Thick embeddings of graphs into symmetric spaces via coarse geometry

We prove estimates for the optimal volume of thick embeddings of finite graphs into symmetric spaces, generalising results of Kolmagorov-Barzdin and Gromov-Guth for embeddings into Euclidean spaces. We distinguish two very different behaviours depending on the rank of the non-compact factor. For rank at least 2, we construct thick wirings of $N$-vertex graphs with volume $CN\ln(N)$ and prove that this is optimal. For rank at most $1$ we prove lower bounds of the form $cN^a$ for some (explicit) $a>1$ which depends on the dimension of the Euclidean factor and the conformal dimension of the boundary of the non-compact factor. The key ingredient is a coarse geometric analogue of a thick embedding called a coarse wiring, with the key property that the minimal volume of a thick embedding is comparable to the minimal volume of a coarse wiring for symmetric spaces of dimension at least $3$.Comment: 27 page

Water Mist Suppression in Conjunction with Displacement Ventilation

This study proposes and investigates a new type of water mist system where by air and water mist are blown into a fire compartment at low level using a displacement ventilation system. The air/water mist mixture enters the compartment and due to thermal stratification spreads out across the floor forming a protective lake. As the lake increases in depth, it creates a protective cool clean environment that protects the occupants and electrical equipment. The water mist has a very fine diameter in the order of 20µm that allows it to remain suspended within the air for long periods, providing cooling and radiant protection while not causing significant damage to electrical equipment. The density of the water mist is controlled to create a level where flame suppression occurs. Theoretically occupants and electrical equipment can remain safely within the compartment protected by the air/water mist lake, until the fire is extinguished. To investigate the feasibility of this concept a test compartment and associated displacement water mist system were designed based in the standard ISO room. A full-scale test compartment was built and tests run for a number of 20 kW fires of different types and in different positions. The proposed displacement water mist system was tested along with comparison tests using a conventional sprinkler. Within the live test compartment, lights and a computer we installed and monitored to determine the effect of the water mist on electrical equipment. The basic setup and a selection of fires were also simulated using the computational fluid dynamics program Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS). FDS simulations were run as they provided more information on the species concentrations within the compartment, while allowing a comparison of how FDS simulated the situation compared to the live tests. With the use of computer programs become more wide spread, this comparison provided valuable information on the limits of computer modeling in this situation

Clinical Practice Variability in Temperature Correction of Arterial Blood Gas Measurements and Outcomes in Hypothermia-Treated Patients After Cardiac Arrest

Mechanical ventilation in patients treated with mild therapeutic hypothermia (MTH) for the postcardiac arrest syndrome may be challenging given changes in solubility of arterial blood gases (ABGs) with cooling. Whether ABG measurements should be temperature corrected (TC) remain unknown. We sought to describe practice variability in TC at a single institution and explored the association between TC and neurological outcome. We conducted a retrospective cohort study reviewing electronic health records of all patients treated with MTH after cardiac arrest. We examined whether the percentage of TC ABGs relative to total number of ABGs drawn for each subject during hypothermia was associated with the neurological outcome at hospital discharge and 6?12-month follow-up. The cerebral performance category of 1?2 was defined as a favorable outcome in the logistic regression models. 1223 ABGs were obtained during MTH on 122 subjects over 6 years. TC was never used in 72 subjects (59%; no TC group), made available in 1?74% of ABGs in 17 subjects (14%; intermediate TC group), and made available in ≥75% of ABGs in 33 subjects (27%; mostly TC group). Groups differed in the proportion of subjects with shockable presenting rhythms (47% vs. 47% vs. 76%, p=0.02) and admitting ICU (p=0.005). Favorable 6-month outcomes were more common in the mostly TC than no TC group (48% vs. 25%; OR [95% CI]: 2.9 [1.2?7.1]), but not after adjustment (OR 1.5, 95% CI 0.33?6.9). There was substantial practice variability in the temperature correction strategy. Availability of temperature-corrected ABGs was not associated with improved neurological outcomes after adjusting for covariates.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/140256/1/ther.2014.0029.pd

Corals in the hottest reefs in the world exhibit symbiont fidelity not flexibility

Reef-building corals are at risk of extinction from ocean warming. While some corals can enhance their thermal limits by associating with dinoflagellate photosymbionts of superior stress tolerance, the extent to which symbiont communities will reorganize under increased warming pressure remains unclear. Here we show that corals in the hottest reefs in the world in the Persian Gulf maintain associations with the same symbionts across 1.5 years despite extreme seasonal warming and acute heat stress (≥35°C). Persian Gulf corals predominantly associated with Cladocopium (clade C) and most also hosted Symbiodinium (clade A) and/or Durusdinium (clade D). This is in contrast to the neighbouring and milder Oman Sea, where corals associated with Durusdinium and only a minority hosted background levels of Cladocopium. During acute heat stress, the higher prevalence of Symbiodinium and Durusdinium in bleached versus nonbleached Persian Gulf corals indicates that genotypes of these background genera did not confer bleaching resistance. Within symbiont genera, the majority of ITS2 rDNA type profiles were unique to their respective coral species, confirming the existence of host-specific symbiont lineages. Notably, further differentiation among Persian Gulf sites demonstrates that symbiont populations are either isolated or specialized over tens to hundreds of kilometres. Thermal tolerance across coral species was associated with the prevalence of a single ITS2 intragenomic sequence variant (C3gulf), definitive of the Cladocopium thermophilum group. The abundance of C3gulf was highest in bleaching-resistant corals and at warmer sites, potentially indicating a specific symbiont genotype (or set of genotypes) that may play a role in thermal tolerance that warrants further investigation. Together, our findings indicate that co-evolution of host–Symbiodiniaceae partnerships favours fidelity rather than flexibility in extreme environments and under future warming

