The ELFIN Mission.

The Electron Loss and Fields Investigation with a Spatio-Temporal Ambiguity-Resolving option (ELFIN-STAR, or heretoforth simply: ELFIN) mission comprises two identical 3-Unit (3U) CubeSats on a polar (∼93∘ inclination), nearly circular, low-Earth (∼450 km altitude) orbit. Launched on September 15, 2018, ELFIN is expected to have a >2.5 year lifetime. Its primary science objective is to resolve the mechanism of storm-time relativistic electron precipitation, for which electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves are a prime candidate. From its ionospheric vantage point, ELFIN uses its unique pitch-angle-resolving capability to determine whether measured relativistic electron pitch-angle and energy spectra within the loss cone bear the characteristic signatures of scattering by EMIC waves or whether such scattering may be due to other processes. Pairing identical ELFIN satellites with slowly-variable along-track separation allows disambiguation of spatial and temporal evolution of the precipitation over minutes-to-tens-of-minutes timescales, faster than the orbit period of a single low-altitude satellite (Torbit ∼ 90 min). Each satellite carries an energetic particle detector for electrons (EPDE) that measures 50 keV to 5 MeV electrons with Δ E/E < 40% and a fluxgate magnetometer (FGM) on a ∼72 cm boom that measures magnetic field waves (e.g., EMIC waves) in the range from DC to 5 Hz Nyquist (nominally) with <0.3 nT/sqrt(Hz) noise at 1 Hz. The spinning satellites (Tspin ∼ 3 s) are equipped with magnetorquers (air coils) that permit spin-up or -down and reorientation maneuvers. Using those, the spin axis is placed normal to the orbit plane (nominally), allowing full pitch-angle resolution twice per spin. An energetic particle detector for ions (EPDI) measures 250 keV - 5 MeV ions, addressing secondary science. Funded initially by CalSpace and the University Nanosat Program, ELFIN was selected for flight with joint support from NSF and NASA between 2014 and 2018 and launched by the ELaNa XVIII program on a Delta II rocket (with IceSatII as the primary). Mission operations are currently funded by NASA. Working under experienced UCLA mentors, with advice from The Aerospace Corporation and NASA personnel, more than 250 undergraduates have matured the ELFIN implementation strategy; developed the instruments, satellite, and ground systems and operate the two satellites. ELFIN's already high potential for cutting-edge science return is compounded by concurrent equatorial Heliophysics missions (THEMIS, Arase, Van Allen Probes, MMS) and ground stations. ELFIN's integrated data analysis approach, rapid dissemination strategies via the SPace Environment Data Analysis System (SPEDAS), and data coordination with the Heliophysics/Geospace System Observatory (H/GSO) optimize science yield, enabling the widest community benefits. Several storm-time events have already been captured and are presented herein to demonstrate ELFIN's data analysis methods and potential. These form the basis of on-going studies to resolve the primary mission science objective. Broad energy precipitation events, precipitation bands, and microbursts, clearly seen both at dawn and dusk, extend from tens of keV to >1 MeV. This broad energy range of precipitation indicates that multiple waves are providing scattering concurrently. Many observed events show significant backscattered fluxes, which in the past were hard to resolve by equatorial spacecraft or non-pitch-angle-resolving ionospheric missions. These observations suggest that the ionosphere plays a significant role in modifying magnetospheric electron fluxes and wave-particle interactions. Routine data captures starting in February 2020 and lasting for at least another year, approximately the remainder of the mission lifetime, are expected to provide a very rich dataset to address questions even beyond the primary mission science objective.

Conserved simple sequence repeats for the Limnanthaceae (Brassicales).

