Randomised controlled trials in pre-hospital trauma : a systematic mapping review

Acknowledgements The authors thank Paul Manson (HSRU Information Scientist) for help with the database searches, Professor Graeme MacLennan for advice on categorising adaptive design trials, and Professor Marion Campbell for commenting on a draft version of the manuscript. Funding statement RL held an NHS Research Scotland Fellowship during the delivery of this project. The Health Services Research Unit, Institute of Applied Health Sciences (University of Aberdeen), is core-funded by the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates. The funders had no involvement in study design, collection, analysis and interpretation of data, reporting or the decision to publish.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Atmospheric Degradation of Ecologically Important Biogenic Volatiles:Investigating the Ozonolysis of (E)-β-Ocimene, Isomers of α and β-Farnesene, α-Terpinene and 6-Methyl-5-Hepten-2-One, and Their Gas-Phase Products

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (bVOCs), synthesised by plants, are important mediators of ecological interactions that can also undergo a series of reactions in the atmosphere. Ground-level ozone is a secondary pollutant generated through sunlight-driven reactions between nitrogen oxides (NOx) and VOCs. Its levels have increased since the industrial revolution and reactions involving ozone drive many chemical processes in the troposphere. While ozone precursors often originate in urban areas, winds may carry these hundreds of kilometres, causing ozone formation to also occur in less populated rural regions. Under elevated ozone conditions, ozonolysis of bVOCs can result in quantitative and qualitative changes in the gas phase, reducing the concentrations of certain bVOCs and resulting in the formation of other compounds. Such changes can result in disruption of bVOC-mediated behavioural or ecological interactions. Through a series of gas-phase experiments using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Proton Transfer Reaction Mass Spectrometry (PTR-MS), we investigated the products and their yields from the ozonolysis of a range of ubiquitous bVOCs, which were selected because of their importance in mediating ecological interactions such as pollinator and natural enemy attraction and plant-to-plant communication, namely: (E)-β-ocimene, isomers of α and β-farnesene, α-terpinene and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one. New products from the ozonolysis of these compounds were identified, and the formation of these compounds is consistent with terpene-ozone oxidation mechanisms. We present the degradation mechanism of our model bVOCs and identify their reaction products. We discuss the potential ecological implications of the degradation of each bVOC and of the formation of reaction products

Severe flooding and cause-specific hospitalization in the United States

Flooding is one of the most disruptive and costliest climate-related disasters and presents an escalating threat to population health due to climate change and urbanization patterns. Previous studies have investigated the consequences of flood exposures on only a handful of health outcomes and focus on a single flood event or affected region. To address this gap, we conducted a nationwide, multi-decade analysis of the impacts of severe floods on a wide range of health outcomes in the United States by linking a novel satellite-based high-resolution flood exposure database with Medicare cause-specific hospitalization records over the period 2000- 2016. Using a self-matched study design with a distributed lag model, we examined how cause-specific hospitalization rates deviate from expected rates during and up to four weeks after severe flood exposure. Our results revealed that risk of hospitalization was consistently elevated during and for at least four weeks following severe flood exposure for nervous system diseases (3.5 %; 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 0.6 %, 6.4 %), skin and subcutaneous tissue diseases (3.4 %; 95 % CI: 0.3 %, 6.7 %), and injury and poisoning (1.5 %; 95 % CI: -0.07 %, 3.2 %). Increases in hospitalization rate for these causes, musculoskeletal system diseases, and mental health-related impacts varied based on proportion of Black residents in each ZIP Code. Our findings demonstrate the need for targeted preparedness strategies for hospital personnel before, during, and after severe flooding

Receivers Limit the Prevalence of Deception in Humans: Evidence from Diving Behaviour in Soccer Players

Deception remains a hotly debated topic in evolutionary and behavioural research. Our understanding of what impedes or facilitates the use and detection of deceptive signals in humans is still largely limited to studies of verbal deception under laboratory conditions. Recent theoretical models of non-human behaviour have suggested that the potential outcome for deceivers and the ability of receivers to discriminate signals can effectively maintain their honesty. In this paper, we empirically test these predictions in a real-world case of human deception, simulation in soccer. In support of theoretical predictions in signalling theory, we show that cost-free deceit by soccer players decreases as the potential outcome for the signaller becomes more costly. We further show that the ability of receivers (referees) to detect deceptive signals may limit the prevalence of deception by soccer players. Our study provides empirical support to recent theoretical models in signalling theory, and identifies conditions that may facilitate human deception and hinder its detection

A Documentary Video Assignment to Enhance Learning in Large First-Year Science Classes

The video documentary assignment described in this paper provides students with learning opportunities in a range of core competencies in biology, framed by and including communication skills. The design, presented as a flow chart to illustrate scaffolding activities, is a culmination of six years of reflective practice and evidence based evaluation (e.g., student perspectives, teacher perspectives and student performance on certain criteria). The assignment forms part of a large (600 student) first year biology course and requires groups of four students to investigate and explain the biology behind an environmental issue to a lay audience. Scaffolding activities support development of interpersonal communication skills (team training activities), visual and oral communication skills (through interaction with a journalist and/or TV presenter) and the basics of audience analysis. They also develop information literacy skills and involve students in evaluation of basic logic and argument in a selection of Youtube videos. Student engagement and motivation with the assignment is very high and it provides a fun and bonding experience for students in their first semester of university. Evidence and justification for design decisions are presented in this article and should prove useful for others looking to implement a similar task in a different context, either as a whole or part

