Variability of Symmetric Dimethylarginine in apparently healthy dogs

Background: Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) is a screening tool for early kidney dysfunction and monitoring treatment in cases of chronic kidney disease (CKD). There are no current studies describing the suitability of this test for use with published populationbased reference intervals. Hypothesis/Objectives: To determine the components of biological variability, the index of individuality (IOI), the critical difference between sequential measurements (CD) and the number of measurements required to assess the homeostatic set point (HSP), for both SDMA and serum creatinine (sCr), in apparently healthy dogs. Animals: Twenty apparently healthy adult dogs owned by clients or staff at a veterinary teaching hospital. Methods: Prospective, observational study. Blood was collected from each dog on 9 occasions, and SDMA and sCr were measured in duplicate using commercially available assays. Results: SDMA and sCr had intermediate and low IOI values of 0.87 and 0.28, respectively. The CD of SDMA and sCr, was 1.34 mg/dL and 0.89 mmol/L, respectively. The sample numbers required for estimation of an individual’s HSP (with 90 and 95% CI) for SDMA and sCr were 8 and 45, and 2 and 12 sequential measurements, respectively. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Based on our findings, in comparison to sCr, SDMA is better suited for use with population based reference intervals. False-negative test results could occur when comparing a single test result from an individual to such intervals. Ideally CD should be used with sequential measurements

Microstructure and velocity of field-driven Ising interfaces moving under a soft stochastic dynamic

We present theoretical and dynamic Monte Carlo simulation results for the mobility and microscopic structure of 1+1-dimensional Ising interfaces moving far from equilibrium in an applied field under a single-spin-flip ``soft'' stochastic dynamic. The soft dynamic is characterized by the property that the effects of changes in field energy and interaction energy factorize in the transition rate, in contrast to the nonfactorizing nature of the traditional Glauber and Metropolis rates (``hard'' dynamics). This work extends our previous studies of the Ising model with a hard dynamic and the unrestricted SOS model with soft and hard dynamics. [P.A. Rikvold and M. Kolesik, J. Stat. Phys. 100, 377 (2000); J. Phys. A 35, L117 (2002); Phys. Rev. E 66, 066116 (2002).] The Ising model with soft dynamics is found to have closely similar properties to the SOS model with the same dynamic. In particular, the local interface width does not diverge with increasing field, as it does for hard dynamics. The skewness of the interface at nonzero field is very weak and has the opposite sign of that obtained with hard dynamics.Comment: 19 pages LaTex with 7 imbedded figure

No V-Fe-Zn isotopic variation in basalts from the 2021 Fagradalsfjall eruption

The Earth’s mantle is chemically heterogeneous in space and time, which is often reflected by variable isotopic compositions of mantle derived basalts. Basalts from the first 40 days of the 2021 Fagradalsfjall eruption, Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland, display systematic temporal variations in the ratios of incompatible elements alongside resolvable variations in Sr, Nd and Pb radiogenic isotopes. These variations reflect progressive influx of magma derived from melting of a deeper, more enriched and potentially lithologically distinct source. We use this eruptive time series to conduct the first combined V-Fe-Zn isotope study, exploring the sensitivity of the combined isotopic approach, with particular focus on fingerprinting source lithological heterogeneity. We find no analytically resolvable change in V (δ51VAA between −0.95 ± 0.09 ‰ 2 s.d. and −0.86 ± 0.07 ‰ 2 s.d.), Fe (δ56FeIRMM-524 between +0.047 ± 0.042 ‰ 2 s.d. and +0.094 ± 0.049 ‰ 2 s.d.) and Zn (δ66ZnAA-ETH between −0.042 ± 0.003 ‰ 2 s.d. and +0.013 ± 0.027 ‰ 2 s.d.) isotopic compositions. The lack of variability in V-Fe-Zn isotopes, despite the evolving trace element and radiogenic isotope ratios, suggests there is no significant contribution of melts from a lithologically distinct (pyroxenite) mantle component under the Reykjanes Peninsula

Multibeam Maser Survey of methanol and excited OH in the Magellanic clouds: new detections and maser abundance estimates

