Dolphins reduce hearing sensitivity in anticipation of repetitive impulsive noise exposures.

The auditory steady-state response (ASSR) was continuously measured in two bottlenose dolphins during impulse noise exposures to determine whether observed head movements coincided with actual changes to auditory system sensitivity. Impulses were generated by a seismic air gun at a fixed inter-pulse interval of 10 s. ASSR amplitudes were extracted from the instantaneous electroencephalogram using coherent averaging within a sliding analysis window.

Physical effects of sound exposure from underwater explosions on Pacific mackerel (Scomber japonicus): Effects on the inner ear.

Studies of the effects of sounds from underwater explosions on fishes have not included examination of potential effects on the ear. Caged Pacific mackerel (Scomber japonicus) located at seven distances (between approximately 35 and 800 m) from a single detonation of 4.5 kg of C4 explosives were exposed.

Uncertainty quantification for epidemiological forecasts of COVID-19 through combinations of model predictions.

Scientific advice to the UK government throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has been informed by ensembles of epidemiological models provided by members of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza group on Modelling. Among other applications, the model ensembles have been used to forecast daily incidence, deaths and hospitalizations. The models differ in approach (e.

Statistical methods used to combine the effective reproduction number, [Formula: see text], and other related measures of COVID-19 in the UK.

In the recent COVID-19 pandemic, a wide range of epidemiological modelling approaches were used to predict the effective reproduction number, R(t), and other COVID-19-related measures such as the daily rate of exponential growth, r(t). These candidate models use different modelling approaches or differing assumptions about spatial or age-mixing, and some capture genuine uncertainty in scientific understanding of disease dynamics. Combining estimates using appropriate statistical methodology from multiple candidate models is important to better understand the variation of these outcome measures to help inform decision-making.

Physical effects of sound exposure from underwater explosions on Pacific mackerel (Scomber japonicus): Effects on non-auditory tissues.

Underwater explosions from activities such as construction, demolition, and military activities can damage non-auditory tissues in fishes. To better understand these effects, Pacific mackerel (Scomber japonicus) were placed in mid-depth cages with water depth of approximately 19.5 m and exposed at distances of 21 to 807 m to a single mid-depth detonation of C4 explosive (6.

TGFβ1 induces resistance of human lung myofibroblasts to cell death via down-regulation of TRPA1 channels.

Background And Purpose: TGFβ1-mediated myofibroblast activation contributes to pathological fibrosis in many diseases including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), where myofibroblast resistance to oxidant-mediated apoptosis is also evident. We therefore investigated the involvement of redox-sensitive TRPA1 ion channels on human lung myofibroblasts (HLMFs) cell death and TGFβ1-mediated pro-fibrotic responses.

Experimental Approach: The effects of TGFβ1 stimulation on TRPA1 expression and cell viability was studied in HLMFs derived from IPF patients and non-fibrotic patients.

Physical effects of sound exposure from underwater explosions on Pacific sardines (Sardinops sagax).

Explosions from activities such as construction, demolition, and military activities are increasingly encountered in the underwater soundscape. However, there are few scientifically rigorous data on the effects of underwater explosions on aquatic animals, including fishes. Thus, there is a need for data on potential effects on fishes collected simultaneously with data on the received signal characteristics that result in those effects.

Cryo-electron microscopy structure of a human PRMT5:MEP50 complex.

Protein arginine methyl transferase 5 (PRMT5) is a signaling protein and histone modifying enzyme that is important in many cellular processes, including regulation of eukaryotic gene transcription. Reported here is a 3.7 Å structure of PRMT5, solved in complex with regulatory binding subunit MEP50 (methylosome associated protein 50, WDR77, p44), by single particle (SP) cryo-Electron Microscopy (cryo-EM) using micrographs of particles that are visibly crowded and aggregated.

Effects of vibratory pile driver noise on echolocation and vigilance in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).

Vibratory pile drivers, used for marine construction, can produce sustained, high sound pressure levels (SPLs) in areas that overlap with dolphin habitats. Dolphins rely on echolocation for navigation, detecting predators and prey, and to coordinate group behavior. This study examined the effects of vibratory pile driver noise on dolphin sustained target detection capabilities through echolocation.

Political transition and emergent forest-conservation issues in Myanmar.

Political and economic transitions have had substantial impacts on forest conservation. Where transitions are underway or anticipated, historical precedent and methods for systematically assessing future trends should be used to anticipate likely threats to forest conservation and design appropriate and prescient policy measures to counteract them. Myanmar is transitioning from an authoritarian, centralized state with a highly regulated economy to a more decentralized and economically liberal democracy and is working to end a long-running civil war.

Lessons learned in building a hospital-wide transition program from pediatric to adult-based health care for youth with special health care needs (YSHCN).

Advancements in medicine have increased the likelihood that children with chronic illnesses will survive childhood. The success in treatment for their conditions has not been matched by methods to effectively facilitate their transition to adult care. This short report describes lessons learned in building a hospital-wide health care transition (HCT) planning infrastructure that could help patients transition from pediatric to adult-based care regardless of disease/disability.

Macrofossil evidence for a rapid and severe Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction in Antarctica.

