Allocation of funding into blast injury-related research and blast traumatic brain injury between 2000 and 2019: analysis of global investments from public and philanthropic funders

INTRODUCTION

There is little systematic tracking or detailed analysis of investments in research and development for blast injury to support decision-making around research future funding.

METHODS

This study examined global investments into blast injury-related research from public and philanthropic funders across 2000-2019. Research databases were searched using keywords, and open data were extracted from funder websites. Data collected included study title, abstract, award amount, funder and year. Individual awards were categorised to compare amounts invested into different blast injuries, the scientific approaches taken and analysis of research investment into blast traumatic brain injury (TBI).

RESULTS

A total of 806 awards were identified into blast injury-related research globally, equating to US$902.1 million (m, £565.9m GBP). There was a general increase in year-on-year investment between 2003 and 2009 followed by a consistent decline in annual funding since 2010. Pre-clinical research received $671.3 m (74.4%) of investment. Brain-related injury research received $427.7 m (47.4%), orthopaedic injury $138.6 m (15.4%), eye injury $63.7 m (7.0%) and ear injury $60.5m (6.7%). Blast TBI research received a total investment of $384.3 m, representing 42.6% of all blast injury-related research. The U.S. Department of Defense funded $719.3 m (80%).

CONCLUSIONS

Investment data suggest that blast TBI research has received greater funding than other blast injury health areas. The funding pattern observed can be seen as reactive, driven by the response to the War on Terror, the rising profile of blast TBI and congressionally mandated research.

Visceral fat does not contribute to metabolic disease in lipodystrophy

OBJECTIVES

Lipodystrophies are characterized by regional or generalized loss of adipose tissue and severe metabolic complications. The role of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in the development of metabolic derangements in lipodystrophy is unknown. The study aim was to investigate VAT contribution to metabolic disease in lipodystrophy versus healthy controls.

METHODS

Analysis of correlations between VAT volume and biomarkers of metabolic disease in 93 patients and 93 age/sex-matched healthy controls.

RESULTS

Patients with generalized lipodystrophy (n = 43) had lower VAT compared with matched controls, while those with partial lipodystrophy (n = 50) had higher VAT versus controls. Both groups with lipodystrophy had lower leg fat mass versus controls (p < 0.05 for all; unpaired t-test). In both generalized and partial lipodystrophy, there was no correlation between VAT and glucose, triglycerides or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p > 0.05 for all; Spearman correlation). In controls matched to patients with generalized or partial lipodystrophy, VAT correlated with glucose (R = 0.42 and 0.36), triglycerides (R = 0.36 and 0.60) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (R = -0.34 and -0.64) (p < 0.05 for all; Spearman correlation).

CONCLUSIONS

In contrast to healthy controls, metabolic derangements in lipodystrophy did not correlate with VAT volume. These data suggest that, in lipodystrophy, impaired peripheral subcutaneous fat deposition may exert a larger effect than VAT accumulation on the development of metabolic complications. Interventions aimed at increasing functional subcutaneous adipose tissue may provide metabolic benefit.

Contemporary factors influencing genetic diversity in the Alaska humpback whitefish Coregonus clupeaformis complex

Thirteen microsatellite loci were used to address three hypotheses regarding genetic diversity in the humpback whitefish Coregonus clupeaformis complex in Alaska. The test results provided further insight into the factors influencing C. clupeaformis complex population structure and level of genetic variation. First, the microsatellite data did not provide evidence of two spatially distinct Beringian and Eurasian refugial groups as revealed in previous phylogeographic analyses of mitochondrial DNA variation. Rather, the population structure inferred from the microsatellite variation appears to reveal the influence of factors on a more recent time scale, including gene flow among the refugial groups and isolation of some anadromous and freshwater resident populations. Second, anadromous C. clupeaformis complex collections exhibited higher intra-population genetic diversity than freshwater resident collections. This outcome is consistent with previous meta analyses suggesting that freshwater resident populations probably have smaller historical effective population sizes and less conspecific gene flow because the habitat tends to be smaller and supports fewer and smaller populations. Finally, the analysis of contemporary immigration rates was consistent with, but did not provide statistical support for, the hypothesis that gene flow among anadromous C. clupeaformis complex populations along coastal Alaska is influenced by the Alaska Coastal Current. Further studies are needed to evaluate gene flow among coastal Alaska C. clupeaformis complex populations.

