Alternative Microplastic Identification Methods using Optical Components to Modify Standard Compound Microscopes for Fluorescence Microscopy

This study aimed to use optical components to modify and convert a compound microscope into a functional fluorescence microscope as an alternative identification procedure for microplastics in water samples. The results of this study showed that Nile Red dye was most effective in emitting fluorescence in colorless or clear plastics. Plastics that were colored showed weaker fluorescence. Rit Fabric Dye was also analyzed for fluorescence while bound to microplastics, but no fluorescence was found with this method

How to Solve the Initial Appearance Crisis

Across the United States, people are arrested and held behind bars for days, weeks, and sometimes even months, without ever seeing a judge or attorney. These delays violate the United States Constitution’s promise that an arrested person—who is innocent unless proven guilty—will have prompt access to the courts, the assistance of counsel, and a fair and speedy trial. These due process milestones begin at initial appearance: the first time an arrested person sees a judge about their case. At an initial appearance, the judge should inform an arrested person of the charges against them. The judge should also make an informed decision about whether, and under what conditions, to release a person from jail pending trial. The judge should hold this initial appearance promptly after arrest, and an attorney should advocate for the arrested person. Too often, none of these things happen. This policy brief outlines five best legal practices for jurisdictions to honor the United States Constitution and protect the rights of all arrested people. In addition to detailing each best practice, the publication outlines strategies for success that jurisdictions can use when implementing these vital policies.https://scholar.smu.edu/deasoncenter/1010/thumbnail.jp

Grading Injustice: Initial Appearance Report Cards

Arrested people across the United States often wait in jail for days, weeks, or even months before seeing a judge or meeting an attorney. In November 2021, the Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center published Ending Injustice: Solving the Initial Appearance Crisis, a comprehensive report about this ongoing crisis in pre-trial due process. That report described the devastating consequences of delayed and uncounseled initial appearances. Now, these Initial Appearance Report Cards offer a closer look at the laws governing post-arrest procedures in each U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. While the Deason Center’s previous report provided an overview of the initial appearance crisis nationwide, the Initial Appearance Report Cards are a rigorous assessment of the laws in almost every jurisdiction in the country. These report cards reveal enormous gaps in the legal protections accorded to people accused of crimes, illuminating both the scope of the initial appearance crisis and our urgent need to solve it.https://scholar.smu.edu/deasoncenter/1008/thumbnail.jp

The effect of liver disease on the vitamin K dependent factors in haemostasis.

This thesis deals with the effect of liver disease on the vitamin K dependent clotting factors II, VII, IX, X. Chapter I is a review of the literature and gives a background to the biological importance of vitamin K and the mechanism of its action. In Chapter II the effect of liver disease on the synthesis of the vitamin K dependent clotting factors is described, in particular the effect on factor VII. It was concluded that there is a relationship between the synthetic ability of the liver and circulating levels of the vitamin K dependent clotting factors. This synthetic ability is disturbed in liver disease. The study of serial changes in the vitamin K dependent clotting factors following the infusion of vitamin K is described in Chapter III. The study was concerned with assessing the effect of treatment on clotting factor levels as well as th pathways involved in the adsorption and utilisation of the vitamin K. In addition the study indicated that during the initial treatment with vitamin K the four vitamin K dependent clotting factors were synthesized at the same rate. The rate of synthesis during the 24 hour period of analysis appeared to be biphasic, indicating possible feed back mechanism on the synthesis pathway. Principal component analysis of the data derived during the 24 hour response indicated that an analysis at 16 - 18 hours may provide adequate information on the ultimate response to vitamin K. Proteins induced by vitamin K absence (PIVKA) in liver disease were investigated in Chapter IV, using the modified thrombotest as well as immunological techniques. The presence of PIVKA and PIVKA II was demonstrated in some forms of liver disease. Following the administration of vitamin K normal factor II appeared within one hour and a for PIVKA II of 17 hours was established. Furthermore, the appearance and disappearance of normal factor II and PIVKA II are identical. It was concluded that such a finding was related to a conformational change in the intracellular PIVKA II and this finding is discussed in the context of its effect on the haemostatic mechanisms

NEW AND SIGNIFICANT ISLAND RECORDS, RANGE EXTENSIONS AND ELEVATIONAL EXTENSIONS OF BIRDS IN EASTERN SULAWESI, ITS NEARBY SATELLITES, AND TERNATE

