New Skull Material of Taeniolabis taoensis (Multituberculata, Taeniolabididae) from the Early Paleocene (Danian) of the Denver Basin, Colorado

Taeniolabis taoensis is an iconic multituberculate mammal of early Paleocene (Puercan 3) age from the Western Interior of North America. Here we report the discovery of significant new skull material (one nearly complete cranium, two partial crania, one nearly complete dentary) of T. taoensis in phosphatic concretions from the Corral Bluffs study area, Denver Formation (Danian portion), Denver Basin, Colorado. The new skull material provides the first record of the species from the Denver Basin, where the lowest in situ specimen occurs in river channel deposits ~730,000 years after the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary, roughly coincident with the first appearance of legumes in the basin. The new material, in combination with several previously described and undescribed specimens from the Nacimiento Formation of the San Juan Basin, New Mexico, is the subject of detailed ana- tomical study, aided by micro-computed tomography. Our analyses reveal many previously unknown aspects of skull anatomy. Several regions (e.g., anterior portions of premaxilla, orbit, cranial roof, occiput) preserved in the Corral Bluffs specimens allow considerable revision of previous reconstructions of the external cranial morphology ofT. taoensis. Similarly, anatomical details of the ascending process of the dentary are altered in light of the new material. Although details of internal cranial anatomy (e.g., nasal and endocranial cavities) are difficult to discern in the available specimens, we provide, based on UCMP 98083 and DMNH.EPV 95284, the best evidence to date for inner ear structure in a taeniolabidoid multituberculate. The cochlear canal of T. taoensis is elongate and gently curved and the vestibule is enlarged, although to a lesser degree than in Lambdopsalis

Unos L-alanil-L-glutamina tijekom kratkotrajne visokointenzivne vježbe u uvjetima blagoga hidracijskoga stresa

The effect of acute L-alanyl-L-glutamine (AG) ingestion on selected hormonal and electrolyte measures was examined during repetitive, short duration, high intensity exercise with mild hypohydration. Subjects (20.3±1.1 yrs; 180.3±10.4 cm; 83.1±14.0 kg; 11.6±3.6% body fat) reported to the Human Performance Laboratory on four occasions. During each trial subjects were hypohydrated to -2.5% of their baseline body mass. During one trial (DHY) subjects rested in a recumbent position for 45 minutes before commencing the exercise session. During the other three trials subjects were rehydrated to 1.5% of their baseline body mass, before exercise, by drinking water only (W), or with two different doses of AG – a low dose (LDAG: 0.05 g�kg-1) and a high dose (HDAG: 0.2 g�kg-1). The exercise protocol consisted of ten 10-second sprints on a cycle ergometer with a 1-min rest between each sprint. Blood draws were collected once the subject achieved the desired level of hypohydration, immediately pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise, and 24 hrs postexercise. Blood samples were analyzed for glutamine, potassium, sodium, aldosterone, arginine vasopressin, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, malondialdehyde, testosterone, cortisol, ACTH, and growth hormone. The area under the curve (AUC) analysis demonstrated significantly greater sodium concentrations for DHY compared to all other trials. The AUC analysis for aldosterone showed significantly lower concentrations at LDAG compared to DHY. No other differences between trials were observed in any other hormonal or biochemical responses. AG ingestion during a short duration, anaerobic exercise and mild hypohydration stress had a limited effect on selected hormonal and biochemical measures.Učinci akutnoga, trenutačnoga uzimanja L-alanil-L-glutamina (AG) na odabrane hormonske i elektrolitne pokazatelje ispitani su tijekom ponavljajuće kratkotrajne visokointenzivne aktivnosti u uvjetima blage hipohidracije ispitanika. Ispitanici (20,3±1,1 godina; 180,3±10,4 cm; 83,1±14,0 kg; 11,6±3,6% tjelesne masti) bili su testirani u Human Performance Laboratory u četiri navrata. Tijekom svakoga pojedinačnoga mjerenja ispitanici su bili hipohidrirani do -2,5% svoje početne, osnovne tjelesne mase. Tijekom prvoga testiranja (DHY) ispitanici su se odmarali ležeći 45 minuta prije no što su počeli provoditi protokol vježbanja. Tijekom sljedeća tri mjerenja ispitanici su rehidrirani do 1,5% njihove početne tjelesne mase prije vježbanja, i to: pijenjem samo vode (W) te unosom dviju različitih doza AG - male doze (LDAG: 0,05 g∙kg-1) i velike doze (HDAG: 0,2 g∙kg-1). Protokol vježbanja sastojao se od po deset sprintova na bicikl-ergometru u trajanju od 10 sekunda s jednominutnim odmorom između svakoga sprinta. Uzorci krvi vađeni su odmah nakon što je ispitanik dosegao željenu razinu hipohidracije, neposredno prije početka vježbanja, neposredno nakon završetka vježbanja i 24 sata nakon vježbanja. U uzorcima krvi analizirana je koncentracija glutamina, kalija, natrija, aldosterona, arginin vazopresina, C-reaktivnoga proteina, interleukina-6, malondialdehida, testosterona, kortizola, ACTH-a i hormona rasta. Analiza površine ispod krivulje pokazala je statistički značajno veću razinu koncentracije natrija u ispitanika u prvom testu (DHY) u odnosu na sva ostala mjerenja. Analiza površine ispod krivulje za aldosteron je pokazala značajno nižu koncentraciju u testu LDAG u odnosu na test DHY. Nisu zapažene značajne razlike između pojedinih mjerenja ni u jednoj drugoj hormonskoj i biokemijskoj reakciji na protokol vježbanja. Uzimanje AG tijekom kratkotrajne anaerobne aktivnosti i u stanju blagoga hipohidracijskoga stresa pokazalo je ograničene učinke na odabrane hormonske i biokemijske pokazatelje

