Inverse Scattering for Gratings and Wave Guides

We consider the problem of unique identification of dielectric coefficients for gratings and sound speeds for wave guides from scattering data. We prove that the "propagating modes" given for all frequencies uniquely determine these coefficients. The gratings may contain conductors as well as dielectrics and the boundaries of the conductors are also determined by the propagating modes.Comment: 12 page

Describing interruptions, multi-tasking and task-switching in the community pharmacy: A qualitative study in England

Background: There is growing evidence base around interruptions and distractions in the community pharmacy setting. There is also evidence to suggest these practices may be associated with dispensing errors. Up to date, qualitative research on this subject is limited. Objective: To explore interruptions and distractions in the community setting; utilising an ethnographic approach to be able to provide a detailed description of the circumstances surrounding such practices. Setting: Community pharmacies in England, July to October 2011. Method: An ethnographic approach was taken. Non participant, unstructured observations were utilised to make records of pharmacists’ every activities. Case studies were formed by combining field notes with detailed information on pharmacists and their respective pharmacy businesses. Content analysis was undertaken both manually and electronically, utilising NVivo 10. Results: Response rate was 12% (n=11). Over fifteen days, a total of 123 hours and 58 minutes of observations were recorded in 11 separate pharmacies of 11 individual pharmacists. The sample was evenly split by gender (female n=6; male n=5) and pharmacy ownership (independent n=5; multiple n=6). Employment statuses included employee pharmacists (n=6), owners (n=4) and a locum (n=1). Average period of registration as a pharmacist was 19 years (range 5-39 years). Average prescriptions busyness of pharmacies ranged from 2,600 – 24,000 items dispensed per month. Two key themes were: “Interruptions and task-switching” and “distractions and multi-tasking.” All observed pharmacists’ work was dominated by interruptions, task-switches, distractions and multi-tasking, often to manage a barrage of conflicting demands. These practices were observed to be part of a deep-rooted culture in the community setting. Directional work maps illustrated the extent and direction of task switching employed by pharmacists. Conclusions: In this study pharmacists’ working practices were permeated by interruptions and multi-tasking. These practices are inefficient and potentially reduce patient safety in terms of dispensing accuracy

Holographic Roberge-Weiss Transitions

We investigate N=4 SYM coupled to fundamental flavours at nonzero imaginary quark chemical potential in the strong coupling and large N limit, using gauge/gravity duality applied to the D3-D7 system, treating flavours in the probe approximation. The interplay between Z(N) symmetry and the imaginary chemical potential yields a series of first-order Roberge-Weiss transitions. An additional thermal transition separates phases where quarks are bound/unbound into mesons. This results in a set of Roberge-Weiss endpoints: we establish that these are triple points, determine the Roberge-Weiss temperature, give the curvature of the phase boundaries and confirm that the theory is analytic in mu^2 when mu^2~0.Comment: 37 pages, 13 figures; minor comments added, to appear in JHE

Clinical Trial Design - Effect of Prone Positioning on Clinical Outcomes in Infants and Children With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Purpose This paper describes the methodology of a clinical trial of prone positioning in pediatric patients with acute lung injury (ALI). Nonrandomized studies suggest that prone positioning improves oxygenation in patients with ALI/acute respiratory distress syndrome without the risk of serious iatrogenic injury. It is not known if these improvements in oxygenation result in improvements in clinical outcomes. A clinical trial was needed to answer this question. Materials and Methods The pediatric prone study is a multicenter, randomized, noncrossover, controlled clinical trial. The trial is designed to test the hypothesis that at the end of 28 days, children with ALI treated with prone positioning will have more ventilator-free days than children treated with supine positioning. Secondary end points include the time to recovery of lung injury, organ failure–free days, functional outcome, adverse events, and mortality from all causes. Pediatric patients, 42 weeks postconceptual age to 18 years of age, are enrolled within 48 hours of meeting ALI criteria. Patients randomized to the prone group are positioned prone within 4 hours of randomization and remain prone for 20 hours each day during the acute phase of their illness for a maximum of 7 days. Both groups are managed according to ventilator protocol, extubation readiness testing, and sedation protocols and hemodynamic, nutrition, and skin care guidelines. Conclusions This paper describes the process, multidisciplinary input, and procedures used to support the design of the clinical trial, as well as the challenges faced by the clinical scientists during the conduct of the clinical trial

