Trace element biomineralisation in the carapace in male and female Argulus japonicus.

Parasites of fishes have been shown to be effective bioindicators of the aquatic environment. Few investigations have been conducted on ectoparasite models and therefore little is known about the fate of trace elements and metals which they accumulate. In this study trace element sequestration was observed in the carapace of the fish louse, Argulus japonicus and found to relate to the sex of the parasite, as well as, the degree of sclerotization of the carapace.

The monogenean Paradiplozoon ichthyoxanthon behaves like a micropredator on two of its hosts, as indicated by stable isotopes.

The analysis of stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen has been used as a fingerprint for understanding the trophic interactions of organisms. Most of these studies have been applied to free-living organisms, while parasites have largely been neglected. Studies dealing with parasites so far have assessed the carbon and nitrogen signatures in endoparasites or ectoparasites of different hosts, without showing general trends concerning the nutritional relationships within host-parasite associations.

Physiology underlies the assembly of ecological communities.

Trait-based community ecology promises an understanding of the factors that determine species abundances and distributions across habitats. However, ecologists are often faced with large suites of potentially important traits, making generalizations across ecosystems and species difficult or even impossible. Here, we hypothesize that key traits structuring ecological communities may be causally dependent on common physiological mechanisms and that elucidating these mechanisms can help us understand the distributions of traits and species across habitats.

Small molecule targeting of the STAT5/6 Src homology 2 (SH2) domains to inhibit allergic airway disease.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the lungs and airways and one of the most burdensome of all chronic maladies. Previous studies have established that expression of experimental and human asthma requires the IL-4/IL-13/IL-4 receptor α (IL-4Rα) signaling pathway, which activates the transcription factor STAT6. However, no small molecules targeting this important pathway are currently in clinical development.

Comparison of Sepsis-3 Criteria Versus SIRS Criteria in Screening Patients for Sepsis in the Emergency Department.

The objective of our study was to assess the percentage of patients who met qSOFA criteria, SIRS criteria, both, or none of either criterion and received an International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code for sepsis after admission from the emergency department (ED). This was a single-center retrospective chart review of medical patients admitted through the ED. Patients were included if they were older than 18 years, were admitted to an inpatient unit through the ED, and received antibiotics within 48 hr of admission.

A systematic analysis of UK cancer research funding by gender of primary investigator.

Objectives: To categorically describe cancer research funding in the UK by gender of primary investigator (PIs).

Design: Systematic analysis of all open-access data.

Methods: Data about public and philanthropic cancer research funding awarded to UK institutions between 2000 and 2013 were obtained from several sources.

In Vitro Dermal Safety Assessment of Silver Nanowires after Acute Exposure: Tissue vs. Cell Models.

Silver nanowires (AgNW) are attractive materials that are anticipated to be incorporated into numerous consumer products such as textiles, touchscreen display, and medical devices that could be in direct contact with skin. There are very few studies on the cellular toxicity of AgNW and no studies that have specifically evaluated the potential toxicity from dermal exposure. To address this question, we investigated the dermal toxicity after acute exposure of polymer-coated AgNW with two sizes using two models, human primary keratinocytes and human reconstructed epidermis.

Ins and outs of urinary catheters.

Background: Inserting an indwelling catheter (IDC) is a common medical procedure that is often performed poorly and inappropriately, and can lead to significant morbidity. Although most catheterisations are performed by nursing staff, medical personnel need to be aware of the procedure, products and common IDC complications.

Objective: Current guidelines and literature were reviewed to outline catheterisation indications, catheter types and provide a general understanding of complications associated with IDCs for the general practitioner (GP).

Diffusivity of Carbon Dioxide in Aqueous Solutions under Geologic Carbon Sequestration Conditions.

Accurate assessment of the long-term security of geologic carbon sequestration requires knowledge of the mobility of carbon dioxide in brines under pressure and temperature conditions that prevail in subsurface aquifers. Here, we report Raman spectroscopic measurements of the rate of CO diffusion in water and brines as a function of pressure, salinity, and concentration of CO. In pure water at 50 ± 2 °C and 90 ± 2 bar, we find the diffusion coefficient, D, to be (3.

