A study of the littoral marine isopod Crustacea of the Dillon Beach area

The primary purpose of this study was to provide accurate diagnoses of the littoral marine isopod crustacea in the Dillon Beach area. Such a purpose involved a much more complete study of the anatomy of the species represented in the fauna than was heretofore performed. Certain anatomical structures deemed by earlier writers as specifically diagnostic are demonstrated to be unreliable and in a great many instances other structures previously neither described or figured by American writers are considered of paramount importance in species identification. The number and magnitude of the changes proposed in this paper as illustrated in outline form in the summary of the thesis are a sufficient indication of the scientific significance of this study

The Gender Politics of Criminal Insanity: "Order-in-Council" Women in British Columbia, 1888-1950

Between 1888 and 1950, 38 women were confined for indeterminate periods to British Columbia’s psychiatric system under executive “Orders-in-Council”. Enlisting clinical, organizational, and government records, the authors explore the psychiatric practices of control through which a male medico-legal establishment strove to comprehend and discipline these “criminally insane” women. The authoritative discourses and activities that shaped these women’s forensic careers reflected a gendered conception of social order that was hegemonic during this period. Such discourses helped to fashion the images of women, crime, and madness that continue to permeate public and official culture.De 1888 à 1950, 38 femmes ont été confinées par décret, pour une période indéterminée, dans les établissements psychiatriques de la Colombie-Britannique. À l’aide de documents cliniques, organisationnels et gouvernementaux, les auteurs étudient les pratiques de contrôle psychiatrique qu’utilisait le corps médico-légal masculin pour chercher à comprendre et à discipliner ces « aliénées criminelles ». Les discours et les mesures qui faisaient alors autorité et qui ont façonné le vécu de ces femmes témoignaient de la conception hégémonique de l’ordre social des hommes et des femmes de l’époque. De tels discours ont contribué à modeler l’image des femmes, de la criminalité et de la folie qui continuent d’imprégner la culture publique et officielle

Tunable CW diode-pumped Tm,Ho:YLiF4 laser operating at or near room temperature

A conversion efficiency of 42% and slope efficiency of 60% relative to absorbed pump power are obtained from a continuous wave diode-pumped Tm,Ho:YLiF4 laser at 2 microns with output power of 84 mW at a crystal temperature of 275 K. The emission spectrum is etalon tunable over a range of7 nm (16.3/cm) centered on 2.067 microns with fine tuning capability of the transition frequency with crystal temperature at a measured rate of -0.03/(cm)K. The effective emission cross-section is measured to be 5 x 10(exp -21) cm squared. These and other aspects of the laser performance are disclosed in the context of calculated atmospheric absorption characteristics in this spectral region and potential use in remote sensing applications. Single frequency output and frequency stabilization are achieved using an intracavity etalon in conjunction with an external reference etalon

Tunable CW diode-pumped Tm,Ho:YLiF4 laser operating at or near room temperature

A conversion efficiency of 42 percent and slope efficiency of 60 percent relative to absorbed pump power are obtained from a continuous wave diode-pumped Tm,Ho:YLiF4 laser at 2 microns with output power of 84mW at a crystal temperature of 275K. The emission spectrum is etalon tunable over a range of 7nm (16.3 cm(sup -1) centered on 2.067 microns with fine tuning capability of the transition frequency with crystal temperature at a measured rate of -0.03/(cm)K. The effective emission cross-section is measured to be 5 x 10(sup -21) cm squared. These and other aspects of the laser performance are disclosed in the context of calculated atmospheric absorption characteristics in this spectral region and potential use in remote sensing applications. Single frequency output and frequency stabilization are achieved using an intracavity etalon in conjunction with an external reference etalon

An analysis of pre-clinical efficacy testing of antivenoms for sub-Saharan Africa: Inadequate independent scrutiny and poor-quality reporting are barriers to improving snakebite treatment and management