Lung Cancer Occurrence in Never-Smokers: An Analysis of 13 Cohorts and 22 Cancer Registry Studies

Michael Thun and colleagues pooled and analyzed comprehensive data on lung cancer incidence and death rates among never-smokers to examine what factors other than active smoking affect lung cancer risk

Examination of the efficacy of acute L-alanyl-L-glutamine ingestion during hydration stress in endurance exercise

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The effect of acute L-alanyl-L-glutamine (AG; Sustamine™) ingestion on performance changes and markers of fluid regulation, immune, inflammatory, oxidative stress, and recovery was examined in response to exhaustive endurance exercise, during and in the absence of dehydration.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Ten physically active males (20.8 ± 0.6 y; 176.8 ± 7.2 cm; 77.4 ± 10.5 kg; 12.3 ± 4.6% body fat) volunteered to participate in this study. During the first visit (T1) subjects reported to the laboratory in a euhydrated state to provide a baseline (BL) blood draw and perform a maximal exercise test. In the four subsequent randomly ordered trials, subjects dehydrated to -2.5% of their baseline body mass. For T2, subjects achieved their goal weight and were not rehydrated. During T3 - T5, subjects reached their goal weight and then rehydrated to 1.5% of their baseline body mass by drinking either water (T3) or two different doses (T4 and T5) of the AG supplement (0.05 g·kg^-1and 0.2 g·kg^-1, respectively). Subjects then exercised at a workload that elicited 75% of their VO₂max on a cycle ergometer. During T2 - T5 blood draws occurred once goal body mass was achieved (DHY), immediately prior to the exercise stress (RHY), and immediately following the exercise protocol (IP). Resting 24 hour (24P) blood samples were also obtained. Blood samples were analyzed for glutamine, potassium, sodium, aldosterone, arginine vasopressin (AVP), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), malondialdehyde (MDA), testosterone, cortisol, ACTH, growth hormone and creatine kinase. Statistical evaluation of performance, hormonal and biochemical changes was accomplished using a repeated measures analysis of variance.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Glutamine concentrations for T5 were significantly higher at RHY and IP than T2 - T4. When examining performance changes (difference between T2 - T5 and T1), significantly greater times to exhaustion occurred during T4 (130.2 ± 340.2 sec) and T5 (157.4 ± 263.1 sec) compared to T2 (455.6 ± 245.0 sec). Plasma sodium concentrations were greater (p < 0.05) at RHY and IP for T2 than all other trials. Aldosterone concentrations at RHY and IP were significantly lower than that at BL and DHY. AVP was significantly elevated at DHY, RHY and IP compared to BL measures. No significant differences were observed between trials in CRP, IL-6, MDA, or in any of the other hormonal or biochemical measures.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Results demonstrate that AG supplementation provided a significant ergogenic benefit by increasing time to exhaustion during a mild hydration stress. This ergogenic effect was likely mediated by an enhanced fluid and electrolyte uptake.</p

