Elevated CO degassing rates prevented the return of Snowball Earth during the Phanerozoic.

The Cryogenian period (~720-635 Ma) is marked by extensive Snowball Earth glaciations. These have previously been linked to CO draw-down, but the severe cold climates of the Cryogenian have never been replicated during the Phanerozoic despite similar, and sometimes more dramatic changes to carbon sinks. Here we quantify the total CO input rate, both by measuring the global length of subduction zones in plate tectonic reconstructions, and by sea-level inversion.

Sub-diffraction limit laser ablation via multiple exposures using a digital micromirror device.

We present the use of digital micromirror devices as variable illumination masks for pitch-splitting multiple exposures to laser machine the surfaces of materials. Ultrafast laser pulses of length 150 fs and 800 nm central wavelength were used for the sequential machining of contiguous patterns on the surface of samples in order to build up complex structures with sub-diffraction limit features. Machined patterns of tens to hundreds of micrometers in lateral dimensions with feature separations as low as 270 nm were produced in electroless nickel on an optical setup diffraction limited to 727 nm, showing a reduction factor below the Abbe diffraction limit of ∼2.

Impact of Standardized Simulated Patients on First-Year Pharmacy Students' Knowledge Retention of Insulin Injection Technique and Counseling Skills.

To compare pre- and post-intervention test scores assessing insulin injection technique and counseling skills among P1 students with (intervention) or without (control) simulated patients, and to compare counseling checklist and knowledge retention test scores between groups. This study utilized cluster randomization. In addition to traditional instruction, the intervention group counseled a simulated patient on the use of insulin using the teach-back method.

Ballistic and snake photon imaging for locating optical endomicroscopy fibres.

We demonstrate determination of the location of the distal-end of a fibre-optic device deep in tissue through the imaging of ballistic and snake photons using a time resolved single-photon detector array. The fibre was imaged with centimetre resolution, within clinically relevant settings and models. This technique can overcome the limitations imposed by tissue scattering in optically determining the location of fibre-optic medical instruments.

Tissue flossing on ankle range of motion, jump and sprint performance: A follow-up study.

Objectives: Previous results from our laboratory suggest that band flossing results in increased ankle range of motion (ROM) and jump performance 5-min following application. However, the time-course of such benefits is yet to be examined.

Design: Parallel group design.

Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa: A meta-analysis of executive functioning.

Objective: Research investigating the link between eating disorder (ED) diagnosis and executive dysfunction has had conflicting results, yet no meta-analyses have examined the overall association of ED pathology with executive functioning (EF).

Method: Effect sizes were extracted from 32 studies comparing ED groups (27 of anorexia nervosa, 9 of bulimia nervosa) with controls to determine the grand mean effect on EF. Analyses included effects for individual EF measures, as well as an age-based subgroup analysis.

Expression Profiling of the MAP Kinase Phosphatase Family Reveals a Role for DUSP1 in the Glioblastoma Stem Cell Niche.

The dual specificity phosphatases (DUSPs) constitute a family of stress-induced enzymes that provide feedback inhibition on mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) critical in key aspects of oncogenic signaling. While described in other tumor types, the landscape of DUSP mRNA expression in glioblastoma (GB) remains largely unexplored. Interrogation of the REpository for Molecular BRAin Neoplasia DaTa (REMBRANDT) revealed induction (DUSP4, DUSP6), repression (DUSP2, DUSP7-9), or mixed (DUSP1, DUSP5, DUSP10, DUSP15) DUSP transcription of select DUSPs in bulk tumor specimens.

Ocean deoxygenation, the global phosphorus cycle and the possibility of human-caused large-scale ocean anoxia.

The major biogeochemical cycles that keep the present-day Earth habitable are linked by a network of feedbacks, which has led to a broadly stable chemical composition of the oceans and atmosphere over hundreds of millions of years. This includes the processes that control both the atmospheric and oceanic concentrations of oxygen. However, one notable exception to the generally well-behaved dynamics of this system is the propensity for episodes of ocean anoxia to occur and to persist for 10-10 years, these ocean anoxic events (OAEs) being particularly associated with warm 'greenhouse' climates.

Empirical Correction for Differences in Chemical Exchange Rates in Hydrogen Exchange-Mass Spectrometry Measurements.

A barrier to the use of hydrogen exchange-mass spectrometry (HX-MS) in many contexts, especially analytical characterization of various protein therapeutic candidates, is that differences in temperature, pH, ionic strength, buffering agent, or other additives can alter chemical exchange rates, making HX data gathered under differing solution conditions difficult to compare. Here, we present data demonstrating that HX chemical exchange rates can be substantially altered not only by the well-established variables of temperature and pH but also by additives including arginine, guanidine, methionine, and thiocyanate. To compensate for these additive effects, we have developed an empirical method to correct the hydrogen-exchange data for these differences.

Perioperative hypotension and discharge outcomes in non-critically injured trauma patients, a single centre retrospective cohort study.

Background: There is a lack of information on the effect of age on perioperative care and outcomes after minor trauma in the elderly. We examined the association between perioperative hypotension and discharge outcome among non-critically injured adult patients.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of non-critically ill patients (ISS <9 or discharged within less than 24h) who received anaesthesia care for surgery and Recovery Room care at a level-1 trauma centre between 5/1/2012 and 11/30/2013.

Ethnic differences in mothering qualities and relations to academic achievement.

Although qualities of mothering behavior have been consistently linked with children's academic outcomes, mothers from different ethnic groups may emphasize different dimensions with their children. The present investigation aims to evaluate and compare the dimensionality of mothering in low-income African American (n = 151) and Mexican American (n = 182) mothers during early childhood and its predictive utility for children's academic achievement. Video-recorded mother-child interactions with children at 2½ and 3½ years of age were rated using 6 mothering quality items from a widely used global rating system.