The Limnanthaceae (Order Brassicales) is a family of 18 taxa of Limnanthes (meadowfoam) native to California, Oregon, and British Columbia. Cultivated meadowfoam ( L. alba Benth.), a recently domesticated plant, has been the focus of research and development as an industrial oilseed for three decades. The goal of the present research was to develop several hundred simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers for genetic mapping, molecular breeding, and genomics research in wild and cultivated meadowfoam taxa. We developed 389 SSR markers for cultivated meadowfoam by isolating and sequencing 1,596 clones from L. alba genomic DNA libraries enriched for AG(n) or AC(n) repeats, identifying one or more unique SSRs in 696 clone sequences, and designing and testing primers for 624 unique SSRs. The SSR markers were screened for cross- taxa utility and polymorphisms among ten of 17 taxa in the Limnanthaceae; 373 of these markers were polymorphic and 106 amplified loci from every taxon. Cross-taxa amplification percentages ranged from 37.3% in L. douglasii ssp. rosea (145/389) to 85.6% in L. montana (333/389). The SSR markers amplified 4,160 unique bands from 14 genotypes sampled from ten taxa (10.7 unique bands per SSR marker), of which 972 were genotype-specific. Mean and maximum haplotype heterozygosities were 0.71 and 0.90, respectively, among six L. alba genotypes and 0.63 and 0.93, respectively, among 14 genotypes (ten taxa). The SSR markers supply a critical mass of high-throughput DNA markers for biological and agricultural research across the Limnanthaceae and open the way to the development of a genetic linkage map for meadowfoam ( x = 5).

Prospective randomized trial comparing oxygen administration during nasal flexible bronchoscopy : oral vs nasal delivery.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine the optimal method of delivering supplemental oxygen during flexible bronchoscopy (FB). DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University medical center. PATIENTS: Ninety-seven consecutive patients undergoing outpatient nasal FB during a 7-month period. INTERVENTION: During FB, delivery of oxygen was alternated weekly and administered by nasal cannula either nasally (52 patients) or orally (45 patients). Prior to the procedure, patients completed a questionnaire regarding oral or nasal breathing preferences, history of sinus disease, allergy history, and perceived degree of nasal congestion. RESULTS: Comparison of oxygen delivery groups demonstrated no significant difference in oxygen requirements (4.1 L/min nasal vs 3.8 L/min oral, p = 0.63), overall saturation nadir (90.9% nasal vs 91.4% oral, p = 0.85), or average saturation (95.8% nasal vs 95.7% oral, p = 0.57). No correlation between subjective symptoms or sinus or allergy history was found for oxygen requirements, average saturation, or saturation nadir. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that during nasal FB, no discernible difference exists between administration of oxygen using cannulas placed either nasally or orally.

Hemoptysis in patients with renal insufficiency : the role of flexible bronchoscopy.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To assess the indications, yield, and therapeutic impact of flexible bronchoscopy (FB) in patients with hemoptysis and renal insufficiency. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort analysis. SETTING: Tertiary-care university hospital. PATIENTS: Thirty-four patients over a 7.5-year period who underwent FB to evaluate hemoptysis in the setting of renal insufficiency (ie, serum creatinine level, > 1.5 mg/dL). MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The etiology of hemoptysis was undetermined in 41% of cases. Defined causes of bleeding included infections (29%), pulmonary renal syndromes (15%), airway injury (9%), and pulmonary embolism (6%). No specific bleeding site was identified, but FB lateralized hemorrhaging to one lung in 24% of patients. FB results influenced therapy in 29% of patients overall and in 8% of patients without respiratory tract infection. The hospital survival rate was 47% and did not differ based on the presence or absence (presence vs absence) of the following variables: a defined etiology for hemoptysis (45% vs 50%); lateralized bleeding (38% vs 50%); or management alterations prompted by other FB findings (50% vs 46%). Factors associated with survival included the onset of bleeding prior to hospital admission (80% vs 33%; p = 0.02), the absence of respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation at the time of FB (90% vs 29%; p = 0.002), and lack of prohemorrhagic factors (other than uremia) such as disseminated intravascular coagulation, recent treatment with warfarin, heparin, or antiplatelet agents (78% vs 33%; p = 0.05). During the 6 months following hospital discharge, hemoptysis recurred in 14% of patients, and 5 patients died, for an overall mortality rate of 62%. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that FB in hospitalized patients with hemoptysis and renal insufficiency, and without radiographic findings suggesting neoplastic disease, has a low yield and limited impact. Whether FB influences outcome in selected patients in this setting requires prospective investigation.

