Effects of Simulated Microgravity on a Host-Pathogen System

While it has been shown that decades of astronauts and cosmonauts can suffer from illnesses both during and after spaceflight, the underlying causes are still poorly understood, due in part to the fact that there are so many variables to consider when investigating the human immune system in a complex environment. Invertebrates have become popular models for studying human disease because they are cheap, highly amenable to experimental manipulation, and have innate immune systems with a high genetic similarity to humans. Fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) have been shown to experience a dramatic shift in immune gene expression following spaceflight, but are still able to fight off infections when exposed to bacteria. However, the common bacterial pathogen Serratia marcescens was shown to become more lethal to fruit flies after being cultured in space, suggesting that not only do we need to consider host changes in susceptibility, but also changes in the pathogen itself after spaceflight conditions. Being able to simulate spaceflight conditions in a controlled environment on the ground gives us the ability to not only evaluate the effects of microgravity on the host immune system, but also how the microorganisms that cause immune disorders are being affected by these drastic environmental shifts. In this study, I use a ground-based simulated microgravity environment to examine the genetic changes associated with increased S. marcescens virulence in order to understand how microgravity is affecting this pathogen, as well as how these genetic changes influence and interact with the host immune system. This study will provide us with more directed approaches to studying the effects of spaceflight on human beings, with the ultimate goal of being able to counteract immune dysfunction in future space exploration

‘Living in crisis’: Introduction to a special section

[Extract] This special section began to take shape sometime in mid-2020. Much of Australia was then in lockdown, we were working from home, national borders were closed, and it was looking increasingly likely that the annual conference for The Australian Sociological Association (TASA) would not go ahead. At the time, the spread of COVID-19 within Australia was very limited, especially compared to much of the rest of the world. Yet the pandemic had nonetheless brought unprecedented disruption to our everyday lives

Evaluation of Classifier Complexity for Delay Tolerant Network Routing

The growing popularity of small cost effective satellites (SmallSats, CubeSats, etc.) creates the potential for a variety of new science applications involving multiple nodes functioning together or independently to achieve a task, such as swarms and constellations. As this technology develops and is deployed for missions in Low Earth Orbit and beyond, the use of delay tolerant networking (DTN) techniques may improve communication capabilities within the network. In this paper, a network hierarchy is developed from heterogeneous networks of SmallSats, surface vehicles, relay satellites and ground stations which form an integrated network. There is a tradeoff between complexity, flexibility, and scalability of user defined schedules versus autonomous routing as the number of nodes in the network increases. To address these issues, this work proposes a machine learning classifier based on DTN routing metrics. A framework is developed which will allow for the use of several categories of machine learning algorithms (decision tree, random forest and deep learning) to be applied to a dataset of historical network statistics, which allows for the evaluation of algorithm complexity versus performance to be explored. We develop the emulation of a hierarchical network, consisting of tens of nodes which form a cognitive network architecture. CORE (Common Open Research Emulator) is used to emulate the network using bundle protocol and DTN IP neighbor discovery

Our pathway to a successful non-medical research strategy – a cultural shift five years on

Background: There is increasing evidence that research-active healthcare provider organisations provide better quality care, increased treatment options and improved clinical outcomes. Purpose: Delivering excellent evidence based clinical care and a high academic profile was identified as a key strategic objective at a tertiary orthopaedic hospital in the UK. This paper outlines the development and early impact of a research strategy for allied health professionals employed at the organisation. Methods: In 2013 the organisation appointed a Director of Therapies and a Consultant physiotherapist with protected time to develop a therapies research strategy. Focus groups were held across the directorate (140 staff including all therapists, orthotists, dieticians across all pay bands and grades including non-professional staff) as part of a 'listening exercise' to identify current levels of research activity, barriers and enablers to developing a research active department. Data were analysed thematically and findings used to inform a five year action plan to implement a research strategy, begin the necessary cultural shift and organisational development. Results: Five key actions were identified: 1) Identifying research programmes/themes in clinical teams. 2) Research as a key pillar in team's objectives 3) Provide appropriate research training and education 4) Identify talent and research champions 5) Develop external collaborations with appropriate academic and commercial partners. In 2014, through a commercial partnership, a grant was successful and a therapies research co-ordinator was appointed to support staff training around research methods and processes. In 2016 an internal 2 year grant received from the hospital charity supported this ongoing role along-side matched funding with a higher education institute to support a senior academic (Researcher in Residence) to provide extensive methodological support, writing skills and grant applications. To date this has resulted in six peer reviewed articles and further funding e.g. digital health technology monies. Novice researchers have been supported resulting in a NIHR PhD fellowship and two NIHR internships making staff feel valued and motivated, act as role models and build capability. Clinical teams have identified research programs to allow greater focus and prioritisation maximising resources and time. There has been greater engagement with patients regarding acceptability and relevance of research ideas. 41% of registered projects with the research and development department were submitted to national/international scientific conferences compared to only 16% in 2014. Conclusion(s): The key to success in implementation of a research strategy in a clinical setting requires clear strategic support and prioritisation, leadership, spotting the talent and investment in training. However dedicated resources and investment is required for delivery of projects to publications gained through external funding and or collaborations with academic institutions e.g. co-supervision of clinically based post graduate research projects. Implications: Research active staff identify relevant projects which impact on patient care and support improvements in healthcare. Policy makers and healthcare leaders should identify and develop a clear research strategy when developing services to ensure high quality healthcare and improved patient outcomes. Key-Words: Research, Strategy, Culture Funding acknowledgements: Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital Charity TSB Grant - Digital Health in a connected hospital competition Ethics approval: Did this work require ethics approval?:No Institution: Not Applicable Ethics Committee: Not Applicable Please state the reasons why ethics approval was not required: Unique development of a quality improvement program and strategy in clinical practicePeer reviewe