Influence of oxygen content of the certain types of biodiesels on particulate oxidative potential

Oxidative potential (OP) is related to the organic phase, specifically to its oxygenated organic fraction (OOA). Furthermore, the oxygen content of fuel molecules has significant influence on particulate OP. Thus, this study aimed to explore the actual dependency of the OOA and ROS to the oxygen content of the fuel. In order to reach the goal, different biodiesels blends, with various ranges of oxygen content; have been employed. The compact time of flight aerosol mass spectrometer (c-ToF AMS) enabled better identification of OOA. ROS monitored by using two assays: DTT and BPEA-nit. Despite emitting lower mass, both assays agreed that oxygen content of a biodiesel is directly correlated with its OOA, and highly related to its OP. Hence, the more oxygen included in the considered biodiesels, the higher the OP of PM emissions. This highlights the importance of taking oxygen content into account while assessing emissions from new fuel types, which is relevant from a health effects standpoint.

Dissociation and functional neurologic disorders

Dissociation has been cited as a possible psychologic mechanism underpinning functional neurologic disorders (FND) since the 19th century. Since that time, changes in psychiatric classification have created confusion about what the term dissociation actually means. The available evidence suggests that it now refers to at least two qualitatively distinct types of phenomena: detachment (an altered state of consciousness characterized by a sense of separation from the self or world) and compartmentalization (a reversible loss of voluntary control over apparently intact processes and functions), as well as their underlying mechanisms. This chapter considers some of the problems with conflating these phenomena under a single heading as well as the relationship between detachment, compartmentalization, and FND. It is argued that FNDs are fundamentally compartmentalization disorders, but that detachment is often part of the clinical picture and may contribute to the development and maintenance of functional symptoms in many cases. By this view, understanding compartmentalization requires an appreciation of the mechanisms involved in controlling and accessing mental processes and contents. Two possible mechanisms in this regard are described and the evidence for these is considered, followed by a discussion of clinical and empiric implications.

Particle emissions from microalgae biodiesel combustion and their relative oxidative potential

Microalgae are considered to be one of the most viable biodiesel feedstocks for the future due to their potential for providing economical, sustainable and cleaner alternatives to petroleum diesel. This study investigated the particle emissions from a commercially cultured microalgae and higher plant biodiesels at different blending ratios. With a high amount of long carbon chain lengths fatty acid methyl esters (C20 to C22), the microalgal biodiesel used had a vastly different average carbon chain length and level of unsaturation to conventional biodiesel, which significantly influenced particle emissions. Smaller blend percentages showed a larger reduction in particle emission than blend percentages of over 20%. This was due to the formation of a significant nucleation mode for the higher blends. In addition measurements of reactive oxygen species (ROS), showed that the oxidative potential of particles emitted from the microalgal biodiesel combustion were lower than that of regular diesel. Biodiesel oxygen content was less effective in suppressing particle emissions for biodiesels containing a high amount of polyunsaturated C20-C22 fatty acid methyl esters and generated significantly increased nucleation mode particle emissions. The observed increase in nucleation mode particle emission is postulated to be caused by very low volatility, high boiling point and high density, viscosity and surface tension of the microalgal biodiesel tested here. Therefore, in order to achieve similar PM (particulate matter) emission benefits for microalgal biodiesel likewise to conventional biodiesel, fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) with high amounts of polyunsaturated long-chain fatty acids (≥C20) may not be desirable in microalgal biodiesel composition.

