Sub-Antarctic and High Antarctic Notothenioid Fishes: Ecology and Adaptational Biology Revealed by the ICEFISH 2004 Cruise of RVIB Nathaniel B. Palmer

The goal of the ICEFISH 2004 cruise, which was conducted on board RVIB Nathaniel B. Palmer and traversed the transitional zones linking the South Atlantic to the Southern Ocean, was to compare the evolution, ecology, adaptational biology, community structure, and population dynamics of Antarctic notothenioid fishes relative to the cool/temperate notothenioids of the sub-Antarctic. To place this work in a comprehensive ecological context, cruise participants surveyed the benthos and geology of the biogeographic provinces and island shelves on either side of the Antarctic Polar Front (or Antarctic Convergence). Genome-enabled comparison of the responses of cold-living and temperate notothenioids to heat stress confirmed the sensitivity of the former to a warming Southern Ocean. Successful implementation of the international and interdisciplinary ICEFISH research cruise provides a model for future exploration of the sub-Antarctic sectors of the Indian and Pacific Oceans

Phenotypic Variation and Bistable Switching in Bacteria

Microbial research generally focuses on clonal populations. However, bacterial cells with identical genotypes frequently display different phenotypes under identical conditions. This microbial cell individuality is receiving increasing attention in the literature because of its impact on cellular differentiation, survival under selective conditions, and the interaction of pathogens with their hosts. It is becoming clear that stochasticity in gene expression in conjunction with the architecture of the gene network that underlies the cellular processes can generate phenotypic variation. An important regulatory mechanism is the so-called positive feedback, in which a system reinforces its own response, for instance by stimulating the production of an activator. Bistability is an interesting and relevant phenomenon, in which two distinct subpopulations of cells showing discrete levels of gene expression coexist in a single culture. In this chapter, we address techniques and approaches used to establish phenotypic variation, and relate three well-characterized examples of bistability to the molecular mechanisms that govern these processes, with a focus on positive feedback.

The Detection of Magnetic Fields Toward M17 through the HI Zeeman Effect

We have carried out VLA Zeeman observations of HI absorption lines toward the HII region in the M17 giant molecular cloud complex. The HI absorption lines toward M17 show between 5 and 8 distinct velocity components which vary spatially in a complex manner across the source. We explore possible physical connections between these components and the M17 region based on calculations of HI column densities, line of sight magnetic field strengths, as well as comparisons with a wide array of previous optical, infrared, and radio observations. In particular, an HI component at the same velocity as the southwestern molecular cloud (M17 SW) ~20 km/s seems to originate from the edge-on interface between the HII region and M17 SW, in un-shocked PDR gas. We have detected a steep enhancement in the 20 km/s HI column density and line of sight magnetic field strengths (Blos) toward this boundary. A lower limit for the peak 20 km/s HI column density is N_{HI}/T_s > 5.6 x 10^{19} cm^{-2}/K while the peak Blos is ~ -450 muG. In addition, blended components at velocities of 11-17 km/s appear to originate from shocked gas in the PDR between the HII region and an extension of M17 SW, which partially obscures the southern bar of the HII region. The peak N_{HI}/T_s and Blos for this component are > 4.4 x 10^{19} cm^{-2}/K and +550 muG, respectively. Comparison of the peak magnetic fields detected toward M17 with virial equilibrium calculations suggest that ~1/3 of M17 SW's total support comes from its static magnetic field and the other 2/3 from its turbulent kinetic energy which includes support from Alfven waves.Comment: Contains 29 pages, 14 figures (Latex). Text and figures can be downloaded separately at http://www.pa.uky.edu/~brogan, submitted to Ap

Re-evaluation of blood mercury, lead and cadmium concentrations in the Inuit population of Nunavik (Québec): a cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Arctic populations are exposed to mercury, lead and cadmium through their traditional diet. Studies have however shown that cadmium exposure is most often attributable to tobacco smoking. The aim of this study is to examine the trends in mercury, lead and cadmium exposure between 1992 and 2004 in the Inuit population of Nunavik (Northern Québec, Canada) using the data obtained from two broad scale health surveys, and to identify sources of exposure in 2004.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In 2004, 917 adults aged between 18 and 74 were recruited in the 14 communities of Nunavik to participate to a broad scale health survey. Blood samples were collected and analysed for metals by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and dietary and life-style characteristics were documented by questionnaires. Results were compared with data obtained in 1992, where 492 people were recruited for a similar survey in the same population.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Mean blood concentration of mercury was 51.2 nmol/L, which represent a 32% decrease (p < 0.001) between 1992 and 2004. Mercury blood concentrations were mainly explained by age (partial r²= 0.20; p < 0.0001), and the most important source of exposure to mercury was marine mammal meat consumption (partial r²= 0.04; p < 0.0001). In 2004, mean blood concentration of lead was 0.19 μmol/L and showed a 55% decrease since 1992. No strong associations were observed with any dietary source, and lead concentrations were mainly explained by age (partial r²= 0.20.; p < 0.001). Blood cadmium concentrations showed a 22% decrease (p < 0.001) between 1992 and 2004. Once stratified according to tobacco use, means varied between 5.3 nmol/L in never-smokers and 40.4 nmol/L in smokers. Blood cadmium concentrations were mainly associated with tobacco smoking (partial r²= 0.56; p < 0.0001), while consumption of caribou liver and kidney remain a minor source of cadmium exposure among never-smokers.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Important decreases in mercury, lead and cadmium exposure were observed. Mercury decrease could be explained by dietary changes and the ban of lead cartridges use likely contributed to the decrease in lead exposure. Blood cadmium concentrations remain high and, underscoring the need for intensive tobacco smoking prevention campaigns in the Nunavik population.</p

Vaccines against Tuberculosis: Where Are We and Where Do We Need to Go?

