Predation by Pellet-Reared Tiger Muskellunge on Minnows and Bluegills in Experimental Systems

Studies in Wisconsin lakes have shown that stocked tiger muskellunge( F1 hybrids of female muskellunge, Esox masquinongy * male northern pike, E.lucius) reared on live food survive better than those reared entirely on dry pellet food. We evaluated the ability of pellet-reared hybrids to convert to a minnow(Notropis spp. and Pimephales promelas) or bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) diet in laboratory aquaria and hatchery ponds. In aquaria, 86-310-mm (total length) tiger muskellunge selected cyprinids that were about 40% of their own length and bluegills that were about 30% of their length, sizes closely predicted by an optimal foraging construct (time from prey capture to complete prey ingestion / prey dry weight). Using these prey sizes, we tested hybrids (130, 150, and 170mm long) in conversion experiments in aquaria and ponds. During experiments, prey were maintained at a constant density and predators were sampled periodically to determine the proportion eating fish. Tiger muskellunge converted more slowly to bluegills than to minnows in both aquaria and ponds. In aquaria, 85% of the hybrids converted from pellets to minnows by day 3, whereas only 68% converted to bluegills. By day 5, conversions to minnows and bluegills were 95% and 82%, respectively. In ponds, 73% of the hybrids converted to minnows by day 5 and 89% by day 14. No hybrids had eaten bluegills by day 3 and only 53% converted by day 14. The apparently limited ability of pellet-reared tiger muskellunge to switch to a bluegill diet may influence survival and growth of these predators in reservoirs dominated by a centrachid forage base.This research was supported in part by funds from the Federal Aid in Fish Restoration Act under Dingell-Johnson Project F-57-R

Active Self-Organization of Actin-Microtubule Composite Self-Propelled Rods

Spontaneous self-organization of active matter has been demonstrated in a number of biological systems including bacteria, cells, and cytoskeletal filaments. Cytoskeletal filaments act as active polar rods when they are propelled along a glass surface via motor proteins. Actin has previously been shown to display polar or nematic ordering, whereas microtubules have been shown to create large vortices. For the first time, we combine both the actin and microtubule gliding into a composite active system. In the absence of actin filaments, microtubule filament organization transitions from isotropic to nematic to polar as a function of filament density. We find that the presence of a crowder, methylcellulose, is essential for this transition. In the absence of microtubules, actin transitions from isotropic to nematic. In combination, microtubules are affected by the presence of actin and the overall density of the filaments, becoming entrained with the nematic alignment of actin. Actin filaments are not as affected by the presence of microtubules. These results serve as first step in exploring the rich emergent behavior that can result from composite active matter system with tunable particle properties, self-propulsion speeds, and interparticle interactions