Influence of fuel molecular structure on the volatility and oxidative potential of biodiesel particulate matter

We have studied the effect of chemical composition of biodiesel fuel on the physical (volatility) and chemical (reactive oxygenated species concentration) properties of nano particles emitted from a modern common-rail diesel engine. Particle emissions from the combustion of four biodiesels with controlled chemical compositions and different varying unsaturation degrees and carbon-chain lengths, together with a commercial diesel, were tested and compared in terms of volatility of particles and the amount of reactive oxygenated species carried by particles. Different blends of biodiesel and petro diesel were tested at several engine loads and speeds. We have observed that more saturated fuels with shorter carbon chain lengths result in lower particle mass but produce particles that are more volatile and also have higher levels of Reactive Oxygen Species. This highlights the importance of taking into account metrics that are relevant from the health effects point of view when assessing emissions from new fuel types.

A particle based model to simulate microscale morphological changes of plant tissues during drying

Fundamental understanding on microscopic physical changes of plant materials is vital to optimize product quality and processing techniques, particularly in food engineering. Although grid-based numerical modelling can assist in this regard, it becomes quite challenging to overcome the inherited complexities of these biological materials especially when such materials undergo critical processing conditions such as drying, where the cellular structure undergoes extreme deformations. In this context, a meshfree particle based model was developed which is fundamentally capable of handling extreme deformations of plant tissues during drying. The model is built by coupling a particle based meshfree technique: Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) and a Discrete Element Method (DEM). Plant cells were initiated as hexagons and aggregated to form a tissue which also accounts for the characteristics of the middle lamella. In each cell, SPH was used to model cell protoplasm and DEM was used to model the cell wall. Drying was incorporated by varying the moisture content, the turgor pressure, and cell wall contraction effects. Compared to the state of the art grid-based microscale plant tissue drying models, the proposed model can be used to simulate tissues under excessive moisture content reductions incorporating cell wall wrinkling. Also, compared to the state of the art SPH-DEM tissue models, the proposed model better replicates real tissues and the cell-cell interactions used ensure efficient computations. Model predictions showed good agreement both qualitatively and quantitatively with experimental findings on dried plant tissues. The proposed modelling approach is fundamentally flexible to study different cellular structures for their microscale morphological changes at dehydration.

Short-term outcome of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures after communication of the diagnosis

We previously described a communication strategy for the delivery of the diagnosis of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) that was acceptable and effective at communicating the psychological cause of PNES. This prospective multicenter study describes the short-term seizure and psychosocial outcomes after the communication of the diagnosis and with no additional treatment. Participants completed self-report measures at baseline, two and six months after the diagnosis (seizure frequency, HRQoL, health care utilization, activity levels, symptom attributions and levels of functioning). Thirty-six participants completed the self-report questionnaires. A further eight provided seizure frequency data. After six months, the median seizure frequency had dropped from 10 to 7.5 per month (p=0.9), 7/44 participants (16%) were seizure-free, and an additional 10/44 (23%) showed greater than 50% improvement in seizure frequency. Baseline questionnaire measures demonstrated high levels of impairment, which had not improved at follow-up. The lack of change in self-report measures illustrates the need for further interventions in this patient group.

Liposarcoma of the spermatic cord: a report of two cases

Liposarcomas of the spermatic cord are unusual and rarely reported in the literature. These tumours can sometimes be mistaken for the common scrotal swellings such as hydrocoeles and hernias. Careful clinical and radiological examination will help in appropriate preoperative planning and surgery by an experienced surgical team. We report our experience of two cases of such scrotal swellings.

