Habitat Condition and Associated Macrofauna Reflect Differences Between Protected and Exposed Seagrass Landscapes

Seagrass landscape configurations associated with different physical settings can affect habitat-structure and plant-animal relationships. We compared shoal grass (Halodule wrightii) habitat and macrofaunal variables between two fragmented seagrass landscapes at barrier-island locations subject to different disturbance regimes. Five seagrass habitat variables including above ground biomass (AGB), shoot number, per shoot biomass, epiphyte biomass and below ground biomass (BGB), differed significantly between the island landscapes. Per shoot biomass and epiphyte biomass also varied significantly over the seagrass growing season; and epiphyte biomass showed a strong landscape-time interaction. Abundances of microgastropods normalized to AGB differed significantly between landscapes. An inverse relationship between the abundance of microgastropods and epiphyte loading suggests a possible functional link. However, additional temporal mismatch between epiphyte loading and microgastropod abundance indicates that controls on epiphyte loading were complex. Seagrass habitat was more fragmented within the Cat Island (CI) landscape. Wind direction and strength imply that the CI landscape experienced more physical disturbance than the Horn Island (HI) landscape. This study highlights some potential links involving landscape configuration, habitat structure, and macrofaunal associations which can be further addressed using hypothesis-driven research

Associations between maternal depressive symptoms and child feeding practices in a cross-sectional study of low-income mothers and their young children

Background: Maternal depression may influence feeding practices important in determining child eating behaviors and weight. However, the association between maternal depressive symptoms and feeding practices has been inconsistent, and most prior studies used self-report questionnaires alone to characterize feeding. The purpose of this study was to identify feeding practices associated with maternal depressive symptoms using multiple methodologies, and to test the hypothesis that maternal depressive symptoms are associated with less responsive feeding practices. Methods: In this cross-sectional, observational study, participants (n = 295) included low-income mothers and their 4- to 8-year-old children. Maternal feeding practices were assessed via interviewer-administered questionnaires, semi-structured narrative interviews, and videotaped observations in home and laboratory settings. Maternal depressive symptoms were measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale (CES-D). Regression analyses examined associations between elevated depressive symptoms (CES-D score ≥16) and measures of maternal feeding practices, adjusting for: child sex, food fussiness, number of older siblings; and maternal age, body mass index (BMI), education, race/ethnicity, single parent status, perceived child weight, and concern about child weight. Results: Thirty-one percent of mothers reported depressive symptoms above the screening cutoff. Mothers with elevated depressive symptoms reported more pressuring of children to eat (β = 0.29; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.03, 0.54) and more overall demandingness (β = 0.16; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.29), and expressed lower authority in child feeding during semi-structured narrative interview (Odds Ratio (OR) for low authority: 2.82; 95% CI: 1.55, 5.12). In homes of mothers with elevated depressive symptoms, the television was more likely audible during meals (OR: 1.91; 95% CI: 1.05, 3.48) and mothers were less likely to eat with children (OR: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.27, 0.85). There were no associations between maternal depressive symptoms and encouragement or discouragement of food in laboratory eating interactions. Conclusions: Mothers with elevated depressive symptoms demonstrated less responsive feeding practices than mothers with lower levels of depressive symptoms. These results suggest that screening for maternal depressive symptoms may be useful when counseling on healthy child feeding practices. Given inconsistencies across methodologies, future research should include multiple methods of characterizing feeding practices and direct comparisons of different methodologies

AGN effect on cooling flow dynamics

We analyzed the feedback of AGN jets on cooling flow clusters using three-dimensional AMR hydrodynamic simulations. We studied the interaction of the jet with the intracluster medium and creation of low X-ray emission cavities (Bubbles) in cluster plasma. The distribution of energy input by the jet into the system was quantified in its different forms, i.e. internal, kinetic and potential. We find that the energy associated with the bubbles, (pV + gamma pV/(gamma-1)), accounts for less than 10 percent of the jet energy.Comment: "Accepted for publication in Astrophysics & Space Science

Evidence for shock-heated gas in the Taffy Galaxies and Bridge from Optical Emission-Line IFU spectroscopy

