Exposure effects of thiamethoxam on the viability, growth, and behavior of Physa acuta

Thiamethoxam is a neonicotinoid insecticide that targets the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors of target organisms. It is used on a wide variety of crops and can be applied in multiple methods including seed coatings, broadcast sprays, or foliar sprays. As thiamethoxam is highly soluble, it easily enters aquatic environments and surface water through run-off events from agricultural fields. Detected environmental concentrations have ranged from the low ng/L range up to 225 ug/L. While the effects of thiamethoxam exposure has been well studied in aquatic vertebrates, few studies have examined their impacts on freshwater invertebrates. As such, this study assessed the impacts of thiamethoxam exposure on the viability, behavior, and shell growth of juvenile freshwater bladder snails (Physa acuta). Adult P. acuta specimens were collected from local waterways in Fredericksburg, VA and bred under laboratory conditions for several generations. Laboratory hatched one-week old juveniles were then exposed to various concentrations of thiamethoxam (0 (EtOH control), 1.56, 3.13, 6.25, 12.5, or 25 ug/L) for two weeks using a static replacement exposure method (100% change every four days). Mortality was assessed every 24 hours, while shell growth and behavior were assessed on day 7 and day 14. Photos of each snail were obtained after one and two weeks and growth was measured using ImageJ (v1.8.0). Behavior was assessed using ToxTrac (v2.83) including average speed, average velocity, total distance traveled, and time spent stationary. While this experiment is still ongoing, we expect to see higher mortality rates and decreased growth concurrent with higher concentrations of thiamethoxam. We also expect to see increases in average speed, average velocity, and total distance traveled with increased exposure concentrations. Our findings will help expand our knowledge on how thiamethoxam impacts multiple physiological endpoints of a novel freshwater invertebrate species

Polynomials Of Small Mahler Measure With no Newman Multiples

A Newman polynomial is a polynomial with coefficients in f0;1g and with constant term 1. It is known that the roots of a Newman polynomial must lie in the slit annulus fz 2C: f1 1 such that if a polynomial f (z) 2 Z[z] has Mahler measure less than s and has no nonnegative real roots, then it must divide a Newman polynomial. In this thesis, we present a new upper bound on such a s if it exists. We also show that there are infinitely many monic polynomials that have distinct Mahler measures which all lie below f, have no nonnegative real roots, and have no Newman multiples. Finally, we consider a more general notion in which multiples of polynomials are considered in R[z] instead of Z[z]

The Future of Connection : Serendipity and Control in Interpersonal Communication Tools

This foresight project explored the contemporary trends and tensions inherent in people's experiences with and using interpersonal communication tools. A standard foresight process was overlaid with an experiential lens in order to provide technology designers with useful insights. The outcomes of this project include four tools intended for designers of interpersonal communication applications. These tools include a map of experiential tensions, a landscape of contemporary behaviour, a set of four future scenarios and implications of each, and finally a set of ten reflection questions intended to provoke critical thought about the choices designers make about the balance between serendipity and control in interpersonal communication tools

Comparison between the in-vitro cytotoxicity of three different multilayer thermoplastic clear aligner materials

Background: Clear aligner therapy (CAT) is a prominent orthodontic treatment option. CAT was formerly only used to treat mild malocclusions, but with developments in technology, it can now treat much more complex malocclusions. With the increasing popularity of CAT and technological improvements, led to the development of Invisalign’s SmartTrack technology, the first commercially available aligner material that used multi-layer plastic to facilitate tooth movement. Multiple layers provide superior mechanical properties that eluded previous single layer plastics. Aim: To study the cytotoxicity properties of different thermoplastic multilayer clear aligner materials on human primary gingival fibroblasts (HGFs). Materials and methods: Three multilayered clear aligner materials were considered in this study: SmartTrack (Align Technology, San Jose, CA, USA), Zendura FLX (Bay Materials, Fremont, CA, USA), and ComfortTrack (Great Lakes Dental Technologies, Tonawanda, NY, USA). The samples were incubated at 37oC in DMEM (0.1 mg/mL) for 21 days. The cell viability of HGFs cultured with each sample medium was then compared to a negative control assessed by MTT assay. Results: The results showed slight toxicity for each one of the samples tested. The highest cytotoxicity level seen in the HGFs was SmartTrack (65.5% ± 2.5 of cell viability), followed by Zendura FLX (72.3% ± 8.6), and the least was observed by ComfortTrack (80.8% ± 2.1). Conclusion: The Under the experimental conditions of the study, all of the materials tested displayed slight levels of cytotoxicity. SmartTrack was measured as the most cytotoxic. There were no statistical differences found between the three aligner materials (P< 0.05)

The Influence of Caffeine Expectancies on Simulated Soccer Performance in Recreational Individuals