The origin of pelletal lapilli in explosive kimberlite eruptions

Kimberlites are volatile-rich magmas from mantle depths of ≥ 150  km and are the primary source of diamonds. Kimberlite volcanism involves the formation of diverging pipes or diatremes, which are the locus of high-intensity explosive eruptions. A conspicuous and previously enigmatic feature of diatreme fills are 'pelletal lapilli'--well-rounded clasts consisting of an inner 'seed' particle with a complex rim, thought to represent quenched juvenile melt. Here we show that these coincide with a transition from magmatic to pyroclastic behaviour, thus offering fundamental insights into eruption dynamics and constraints on vent conditions. We propose that pelletal lapilli are formed when fluid melts intrude into earlier volcaniclastic infill close to the diatreme root zone. Intensive degassing produces a gas jet in which locally scavenged particles are simultaneously fluidised and coated by a spray of low-viscosity melt. A similar origin may apply to pelletal lapilli in other alkaline volcanic rocks, including carbonatites, kamafugites and melilitites.

Consequences of stopping and restarting leptin in an adolescent with lipodystrophy

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Lipodystrophy encompasses a group of rare disorders characterized by deficiency of adipose tissue resulting in hypoleptinemia, and metabolic abnormalities including insulin resistance, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Leptin replacement effectively ameliorates these metabolic derangements. We report effects of leptin discontinuation and resumption in a child with acquired generalized lipodystrophy.

METHODS

Intermittent treatment with leptin with follow-up over 5 years.

RESULTS

Pretreatment metabolic abnormalities included insulin resistance, hypertriglyceridemia and steatohepatitis. Leptin was started at the age of 10 years. After 2 years, the family requested discontinuation of leptin due to lack of visible physical changes. Nine months later, worsened metabolic abnormalities and arrest of pubertal development were observed. Leptin was restarted, followed by improvements in metabolic parameters. Laboratory changes (before vs. 6 months after restarting leptin) were: fasting glucose from 232 to 85 mg/dl, insulin from 232 to 38.9 µU/ml, HbA(1c) from 7.5 to 4.8%, triglycerides from 622 to 96 mg/dl, ALT from 229 to 61 U/l, AST from 91 to 18 U/l, and urine protein:creatinine ratio from 5.4 to 0.3. Progression of puberty was observed 1 year after restarting leptin.

CONCLUSION

Initial leptin therapy likely prevented progression of metabolic abnormalities. Treatment discontinuation led to rapid metabolic decomposition and pubertal arrest. Reintroduction of leptin reversed metabolic abnormalities and allowed normal pubertal progression.

An experimental and theoretical investigation of flow in a gross pollutant trap

Flow through a gross pollutant trap (GPT) with fully blocked screens is investigated experimentally and theoretically using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Due to the wide range of possible flow regimes, an experimental approach is developed which uses a downstream weir arrangement to control the nature of the flow and the variation in free surface height. To determine the overall flow structure, measurements are taken at a fixed depth throughout the trap with an Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (ADV), including velocity profile data across three cross sections of the GPT suitable for more detailed comparison with simulations. Observations of the near-wall flow features at the free surface are also taken, due to their likely importance for understanding litter capture and retention in the GPT. Complementary CFD modelling (using Fluent 6.3) is performed using a two-dimensional k-epsilon turbulence model along with either standard wall law boundary conditions or enhanced near-wall modelling approaches. Comparison with experiments suggest that neither CFD modelling approach could be considered as clearly superior to the other, despite the significant difference in near-wall mesh refinement and modelling that is involved. The experimental approach taken here is found useful to control the flow regime in the GPT and further experiments are recommended to study a greater range of flow conditions.

A high-resolution coherent transition radiation diagnostic for laser-produced electron transport studies (invited)

High-resolution images of the rear-surface optical emission from high-intensity (I approximately 10(19) W/cm(2)) laser illuminated metal foils have been recorded using coherent transition radiation (CTR). CTR is generated as relativistic electrons, generated in high-intensity laser-plasma interactions, exit the target's rear surface and move into vacuum. A transition radiation diagnostic (TRD) records time-integrated images in a 24 nm bandwidth window around lambda=529 nm. The optical transmission at lambda=1053 nm, the laser wavelength, is 15 orders of magnitude lower than the transmission at the wavelength of interest, lambda=527 nm. The detector is a scientific grade charge-coupled device (CCD) camera that operates with a signal-to-noise ratio of 10(3) and has a dynamic range of 10(4). The TRD has demonstrated a spatial resolution of 1.4 microm over a 1 mm field of view, limited only by the CCD pixel size.

