Assessment of the performance of nonfouling polymer hydrogels utilizing citizen scientists

To facilitate longer duration space travel, flight crew sickness and disease transmission amongst the crew must be eliminated. High contact surfaces within space vehicles provide an opportunity for bacterial adhesion, which can lead to biofilm formation or disease transmission. This study evaluates the performance of several nonfouling polymers using citizen science, to identify the best performing chemistry for future applications as bacteria resistant coatings. The specific polymer chemistries tested were zwitterionic sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA), and polyampholytes composed of [2-(acryloyloxy)ethyl] trimethylammonium chloride and 2-carboxyethyl acrylate (TMA/CAA), or TMA and 3-sulfopropyl methacrylate (TMA/SA). Each polymer chemistry is known to exhibit bacteria resistance, and this study provides a direct side-by-side comparison between the chemistries using a citizen science approach. Nearly 100 citizen scientists returned results comparing the performance of these polymers over repeat exposure to bacteria and 30 total days of growth. The results demonstrate that TMA/CAA polyampholyte hydrogels show the best long-term resistance to bacteria adhesion.

The first data release of LAMOST low-resolution single-epoch spectra

LAMOST Data Release 5, covering ∼17 000 deg2 from –10° to 80° in declination, contains 9 million co-added low-resolution spectra of celestial objects, each spectrum combined from repeat exposure of two to tens of times during Oct 2011 to Jun 2017. In this paper, we present the spectra of individual exposures for all the objects in LAMOST Data Release 5. For each spectrum, the equivalent width of 60 lines from 11 different elements are calculated with a new method combining the actual line core and fitted line wings. For stars earlier than F type, the Balmer lines are fitted with both emission and absorption profiles once two components are detected. Radial velocity of each individual exposure is measured by minimizing χ 2 between the spectrum and its best template. The database for equivalent widths of spectral lines and radial velocities of individual spectra are available online. Radial velocity uncertainties with different stellar type and signal-to-noise ratio are quantified by comparing different exposure of the same objects. We notice that the radial velocity uncertainty depends on the time lag between observations. For stars observed in the same day and with signal-to-noise ratio higher than 20, the radial velocity uncertainty is below 5km s−1, and increases to 10 km s−1 for stars observed in different nights.

IgG-Complexed Adenoviruses Induce Human Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Activation and Apoptosis

Following repeat exposure to many human adenoviruses (HAdVs), most adults harbour long-lived B- and T-cell responses. Combined, this response typically protects us for years from re-infection by the same HAdV type. In spite of these immune responses, some HAdV types are associated with persistent infections that constitute a life-threatening risk when an individual’s T-cell response is compromised. By contrast, patients with B-cell deficiencies do not appear to be at a greater risk of HAdV disease. This dichotomy begs the question of the secondary role of anti-HAdV antibodies during host defence. In this study, we explored IgG-complexed (IC)-HAdV5 and primary human plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC) interactions. We found that IC-HAdV5 are efficiently internalized in pDCs, stimulate their activation through TLR9 signalling, and cause apoptosis. These data may help reconcile the enigma of robust immune response to HAdVs, while concurrently allowing persistence.

An assessment of the psychometric properties of the Stoplight Pain Scale in a Canadian paediatric emergency department