Background The World Health Organization’s strategy to halve snakebite mortality and morbidity by 2030 includes an emphasis on a risk-benefit process assessing the preclinical efficacy of antivenoms manufactured for sub-Saharan Africa. To assist this process, we systematically collected, standardised and analysed all publicly available data on the preclinical efficacy of antivenoms designed for sub-Saharan Africa. Methodology/Principal findings Using a systematic search of publication databases, we focused on publicly available preclinical reports of the efficacy of 16 antivenom products available in sub Saharan Africa. Publications since 1999 reporting the industry standard intravenous pre-incubation method of murine in vivo neutralisation of venom lethality (median effective dose [ED50]) were included. Eighteen publications met the criteria. To permit comparison of the several different reported ED50 values, it was necessary to standardise these to microlitre of antivenom resulting in 50% survival of mice challenged per milligram of venom (μl/mg). We were unable to identify publicly available preclinical data on four antivenoms, whilst data for six polyspecific antivenoms were restricted to a small number of venoms. Only four antivenoms were tested against a wide range of venoms. Examination of these studies for the reporting of key metrics required for interpreting antivenom ED50s were highly variable, as evidenced by eight different units being used for the described ED50 values. Conclusions/Significance There is a disturbing lack of (i) preclinical efficacy testing of antivenom for sub Saharan Africa, (ii) publicly available reports and (iii) independent scrutiny of this medically important data. Where reports do exist, the methods and metrics used are highly variable. This prevents comprehensive meta-analysis of antivenom preclinical efficacy, and severely reduces the utility of antivenom ED50 results in the decision making of physicians treating patients and of national and international health agencies. Here, we propose the use of a standardised result reporting checklist to resolve this issue. Implementation of these straightforward steps will deliver uniform evaluation of products across laboratories, facilitate meta-analyses, and contribute vital information for designing the clinical trials needed to achieve the WHO target of halving snakebite morbidity and mortality by 2030

Purinergic Signaling in Kidney Disease

Nucleotides are key subunits for nucleic acids and provide energy for intracellular metabolism. They can also be released from cells to act physiologically as extracellular messengers or pathologically as danger signals. Extracellular nucleotides stimulate membrane receptors in the P2 and P1 family. P2X are ATP- activated cation channels; P2Y and P1 are G-protein coupled receptors activated by ATP, ADP, UTP and UDP or adenosine, respectively. Renal P2 receptors influence both vascular contractility and tubular function. Renal cells also express ectonucleotidases that rapidly hydrolyze extracellular nucleoti des. These enzymes integrate this multi-receptor purinergic-signaling complex by determining the nucleotide milieu, as well as titrating receptor activation. Purinergic signaling also regulates immune cell function by modulating the synthesis and release of various cytokines such as IL1-β and IL-18 as part of inflammasome activation. Abnormal or excessive stimulation of this intricate paracrine system can be pro- or anti-inflammatory, and is also linked to necrosis and apoptosis. Kidney tissue injury causes a localized increase in ATP concentration, and sustained activation of P2 receptors can lead to renal glomerular, tubular and vascular cell damage. Purinergic receptors also regulate the activity and proliferation of fibroblasts, promoting both inflammation and fibrosis in chronic disease. In this short review we summarize some of the recent findings related to purinergic signaling in the kidney. We focus predominantly on the P2X7 receptor, discussing why antagonists have so far disappointed in clinical trials and how advances in our understanding of purinergic signaling might help to reposition these compounds as potential treatments for renal disease

Susceptibility to hypertensive renal injury mediated by P2X receptors

The renin angiotensin aldosterone system is the dominant hormonal regulatory system controlling sodium balance and therefore blood pres- sure homeostasis. Abnormal modulation of this system is implicated in the pathogenesis of hypertension and end organ injury. We have previously developed the Cyp1a1-Ren2 transgenic rat to model an- giotensin II (ANG II) dependent hypertension. In this model hyper- tension causes renal injury, predominantly in the preglomerular vas- culature. The susceptibility to renal injury has a genetic component. A consomic/congenic study identified angiotensin converting enzyme (Ace) as an important modifer. However, renal injury is unlikely to be in uenced by a single gene. In this thesis it was hypothesised that examination of a renal microar- ray to compare the relative expression in F344 (susceptible) and Lewis (relatively protected) strains would reveal further genetic factors me- diating renal injury susceptibility. Genome wide expression analysis confirmed that Ace was a key modifier gene. Furthermore, the puriner- gic receptors P2x7 and P2x4 were identified as additional candidates. Gene and protein expression of these P2X receptors were both higher in F344 compared with Lewis. Immunohistochemistry localised P2X7 and P2X4 to the renal vasculature and tubules: the expression pattern was similar in both strains but became distinct in the renal medulla. F344, but not Lewis, responded to acute antagonism of P2X7 and P2X4. F344 showed a significant drop in blood pressure but maintained renal blood ow, indicative of tonic renal vasoconstriction. When ANG II was infused into F344 rats, there was a modest increase in blood pressure and an impairment of the pressure-natriuresis mecha- nism but no overt injury. Blood oxygenation-level dependent magnetic resonance imaging of the kidney identified a decrease in renal R2* sig- nal following P2X7 and P2X4 antagonism in ANG II infused F344 rats. P2X7/4 receptor activation reduces oxygenation and suppresses pressure-natriuresis. These effects are pro-biotic and may underpin susceptibility to renal injury