Publications by authors named "Scott Smith"

Mechanical unloading causes bone loss, but it remains unclear whether disuse-induced changes to bone microstructure are permanent or can be recovered upon reloading. We examined bone loss and recovery in 17 astronauts using time-lapsed high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography and biochemical markers to determine whether disuse-induced changes are permanent. During 6 months in microgravity, resorption was threefold higher than formation.

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Purification of large viruses in a high containment laboratory can create unique challenges. Traditional purification methods for large viruses rely on equipment and techniques that are not ideal for high containment work. Poxvirus purification has long relied on the use of Genetron, a reagent that is no longer available.

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This study evaluated the influence of organic matter (OM) constituents on the potential for recovery of P from wastewaters when FeCl treatment is employed for P removal. The presence of OM constituents did not influence P release from Fe-P sludges when alkaline and ascorbic acid treatments were employed. However, the overall recovery of P from wastewater was impacted by the presence of selected OM constituents through the reduction of P uptake during coagulation.

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  • * The study tested five different types of DOC on the transepithelial potential (TEP) in rainbow trout at pH levels 7 and 4, finding that each DOC impacted TEP differently due to their unique physicochemical properties.
  • * The research identified three key physicochemical indices—specific absorbance coefficient at 340 nm, octanol-water partition coefficient, and proton binding index—as significant predictors of changes in TEP across different pH levels in rainbow trout.
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  • This study focuses on identifying different immune profiles in sepsis patients based on their body temperature patterns to potentially enable more targeted treatments.
  • Researchers categorized 3,576 hospitalized patients with suspected infections into four distinct temperature trajectory subphenotypes and assessed their clinical outcomes and biomarker levels.
  • Findings revealed significant differences in mortality rates among these subphenotypes, with the highest mortality in hypothermic patients and notable differences in 20 specific biomarkers across the temperature groups, highlighting the complexity of sepsis.
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  • Remote sensing using UAVs and satellites offers a promising method to measure Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) in inland waters by correlating it with Colored Dissolved Organic Matter absorption (aCDOM) coefficients.
  • The study focused on utilizing a UAV-borne hyperspectral camera and data from Landsat-8 OLI and Sentinel-2 MSI to create accurate reflectance-based models for quantifying DOC.
  • Results demonstrated strong relationships between measured and estimated DOC, with high Nash-criterion values (up to 0.92) and low Root Mean Squares Error, although estimates were affected by environmental factors like haze and sun glint.
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  • The study investigates the development of antibodies against adalimumab (AAA) in patients with noninfectious uveitis (NIU) and evaluates treatment changes for those who don't respond well.
  • It found that over half of the nonresponder patients had high levels of AAA and low levels of the drug adalimumab, indicating a possible immune response against the treatment.
  • Adjustments in treatment, such as increasing the dose of adalimumab or adding another immunosuppressive medication, led to significant reductions in AAA levels and improved management of uveitis relapse.
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Critical metals such as gallium, lanthanum and platinum are considered essential in a modern economy and for the required energy transition. Their relatively recent and increasing use in new technologies have led to an increase in their environmental mobility. As they reach aquatic systems, these metals can interact with organic ligands and especially Natural Organic Matter (NOM).

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Many flatfish species are partially euryhaline, such as the Pacific sanddab which spawn and feed in highly dynamic estuaries ranging from seawater to near freshwater. With the rapid increase in saltwater invasion of freshwater habitats, it is very likely that in these estuaries, flatfish will be exposed to increasing levels of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) of freshwater origin at a range of salinities. As salinity fluctuations often coincide with changes in DOC concentration, two natural freshwater DOCs [Luther Marsh (LM, allochthonous) and Lake Ontario (LO, autochthonous) were investigated at salinities of 30 and 7.

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Research into the processability of NiTiHf high-temperature shape memory alloys (HTSMAs) via laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is limited; nevertheless, these alloys show promise for applications in extreme environments. This study aims to address this limitation by investigating the printability of four NiTiHf alloys with varying Hf content (1, 2, 15, and 20 at. %) to assess their suitability for LPBF applications.

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  • The exercise pressor reflex (EPR) is a body response that makes your heart pump harder when your muscles are working, but it's stronger in people with type 2 diabetes.
  • Scientists think that low levels of insulin in the brain cause this stronger response, and they tested this on rats that had diabetes.
  • When they injected insulin into the brain of these diabetic rats, it helped reduce the intense response, showing that brain insulin can control this reflex.
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Importance: Understanding potential predisposing factors associated with spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS) may influence its management.

Objective: To describe a severe case of SANS associated with 2 potentially predisposing factors.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Ocular testing of and blood collections from a female astronaut were completed preflight, inflight, and postflight in the setting of the International Space Station (ISS).

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Some astronauts on International Space Station missions experience neuroophthalmological pathologies as part of spaceflight associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS). Strict head-down tilt bed rest (HDTBR) is a spaceflight analog that replicates SANS findings and those who had 3-4 risk alleles (G and C alleles from the methionine synthase reductase [MTRR] A66G and serine hydroxymethyltransferase [SHMT1] C1420T, respectively) as compared to 1-2 risk alleles, had a greater increase in total retinal thickness (TRT). The objective of this study was to identify factors that contribute to the individual variability of the development of SANS in a 60 d HDTBR at the German Aerospace Center's:envihab facility, Cologne Germany.

