Evaluation and optimization of bioretention design for nitrogen and phosphorus removal

Laboratory and field investigations were conducted into the performance of modified bioretention system designs to reduce nutrient loads from stormwater runoff. Bioretention design characteristics of particular interest were filter media composition and structural configuration. A filter media admixture of raw aluminum-based water treatment residuals (WTR) in bioretention soil mix effectively adsorbed orthophosphate in laboratory tests (90-99% median removal efficiencies). WTR dewatered to 33% solids demonstrated consistently higher removal efficiencies (\u3e99%). A bioretention system constructed in Durham, NH in 2011 includes a bioretention soil mix with raw WTR admixture (9% solids) and a structural design modeled after the UNHSC subsurface gravel wetland with an internal storage reservoir to promote denitrification under anaerobic conditions. Bioavailable nutrients, orthophosphate and nitrate, were generally reduced in this system, with median removal efficiencies of 20% and 60%, respectively. This modified system achieved median removal efficiencies of 55% and 36% for total phosphorus and total nitrogen, respectively

Power Hours-Invasive Species Communication Through Collaborative Webinars

The collaborative webinar project Emerald Ash Borer University (EAB-U) was established in 2009 to address pressing communications needs regarding the invasive emerald ash borer in the midst of national financial crisis. The 40 EAB-U webinars to date have been viewed over 10,000 times. Results of a post-webinar survey evaluating audience composition, impact, and participant satisfaction are presented, and suggest EAB-U webinars reach key audiences who share and apply learned information. Extension professionals faced with complex issues such as invasive species should consider a collaborative webinar approach to efficiently communicate harmonized messages in a cost effective manner

The Carlsberg Meridian Telescope CCD Drift Scan Survey

This paper contains the general data reduction methods used in processing the data from the Carlsberg Meridian Telescope CCD Drift Scan Survey. An efficient method to calibrate the fluctuations in the positions of the images caused by atmospheric turbulence is described. The external accuracy achieved is 36 mas in right ascension and declination. A description of the recently released catalogue is given.Comment: 13 pages 11 Figures (PS) Accepted for publication in A&A. The catalogue can be found at http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~dwe/SRF/cmc12

High pretreatment disease burden as a risk factor for infectious complications following CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for large B-cell lymphoma

Infection has emerged as the chief cause of non‐relapse mortality (NRM) post CD19‐targeting chimeric antigen receptor T‐cell therapy (CAR‐T) therapy. Even though up to 50% of patients may remain infection‐free, many suffer multiple severe, life‐threatening, or fatal infectious events. The primary aim of this study was to explore severe and life‐threatening infections post licensed CAR‐T therapy in large B‐cell lymphoma, with a focus on the role of disease burden and disease sites in assessing individual risk. We sought to understand the cohort of patients who experience ≥2 infections and those at the highest risk of infectious NRM. Our analysis identifies a higher disease burden after bridging therapy as associated with infection events. Those developing ≥2 infections emerged as a uniquely high‐risk cohort, particularly if the second (or beyond) infection occurred during an episode of immune effector cell‐associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) or while on steroids and/or anakinra for ICANS. Herein, we also describe the first reported cases of “CAR‐T cold sepsis,” a phenomenon characterized by the lack of an appreciable systemic inflammatory response at the time of detection of infection. We propose a risk‐based strategy to encourage heightened clinician awareness of cold sepsis, with a view to reducing NRM

A new method to explore the spectral impact of the piriform fossae on the singing voice : Benchmarking using MRI-based 3D-printed vocal tracts

The piriform fossae are the 2 pear-shaped cavities lateral to the laryngeal vestibule at the lower end of the vocal tract. They act acoustically as side-branches to the main tract, resulting in a spectral zero in the output of the human voice. This study investigates their spectral role by comparing numerical and experimental results of MRI-based 3D printed Vocal Tracts, for which a new experimental method (based on room acoustics) is introduced. The findings support results in the literature: the piriform fossae create a spectral trough in the region 4–5 kHz and act as formants repellents. Moreover, this study extends those results by demonstrating numerically and perceptually the impact of having large piriform fossae on the sung output

Planetary Nebulae in Face-On Spiral Galaxies. I. Planetary Nebula Photometry and Distances

