EVALUATION OF METHODS FOR INTEGRATING MONITORING AND MODELLING DATA FOR REGULATORY AIR QUALITY ASSESSMENTS

Measured and modelled SO2 concentration data from Kincaid, Illinois (USA) and the Aire Valley (UK) were used to evaluate four data assimilation methods to determine their effectiveness in calibrating modelled air concentrations. The data assimilation methods included two simple methods (linear regression and simple ratio), which resulted in a global adjustment of the modelled concentration field and two complex methods (kriging of the ratio and kriging of the residual), which resulted in a spatially varying calibration of the modelled concentration field. Prior to the analysis, the measured data were ‘sector-corrected’ to remove the influence of external sources to ensure a direct comparison between the calibration methods. A cross-validation technique, applying standard model evaluation statistics, was used to assess the performance of each calibration method. The simple ratio method provided the most accurate model calibration for both the Kincaid and the Aire Valley data sets by minimising the normalised mean square error and mean bias and maximising the fraction of modelled predictions within a factor of two of measured predictions. The linear regression method performed to a similar level when using a high number of data points, although the performance declined dramatically when just two monitoring points were used for calibration. The more complex kriging methods were found to be less effective than the simple methods, despite offering a spatially varying model calibration. The analysis of the Kincaid data set suggests that between 10 and 15 monitoring points may be necessary for the optimum calibration of a modelled concentration field using the simple calibration methods reviewed in this study

Pre-operative experiences and post-operative benefits of ptosis surgery: A qualitative study

© 2017 Taylor & Francis. This qualitative study sought to explore the experiences of patients who had undergone successful ptosis correction surgery. Participants were recruited from Bristol Eye Hospital. Nine participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule and open ended questions. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Four major themes were identified from patient accounts. Patients described the psychosocial and functional difficulties they experienced living with ptosis, and the subsequent benefits of surgery. Patients reported experiencing appearance related anxiety pre-operatively due to their condition and engaging in behaviours to avoid social encounters. Gender differences were noted in the internalization of perceived negative reactions from others, with men describing fewer adverse impacts. Patients described perceived barriers to seeking surgery including a lack of awareness of ptosis as a treatable condition, the perception that being concerned with their appearance could be seen as vain and the view that ptosis surgery is synonymous with cosmetic surgery. Following successful surgery patients outlined positive impacts on their vision, appearance and psychosocial well-being after successful surgery. This qualitative study highlights the complexities of the factors and processes contributing to the psychosocial impacts of ptosis and the potential benefits of surgery and/or psychosocial support. An increased awareness amongst people with ptosis of the potential positive impacts of surgery and an enhanced understanding of the reasons why patients may not seek treatment amongst health care professionals are likely to benefit this often overlooked patient group

O-mannosylation in Candida albicans enables development of interkingdom biofilm communities

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

The relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and anxiety in autism: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis

The association between intolerance of uncertainty and anxiety has proved robust in neurotypical populations and has led to effective interventions targeting intolerance of uncertainty. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate this association in autistic people, given the high prevalence of anxiety in this population and the limited effectiveness of therapies used currently to treat anxiety in autism. A protocol was published on the Prospero database (CRD42019125315), and electronic databases were searched using terms related to intolerance of uncertainty, anxiety and autism. Included in the systematic review were 12 studies, of which 10 were included in a meta-analysis. Results showed that anxiety and intolerance of uncertainty were consistently elevated in autistic participants. Examining the correlation between these two constructs, the meta-analysis revealed a large sample-weighted effect size, r = 0.62, 95% confidence interval = [0.52, 0.71], p < 0.001. The strength of this association was comparable to meta-analyses conducted on neurotypical populations, and therefore, it was concluded intolerance of uncertainty may be an appropriate target for intervention for autistic individuals. However, conclusions were limited due to the small number of relevant studies that were available and due to issues with methodological quality. Lay abstract People who find it especially hard to cope with the unexpected or unknown are said to have an intolerance of uncertainty. Autistic individuals often report a preference for certainty and experience levels of anxiety that can interfere with their daily life. Understanding more about the link between the intolerance of uncertainty and anxiety in autistic people might lead to better treatments for anxiety being developed. Therefore, this work aimed to review previous research in order to explore this link. Twelve studies were found and their results were compared and contrasted. The autistic people who participated in the studies completed questionnaires that suggested a large number of them experienced very high levels of anxiety and intolerance of uncertainty. Of 10 studies that used relevant statistics, nine found a statistically significant link between anxiety and the intolerance of uncertainty. In general, the strength of the link was about the same as previous research found in people who did not have a diagnosis of autism. This might mean that interventions that aim to help people who are intolerant of uncertainty could be effective for autistic individuals

