A Resource system package for reservation systems

The Resource System Package is a software tool developed to aid in the design and use of reservation system databases. The package is designed to automate the creation of a reservation database for arbitrary objects and to facilitate ease of maintenance and updating of existing databases. Databases set up via the resource system are maintained through the Mistress Relational Database System, although no specific knowledge of Mistress is required of either the database designer or the users of the database. The package is menu-driven for ease of use. This package consists of two separate programs, a Resource System program and a Reservation System program. The Resource System program allows a database designer to create the reservation database. A designer is prompted for the characteristics of the objects which will be represented in the database, for descriptions of the objects available, and for information which will be used in the maintenance of the database; the program goes on to construct the actual Mistress database from the information supplied. The Reservation System program allows users to manipulate any of the available reservation databases which they have permission to modify. An individual user is presented with a set of options for manipulation of the database, which include the creation, modification, and deletion of reservations, as well as options to allow examination of the database. This paper discusses the prepartion and development of the Resource System Package. Also discussed are the history, implementation, project description and design, and conclusions drawn

Release and Establishment of Megamelus scutellaris (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) on Waterhyacinth in Florida

More than 73,000 Megamelus scutellaris (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) were released in Florida over a 2 to 3 yr period at 10 sites in an attempt to establish sustainable populations on waterhyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes Mart. Solms (Commelinales: Pontederiaceae). Insect populations persisted at most sites including those furthest north and consecutive overwintering was confirmed in as many as three times at some sites. Establishment appeared to be promoted at sites with some cover or shading compared to open areas. Insects readily dispersed over short distances which made detection and monitoring difficultFil: Tipping, Philip W.. Invasive Plant Research Laboratory; Estados UnidosFil: Sosa, Alejandro Joaquín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fundación para el Estudio de Especies Invasivas; ArgentinaFil: Pokorny, Eileen N.. Invasive Plant Research Laboratory; Estados UnidosFil: Foley, Jeremiah. Invasive Plant Research Laboratory; Estados UnidosFil: Schmitz, Don C.. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Estados UnidosFil: Lane, Jon S.. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Estados UnidosFil: Rodgers, Leroy. South Florida Water Management District; Estados UnidosFil: Mccloud, Lori. St. Johns River Water Management District; Estados UnidosFil: Livingston-Way, Pam. St. Johns River Water Management District; Estados UnidosFil: Cole, Matthew S.. St. Johns River Water Management District; Estados UnidosFil: Nichols, Gary. St. Johns River Water Management District; Estados Unido

The effect of a weight gain prevention intervention on moderate-vigorous physical activity among black women: the Shape Program

Background: Rates of physical inactivity are high among Black women living in the United States with overweight or obesity, especially those living in the rural South. This study was conducted to determine if an efficacious weight gain prevention intervention increased moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Methods: The Shape Program, a weight gain prevention intervention implemented in community health centers in rural North Carolina, was designed for socioeconomically disadvantaged Black women with overweight or obesity. MVPA was measured using accelerometers, and summarized into 1- and 10-min bouts. We employed analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) to assess the relationship between changes in MVPA over 12 months, calculated as a change score, and intervention assignment (intervention versus usual care). Results: Participants completing both baseline and 12-month accelerometer assessments (n = 121) had a mean age of 36.1 (SD = 5.43) years and a mean body mass index of 30.24 kg/m2 (SD = 2.60). At baseline, 38% met the physical activity recommendation (150 min of MVPA/week) when assessed using 10-min bouts, and 76% met the recommendation when assessed using 1-min bouts. There were no significant differences in change in MVPA participation among participants randomized to the intervention from baseline to 12-months using 1-min bouts (adjusted intervention mean [95% CI]: 20.50 [−109.09 to 150.10] vs. adjusted usual care mean [95% CI]: -80.04 [−209.21 to 49.13], P = .29), or 10-min bouts (adjusted intervention mean [95% CI]: 7.39 [−83.57 to 98.35] vs. adjusted usual care mean [95% CI]: -17.26 [−107.93 to 73.40], P = .70). Conclusions: Although prior research determined that the Shape intervention promoted weight gain prevention, MVPA did not increase significantly among intervention participants from baseline to 12 months. The classification of bouts had a marked effect on the prevalence estimates of those meeting physical activity recommendations. More research is needed to understand how to promote increased MVPA in weight gain prevention interventions

Underground railway particulate matter and susceptibility to pneumococcal infection

Background Concentrations of particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM10) on underground railways are higher than those near urban roads. Traffic-related PM10 increases pneumococcal infection via increasing the expression of platelet-activating factor receptor (PAFR), a receptor co-opted by pneumococci to adhere to cells. To date, it is unknown whether underground railway PM10 increases pneumococcal infection. This study sought to determine the effect of London Underground (LU) PM10 on; i) pneumococcal adhesion to airway cells, and ii) susceptibility to pneumococcal disease. Methods A549 cells and human primary airway epithelial cells were cultured with 20 µg/mL PM10 from the Bakerloo (B-PM10) and Jubilee (J-PM10) line platforms of Baker Street station. PAFR expression was assessed by flow cytometry, and pneumococcal adhesion by colony forming unit (CFU) counts. Traffic-related PM10 was collected next to a main road near the station's entrance. The PAFR blocker CV3988 and the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine were used to assess the role of PAFR-mediated pneumococcal adhesion and oxidative stress respectively. Pneumococcal infection of mice was done after exposure to 3×80 μg doses of intranasal LU-PM10. Findings In A549 cells, human primary nasal cells, and human primary bronchial epithelial cells, B-PM10 and J-PM10 increased PAFR expression and pneumococcal adhesion. Stimulated adhesion was abrogated by CV3988 and N-acetyl cysteine. Traffic-related PM10 stimulated increased adhesion compared with B-PM10. B-PM10 and J-PM10 increased lung and blood CFU and mortality in mice. Treatment of B-PM10-exposed mice with CV3988 reduced blood CFU. Interpretation LU-PM10 increases pneumococcal adhesion to airway cells and susceptibility to invasive disease in mice

Variations of remodeling in response to left main atherosclerosis assessed with intravascular ultrasound in vivo.