A study to ascertain the potential inhalation hazard of toenail dust

The use of the podiatric nail drill has become an acceptable way of reducing onychogryphotic nails in the clinical setting. The present study has demonstrated the presence of particles that are potentially dangerous to the human lung when they are contaminated with bacterial endotoxin (bacterial cell wall components that may cause an inflammatory response). Toenail dust collected from podiatric nail drills was examined for size, endotoxin content and the ability to stimulate release of IL-8 (IL- interleukins stimulate the release of other mediators in septic shock and inflammation) from macrophages and lung epithelial cells in vitro. The size distribution revealed a large number of particles that would deposit in the nose, airways and lung alveoli. Endotoxin was detected in extracts of nail particles and, interestingly, a component of these particles was able to stimulate substantial release of IL-8 from lung epithelial cells. Suspensions of toenail particles stimulated IL-8 release from monocyte-derived macrophages. Destruction of the endotoxin with the antibiotic polymyxin B still resulted in IL-8 release, suggesting that the particles themselves initiated the response and not necessarily the endotoxin. The authors conclude that podiatrists who routinely carry out nail reduction could be inhaling particles that could deposit throughout the respiratory tract, where they could contribute to inflammation by stimulating release of IL-8 from cells via the particles themselves and via endotoxin.sch_pod1. Davies R R, Savage M A, Dust extracting drills. The Chiropodist 1980; 35(1): 4-12. 2. Harvey C K, Comparison of the effectiveness of nail dust extractors. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association 1993; 83(12): 669-673. 3. Blair J, Burrow J G, Millar N A, Aidoo K, Efficiency and effectiveness of dust extraction systems of podiatric nail drills. British Journal of Podiatric Medicine 1999; 2(2): 53-60. 4. Abramson C, Wilton J, Inhalation of nail dust from onychomycotic toenails. Part I. Characterization of particles. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association 1985a; 75: 563-567. 5. Abramson C, Wilton J, Nail dust aerosols from onychomycotic toenails. Part II. Clinical and serologic aspects. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association 1985b; 75: 631-638. 6. Brown D M, Donaldson K,Wool and Grain dusts stimulate TNF secretion by alveolar macrophages in vitro. Occupational and Environmental Medicine 1996; 53: 387-393. 7. Davies R R, Human nail dust in chiropodial practice: irritant, allergen and source of antibodies to Trichophyton rubrum. Journal of the Royal Society of Health 1984; 104: 1-5. 8. Davies R R, Ganderton M A, Savage M A, Human nail dust and precipitating antibodies to Trichophyton rubrum in chiropodists. Clinical Allergy 1983; 13: 309-315. 9. Gatley, M, Human nail dust: hazard to chiropodists or merely nuisance? Journal of the Society of Occupational Medicine 1991; 41: 121- 125. 10. Ward P E, Atopy and reaction to nail dust inhalation. Clinics in Podiatric Medicine and Surgery 1995; 12(2): 275-278. 11. Health, Safety and Welfare of Patients. Guidelines - Podiatric Nail Drills. British Journal of Podiatric Medicine October 2000. 12. Millar N A, Burrow J G, Hay J, Stevenson R, Putative risks of ocular infection for chiropodists and podiatrists. British Journal of Podiatric Medicine 1996; 51(11): 158-160. 13. Brown D M, The mechanisms of wool and dust mediated inflammation and leukocyte activation in the rat lung. Submitted as part of a PhD thesis, 1993. 14. Ning Y, Imrich A, Goldsmith C A, Qin G, Kobzik L, Alveolar macrophage cytokine production in response to air particles in vitro: role of endotoxin. J Toxicol Environ Health 2000A; 59: 165-180. 15. Streiter RM, Kunkel S L, Chemokines. In Crystal RG, West JB (Eds) The Lung. Philadelphia: Scientific Foundations, Lippincott Raven 1997: 155-179. 16. Driscoll K E, Carter J M, Hassenbein D G, Howard B, Cytokines and particle-induced inflammatory cell recruitment. Environmental Health Perspectives 1997; 105: 1159-1164. 17. Gilmour P S, Rahman I, Hayashi S, Hogg J C, Donaldson K, MacNee W, Adenoviral E1A primes alveolar epithelial cells to PM(10)-induced transcription of interleukin-8. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2001; 281: L598-L606. 18. MacNee W, Donaldson K, Exacerbations of COPD: environmental mechanisms. Chest 2000; 117: 390-397.6pub622pub

Efficacy, Immunogenicity and Safety of an Investigational Subunit Adjuvanted Herpes Zoster Vaccine in Adults Aged 60 Years and Older: Results From the ZOE-50 and ZOE-70 Efficacy Studies

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Social Value at Universities: Policy and Practice Guidance

Universities globally can be major hubs of social and economic activity which drive change in society. We know that they can create multiple and diverse routes into employment, can have significant purchasing power which can inform standards across supply chains, can create learning opportunities which directly nourish and enrich local communities, and can deliver research and innovation which impact health for the better. However, the measurable difference these make to lives – and how universities and the funding bodies account for this impact - is still unknown. We created the Global Symposia for Social Value at Universities in 2022, as a way to accelerate the movement. Over 130 joined from 12 countries to contribute to the analysis, from different disciplines such as health, arts, environmental sciences, alongside private, public and third sector stakeholders. There were two symposiums. The first was related to understanding policy and practice across disciplines at universities; the second was focused on one of the biggest sectors, business and management studies. This report presents the findings from both symposiums from the perspective of different stakeholders: 1. what is currently being done that is valued 2. recommendations for improvement The Global Symposia at Universities 2022 was co-hosted between Social Value UK and Liverpool John Moores University, the British Academy of Management (Sustainable and Responsible Business SIG), Principles for Responsible Management Education (Working Group on Poverty), University Vocational Awards Council, Social Value International, The Academy of Business in Society, American International Accreditation Association for Schools and Colleges, and the National Society for Experiential Education. Maddy England and Clare Bentley at Social Value UK were also central to delivering this guidance. Supported by Liverpool John Moores University’s Quality Research Funds