Dataset of RNA-Seq transcriptome of the fetal liver at day 83 of gestation associated with periconceptual maternal nutrition in beef heifers

Herein, we present a dataset based on the RNA-Seq analysis of liver tissue from bovine female fetuses at day 83 of gestation. The findings were reported in the main article, “Periconceptual maternal nutrition affects fetal liver programming of energy- and lipid-related genes”[1] . These data were generated to investigate the effects of periconceptual maternal vitamin and mineral supplementation and rates of body weight gain on the transcript abundance of genes associated with fetal hepatic metabolism and function. To this end, crossbred Angus beef heifers ( n = 35) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial design. The main effects tested were vitamin and mineral supplementation (VTM or NoVTM –at least 71 days pre-breeding to day 83 of gestation) and rate of weight gain (low (LG –0.28 kg/d) or moderate (MG – 0.79 kg/d) – from breeding to day 83). The fetal liver was collected on day 83 ± 0.27 of gestation. After total RNA isolation and quality control, strand-specific RNA libraries were prepared and sequenced on the Illumina® NovaSeq 60 0 0 platform to generate paired-end 150-bp reads. After read mapping and counting, differential expression analysis was performed with edgeR. We identified 591 unique differentially expressed genes across all six vitamin- gain contrasts (FDR ≤ 0.1). To our knowledge, this is the first dataset investigating the fetal liver transcriptome in response to periconceptual maternal vitamin and mineral supplementation and/or the rate of weight gain. The data described in this article provides genes and molecular pathways differentially programming liver development and function

Maternal Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation and Rate of Maternal Weight Gain Affects Placental Expression of Energy Metabolism and Transport-Related Genes

Maternal nutrients are essential for proper fetal and placental development and function. However, the effects of vitamin and mineral supplementation under two rates of maternal weight gain on placental genome-wide gene expression have not been investigated so far. Furthermore, biological processes and pathways in the placenta that act in response to early maternal nutrition are yet to be elucidated. Herein, we examined the impact of maternal vitamin and mineral supplementation (from pre-breeding to day 83 post-breeding) and two rates of gain during the first 83 days of pregnancy on the gene expression of placental caruncles (CAR; maternal placenta) and cotyledons (COT; fetal placenta) of crossbred Angus beef heifers. We identified 267 unique differentially expressed genes (DEG). Among the DEGs from CAR, we identified ACAT2, SREBF2, and HMGCCS1 that underlie the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway. Furthermore, the transcription factors PAX2 and PAX8 were over-represented in biological processes related to kidney organogenesis. The DEGs from COT included SLC2A1, SLC2A3, SLC27A4, and INSIG1. Our over-representation analysis retrieved biological processes related to nutrient transport and ion homeostasis, whereas the pathways included insulin secretion, PPAR signaling, and biosynthesis of amino acids. Vitamin and mineral supplementation and rate of gain were associated with changes in gene expression, biological processes, and KEGG pathways in beef cattle placental tissues

Untangling the placentome gene network of beef heifers in early gestation

The cotyledon and caruncle tissues provide a functional bridge between the fetus and the dam. However, the relationship between these tissues and the transcriptomic profile that underlies the tissue functions remains elusive. Herein we investigate the expression profile of cotyledon and caruncle from nulliparous beef heifers carrying female fetuses at day 83 of pregnancy to identify changes occurring across tissues that contribute to placental function and their tissue-specific roles. We identified 2654 differentially expressed genes [padj ≤ 0.05, abs(log2FC) ≥ 1], including nutrient transporters and paternally imprinted genes. We found key regulators of tissue function and differentiation, including FOXO4, GATA2, GATA3, and HAND1, rewired between the tissues. Finally, we shed light on the over-represented pathways related to immune tolerance, tissue differentiation and remodeling. Our findings highlighted the intricate and coordinated cross-talk between fetal-maternal tissues. They provided evidence of a fine-tuned gene regulatory network underlying pregnancy and tissue-specific function in the bovine placenta

Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation and Rate of Gain in Beef Heifers I: Effects on Dam Hormonal and Metabolic Status, Fetal Tissue and Organ Mass, and Concentration of Glucose and Fructose in Fetal Fluids at d 83 of Gestation

Thirty-five crossbred Angus heifers (initial BW = 359.5 ± 7.1 kg) were randomly assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial design to evaluate effects of vitamin and mineral supplementation [VMSUP; supplemented (VTM) vs. unsupplemented (NoVTM)] and different rates of gain [GAIN; low gain (LG), 0.28 kg/d, vs. moderate gain (MG), 0.79 kg/d] during the first 83 d of gestation on dam hormone and metabolic status, fetal tissue and organ mass, and concentration of glucose and fructose in fetal fluids. The VMSUP was initiated 71 to 148 d before artificial insemination (AI), allowing time for mineral status of heifers to be altered in advance of breeding. At AI heifers were assigned their GAIN treatment. Heifers received treatments until the time of ovariohysterectomy (d 83 ± 0.27 after AI). Throughout the experiment, serum samples were collected and analyzed for non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), progesterone (P4), insulin, and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). At ovariohysterectomy, gravid reproductive tracts were collected, measurements were taken, samples of allantoic (ALF) and amniotic (AMF) fluids were collected, and fetuses were dissected. By design, MG had greater ADG compared to LG (0.85 vs. 0.34 ± 0.04 kg/d, respectively; p \u3c 0.01). Concentrations of NEFA were greater for LG than MG (p = 0.04) and were affected by a VMSUP × day interaction (p \u3c 0.01), with greater concentrations for NoVTM on d 83. Insulin was greater for NoVTM than VTM (p = 0.01). A GAIN × day interaction (p \u3c 0.01) was observed for IGF-1, with greater concentrations for MG on d 83. At d 83, P4 concentrations were greater for MG than LG (GAIN × day, p \u3c 0.01), and MG had greater (p \u3c 0.01) corpus luteum weights versus LG. Even though fetal BW was not affected (p ≥ 0.27), MG fetuses had heavier (p = 0.01) femurs than LG, and VTM fetuses had heavier (p = 0.05) livers than those from NoVTM. Additionally, fetal liver as a percentage of BW was greater in fetuses from VTM (P = 0.05; 3.96 ± 0.06% BW) than NoVTM (3.79 ± 0.06% BW), and from LG (p = 0.04; 3.96 ± 0.06% BW) than MG (3.78 ± 0.06% BW). A VMSUP × GAIN interaction was observed for fetal small intestinal weight (p = 0.03), with VTM-MG being heavier than VTM-LG. Therefore, replacement heifer nutrition during early gestation can alter the development of organs that are relevant for future offspring performance. These data imply that compensatory mechanisms are in place in the developing conceptus that can alter the growth rate of key metabolic organs possibly in an attempt to increase or decrease energy utilization

Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation and Rate of Weight Gain during the First Trimester of Gestation in Beef Heifers Alters the Fetal Liver Amino Acid, Carbohydrate, and Energy Profile at Day 83 of Gestation