Are patients with somatization disorder highly suggestible?

OBJECTIVE

High suggestibility is widely regarded as an important feature of patients with medically unexplained symptoms (MUS), particularly those with multiple MUS [i.e. somatization disorder (SD)], although there are few empirical data attesting to this assumption. A study was therefore conducted to compare levels of non-hypnotic suggestibility in patients with SD and medical controls.

METHOD

A modified version of the Barber Suggestibility Scale was administered to 19 patients with SD and 17 controls with an established organic dystonia.

RESULTS

Patients with SD were no more suggestible than control patients. Dystonia controls were more likely to deliberately comply with suggestions than the SD patients.

CONCLUSION

Contrary to popular belief, high suggestibility is not necessarily a feature of SD.

Kimberlite ascent and eruption

Wilson and Head model kimberlite ascent and eruption by considering the propagation of a volatile-rich dyke. Wilson and Head's model has features in common with Sparks et al., but it is inconsistent with geological observations and constraints on volatile solubility. Here we show that this may be due to erroneous physical assumptions.

New insights into growth hormone action

It has been 75 years since Evans and Long identified a somatic growth-promoting substance in pituitary extracts, yet it is only in the last 20 years that the molecular basis for this action has been established. Three key elements in this elucidation were the cloning of the GH receptor, the identification of Janus kinase (JAK) 2 as the receptor-associated tyrosine kinase, and the delineation of signal transduction and activators of transcription (STAT) 5a/b as the key transcription factor(s) activated by JAK2. The interaction between these three elements results in enhanced postnatal growth and is the subject of this review. We describe a new model for GH receptor activation based on subunit rotation within a constitutive dimer, together with the phenotype and hepatic transcript profile of mice with targeted knockins to the receptor cytoplasmic domain. These support a central role for STAT5a/b in postnatal growth.

Reliability of self-reported diagnoses in patients with neurologically unexplained symptoms

BACKGROUND

Patients with neurologically unexplained symptoms (NUS) often have a previous history of other medically unexplained symptoms. A past history of such symptoms can help make a positive diagnosis of a somatoform or affective disorder, and enable appropriate management strategies. However, information on past medical diagnoses is primarily obtained from patient interviews and may be inaccurate, particularly in patients with NUS.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the reliability of past medical diagnoses reported by patients with NUS compared with patients with confirmed neurological disease (ND) without suspicion of somatoform illness.

METHODS

21 patients with NUS and 16 patients with ND were interviewed about their current and past medical problems and diagnoses. The accuracy of the reported diagnoses was assessed through examination of their complete general practice notes.

RESULTS

The median number of previous diagnoses reported by patients with NUS was significantly higher than in controls (7 v 3, p = 0.001). There was no difference in the median number of confirmed diagnoses between the two groups (2 v 2.5); however, the median percentage of reported diagnoses confirmed by investigations was significantly smaller in the NUS group (22% v 80%, p = 0.001). The additional diagnoses reported by patients with NUS not only comprised functional syndromes such as irritable bowel syndrome or non-cardiac chest pain (6% v 0%, p = 0.01), but also organic diagnoses which had either been unequivocally excluded (5% v 0%, p = 0.006), were based on equivocal findings often found after multiple investigations (9% v 0%, p = 0.01), or had not been investigated before a clinical diagnosis was made (50% v 18%, p = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

Reported previous diagnoses should not be taken at face value when the current differential diagnosis includes a functional/somatoform neurological syndrome, particularly if the list of past medical diagnoses is long. Confirmation of previous diagnoses from alternative sources may contribute to a diagnosis of somatoform disorder, allowing appropriate management strategies for the current (and past) complaints to be initiated.

