Biophysical properties at patch scale shape the metabolism of biofilm landscapes.

Phototrophic biofilms form complex spatial patterns in streams and rivers, yet, how community patchiness, structure and function are coupled and contribute to larger-scale metabolism remains unkown. Here, we combined optical coherence tomography with automated O microprofiling and amplicon sequencing in a flume experiment to show how distinct community patches interact with the hydraulic environment and how this affects the internal distribution of oxygen. We used numerical simulations to derive rates of community photosynthetic activity and respiration at the patch scale and use the obtained parameter to upscale from individual patches to the larger biofilm landscape.

Morphogenesis and oxygen dynamics in phototrophic biofilms growing across a gradient of hydraulic conditions.

Biofilms are surface-attached and matrix-enclosed microbial communities that dominate microbial life in numerous ecosystems. Using flumes and automated optical coherence tomography, we studied the morphogenesis of phototrophic biofilms along a gradient of hydraulic conditions. Compact and coalescent biofilms formed under elevated bed shear stress, whereas protruding clusters separated by troughs formed under reduced shear stress.

Flow and epiphyte growth effects on the thermal, optical and chemical microenvironment in the leaf phyllosphere of seagrass ().

Intensified coastal eutrophication can result in an overgrowth of seagrass leaves by epiphytes, which is a major threat to seagrass habitats worldwide, but little is known about how epiphytic biofilms affect the seagrass phyllosphere. The physico-chemical microenvironment of L. leaves with and without epiphytes was mapped with electrochemical, thermocouple and scalar irradiance microsensors as a function of four irradiance conditions (dark, low, saturating and high light) and two water flow velocities (approx.

Self-regulation and STEM persistence in minority and non-minority students across the first year of college.

Psychological factors have been implicated in STEM persistence but remain poorly understood. In particular, the role of self-regulation--the cognitive, behavioral, and emotional skills that allow individuals to work efficiently toward their desired goals, especially when under stress--has received minimal attention. Psychological factors may be particularly important for persistence by underrepresented minority (URM) students, many of whom face significant barriers to success in STEM.

Automated 3D Optical Coherence Tomography to Elucidate Biofilm Morphogenesis Over Large Spatial Scales.

Biofilms are a most successful microbial lifestyle and prevail in a multitude of environmental and engineered settings. Understanding biofilm morphogenesis, that is the structural diversification of biofilms during community assembly, represents a remarkable challenge across spatial and temporal scales. Here, we present an automated biofilm imaging system based on optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Feasibility of Establishing a Comprehensive Yoga Program and its Dose-Effect Relationship on Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Wellness Parameters: A Pilot Study.

Background: We sought to study the feasibility of establishing a comprehensive, mostly self-directed yoga program in a hospital and its dose-effect relationship on cardiovascular risk factors and quality of life (QoL) measures over six months.

Methods: Yoga-based techniques (Advanced Yoga Practices; AYP; advancedyogapractices.com) were taught in 12 biweekly group sessions and self-directed practice at home was emphasized.

CT dose reduction using prospectively triggered or fast-pitch spiral technique employed in cardiothoracic imaging (the CT dose study).

Objectives: To establish current radiation dose levels with contemporary scanners capable of prospectively triggered or high-pitch spiral scan modes to previous generation scanners among patients evaluated for coronary artery disease, pulmonary embolism, aortic disease, and "triple rule out" in a large population of patients at multiple centers.

Background: Previous small-scale studies with carefully controlled scan protocols report that CT scanners that facilitate prospectively triggered scanning and provide high-pitch spiral CT scan modes drastically lower radiation doses. However, diagnostic reference levels should be selected by medical bodies on the basis of large surveys of representative sites and reviewed at appropriate time intervals.

Progressive radiation dose reduction from coronary computed tomography angiography in a statewide collaborative quality improvement program: results from the Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging Consortium.

