improvement in HbA1c level of 0.24% (95% CI, 0.05%-0.43%). Peer support interventions showed an HbA1 c improvement of 0.48% (95% CI, 0.25%-0.70%; P <.001; I2 = 17.12%) in the subset of studies with predominantly Hispanic participants and 0.53% (95% CI, 0.32%-0.73%; P <.001; I2 = 9.24%) in the subset of studies with predominantly minority participants; both were clinically relevant. In sensitivity analysis excluding cluster RCTs, the overall effect size changed little. Conclusions Peer support interventions for diabetes overall achieved a statistically significant but minor improvement in HbA1c levels. These interventions may, however, be particularly effective in improving glycemic control for people from minority groups, especially those of Hispanic ethnicity.
A summary is provided for terahertz attenuation signatures measured in spore-laden samples of Bacillus subtilis in three different forms: 1) concentrated powder; 2) dilute powder; and 3) aerosol. In ...addition to a surprising spectral narrowness, some signatures also display an increase in peak signature strength (per spore) with dilution of the sample. A model is constructed to explain this phenomenology based on the presence of optical phonons and electromagnetic interaction with the spore wall. Specifically, the spheroidal Bacillus spores admit surface modes that interact with radiation via polaritonic coupling and are underdamped if isolated from each other through a dilution or aerosol levitation. Hence, the results defy longstanding assumptions that the biomolecular-related terahertz vibrations are necessarily overdamped and have immeasurably weak attenuation
Interstellar Pickup Ion Observations to 38 au McComas, D. J.; Zirnstein, E. J.; Bzowski, M. ...
The Astrophysical journal. Supplement series,
11/2017, Letnik:
233, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
We provide the first direct observations of interstellar H+ and He+ pickup ions in the solar wind from 22 to 38 au. We use the Vasyliunas and Siscoe model functional form to quantify the pickup ion ...distributions, and while the fit parameters generally lie outside their physically expected ranges, this form allows fits that quantify variations in the pickup H+ properties with distance. By ∼20 au, the pickup ions already provide the dominant internal pressure in the solar wind. We determine the radial trends and extrapolate them to the termination shock at ∼90 au, where the pickup H+ to core solar wind density reaches ∼0.14. The pickup H+ temperature and thermal pressure increase from 22 to 38 au, indicating additional heating of the pickup ions. This produces very large extrapolated ratios of pickup H+ to solar wind temperature and pressure, and an extrapolated ratio of the pickup ion pressure to the solar wind dynamic pressure at the termination shock of ∼0.16. Such a large ratio has profound implications for moderating the termination shock and the overall outer heliospheric interaction. We also identify suprathermal tails in the H+ spectra and complex features in the He+ spectra, likely indicating variations in the pickup ion history and processing. Finally, we discover enhancements in both H+ and He+ populations just below their cutoff energies, which may be associated with enhanced local pickup. This study serves to document the release and serves as a citable reference of these pickup ion data for broad community use and analysis.
To protect New Zealand's unique ecosystems and primary industries, imported plant materials must be constantly monitored at the border for high-threat pathogens. Techniques adopted for this purpose ...must be robust, accurate, rapid, and sufficiently agile to respond to new and emerging threats. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), especially real-time PCR, remains an essential diagnostic tool but it is now being complemented by high-throughput sequencing using both Oxford Nanopore and Illumina technologies, allowing unbiased screening of whole populations. The demand for and value of Point-of-Use (PoU) technologies, which allow for in situ screening, are also increasing. Isothermal PoU molecular diagnostics based on recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) and loop-mediated amplification (LAMP) do not require expensive equipment and can reach PCR-comparable levels of sensitivity. Recent advances in PoU technologies offer opportunities for increased specificity, accuracy, and sensitivities which makes them suitable for wider utilization by frontline or border staff. National and international activities and initiatives are adopted to improve both the plant virus biosecurity infrastructure and the integration, development, and harmonization of new virus diagnostic technologies.
A global selection of 56 mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) glasses were analysed for Li and B abundances and isotopic compositions. Analytical accuracy and precision of analyses constitute an improvement ...over previously published MORB data and allow a more detailed discussion of the Li and B systematics of the crust-mantle system. Refined estimates for primitive mantle abundances (Li=1.39±0.10μg/g and B=0.19±0.02μg/g) and depleted mantle abundances (Li=1.20±0.10μg/g and B=0.077±0.010μg/g) are presented based on mass balance and on partial melting models that utilise observed element ratios in MORB.
Assimilation of seawater (or brine) or seawater-altered material beneath the ridge, identified by high Cl/K, causes significant elevation of MORB δ11B and variable elevation in δ7Li. The B isotope ratio is, hence, identified as a reliable indicator of assimilation in MORB and values higher than −6‰ are strongly indicative of shallow contamination of the magma.
The global set of samples investigated here were produced at various degrees of partial melting and include depleted and enriched MORB from slow and fast-spreading ridge segments with a range of radiogenic isotope signatures and trace element compositions. Uncontaminated (low-Cl/K) MORB show no significant boron isotope variation at the current level of analytical precision, and hence a homogenous B isotopic composition of δ11B=-7.1±0.9‰ (mean of six ridge segments; 2SD). Boron isotope fractionation during mantle melting and basalt fractionation likely is small, and this δ11B value reflects the B isotopic composition of the depleted mantle and the bulk silicate Earth, probably within ±0.4‰.