Baseline oxygen saturation predicts exercise desaturation below prescription threshold in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies of exercise-induced hypoxemia in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have shown that oxygen supplementation during exertion increases exercise tolerance and alleviates dyspnea. Although measurements of forced expiratory volume in 1 second and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) are known to predict exercise-induced desaturation in patients with COPD, baseline oxygen saturation has never been studied as a predictor of exercise-induced desaturation. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of 100 consecutive patients with forced expiratory volume in 1 second-forced vital capacity ratio of 70% or less who underwent exercise testing for desaturation. Any desaturation to 88% or less with exercise was considered significant. Nineteen patients with total lung capacity of 80% or less were excluded to avoid evaluating those with combined obstructive and restrictive defects; 81 patients remained available for study. RESULTS: Nineteen (51%) of 37 patients with resting saturation of 95% or less desaturated with exercise as opposed to 7 (16%) of 44 with resting saturation of 96% or greater (P =.001). The sensitivity and the negative predictive value of baseline saturation of 95% or less as a screening test for exercise desaturation were 73% and 84%, respectively. If all patients with DLCO of 36% or less were excluded, 40 patients were left for study. Eight (40%) of 20 patients with baseline saturation of 95% or less compared with 0 of 20 with resting saturation of 96% or greater desaturated with exercise (P =.006). In this subset, the sensitivity and the negative predictive value of baseline saturation of 95% or less as a screening test for exercise desaturation both improved to 100%. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with COPD, baseline saturation of 95% or less is a good screening test for exercise desaturation, especially in patients with DLCO greater than 36%. This readily available office screening procedure merits further study in larger prospective patient cohorts.

Exercise rehabilitation and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease stage.

To determine the extent to which patients with Stage I COPD experience improvements in physical performance and quality of life as a result of exercise training, and to compare these improvements with those seen in Stage I and II patients, 151 patients with COPD underwent a 12-wk exercise program. Outcomes were measured at baseline and follow-up. Physical performance was evaluated by means of a 6-min walk, treadmill time, an overhead task, and a stair climb. General health-related quality of life was assessed in terms of the domains of Social Function, Health Perceptions, and Life Satisfaction. Disease-specific health-related quality of life was assessed with the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (CRQ). Six-minute walk distance increased significantly in Stage I (200.5 ft [95% CI: 165.4, 235.7]), Stage II (238.3 ft [143.3, 333.3]), and Stage III (112.1 ft [34.6, 189.6]) participants. Treadmill time increased significantly in Stage I (0.42 min [0.20, 0.64]) and Stage II (0.64 min [0.14, 1.4]) participants. Time to complete the overhead task decreased significantly in Stage I (0.91 s [1.72, 0. 11]) and Stage II (1.39 s [2.66, 0.13]) participants. None of the measures of general health-related quality of life improved in any of the three groups. Participants in Stages I, II, and III all experienced improvements in the CRQ domains of dyspnea (0.72 [0.53, 0.91], 0.47 [0.02, 0.91], and 0.46 [0.05, 0.87], respectively) and fatigue (0.49 [0.33, 0.66], 0.54 [0.20, 0.87], and 0.55 [0.05, 1.05], respectively). These results suggest that all patients with COPD will benefit from exercise rehabilitation. Berry MJ, Rejeski WJ, Adair NE, Zaccaro D. Exercise rehabilitation and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease stage.