Background: A best-practice intervention previously demonstrated significant dose reduction over a period of one year. We sought to evaluate whether this reduction would be incremental and sustained by promoting new scanner technology in the context of an ongoing quality improvement program during a 3-year period in a statewide registry of coronary computed tomography angiography.

Methods And Results: In this prospective, controlled, nonrandomized study involving 11 901 patients at 15 Michigan centers participating in the Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging Consortium, radiation doses and image quality were compared between the following periods: control (May to June 2008) versus follow-up I (July 2008 to June 2009) and follow-up I versus follow-up II (July 2009 to April 2011).

Differences in diffusion of FDA antidepressant risk warnings across racial-ethnic groups.

OBJECTIVE Numerous articles have identified that medical technologies diffuse more rapidly among non-Latino whites compared with other racial-ethnic groups. However, whether health risk warnings also diffuse differentially across racial-ethnic minority groups is uncertain. This study assessed racial-ethnic variation in children's antidepressant use before and after the 2004 black-box warning concerning risks of antidepressants for youths.

Impact of a continuous quality improvement initiative on appropriate use of coronary computed tomography angiography. Results from a multicenter, statewide registry, the Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging Consortium.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness of a collaborative educational, continuous quality improvement (CQI) initiative to increase appropriate use of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).

Background: Potential overuse of CCTA has prompted multisociety appropriate use criteria (AUC) publications.

Methods: This prospective, observational study was conducted with pre-intervention (July 2007 to June 2008), intervention (July 2008 to June 2010), and follow-up (July 2010 to December 2010) periods during which patients were enrolled in the Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging Consortium (ACIC) at 47 Michigan hospitals.

Rationale, design, and goals of the Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging Consortium (ACIC): A Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan collaborative quality improvement project.

Background: Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is an emerging noninvasive anatomical method for evaluation of patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). Multicenter clinical registries are key to efforts to establish the role of CCTA in CAD diagnosis and management. The Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging Consortium (ACIC) is a statewide, multicenter collaborative quality initiative with the intent to establish quality and appropriate use of CCTA in Michigan.

Accelerated rubella control and congenital rubella syndrome prevention strengthen measles eradication: the Costa Rican experience.

In 2000, Costa Rica set a goal for accelerated rubella control and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) prevention in conjunction with its established measles eradication goal. To achieve this goal, a National Plan of Action for the integration of a measles-rubella (MR) vaccination strategy was implemented. The components of the national plan included conducting a national vaccination campaign with a single dose of MR vaccine for men and women aged 15-39 years, establishing routine postpartum MR vaccination of all previously unvaccinated women, maintaining high coverage among children with two doses of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, strengthening the integrated measles and rubella surveillance system, and developing a CRS surveillance system.

Diarrhea and enteric emerging viruses in HIV-infected patients.

To evaluate the prevalence of enteric viruses and their possible association with diarrhea, 244 stool samples were collected from HIV-infected and uninfected patients with or without diarrhea (subgroups I-a, Ib, II-a, and II-b, respectively). Subjects were screened by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, latex agglutination, and enzyme immunoassays for rotaviruses, adenoviruses, picobirnaviruses, and astroviruses. Enteric viruses were found significantly more often in specimens from HIV patients (20%) than in specimens from uninfected HIV patients (0%) (p < 0.

Culture amplification in human colon adenocarcinoma cell line (CaCo-2) combined with an ELISA as a supplementary assay for accurate diagnosis of rotavirus.

Culture amplification in colon adenocarcinoma cell line (CaCo-2) combined with enzyme immunoassay (Pathfinder ELISA) was developed as a supplementary tool for rotavirus diagnosis. One hundred and thirty stools in which results by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) were in agreement with those obtained by ELISA were amplified in the CaCo-2 cell line. After the first passage 100% specimens were revealed as positive by ELISA.

Detection of picobirnavirus in HIV-infected patients with diarrhea in Argentina.

