Comparative Study of the Effects of Light on Photophore Ultrastructure from Two Families of Deep-Sea Decapod Crustaceans: Oplophoridae and Sergestidae

Counterillumination, the mechanism by which pelagic species produce bioluminescence to replace the light blocked by their bodies to hide their silhouettes, has been known for over 100 years. However, little is known about how these animals are able to so precisely replicate the intensity of downwelling light. The recent discovery of opsins in photophores (Bracken-Grissom et al. 2020) suggests that these autogenic organs (i.e. non-bacterial) may be sensitive to light, in addition to their function of emitting visible light. The study presented here is 1) the first ultrastructural assessment of photophores in species Systellaspis debilis, Janicella spinicauda, Parasergestes armatus, and Allosergestes sargassi and 2) the first study to examine ultrastructural changes in photophore organelles in response to light. The results of this study, demonstrate that photophore organelles exhibit changes in response to light similar to that seen in crustacean photoreceptors, and provides strong support for the hypothesis that the photophores themselves are sensitive to light

Assessment of 1183 screen-detected, category 3B, circumscribed masses by cytology and core biopsy with long-term follow up data

Discrete masses are commonly detected during mammographic screening and most such lesions are benign. For lesions without pathognomonically benign imaging features that are still regarded likely to be non-malignant (Tabar grade 3) reliable biopsy results would be a clinically useful alternative to mammographic surveillance. Appropriate institutional guidelines for ethical research were followed. Between Jan 1996–Dec 2005 grade 3B discrete masses detected in the setting of a large, population based, breast cancer screening programme are included. Patient demographics, fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB), core and surgical biopsy results are tabulated. The final pathology of excised lesions was obtained. Information regarding interval cancers was obtained from the State Cancer Registry records and also through long term follow-up of clients in subsequent rounds of screening. A total of 1183 lesions, mean diameter of 13.3 mm (±8.3 mm) and mean client age of 55.1 years (±8.8 years) are included. After diagnostic work up, 98 lesions (8.3%) were malignant, 1083 were non-malignant and a final histologic diagnosis was not established in two lesions. In the 27 months after assessment, no interval cancers were attributable to these lesions and during a mean follow up of 54.5 months, available in 84.9% of eligible women, only one cancer has developed in the same quadrant as the original lesion, although the two processes are believed to be unrelated. FNAB performed in 1149 cases was definitive in 80.5% cases (882 benign, 43 malignant) with a negative predictive value (NPV) of 99.8% (880 of 882) and a positive predictive value (PPV) of 95.2% (40 of 42, both intraductal papillomas). Core biopsy was performed in 178 lesions, mostly for indefinite cytology. Core biopsy was definitive in 79.8% cases (57% benign 22% malignant) with a PPV of 100% and NPV of 99.0%. In experienced hands FNAB is an accurate first line diagnostic modality for the assessment of 3B screen-detected discrete masses, providing definitive results in 80.5% of cases. When used as a second line modality, core biopsy had a similarly high rate of definitive diagnosis at 79.8%. The stepwise approach to the use of FNAB and core biopsy would reduce substantially the proportion of cases requiring surgical diagnostic biopsy. Given the low probability of malignancy and the imperative to limit the morbidity associated with cancer screening, the demonstration of the reliability of FNAB as a minimally invasive but highly accurate test for this particular subset of screen-detected lesions has significant clinical utility

Light Organ Photosensitivity in Deep-Sea Shrimp May Suggest a Novel Role in Counterillumination

Extraocular photoreception, the ability to detect and respond to light outside of the eye, has not been previously described in deep-sea invertebrates. Here, we investigate photosensitivity in the bioluminescent light organs (photophores) of deep-sea shrimp, an autogenic system in which the organism possesses the substrates and enzymes to produce light. Through the integration of transcriptomics, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry we find evidence for the expression of opsins and phototransduction genes known to play a role in light detection in most animals. Subsequent shipboard light exposure experiments showed ultrastructural changes in the photophore similar to those seen in crustacean eyes, providing further evidence that photophores are light sensitive. In many deep-sea species, it has long been documented that photophores emit light to aid in counterillumination – a dynamic form of camouflage that requires adjusting the organ’s light intensity to “hide” their silhouettes from predators below. However, it remains a mystery how animals fine-tune their photophore luminescence to match the intensity of downwelling light. Photophore photosensitivity allows us to reconsider the organ’s role in counterillumination - not only in light emission but also light detection and regulation

Unknown Rectal Lesions: A Case of Severe Proctitis Secondary to Mpox in the Setting of Concomitant HIV, Syphilis, HSV, and Chlamydia

Introduction: Mpox emerged as a public health crisis with limited research describing co-occurring HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). We present a case of severe proctitis secondary to Mpox with concomitant HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), syphilis, HSV (Herpes Simplex Virus), and chlamydia and review presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Mpox with concurrent STIs. Case Presentation: 34-year-old male living with HIV (LWH) presenting with worsening rectal pain, multiple anal papules, and fever. His laboratory workup revealed simultaneous positive results for orthopoxvirus, chlamydia, and HSV-1 PCR. We initiated tecovirimat due to rectal involvement and uncontrolled pain. He subsequently developed lesions on hands as rectal pain improved. He completed tecovirimat treatment and the lesions cleared by outpatient follow-up. Discussion: Among published studies of Mpox patients, 40% were LWH, and a significant percent were found to have co-occurring gonorrhea (23%), chlamydia (20%), syphilis (8%), and HSV (1%) with presentations including fever (62%), lymphadenopathy (49%), malaise (39%), and rectal pain (25%). We recommend Mpox and full STI diagnostic testing for unknown anogenital lesions and early treatment should be considered. Early initiation of Tecovirimat treatment should be considered in severe disease, immune deficiency, or those at high-risk for serious sequelae, in accordance with CDC guidelines. Learning Points: Identify the differential diagnosis for unknown rectal lesions Describe the clinical presentation of Mpox Summarize the diagnostic approach and interpretation of diagnostic results Identify treatment options and considerations by patient populations Review preventative strategies and high-risk populations for Mpox transmissio