Our sample set shows a mean δ7Li=+3.5±1.0‰ (mean of five ridge segments; 2SD), excluding high-Cl/K samples. A significant variation of 1.0–1.5‰ exists among various ridge segments and among samples within individual ridge segments, but this variation is unrelated to differentiation, assimilation or mantle source indicators, such as radiogenic isotopes or trace elements. It, therefore, seems likely that kinetic fractionation of Li isotopes during magma extraction, transport and storage may generate δ7Li excursions in MORB. No mantle heterogeneities, such as those generated by deeply recycled subducted materials, are invoked in the interpretation of the Li and B isotope data presented here, in contrast to previous work on smaller data sets.
Lithium and boron budgets for the silicate Earth are presented that are based on isotope and element mass balance. A refined estimate for the B isotopic composition of the bulk continental crust is given as δ11B=-9.1±2.4‰. Mass balance allows the existence of recycled B reservoirs in the deep mantle, but these are not required. However, mass balance among the crust, sediments and seawater shows enrichment of 6Li in the surface reservoirs, which requires the existence of 7Li-enriched material in the mantle. This may have formed by the subduction of altered oceanic crust since the Archaean.
Nonthermal pickup ions (PUIs) are created in the solar wind (SW) by charge-exchange between SW ions (SWIs) and slow interstellar neutral atoms. It has long been theorized, but not directly observed ...that PUIs should be preferentially heated at quasiperpendicular shocks compared to thermal SWIs. We present in situ observations of interstellar hydrogen (H^{+}) PUIs at an interplanetary shock by the New Horizons' Solar Wind Around Pluto (SWAP) instrument at ∼34 au from the Sun. At this shock, H^{+} PUIs are only a few percent of the total proton density but contain most of the internal particle pressure. A gradual reduction in SW flow speed and simultaneous heating of H^{+} SWIs is observed ahead of the shock, suggesting an upstream energetic particle pressure gradient. H^{+} SWIs lose ∼85% of their energy flux across the shock and H^{+} PUIs are preferentially heated. Moreover, a PUI tail is observed downstream of the shock, such that the energy flux of all H^{+} PUIs is approximately six times that of H^{+} SWIs. We find that H^{+} PUIs, including their suprathermal tail, contain almost half of the total downstream energy flux in the shock frame.
To identify risk factors that may predispose California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) to development of cutaneous poxvirus nodules during hospitalization in a rehabilitation center.
...Retrospective case-control study.
90 California sea lions admitted to a rehabilitation center.
Hospital records of 275 stranded California sea lions admitted to the rehabilitation center between January 1 and December 31, 2002, were reviewed. All California sea lions (n = 18) that developed > or = 1 cutaneous poxvirus nodule during hospitalization were classified as cases. Seventy-two California sea lions that did not develop poxvirus lesions during hospitalization were randomly selected (control group). The frequencies of various exposure factors prior to admission, at admission, and during hospitalization for cases and control sea lions were compared by use of logistic regression.
California sea lions that had previously been admitted to the rehabilitation center were 43 times as likely to develop poxvirus lesions as sea lions admitted for the first time; those with high band neutrophil counts (> 0.69 X 10(3) bands/microL) at admission were 20 times less likely to develop poxvirus lesions than sea lions with counts within reference limits.
Results suggest that sea lions with a history of prior hospitalization or band neutrophil counts within reference limits at admission were more likely to develop poxvirus lesions during hospitalization. Sea lions with histories of hospitalization should be kept in quarantine and infection control measures implemented to help prevent disease transmission to attending personnel and other hospitalized animals.
The Majorana Demonstrator will search for the neutrinoless double-beta (ββ0ν) decay of the isotope 76Ge with a mixed array of enriched and natural germanium detectors. The observation of this rare ...decay would indicate that the neutrino is its own antiparticle, demonstrate that lepton number is not conserved, and provide information on the absolute mass scale of the neutrino. The Demonstrator is being assembled at the 4850-foot level of the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, South Dakota. The array will be situated in a low-background environment and surrounded by passive and active shielding. Here we describe the science goals of the Demonstrator and the details of its design.
Although the terms ‘health’ and ‘healthy’ are often applied to marine ecosystems and communicate information about holistic condition (e.g. as required by the Ecosystem Approach), their meaning is ...unclear. Ecosystems have been understood in various ways, from non-interacting populations of species to complex integrated systems. Health has been seen as a metaphor, an indicator that aggregates over system components, or a non-localized emergent system property. After a review, we define good ecosystem health as: ‘the condition of a system that is self-maintaining, vigorous, resilient to externally imposed pressures, and able to sustain services to humans. It contains healthy organisms and populations, and adequate functional diversity and functional response diversity. All expected trophic levels are present and well interconnected, and there is good spatial connectivity amongst subsystems.’ We equate this condition with good ecological or environmental status, e.g. as referred to by recent EU Directives. Resilience is central to health, but difficult to measure directly. Ecosystems under anthropogenic pressure are at risk of losing resilience, and thus of suffering regime shifts and loss of services. For monitoring whole ecosystems, we propose an approach based on ‘trajectories in ecosystem state space’, illustrated with time-series from the northwestern North Sea. Change is visualized as Euclidian distance from an arbitrary reference state. Variability about a trend in distance is used as a proxy for inverse resilience. We identify the need for institutional support for long time-series to underpin this approach, and for research to establish state space co-ordinates for systems in good health.
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