Seasonal abundance of small cladocerans in Lake Mangakaware, Waikato, New Zealand

The seasonal changes in the dynamics and life histories of the Cladocera in Lake Mangakaware, North Island, New Zealand, were studied over 19 months by sampling at weekly or 2-weekly intervals. Lake Mangakaware is a 13.3 ha polymictic lake with high nutrient status, low Secchi disc transparencies, and an unstable thermal regime. The four planktonic cladoceran species (Bosmina longirostris, B. meridionalis, Ceriodaphnia pulchella, and C. dubia) exhibited disjunct population maxima. Only B. longirostris was perennially present. All species exhibited low fecundities and low lipid content, indicating that food resources were limited and that competitive interactions and resistance to starvation were probably important in determining species success. Increases in body size in cooler seasons were unrelated to clutch size, giving further support for the view that available food was limited. These results are consistent with previous experimental findings that subtle differences in life history can determine seasonal success and the outcome of competition between similar species

Human Trophoblast Cells Modulate Endometrial Cells Nuclear Factor kappa B Response to Flagellin In Vitro

Background: Implantation is a complex process that requires a delicate cooperation between the immune and reproductive system. Any interference in the fine balance could result in embryo loss and infertility. We have recently shown that Toll-like receptor 5 activation results in a decrease of trophoblast cells binding to endometrial cells in an in vitro model of human implantation. However, little is known about the downstream signalling leading to the observed failure in implantation and the factors that modulate this immune response. Methods and Principal Findings: An in vitro model of embryo implantation was used to evaluate the effect of trophoblasts and flagellin on the activation of NF-kappa B in endometrial cells and whether TLR5-related in vitro implantation failure is signalled through NF-kappa B. We generated two different NF-kappa B reporting cell lines by transfecting either an immortalized endometrial epithelial cell line (hTERT-EECs) or a human endometrial carcinoma cell line (Ishikawa 3-H-12) with a plasmid containing the secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) under the control of five NF-kappa B sites. The presence of trophoblast cells as well as flagellin increased NF-kappa B activity when compared to controls. The NF-kappa B activation induced by flagellin was further increased by the addition of trophoblast cells. Moreover, blocking NF-kappa B signalling with a specific inhibitor (BAY11-7082) was able to restore the binding ability of our trophoblast cell line to the endometrial monolayer. Conclusions: These are the first results showing a local effect of the trophoblasts on the innate immune response of the endometrial epithelium. Moreover, we show that implantation failure caused by intrauterine infections could be associated with abnormal levels of NF-kappa B activation. Further studies are needed to evaluate the target genes through which NF-kappa B activation after TLR5 stimulation lead to failure in implantation and the effect of the embryo on those genes. Understanding these pathways could help in the diagnosis and treatment of implantation failure cases

Parametric Polyhedra with at least kk Lattice Points: Their Semigroup Structure and the k-Frobenius Problem

Given an integral $d \times n$ matrix $A$, the well-studied affine semigroup \mbox{ Sg} (A)=\{ b : Ax=b, \ x \in {\mathbb Z}^n, x \geq 0\} can be stratified by the number of lattice points inside the parametric polyhedra $P_A(b)=\{x: Ax=b, x\geq0\}$. Such families of parametric polyhedra appear in many areas of combinatorics, convex geometry, algebra and number theory. The key themes of this paper are: (1) A structure theory that characterizes precisely the subset \mbox{ Sg}_{\geq k}(A) of all vectors b \in \mbox{ Sg}(A) such that $P_A(b) \cap {\mathbb Z}^n$ has at least $k$ solutions. We demonstrate that this set is finitely generated, it is a union of translated copies of a semigroup which can be computed explicitly via Hilbert bases computations. Related results can be derived for those right-hand-side vectors $b$ for which $P_A(b) \cap {\mathbb Z}^n$ has exactly $k$ solutions or fewer than $k$ solutions. (2) A computational complexity theory. We show that, when $n$, $k$ are fixed natural numbers, one can compute in polynomial time an encoding of \mbox{ Sg}_{\geq k}(A) as a multivariate generating function, using a short sum of rational functions. As a consequence, one can identify all right-hand-side vectors of bounded norm that have at least $k$ solutions. (3) Applications and computation for the $k$-Frobenius numbers. Using Generating functions we prove that for fixed $n,k$ the $k$-Frobenius number can be computed in polynomial time. This generalizes a well-known result for $k=1$ by R. Kannan. Using some adaptation of dynamic programming we show some practical computations of $k$-Frobenius numbers and their relatives