Standardized Short-Term Acute Heat Stress Assays Resolve Historical Differences in Coral Thermotolerance Across Microhabitat Reef Sites

Coral bleaching is one of the main drivers of reef degradation. Most corals bleach and suffer mortality at just 1–2°C above their maximum monthly mean temperatures, but some species and genotypes resist or recover better than others. Here, we conducted a series of 18‐hr short‐term acute heat stress assays side‐by‐side with a 21‐day long‐term heat stress experiment to assess the ability of both approaches to resolve coral thermotolerance differences reflective of in situ reef temperature thresholds. Using a suite of physiological parameters (photosynthetic efficiency, coral whitening, chlorophyll a , host protein, algal symbiont counts, and algal type association), we assessed bleaching susceptibility of Stylophora pistillata colonies from the windward/exposed and leeward/protected sites of a nearshore coral reef in the central Red Sea, which had previously shown differential mortality during a natural bleaching event. Photosynthetic efficiency was most indicative of the expected higher thermal tolerance in corals from the protected reef site, denoted by an increased retention of dark‐adapted maximum quantum yields at higher temperatures. These differences were resolved using both experimental setups, as corroborated by a positive linear relationship, not observed for the other parameters. Notably, short‐term acute heat stress assays resolved per‐colony (genotype) differences that may have been masked by acclimation effects in the long‐term experiment. Using our newly developed portable experimental system termed the Coral Bleaching Automated Stress System (CBASS), we thus highlight the potential of mobile, standardized short‐term acute heat stress assays to resolve fine‐scale differences in coral thermotolerance. Accordingly, such a system may be suitable for large‐scale determination and complement existing approaches to identify resilient genotypes/reefs for downstream experimental examination and prioritization of reef sites for conservation/restoration. Development of such a framework is consistent with the recommendations of the National Academy of Sciences and the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program committees for new intervention and restoration strategies

Disparate Population and Holobiont Structure of Pocilloporid Corals Across the Red Sea Gradient Demonstrate Species-Specific Evolutionary Trajectories

Global habitat degradation heightens the need to better understand patterns of genetic connectivity and diversity of marine biota across geographical ranges to guide conservation efforts. Corals across the Red Sea are subject to pronounced environmental differences, but studies so far suggest that animal populations are largely connected, excepting evidence for a genetic break between the northern-central and southern regions. Here, we investigated population structure and holobiont assemblage of two common pocilloporid corals, Pocillopora verrucosa and Stylophora pistillata, across the Red Sea. We found little evidence for population differentiation in P. verrucosa, except for the southernmost site. Conversely, S. pistillata exhibited a complex population structure with evidence for within-reef and regional genetic differentiation, in line with differences in their reproductive mode (P. verrucosa is a broadcast spawner and S. pistillata is a brooder). Analysis for genomic loci under positive selection identified 85 sites (18 of which were in coding sequences) that distinguished the southern P. verrucosa population from the remainder of the Red Sea population. By comparison, we found 128 loci (24 of which were residing in coding sequences) in S. pistillata with evidence for local adaptation at various sites. Functional annotation of the underlying proteins revealed putative roles in the response to stress, lipid metabolism, transport, cytoskeletal rearrangement, and ciliary function (among others). Microbial assemblages of both coral species showed pervasive association with microalgal symbionts from the genus Symbiodinium (former clade A) and bacteria from the genus Endozoicomonas that exhibited significant differences according to host genotype and environment. The disparity of population genetic and holobiont assemblage patterns even between closely related species (family Pocilloporidae) highlights the need for multispecies investigations to better understand the role of the environment in shaping evolutionary trajectories. It further emphasizes the importance of networks of reef reserves to achieve conservation of genetic variants critical to the future survival of coral ecosystems

Level of Evidence Associated with FDA Safety Communications with Drug Labeling Changes: 2010-2014