Thin-Film Metamaterials called Sculptured Thin Films

Morphology and performance are conjointed attributes of metamaterials, of which sculptured thin films (STFs) are examples. STFs are assemblies of nanowires that can be fabricated from many different materials, typically via physical vapor deposition onto rotating substrates. The curvilinear--nanowire morphology of STFs is determined by the substrate motions during fabrication. The optical properties, especially, can be tailored by varying the morphology of STFs. In many cases prototype devices have been fabricated for various optical, thermal, chemical, and biological applications.Comment: to be published in Proc. ICTP School on Metamaterials (Augsut 2009, Sibiu, Romania

Long-Term Preservation of Cones and Improvement in Visual Function Following Gene Therapy in a Mouse Model of Leber Congenital Amaurosis Caused by Guanylate Cyclase-1 Deficiency

Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) is a severe retinal dystrophy manifesting from early infancy as poor vision or blindness. Loss-of-function mutations in GUCY2D cause LCA1 and are one of the most common causes of LCA, accounting for 20% of all cases. Human GUCY2D and mouse Gucy2e genes encode guanylate cyclase-1 (GC), which is responsible for restoring the dark state in photoreceptors after light exposure. The Glicy2e(-/-) mouse shows partially diminished rod function, but an absence of cone function before degeneration. Although the cones appear morphologically normal, they exhibit mislocalization of proteins involved in phototransduction. In this study we tested the efficacy of an rAAV2/8 vector containing the human rhodopsin kinase promoter and the human GUCY2D gene. Following subretinal delivery of the vector in Glicy2e(-/-) mice, GC1 protein was detected in the rod and cone outer segments, and in transduced areas of retina cone transducin was appropriately localized to cone outer segments. Moreover, we observed a dose-dependent restoration of rod and cone function and an improvement in visual behavior of the treated mice. Most importantly, cone preservation was observed in transduced areas up to 6 months post injection. To date, this is the most effective rescue of the Glicy2e(-/-) mouse model of LCA and we propose that a vector, similar to the one used in this study, could be suitable for use in a clinical trial of gene therapy for LCA1

The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) for trauma patients with uncontrolled torso haemorrhage : study protocol for a randomised clinical trial (the UK-REBOA trial)

Acknowledgements The UK-REBOA trial grantholders include Jan O. Jansen, University of Aberdeen, UK, and University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA; Marion K. Campbell, University of Aberdeen, UK; Chris Moran, Nottingham University Hospital Trust, UK; Karim Brohi, Queen Mary University of London, UK; Fiona Lecky, University of Sheffield, UK; Robbie Lendrum, Bart’s Health NHS Trust, UK; Graeme MacLennan, University of Aberdeen, UK; Jonathan J. Morrison, University of Maryland, USA; Nigel Tai, Academic Department of Military Surgery and Trauma, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, UK; Tim Harris, Bart’s Health NHS Trust, UK; John Norrie, University of Edinburgh, UK; Dwayne Boyers, University of Aberdeen, UK; Alan Paterson, University of Strathclyde, UK; and Nick Welch. Funding {4} This study/project is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) HTA Programme (reference 14/199/09). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care. The funder has/had no role in the design of the study; the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; or writing the manuscript. The Health Services Research Unit, Institute of Applied Health Sciences (University of Aberdeen), is core-funded by the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Isolation and Characterization of Multipotent CD24+ Cells From the Renal Papilla of Swine

Over 100,000 patients in the United States are currently waiting for a kidney transplant. With just over 10,000 cadaveric kidneys transplanted annually, it is of the utmost importance to optimize kidney viability upon transplantation. One exciting avenue may be xenotransplantation, which has rejuvenated interest after advanced gene editing techniques have been successfully used in swine. Simultaneously, acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with high morbidity and mortality and currently lacks effective treatment. Animal models have been used extensively to address both of these issues, with recent emphasis on renal progenitor cells (RPCs). Due to anatomical similarities to humans we aimed to examine progenitor cells from the renal papillae of swine kidneys. To do this, RPCs were dissected from the renal papillae of healthy swine. Cell surface marker expression, proliferation, and differentiation of the RPCs were tested in vitro. Additionally, a mixed lymphocyte reaction was performed to examine immunomodulatory properties. RPCs displayed spindle shaped morphology with limited self-renewing capacity. Isolated RPCs were positive for CD24 and CD133 at early passages, but lost expression with subsequent passaging. Similarly, RPCs displayed myogenic, osteogenic, and adipogenic differentiation capacities at passage 2, but largely lost this by passage 6. Lastly, direct contact of RPCs with human lymphocytes increased release of IL6 and IL8. Taken together, RPCs from the papilla of porcine kidneys display transient stem cell properties that are lost with passaging, and either represent multiple types of progenitor cells, or a multipotent progenitor population. In instances of ischemic insult, augmentation of/with RPCs may potentiate regenerative properties of the kidney. While the use of swine for transplantation and ischemia studies confers obvious advantages, the populations of different progenitor cell populations within pig kidneys warrants further investigation. Ultimately, while gene editing techniques enhance the potential for xenotransplantation of organs or cells, the ultimate success of this strategy may be determined by the (dis)similarities of RPCs from different species