Computed tomographic features of feline sino-nasal and sino-orbital aspergillosis

Feline upper respiratory tract aspergillosis (URTA) occurs as two distinct anatomic forms, sinonasal aspergillosis (SNA) and sino-orbital aspergillosis (SOA). An emerging pathogen, Aspergillus felis is frequently involved. The pathogenesis of URTA, in particular, the relationship between the infecting isolate and outcome, is poorly understood. Computed tomography was used to investigate the route of fungal infection and extension in 16 cases (SNA n=7, SOA n=9) where the infecting isolate had been identified by molecular testing. All cases had nasal cavity involvement except one cat with SNA that had unilateral frontal sinus changes. A strong association between the infecting species and anatomic form was identified. A. fumigatus infections remained within the sino-nasal cavity. Cryptic species infections were associated with orbital and paranasal soft-tissue involvement and with orbital lysis. These species were further associated with a mass in the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses or nasopharynx. Orbital masses showed heterogeneous contrast enhancement, with central coalescing hypoattenuating foci and peripheral rim enhancement. Severe, cavitated turbinate lysis, typical of canine SNA, was present only in cats with SNA. These findings support that the nasal cavity is the portal of entry for fungal spores in feline URTA and that the route of extension to involve the orbit is via direct naso-orbital communication from bone lysis. Additionally, a pathogenic role for A. wyomingensis and a sinolith in a cat with A. udagawae infection are reported for the first time. Keywords: Aspergillus felis; Aspergillosis; Cats; Sino-nasal; Sino-orbita

Computed tomographic features of feline sino-nasal and sino-orbital aspergillosis

Feline upper respiratory tract aspergillosis (URTA) occurs as two distinct anatomic forms, sinonasal aspergillosis (SNA) and sino-orbital aspergillosis (SOA). An emerging pathogen, Aspergillus felis is frequently involved. The pathogenesis of URTA, in particular, the relationship between the infecting isolate and outcome, is poorly understood. Computed tomography was used to investigate the route of fungal infection and extension in 16 cases (SNA n=7, SOA n=9) where the infecting isolate had been identified by molecular testing. All cases had nasal cavity involvement except one cat with SNA that had unilateral frontal sinus changes. A strong association between the infecting species and anatomic form was identified. A. fumigatus infections remained within the sino-nasal cavity. Cryptic species infections were associated with orbital and paranasal soft-tissue involvement and with orbital lysis. These species were further associated with a mass in the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses or nasopharynx. Orbital masses showed heterogeneous contrast enhancement, with central coalescing hypoattenuating foci and peripheral rim enhancement. Severe, cavitated turbinate lysis, typical of canine SNA, was present only in cats with SNA. These findings support that the nasal cavity is the portal of entry for fungal spores in feline URTA and that the route of extension to involve the orbit is via direct naso-orbital communication from bone lysis. Additionally, a pathogenic role for A. wyomingensis and a sinolith in a cat with A. udagawae infection are reported for the first time. Keywords: Aspergillus felis; Aspergillosis; Cats; Sino-nasal; Sino-orbita

Conservation of co-evolved interactions: understanding the Maculinea–Myrmica complex

1. The six papers in this Special Issue of Insect Conservation and Diversity are presented as a gedenkschrift honouring ground‐breaking contributions made by the late Graham Elmes towards understanding the biology of Myrmica ants and their social parasites. 2. A common theme is that each research paper contributes new knowledge applicable to the future survival of Maculinea (= Phengaris) species of butterflies, which have become flagships for insect conservation across Europe. All Maculinea species are highly specialised, with larvae that feed briefly on a specific foodplant before living underground for 11–23 months as social parasites of Myrmica colonies. 3. This introductory overview provides a brief history of the research that has led to the current collection, with emphasis on Graham Elmes' life and work. It is followed by three research papers that illustrate the diversity, socio‐biology and ecology of Myrmica ants. A fourth describes an extreme adaptation that increases the efficiency with which some populations of Maculinea larvae exploit the resources within Myrmica nests. A fifth, more theoretical, paper models the constraints that typically lead to host specificity among social parasites and explores why host switches are rare and quick