Histopathologic studies have demonstrated that vessels enlarge to compensate for an increase in plaque burden; this has been confirmed in vivo using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). The initial studies suggested a biphasic course of lesion formation with (1) preservation of lumen dimensions up to a plaque burden of approximately 40%, and (2) luminal narrowing as plaque burden further increases. In this study, we used IVUS and angiography to assess the extent of left main (LM) atherosclerosis in 107 patients undergoing catheter-based procedures of the left anterior descending or left circumflex coronary arteries. Using IVUS, atherosclerotic plaques were found in all LM arteries, but only 26 (24%) had varying degrees of luminal narrowing on the angiogram. Nevertheless, there was an inverse relation (r = −0.62, p 40% (or >30%), but persisted at plaque burden values of 20% to 40%. In addition, LM arteries with a plaque burden <40% had a similar total vessel area as did LM arteries with a plaque burden ≥40% (22.9 ± 6.1 vs 21.8 ± 4.8 mm2, p = 0.30). These data suggest that lumen dimensions may not be preserved even if plaque occupies no more than 20% to 40% of the total vessel area. Thus, there is more variation in remodeling response during earlier stages of plaque accumulation within the LM artery than is commonly suggested

Comparative genomic analyses reveal broad diversity in botulinum-toxin-producing Clostridia

Background: Clostridium botulinum is a diverse group of bacteria characterized by the production of botulinum neurotoxin. Botulinum neurotoxins are classified into serotypes (BoNT/A-G), which are produced by six species/Groups of Clostridia, but the genetic background of the bacteria remains poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to use comparative genomics to provide insights into the genetic diversity and evolutionary history of bacteria that produce the potent botulinum neurotoxin. Results: Comparative genomic analyses of over 170 Clostridia genomes, including our draft genome assemblies for 59 newly sequenced Clostridia strains from six continents and publicly available genomic data, provided in-depth insights into the diversity and distribution of BoNT-producing bacteria. These newly sequenced strains included Group I and II strains that express BoNT/A,/B,/E, or/F as well as bivalent strains. BoNT-producing Clostridia and closely related Clostridia species were delineated with a variety of methods including 16S rRNA gene, concatenated marker genes, core genome and concatenated multi-locus sequencing typing (MLST) gene phylogenies that related whole genome sequenced strains to publicly available strains and sequence types. These analyses illustrated the phylogenetic diversity in each Group and the diversity of genomic backgrounds that express the same toxin type or subtype. Comparisons of the botulinum neurotoxin genes did not identify novel toxin types or variants. Conclusions: This study represents one of the most comprehensive analyses of whole genome sequence data for Group I and II BoNT-producing strains. Read data and draft genome assemblies generated for 59 isolates will be a resource to the research community. Core genome phylogenies proved to be a powerful tool for differentiating BoNT-producing strains and can provide a framework for the study of these bacteria. Comparative genomic analyses of Clostridia species illustrate the diversity of botulinum-neurotoxin-producing strains and the plasticity of the genomic backgrounds in which bont genes are found.Peer reviewe

Life cycle assessment of a short-rotation coppice willow riparian buffer strip for farm nutrient mitigation and renewable energy production

Publication history: Accepted - 13 January 2022; Published online - 2 February 2022.As agricultural activity intensifies across Europe there is growing concern over water quality. Agricultural run-off is a leading cause of freshwater degradation. Simultaneously there is a continually increasing drive to promote renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Willow coppice planted as a riparian buffer has been suggested as a solution to help mitigate these problems. However, there is limited research into the use of such a system and several key knowledge gaps remain, such as, the energy ratio of the system is not known, and a fully harvested site has yet to be analysed in the literature. The aim of this research is to fill these knowledge gaps to help inform agri-environmental policy. To do this a life cycle assessment was carried out on an established willow buffer system, considering the global warming potential, eutrophication potential, acidification potential and cumulative energy demand impact categories, alongside the calculation of the energy ratio. To our knowledge it is the first site to be fully harvested and for which a full life cycle assessment has been carried out. The willow was combusted to fuel a district heating system. Key results showed emissions of 4.66 kg CO2eq GJheatout -1 and 0.01 kg SO2eq GJheatout -1, both of which are significant reductions compared to an oil heating system (95% reductions for both impact categories). The system also resulted in the permanent nutrient removal of 55.36 kg PO43-eq ha-1 yr-1 and had an energy ratio of 17.4, which could rise to 64 depending on the harvest method.This Bryden Centre project is supported by the European Union’s INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). The views and opinions expressed in this paper do not necessarily reflect those of the European Commission or the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). The work was also supported by Queen’s University Belfast and the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute in Northern Ireland