Purpose: Approximately 800,000 safety reports are submitted to the FDA annually, however, only significant issues generate drug safety communications (DSC). The purpose of this study was to determine the type of clinical evidence used to warrant a change in drug labeling for drugs with DSC between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2014. Methods: Selected data was obtained from the FDA website. The primary endpoint of the study was the frequency of the types of clinical evidence used in FDA communications, as reported through the FDA DSC. Results were evaluated via descriptive statistics, and chi-squared for nominal data. Results: A total of 2521 drug safety labeling changes were identified and 99 (3.9%) of safety communications met the inclusion criteria. The majority of the labeling changes were associated with single agents (83.8%). The three most frequently reported labeling changes were warnings (68.7%), precautions (58.6%), and patient package insert/medication guide (23.2%). Case reports resulted in the greatest number of documented literature types (n = 791), followed by randomized controlled trials (n = 76), and case control/cohort studies (n = 74). Significantly more evidence for DSCs were classified as Level of Evidence B (LOE B, 68.6%), compared to LOE A (17.1%), and LOE C (14.1%) (p = 0.007). Conclusions: The majority of drug labeling change initiators was associated with LOE equivalent to B. Practitioners should evaluate data associated with labeling changes to determine how to interpret the information for their patients. Conflict of Interest We declare no conflicts of interest or financial interests that the authors or members of their immediate families have in any product or service discussed in the manuscript, including grants (pending or received), employment, gifts, stock holdings or options, honoraria, consultancies, expert testimony, patents and royalties.   Type: Original Researc

Ethics and the crimes of the powerful

The ethical dimension adds a key tool for the analysis of the crimes of the powerful. This dimension is introduced in the analysis of the present article, which seeks to establish how offenders endowed with resources and power justify their conduct through a selective interpretation of classical Western philosophy

Contrasting Heat Stress Response Patterns of Coral Holobionts Across the Red Sea Suggest Distinct Mechanisms of Thermal Tolerance

Corals from the northern Red Sea, in particular the Gulf of Aqaba (GoA), have exceptionally high bleaching thresholds approaching \u3e5℃ above their maximum monthly mean (MMM) temperatures. These elevated thresholds are thought to be due to historical selection, as corals passed through the warmer Southern Red Sea during recolonization from the Arabian Sea. To test this hypothesis, we determined thermal tolerance thresholds of GoA versus central Red Sea (CRS) Stylophora pistillata corals using multi-temperature acute thermal stress assays to determine thermal thresholds. Relative thermal thresholds of GoA and CRS corals were indeed similar and exceptionally high (~7℃ above MMM). However, absolute thermal thresholds of CRS corals were on average 3℃ above those of GoA corals. To explore the molecular underpinnings, we determined gene expression and microbiome response of the coral holobiont. Transcriptomic responses differed markedly, with a strong response to the thermal stress in GoA corals and their symbiotic algae versus a remarkably muted response in CRS colonies. Concomitant to this, coral and algal genes showed temperature-induced expression in GoA corals, while exhibiting fixed high expression (front-loading) in CRS corals. Bacterial community composition of GoA corals changed dramatically under heat stress, whereas CRS corals displayed stable assemblages. We interpret the response of GoA corals as that of a resilient population approaching a tipping point in contrast to a pattern of consistently elevated thermal resistance in CRS corals that cannot further attune. Such response differences suggest distinct thermal tolerance mechanisms that may affect the response of coral populations to ocean warming

Environmental latitudinal gradients and host specificity shape Symbiodiniaceae distribution in Red Sea Porites corals

AimTo assess the diversity of algal symbionts of the family Symbiodiniaceae associated with the coral genus Porites in the Red Sea, and to test for host-specificity and environmental variables driving biogeographical patterns of algal symbiont distribution.LocationSaudi Arabian Red SeaTaxonEndosymbiotic dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae in association with the reef-building coral genus Porites.MethodsEighty Porites coral specimens were collected along the Saudi Arabian Red Sea coast. Species boundaries were assessed morphologically and genetically (putative Control Region - mtCR; ITS region – ITS). Community composition of symbiotic dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae was also assessed. Using the ITS2 marker with the SymPortal framework, Symbiodiniaceae data at the genus, majority ITS2 sequence, and ITS2 type profile were used to assess symbiont diversity and distribution patterns. These were analyzed in relation to coral host diversity, geographic location, and environmental variables.ResultsAmong the 80 Porites samples, 10 morphologies were identified. These corals were clustered into five lineages (clades I to V) by each of the markers independently. Clades I, II, and III each comprised of a single Porites morphology, while clades IV and V contained up to five distinct morphologies. The diversity of Symbiodiniaceae associated with Porites was high and latitudinal differentiation was observed. In particular, a shift from a Cladocopium- to a Durusdinium-dominated community was found along the north-south gradient. Symbiont diversity showed patterns of geographic-specific association at Symbiodiniaceae genus, majority ITS2 sequence, and ITS2 type profile level. Specific associations with host-genotypes (but not morphological species) were also recovered when considering Symbiodiniaceae majority ITS2 sequence and ITS2 type profiles.Main conclusionsThis study provides the first large scale molecular characterization of Symbiodiniaceae communities associated with Porites corals from the Saudi Arabian Red Sea. The use of intragenomic diversity data enabled the resolution of host-symbiont specificity and biogeographical patterns of distribution, previously unachievable with the ITS2 marker alone. Finally, correlation among symbiont diversity and Red Sea environmental gradients was documented