A quantum enhanced search for dark matter axions.

The manipulation of quantum states of light1 holds the potential to enhance searches for fundamental physics. Only recently has the maturation of quantum squeezing technology coincided with the emergence of fundamental physics searches that are limited by quantum uncertainty2,3. In particular, the quantum chromodynamics axion provides a possible solution to two of the greatest outstanding problems in fundamental physics: the strong-CP (charge-parity) problem of quantum chromodynamics4 and the unknown nature of dark matter5-7. In dark matter axion searches, quantum uncertainty manifests as a fundamental noise source, limiting the measurement of the quadrature observables used for detection. Few dark matter searches have approached this limit3,8, and until now none has exceeded it. Here we use vacuum squeezing to circumvent the quantum limit in a search for dark matter. By preparing a microwave-frequency electromagnetic field in a squeezed state and near-noiselessly reading out only the squeezed quadrature9, we double the search rate for axions over a mass range favoured by some recent theoretical projections10,11. We find no evidence of dark matter within the axion rest energy windows of 16.96-17.12 and 17.14-17.28 microelectronvolts. Breaking through the quantum limit invites an era of fundamental physics searches in which noise reduction techniques yield unbounded benefit compared with the diminishing returns of approaching the quantum limit.

Risk of Two Sport-Related Concussions in the Same Year: Is the Second Concussion Worse?

OBJECTIVES: 1) Evaluate the frequency of same-year, repeat concussions; (2) assess predictors of sustaining a repeat concussion; and (3) compare outcomes of athletes with repeat concussions with athletes with single concussion. DESIGN: A retrospective, case-control study. SETTING: Regional sports concussion center. PATIENTS: Adolescents sustaining a sport-related concussions (SRC) from November 2017 to October 2020. INDEPENDENT VARIABLES: Participants were dichotomized into 2 groups: (1) athletes with a single concussion; and (2) athletes with repeat concussions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Between group and within group analyses were completed to look for differences in demographics, personal and family history, concussion history, and recovery metrics between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Of 834 athletes with an SRC, 56 (6.7%) sustained a repeat concussion and 778 (93.3%) had a single concussion. Between group: Personal history of migraines (19.6% vs 9.5%, χ 2 = 5.795, P = 0.02), family history of migraines (37.5% vs 24.5%, χ 2 = 4.621, P = 0.03), and family history of psychiatric disorders (25% vs 13.1%, χ 2 = 6.224, P = 0.01) were significant predictors of sustaining a repeat concussion. Within group: Among those with a repeat concussion, initial symptom severity was greater (Z = -2.422; P = 0.02) during the repeat concussion and amnesia was more common (χ 2 = 4.775, P = 0.03) after the initial concussion. CONCLUSIONS: In a single-center study of 834 athletes, 6.7% suffered a same-year, repeat concussion. Risk factors included personal/family migraine history and family psychiatric history. For athletes with repeat concussions, initial symptom score was higher after the second concussion, yet amnesia was more common after the initial concussion.

Intraoperative physiology augments atlas-based data in awake deep brain stimulation.

BACKGROUND: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is commonly performed with patients awake to perform intraoperative microelectrode recordings and/or macrostimulation testing to guide final electrode placement. Supplemental information from atlas-based databases derived from prior patient data and visualised as efficacy heat maps transformed and overlaid onto preoperative MRIs can be used to guide preoperative target planning and intraoperative final positioning. Our quantitative analysis of intraoperative testing and corresponding changes made to final electrode positioning aims to highlight the value of intraoperative neurophysiological testing paired with image-based data to optimise final electrode positioning in a large patient cohort. METHODS: Data from 451 patients with movement disorders treated with 822 individual DBS leads at a single institution from 2011 to 2021 were included. Atlas-based data was used to guide surgical targeting. Intraoperative testing data and coordinate data were retrospectively obtained from a large patient database. Medical records were reviewed to obtain active contact usage and neurologist-defined outcomes at 1 year. RESULTS: Microelectrode recording firing profiles differ per track, per target and inform the locations where macrostimulation testing is performed. Macrostimulation performance correlates with the final electrode track chosen. Centroids of atlas-based efficacy heat maps per target were close in proximity to and may predict active contact usage at 1 year. Overall, patient outcomes at 1 year were improved for patients with better macrostimulation response. CONCLUSIONS: Atlas-based imaging data is beneficial for target planning and intraoperative guidance, and in conjunction with intraoperative neurophysiological testing during awake DBS can be used to individualize and optimise final electrode positioning, resulting in favourable outcomes.

