Bee Phenological Distributions Predicted by Inferring Vital Rates.

AbstractHow bees shift the timing of their seasonal activity (phenology) to track favorable conditions influences the degree to which bee foraging and flowering plant reproduction overlap. While bee phenology is known to shift due to interannual climatic variation and experimental temperature manipulation, the underlying causes of these shifts are poorly understood. Most studies of bee phenology have been phenomenological and have only examined shifts of point estimates, such as first appearance or peak timing.

Continuous renal replacement therapy for lithium toxicity: A worthy treatment to avoid intradialytic hypotension and vasopressors.

While intermittent hemodialysis (HD) is the most efficient method of removing lithium in patients with lithium toxicity, continuous renal replacement therapy is an acceptable alternative in the setting of intradialytic hypotension. This form of dialysis can reduce the need for vasopressors during HD, which increases mortality.

Auditory and Visual Hallucinations Associated With Nitrofurantoin Use in an Inpatient Setting: A Case Report.

Nitrofurantoin has been utilized for the prevention and treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs) since the 1950s, and it has been prescribed with increasing frequency since being recommended as a first-line therapy. The adverse neurological and psychiatric effects of antibiotic medications have been well-established. There is evidence to suggest a direct association between acute psychosis and antibiotic exposures.

Catastrophic Aortoenteric Fistula Due to an Eroding Bare Metal Duodenal Stent.

Deployment of bare metal duodenal stents for individuals with gastric outlet obstructions (GOOs) is a well-characterized measure to improve the quality of life. However, these interventions are palliative in nature and are associated with known complications. We present an unfortunate case of a previously not well described, albeit not surprising, a complication of stent placement.

Erosive Twiddler's Syndrome: A Severe Case with Externalization of the Pacemaker.

Implantable pacemakers have been the mainstay of therapy for patients with severely decreased left ventricular ejection fractions and recurrent arrhythmias, among other cardiac pathology. Twiddler's syndrome (TS) is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening complication of pacemaker therapy, defined as pacemaker malfunction in the setting of device lead dislodgment due to physical manipulation. Traditionally, there are three distinct TS variants (reeling, ratchet and coiling).

Carryover effects of temperature and pCO across multiple Olympia oyster populations.

Predicting how populations will respond to ocean change across generations is critical to effective conservation of marine species. One emerging factor is the influence of parental exposures on offspring phenotype, known as intergenerational carryover effects. Parental exposure may deliver beneficial or detrimental characteristics to offspring that can influence larval recruitment patterns, thus shaping how populations and community structure respond to ocean change.

Medical resource utilization for administration of trastuzumab in a New Zealand oncology outpatient setting: a time and motion study.

Background: In New Zealand, trastuzumab is standard therapy for human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)-positive early and metastatic breast cancer. Given the requirement for ongoing adjuvant or maintenance treatment and intravenous (IV) delivery, such a regimen consumes considerable health care resources. The development of a subcutaneous (SC) trastuzumab formulation with a short administration time offers the potential to reduce hospital expenditure.

Antimicrobial Effects of Novel Triple Antibiotic Paste-Mimic Scaffolds on Actinomyces naeslundii Biofilm.

Introduction: Actinomyces naeslundii has been recovered from traumatized permanent teeth diagnosed with necrotic pulps. In this work, a triple antibiotic paste (TAP)-mimic scaffold is proposed as a drug-delivery strategy to eliminate A. naeslundii dentin biofilm.

Clinical trial participation improves outcome: a matched historical cohort study.

Background: Well-conducted, investigator-led randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are the gold standard for evaluating the efficacy of new treatments and are a key component of evidence-based medicine. It is unclear whether participating in an RCT is beneficial to the individual before the results of RCTs are known.

Purpose: In a matched historical cohort study, we examined whether participation in RCTs was associated with improved health outcomes.

O-Mannosylation and human disease.