We present optical IFU observations of the Taffy system (UGC 12914/15); named for the radio emission that stretches between the two galaxies. Given that these gas rich galaxies are believed to have recently collided head-on, the pair exhibits a surprisingly normal total (sub-LIRG) IR luminosity ($\mathrm{L_{FIR} \sim 4.5 \times 10^{10}}$ L$_\odot$). Previous observations have demonstrated that a large quantity of molecular and neutral gas have been drawn out of the galaxies into a massive multi-phase bridge. We present, for the first time, spatially resolved spectroscopy of the ionized gas in the system. The results show that the ionized gas is highly disturbed kinematically, with gas spread in two main filaments between the two galaxies. The line profiles exhibit widespread double components in both the bridge and parts of the disks of the galaxies. We investigate the spatial distribution of the excitation properties of the ionized gas using emission-line diagnostic diagrams, and conclude that large quantities (up to 40$\%$) of the emission from the entire system is consistent with gas heated in $\sim$200 \kms\ shocks. While the shocked gas is mainly associated with the bridge, there is a significant amount of shocked gas associated with both galaxies. Confirming other multi-wavelength indicators, the results suggest that the effects of shocks and turbulence can continue to be felt in a high-speed galaxy collision long after the collision has occurred. The persistence of shocks in the Taffy system may explain the relatively low current star formation rates in the system as a whole.Comment: 19 pages, 13 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap

Ecological and social strategies for managing fisheries using the Resist-Accept- Direct (RAD) framework

Fisheries management is a complex task made even more challenging by rapid and unprecedented socioecological transformations associated with climate change. The Resist-Accept- Direct (RAD) framework can be a useful tool to support fisheries management in facing the high uncertainty and variability associated with aquatic ecosystem transformations. Here, RAD strategies are presented to address ecological goals for aquatic ecosystems and social goals for fisheries. These strategies are mapped on a controllability matrix which explores the ability to guide a system\u27s behaviour towards a desired state based on ecological responsiveness and societal receptivity to change. Understanding and improving the controllability of aquatic systems and fisheries can help managers to maintain the broadest suite of available RAD management strategies

Adhering to Eat and Exercise Status During Radiotherapy for Oropharyngeal Cancer for Prevention and Mitigation of Radiotherapy-Associated Dysphagia

IMPORTANCE: Previously published work reported independent benefit of maintenance of oral intake (eat) and swallowing exercise adherence (exercise) during radiotherapy (RT) on diet and functional outcomes. The current study seeks to validate the authors\u27 previously published findings in a large contemporary cohort of patients with oropharynx cancer (OPC) and address limitations of the prior retrospective study using prospective, validated outcome measures. OBJECTIVE: To examine the longitudinal association of oral intake and swallowing exercise using validated, clinician-graded and patient-reported outcomes. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Secondary analysis of a prospective OPC registry including patients who underwent primary RT/chemoradiotherapy (CRT) or primary transoral robotic surgery plus RT/CRT for OPC at a single-institution comprehensive cancer center. EXPOSURES: Adherence to speech pathology swallowing intervention during RT coded as (1) eat: oral intake at end of RT (nothing by mouth [NPO]; partial oral intake [PO], with feeding tube [FT] supplement; full PO); and (2) exercise: swallowing exercise adherence (nonadherent vs partial/full adherence). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Feeding tube and diet (Performance Status Scale for Head and Neck Cancer) patient-reported swallowing-related quality of life (MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory; MDADI) and clinician-graded dysphagia severity grade (videofluoroscopic Dynamic Imaging Grade of Swallowing Toxicity; DIGEST) were collected at baseline, 3 to 6 months, and 18 to 24 months post-RT. RESULTS: A total of 595 patients (mean [SD] age, 65 [10] years; 532 [89%] male) who underwent primary RT (111 of 595 [19%]), CRT (434 of 595 [73%]), or primary transoral robotic surgery plus RT/CRT (50 of 595 [8%]) were included in this cohort study. At the end of RT, 55 (9%) patients were NPO, 115 (19%) were partial PO, 425 (71%) were full PO, and 340 (57%) reported exercise adherence. After multivariate adjustment, subacute return to solid diet and FT were independently associated with oral intake (odds ratio [OR], 2.0; 95% CI, 1.0-4.1; OR, 0.1; 95% CI, 0.0-0.2, respectively) and exercise (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.9-4.5; OR, 0.3; 95% CI, 0.1-0.5, respectively). Subacute MDADI (β = 6.5; 95% CI, 1.8-11.2), FT duration (days; β = -123.4; 95% CI, -148.5 to -98.4), and less severe dysphagia per DIGEST (OR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.3-1.0) were independently associated with oral intake, while exercise was independently associated with less severe laryngeal penetration/aspiration per DIGEST-safety (OR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.4-1.0). DIGEST grade associations with oral intake were not preserved long-term; however, exercise was associated with a higher likelihood of solid diet intake and better swallow safety per DIGEST. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The findings of this cohort study extend the authors\u27 previously published findings that oral intake and swallowing exercise during RT are associated with favorable functional outcomes, now demonstrated with broader domains of function using validated measures. Patterns of benefit differed in this study. Specifically, better subacute recovery of swallow-related quality of life and less severe dysphagia were found among patients who maintained oral intake independent of exercise adherence, and shorter FT utilization and better long-term diet and swallowing safety were found among those who exercised independent of oral intake