Religiosity is associated with hippocampal but not amygdala volumes in patients with refractory epilepsy

OBJECTIVE

To assess the relationship between the behavioural triad of hyper-religiosity, hypergraphia and hyposexuality in epilepsy, and volumes of the mesial temporal structures.

METHOD

Magnetic resonance images were obtained from 33 patients with refractory epilepsy and mesial temporal structure volumes assessed. Amygdala and hippocampal volumes were then compared in high and low scorers on the religiosity, writing, and sexuality sub-scales of the Neurobehavioural Inventory.

RESULTS

Patients with high ratings on the religiosity scale had significantly smaller right hippocampi. Religiosity scores rated by both patient and carer showed a significant negative correlation with right hippocampal volumes in this group. There were no other differences in amygdala or hippocampal volumes between these groups, or between high and low scorers on the writing and sexuality sub-scales.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that right hippocampal volumes are negatively correlated with religiosity in patients with refractory epilepsy.

Differential sensitivity of three marine invertebrates to copper assessed using multiple biomarkers

Understanding how biomarkers relate to each other on exposure to particular contaminants in different species is key to their widespread application in environmental management. However, few studies have systematically used multiple biomarkers in more than a single species to determine the variability of sublethal effects of a particular contaminant. In this study, three marine invertebrates, the shore crab Carcinus maenas, the common limpet Patella vulgata and the blue mussel Mytilus edulis, were exposed over 7 days in the laboratory to environmentally realistic concentrations of the priority pollutant copper. A combination of molecular, cellular and physiological biomarkers was measured in each organism to detect the toxic effects of copper. Biomarkers included lysosomal stability (neutral red retention), neurotoxicity (acetylcholinesterase activity), metabolic impairment (total haemolymph protein), physiological status (heart rate) and induction of protective metallothionein proteins. P. vulgata was the most sensitive to copper with significant effects measured in all biomarkers at concentrations of 6.1 microg Cu l(-1). In C. maenas, cellular and neurotoxic endpoints were affected significantly only at 68.1 microg Cu l(-1). Exposure to copper also induced metallothionein production in crabs. Over a 7-day exposure period, M. edulis was the most tolerant species to copper with significant effects being observed at the cellular level only at 68.1 microg Cu l(-1) . In all three species, cellular and neurotoxic pathways were more sensitive to disruption than physiological processes (protein and heart rate). Results illustrate how a suite of biomarkers applied to different sentinel species can provide a 'diagnosis of stress', whereby, effects at the molecular level can be used to interpret the level of physiological impairment of the organism.

Suppressor of cytokine signalling gene expression is elevated in breast carcinoma

Cytokines are important for breast cell function, both as trophic hormones and as mediators of host defense mechanisms against breast cancer. Recently, inducible feedback suppressors of cytokine signalling (SOCS/JAB/SSI) have been identified, which decrease cell sensitivity to cytokines. We examined the expression of SOCS genes in 17 breast carcinomas and 10 breast cancer lines, in comparison with normal tissue and breast lines. We report elevated expression of SOCS-1-3 and CIS immunoreactive proteins within in situ ductal carcinomas and infiltrating ductal carcinomas relative to normal breast tissue. Significantly increased expression of SOCS-1-3 and CIS transcripts was also shown by quantitative in situ hybridisation within both tumour tissue and reactive stroma. CIS transcript expression was elevated in all 10 cancer lines, but not in control lines. However, there was no consistent elevation of other SOCS transcripts. CIS protein was shown by immunoblot to be present in all cancer lines at increased levels, mainly as the 47 kDa ubiquitinylated form. A potential proliferative role for CIS overexpression is supported by reports that CIS activates ERK kinases, and by strong induction in transient reporter assays with an ERK-responsive promoter. The in vivo elevation of SOCS gene expression may be part of the host/tumour response or a response to autocrine/paracrine GH and prolactin. However, increased CIS expression in breast cancer lines appears to be a specific lesion, and could simultaneously shut down STAT 5 signalling by trophic hormones, confer resistance to host cytokines and increase proliferation through ERK kinases.

