Use of Cryogenically Prepared Samples in the Scanning Electron Microscopic Study of Dry-to-Wet Transitions

Cryogenic preparation has been used to study changes that occur as a dry specimen undergoes hydration. Conventional techniques such as critical point drying or anhydrous fixation are unsuitable for studying such changes. Seed tissue, a dry moss and various foods were chosen to show dry-to-wet transitions that take place after wetting of the dry sample begins. Cryogenically prepared specimens have great potential, not only in the study of changes which occur during imbibition of one sample, but also in the study of samples with different moisture content

Cell Wall Wrinkling and Solute Leakage in Imbibing Squash and Carrot Seeds

Dry seeds placed in an aqueous solution take up water, swell, and leak potassium and a variety of other materials into the solution. It is likely that much of the potassium is from the cell walls. Neutron activation analysis was used to measure the concentration of potassium leaked from both squash embryos and carrot mericarps that had been soaked in solutions of different water content. The cell walls in dry seed tissues are often wrinkled, whereas imbibed tissues have smooth cell walls. Cryogenic preparation for scanning electron microscopy was used to study the degree of cell wall wrinkling in the seed tissues at different hydration levels. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the degree of cell wall wrinkling was related to the leakage of potassium. It was found that the amount of potassium leaked into the soaking solutions was not directly related to the degree of wrinkling of the cell walls

Examining racial and ethnic disparities in adult emergency department patient visits for concussion in the United States

Background Racial and ethnic differences in emergency department (ED) visits have been reported among adolescent patients but are unsubstantiated among adults. Therefore, our purpose in this study was to examine the relationship between race/ethnicity and adult ED visits for concussions, their injury mechanisms, and computed tomography (CT) scan use among a nationally representative sample. Methods We used the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey database from 2010–2015 to examine 63,725 adult (20–45 years old) patient visits, representing an estimated 310.6 million visits presented to EDs. Of these visits, 884 (4.5 million national estimate) were diagnosed with a concussion. Visit records detailed patient information (age, sex, race/ethnicity, geographic region, primary payment type), ED visit diagnoses, injury mechanism (sport, motor vehicle, fall, struck by or against, “other”), and head CT scan use. The primary independent variable was race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic Asian, non-Hispanic Black or African American, Hispanic/Latinx, non-Hispanic multiracial or another, and non-Hispanic White). We used multivariable logistic and multinomial regression models with complex survey sampling design weighting to examine the relationship between concussion ED visits, injury mechanisms, and CT scan use separately by race/ethnicity while accounting for covariates. Results There were no associations between race/ethnicity and concussion diagnosis among adult ED visits after accounting for covariates. Relative to sports-related injuries, non-Hispanic Black or African American patient visits were associated with a motor vehicle (OR = 2.69, 95% CI: 1.06–6.86) and “other” injury mechanism (OR = 4.58, 95% CI: 1.34–15.69) compared to non-Hispanic White patients. Relative to sports-related injuries, non-Hispanic Asian, multiracial, or patients of another race had decreased odds of falls (OR = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.04–0.91) and “other” injuries (OR = 0.09, 95% CI: 0.01–0.55) compared to non-Hispanic White patients. The odds of a CT scan being performed were significantly lower among Hispanic/Latinx patient visits relative to non-Hispanic White patients (OR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.30–0.91), while no other race/ethnicity comparisons differed. Conclusion Our findings indicate that the overarching concussion ED visit likelihood may not differ by race/ethnicity in adults, but the underlying mechanism causing the concussion and receiving a CT scan demonstrates considerable differences. Prospective future research is warranted to comprehensively understand and intervene in the complex, multi-level race/ethnicity relationships related to concussion health care to ensure equitable patient treatment

Safety of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose versus oral iron in patients with nondialysis-dependent CKD: an analysis of the 1-year FIND-CKD trial.

Background: The evidence base regarding the safety of intravenous (IV) iron therapy in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is incomplete and largely based on small studies of relatively short duration. Methods: FIND-CKD (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT00994318) was a 1-year, open-label, multicenter, prospective study of patients with nondialysis-dependent CKD, anemia and iron deficiency randomized (1:1:2) to IV ferric carboxymaltose (FCM), targeting higher (400-600 µg/L) or lower (100-200 µg/L) ferritin, or oral iron. A post hoc analysis of adverse event rates per 100 patient-years was performed to assess the safety of FCM versus oral iron over an extended period. Results: The safety population included 616 patients. The incidence of one or more adverse events was 91.0, 100.0 and 105.0 per 100 patient-years in the high ferritin FCM, low ferritin FCM and oral iron groups, respectively. The incidence of adverse events with a suspected relation to study drug was 15.9, 17.8 and 36.7 per 100 patient-years in the three groups; for serious adverse events, the incidence was 28.2, 27.9 and 24.3 per 100 patient-years. The incidence of cardiac disorders and infections was similar between groups. At least one ferritin level ≥800 µg/L occurred in 26.6% of high ferritin FCM patients, with no associated increase in adverse events. No patient with ferritin ≥800 µg/L discontinued the study drug due to adverse events. Estimated glomerular filtration rate remained the stable in all groups. Conclusions: These results further support the conclusion that correction of iron deficiency anemia with IV FCM is safe in patients with nondialysis-dependent CKD

American Gut: an Open Platform for Citizen Science Microbiome Research

McDonald D, Hyde E, Debelius JW, et al. American Gut: an Open Platform for Citizen Science Microbiome Research. mSystems. 2018;3(3):e00031-18

AI in media & technology sector: opportunities, risks, requirements and recommendations

As AI systems increasingly pervade modern society and lead to manifold and diverse consequences, the development of internationally recognized and industry-specific frameworks focusing on legal and ethical principles is crucial. This report aims at (a) understanding how the 7 Key Requirements for Trustworthy AI impact the Media and Technology sector (MTS) and at (b) putting forward guidelines to ensure compliance with the 7 Key Requirements. The report identifies four application areas of AI MTS, i.e. automating data capture and processing, automating content generation, automating content mediation and automating communication. Subsequently, the 7 Key Requirements are discussed within each of the four identified themes. Ultimately, recommendations are made to ensure that AI development and adoption in Media and Technology sector is compliant with the 7 Key Requirements. Three clusters of recommendations are proposed: (1) addressing data power and positive obligations, (2) empowerment by design and risk assessments and (3) cooperative responsibility and stakeholder engagements