Going with the flow - how a stream insect, Pteronarcys californica, exploits local flows to increase oxygen availability.

For insects, life in water is challenging because oxygen supply is typically low compared with in air. Oxygen limitation may occur when oxygen levels or water flows are low or when warm temperatures stimulate metabolic demand for oxygen. A potential mechanism for mitigating oxygen shortages is behavior - moving to cooler, more oxygenated or faster flowing microhabitats. Whether stream insects can make meaningful choices, however, depends on: (i) how temperature, oxygen and flow vary at microspatial scales and (ii) the ability of insects to sense and exploit that variation. To assess the extent of microspatial variation in conditions, we measured temperature, oxygen saturation and flow velocity within riffles of two streams in Montana, USA. In the lab, we then examined preferences of nymphs of the stonefly Pteronarcys californica to experimental gradients based on field-measured values. Temperature and oxygen level varied only slightly within stream riffles. By contrast, flow velocity was highly heterogeneous, often varying by more than 125 cm s-1 within riffles and 44 cm s-1 around individual cobbles. Exploiting micro-variation in flow may thus be the most reliable option for altering rates of oxygen transport. In support of this prediction, P. californica showed little ability to exploit gradients in temperature and oxygen but readily exploited micro-variation in flow - consistently choosing higher flows when conditions were warm or hypoxic. These behaviors may help stream insects mitigate low-oxygen stress from climate change and other anthropogenic disturbances.

Arrest of mouse preterm labor until term delivery by combination therapy with atosiban and mundulone, a natural product with tocolytic efficacy.

There is a lack of FDA-approved tocolytics for the management of preterm labor (PL). In prior drug discovery efforts, we identified mundulone and mundulone acetate (MA) as inhibitors of in vitro intracellular Ca2+-regulated myometrial contractility. In this study, we probed the tocolytic potential of these compounds using human myometrial samples and a mouse model of preterm birth. In a phenotypic assay, mundulone displayed greater efficacy, while MA showed greater potency and uterine-selectivity in the inhibition of intracellular-Ca2+ mobilization. Cell viability assays revealed that MA was significantly less cytotoxic. Organ bath and vessel myography studies showed that only mundulone exerted inhibition of myometrial contractions and that neither compounds affected vasoreactivity of ductus arteriosus. A high-throughput combination screen identified that mundulone exhibits synergism with two clinical-tocolytics (atosiban and nifedipine), and MA displayed synergistic efficacy with nifedipine. Of these combinations, mundulone+atosiban demonstrated a significant improvement in the in vitro therapeutic index compared to mundulone alone. The ex vivo and in vivo synergism of mundulone+atosiban was substantiated, yielding greater tocolytic efficacy and potency on myometrial tissue and reduced preterm birth rates in a mouse model of PL compared to each single agent. Treatment with mundulone after mifepristone administration dose-dependently delayed the timing of delivery. Importantly, mundulone+atosiban permitted long-term management of PL, allowing 71% dams to deliver viable pups at term (>day 19, 4-5 days post-mifepristone exposure) without visible maternal and fetal consequences. Collectively, these studies provide a strong foundation for the development of mundulone as a single or combination tocolytic for management of PL.

COVID-19 Vaccine Seroresponse Based on The Timing of The Primary Series; Pre- versus Post-Renal Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) poses a serious risk to patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and renal transplant. While COVID-19 vaccination is recommended before transplant, there are limited data comparing vaccine timing. Our aim is to evaluate serological responses to COVID-19 vaccines pre- and post-renal transplant and the durability of antibody levels. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the antibody response of adult renal transplant recipients who had received at least a primary series of the COVID-19 vaccine. The patients were divided into two groups based on the timing; pre- or post-transplant. Antibody titer levels were evaluated at least 4 weeks after vaccination for each group. Titer durability was assessed by calculating the median titer level of individuals. RESULTS: A total of 139 patients were identified between January 2019 and April 2022. Twenty-nine patients were excluded because of previous COVID-19 infection, and 15 patients were excluded each for insufficient vaccine doses and lack of titer data. Forty patients were included for the pre-transplant group and 40 for post-transplant. The number of pre-transplant patients who developed antibodies (39 patients, 97.5%) was significantly greater than the number of post-transplant patients (21 patients, 52.5%) with p < .01. The median post-vaccination titer levels were significantly greater in the pre-transplant group up to 5 months after vaccination (p < .05). The pre-transplant group's titers seemed sustained even after renal transplantation. CONCLUSION: Vaccinating renal transplant patients before transplant results in increased achievement of seroresponse, higher levels of antibody titers, and sustained titers following transplant. Larger and prospective studies are warranted to confirm the findings.