Fertility Preservation in Pubertal and Pre-Pubertal Boys with Cancer.

Children diagnosed with cancer continue to have improved survival due to advances in effective treatment options. Increased attention is therefore now focused on quality of life issues once they are cured. Fertility preservation is of paramount concern since gonadotoxic treatments, especially radiation and chemotherapy, often impair future fertility.

Suprasellar Ganglioglioma: Expanding the Differential Diagnosis.

This case study describes a young man with symptoms suggestive of the presence of a space-occupying lesion within the cranial cavity. Imaging studies confirmed a lesion in the suprasellar region and surgical intervention to remove the tumor yielded an unexpected diagnosis. Neuroimaging characteristics and histopathology including immunohistochemistry are described.

Cross-Scale Molecular Analysis of Chemical Heterogeneity in Shale Rocks.

The organic and mineralogical heterogeneity in shale at micrometer and nanometer spatial scales contributes to the quality of gas reserves, gas flow mechanisms and gas production. Here, we demonstrate two molecular imaging approaches based on infrared spectroscopy to obtain mineral and kerogen information at these mesoscale spatial resolutions in large-sized shale rock samples. The first method is a modified microscopic attenuated total reflectance measurement that utilizes a large germanium hemisphere combined with a focal plane array detector to rapidly capture chemical images of shale rock surfaces spanning hundreds of micrometers with micrometer spatial resolution.

Soft x-ray spectroscopy of high pressure liquid.

We describe a new experimental technique that allows for soft x-ray spectroscopy studies (∼100-1000 eV) of high pressure liquid (∼100 bars). We achieve this through a liquid cell with a 100 nm-thick SiN membrane window, which is sandwiched by two identical O-rings for vacuum sealing. The thin SiN membrane allows soft x-rays to penetrate, while separating the high-pressure liquid under investigation from the vacuum required for soft x-ray transmission and detection.

AIMp1 Potentiates T1 Polarization and Is Critical for Effective Antitumor and Antiviral Immunity.

Dendritic cells (DCs) must integrate a broad array of environmental cues to exact control over downstream immune responses including T polarization. The multienzyme aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase complex component AIMp1/p43 responds to cellular stress and exerts pro-inflammatory functions; however, a role for DC-expressed AIMp1 in T polarization has not previously been shown. Here, we demonstrate that the absence of AIMp1 in bone marrow-derived DC (BMDC) significantly impairs cytokine and costimulatory molecule expression, p38 MAPK signaling, and T1 polarization of cocultured T-cells while significantly dysregulating immune-related gene expression.

Gene Expression Signatures Characterized by Longitudinal Stability and Interindividual Variability Delineate Baseline Phenotypic Groups with Distinct Responses to Immune Stimulation.

Human immunity exhibits remarkable heterogeneity among individuals, which engenders variable responses to immune perturbations in human populations. Population studies reveal that, in addition to interindividual heterogeneity, systemic immune signatures display longitudinal stability within individuals, and these signatures may reliably dictate how given individuals respond to immune perturbations. We hypothesize that analyzing relationships among these signatures at the population level may uncover baseline immune phenotypes that correspond with response outcomes to immune stimuli.

Temperature-Dependent Species Interactions Shape Priority Effects and the Persistence of Unequal Competitors.

The order of species arrival at a site can determine the outcome of competitive interactions when early arrivers alter the environment or deplete shared resources. These priority effects are predicted to be stronger at high temperatures, as higher vital rates caused by warming allow early arrivers to more rapidly impact a shared environment. We tested this prediction using a pair of congeneric aphid species that specialize on milkweed plants.

Supercritical CO uptake by nonswelling phyllosilicates.