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  • Spaceflight presents unique health risks for astronauts, particularly regarding skin health, which are not yet fully understood.
  • A comprehensive analysis using various biological datasets revealed significant changes in skin-related biological processes during spaceflight, including DNA damage and mitochondrial issues.
  • The study's results emphasize the potential for developing strategies to reduce skin damage from space travel and highlight the body's ability to adapt back to Earth's conditions after missions.
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It is now widely recognised that the environment in space activates a diverse set of genes involved in regulating fundamental cellular pathways. This includes the activation of genes associated with blood homoeostasis and erythropoiesis, with a particular emphasis on those involved in globin chain production. Haemoglobin biology provides an intriguing model for studying space omics, as it has been extensively explored at multiple -omic levels, spanning DNA, RNA, and protein analyses, in both experimental and clinical contexts.

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  • Spaceflight triggers an immune response in astronauts, which was analyzed during the SpaceX Inspiration4 mission using various data types, including single-cell and biochemical analysis.
  • Researchers identified a "spaceflight signature" in gene expression linked to processes like oxidative phosphorylation, immune function, and inflammation, found across multiple datasets.
  • Key findings include up-regulation of specific immune markers in T cells, long-term suppression of certain MHC class I genes, and changes in infection-related immune pathways due to shifts in the microbiome.
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  • Missions into Deep Space this decade are concerning due to potential health risks from microgravity and galactic cosmic radiation, especially for kidneys.
  • Researchers used various biological and clinical analyses on samples from spaceflight-exposed mice, humans, and simulated environments.
  • Key findings reveal that spaceflight causes kidney-related issues like increased risk of kidney stones, changes in nephron structure, and damage from radiation exposure.
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Spaceflight induces molecular, cellular and physiological shifts in astronauts and poses myriad biomedical challenges to the human body, which are becoming increasingly relevant as more humans venture into space. Yet current frameworks for aerospace medicine are nascent and lag far behind advancements in precision medicine on Earth, underscoring the need for rapid development of space medicine databases, tools and protocols. Here we present the Space Omics and Medical Atlas (SOMA), an integrated data and sample repository for clinical, cellular and multi-omic research profiles from a diverse range of missions, including the NASA Twins Study, JAXA CFE study, SpaceX Inspiration4 crew, Axiom and Polaris.

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Background: Human IgE (hIgE) mAbs against major mite allergen Der p 2 developed using human hybridoma technology were used for IgE epitope mapping and analysis of epitopes associated with the hIgE repertoire.

Objective: We sought to elucidate the new hIgE mAb 4C8 epitope on Der p 2 and compare it to the hIgE mAb 2F10 epitope in the context of the allergenic structure of Der p 2.

Methods: X-ray crystallography was used to determine the epitope of anti-Der p 2 hIgE mAb 4C8.

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Increasing environmental concerns over using petroleum-based packaging materials in the food industry have encouraged researchers to produce edible food packaging materials from renewable sources. Biopolymer-based edible films and coatings can be implemented as bio-based packaging materials for prolonging the shelf life of food products. However, poor mechanical characteristics and high permeability for water vapor limit their practical applications.

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Although it is evident that standard-dose whole-brain radiotherapy as consolidation is associated with significant neurotoxicity, the optimal consolidative strategy for primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is not defined. We performed a randomized phase 2 clinical trial via the US Alliance cancer cooperative group to compare myeloablative consolidation supported by autologous stem cell transplantation with nonmyeloablative consolidation after induction therapy for PCNSL. To our knowledge, this is the first randomized trial to be initiated that eliminates whole-brain radiotherapy as a consolidative approach in newly diagnosed PCNSL.

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A case report detailing, for the first time, a case of laboratory-confirmed zoster in an astronaut on board the International Space Station is presented. The findings of reduced T-cell function, cytokine imbalance, and increased stress hormones which preceded the event are detailed. Relevance for deep space countermeasures is discussed.

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  • Tropical pulmonary eosinophilia (TPE) is a respiratory syndrome linked to lymphatic filariasis (LF), caused by a parasitic infection transmitted by mosquitoes, with microfilariae playing a key role in TPE.
  • Researchers screened a cDNA library of Wuchereria bancrofti microfilariae and identified a new molecule, named Nematode Pan Allergen (NPA), that resembles known allergens and can trigger immune responses like histamine release and inflammation.
  • The study concludes that the NPA protein from microfilariae may significantly contribute to TPE pathology, suggesting that targeting NPA could help mitigate symptoms in individuals infected with LF.
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Prior animal and cell studies have demonstrated a direct role of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) in enhancing skeletal muscle mitochondrial function and exercise capacity. However, the relevance of these animal and cell investigations in humans remains unknown. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was conducted in 48 adults (67% female, 8% Black participants, age 39 ± 15.

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