Publications by authors named "Aaron Roberts"

The goal of this study was to compare the bioaccumulation of the PCB mixture Aroclor 1254 in zebrafish to cardiac and neurologic outcomes. The establishment of effect concentrations (ECs) for cardiac and neurotoxic effects of PCBs in early life stage fish is challenging due to a lack of measured PCB concentrations in test media (e.g.

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Here, we report the draft genome sequences of sp. MMG031 and sp. MMG032, isolated from coral-associated dinoflagellate , assembled and analyzed by undergraduate students participating in a Marine Microbial Genomics (MMG) course.

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The origins of Human Factors (HF) are rooted in the Second World War. It is a sign of the times that 75 years on from the formation of the Ergonomics Research Society, discussions occur as to whether Artificial Intelligence (AI) could/should be capable of controlling weaponry in a theatre of war. HF can support the design of safe, ethical, and usable AI: but there is little evidence of HF influencing industrial organisations developing AI.

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Gene drive technology has been recognized for its potential to provide durable and cost-effective solutions for previously intractable problems in public health, conservation, and agriculture. In recognition of the rapid advances in this field, in 2016 the U.S.

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  • In low-risk pregnancies, third-trimester ultrasounds are typically done when fundal height and gestational age discrepancies arise; previous studies show that universal ultrasounds don't significantly improve neonatal or maternal outcomes compared to indicated ones.
  • The study aimed to see if universal third-trimester ultrasounds could reduce adverse neonatal outcomes and whether they could better detect issues with fetal growth or amniotic fluid.
  • Conducted at nine locations, the study compared results from a pre-implementation period with indicated ultrasounds to a post-implementation period where all low-risk pregnancies received ultrasounds at 36-37.6 weeks, allowing clinicians to act on any abnormalities found.
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Background: Whole blood transfusion is associated with benefits including improved survival, coagulopathy, and decreased transfusion requirements. The majority of whole blood transfusion is in the form of low-titer O-positive whole blood (LTOWB). Practice at many trauma centers withholds the use of LTOWB in women of childbearing potential due to concerns of alloimmunization.

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  • Noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS) can reveal potential maternal health issues related to sex chromosome aneuploidies (SCA), prompting the need for effective counseling and follow-up testing.
  • A survey of 269 patients indicated that while most received pretest counseling, the follow-up testing for maternal conditions was inconsistent, with only 35% pursuing diagnostic testing after receiving high-risk results.
  • The study highlights the importance of comprehensive support and testing strategies for patients with NIPS results indicative of SCA to ensure better health outcomes.
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Objective: This study aimed to determine health care disparities in evaluation and admission among underserved racial and ethnic minority groups presenting with cardiovascular complaints during the first postpartum year according to patient and provider demographics.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study was performed on all postpartum patients who sought emergency care between February 2012 and October 2020 in a large urban care center in Southeastern Texas. Patient information was collected according to International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision codes and individual chart analysis.

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Current data shows 30% of patients hospitalized for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) exacerbation are readmitted within 30 days. Medication management during transitions of care (TOC) has shown impact on clinical outcomes, however there is insufficient data to suggest how pharmacy TOC services might benefit this patient population. Evaluate the effects of pharmacy-driven COPD TOC services on hospital re-presentation rates.

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  • Mercury is a significant global contaminant that poses serious health risks to organisms, particularly affecting the Dusky Grouper in Brazil.
  • The study examined total mercury levels in the fish's muscle tissue, how these levels relate to the fish's size, and their association with stable isotopes, along with comparing mercury concentrations in different tissues.
  • Findings showed that 21.8% of the sampled fish had mercury levels exceeding safe human consumption limits, with concentrations increasing at lower latitudes and varying significantly between muscle, liver, and ovary tissues.
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Healthcare regulatory agencies have mandated a reduction in 30-day hospital readmission rates and have targeted COPD as a major contributor to 30-day readmissions. We aimed to develop and validate a simple tool deploying an artificial neural network (ANN) for early identification of COPD patients with high readmission risk. Using COPD patient data from eight hospitals within a large urban hospital system, four variables were identified, weighted and validated.

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The global sequencing of microRNA (miRNA; miR) and integration to downstream mRNA expression profiles in early life stages (ELS) of fish following exposure to crude oil determined consistently dysregulated miRNAs regardless of the oil source or fish species. The overlay of differentially expressed miRNAs and mRNAs into in silico software determined that the key roles of these miRNAs were predicted to be involved in cardiovascular, neurological and visually-mediated pathways. Of these, altered expression of miRNAs, miR-203a and miR-34b were predicted to be primary targets of crude oil.

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Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are highly lipophilic compounds that accumulate at increased concentrations in high tropic level organisms like marine mammals. Marine mammals' reliance on blubber makes them susceptible to accumulating POPs at potentially toxic concentrations. In this study, we analyzed POP concentrations, (polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and methoxylated-BDE (MeOBDE), in the blubber of 16 subsistence harvested sub-adult, male northern fur seals as well as assessed changes in mRNA gene expression of nine relevant biomarkers including the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, thyroid receptor-α, and adiponectin.

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Interest in Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) is increasing as it is predicted that they can bring improved safety, performance and operational capabilities. However, their introduction is associated with a number of enduring Human Factors challenges (e.g.

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Pregnancy-associated aortic dissection (AD) is a rare event, with an incidence of 0.0004% per pregnancy. The work of the Aortic Dissection Collaborative identified pregnancy-associated AD as a high-priority topic, despite its rarity.

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Ultraviolet (UV) radiation can significantly increase the toxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in crude oil to early life stage (ELS) fishes through photo-induced /photo-enhanced toxicity. However, little is known about the sub-lethal effects and mechanisms of photo-induced PAH toxicity in ELS fishes. The present study investigated apoptosis and global transcriptomic effects in larval red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) (24-72 h post-fertilization) following co-exposure to oil (0.

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Progress in gene drive research has engendered a lively discussion about community engagement and the ethical standards the work hinges on. While there is broad agreement regarding ethical principles and established best practices for conducting clinical public health research, projects developing area-wide vector control technologies and initiating ambitious engagement strategies raise specific questions: who to engage, when to engage, and how? When responding to these fundamental questions, with few best practices available for guidance, projects need to reflect on and articulate the ethical principles that motivate and justify their approach. Target Malaria is a not-for-profit research consortium that aims to develop and share malaria control and elimination technology.

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Crude oil has multiple toxic effects in fish, particularly during their early life stages. Recent transcriptomics studies have highlighted a potential effect on cholesterol homeostasis and biosynthesis, but have not investigated effects on steroid hormones, which are biosynthetically downstream metabolites of cholesterol. We exposed zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos and larvae to 3 concentrations of a high energy water accommodated fraction (HEWAF) of crude oil and measured effects on cholesterol and steroid hormones at 48 and 96 h post fertilization (hpf).

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This state of the science review brings together the disparate literature of effective strategies for enhancing and accelerating team performance. The review evaluates and synthesises models and proposes recommended avenues for future research. The two major models of the Input-Mediator-Output-Input (IMOI) framework and the Big Five dimensions of teamwork were reviewed and both will need significant development for application to future teams comprising non-human agents.

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Article Synopsis
  • Following the DWH oil spill, extensive research was conducted by various organizations and institutions to understand the toxic effects of the oil on different species and humans.
  • A workshop held eight years later highlighted the consistent toxic responses in various organisms, such as immune dysfunction and cardiotoxicity, indicating shared mechanisms of action across species.
  • Observations indicated a progression of impacts from molecular and cellular changes to broader systemic effects, ultimately leading to critical health issues like multi-organ system failure in those exposed to high concentrations.
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