A cross-sectional study of the clinical characteristics of cancer patients presenting to one tertiary referral emergency department

© 2015. Introduction: There is increasing evidence of cancer patients presenting to emergency departments (ED). The study aim was to analyse the characteristics of adult cancer patients presenting to one ED. Understanding cancer patient presentations could assist in the development of new models of care. Methods: A 12 month retrospective audit was conducted of a random sample of cancer patients. Demographics and characteristic variables were analysed using descriptive, comparative and correlational statistics. Results: The presentation rate for adult cancer patients was 1110 (2.4%) with 290 sampled. The common symptoms were fever (n = 54: 18.6%), abdominal pain (n = 34: 11.7%), and shortness of breath (. n = 32: 11%). The majority of patients were allocated a Triage Category 2 (n = 94: 32.4%) or Triage Category 3 (n = 131: 45.2%). The majority of patients presented between 2 and 15 times. For patients administered antibiotics the average time was 119.8 minutes (SD ± 85.5). The average ED length of stay was mean 8.08 hours with 271 patients (93.4%) admitted to the hospital. Of the 290 patients, 105 (36.2%) had died within 12 months of ED presentation. Conclusion: The study has shown that while cancer patients are only a small percentage of ED presentations the vast majority are allocated high triage codes, have high admission rates and high mortality rates

ID4 levels dictate the stem cell state in mouse spermatogonia

Spermatogenesis is a classic model of cycling cell lineages that depend on a balance between stem cell self-renewal for continuity and the formation of progenitors as the initial step in the production of differentiated cells. The mechanisms that guide the continuum of spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) to progenitor spermatogonial transition and precise identifiers of subtypes in the process are undefined. Here we used an Id4-eGfp reporter mouse to discover that EGFP intensity is predictive of the subsets, with the ID4-EGFPBright population being mostly, if not purely, SSCs, whereas the ID4-EGFPDim population is in transition to the progenitor state. These subsets are also distinguishable by transcriptome signatures. Moreover, using a conditional overexpression mouse model, we found that transition from the stem cell to the immediate progenitor state requires downregulation of Id4 coincident with a major change in the transcriptome. Collectively, our results demonstrate that the level of ID4 is predictive of stem cell or progenitor capacity in spermatogonia and dictates the interface of transition between the different functional states

Vortex splitting on a planetary scale in the stratosphere by cyclogenesis on a subplanetary scale in the troposphere

It is hypothesized that a splitting of the stratospheric polar vortex and a sudden warming can result when the polar vortex is elongated and a closed cyclonic circulation develops on a subplanetary scale in the troposphere beneath one of its tips. The hypothesis is supported by studying the splitting event in the Southern Hemisphere during spring 2002. Potential vorticity inversion and an inverse modelling technique using the adjoint of a fully nonlinear dynamical model are used to confirm that splitting is sensitive to subplanetary-scale cyclogenesis when it is strong. Examples of stratospheric vortex-splitting events in the Northern Hemisphere are consistent with the hypothesis. The proposed mechanism for splitting contrasts with the commonly accepted one that it is caused by the upward propagation of a planetary wave from the troposphere. It is suggested that the phenomenon is better understood as an example of a vortex interaction rather than as a wave–mean flow interaction

Behaviour Tracking: Using geospatial and behaviour sequence analysis to map crime

Crime is a complex phenomenon. To understand the commission of crime, researchers must map both the temporal and the spatial processes involved. The current research combines a temporal method of analysis, Behaviour Sequence Analysis, with geospatial mapping, to outline a new method of integrating temporal and spatial movements of criminals. To show how the new method can be applied, a burglary scenario was used, and the movements and behaviours of a criminal tracked around the property. Results showed that combining temporal and spatial analyses allows for a clearer account of the process of a crime scene. The current method has application to a large range of other crimes and terrorist movements, for instance between cities and movements within each city. Therefore, the current research provides the foundation framework for a novel method of spatio-temporal analyses of crime

Generation of germline ablated male pigs by CRISPR/Cas9 editing of the NANOS2 gene

Genome editing tools have revolutionized the generation of genetically modified animals including livestock. In particular, the domestic pig is a proven model of human physiology and an agriculturally important species. In this study, we utilized the CRISPR/Cas9 system to edit the NANOS2 gene in pig embryos to generate offspring with mono-allelic and bi-allelic mutations. We found that NANOS2 knockout pigs phenocopy knockout mice with male specific germline ablation but other aspects of testicular development are normal. Moreover, male pigs with one intact NANOS2 allele and female knockout pigs are fertile. From an agriculture perspective, NANOS2 knockout male pigs are expected to serve as an ideal surrogate for transplantation of donor spermatogonial stem cells to expand the availability of gametes from genetically desirable sires