A comprehensive study of GRB 070125, a most energetic gamma ray burst

We present a comprehensive multiwavelength analysis of the bright, long duration gamma-ray burst GRB 070125, comprised of observations in $\gamma$-ray, X-ray, optical, millimeter and centimeter wavebands. Simultaneous fits to the optical and X-ray light curves favor a break on day 3.78, which we interpret as the jet break from a collimated outflow. Independent fits to optical and X-ray bands give similar results in the optical bands but shift the jet break to around day 10 in the X-ray light curve. We show that for the physical parameters derived for GRB 070125, inverse Compton scattering effects are important throughout the afterglow evolution. While inverse Compton scattering does not affect radio and optical bands, it may be a promising candidate to delay the jet break in the X-ray band. Radio light curves show rapid flux variations, which are interpreted as due to interstellar scintillation, and are used to derive an upper limit of $2.4 \times 10^{17}$ cm on the radius of the fireball in the lateral expansion phase of the jet. Radio light curves and spectra suggest a high synchrotron self absorption frequency indicative of the afterglow shock wave moving in a dense medium. Our broadband modeling favors a constant density profile for the circumburst medium over a wind-like profile ($R^{-2}$). However, keeping in mind the uncertainty of the parameters, it is difficult to unambiguously distinguish between the two density profiles. Our broadband fits suggest that \event is a burst with high radiative efficiency ($> 60$).Comment: 50 pages, 33 figures, sty file included, Appeared in 20 Aug 2008 edition of Astrophysical Journa

Mycolactone-dependent depletion of endothelial cell thrombomodulin is strongly associated with fibrin deposition in Buruli ulcer lesions

A well-known histopathological feature of diseased skin in Buruli ulcer (BU) is coagulative necrosis caused by the Mycobacterium ulcerans macrolide exotoxin mycolactone. Since the underlying mechanism is not known, we have investigated the effect of mycolactone on endothelial cells, focussing on the expression of surface anticoagulant molecules involved in the protein C anticoagulant pathway. Congenital deficiencies in this natural anticoagulant pathway are known to induce thrombotic complications such as purpura fulimans and spontaneous necrosis. Mycolactone profoundly decreased thrombomodulin (TM) expression on the surface of human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMVEC) at doses as low as 2ng/ml and as early as 8hrs after exposure. TM activates protein C by altering thrombin's substrate specificity, and exposure of HDMVEC to mycolactone for 24 hours resulted in an almost complete loss of the cells' ability to produce activated protein C. Loss of TM was shown to be due to a previously described mechanism involving mycolactone-dependent blockade of Sec61 translocation that results in proteasome-dependent degradation of newly synthesised ER-transiting proteins. Indeed, depletion from cells determined by live-cell imaging of cells stably expressing a recombinant TM-GFP fusion protein occurred at the known turnover rate. In order to determine the relevance of these findings to BU disease, immunohistochemistry of punch biopsies from 40 BU lesions (31 ulcers, nine plaques) was performed. TM abundance was profoundly reduced in the subcutis of 78% of biopsies. Furthermore, it was confirmed that fibrin deposition is a common feature of BU lesions, particularly in the necrotic areas. These findings indicate that there is decreased ability to control thrombin generation in BU skin. Mycolactone's effects on normal endothelial cell function, including its ability to activate the protein C anticoagulant pathway are strongly associated with this. Fibrin-driven tisischemia could contribute to the development of the tissue necrosis seen in BU lesions

Lewy Body Dementia Association\u27s Research Centers of Excellence Program: Inaugural Meeting Proceedings.

The first Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) Research Centers of Excellence (RCOE) Investigator\u27s meeting was held on December 14, 2017, in New Orleans. The program was established to increase patient access to clinical experts on Lewy body dementia (LBD), which includes dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson\u27s disease dementia (PDD), and to create a clinical trials-ready network. Four working groups (WG) were created to pursue the LBDA RCOE aims: (1) increase access to high-quality clinical care, (2) increase access to support for people living with LBD and their caregivers, (3) increase knowledge of LBD among medical and allied (or other) professionals, and (4) create infrastructure for a clinical trials-ready network as well as resources to advance the study of new therapeutics