Synthetic biodegradable hydrogel delivery of demineralized bone matrix for bone augmentation in a rat model

There exists a strong clinical need for a more capable and robust method to achieve bone augmentation, and a system with fine-tuned delivery of demineralized bone matrix (DBM) has the potential to meet that need. As such, the objective of the present study was to investigate a synthetic biodegradable hydrogel for the delivery of DBM for bone augmentation in a rat model. Oligo(poly(ethylene glycol) fumarate) (OPF) constructs were designed and fabricated by varying the content of rat-derived DBM particles (either 1:3, 1:1 or 3:1 DBM:OPF weight ratio on a dry basis) and using two DBM particle size ranges (50–150 or 150–250 μm). The physical properties of the constructs and the bioactivity of the DBM were evaluated. Selected formulations (1:1 and 3:1 with 50–150 μm DBM) were evaluated in vivo compared to an empty control to investigate the effect of DBM dose and construct properties on bone augmentation. Overall, 3:1 constructs with higher DBM content achieved the greatest volume of bone augmentation, exceeding 1:1 constructs and empty implants by 3- and 5-fold, respectively. As such, we have established that a synthetic, biodegradable hydrogel can function as a carrier for DBM, and that the volume of bone augmentation achieved by the constructs correlates directly to the DBM dose

Avifauna Community in Timber Production Area in Segaliud-Lokan Forest Reserve, Sabah

Selective logging is one of the widespread human activities in tropical forest. It is a recommended forest operation method as opposed to clear-cut logging which has lower impact on environment. Timber production forests that are managed sustainably may acts as potential refuges for avian population. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to present the avifauna community in timber production area of a production forest. The study was conducted from October to December 2017 at Segaliud-Lokan Forest Reserve (SLFR). Two types of surveys were conducted, i.e. bird survey and vegetation survey. Standard point count method was used to conduct bird survey from 0700 hours to 1130 hours. For vegetation survey, 20m x 20 m plot was established on each point count stations. The data was analyzed by descriptive analysis and statistics analysis. Fisher’s alpha diversity index was calculated for the bird species diversity. A total of 55 species with 27 families (228 individuals) were recorded. The value of Fisher’s alpha index of diversity was 23.02. The results show that the avian community in SLFR was similar as compared to other past studies that were logged 20 years ago in Malaysia

Lexical Diversity, Lexical Sophistication, and Predictability for Speech in Multiple Listening Conditions

When talkers anticipate that a listener may have difficulty understanding their speech, they adopt a speaking style typically described as “clear speech.” This speaking style includes a variety of acoustic modifications and has perceptual benefits for listeners. In the present study, we examine whether clear speaking styles also include modulation of lexical items selected and produced during naturalistic conversations. Our results demonstrate that talkers do, indeed, modulate their lexical selection, as measured by a variety of lexical diversity and lexical sophistication indices. Further, the results demonstrate that clear speech is not a monolithic construct. Talkers modulate their speech differently depending on the communication situation. We suggest that clear speech should be conceptualized as a set of speaking styles, in which talkers take the listener and communication situation into consideration

Capacity Building for a New Multicenter Network Within the ECHO IDeA States Pediatric Clinical Trials Network

Introduction: Research capacity building is a critical component of professional development for pediatrician scientists, yet this process has been elusive in the literature. The ECHO IDeA States Pediatric Clinical Trials Network (ISPCTN) seeks to implement pediatric trials across medically underserved and rural populations. A key component of achieving this objective is building pediatric research capacity, including enhancement of infrastructure and faculty development. This article presents findings from a site assessment inventory completed during the initial year of the ISPCTN. Methods: An assessment inventory was developed for surveying ISPCTN sites. The inventory captured site-level activities designed to increase clinical trial research capacity for pediatrician scientists and team members. The inventory findings were utilized by the ISPCTN Data Coordinating and Operations Center to construct training modules covering 3 broad domains: Faculty/coordinator development; Infrastructure; Trials/Research concept development. Results: Key lessons learned reveal substantial participation in the training modules, the importance of an inventory to guide the development of trainings, and recognizing local barriers to clinical trials research. Conclusions: Research networks that seek to implement successfully completed trials need to build capacity across and within the sites engaged. Our findings indicate that building research capacity is a multi-faceted endeavor, but likely necessary for sustainability of a unique network addressing high impact pediatric health problems. The ISPCTN emphasis on building and enhancing site capacity, including pediatrician scientists and team members, is critical to successful trial implementation/completion and the production of findings that enhance the lives of children and families

Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Vibrio spp. and Enterococcus spp. in retail shrimp in Northern California

