Low-Cost Air Quality Monitoring Tools: From Research to Practice (A Workshop Summary).

In May 2017, a two-day workshop was held in Los Angeles (California, U.S.A.) to gather practitioners who work with low-cost sensors used to make air quality measurements. The community of practice included individuals from academia, industry, non-profit groups, community-based organizations, and regulatory agencies. The group gathered to share knowledge developed from a variety of pilot projects in hopes of advancing the collective knowledge about how best to use low-cost air quality sensors. Panel discussion topics included: (1) best practices for deployment and calibration of low-cost sensor systems, (2) data standardization efforts and database design, (3) advances in sensor calibration, data management, and data analysis and visualization, and (4) lessons learned from research/community partnerships to encourage purposeful use of sensors and create change/action. Panel discussions summarized knowledge advances and project successes while also highlighting the questions, unresolved issues, and technological limitations that still remain within the low-cost air quality sensor arena

Equine or porcine synovial fluid as a novel ex vivo model for the study of bacterial free-floating biofilms that form in human joint infections

Bacterial invasion of synovial joints, as in infectious or septic arthritis, can be difficult to treat in both veterinary and human clinical practice. Biofilms, in the form of free-floating clumps or aggregates, are involved with the pathogenesis of infectious arthritis and periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). Infection of a joint containing an orthopedic implant can additionally complicate these infections due to the presence of adherent biofilms. Because of these biofilm phenotypes, bacteria within these infected joints show increased antimicrobial tolerance even at high antibiotic concentrations. To date, animal models of PJI or infectious arthritis have been limited to small animals such as rodents or rabbits. Small animal models, however, yield limited quantities of synovial fluid making them impractical for in vitro research. Herein, we describe the use of ex vivo equine and porcine models for the study of synovial fluid induced biofilm aggregate formation and antimicrobial tolerance. We observed Staphylococcus aureus and other bacterial pathogens adapt the same biofilm aggregate phenotype with significant antimicrobial tolerance in both equine and porcine synovial fluid, analogous to human synovial fluid. We also demonstrate that enzymatic dispersal of synovial fluid aggregates restores the activity of antimicrobials. Future studies investigating the interaction of bacterial cell surface proteins with host synovial fluid proteins can be readily carried out in equine or porcine ex vivo models to identify novel drug targets for treatment of prevention of these difficult to treat infectious diseases

Emergency Department Chief Complaints Among Children With Cancer

Children with cancer have high emergency department (ED) utilization, but little is known about their chief complaints. A retrospective chart review of ED chief complaints for children with cancer (actively receiving therapy) at Riley Hospital for Children from January 2014 to December 2015 was performed. Proportions of visits and disposition for top 5 chief complaints were determined. Multivariate logistic regression analyzed factors associated with admission. There were 598 encounters by 231 children with cancer. About half (49%) had >1 complaint. The 5 most common primary chief complaints were: fever (60.2%), pain (6.5%), nausea/vomiting (5.0%), bleeding (3.9%), and abnormal laboratory values (3.3%). Admission rates varied, with the highest rates being for nausea/vomiting (66.7%). Risk factors for admission were: hospitalization in prior 4 weeks (odds ratio [OR], 2.67; confidence interval [CI], 1.77-4.02), chief complaint of fever (OR, 1.90; CI, 1.16-3.09). For each increase in number of chief complaints, odds increased by 1.45 (CI, 1.14-1.83). Black, non-Hispanic (OR, 0.44; CI, 0.22-0.88) as compared with white, non-Hispanic, younger age (OR, 0.53; CI, 0.29-0.99) or complaint of abnormal laboratory values (OR, 0.20; CI, 0.06-0.68) had lower odds of admission. Children with cancer present to the ED with multiple and varied complaints. Future interventions could aim to improve caregiver anticipatory guidance and ED visit preparedness

The Physiologic and Behavioral Implications of Playing Active and Sedentary Video Games in a Seated and Standing Position

International Journal of Exercise Science 7(3) : 194-201, 2014. Previous studies have assessed physiologic response while playing video games per manufacturer instructions with participants standing during active video game play and seated during sedentary game play. It is not known whether an assigned seated or standing position affects positional preference and oxygen consumption (VO2) while gaming. The purpose of the study was to assess VO2 and preference of playing active and sedentary video games in a seated and standing position. VO2 was assessed in 25 participants during four, 20-minute conditions; resting, PlayStation 2 Madden NFL Football 2011, Nintendo Wii-Sports Boxing and Nintendo Wii Madden NFL Football 2011. Each condition was divided into two positional conditions (10 minutes seated, 10 minutes standing) and each participant indicated their positional preference after each 20-minute condition. Standing VO2 (4.4 ± 0.2 ml•kg-1•min-1 PS2, 4.6 ± 0.1 ml•kg-1•min-1 Wii Madden, 6.8 ± 0.3 ml•kg-1•min-1Wii Boxing) was significantly (p ≤ 0.001) greater than seated VO2 (4.0 ± 0.1 ml•kg-1•min-1 PS2, 4.2 ± 0.1 ml•kg-1•min-1 Wii Madden, 6.1 ± 0.3 ml•kg-1•min-1Wii Boxing) for each gaming condition. Participants preferred (p ≤ 0.001) to sit for all gaming conditions except Wii Boxing. Playing video games while standing increases VO2 to a greater extent than playing the same games in a seated position. Standing was only preferred for the most physiologically challenging game, Wii Boxing. Gaming position should be considered when assessing the physiologic and behavioral outcomes of playing video games