Fiberoptic bronchoscopy in coronary care unit patients: indications, safety, and clinical implications.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the indications, safety, therapeutic impact, and outcome of fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) in coronary care unit (CCU) patients. DESIGN: Retrospective review of all CCU patients undergoing FOB during a 6-year period. SETTING: Tertiary care university hospital. RESULTS: Among 8,330 patients admitted to the CCU; 40 (0.5%) patients underwent FOB to evaluate pulmonary abnormalities, most often (78%) to appraise clinically suspected pneumonia. Thirty-five (88%) patients were intubated and 21 (53%) had acute myocardial infarction (MI) before FOB. There were two major complications (bleeding, intubation) occurring within 24 h of FOB, one of which appeared due to the procedure. No episodes of chest pain or ischemic events were recorded and no significant increase in major complications was noted in MI patients (3% vs 5%). Patients having FOB within 10 days of MI had higher survival (79%) than those undergoing FOB later (29%) (p = 0.05). Seven different bacterial pathogens were isolated in 6 (15%) patients, probably reflecting prior empiric antibiotics in 32 (80%) patients. Therapy was changed in 64% of patients in whom a potential pathogen was identified. Despite alterations in treatment, patients with clinically suspected pneumonia and any organisms isolated by FOB had greater mortality (79% vs 31%, p = 0.003) than those with sterile FOB cultures. CONCLUSION: FOB may be diagnostically useful in the evaluation of pulmonary abnormalities in selected patients with acute cardiac disease, can be performed safely, and may influence management decisions. Positive bronchoscopy cultures often influence therapy but are associated with higher mortality, suggesting a lethal effect of nosocomial pneumonia in this subset of CCU patients. The risks of FOB must be weighed with the impact of FOB results on patient outcome, and its role requires further investigation.

Bacterial diversity among small-subunit rRNA gene clones and cellular isolates from the same seawater sample.

Numerous investigations applying the cloning and sequencing of rRNA genes (rDNAs) to the study of marine bacterioplankton diversity have shown that the sequences of genes cloned directly from environmental DNA do not correspond to the genes of cultured marine taxa. These results have been interpreted as support for the hypothesis that the most abundant heterotrophic marine bacterioplankton species are not readily culturable by commonly used methods. However, an alternative explanation is that marine bacterioplankton can be easily cultured but are not well represented in sequence databases. To further examine this question, we compared the small-subunit (SSU) rDNAs of 127 cellular clones isolated from a water sample collected off the Oregon coast to 58 bacterial SSU rDNAs cloned from environmental DNAs from the same water sample. The results revealed little overlap between partial SSU rDNA sequences from the cellular clones and the environmental clone library. An exception was the SSU rDNA sequence recovered from a cellular clone belonging to the Pseudomonas subgroup of the gamma subclass of the class Proteobacteria, which was related to a single gene cloned directly from the same water sample (OCS181) (similarity, 94.6%). In addition, partial SSU rDNA sequences from three of the cultured strains matched a novel rDNA clone related to the gamma subclass of the Proteobacteria found previously in an environmental clone library from marine aggregates (AGG53) (similarity, 94.3 to 99.6%). Our results support the hypothesis that many of the most abundant bacterioplankton species are not readily culturable by standard methods but also show that heterotrophic bacterioplankton that are culturable on media with high organic contents include many strains for which SSU rDNA sequences are not available in sequence databases.

Pulmonary section development influences general medical house officer interests and ABIM certifying examination performance.

To determine whether sectional development in pulmonary and critical care medicine influences medical house officers' (HO) interests and knowledge about respiratory medicine, we reviewed HO performance on the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) certifying examination during 4 years before and 5 years after reorganization of our section. After major changes in the program and introduction of new educational opportunities, HOs more often selected pulmonary consultation electives (68.6% vs 47.8%; p = 0.009) and entered pulmonary fellowships after completion of residency training (12% vs 3%; p = 0.047). Total ABIM examination score did not change, but performance on its respiratory disease component improved from a median national percentile score of 48.5% (1986 to 1989) to 80.0% (1990 to 1994) (p = 0.0365). In relation to other specialty component scores, the rank of the respiratory disease percentile improved from the lowest specialty score to the highest. ABIM examination scores correlated with the cumulative faculty effort directed toward HO teaching (r = 0.70; p = 0.04) and the total number of clinical teachers (faculty and fellows) interacting with HOs (r = 0.73; p = 0.02). Academic development in pulmonary/critical care faculty has an important influence on medical HO interests in and knowledge of that discipline. Plans for the future structure of academic pulmonary/critical care sections must take into account this impact on the training of generalists. Although institutional priorities, resources, and shifting external forces will define how, where, and by whom respiratory medicine will be taught, an appropriate number of faculty members and sufficient commitment of their time to HO education must be preserved.