Laser Doppler Electrophoresis and electro-osmotic flow mapping: A novel methodology for the determination of membrane surface zeta potential

A novel technique employing an Uzigirs dip cell arrangement is used in conjunction with Laser Doppler Electrophoresis for the determination of the surface zeta potential for a UF, NF, and RO membrane. To the authors best knowledge this is the first study employing Laser Doppler Electrophoresis and Electro-osmotic Flow Mapping for membrane surface charge determination. High correlation of the regression fit (R2>0.95) for a carboxylated polystyrene latex particle electrophoretic mobility was achieved at low electrolyte concentrations (1mM and 10mM NaCl), but the reliability and accuracy of the extrapolated zeta potential values were problematic at higher concentration due to high measurement uncertainty (>10% in some cases). Changes in the applied electric field increased the phase resolution of 50mM NaCl electrolyte solutions between 0.5-2.0V. However, the effects of Joule heating at higher voltages compromised 50mM NaCl sample integrity. When compared with the established Tangential Streaming Potential method, Laser Doppler Electrophoresis measurements provided similar zeta potential values and trends indicating that this new methodology can indeed be employed for membrane characterization purposes; however, further research needs to be conducted in order to optimize this new technique and set appropriate operating limits

Incorporating Emotion and Personality-Based Analysis in User-Centered Modelling

Understanding complex user behaviour under various conditions, scenarios and journeys is fundamental to improving the user-experience for a given system. Predictive models of user reactions, responses—and in particular, emotions—can aid in the design of more intuitive and usable systems. Building on this theme, the preliminary research presented in this paper correlates events and interactions in an online social network against user behaviour, focusing on personality traits. Emotional context and tone is analysed and modelled based on varying types of sentiments that users express in their language using the IBM Watson Developer Cloud tools. The data collected in this study thus provides further evidence towards supporting the hypothesis that analysing and modelling emotions, sentiments and personality traits provides valuable insight into improving the user experience of complex social computer systems

Characterization of Spermatogonial Stem Cells Lacking Intercellular Bridges and Genetic Replacement of a Mutation in Spermatogonial Stem Cells

Stem cells have a potential of gene therapy for regenerative medicine. Among various stem cells, spermatogonial stem cells have a unique characteristic in which neighboring cells can be connected by intercellular bridges. However, the roles of intercellular bridges for stem cell self-renewal, differentiation, and proliferation remain to be elucidated. Here, we show not only the characteristics of testis-expressed gene 14 (TEX14) null spermatogonial stem cells lacking intercellular bridges but also a trial application of genetic correction of a mutation in spermatogonial stem cells as a model for future gene therapy. In TEX14 null testes, some genes important for undifferentiated spermatogonia as well as some differentiation-related genes were activated. TEX14 null spermatogonial stem cells, surprisingly, could form chain-like structures even though they do not form stable intercellular bridges. TEX14 null spermatogonial stem cells in culture possessed both characteristics of undifferentiated and differentiated spermatogonia. Long-term culture of TEX14 null spermatogonial stem cells could not be established likely secondary to up-regulation of CDK4 inhibitors and down-regulation of cyclin E. These results suggest that intercellular bridges are essential for both maintenance of spermatogonial stem cells and their proliferation. Lastly, a mutation in Tex14+/− spermatogonial stem cells was successfully replaced by homologous recombination in vitro. Our study provides a therapeutic potential of spermatogonial stem cells for reproductive medicine if they can be cultured long-term

Culture of Kenyan Goat (Capra hircus) Undifferentiated Spermatogonia in Feeder-Free Conditions

The undifferentiated spermatogonial population in mammalian testes contains a spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) population that can regenerate continual spermatogenesis following transplantation. This capacity has the potential to be exploited as a surrogate sires breeding tool to achieve widespread dissemination of desirable genetics in livestock production. Because SSCs are relatively rare in testicular tissue, the ability to expand a population in vitro would be advantageous to provide large numbers for transplantation into surrogate recipient males. Here, we evaluated conditions that would support long-term in-vitro maintenance of undifferentiated spermatogonia from a goat breed that is endemic to Kenyan livestock production. Single-cell suspensions enriched for undifferentiated spermatogonia from pre-pubertal bucks were seeded on laminin-coated tissue culture plates and maintained in a commercial media based on serum-free composition. The serum-free media was conditioned on goat fetal fibroblasts and supplemented with a growth factor cocktail that included glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), stromal cell-derived factor (SDF), and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) before use. Over 45 days, the primary cultures developed a cluster morphology indicative of in-vitro grown undifferentiated spermatogonia from other species and expressed the germ cell marker VASA, as well as the previously defined spermatogonial marker such as promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF). Taken together, these findings provide a methodology for isolating the SSC containing undifferentiated spermatogonial population from goat testes and long-term maintenance in defined culture conditions