As the first step to determine disk mass-to-light ratios for normal spiral galaxies, we present the results of an imaging survey for planetary nebulae (PNe) in six nearby, face-on systems: IC 342, M74 (NGC 628), M83 (NGC 5236), M94 (NGC 4736), NGC 5068, and NGC 6946. Using Blanco/Mosaic II and WIYN/OPTIC, we identify 165, 153, 241, 150, 19, and 71 PN candidates, respectively, and use the Planetary Nebula Luminosity Function (PNLF) to obtain distances. For M74 and NGC 5068, our distances of 8.6 +/- 0.3 Mpc and 5.4 +0.2/-0.4 Mpc are the first reliable estimates to these objects; for IC 342 (3.5 +/- 0.3 Mpc), M83 (4.8 +/- 0.1 Mpc), M94 (4.4 +0.1/-0.2 Mpc), and NGC 6946 (6.1 +/- 0.6 Mpc) our values agree well with those in the literature. In the larger systems, we find no evidence for any systematic change in the PNLF with galactic position, though we do see minor field-to-field variations in the luminosity function. In most cases, these changes do not affect the measurement of distance, but in one case the fluctuations result in a ~0.2 mag shift in the location of the PNLF cutoff. We discuss the possible causes of these small-scale changes, including internal extinction in the host galaxies and age/metallicity changes in the underlying stellar population.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ; 23 pages, 7 figures, 5 table

A randomised comparison evaluating changes in bone mineral density in advanced prostate cancer: luteinising hormone-releasing hormone agonists versus transdermal oestradiol

Background Luteinising hormone-releasing hormone agonists (LHRHa), used as androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in prostate cancer (PCa) management, reduce serum oestradiol as well as testosterone, causing bone mineral density (BMD) loss. Transdermal oestradiol is a potential alternative to LHRHa. Objective To compare BMD change in men receiving either LHRHa or oestradiol patches (OP). Design, setting, and participants Men with locally advanced or metastatic PCa participating in the randomised UK Prostate Adenocarcinoma TransCutaneous Hormones (PATCH) trial (allocation ratio of 1:2 for LHRHa:OP, 2006–2011; 1:1, thereafter) were recruited into a BMD study (2006–2012). Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scans were performed at baseline, 1 yr, and 2 yr. Interventions LHRHa as per local practice, OP (FemSeven 100 μg/24 h patches). Outcome measurements and statistical analysis The primary outcome was 1-yr change in lumbar spine (LS) BMD from baseline compared between randomised arms using analysis of covariance. Results and limitations A total of 74 eligible men (LHRHa 28, OP 46) participated from seven centres. Baseline clinical characteristics and 3-mo castration rates (testosterone ≤1.7 nmol/l, LHRHa 96% [26 of 27], OP 96% [43 of 45]) were similar between arms. Mean 1-yr change in LS BMD was −0.021 g/cm3 for patients randomised to the LHRHa arm (mean percentage change −1.4%) and +0.069 g/cm3 for the OP arm (+6.0%; p < 0.001). Similar patterns were seen in hip and total body measurements. The largest difference between arms was at 2 yr for those remaining on allocated treatment only: LS BMD mean percentage change LHRHa −3.0% and OP +7.9% (p < 0.001). Conclusions Transdermal oestradiol as a single agent produces castration levels of testosterone while mitigating BMD loss. These early data provide further supporting evidence for the ongoing phase 3 trial

Going to sleep in the supine position is a modifiable risk factor for late pregnancy stillbirth; findings from the New Zealand multicentre stillbirth case-control study

Objective: Our objective was to test the primary hypothesis that maternal non-left, in particular supine going-to-sleep position, would be a risk factor for late stillbirth (≥28 weeks of gestation). Methods: A multicentre case-control study was conducted in seven New Zealand health regions, between February 2012 and December 2015. Cases (n=164) were women with singleton pregnancies and late stillbirth, without congenital abnormality. Controls (n=569) were women with on-going singleton pregnancies, randomly selected and frequency matched for health region and gestation. The primary outcome was adjusted odds of late stillbirth associated with self-reported going-to-sleep position, on the last night. The last night was the night before the late stillbirth was thought to have occurred or the night before interview for controls. Going to- sleep position on the last night was categorised as: supine, left-side, right-side, propped or restless. Multivariable logistic regression adjusted for known confounders. Results: Supine going-to-sleep position on the last night was associated with increased late stillbirth risk (adjusted odds ratios (aOR) 3.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.74 to 7.78) with a population attributable risk of 9.4%. Other independent risk factors for late stillbirth (aOR, 95% CI) were: BMI (1.04, 1.01 to 1.08) per unit, maternal age ≥40 (2.88, 1.31 to 6.32), birthweight <10th customised centile (2.76, 1.59 to 4.80), and <6 hours sleep on the last night (1.81, 1.14 to 2.88). The risk associated with supine-going-to sleep position was greater for term (aOR 10.26, 3.00 to 35.04) than preterm stillbirths (aOR 3.12, 0.97 to 10.05). Conclusions: Supine going-to-sleep position is associated with a 3.7 fold increase in overall late stillbirth risk, independent of other common risk factors. A public health campaign encouraging women not to go-to-sleep supine in the third trimester has potential to reduce late stillbirth by approximately 9%