A copepod life-cycle test and growth model for interpreting the effects of lindane

A full life-cycle test was performed to measure the effects of lindane (3.2-3,200 microg l(-1)) on the survival, development and reproduction of the freshwater copepod Bryocamptus zschokkei. This copepod survived at relatively high concentrations of lindane compared with other freshwater crustaceans with a 10 day LC50 of 241 microg l(-1) (95% CL of 141-440). 'Equiproportional development', which assumes that each moult stage represents a specific proportion of the total development time, and is not affected by processes that influence metabolism such as temperature and food quality, was used to determine the mode of action of lindane on development in B. zschokkei. Development to adult was significantly longer at 100 microg l(-1) lindane compared with the controls, however, development remained equiproportional regardless of lindane exposure. Increased development times, therefore, are not due to a direct effect of lindane on the moulting process but are due probably to reduced food intake or increased metabolism through the stress imposed by toxicant exposure. Although the survival data suggest that B. zschokkei is relatively tolerant of lindane exposure, reproduction was affected at low lindane concentrations. At 32 microg l(-1) lindane, significantly fewer eggs and viable offspring were produced per female compared with the solvent control. At very low lindane concentrations (3.2 and 10 microg l(-1)), there was a significant increase in the numbers of offspring produced per female compared with the controls and this is interpreted as a hormesis effect. In conclusion, a full life-cycle test demonstrated B. zschokkei is relatively sensitive to lindane compared with other freshwater crustaceans. Incorporating a copepod growth model (equiproportional development) into the life-cycle test design, provided information on the dominant mode of action of the toxicant.

Investigation of the possible spread of foot-and-mouth disease virus by the burning of animal carcases on open pyres

An atmospheric dispersion model was used to predict the airborne spread and concentrations of foot-and-mouth disease virus within the plumes generated by 11 pyres built to burn infected carcases during the epidemic of 2001 in the UK. On the basis of assumptions about the quantity of virus emitted during the three hours after the pyres were built and the threshold concentration of virus required to cause an infection in cattle, it was concluded that none of the disease breakdowns which occurred under the plumes was due to the spread of virus from the pyres.

Surgeon workload and motion efficiency with robot and human laparoscopic camera control

BACKGROUND

Surgeons are now being assisted by robotic systems in a wide range of laparoscopic procedures. Some reports have suggested that robot-assisted camera control (RACC) may be superior to a human driver in terms of quality of view and directional precision, as well as long-term cost savings. Therefore, we setout to investigate the impact of RACC of surgeon motion efficiency.

METHODS

Twenty pigs were randomized to undergo a standardized laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication with either a human or RACC system, the AESOP 2000. All procedures were performed by the same surgical fellow. Time was recorded for dissection and suture phases. Inertial motion sensors were used to monitor both the surgeon's hands and the camera. Digitized data were analyzed to produce summary measures related to overall motion.

RESULTS

The operative times were slightly longer with RACC (mean 80.2 +/- 20.6 vs 73.1 +/- 15.4 min, not significant). With regard to operative times and surgeon motion measures, the only statistically significant differences were for setup and breakdown times, which contributed <15% to the total time for the procedure.

CONCLUSION

In terms of impact on surgeon motion efficiency and operative time under normal surgical conditions, RACC is essentially the same as an expert human driver. However, careful planning and structuring of the surgical suite may yield some small gains in operative time.

1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium cobalt tetracarbonyl [bmim][Co(CO)4]: a catalytically active organometallic ionic liquid

An ambient temperature liquid transition metal carbonyl anion has been prepared in a metathesis reaction between [bmim]Cl ([bmim]+ = 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium cation) and Na[Co(CO)4]; the ionic liquid catalyses the debromination of 2-bromoketones.