Jets as a Probe of Dense Matter at RHIC

Jet quenching in the matter created in high energy nucleus-nucleus collisions provides a tomographic tool to probe the medium properties. Recent experimental results on jet production at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider (RHIC) are reviewed. Jet properties in p+p and d+Au collisions have been measured, establishing the baseline for studying jet modification in heavy-ion collisions. Current progress on detailed studies of high transverse momentum production in Au+Au collisions is discussed, with an emphasis on dihadron correlation measurements.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures. Plenary talk given at 17th International Conference on Ultra Relativistic Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions (Quark Matter 2004), Oakland, California, 11-17 Jan 2004. Submitted to J.Phys.

Measuring productivity and efficiency: a Kalman filter approach

In the Kalman filter setting, one can model the inefficiency term of the standard stochastic frontier composed error as an unobserved state. In this study a panel data version of the local level model is used for estimating time-varying efficiencies of firms. We apply the Kalman filter to estimate average efficiencies of U.S. airlines and find that the technical efficiency of these carriers did not improve during the period 1999-2009. During this period the industry incurred substantial losses, and the efficiency gains from reorganized networks, code-sharing arrangements, and other best business practices apparently had already been realized

Development and Evaluation of TiAl Sheet Structures for Hypersonic Applications

A cooperative program between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Austrian Space Agency (ASA), Pratt & Whitney, Engineering Evaluation and Design, and Plansee AG was undertaken to determine the feasibility of achieving significant weight reduction of hypersonic propulsion system structures through the utilization of TiAl. A trade study defined the weight reduction potential of TiAl technologies as 25 to 35 percent compared to the baseline Ni-base superalloy for a stiffener structure in an inlet, combustor, and nozzle section of a hypersonic scramjet engine (ref. 1). A scramjet engine inlet cowl flap was designed, along with a representative subelement, using design practices unique to TiAl. A sub-element was fabricated and tested to assess fabricability and structural performance and validate the design system. The TiAl alloy selected was Plansee's third generation alloy Gamma Met PX (Plansee AG ), a high temperature, high strength gamma-TiAl alloy with high Nb content (refs. 2 and 3). Characterization of Gamma Met PX sheet, including tensile, creep, and fatigue testing was performed. Additionally, design-specific coupons were fabricated and tested in order to improve subelement test predictions. Based on the sheet characterization and results of the coupon tests, the subelement failure location and failure load were accurately predicted

Mammography Facility Characteristics Associated With Interpretive Accuracy of Screening Mammography

BackgroundAlthough interpretive performance varies substantially among radiologists, such variation has not been examined among mammography facilities. Understanding sources of facility variation could become a foundation for improving interpretive performance.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study conducted between 1996 and 2002, we surveyed 53 facilities to evaluate associations between facility structure, interpretive process characteristics, and interpretive performance of screening mammography (ie, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value [PPV1], and the likelihood of cancer among women who were referred for biopsy [PPV2]). Measures of interpretive performance were ascertained prospectively from mammography interpretations and cancer data collected by the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses estimated the association between facility characteristics and mammography interpretive performance or accuracy (area under the ROC curve [AUC]). All P values were two-sided.ResultsOf the 53 eligible facilities, data on 44 could be analyzed. These 44 facilities accounted for 484 463 screening mammograms performed on 237 669 women, of whom 2686 were diagnosed with breast cancer during follow-up. Among the 44 facilities, mean sensitivity was 79.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 74.3% to 84.9%), mean specificity was 90.2% (95% CI = 88.3% to 92.0%), mean PPV1 was 4.1% (95% CI = 3.5% to 4.7%), and mean PPV2 was 38.8% (95% CI = 32.6% to 45.0%). The facilities varied statistically significantly in specificity (P < .001), PPV1 (P < .001), and PPV2 (P = .002) but not in sensitivity (P = .99). AUC was higher among facilities that offered screening mammograms alone vs those that offered screening and diagnostic mammograms (0.943 vs 0.911, P = .006), had a breast imaging specialist interpreting mammograms vs not (0.932 vs 0.905, P = .004), did not perform double reading vs independent double reading vs consensus double reading (0.925 vs 0.915 vs 0.887, P = .034), or conducted audit reviews two or more times per year vs annually vs at an unknown frequency (0.929 vs 0.904 vs 0.900, P = .018).ConclusionMammography interpretive performance varies statistically significantly by facility

Evidence from Identified Particles for Active Quark and Gluon Degrees of Freedom

Measurements of intermediate pT (1.5 < pT < 5.0 GeV/c) identified particle distributions in heavy ion collisions at SPS and RHIC energies display striking dependencies on the number of constituent quarks in the corresponding hadron. One finds that elliptic flow at intermediate pT follows a constituent quark scaling law as predicted by models of hadron formation through coalescence. In addition, baryon production is also found to increase with event multiplicity much faster than meson production. The rate of increase is similar for all baryons, and seemingly independent of mass. This indicates that the number of constituent quarks determines the multiplicity dependence of identified hadron production at intermediate pT. We review these measurements and interpret the experimental findings.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, proceedings for SQM2006 conference in Los Angele