Expected Performance of the ATLAS Experiment - Detector, Trigger and Physics

A detailed study is presented of the expected performance of the ATLAS detector. The reconstruction of tracks, leptons, photons, missing energy and jets is investigated, together with the performance of b-tagging and the trigger. The physics potential for a variety of interesting physics processes, within the Standard Model and beyond, is examined. The study comprises a series of notes based on simulations of the detector and physics processes, with particular emphasis given to the data expected from the first years of operation of the LHC at CERN

The threat of the COVID-19 pandemic on reversing global life-saving gains in the survival of childhood cancer: A call for collaborative action from SIOP, IPSO, PROS, WCC, CCI, st jude global, UICC and WHPCA

The COVID-19 pandemic poses an unprecedented health crisis in all socio-economic regions across the globe. While the pandemic has had a profound impact on access to and delivery of health care by all services, it has been particularly disruptive for the care of patients with life-threatening noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as the treatment of children and young people with cancer. The reduction in child mortality from preventable causes over the last 50 years has seen childhood cancer emerge as a major unmet health care need. Whilst survival rates of 85% have been achieved in high income countries, this has not yet been translated into similar outcomes for children with cancer in resource-limited settings where survival averages 30%. Launched in 2018, by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC) is a pivotal effort by the international community to achieve at least 60% survival for children with cancer by 2030. The WHO GICC is already making an impact in many countries but the disruption of cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to set back this global effort to improve the outcome for children with cancer, wherever they may live. As representatives of the global community committed to fostering the goals of the GICC, we applaud the WHO response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular we support the WHO's call to ensure the needs of patients with life threatening NCDs including cancer are not compromised during the pandemic. Here, as collaborative partners in the GICC, we highlight specific areas of focus that need to be addressed to ensure the immediate care of children and adolescents with cancer is not disrupted during the pandemic; and measures to sustain the development of cancer care so the long-term goals of the GICC are not lost during this global health crisis.Fil: Pritchard Jones, Kathy. University College London; Estados UnidosFil: de Abib, Simone C.V.. International Society Of Paediatric Surgical Oncology; Surinam. Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Esiashvili, Natia. University of Emory; Estados UnidosFil: Kaspers, Gertjan J.L.. Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology; Países BajosFil: Rosser, Jon. No especifíca;Fil: van Doorninck, John A.. Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children; Estados UnidosFil: Braganca, João M.L.. No especifíca;Fil: Hoffman, Ruth I.. No especifíca;Fil: Rodriguez Galindo, Carlos. St Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Estados UnidosFil: Adams, Cary. Union for International Cancer Control; SuizaFil: Connor, Stephen R.. Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance; Estados UnidosFil: Abdelhafeez, Abdelhafeez H.. International Society of Paediatric Surgical Oncology; Suiza. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Estados UnidosFil: Bouffet, Eric. University Of Toronto. Hospital For Sick Children; Canadá. International Society of Paediatric Surgical Oncology; SuizaFil: Howard, Scott C.. International Society of Paediatric Surgical Oncology; Suiza. University of Tennessee; Estados UnidosFil: Challinor, Julia M.. International Society of Paediatric Surgical Oncology; Suiza. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Hessissen, Laila. Children Hospital of Rabat; Marruecos. International Society of Paediatric Surgical Oncology; SuizaFil: Dalvi, Rashmi B.. Bombay Hospital Institute of Medical Sciences; India. International Society of Paediatric Surgical Oncology; SuizaFil: Kearns, Pamela. International Society of Paediatric Surgical Oncology; SuizaFil: Chantada, Guillermo Luis. International Society of Paediatric Surgical Oncology; Suiza. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Frazier, Lindsay A.. International Society of Paediatric Surgical Oncology; Suiza. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Sullivan, Michael J.. University of Melbourne; Australia. International Society of Paediatric Surgical Oncology; SuizaFil: Schulte, Fiona S.M.. University of Calgary; Canadá. International Society of Paediatric Surgical Oncology; SuizaFil: Morrissey, Lisa K.. Boston Children’s Hospital; Estados Unidos. International Society of Paediatric Surgical Oncology; SuizaFil: Kozhaeva, Olga. European Society for Paediatric Oncology; BélgicaFil: Luna Fineman, Sandra. Children’s Hospital Colorado; Estados Unidos. International Society of Paediatric Oncology; SuizaFil: Khan, Muhammad S.. Tawam Hospital; Emiratos Arabes Unido