Interactions between supercritical (sc) CO and minerals are important when CO is injected into geologic formations for storage and as working fluids for enhanced oil recovery, hydraulic fracturing, and geothermal energy extraction. It has previously been shown that at the elevated pressures and temperatures of the deep subsurface, scCO alters smectites (typical swelling phyllosilicates). However, less is known about the effects of scCO on nonswelling phyllosilicates (illite and muscovite), despite the fact that the latter are the dominant clay minerals in deep subsurface shales and mudstones.

Keratinocyte-Specific Ablation of RIPK4 Allows Epidermal Cornification but Impairs Skin Barrier Formation.

In humans, receptor-interacting protein kinase 4 (RIPK4) mutations can lead to the autosomal recessive Bartsocas-Papas and popliteal pterygium syndromes, which are characterized by severe skin defects, pterygia, as well as clefting. We show here that the epithelial fusions observed in RIPK4 full knockout (KO) mice are E-cadherin dependent, as keratinocyte-specific deletion of E-cadherin in RIPK4 full KO mice rescued the tail-to-body fusion and fusion of oral epithelia. To elucidate RIPK4 function in epidermal differentiation and development, we generated epidermis-specific RIPK4 KO mice (RIPK4).

MEMO+: Efficacy, Durability and Effect of Cognitive Training and Psychosocial Intervention in Individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Background/objectives: There is no consensus on the efficacy of cognitive training in persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) because of the paucity of well-designed randomized controlled trials. The objective was to assess the effect of memory training on the cognitive functioning of persons with MCI and its durability and to evaluate whether this effect generalizes to daily life and whether positive effects could be obtained from psychosocial intervention.

Design: Single-blind randomized controlled trial.

Antihyperglycemic and Metabolic Effects of Ranolazine in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus.

The antianginal drug ranolazine, because of its unique mechanism of action, has been shown to have antihyperglycemic effects. Here, we review the reports on the antihyperglycemic and metabolic effects of ranolazine. MEDLINE was searched from 2000 to October 1, 2016 using the terms ranolazine, antihyperglycemic, diabetes, cardiology, and antianginal.

Bulbocavernosus muscle area as a novel marker for hypogonadism.

Objective: Late-onset hypogonadism, or androgen deficiency in the aging male, is a significant cause of morbidity in older men. Many men in the low normal or equivocal range for low testosterone level exhibit signs and symptoms of hypogonadism. Serum testosterone is an imperfect maker for hypogonadism as symptoms vary greatly within the low to low normal range in addition to variations among testosterone assays.

Correction: Repurposed Transcriptomic Data Reveal Small Viral RNA Produced by Influenza Virus during Infection in Mice.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

An invasive herbivore structures plant competitive dynamics.

Species interactions are central to our understanding of ecological communities, but may change rapidly with the introduction of invasive species. Invasive species can alter species interactions and community dynamics directly by having larger detrimental effects on some species than others, or indirectly by changing the ways in which native species compete among themselves. We tested the direct and indirect effects of an invasive aphid herbivore on a native aphid species and two host milkweed species.

Protective role of γδ T cells in cigarette smoke and influenza infection.

Airborne pathogens commonly trigger severe respiratory failure or death in smokers with lung disease. Cigarette smoking compromises the effectiveness of innate immunity against infections but the underlying mechanisms responsible for defective acquired immune responses in smokers remains less clear. We found that mice exposed to chronic cigarette smoke recovered poorly from primary Influenza A pneumonia with reduced type I and II interferons (IFNs) and viral-specific immunoglobulins, but recruited γδ T cells to the lungs that predominantly expressed interleukin 17A (IL-17A).

Combined aerosolized Toll-like receptor ligands are an effective therapeutic agent against influenza pneumonia when co-administered with oseltamivir.

Influenza pneumonia remains a common and debilitating viral infection despite vaccination programs and antiviral agents developed for prophylaxis and treatment. The neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir is frequently prescribed for established influenza A virus infections, but the emergence of neuraminidase inhibitor resistant viruses, a brief therapeutic window and competing diagnoses complicate its use. PUL-042 is a clinical stage, aerosol drug comprised of synthetic ligands for Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2/6 and TLR 9.