Vaginitis: Beyond the Basics.

Vaginal complaints are one of the most common reasons women seek the advice of a health care provider. Uncomplicated infections such as vulvovaginal candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis, or trichomoniasis are easy to diagnose and treat. However, about 8% of patients will have a more complicated course with failure to respond to treatment or rapid recurrence of symptoms.

Highly selective and rapidly activatable fluorogenic Thrombin sensors and application in human lung tissue.

A library of FRET-based peptides were prepared and studied as Thrombin substrates. This identified probes that showed selective activation by Thrombin, low fluorescent background signals, stability to Factor Xa, matrix metalloproteases, and primary human inflammatory cell lysates and supernatant. These were selected for further optimization, creating a second generation of fluorogenic probes with improved solubility and Plasmin resistance.

Minimization of olaratumab drug waste using real-world data.

Purpose: Results of a study in which population-based body weight and body surface area (BSA) data were used for vial size optimization to reduce drug waste associated with administration of the i.v. anticancer agent olaratumab are reported.

PGE2 Receptor Subtype 1 (EP1) Regulates Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Osteogenic Differentiation by Modulating Cellular Energy Metabolism.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent progenitors capable of differentiation into osteoblasts and can potentially serve as a source for cell-based therapies for bone repair. Many factors have been shown to regulate MSC differentiation into the osteogenic lineage such as the Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2)/Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) signaling pathway that is critical for bone repair. PGE2 binds four different receptors EP1-4.

Tectonic controls on the long-term carbon isotope mass balance.

The long-term, steady-state marine carbon isotope record reflects changes to the proportional burial rate of organic carbon relative to total carbon on a global scale. For this reason, times of high δC are conventionally interpreted to be oxygenation events caused by excess organic burial. Here we show that the carbon isotope mass balance is also significantly affected by tectonic uplift and erosion via changes to the inorganic carbon cycle that are independent of changes to the isotopic composition of carbon input.

Persistent double dorsal aorta: A systematic review of the literature.

Our discovery of a case of persistent double dorsal aorta prompted us to systematically review the literature of all previously reported cases of this anomaly. For our case, we present a completely separated double dorsal aorta, with the right accessory aorta arising from the abdominal aorta and ascending through the aortic hiatus to supply posterior intercostal arteries (PIAs) to the 9th-3rd spaces bilaterally. We examined and compiled data from the 10 previously reported cases, along with our observations from our cadaver, into a systematic review of all known cases of persistent double dorsal aorta.

Atmospheric oxygen regulation at low Proterozoic levels by incomplete oxidative weathering of sedimentary organic carbon.

It is unclear why atmospheric oxygen remained trapped at low levels for more than 1.5 billion years following the Paleoproterozoic Great Oxidation Event. Here, we use models for erosion, weathering and biogeochemical cycling to show that this can be explained by the tectonic recycling of previously accumulated sedimentary organic carbon, combined with the oxygen sensitivity of oxidative weathering.

Endoscopic sensing of alveolar pH.

Previously unobtainable measurements of alveolar pH were obtained using an endoscope-deployable optrode. The pH sensing was achieved using functionalized gold nanoshell sensors and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The optrode consisted of an asymmetric dual-core optical fiber designed for spatially separating the optical pump delivery and signal collection, in order to circumvent the unwanted Raman signal generated within the fiber.

Effects of localized interactions and surface properties on stability of protein-based therapeutics.

Objectives: Protein-based therapeutics garner significant attention because of exquisite specificity and limited side effects and are now being used to accomplish targeted delivery of small-molecule drugs. This review identifies and highlights individual chemical attributes and categorizes how site-specific changes affect protein stability based on published high-resolution molecular analyses.

Key Findings: Because it is challenging to determine the mechanisms by which the stability of large, complex molecules is altered and data are sparse, smaller, therapeutic proteins (insulin, erythropoietin, interferons) are examined alongside antibody data.

Determining Cannabis Use Status From a Photograph: An Assessment of the "Jay-dar" in Neuropsychologists.

Background: Few studies examining the cognitive effects of chronic cannabis use utilize research designs where examiners are blind to user status. Even in those that do, researchers may be able to guess the user status of participants, leaving these studies vulnerable to the expectancy effect confound.

Objectives: The present study examined the ability of neuropsychologists (those who would conduct research on the cognitive effects of cannabis) to differentiate cannabis users and nonusers based on physical appearance from photographs.

Exploring Redox States, Doping and Ordering of Electroactive Star-Shaped Oligo(aniline)s.

We have prepared a simple star-shaped oligo(aniline) (TDPB) and characterised it in detail by MALDI-TOF MS, UV/Vis/NIR spectroscopy, time-dependent DFT, cyclic voltammetry and EPR spectroscopy. TDPB is part of an underdeveloped class of π-conjugated molecules with great potential for organic electronics, display and sensor applications. It is redox active and reacts with acids to form radical cations.

Influence of solvent polarity on the structure of drop-cast electroactive tetra(aniline)-surfactant thin films.

The influence of processing conditions on the thin film microstructure is a fundamental question that must be understood to improve the performance of solution-processed organic electronic materials. Using grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction, we have studied the structure of thin films of a tetra(aniline)-surfactant complex prepared by drop-casting from five solvents (hexane, chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, dichloromethane and ethanol), selected to cover a range of polarities. We found that the structure, level of order and degree of orientation relative to the substrate were extremely sensitive to the solvent used.