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of feeding heifers a vitamin and mineral supplement and targeting divergent rates of weight gain during early gestation on the fetal liver amino acid, carbohydrate, and energy profile at d 83 of gestation. Seventy-two crossbred Angus heifers were randomly assigned in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement to one of four treatments comprising the main effects of vitamin and mineral supplementation (VTM or NOVTM) and feeding to achieve different rates of weight gain (low gain [LG] 0.28 kg/day vs. moderate gain [MG] 0.79 kg/day). Thirty-five gestating heifers with female fetuses were ovariohysterectomized on d 83 of gestation and fetal liver was collected and analyzed by reverse phase UPLC-tandem mass spectrometry with positive and negative ion mode electrospray ionization, as well as by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography UPLC-MS/MS with negative ion mode ESI for compounds of known identity. The Glycine, Serine, and Threonine metabolism pathway and the Leucine, Isoleucine, and Valine metabolism pathway had a greater total metabolite abundance in the liver of the NOVTM-LG group and least in the VTM-LG group (p \u3c 0.01). Finally, both the TCA Cycle and Oxidative Phosphorylation pathways within the Energy Metabolism superpathway were differentially affected by the main effect of VTM, where the TCA cycle metabolites were greater (p = 0.04) in the NOVTM fetal livers and the Oxidative Phosphorylation biochemicals were greater (p = 0.02) in the fetal livers of the VTM supplemented heifers. These data demonstrate that the majority of metabolites that are affected by rate of weight gain or vitamin/mineral supplementation are decreased in heifers on a greater rate of weight gain or vitamin/mineral supplementation

Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation and Rate of Gain in Beef Heifers II: Effects on Concentration of Trace Minerals in Maternal Liver and Fetal Liver, Muscle, Allantoic, and Amniotic Fluids at Day 83 of Gestation

We evaluated the effects of vitamin and mineral supplementation (from pre-breeding to day 83 of gestation) and two rates of gain (from breeding to day 83 of gestation) on trace mineral concentrations in maternal and fetal liver, fetal muscle, and allantoic (ALF) and amniotic (AMF) fluids. Crossbred Angus heifers (n = 35; BW = 359.5 ± 7.1 kg) were randomly assigned to one of two vitamin and mineral supplementation treatments (VMSUP; supplemented (VTM) vs. unsupplemented (NoVTM)). The VMSUP factor was initiated 71 to 148 d before artificial insemination (AI), allowing time for the mineral status of heifers to be altered in advance of breeding. The VTM supplement (113 g·heifer−1·d−1) provided macro and trace minerals and vitamins A, D, and E to meet 110% of the requirements specified by the NASEM, and the NoVTM supplement was a pelleted product fed at a 0.45 kg·heifer−1·day−1 with no added vitamin and mineral supplement. At AI, heifers were assigned to one of two rates of gain treatments (GAIN; low gain (LG) 0.28 kg/d or moderate gain (MG) 0.79 kg/d) within their respective VMSUP groups. On d 83 of gestation fetal liver, fetal muscle, ALF, and AMF were collected. Liver biopsies were performed prior to VMSUP factor initiation, at the time of AI, and at the time of ovariohysterectomy. Samples were analyzed for concentrations of Se, Cu, Zn, Mo, Mn, and Co. A VMSUP × GAIN × day interaction was present for Se and Cu (p \u3c 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively), with concentrations for heifers receiving VTM being greater at AI and tissue collection compared with heifers not receiving VTM (p \u3c 0.01). A VMSUP × day interaction (p = 0.01) was present for Co, with greater (p \u3c 0.01) concentrations for VTM than NoVTM at the time of breeding. VTM-MG heifers had greater concentrations of Mn than all other treatments (VMSUP × GAIN, p \u3c 0.01). Mo was greater (p = 0.04) for MG than LG, while Zn concentrations decreased throughout the experiment (p \u3c 0.01). Concentrations of Se (p \u3c 0.01), Cu (p = 0.01), Mn (p = 0.04), and Co (p = 0.01) were greater in fetal liver from VTM than NoVTM. Mo (p ≤ 0.04) and Co (p \u3c 0.01) were affected by GAIN, with greater concentrations in fetal liver from LG than MG. In fetal muscle, Se (p = 0.02) and Zn (p \u3c 0.01) were greater for VTM than NoVTM. Additionally, Zn in fetal muscle was affected by GAIN (p \u3c 0.01), with greater concentrations in LG than MG. The ALF in VTM heifers (p \u3c 0.01) had greater Se and Co than NoVTM. In AMF, trace mineral concentrations were not affected (p ≥ 0.13) by VMSUP, GAIN, or their interaction. Collectively, these data suggest that maternal nutrition pre-breeding and in the first trimester of gestation affects fetal reserves of some trace minerals, which may have long-lasting impacts on offspring performance and health