Synergizing expectation and execution for stroke communities of practice innovations

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Regional networks have been recognized as an interesting model to support interdisciplinary and inter-organizational interactions that lead to meaningful care improvements. Existing communities of practice within the a regional network, the Montreal Stroke Network (MSN) offers a compelling structure to better manage the exponential growth of knowledge and to support care providers to better manage the complex cases they must deal with in their practices. This research project proposes to examine internal and external factors that influence individual and organisational readiness to adopt national stroke best practices and to assess the impact of an e-collaborative platform in facilitating knowledge translation activities.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We will develop an e-collaborative platform that will include various social networking and collaborative tools. We propose to create online brainstorming sessions ('jams') around each best practice recommendation. Jam postings will be analysed to identify emergent themes. Syntheses of these analyses will be provided to members to help them identify priority areas for practice change. Discussions will be moderated by clinical leaders, whose role will be to accelerate crystallizing of ideas around 'how to' implement selected best practices. All clinicians (~200) involved in stroke care among the MSN will be asked to participate. Activities during face-to-face meetings and on the e-collaborative platform will be documented. Content analysis of all activities will be performed using an observation grid that will use as outcome indicators key elements of communities of practice and of the knowledge creation cycle developed by Nonaka. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted among users of the e-collaborative platform to collect information on variables of the knowledge-to-action framework. All participants will be asked to complete three questionnaires: the typology questionnaire, which classifies individuals into one of four mutually exclusive categories of information seeking; the e-health state of readiness, which covers ten domains of the readiness to change; and a community of practice evaluation survey.</p> <p>Summary</p> <p>This project is expected to enhance our understanding of collaborative work across disciplines and organisations in accelerating implementation of best practices along the continuum of care, and how e-technologies influence access, sharing, creation, and application of knowledge.</p

Electrophysiological evidence of enhanced performance monitoring in recently abstinent alcoholic men

RATIONALE: Chronic alcoholism is associated with mild to moderate cognitive impairment. Under certain conditions, impairment can be ameliorated by invoking compensatory processes. OBJECTIVE: To identify electrophysiological mechanisms of such compensation that would be required to resolve response conflict. METHODS: 14 abstinent alcoholic men and 14 similarly aged control men performed a variation of the Eriksen flanker task during an electroencephalography (EEG) recording to examine whether alcoholics could achieve and maintain control-level performance and whether EEG markers could identify evidence for the action of compensatory processes in the alcoholics. Monitoring processes engaged following a response were indexed by the correct related negativity (CRN) and error related negativity (ERN), two medial-frontal negative event-related potentials. RESULTS: The alcoholics were able to perform at control levels on accuracy and reaction time (RT). Alcoholics generated larger ERN amplitudes following incorrect responses and larger CRNs following correct responses than controls. Both groups showed evidence of post-error slowing. Larger CRN amplitudes in the alcoholics were related to longer RTs. Also observed in the alcoholics was an association between smaller CRN amplitudes and length of sobriety, suggesting a normalization of monitoring activity with extended abstinence. CONCLUSIONS: To the extent that greater amplitude of these electrophysiological markers of performance monitoring indexes greater resource allocation and performance compensation, the larger amplitudes observed in the alcoholic than control group support the view that elevated performance monitoring enables abstinent alcoholics to overcome response conflict, as was evident in their control-level performance