16S rRNA genes reveal stratified open ocean bacterioplankton populations related to the Green Non-Sulfur bacteria.

Microorganisms play an important role in the biogeochemistry of the ocean surface layer, but spatial and temporal structures in the distributions of specific bacterioplankton species are largely unexplored, with the exceptions of those organisms that can be detected by either autofluorescence or culture methods. The use of rRNA genes as genetic markers provides a tool by which patterns in the growth, distribution, and activity of abundant bacterioplankton species can be studied regardless of the ease with which they can be cultured. Here we report an unusual cluster of related 16S rRNA genes (SAR202, SAR263, SAR279, SAR287, SAR293, SAR307) cloned from seawater collected at 250 m in the Sargasso Sea in August 1991, when the water column was highly stratified and the deep chlorophyll maximum was located at a depth of 120 m. Phylogenetic analysis and an unusual 15-bp deletion confirmed that the genes were related to the Green Non-Sulfur phylum of the domain Bacteria. This is the first evidence that representatives of this phylum occur in the open ocean. Oligonucleotide probes were used to examine the distribution of the SAR202 gene cluster in vertical profiles (0-250 m) from the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and in discrete (monthly) time series (O and 200 m) (over 30 consecutive months in the Western Sargasso Sea. The data provide robust statistical support for the conclusion that the SAR202 gene cluster is proportionately most abundant at the lower boundary of the deep chlorophyll maximum (P = 2.33 x 10(-5)). These results suggest that previously unsuspected stratification of microbial populations may be a significant factor in the ecology of the ocean surface layer.

Inspiratory muscle training and whole-body reconditioning in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

To examine the efficacy of targeted inspiratory muscle training (IMT), 25 patients with moderate COPD were randomly assigned to one of three groups. Eight patients received IMT along with general exercise reconditioning, GER+IMT; nine patients received general exercise reconditioning, GER; eight patients received sham breathing exercises, CONTROL. All groups used a spring-loaded inspiratory muscle trainer; however, the GER and CONTROL groups breathed through these devices at only 15% of their maximal inspiratory pressure. The GER+IMT group increased the load on these devices until at 6 wk the load was equal to 80% of their maximal inspiratory pressure. All patients exercised three times per week for a 12-wk period in supervised sessions. Analysis of covariance revealed no significant differences in spirometric measurements, maximal inspiratory pressure, or maximal oxygen consumption among any of the three groups after the intervention (p > 0.05). Twelve-minute walk distance was significantly greater in the GER+IMT and GER groups than in the CONTROL group (p = 0.03). After the intervention, there was a trend (p = 0.08) for treadmill time to be greater for the GER+IMT and GER groups than for the CONTROL group. Dyspnea ratings at different exercise intensities were not found to be significantly different among the three groups after the intervention. These results demonstrate that GER+IMT and GER alone are equally effective in improving exercise performance in patients with COPD. Additionally, the combination of GER and IMT does not appear to provide any clinically significant improvements in exercise performance or perceptions of dyspnea during exercise when compared with GER alone.

Increased ventilation in runners during running as compared to walking at similar metabolic rates.

At similar levels of carbon dioxide production (VCO2) and oxygen consumption (VO2), runners have been shown to have a greater minute ventilation (VE) during running as compared to walking. The mechanism responsible for these differences has yet to be identified. To determine if these differences are a result of differences in acid-base status, potassium (K+), norepinephrine and/or epinephrine levels, seven well-trained runners completed walk and run tests at similar VO2 and VCO2 levels. The occurrence of entrainment of the breathing and stride frequencies during both walking and running was also determined. VE was significantly greater during the run as compared to the walk, 73.7 (2.2) versus 68.6 (2.0) l.min-1, respectively, despite the similarity in VO2 and VCO2 levels. Alveolar ventilation was not significantly different between the run and the walk, 60.4 (4.7) versus 59.6 (4.4) l.min-1, respectively. Dead space ventilation was found to be significantly greater during running as compared to walking, 13.3 (3.2) versus 9.0 (4.7) l.min-1, respectively. The increases in VE were due to increases in breathing frequency and decreases in tidal volume during the run as compared to the walk. Arterial partial pressures of CO2 (PaCO2) were not significantly different when comparing walking and running to rest values nor when comparing walking and running. Arterial pH was significantly lower during walking as compared to rest and running. Bicarbonate levels were significantly lower during walking as compared to rest. Lactate was significantly greater during walking as compared to rest and to running. K+ levels were significantly higher during walking and running as compared to rest. Epinephrine and norepinephrine levels were not significantly different between running and walking. During the walk, six of the seven subjects entrained their breathing frequency to the stride frequency, and during the run three of the seven subjects demonstrated entrainment. Results from this investigation do not support mediation of VE under the present experimental conditions by changes in arterial levels of humoral factors previously shown to influence VE.

