Fulminant Clostridium difficile Infection Cured by Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in a Bone Marrow Transplant Recipient With Critical Neutropenia

Clostridium difficile infection is the most prevalent health care-associated infection. Treatment relies on antimicrobial therapy with mounting evidence supporting fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) in refractory cases. Cohort studies have documented the safety of FMT in immunocompromised patients. However, the safety of FMT in patients with critically low (<500/μL) absolute neutrophil count is unknown. Currently, in severely immunocompromised bone marrow or solid organ transplant recipients, FMT is delayed until normalization of absolute neutrophil count. We present a patient with absolute neutropenia in whom sequential FMTs were safely and successfully administered, resulting in cure of fulminant C. difficile infection

Two Exoplanets Discovered at Keck Observatory

We present two exoplanets detected at Keck Observatory. HD 179079 is a G5 subgiant that hosts a hot Neptune planet with Msini = 27.5 M_earth in a 14.48 d, low-eccentricity orbit. The stellar reflex velocity induced by this planet has a semiamplitude of K = 6.6 m/s. HD 73534 is a G5 subgiant with a Jupiter-like planet of Msini = 1.1 M_jup and K = 16 m/s in a nearly circular 4.85 yr orbit. Both stars are chromospherically inactive and metal-rich. We discuss a known, classical bias in measuring eccentricities for orbits with velocity semiamplitudes, K, comparable to the radial velocity uncertainties. For exoplanets with periods longer than 10 days, the observed exoplanet eccentricity distribution is nearly flat for large amplitude systems (K > 80 m/s), but rises linearly toward low eccentricity for lower amplitude systems (K > 20 m/s).Comment: 8 figures, 6 tables, accepted, Ap

Understanding Commuter Patterns and Behavior: An Analysis to Recommend Policies Aimed at Reducing Vehicle Use

This study focused on the use of single occupancy vehicles by employee and student commuters at the University at Albany. The team conducted a review of the existing options for alternative transportation, developed GIS maps of commuting patterns, investigated the on-time performance of mass transit and created a survey to examine perceptions and barriers to using alternative transportation. The report includes a handbook for conducting a similar analysis at other institutions

Case Study: University at Albany Develops a Guide to Examine Commuting Behavior and Patterns

The University at Albany conducted an examination of campus commuting patterns and behaviors over an eighteen month period. The components included a review of existing options, the development of GIS maps indicating origin points of commutes, a survey of campus perceptions of barriers to using alternative transportation and on-time tracking of mass transit offerings. The study revealed that the success of alternative transportation is hindered by limitations in bus routes and frequency in scheduling, the need for commuters to make additional trips outside their commute route and a distrust of bus reliability

Five planets and an independent confirmation of HD 196885Ab from Lick Observatory

We present time series Doppler data from Lick Observatory that reveal the presence of long-period planetary companions orbiting nearby stars. The typical eccentricity of these massive planets are greater than the mean eccentricity of known exoplanets. HD30562b has Msini = 1.29 Mjup, with semi-major axis of 2.3 AU and eccentricity 0.76. The host star has a spectral type F8V and is metal rich. HD86264b has Msini = 7.0 Mjup, arel = 2.86 AU, an eccentricity, e = 0.7 and orbits a metal-rich, F7V star. HD87883b has Msini = 1.78 Mjup, arel = 3.6 AU, e = 0.53 and orbits a metal-rich K0V star. HD89307b has Msini = 1.78 Mjup, arel = 3.3 AU, e = 0.24 and orbits a G0V star with slightly subsolar metallicity. HD148427b has Msini = 0.96 Mjup, arel = 0.93 AU, eccentricity of 0.16 and orbits a metal rich K0 subgiant. We also present velocities for a planet orbiting the F8V metal-rich binary star, HD196885A. The planet has Msini = 2.58 Mjup, arel = 2.37 AU, and orbital eccentricity of 0.48, in agreement with the independent discovery by Correia et al. 2008.Comment: 12 figures, 8 tables, accepted Ap

The ICO Approach to Quantifying and Restoring Forest Spatial Pattern: Implementation Guide

This document is intended as a “How To” guide for managers and stakeholders wishing to implement the Individual, Clumps, and Openings (ICO) method for silvicultural prescriptions and/or monitoring. This guide is organized into stand-alone chapters. Managers should read and use chapters as they find useful to their own needs.https://scholarworks.umt.edu/ico/1002/thumbnail.jp

Riemannian geometry of irrotational vortex acoustics

We consider acoustic propagation in an irrotational vortex, using the technical machinery of differential geometry to investigate the ``acoustic geometry'' that is probed by the sound waves. The acoustic space-time curvature of a constant circulation hydrodynamical vortex leads to deflection of phonons at appreciable distances from the vortex core. The scattering angle for phonon rays is shown to be quadratic in the small quantity $\Gamma/(2\pi cb)$, where $\Gamma$ is the vortex circulation, $c$ the speed of sound, and $b$ the impact parameter.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, RevTex4. Discussion of focal length added; to appear in Physical Review Letter