Hybrid ablation for atrial fibrillation: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Both catheter and surgical ablation strategies offer effective treatments of atrial fibrillation (AF). The hybrid (joint surgical and catheter) ablation for AF is an emerging rhythm control strategy. We sought to determine the efficacy and safety of hybrid ablation of AF. Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis interrogating PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases from January 1, 1991, to November 30, 2017, using the following search terms: “Cox-maze,” “mini-maze,” “ablation methods (including radiofrequency, cryoablation, cryomaze),” and “surgery.” Included studies required ablation procedures to be hybrid and report rhythm follow-up. Results: We included 925 patients with AF (38% persistent, 51% longstanding persistent) from 22 single-center studies (mean follow-up of 19 months). The surgical lesion set consisted of pulmonary vein isolation (n = 11) or box lesion (n = 11) with variable additional linear ablation. This was followed by sequential (n = 9), staged (n = 9), or combination (n = 4) catheter-based ablation to ensure isolation of pulmonary veins and to facilitate additional ablation or consolidation of surgically ablated lines. Overall, sinus rhythm maintenance was 79.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 72.4-85.7] and 70.7% (95% CI, 62.2-78.7) with and without antiarrhythmic drugs, respectively at 19 ± 25 (range, 6-128) months. The use of the bipolar AtriCure Synergy system and left atrial appendage exclusion conferred superior rhythm outcome without antiarrhythmic drugs (P ≤ .01). The overall complication rate was 6.5% (95% CI, 3.4-10.2): mortality 0.2% (95% CI, 0-0.9); stroke 0.3% (95% CI, 0-1.1); reoperation for bleeding 1.6% (95% CI, 0.6-3.0); permanent pacing ~0% (95% CI, 0-0.5); conversion to sternotomy 0.3% (95% CI, 0-1.1); atrioesophageal fistula ~0% (95% CI, 0-0.5); and phrenic nerve injury 0.3% (95% CI, 0-1.1). Conclusions: Hybrid ablation therapy for AF demonstrates favorable rhythm outcome with acceptable complication rates.Jason A. Varzaly, Dennis H. Lau, Darius Chapman, James Edwards, Michael Worthington, and Prashanthan Sander

Negatively Charged Excitons and Photoluminescence in Asymmetric Quantum Well

We study photoluminescence (PL) of charged excitons ($X^-$) in narrow asymmetric quantum wells in high magnetic fields B. The binding of all $X^-$ states strongly depends on the separation $\delta$ of electron and hole layers. The most sensitive is the ``bright'' singlet, whose binding energy decreases quickly with increasing $\delta$ even at relatively small B. As a result, the value of B at which the singlet--triplet crossing occurs in the $X^-$ spectrum also depends on $\delta$ and decreases from 35 T in a symmetric 10 nm GaAs well to 16 T for $\delta=0.5$ nm. Since the critical values of $\delta$ at which different $X^-$ states unbind are surprisingly small compared to the well width, the observation of strongly bound $X^-$ states in an experimental PL spectrum implies virtually no layer displacement in the sample. This casts doubt on the interpretation of PL spectra of heterojunctions in terms of $X^-$ recombination

GP access to FIT increases the proportion of colorectal cancers detected on urgent pathways in symptomatic patients in Nottingham

ObjectiveService evaluation of GP access to Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) for colorectal cancer (CRC) detection in Nottinghamshire and use of FIT for “rule out”, “rule in” and “first test selection”.DesignRetrospective audit of FIT results, CRC outcomes and resource utilisation before and after introduction of FIT in Primary Care in November 2017. Data from the new pathway up to December 2018 was compared with previous experience.ResultsBetween November 2017 and December 2018, 6747 GP FIT test requests yielded 5733 FIT results, of which 4082 (71.2%) were [less than]4.0 μg Hb/g faeces, 579 (10.1%) were 4.0–9.9 μg Hb/g faeces, 836 (14.6%) were 10.0–149.9 μg Hb/g faeces, and 236 (4.1%) were ≥150.0 μg Hb/g faeces. The proportion of “rule out” results [less than]4.0 μg Hb/g faeces was significantly higher than in the Getting FIT cohort (71.2% vs 60.4%, Chi squared 42.8, p [less than] 0.0001) and the proportion of “rule in” results ≥150.0 μg Hb/g faeces was significantly lower (4.1% vs 8.1%, Chi squared 27.3,P [less than] 0.0001).There was a 33% rise in urgent referrals across Nottingham overall during the evaluation period. 2 CRC diagnoses were made in 4082 patients who had FIT[less than]4.0 μg Hb/g faeces. 58.4% of new CRC diagnoses associated with a positive FIT were early stage cancers (Stage I and II). The proportion of all CRC diagnoses that follow an urgent referral s rose after introduction of FIT.ConclusionsFIT allows GP's to select a more appropriate cohort for urgent investigation without a large number of missed diagnoses. FIT appears to promise a “stage migration” effect which may ultimately improve CRC outcomes