Effects of hydrophobic treatments of stone on pore water studied by continuous distribution analysis of NMR relaxation times

The effects of protective hydrophobic products applied to porous media such as stone or mortar vary greatly with the product, the porous medium, and the mode of application. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) measurements on fluids in the pore spaces of both treated and untreated samples can give information on the contact of the fluid with the internal surfaces, which is affected by all the above factors. Continuous distributions of relaxation times T(1) and T(2) of water in the pores of both synthetic and natural porous media were obtained before and after hydrophobic treatment. The synthetic porous media are ceramic filter materials characterized by narrow distributions of pore dimensions and show that the treatment does not produce large changes in the relaxation times of the water. For three travertine samples most of a long relaxation time component, presumably from the largest pores, remains after treatment, while the amplitude of an intermediate component is greatly reduced. For three pudding-stone samples, treatment leads to a substantial loss from the long component and an even greater loss from the intermediate component.

Examples of marginal resolution of NMR relaxation peaks using UPEN and diagnostics

The multiexponential inversion program UPEN by the authors [J. Magn. Reson. 1998; 132: 65-77; Ibid. 2000;147:273-85] employs negative feedback to a regularization penalty to implement variable smoothing when both sharp and broad features appear on a single distribution of relaxation times. This allows a good fit to relaxation data that correspond to a sum of decaying exponentials plus random noise, but it usually does not give a good fit to data that are distorted by systematic errors from instrument problems, which can cause erroneous "resolution" or erroneous non-resolution of peaks. UPEN provides a series of diagnostic parameters to help identify such data problems that can lead to interpretation errors, and, in particular, to warn when a close call on the resolution or non-resolution of nearby peaks might be questionable. Examples are given from a series of T(2) data sets from desiccated bone samples, with examples where the presence of two peaks is required by good data, examples where the presence of two peaks is negated by good data, and examples where the resolution or non-resolution of peaks cannot be trusted because of instrumental distortions revealed by UPEN diagnostic parameters. It is suggested that processing relaxation data with UPEN in nearly real time could permit retaking data while a sample is still available if the diagnostic parameters show instrumental problems.

Multivariate analyses of anthropometric and psychometric variables in probands with affective disorders and their families

Data on 121 subjects, probands with affective disorders, their spouses and first degree relatives, are analyzed by multivariate methods to determine the relationships between physical types and propensity to illness. 56 variables are used: 39 anthropometric measures, age, sex, and 15 psychometric scales. In a canonical analysis between the anthropometric measures and the psychiatric scales, each canonical variable is found to be largely identified with a single psychometric component, as found in a principal components analysis of the psychometric scales. The two major anthropometric components, size and linearity, do not have any clear relationship with the psychometric components. However, a discriminant analysis that takes each individual as being in one of four clinical groups, normal, unipolar depressed, bipolar affective disorder or other, indicates a clear relationship between the anthropometric measures and mental illness; wide face and deep chest are associated with patients who have bipolar affective disorder. Half of the variables studied are sufficient to give virtually the same amount of discrimination as all 56 variables.

Feline leukemia virus in a captive bobcat

An 11-mo-old captive-bred male neutered bobcat (Felis rufus) presented with lethargy, anorexia, leukopenia, neutropenia, lymphopenia, and nonregenerative anemia. The animal was diagnosed as feline leukemia virus (FeLV) positive by immunofluorescent antibody and enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) testing. It died despite supportive care. Pathologic examination revealed multifocal non-suppurative encephalitis, diffuse interstitial pneumonia, multifocal hepatocellular necrosis, non-suppurative peritonitis, and lymphoid depletion. FeLV was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells, bone marrow, spleen, and lymph node. FeLV-specific gag sequences were amplified by DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and aligned with known domestic cat FeLV's. The source of the virus was speculated to be a domestic cat that was a surrogate nurse. Case reports of FeLV in nondomestic felids are few, and FeLV does not appear to be enzootic in wild felids, except European wildcats (Felis silvestris) in France and Scotland. Introduction of FeLV into free-living and captive nondomestic felid populations could have serious consequences for their health and survival. Measures to prevent the introduction of this virus to nondomestic felids are warranted.