δ13 C and δ18 O heterogeneities in carbonates: Nonlinear mixing in the application of dual-carbonate-clumped isotope thermometer.

RATIONALE: Dual-carbonate-clumped isotope thermometry assumes any departure from Δ47 and Δ48 co-equilibrium is due to disequilibrium processes; however, the effects of endmember mixing have not been evaluated for Δ48 . We show that variations in δ13 C and δ18 O values within a sample can lead to offsets in Δ47 and Δ48 that can be mistaken for kinetic fractionation. METHODS: A numerical mixing model was developed to calculate the Δ48 and Δ47 values of samples with heterogeneous isotope compositions. The model was used to test a variety of possible endmember mixing scenarios and produce a dataset of mixing offsets in both Δ48 and Δ47 . RESULTS: Different mixing patterns arise from endmember mixing, with different patterns between Δ48 and Δ47 . Δ47 can be both positively and negatively offset from equilibrium values by mixing; however, Δ48 can only be offset in a positive direction, producing an underestimate of formation temperature. The overall results suggest that endmember mixing can mimic kinetic fractionation caused by CO2 degassing in dual-clumped isotope measurements. CONCLUSIONS: Mixing between endmembers can result in patterns that resemble that of CO2 degassing. However, these effects require a variation of greater than 5‰ in endmember δ18 O values to have a significant effect relative to measurement errors on Δ48 with the detection limits of modern mass spectrometers. Δ47 remains more sensitive to endmember mixing effects and will display measurable mixing effects at 2‰ variation or less in endmember isotopic values.

Mechanisms underlying thermal breadth differ by species in insects from adjacent but thermally distinct streams - A test of the climate variability hypothesis.

The Climate Variability Hypothesis (CVH) predicts that ectotherms from thermally variable climates should have wider thermal tolerances than their counterparts living in stable climates. Although the CVH has been widely supported, the mechanisms underlying wider tolerance traits remain unclear. We test the CVH along with three mechanistic hypotheses that may explain how differences in tolerance limits arise: 1) Short-term Acclimation Hypothesis (mechanism: rapid, reversible plasticity), 2) Long-term Effects Hypothesis (mechanisms: developmental plasticity, epigenetics, maternal effects, or adaptation), and 3) Trade-off Hypothesis (mechanism: trade-off between short- and long-term responses). We tested these hypotheses by measuring CTMIN, CTMAX, and thermal breadths (CTMAX - CTMIN) of aquatic mayfly and stonefly nymphs from adjacent streams with distinctly different levels of thermal variation following acclimation to either cool, control, and warm conditions. In one stream, daily mean temperature varied by about 5 °C annually, whereas in the other, it varied by more than 25 °C. In support of the CVH, we found that mayfly and stonefly nymphs from the thermally variable stream had broader thermal tolerances than those from the thermally stable stream. However, support for the mechanistic hypotheses differed by species. Mayflies appear to rely on long-term strategies for maintaining broader thermal limits, whereas stoneflies achieve broader thermal limits via short-term plasticity. We found no support for the Trade-off Hypothesis.

Flow increases tolerance of heat and hypoxia of an aquatic insect.

Recent experiments support the idea that upper thermal limits of aquatic insects arise, at least in part, from a lack of sufficient oxygen: rising temperatures typically stimulate metabolic demand for oxygen more than they increase rates of oxygen supply from the environment. Consequently, factors influencing oxygen supply, like water flow, should also affect thermal and hypoxia tolerance. We tested this hypothesis by measuring the effects of experimentally manipulated flows on the heat and hypoxia tolerance of aquatic nymphs of the giant salmonfly (Plecoptera: Pteronarcys californica), a common stonefly in western North America. As predicted, stoneflies in flowing water (10 cm s-1) tolerated water that was approximately 4°C warmer and that contained approximately 15% less oxygen than did those in standing water. Our results imply that the impacts of climate change on streamflow, such as changes in patterns of precipitation and decreased snowpack, will magnify the threats to aquatic insects from warmer water temperatures and lower oxygen levels.