Shrimp is one of the most consumed seafood products globally. Antimicrobial drugs play an integral role in disease mitigation in aquaculture settings, but their prevalent use raises public health concerns on the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistant microorganisms. Vibrio spp., as the most common causative agents of seafood-borne infections in humans, and Enterococcus spp., as an indicator organism, are focal bacteria of interest for the monitoring of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in seafood. In this study, 400 samples of retail shrimp were collected from randomly selected grocery stores in the Greater Sacramento, California, area between September 2019 and June 2020. The prevalence of Vibrio spp. and Enterococcus spp. was 60.25% (241/400) and 89.75% (359/400), respectively. Subsamples of Vibrio (n = 110) and Enterococcus (n = 110) isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). Vibrio isolates had high phenotypic resistance to ampicillin (52/110, 47.27%) and cefoxitin (39/110, 35.45%). Enterococcus were most frequently resistant to lincomycin (106/110, 96.36%), quinupristin-dalfopristin (96/110, 87.27%), ciprofloxacin (93/110, 84.55%), linezolid (86/110, 78.18%), and erythromycin (58/110, 52.73%). For both Vibrio and Enterococcus, no significant associations were observed between multidrug resistance (MDR, resistance to ≥3 drug classes) in isolates from farm raised and wild caught shrimp (p > 0.05) and in isolates of domestic and imported origin (p > 0.05). Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of a subset of Vibrio isolates (n = 42) speciated isolates as primarily V. metschnikovii (24/42; 57.14%) and V. parahaemolyticus (12/42; 28.57%), and detected 27 unique antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) across these isolates, most commonly qnrVC6 (19.05%, 8/42), dfrA31 (11.90%, 5/42), dfrA6 (9.5%, 4/42), qnrVC1 (9.5%, 4/42). Additionally, WGS predicted phenotypic resistance in Vibrio isolates with an overall sensitivity of 11.54% and specificity of 96.05%. This study provides insights on the prevalence and distribution of AMR in Vibrio spp. and Enterococcus spp. from retail shrimp in California which are important for food safety and public health and exemplifies the value of surveillance in monitoring the spread of AMR and its genetic determinants

Sovereignty and Freedom

Background: Coagulopathic bleeding is common after cardiac surgery and is associated with increased morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs. Implementation of blood management algorithms in which patients with severe bleeding undergo near-patient coagulation testing results in less overall bleeding and transfusion. However, it is unknown whether there is additional value from pre-emptive near-patient testing to predict whether severe bleeding will occur. Objectives:To evaluate how well a comprehensive panel of 28 near-patient platelet and viscoelastometry tests predict bleeding after cardiac surgery, compared to prediction using baseline clinical characteristics alone. Methods:Single-center, prospective cohort study in adults undergoing a range of cardiac surgery procedures. The primary outcome was clinical concern about bleeding (CCB), a composite of high blood loss (chest drain volume >600 mL within 6 hours), re-operation for bleeding or administration of a pro-haemostatic treatment directed by clinician judgement. Results:In 1833 patients recruited between March 2010 and August 2012, the median number of abnormal near-patient test results was 5/28 per patient (range 0-18). CCB occurred in 449/1833 patients (24.5%). The c-statistic for a predictive model for CCB using only baseline clinical characteristics (baseline-only model) was 0.72 (95% CI 0.69-0.75). Addition of near-patient test results to this model (baseline-plus-test model) improved the prediction of CCB (c-statistic 0.75 [0.72-0.77]), but increased the number of correctly classified patients by only 18 (0.98%). Conclusions:Near-patient coagulation testing predicts bleeding in cardiac surgery patients, but offers little improvement in prediction compared to baseline clinical characteristics alone. trial registration: ISRNCTN 20778544 (http://www.isrctn.com/)

Time-resolved site-selective imaging of predissociation and charge transfer dynamics: The CH3I B-band

The predissociation dynamics of the 6s (B2E) Rydberg state of gas-phase CH3I were investigated by time-resolved Coulomb-explosion imaging using extreme ultraviolet (XUV) free-electron laser pulses. Inner-shell ionization at the iodine 4d edge was utilized to provide a site-specific probe of the ensuing dynamics. The combination of a velocity-map imaging (VMI) spectrometer coupled with the pixel imaging mass spectrometry (PImMS) camera permitted three-dimensional ionic fragment momenta to be recorded simultaneously for a wide range of iodine charge states. In accord with previous studies, initial excitation at 201.2 nm results in internal conversion and subsequent dissociation on the lower-lying A-state surface on a picosecond time scale. Examination of the time-dependent yield of low kinetic energy iodine fragments yields mechanistic insights into the predissociation and subsequent charge transfer following multiple ionization of the iodine products. The effect of charge transfer was observed through differing delay-dependencies of the various iodine charge states, from which critical internuclear distances for charge transfer could be inferred and compared to a classical over-the-barrier model. Time-dependent photofragment angular anisotropy parameters were extracted from the central slice of the Newton sphere, without Abel inversion, and highlight the effect of rotation of the parent molecule before dissociation, as observed in previous © 2020 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd Printed in the U

Project Report No. 43, Site Index Equations for Loblolly and Slash Pine Plantations in East Texas, Update: 1996

In this update, after combining the data from the two subplots comprising each ETPPRP plot, the number of age-height pairs available for this analysis is 1,520 loblolly and 658 slash. the It is anticipated that the equations in this :996 update may productivity of East Texas loblolly and slash pine plantations quantify in a more accurate and reliable manner than the four previous sets 0: equations