Objective This study aimed to validate a novel, three faced, colour-coded, action-oriented tool: The Stoplight Pain Scale (SPS). Methods A prospective observational cohort study was conducted at a Canadian paediatric emergency department from November 2014 to February 2017. Patients aged 3 to 12 years and their caregivers were asked to rate pain using the SPS and the Faces Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R). Pain was measured just before analgesia administration, 30 minutes after analgesia administration, and immediately following a painful procedure. Results A total of 227 patients were included; 26.9% (61/227) were 3 to 5 years old while 73.1% (166/227) were 6 to 12 years old. Using Cohen’s κ, agreement for SPS and FPS-R was ‘fair’ for children (0.28 [95% confidence interval {CI} 0.20 to 0.36]) and ‘poor’ for caregivers (0.14 [95% CI 0.07 to 0.21]), at initial measurement. The SPS had ‘fair’ agreement between child and caregiver scores, (0.37 [95% CI 0.27 to 0.47]), compared to FPS-R which showed ‘poor’ agreement (0.20 [95% CI 0.12 to 0.29]). Absolute agreement between child and caregiver SPS scores improved with repeat exposure; 30 minutes after analgesia administration, caregivers and children had fair agreement (κ=0.38, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.48); they had moderate agreement directly following painful procedures (κ=0.46, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.59). Overall, 72.4% (139/192) of children and 60.2% (118/196) of caregivers preferred SPS over FPS-R. Conclusion The SPS demonstrates fair agreement with FPS-R for children and fair-moderate agreement between children and caregivers; agreement improved with repeat use. The SPS is simple and easy to use; it may have a role in empowering direct child and family involvement in pain management.

Repeat exposure to hypercapnic seawater modifies growth and oxidative status in a tolerant burrowing clam

Whereas low levels of thermal stress, irradiance, and dietary restriction can have beneficial effects for many taxa, stress acclimation remains understudied in marine invertebrates, despite being threatened by climate change stressors such as ocean acidification. To test for life-stage and stress-intensity dependence in eliciting enhanced tolerance under subsequent stress encounters, we initially conditioned pediveliger Pacific geoduck (Panopea generosa) larvae to (i) ambient and moderately elevated pCO2 (920 µatm and 2800 µatm, respectively) for 110 days, (ii) secondarily applied a 7-day exposure to ambient, moderate, and severely elevated pCO2 (750 µatm, 2800 µatm, and 4900 µatm, respectively), followed by 7 days in ambient conditions, and (iii) implemented a 7-day third exposure to ambient (970 µatm) and moderate pCO2 (3000 µatm). Initial conditioning to moderate pCO2 stress followed by second and third exposure to severe and moderate pCO2 stress increased respiration rate, organic biomass, and shell size suggesting a stress-intensity-dependent effect on energetics. Additionally, stress-acclimated clams had lower antioxidant capacity compared to clams under ambient conditions, supporting the hypothesis that stress over postlarval-to-juvenile development affects oxidative status later in life. Time series and stress intensity-specific approaches can reveal life-stages and magnitudes of exposure, respectively, that may elicit beneficial phenotypic variation.

Compounding Impacts of Hazard Exposures on Mental Health in Houston, TX

Purpose Natural and anthropogenic hazards are increasingly becoming commonplace due to climate change and population pressures. The state of Texas is particularly vulnerable to these hazards and is ranked first in the United States due to the immense variety and frequency of large-scale events. While much research has looked at the immediate impacts these incidents have on mental health, little research has addressed the effects of compounding and repeated exposure to hazards. Methods This cross-sectional study (N = 1,224) collected survey data from a representative sample within the Houston Metropolitan Statistical Area. Utilizing the 12 item Short Form Health Survey version 2 a general composite score assessing mental health was compared against the type and frequency of hazard exposures. Results Findings revealed an observed reduction in mental health scores as participants had repeated exposures to major disasters. Further, the only significant result (P < 0.001) in dictating a reduced mental health scores was repeat exposure to hazards even after adjusting for demographic data and socioeconomic variables. Conclusion This research reveals the long-term mental impact hazard exposures can have and underscores the need for target public health interventions and engaged community efforts.

Hydrophilic polymer embolization following flow diversion of cerebral aneurysms

Foreign body embolization is a rare and potentially under-recognized complication of neuroendovascular procedures. This complication should be considered in the differential diagnosis for clinical or radiological deterioration following neurovascular interventions. We report a case of foreign body hydrophilic coating embolization that occurred following an attempted flow diversion of an intracranial aneurysm with dramatic flare-up after repeat exposure. We also provide a literature review of all reported cases of hydrophilic polymer embolization following flow diversion procedures.