In this review we discuss recent progress in the development, testing, and clinical evaluation of new vaccines against tuberculosis (TB). Over the last 20 years, tremendous progress has been made in TB vaccine research and development: from a pipeline virtually empty of new TB candidate vaccines in the early 1990s, to an era in which a dozen novel TB vaccine candidates have been and are being evaluated in human clinical trials. In addition, innovative approaches are being pursued to further improve existing vaccines, as well as discover new ones. Thus, there is good reason for optimism in the field of TB vaccines that it will be possible to develop better vaccines than BCG, which is still the only vaccine available against TB

Guideline adherence and survival of patients with candidaemia in Europe: results from the ECMM Candida III multinational European observational cohort study

© 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.[Background] The European Confederation of Medical Mycology (ECMM) collected data on epidemiology, risk factors, treatment, and outcomes of patients with culture-proven candidaemia across Europe to assess how adherence to guideline recommendations is associated with outcomes.[Methods] In this observational cohort study, 64 participating hospitals located in 20 European countries, with the number of eligible hospitals per country determined by population size, included the first ten consecutive adults with culture-proven candidaemia after July 1, 2018, and entered data into the ECMM Candida Registry (FungiScope CandiReg). We assessed ECMM Quality of Clinical Candidaemia Management (EQUAL Candida) scores reflecting adherence to recommendations of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases and the Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines.[Findings] 632 patients with candidaemia were included from 64 institutions. Overall 90-day mortality was 43% (265/617), and increasing age, intensive care unit admission, point increases in the Charlson comorbidity index score, and Candida tropicalis as causative pathogen were independent baseline predictors of mortality in Cox regression analysis. EQUAL Candida score remained an independent predictor of mortality in the multivariable Cox regression analyses after adjusting for the baseline predictors, even after restricting the analysis to patients who survived for more than 7 days after diagnosis (adjusted hazard ratio 1·08 [95% CI 1·04–1·11; p<0·0001] in patients with a central venous catheter and 1·09 [1·05–1·13; p<0·0001] in those without one, per one score point decrease). Median duration of hospital stay was 15 days (IQR 4–30) after diagnosis of candidaemia and was extended specifically for completion of parenteral therapy in 100 (16%) of 621 patients. Initial echinocandin treatment was associated with lower overall mortality and longer duration of hospital stay among survivors than treatment with other antifungals.[Interpretation] Although overall mortality in patients with candidaemia was high, our study indicates that adherence to clinical guideline recommendations, reflected by higher EQUAL Candida scores, might increase survival. New antifungals, with similar activity as current echinocandins but with longer half-lives or oral bioavailability, are needed to reduce duration of hospital stay.Scynexis.Peer reviewe

Administrator view on technology directorship in southeast Missouri

The purpose of this inquiry study is to discover how district school administrators perceive the directorship skills needed for a successful technology director in Missouri. At this stage in the research, the skill needs will be defined as technological proficiencies, curriculum understanding design proficiencies, and the understanding on fitting both the previous skill sets to form solid growth plans for their districts through the lens of Mitzberg's theory on organizations. The application of said technological proficiencies is a direct job function relating to the standardization of work objects, and fits with the Mintzberg definition of a job within the technostructure. Similarly, curriculum understanding of design proficiencies and how those apply is related to the function of standardizing skill flow and development within an organization; this fits the Mintzberg definition of a job within the support structure of an organization. This study is to examine how the directorship is seen through the lenses of a technical developer and through the lenses as an instructional designer by the district administrators of their organization. Essentially, as a nuts and bolts technician and/or as a person who is responsible for helping the faculty of a district effectively use the systems that the district has built.Includes bibliographical reference

Got Groups? Redefining Small Groups Through Tiered Intervention Systems

With the many tasks placed on educators and administrators, how do we create and provide this “optimum” support for our students? In an elementary school it is imperative to address students’ academic and social needs head on and provide optimum support. This interactive presentation will provide attendees with a different perspective on how to use “tiered intervention systems.

Big Data 4 Big Issues: Reducing the Achievement Gap Through Targeted Analytics

This presentation will provide attendees with a different perspective on data analysis and how data is to be used to effectively and efficiently to transform low performing educational environments. The presenters will share guiding principles and practices, that were derived from high-powered data analytics, that have led to organizational cultural shifts, academic success in the classroom and program development