The Streptococcus gordonii adhesin CshA protein binds host fibronectin via a catch-clamp mechanism

Adherence of bacteria to biotic or abiotic surfaces is a prerequisite for host colonization and represents an important step in microbial pathogenicity. This attachment is facilitated by bacterial adhesins at the cell surface. Because of their size and often elaborate multidomain architectures, these polypeptides represent challenging targets for detailed structural and functional characterization. The multifunctional fibrillar adhesin CshA, which mediates binding to both host molecules and other microorganisms, is an important determinant of colonization by Streptococcus gordonii, an oral commensal and opportunistic pathogen of animals and humans. CshA binds the high-molecular-weight glycoprotein fibronectin (Fn) via an N-terminal non-repetitive region, and this protein-protein interaction has been proposed to promote S. gordonii colonization at multiple sites within the host. However, the molecular details of how these two proteins interact have yet to be established. Here we present a structural description of the Fn binding N-terminal region of CshA, derived from a combination of X-ray crystallography, small angle X-ray scattering, and complementary biophysical methods. In vitro binding studies support a previously unreported two-state “catch-clamp” mechanism of Fn binding by CshA, in which the disordered N-terminal domain of CshA acts to “catch” Fn, via formation of a rapidly assembled but also readily dissociable pre-complex, enabling its neighboring ligand binding domain to tightly clamp the two polypeptides together. This study presents a new paradigm for target binding by a bacterial adhesin, the identification of which will inform future efforts toward the development of anti-adhesive agents that target S. gordonii and related streptococci

Structural and Functional Analysis of Cell Wall-Anchored PolypeptideAdhesin BspA in <i>Streptococcus agalactiae</i>

Streptococcus agalactiae (group B Streptococcus, GBS) is the predominant cause of early-onset infectious disease in neonates and is responsible for life-threatening infections in elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Clinical manifestations of GBS infection include sepsis, pneumonia, and meningitis. Here, we describe BspA, a deviant antigen I/II family polypeptide that confers adhesive properties linked to pathogenesis in GBS. Heterologous expression of BspA on the surface of the non-adherent bacterium Lactococcus lactis confers adherence to scavenger receptor gp340, human vaginal epithelium, and to the fungus Candida albicans. Complementary crystallographic and biophysical characterization of BspA reveal a novel β-sandwich adhesion domain and unique asparagine-dependent super-helical stalk. Collectively, these findings establish a new bacterial adhesin structure that has in effect been hijacked by a pathogenic Streptococcus species to provide competitive advantage in human mucosal infections

Analysis of UK and European NOx and VOC emission scenarios in the Defra model intercomparison exercise

This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertainSimple emission scenarios have been implemented in eight United Kingdom air quality models with the aim of assessing how these models compared when addressing whether photochemical ozone formation in southern England was NOx- or VOC-sensitive and whether ozone precursor sources in the UK or in the Rest of Europe (RoE) were the most important during July 2006. The suite of models included three Eulerian-grid models (three implementations of one of these models), a Lagrangian atmospheric dispersion model and two moving box air parcel models. The assignments as to NOx- or VOC-sensitive and to UK- versus RoE-dominant, turned out to be highly variable and often contradictory between the individual models. However, when the assignments were filtered by model performance on each day, many of the contradictions could be eliminated. Nevertheless, no one model was found to be the 'best' model on all days, indicating that no single air quality model could currently be relied upon to inform policymakers robustly in terms of NOx- versus VOC-sensitivity and UK- versus RoE-dominance on each day. It is important to maintain a diversity in model approaches.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

Distal femur fractures: basic science and international perspectives

Distal femur fractures are challenging injuries to manage, and complication rates remain high. This article summarizes the international and basic science perspectives regarding distal femoral fractures that were presented at the 2022 Orthopaedic Trauma Association Annual Meeting. We review a number of critical concepts that can be considered to optimize the treatment of these difficult fractures. These include biomechanical considerations for distal femur fixation constructs, emerging treatments to prevent post-traumatic arthritis, both systemic and local biologic treatments to optimize nonunion management, the relative advantages and disadvantages of plate versus nail versus dual-implant constructs, and finally important factors which determine outcomes. A robust understanding of these principles can significantly improve success rates and minimize complications in the treatment of these challenging injuries