Pelvic Actinomycosis: A Case Report

Introduction: Actinomycosis is a bacterial infection caused by the gram positive anaerobic bacteria that most commonly infects the cervicofacial region of the body. Rarely, it can infect the pelvis and typically presents in a nonspecific manner. Case Report: We present a case of a 43 year old female G6P6006 with Paragard® intrauterine device (IUD) who presented with purulent umbilical discharge and pelvic pain. Initial imaging was concerned for gastrointestinal or ovarian malignancy. Patient underwent diagnostic laparoscopy with pelvic washings and hysteroscopy D&C. Operative pathology returned with results for actinomyces (IUD likely source). Conclusion: While it is established IUDs can be associated with actinomyces infection, this case provides an example of how the illness may present clinically, oftentimes mimicking malignancy or tubo-ovarian abscess

Past and future perspectives on mathematical models of tick-borne pathogens

Ticks are vectors of pathogens which are important both with respect to human health and economically. They have a complex lifecycle requiring several blood meals throughout their life. These blood meals take place on different individual hosts and potentially on different host species. Their lifecycle is also dependent on environmental conditions such as the temperature and habitat type. Mathematical models have been used for the more than 30 years to help us understand how tick dynamics are dependent on these environmental factors and host availability. In this paper we review models of tick dynamics and summarise the main results. This summary is split into two parts, one which looks at tick dynamics and one which looks at tick borne-pathogens. In general, the models of tick dynamics are used to determine when the peak in tick densities is likely to occur in the year and how that changes with environmental conditions. The models of tick borne pathogens focus more on the conditions under which the pathogen can persist and how host population densities might be manipulated to control these pathogens. In the final section of the paper we identify gaps in the current knowledge and future modelling approaches

Best Practices for Preschool Music Education: Supporting Music‑Making Throughout the Day

Active engagement in music has numerous academic and social benefits for young children and music-making is included in many early childhood standards and preschool curricula. The purpose of this article is to provide quality resources for classroom teachers to use in providing music-making activities for young children, ages 3–5. Although teachers may use music in their classrooms, we provide resources and suggestions for more intentional and extended integration of music-making. Specifically, we identify best practices for preschool music education based on key standards and research as well as with common music pedagogies. We then turn to concrete examples of how teachers can implement these music best practices throughout the entire preschool day. We provide ideas and resources for whole-group activities, focusing on choice-time/center activities and ways to incorporate music activities in other academic areas as these seem to be of greater need for teachers. Finally, we use the stated best practices to review the alignment of a sample of commercially available preschool music curricula as an additional support for teachers

The effects of entry on incumbent innovation and productivity

How does firm entry affect innovation incentives in incumbent firms? Microdata suggest that there is heterogeneity across industries. Specifically, incumbent productivity growth and patenting is positively correlated with lagged greenfield foreign firm entry in technologically advanced industries, but not in laggard industries. In this paper we provide evidence that these correlations arise from a causal effect predicted by Schumpeterian growth theory—the threat of technologically advanced entry spurs innovation incentives in sectors close to the technology frontier, where successful innovation allows incumbents to survive the threat, but discourages innovation in laggard sectors, where the threat reduces incumbents' expected rents from innovating. We find that the empirical patterns hold using rich micro panel data for the United Kingdom. We control for the endogeneity of entry by exploiting major European and U.K. policy reforms, and allow for endogeneity of additional factors. We complement the analysis for foreign entry with evidence for domestic entry and entry through imports

Rapid Irreversible Transcriptional Reprogramming in Human Stem Cells Accompanied by Discordance between Replication Timing and Chromatin Compartment

The temporal order of DNA replication is regulated during development and is highly correlated with gene expression, histone modifications and 3D genome architecture. We tracked changes in replication timing, gene expression, and chromatin conformation capture (Hi-C) A/B compartments over the first two cell cycles during differentiation of human embryonic stem cells to definitive endoderm. Remarkably, transcriptional programs were irreversibly reprogrammed within the first cell cycle and were largely but not universally coordinated with replication timing changes. Moreover, changes in A/B compartment and several histone modifications that normally correlate strongly with replication timing showed weak correlation during the early cell cycles of differentiation but showed increased alignment in later differentiation stages and in terminally differentiated cell lines. Thus, epigenetic cell fate transitions during early differentiation can occur despite dynamic and discordant changes in otherwise highly correlated genomic properties