Education and experience improve transbronchial needle aspiration performance.

To determine whether the diagnostic yield of transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) improves over time and to obtain insights about factors influencing its performance, we reviewed our experience during a 3-yr period. After serial multifaceted educational interventions directed toward bronchoscopists and their technical staff, TBNA yield increased significantly from 21.4 to 47.6% (p < 0.001). More frequent and more detailed notations in bronchoscopy reports (p < 0.05), a lower frequency of cytopathology specimens contaminated by endobronchial material (p < 0.05), and higher yields in patients with small cell carcinoma (p < 0.01) suggested that bronchoscopists' TBNA proficiency had increased. More frequent diagnoses with small cell carcinoma and fewer cytologically unsatisfactory specimens (p < 0.01) suggested that education of bronchoscopy technicians, and use of a direct smear technique for specimen preparation also contributed to improved TBNA yield. Increased experience with TBNA and focused education regarding its performance can enhance the role of this procedure in diagnosis and staging of patients with lung cancer.

Incorporating soy proteins into baked products for use in clinical studies.

Recent research at the University of Illinois and elsewhere has shown that soy protein isolates and associated isoflavones are dietary constituents that are effective in decreasing risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. If acceptable soy-based foods can be developed, the use of these products in typical diets can be increased. Many studies of the effects of soy protein in humans relied on addition or substitution of marginally palatable soy products in animal protein-based diets. Subjects found it difficult to comply with long-term protocols using soy ingredients that had distinctive flavors and textures. Early attempts to develop palatable products with soy supplementation met with limited success. New processing methods have created a generation of soy protein isolates with mild flavors and aromas, as well as improved functionality, which can be incorporated into a variety of food products at levels high enough to have an effect on health. We have developed product and recipe formulations that can be satisfactorily incorporated into typical diets. The procedures used for product development, sensory evaluation of the products and the effect they can have on overall dietary intakes are discussed.

Theophylline effect on the cerebral blood flow response to hypoxemia.

Cerebral oxygen delivery (CO2D) remains nearly constant over a wide range of cerebral perfusion pressure and arterial oxygen content. In response to a decrease in arterial oxygen content secondary to hypoxemia, cerebral blood flow (CBF) increases, a response likely mediated by the release of adenosine. We studied the effect of theophylline, a potent adenosine antagonist, on CBF and cerebral oxygen delivery (CO2D) during hypoxemia in five healthy adult male volunteers. The CBF was measured using 133Xe clearance under conditions of (1) normoxemia (O2 saturation greater than 95 percent); (2) hypoxemia (O2 saturation = 80 percent); (3) normoxemia following aminophylline (the ethylene diamine salt of theophylline) 6 mg/kg intravenously; and (4) hypoxemia following aminophylline. Aminophylline decreased CBF and CO2D during both normoxemia and hypoxemia, but did not prevent the increase in CBF accompanying hypoxemia, suggesting that the increase in CBF in response to hypoxemia may not be mediated by adenosine or that customary doses of aminophylline are insufficient to inhibit adenosine-mediated cerebral vasodilation in response to hypoxemia. The significant decrease in CBF and CO2D observed following aminophylline is potentially clinically important and should be considered in the selection of bronchodilator therapy.