The Wallacean Region continues to be widely unexplored even in such relatively well-known animal groups as birds (Aves). We report on the results of an ornithological expedition from late Nov 2013 through early Jan 2014 to eastern Sulawesi and a number of satellite islands (Togian, Peleng, Taliabu) as well as Ternate. The expedition targeted and succeeded with the collection of 7–10 bird taxa previously documented by us and other researchers but still undescribed to science. In this contribution, we provide details on numerous first records of bird species outside their previously known geographic or elevational ranges observed or otherwise recorded during this expedition. We also document what appears to be a genuinely new taxon, possibly at the species level of kingfisher from Sulawesi that has been overlooked by previous ornithologists. Our results underscore our fragmentary knowledge of the composition of the avifauna of eastern Indonesia, and demonstrate that there continues to be a high degree of cryptic, undescribed avian diversity on these islands more than a century and a half after they were visited by Alfred Russel Wallace and other collectors

Langerhans cell homeostasis and activation is altered in hyperplastic human papillomavirus type 16 E7 expressing epidermis

It has previously been shown that expression of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV) E7 in epidermis causes hyperplasia and chronic inflammation, characteristics of pre-malignant lesions. Importantly, E7-expressing epidermis is strongly immune suppressed and is not rejected when transplanted onto immune competent mice. Professional antigen presenting cells are considered essential for initiation of the adaptive immune response that results in graft rejection. Langerhans cells (LC) are the only antigen presenting cells located in normal epidermis and altered phenotype and function of these cells may contribute to the immune suppressive microenvironment. Here, we show that LC are atypically activated as a direct result of E7 expression in the epidermis, and independent of the presence of lymphocytes. The number of LC was significantly increased and the LC are functionally impaired, both in migration and in antigen uptake. However when the LC were extracted from K14E7 skin and matured in vitro they were functionally competent to present and cross-present antigen, and to activate T cells. The ability of the LC to present and cross-present antigen following maturation supports retention of full functional capacity when removed from the hyperplastic skin microenvironment. As such, opportunities are afforded for the development of therapies to restore normal LC function in hyperplastic skin

Bringing scientific rigor to community-developed programs in Hong Kong

BACKGROUND: This paper describes efforts to generate evidence for community-developed programs to enhance family relationships in the Chinese culture of Hong Kong, within the framework of community-based participatory research (CBPR). METHODS: The CBPR framework was applied to help maximize the development of the intervention and the public health impact of the studies, while enhancing the capabilities of the social service sector partners. RESULTS: Four academic-community research teams explored the process of designing and implementing randomized controlled trials in the community. In addition to the expected cultural barriers between teams of academics and community practitioners, with their different outlooks, concerns and languages, the team navigated issues in utilizing the principles of CBPR unique to this Chinese culture. Eventually the team developed tools for adaptation, such as an emphasis on building the relationship while respecting role delineation and an iterative process of defining the non-negotiable parameters of research design while maintaining scientific rigor. Lessons learned include the risk of underemphasizing the size of the operational and skills shift between usual agency practices and research studies, the importance of minimizing non-negotiable parameters in implementing rigorous research designs in the community, and the need to view community capacity enhancement as a long term process. CONCLUSIONS: The four pilot studies under the FAMILY Project demonstrated that nuanced design adaptations, such as wait list controls and shorter assessments, better served the needs of the community and led to the successful development and vigorous evaluation of a series of preventive, family-oriented interventions in the Chinese culture of Hong Kong

Dietary macronutrient distribution influences post-exercise substrate utilization in women: A cross-sectional evaluation of metabolic flexibility

Metabolic flexibility is the ability to alter substrate utilization in response to substrate availability, which may influence health and performance. The current study evaluated the effects of habitual macronutrient distribution on energy expenditure (EE) and metabolic flexibility in physically active women

How Oxygen Availability Affects the Antimicrobial Efficacy of Host Defense Peptides: Lessons Learned from Studying the Copper-Binding Peptides Piscidins 1 and 3

The development of new therapeutic options against Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection is a critical public health concern, as the causative bacterium is highly resistant to multiple classes of antibiotics. Antimicrobial host-defense peptides (HDPs) are highly effective at simultaneously modulating the immune system function and directly killing bacteria through membrane disruption and oxidative damage. The copper-binding HDPs piscidin 1 and piscidin 3 have previously shown potent antimicrobial activity against a number of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial species but have never been investigated in an anaerobic environment. Synergy between piscidins and metal ions increases bacterial killing aerobically. Here, we performed growth inhibition and time-kill assays against C. difficile showing that both piscidins suppress proliferation of C. difficile by killing bacterial cells. Microscopy experiments show that the peptides accumulate at sites of membrane curvature. We find that both piscidins are effective against epidemic C. difficile strains that are highly resistant to other stresses. Notably, copper does not enhance piscidin activity against C. difficile. Thus, while antimicrobial activity of piscidin peptides is conserved in aerobic and anaerobic settings, the peptide–copper interaction depends on environmental oxygen to achieve its maximum potency. The development of pharmaceuticals from HDPs such as piscidin will necessitate consideration of oxygen levels in the targeted tissue