Debate continues about the nature of the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) mass extinction event. An abrupt crisis triggered by a bolide impact contrasts with ideas of a more gradual extinction involving flood volcanism or climatic changes. Evidence from high latitudes has also been used to suggest that the severity of the extinction decreased from low latitudes towards the poles.

Structure-property relationship for in vitro siRNA delivery performance of cationic 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin: PEG-PPG-PEG polyrotaxane vectors.

Nanoparticle-mediated siRNA delivery is a promising therapeutic approach, however, the processes required for transport of these materials across the numerous extracellular and intracellular barriers are poorly understood. Efficient delivery of siRNA-containing nanoparticles would ultimately benefit from an improved understanding of how parameters associated with these barriers relate to the physicochemical properties of the nanoparticle vectors. We report the synthesis of three Pluronic(®)-based, cholesterol end-capped cationic polyrotaxanes (PR(+)) threaded with 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) for siRNA delivery.

Effects of multiple impulses from a seismic air gun on bottlenose dolphin hearing and behavior.

To investigate the auditory effects of multiple underwater impulses, hearing thresholds were measured in three bottlenose dolphins before and after exposure to 10 impulses produced by a seismic air gun. Thresholds were measured at multiple frequencies using both psychophysical and electrophysiological (auditory evoked potential) methods. Exposures began at relatively low levels and gradually increased over a period of several months.

An integrated approach for vascular health: a call to action.

Vascular diseases such as stroke, myocardial infarction, most causes of heart failure, dementia, peripheral arterial disease, certain kidney, and many lung and eye conditions are a result of disorders in the blood vessels (large and small) throughout the entire human body. Vascular diseases are the leading cause of preventable death and disability in Canada. Most vascular diseases share common risk factors (high blood pressure, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and obesity), which can be influenced by modifiable health behaviours such as unhealthy diet, smoking, lack of physical activity, and stress.

Outcomes of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection after kidney and/or pancreas transplantation.

Background: The true extent of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization and incidence of infection after solid organ transplantation in adults and children is not well-known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and the outcomes of MRSA infection following kidney and/or pancreas transplantation.

Material And Methods: We reviewed the case notes of all patients who developed MRSA colonization and infection within the first year of transplantation between September 2002 and December 2009.

The molecular architecture of the bacteriophage T4 neck.

A hexamer of the bacteriophage T4 tail terminator protein, gp15, attaches to the top of the phage tail stabilizing the contractile sheath and forming the interface for binding of the independently assembled head. Here we report the crystal structure of the gp15 hexamer, describe its interactions in T4 virions that have either an extended tail or a contracted tail, and discuss its structural relationship to other phage proteins. The neck of T4 virions is decorated by the "collar" and "whiskers", made of fibritin molecules.

Structural investigations of a Podoviridae streptococcus phage C1, implications for the mechanism of viral entry.

The Podoviridae phage C1 was one of the earliest isolated bacteriophages and the first virus documented to be active against streptococci. The icosahedral and asymmetric reconstructions of the virus were calculated using cryo-electron microscopy. The capsid protein has an HK97 fold arranged into a T = 4 icosahedral lattice.

A methodology for finger mark research.

Currently there is no standard way of carrying out research into finger mark enhancement techniques. Individuals, groups or establishments tend to use different methodologies depending on a number of factors, especially finance and time. However, data published in the literature can be misleading to the forensic community if the data generated reflects research involving very few finger marks or if those finger marks have been deliberately doped with an unnatural balance of sweat or an unusual contaminant.

A multivalent adsorption apparatus explains the broad host range of phage phi92: a comprehensive genomic and structural analysis.

Bacteriophage phi92 is a large, lytic myovirus isolated in 1983 from pathogenic Escherichia coli strains that carry a polysialic acid capsule. Here we report the genome organization of phi92, the cryoelectron microscopy reconstruction of its virion, and the reinvestigation of its host specificity. The genome consists of a linear, double-stranded 148,612-bp DNA sequence containing 248 potential open reading frames and 11 putative tRNA genes.

Increased severity of acute graft versus host disease as a result of differential expression following a homozygous gene deletion.

Acute graft versus host disease (aGvHD) is a major cause of early morbidity post-haematopoietic stem cell transplantation with minor histocompatibility antigens being a contributing factor. One mHA encoded by the UDP glycosyltransferase 2 family polypeptide B17 (UGT2B17) gene has been shown to be immunogenic because of differential expression in the donor and recipient. We investigated the effects of a homozygous gene deletion of UGT2B17 on the severity of acute aGvHD post-HSCT in HLA-matched related donors.

Phage pierces the host cell membrane with the iron-loaded spike.

Bacteriophages with contractile tails and the bacterial type VI secretion system have been proposed to use a special protein to create an opening in the host cell membrane during infection. These proteins have a modular architecture but invariably contain an oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide-binding (OB-fold) domain and a long β-helical C-terminal domain, which initiates the contact with the host cell membrane. Using X-ray crystallography and electron microscopy, we report the atomic structure of the membrane-piercing proteins from bacteriophages P2 and ϕ92 and identify the residues that constitute the membrane-attacking apex.