Antibodies to Low-Copy Number RBC Alloantigen Convert a Tolerogenic Stimulus to an Immunogenic Stimulus in Mice

Red blood cells expressing alloantigens are well known to be capable of inducing robust humoral alloantibody responses both in transfusion and pregnancy. However, the majority of transfusion recipients and pregnant women never make alloantibodies, even after repeat exposure to foreign RBCs. More recently, RBCs have been used as a cellular therapeutic—very much like transfusion, engineered RBCs are highly immunogenic in some cases but not others. In animal models of both transfusion and RBC based therapeutics, RBCs that do not induce an immune response also cause tolerance. Despite a robust phenomenology, the mechanisms of what regulates immunity vs. tolerance to RBCs remains unclear. However, it has been reported that copy number of alloantigens on the RBCs is a critical factor, with a very low copy number causing non-responsiveness (in both humans and mice) and also leading to tolerance in mice. Recently, we reported that an IgG2c specific for an RBC antigen can substantially enhance the humoral immune response upon transfusion of RBCs expressing that antigen. Herein, we report that an IgG2c converts RBCs with low antigen copy number from a tolerogenic to an immunogenic stimulus. These findings report the first known stimulus that induces humoral alloimmunization to a low copy number RBC alloantigen and identify a previously undescribed molecular switch that has the ability to affect responder vs. non-responder phenotypes of transfusion recipients.

in vitro Activity of Hydrogen Peroxide and Hypochlorous Acid Generated by Electrochemical Scaffolds Against Planktonic and Biofilm Bacteria

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and hypochlorous acid (HOCl) are biocides used for cleaning and debriding chronic wound infections, which often harbor drug resistant bacteria. Here, we evaluated the in vitro activity of H2O2 and HOCl against 27 isolates of eight bacterial species involved in wound infections. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum biofilm bactericidal concentrations (MBBCs) were measured. When compared to their respective MICs, MBBCs of isolates exposed to H2O2 were 16- to 1,024-fold higher and those exposed to HOCl were 2- to 4-fold higher. We evaluated selection of resistance after exposure of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms to 10 iterations of electrochemically generated HOCl or H2O2 delivered using electrochemical scaffolds (e-scaffolds), observing no decrease in anti-biofilm effects with serial exposure to e-scaffold-generated H2O2 or HOCl. 24-hour exposure to H2O2-generating e-scaffolds consistently decreased colony forming units (CFUs) of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa biofilms by ∼5.0-log10 and ∼4.78-log10 through 10 iterations of exposure, respectively. 4-hour exposure to HOCl-generating e-scaffolds consistently decreased CFUs of S. aureus biofilms by ∼4.9-log10, and 1-hour exposure to HOCl-generating e-scaffolds consistently decreased CFUs of P. aeruginosa biofilms by ∼1.57-log10. These results suggest that HOCl has similar activity against planktonic and biofilm bacteria, whereas the activity of H2O2 is less against biofilm than planktonic bacteria, and that repeat exposure to either biocide, generated electrochemically under the experimental conditions studied, does not lessen antibiofilm effects.

Determinants of Pre-Radicalization: Religious or Rebel-Without-a-Cause Hypothesis? An Empirical Test Among French Adolescents

The study of the profiles of young adults involved in attacks and bombings in 2015 and 2016 in France highlighted a violent rejection of Western lifestyle and national identification. The question arises whether conflicting religious beliefs (religion hypothesis) and delinquent subculture (rebel-without-a-cause hypothesis) characterize a handful of violent attackers only or, rather, reflect social divides in the general youth population. We propose, based on literature, that there are known two features of a pre-radicalization stage: rejection of national community and justification of political violence. We intend to focus on what explains them in France. For that purpose, we use a large representative sample (n = 9.700) of adolescents, and structural equation modeling. Overall, our findings suggest that pre-radicalization reflects larger societal cleavages. Weak identification with the national community in France appears mainly driven by religious identity, and not religious fundamentalism. Justification of violence against outgroups/agents enforcing order is not predicted by religion, neither as belief system nor as identity. The sources of legitimation of violence are mainly found in espousing a delinquent subculture, and repeat exposure to state violence in the form of pretextual police stops.