‘The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.com.’ Copyright Blackwell Publishing DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2008.12888.xPeer reviewe

Microstructure and Velocity of Field-Driven SOS Interfaces: Analytic Approximations and Numerical Results

The local structure of a solid-on-solid (SOS) interface in a two-dimensional kinetic Ising ferromagnet with single-spin-flip Glauber dynamics, which is driven far from equilibrium by an applied field, is studied by an analytic mean-field, nonlinear-response theory [P.A. Rikvold and M. Kolesik, J. Stat. Phys. 100, 377 (2000)] and by dynamic Monte Carlo simulations. The probability density of the height of an individual step in the surface is obtained, both analytically and by simulation. The width of the probability density is found to increase dramatically with the magnitude of the applied field, with close agreement between the theoretical predictions and the simulation results. Excellent agreement between theory and simulations is also found for the field-dependence and anisotropy of the interface velocity. The joint distribution of nearest-neighbor step heights is obtained by simulation. It shows increasing correlations with increasing field, similar to the skewness observed in other examples of growing surfaces.Comment: 18 pages RevTex4 with imbedded figure

The effect of urine concentration and pH on the growth of Escherichia coli in canine urine in vitro

Background: Lower urinary tract infections are common in dogs, and Escherichia coli is the most common bacterial pathogen isolated. The literature has conflicting evidence regarding the inhibitory effects of urine concentration and pH on E. coli growth. Hypothesis/Objectives: To determine the effect of different pH and urine concentrations on E. coli growth in vitro. Animals: Voided urine samples from 10 apparently healthy spayed female dogs were used. Methods: A matrix of 9 urine specific gravity (USG; 1.010, 1.020, and 1.030) and pH (5.5, 7.0, and 8.5) combinations was prepared by diluting and titrating filtered voided urine samples. Three E. coli isolates were obtained from urine of female dogs with signs of lower urinary tract infection and cultured at different urine pH and USG combinations in wells of a microtiter plate. The number of E. coli colony‐forming units (CFU) per mL of urine was calculated after aerobic incubation of the urine at 37°C for 18 hours, and statistically compared. Results: Significant differences were identified in the mean log CFU/mL among different combinations of pH and USG. The lowest log CFU/mL were observed in alkaline concentrated urine (pH 8.5 and USG 1.030). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Escherichia coli in vitro growth was higher in neutral to acidic and diluted urine compared to alkaline and concentrated urine. The impact of non‐alkalizing diluting diets on the incidence of E. coli lower urinary tract infections should be further explored

Enhancing biofeedback-driven self-guided virtual reality exposure therapy through arousal detection from multimodal data using machine learning

Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) is a novel intervention technique that allows individuals to experience anxiety-evoking stimuli in a safe environment, recognise specific triggers and gradually increase their exposure to perceived threats. Public-speaking anxiety (PSA) is a prevalent form of social anxiety, characterised by stressful arousal and anxiety generated when presenting to an audience. In self-guided VRET, participants can gradually increase their tolerance to exposure and reduce anxiety-induced arousal and PSA over time. However, creating such a VR environment and determining physiological indices of anxiety-induced arousal or distress is an open challenge. Environment modelling, character creation and animation, psychological state determination and the use of machine learning (ML) models for anxiety or stress detection are equally important, and multi-disciplinary expertise is required. In this work, we have explored a series of ML models with publicly available data sets (using electroencephalogram and heart rate variability) to predict arousal states. If we can detect anxiety-induced arousal, we can trigger calming activities to allow individuals to cope with and overcome distress. Here, we discuss the means of effective selection of ML models and parameters in arousal detection. We propose a pipeline to overcome the model selection problem with different parameter settings in the context of virtual reality exposure therapy. This pipeline can be extended to other domains of interest where arousal detection is crucial. Finally, we have implemented a biofeedback framework for VRET where we successfully provided feedback as a form of heart rate and brain laterality index from our acquired multimodal data for psychological intervention to overcome anxiety

An innovative ethosuximide granule formulation designed for pediatric use: Comparative pharmacokinetics, safety, tolerability, and palatability profile versus reference syrup.