Caffeine (CAF) has been reported to improve various facets associated with successful soccer play, including gross motor skill performance, endurance capacity and cognition. These benefits are primarily attributed to pharmacological mechanisms. However, evidence assessing CAF’s overall effects on soccer performance are sparse with no studies accounting for CAF’s potential psychological impact. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess CAF’s psychological vs. pharmacological influence on various facets of simulated soccer performance. Utilising a double-dissociation design, eight male recreational soccer players (age: 22 ± 5 years, body mass: 78 ± 16 kg, height: 178 ± 6 cm) consumed CAF (3 mg/kg/body mass) or placebo (PLA) capsules, 60 min prior to performing the Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test (LIST) interspersed with a collection of ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), blood glucose and lactate, heart rate and performing the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test (LSPT). Whole-body dynamic reaction time (DRT) was assessed pre- and post- LIST, and endurance capacity (TLIM) post, time-matched LIST. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS (v24) whilst subjective perceptions were explored using template analysis. Mean TLIM was greatest (p < 0.001) for synergism (given CAF/told CAF) (672 ± 132 s) vs. placebo (given PLA/told PLA) (533 ± 79 s). However, when isolated, TLIM was greater (p = 0.012) for CAF psychology (given PLA/told CAF) (623 ± 117 s) vs. pharmacology (given CAF/told PLA) (578 ± 99 s), potentially, via reduced RPE. Although DRT performance was greater (p = 0.024) post-ingestion (+5 hits) and post-exercise (+7 hits) for pharmacology vs. placebo, psychology and synergism appeared to improve LSPT performance vs. pharmacology. Interestingly, positive perceptions during psychology inhibited LSPT and DRT performance via potential CAF over-reliance, with the opposite occurring following negative perceptions. The benefits associated with CAF expectancies may better suit tasks that entail lesser cognitive-/skill-specific attributes but greater gross motor function and this is likely due to reduced RPE. In isolation, these effects appear greater vs. CAF pharmacology. However, an additive benefit may be observed after combining expectancy with CAF pharmacology (i.e., synergism).N/

Secondary Calculus and the Covariant Phase Space

The covariant phase space of a Lagrangian field theory is the solution space of the associated Euler-Lagrange equations. It is, in principle, a nice environment for covariant quantization of a Lagrangian field theory. Indeed, it is manifestly covariant and possesses a canonical (functional) "presymplectic structure" w (as first noticed by Zuckerman in 1986) whose degeneracy (functional) distribution is naturally interpreted as the Lie algebra of gauge transformations. We propose a fully rigorous approach to the covariant phase space in the framework of secondary calculus. In particular we describe the degeneracy distribution of w. As a byproduct we rederive the existence of a Lie bracket among gauge invariant functions on the covariant phase space.Comment: 40 pages, typos correcte

Paper-Based Microfluidics for Disease Diagnostics

Accurate diagnosis is the most important step in identifying and curing diseases. There are no accurate low cost disease diagnostic tools available for developing countries. The use of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices and colorimetric analysis of an assay response could solve these issues. Several colorimetric liver assays have been demonstrated to have linear standard curves, covering the diagnostically relevant range of analyte concentrations, when printed on paper. A digital component is also presented to increase point-of-care assay throughput, diagnostic accuracy, and seamless data handling. The use of the HP Cloud provides novel uses of aggregate non-identifying health information for epidemiological studies

Flavanone-rich citrus beverages counteract the transient decline in postprandial endothelial function in humans: a randomised, controlled, double-masked, cross-over intervention study

Specific flavonoid-rich foods/beverages are reported to exert positive effects on vascular function; however, data relating to effects in the postprandial state are limited. The present study investigated the postprandial, time-dependent (0–7 h) impact of citrus flavanone intake on vascular function. An acute, randomised, controlled, double-masked, cross-over intervention study was conducted by including middle-aged healthy men (30–65 years, n 28) to assess the impact of flavanone intake (orange juice: 128·9 mg; flavanone-rich orange juice: 272·1 mg; homogenised whole orange: 452·8 mg; isoenergetic control: 0 mg flavanones) on postprandial (double meal delivering a total of 81 g of fat) endothelial function. Endothelial function was assessed by flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery at 0, 2, 5 and 7 h. Plasma levels of paringenin/hesperetin metabolites (sulphates and glucuronides) and nitric oxide species were also measured. All flavanone interventions were effective at attenuating transient impairments in FMD induced by the double meal (7 h post intake; P <0·05), but no dose–response effects were observed. The effects on FMD coincided with the peak of naringenin/hesperetin metabolites in circulation (7 h) and sustained levels of plasma nitrite. In summary, citrus flavanones are effective at counteracting the negative impact of a sequential double meal on human vascular function, potentially through the actions of flavanone metabolites on nitric oxide