eleanor: An open-source tool for extracting light curves from the TESS Full-Frame Images

During its two year prime mission the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) will perform a time-series photometric survey covering over 80% of the sky. This survey comprises observations of 26 24 x 96 degree sectors that are each monitored continuously for approximately 27 days. The main goal of TESS is to find transiting planets around 200,000 pre-selected stars for which fixed aperture photometry is recorded every two minutes. However, TESS is also recording and delivering Full-Frame Images (FFIs) of each detector at a 30 minute cadence. We have created an open-source tool, eleanor, to produce light curves for objects in the TESS FFIs. Here, we describe the methods used in eleanor to produce light curves that are optimized for planet searches. The tool performs background subtraction, aperture and PSF photometry, decorrelation of instrument systematics, and cotrending using principal component analysis. We recover known transiting exoplanets in the FFIs to validate the pipeline and perform a limited search for new planet candidates in Sector 1. Our tests indicate that eleanor produces light curves with significantly less scatter than other tools that have been used in the literature. Cadence-stacked images, and raw and detrended eleanor light curves for each analyzed star will be hosted on MAST, with planet candidates on ExoFOP-TESS as Community TESS Objects of Interest (CTOIs). This work confirms the promise that the TESS FFIs will enable the detection of thousands of new exoplanets and a broad range of time domain astrophysics.Comment: 21 pages, 13 figures, 2 tables, Accepted to PAS

Mitochondrial Dysfunction is Evident in Lewis Lung Carcinoma-Induced Muscle Wasting

Cancer cachexia is a paraneoplastic syndrome associated with adverse prognosis and shortened survival. The defining feature of cachexia is extensive muscle atrophy leading to progressive functional impairments. The molecular mechanisms responsible for the rapid muscle wasting are not fully elucidated. Based on emerging evidence, we developed the hypothesis cachectic muscle wasting is caused by mitochondrial dysfunction increasing reactive oxygen species production leading to global oxidative stress. To test this hypothesis we utilized the well-established Lewis-Lung Carcinoma (LLC) model of cancer cachexia. The time-course study consisted of one, two, three and four week LLC tumor bearing mice and age-matched four week saline (PBS) control (Ctrl) mice. Tumors were implanted into the hind flank at 1X106 cells in 100 µL PBS. The plantaris was weighed for wet mass then teased into small fiber bundles and permeabilized for the quantification of mitochondrial function. Mitochondrial dysfunction was classified by a decrease in the respiratory control ratio (RCR), which is the ratio of state 3 (maximal ADP stimulated respiration) to state 4 (oligomycin-induced leak respiration). Muscle mass progressively declined over the time-course, reaching significance at 4 weeks (Ctrl vs 4-week, p\u3c0.05). Mitochondrial function was not different among groups, however individual a priori comparison between groups revealed that 4wk cancer animals exhibited marked mitochondrial dysfunction compared to all other groups (p\u3c0.05). These data demonstrate that late stage cancer-induced muscle wasting is associated with significant mitochondrial dysfunction

Relationship Between Body Composition, Body Fat Distribution, and Blood Lipids Among Law Enforcement Officers: Part 1