Diarrhea due to enteric pathogens is an important complication of advanced HIV infection. Picobirnaviruses are agents recently linked with human enteritis. In total, 197 fecal samples collected from HIV-infected and noninfected patients with and without diarrhea were investigated for the presence of rotavirus and picobirnavirus by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Immunoglobulin M antibody response to measles virus following natural virus infection, primary vaccination, and reexposure to the virus.

Evaluation of the measles virus ELISA kit (Merck) to detect specific IgM as an indicator of primary measles antibody response was carried out. A modification of the manufacturer's cutoff value interpretation was introduced to allow for equivocal results in addition to positive and negative ones. With this modification, the test assayed gave an overall reproducibility of 96.

Rapid vertical agarose: silver stain detection of rotavirus.

Human rotaviruses (HRV) are the most important etiologic agents of acquired diarrhea in infants and young children worldwide. Therefore, the early diagnosis is essential for effective patient management and infection control. We have developed a rapid, simple technique for the diagnosis of rotavirus based on the sensitive detection of rotavirus double-stranded RNA genome segments separated in vertical agarose gels and developed by silver staining (AGE-SS).

Safety and immunogenicity of oral killed whole cell recombinant B subunit cholera vaccine in Barranquilla, Colombia.

In January and February 1992, an assessment was conducted of the safety and immunogenicity of two doses of a new oral cholera vaccine prepared from the recombinant B subunit of the toxin and from killed whole cells (rBS/WC) in 1,165 individuals between the ages of 12 months and 64 years in Barranquilla, Colombia. This was a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study. Participants received two doses of either the vaccine or a placebo (killed Escherichia coli K12) over a two-week interval.

Neutralization enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for evaluation of immunity to measles virus.

A neutralization enzyme-linked immunosorbent (Nt-ELISA) assay for determination of protective immunity to measles virus was developed and evaluated. This procedure uses the same initial steps as performed to determine antibody titers by seroneutralization (Nt) test. However, a reduction in virus infectivity by neutralizing antibody was determined by quantitation of viral antigen using ELISA.

[Retrospective study of circulation of human rotavirus electropherotypes in the city of Córdoba, Argentina, 1979-1989].

A retrospective survey was carried out to determine the occurrence and circulation of different human rotavirus electropherotypes. Stool specimens were collected from children under four years old admitted to pediatric health services of Cordoba city, Argentina, from January 1979 to December 1989. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by silver staining was employed for rotavirus detection.

Modified seroneutralization assay for measles virus antibody detection.

We describe a simple, inexpensive, sensitive and specific modified seroneutralization assay for use on a wide scale to screen for the presence of measles antibodies. After only one reaction (1 h) and a 3-day incubation period at 37 degrees C, the test can be easily read using a rapid, inexpensive methylene blue/phenol staining procedure. The determination of protective antibody titres by modified and standard seroneutralization methods was strongly correlated (corr.

[Enteropathogenic microorganisms in children with acute diarrhea in 2 hospitals of Rosario, Argentina].

As part of a multicenter collaborative study the relative frequency of enteropathogenic agents in children less than 5 years of age with acute diarrhea was determined. Rates of isolation were similar as regards sex, age, and season. The frequency of polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) in the stools was significantly higher among patients requiring admission in comparison with ambulatory patients.

[Identification of enteropathogens in infantile diarrhea in a study performed in the city of Posadas, Misiones, República Argentina].

The following work informs of the results of isolation, frequency and distribution of enteropathogens in children under five years old, without previous antibiotic treatment, less than seven days with diarrhoea, ambulatory or in Hospital "Dr. Ramón Madariaga" de Posadas, Misiones, República Argentina, from June 1986 to May 1989. From a total of 972 children with diarrhoea, 78% required to be hospitalized.

Rapid techniques for diagnostic and epidemiological studies of rotavirus infection.

Two rapid procedures modifying the polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) standard technique for the diagnosis of acute gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus infections are described. These assays permit the detection of both group A and non-group-A rotaviruses, and can be employed in most microbiology laboratories. The cost per sample is minimal compared with that of enzyme immune assays (ELISA) or the agglutination tests available commercially.