Glycosylation of proteins is arguably the most prevalent co- and post-translational modification. It is responsible for increased heterogeneity and functional diversity of proteins. Here we discuss the importance of one type of glycosylation, specifically O-mannosylation and its relationship to a number of human diseases.

Mammalian O-mannosylation: unsolved questions of structure/function.

Post-translational modification of polypeptides with glycans increases the diversity of the structures of proteins and imparts increased functional diversity. Here, we review the current literature on a relatively new O-glycosylation pathway, the mammalian O-mannosylation pathway. The importance of O-mannosylation is illustrated by the fact that O-mannose glycan structures play roles in a variety of processes including viral entry into cells, metastasis, cell adhesion, and neuronal development.

Intracellular protein glycosylation modulates insulin mediated lifespan in C.elegans.

O-linked-β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) modification is a regulatory, nuclear and cytoplasmic post-translational glycosylation of proteins associated with age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and type II diabetes. Global elevation of O-GlcNAc levels on intracellular proteins can induce insulin resistance, the hallmark of type II diabetes, in mammalian systems. InC.

Smart portable rehabilitation devices.

Background: The majority of current portable orthotic devices and rehabilitative braces provide stability, apply precise pressure, or help maintain alignment of the joints with out the capability for real time monitoring of the patient's motions and forces and without the ability for real time adjustments of the applied forces and motions. Improved technology has allowed for advancements where these devices can be designed to apply a form of tension to resist motion of the joint. These devices induce quicker recovery and are more effective at restoring proper biomechanics and improving muscle function.

Body-shape perceptions in older adults and motivations for exercise.

This study examined the relationships among age, sex, exercise and body-image dissatisfaction in older adults and evaluated the role of body-shape dissatisfaction as a motivation to exercise. A pencil-and-paper questionnaire was administered to 175 older adults (101 women and 74 men) ranging in age from 50 to 98 years (M=72 yr., SD=9) to obtain general information, information regarding exercise participation, motivations for exercise and body-shape perceptions.

Mucociliary function deteriorates in the clinical range of inspired air temperature and humidity.

Objective: To test whether a reduction in air temperature within the clinical range [37 degrees C to 30, 100% relative humidity (RH)] altered mucus transport velocity (MTV) and ciliary beat frequency (CBF) in an in vitro ovine tracheal model.

Design: Controlled laboratory study.

Setting: University research laboratory.

Identification and characterisation of proteinase inhibitors and their genes from seeds of apple (Malus domestica).

Trypsin and papain proteinase inhibitors have been identified and purified from aqueous extracts of apple seeds (Malus domestica). Superdex G75 gel filtration chromatography identified a higher molecular weight (HMW) papain inhibitory fraction (22-26 kDa) and a lower molecular weight papain and trypsin inhibitory fraction (6-12 kDa). The lower molecular weight fraction was separated into a trypsin inhibitor (designated Trp1) and early (designated Pap1) and late (designated Pap2) eluting papain inhibitors after anion exchange (Hitrap SP) chromatography.

Extensions of the lost letter technique to divisive issues of creationism, darwinism, sex education, and gay and lesbian affiliations.

Two field studies using 1,004 "lost letters" were designed to test the hypotheses that returned responses would be greater in small towns than from a city, that addressees' affiliation with a group either (1) opposed to physical education in schools, (2) supporting gay and lesbian teachers, or (3) advocating Creationism or Darwinism would reduce the return rate. Of 504 letters "lost" in Study A, 163 (32.3%) were returned in the mail from residents of southeast Louisiana and indicated across 3 addressees and 2 sizes of community, addressees' affiLiations were not associated with returned responses.

Energy balance in the intubated human airway is an indicator of optimal gas conditioning.

Objective: The optimal level of inspired heat and humidity for patients receiving long-term mechanical ventilation is still the subject of debate. Many laboratory studies examining surrogate markers for optimal humidity suggest that inspired gas should be at body temperature and fully saturated. The aim of this study was to determine the inspired gas condition that was thermodynamically neutral to the airway of intubated patients, and also examine the contribution of the endotracheal tube to airway heat and water balance.