Law enforcement officers (LEOs) have a high-stress occupation which is prone to cardiovascular disease (CVD). In fact, data suggest that LEOs have a 1.7-fold higher CVD prevalence versus the general public, in addition to 40.5% of LEOs being classified as obese. However, research is lacking regarding the relationship between body composition, body fat distribution, and blood lipid panels as it pertains to CVD risk in LEOs. PURPOSE: To determine if body composition and fat distribution measures correlate with predictive lipid markers in LEOs. METHODS: Forty-three LEOs (age = 41.7±9.6 yrs; weight = 91.9±15.4 kg; height = 179.8±8.7 cm; VO2max: 37.0±6.16 ml/kg/min) from a local police department were evaluated. Fasting blood samples were collected to assess biomarkers of CVD risk: low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG). Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry was used to measure body composition and body fat distribution. Bivariate Pearson correlation matrix was used to determine correlations (p\u3c0.05* and p\u3c0.01**). To further assess the relationship between body composition, fat distribution measures, and blood lipids, ordinary least square (OLS) regression analyses were used. RESULTS: Lower body weight correlated with greater HDL concentrations (r=-0.432**). Higher fat mass correlated with greater TG concentrations (r=0.338*), while greater lean mass was inversely correlated with HDL concentrations (r=-0.496**). Android and gynoid adiposity were positively correlated with greater TG (r=0.359*) and HDL (r=0.320*) concentrations, respectively. Lastly, higher visceral adipose tissue was correlated with greater TG concentrations (r=0.430**). The OLS regression analysis revealed (p\u3c0.05) 1) weight was inversely predictive of HDL, 2) Fat mass was positively predictive of TG, 3) lean mass was inversely predictive of HDL, 4) android adiposity was positively predictive of TG, 5) gynoid adiposity was positively predictive of HDL, and 6) visceral adipose tissue was positively predictive of TG. CONCLUSION: Measures of body composition seen in LEOs with increased body fat showed positive correlations with blood lipid markers (TG and HDL), which can be predictive of high CVD risk and other potential medical conditions. These data provide insight into the association of body composition and fat distribution with markers of CVD risk

Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Diaphragm Muscle Precedes the Cachectic Phenotype in LLC Tumor-Bearing Mice.

The defining feature of cancer cachexia is extensive weight loss and skeletal muscle atrophy. It is clinically important because cachexia reduces patient survival, results in functional impairment, and is estimated to be directly responsible for 20-40% of cancer deaths. Unfortunately, no clinical therapy exists and therefore, it is important to understand the molecular mechanisms responsible for rapid muscle wasting. Compared to limb muscles, the diaphragm is relatively understudied in cancer cachexia, but is likely to be adversely affected because cachexia is a systemic disease. Wasting of the primary inspiratory muscle may result in difficulty breathing and inability to adjust minute ventilation in response to a respiratory challenge. Based on emerging evidence, it is clear that oxidative stress is present in cachexia-induced wasting of the diaphragm; PURPOSE: we developed the hypothesis that mitochondrial dysfunction in the diaphragm precedes cachexia. METHODS: 1X106 Lewis Lung Carcinoma cells (LLC) or Phosphate-Buffered Saline (PBS, control) were implanted to the hind-flank of C57BL6/J mice at 8 wks of age. Tumors were allowed to develop for 1, 2, 3, or 4 wks. At designated time points diaphragms were collected and mitochondrial function was assessed by respiration and ROS production. RESULTS: Cancer cachexia was evident only at the 4 wk time point demonstrated by decrease in body mass and muscle atrophy in several limb muscles. Mitochondrial respiration, assessed by respiratory control ratio (state3/state 4 respiration), was significantly lower at 1 wk (pCONCLUSIONS:The molecular events that lead to muscle atrophy in cancer cachexia are unknown. We demonstrate that two hallmarks of mitochondrial dysfunction, altered respiration and ROS production, occur in the diaphragm well before the cancer cachexia phenotype is evident in the LLC model. These data suggest that the mitochondria are likely a suitable target to treat or prevent cancer cachexia-induced muscle wasting in the diaphragm

Physiologic Responses, Liking and Motivation for Playing the Same Video Game on an Active Versus a Traditional, Non-Active Gaming System.

Int J Exerc Sci 5(2) : 160-169, 2012. Evidence suggests that individuals playing certain video games on the Nintendo Wii® (Wii) exhibit increased energy expenditure versus traditional video games, although little research examines non-Wii Sports/Fit games. The purpose of this study is to assess physiologic responses, liking, and the relative reinforcing value (RRV) of a popular, non-Wii sports video game for the Wii relative to the same game played on a traditional, non-active system. Twenty-four college-aged students participated. Heart rate and oxygen consumption (O2) was assessed during rest and when playing the following games: Madden NFL 2011® for Playstation 2 (PS2 Madden) and the Wii (Wii Madden), and Wii Sports Boxing. The RRV was assessed for Wii Madden versus PS2 Madden. Analysis of variance demonstrated a main effect for condition (p ≤ 0.01) as O2 (5.2 ± 0.2 ml·kg-1·min-1 Wii, 4.1 ± 0.1 ml·kg-1·min-1 PS2, 3.7 ± 0.1 ml·kg-1·min-1, rest) and heart rate (89.2 ± 2.7 bpm Wii, 79.7 ± 2.5 bpm PS2, 79.1 ± 2.5 bpm, rest) was greater for Wii Madden than PS2 Madden and rest. Heart Rate (105.4 ± 5.3 bpm) and O2 (10.4 ml·kg-1·min-1) for Wii Sports Boxing was significantly greater than all other conditions (p ≤ 0.003). The RRV was not significantly different between Wii Madden and PS2 Madden (p = 0.50). Compared to the same game on a traditional system, Wii Madden is more physiologically challenging and equally reinforcing. However, Wii Madden would not be categorized as moderate-intensity physical activity