Ethosuximide, the first-line therapy for childhood absence epilepsy, is currently formulated as a syrup (Zarontin®, Pfizer) with a bitter taste and high sugar content, poorly adapted to children, and a ketogenic diet. The collaborative European FP7 project KIEKIDS aimed at developing an innovative sugar-free, tasteless formulation convenient for pediatric use. This dual Phase-I study evaluated two granule formulations based on lipid multiparticulate (LMP) technology. Two panels of 6 healthy adult volunteers underwent a randomized, placebo-controlled, partly blinded, 3-way cross-over trial, comparing ethosuximide granules A or B with placebo granules and syrup at single 10 mg/kg doses. Corresponding plasma pharmacokinetic profiles of ethosuximide were compared, along with palatability, safety, and tolerability. The LMP granule A proved suboptimal due to bitterness and adherence to beaker walls, while the optimized granule B revealed excellent palatability, similar to placebo granules, and low adherence to glass. The relative bioavailability of granules A versus syrup, based on dose-normalized C <sub>max</sub> and AUC <sub>0-∞</sub> was 93.7% [90% CI: 76.3-115.1] and 96.1% [91.0-101.5], respectively. For granules B it was 87.6% [81.6-94.0] and 92.5% [88.5-96.6], respectively, with slightly delayed t <sub>max</sub> of 0.75 h [0.5-4.05] compared to syrup 0.5 h [0.3-0.8]. Tolerability visual analog scales revealed a trend for statistically non-significant improvement versus syrup at peak (30 min) for transient dizziness (both granules), fatigue (granules A), and anxiety (granules B). The innovative ethosuximide granule formulation B achieves a suitable profile for pediatric use, being sugar-free, tasteless, bioequivalent, and well-tolerated while enabling precise adjustment to body weight

Population overlap and habitat segregation in wintering Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa

Distinct breeding populations of migratory species may overlap both spatially and temporally, but differ in patterns of habitat use. This has important implications for population monitoring and conservation. To quantify the extent to which two distinct breeding populations of a migratory shorebird, the Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa, overlap spatially, temporally and in their use of different habitats during winter. We use mid-winter counts between 1990 and 2001 to identify the most important sites in Iberia for Black-tailed Godwits. Monthly surveys of estuarine mudflats and rice-fields at one major site, the Tejo estuary in Portugal in 2005-2007, together with detailed tracking of colour-ringed individuals, are used to explore patterns of habitat use and segregation of the Icelandic subspecies L. l. islandica and the nominate continental subspecies L. l. limosa. In the period 1990-2001, over 66 000 Black-tailed Godwits were counted on average in Iberia during mid-winter (January), of which 80% occurred at just four sites: Tejo and Sado lower basins in Portugal, and Coto Dontildeana and Ebro Delta in Spain. Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits are present throughout the winter and forage primarily in estuarine habitats. Continental Black-tailed Godwits are present from December to March and primarily use rice-fields. Iberia supports about 30% of the Icelandic population in winter and most of the continental population during spring passage. While the Icelandic population is currently increasing, the continental population is declining rapidly. Although the estuarine habitats used by Icelandic godwits are largely protected as Natura 2000 sites, the habitat segregation means that conservation actions for the decreasing numbers of continental godwits should focus on protection of rice-fields and re-establishment of freshwater wetlands

A theoretical and empirical investigation of nutritional label use

Due in part to increasing diet-related health problems caused, among others, by obesity, nutritional labelling has been considered important, mainly because it can provide consumers with information that can be used to make informed and healthier food choices. Several studies have focused on the empirical perspective of nutritional label use. None of these studies, however, have focused on developing a theoretical economic model that would adequately describe nutritional label use based on a utility theoretic framework. We attempt to fill this void by developing a simple theoretical model of nutritional label use, incorporating the time a consumer spends reading labels as part of the food choice process. The demand equations of the model are then empirically tested. Results suggest the significant role of several variables that flow directly from the model which, to our knowledge, have not been used in any previous empirical work