Insects in high-elevation streams: Life in extreme environments imperiled by climate change.

Climate change is altering conditions in high-elevation streams worldwide, with largely unknown effects on resident communities of aquatic insects. Here, we review the challenges of climate change for high-elevation aquatic insects and how they may respond, focusing on current gaps in knowledge. Understanding current effects and predicting future impacts will depend on progress in three areas. First, we need better descriptions of the multivariate physical challenges and interactions among challenges in high-elevation streams, which include low but rising temperatures, low oxygen supply and increasing oxygen demand, high and rising exposure to ultraviolet radiation, low ionic strength, and variable but shifting flow regimes. These factors are often studied in isolation even though they covary in nature and interact in space and time. Second, we need a better mechanistic understanding of how physical conditions in streams drive the performance of individual insects. Environment-performance links are mediated by physiology and behavior, which are poorly known in high-elevation taxa. Third, we need to define the scope and importance of potential responses across levels of biological organization. Short-term responses are defined by the tolerances of individuals, their capacities to perform adequately across a range of conditions, and behaviors used to exploit local, fine-scale variation in abiotic factors. Longer term responses to climate change, however, may include individual plasticity and evolution of populations. Whether high-elevation aquatic insects can mitigate climatic risks via these pathways is largely unknown.

Surgical management of gastroesophageal reflux disease in the obese patient.

BACKGROUND: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) affects two thirds of the American population. Obesity is also a disease that affects two thirds of the population. The pathophysiology of reflux disease is reasonably understood, however, the degree to which obesity affects this disease remains poorly defined. Therefore the approach to GERD in the obese patient requires special attention and its own algorithm. METHODS: A literature search was conducted to consolidate the current available literature on GERD and its management in the obese. In addition, the authors reviewed the literature and present expert opinion on controversial topics. RESULTS: It is well established that GERD is increased in obesity and the pathophysiology is reviewed. Management options for GERD are discussed, with a focus on the obese population. Management strategies including fundoplication and gastric bypass are discussed. In addition, bariatric surgery in the setting of GERD is also reviewed. CONCLUSIONS: Currently this is an extremely controversial topic and this white paper presents a strong review of the literature to help guide the management of this challenging disease in this population. Expert recommendations are given throughout the paper based upon the current available data.

Comparative analysis of myometrial and vascular smooth muscle cells to determine optimal cells for use in drug discovery.

Novel therapeutic regulators of uterine contractility are needed to manage preterm labor, induce labor and control postpartum hemorrhage. Therefore, we previously developed a high-throughput assay for large-scale screening of small molecular compounds to regulate calcium-mobilization in primary mouse uterine myometrial cells. The goal of this study was to select the optimal myometrial cells for our high-throughput drug discovery assay, as well as determine the similarity or differences of myometrial cells to vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs)-the most common off-target of current myometrial therapeutics. Molecular and pharmacological assays were used to compare myometrial cells from four sources: primary cells isolated from term pregnant human and murine myometrium, immortalized pregnant human myometrial (PHM-1) cells and immortalized non-pregnant human myometrial (hTERT-HM) cells. In addition, myometrial cells were compared to vascular SMCs. We found that the transcriptome profiles of hTERT-HM and PHM1 cells were most similar (r = 0.93 and 0.90, respectively) to human primary myometrial cells. Comparative transcriptome profiling of primary human myometrial transcriptome and VSMCs revealed 498 upregulated (p ≤ 0.01, log2FC≥1) genes, of which 142 can serve as uterine-selective druggable targets. In the high-throughput Ca2+-assay, PHM1 cells had the most similar response to primary human myometrial cells in OT-induced Ca2+-release (Emax = 195% and 143%, EC50 = 30 nM and 120 nM, respectively), while all sources of myometrial cells showed excellent and similar robustness and reproducibility (Z' = 0.52 to 0.77). After testing a panel of 61 compounds, we found that the stimulatory and inhibitory responses of hTERT-HM cells were highly-correlated (r = 0.94 and 0.95, respectively) to human primary cells. Moreover, ten compounds were identified that displayed uterine-selectivity (≥5-fold Emax or EC50 compared to VSMCs). Collectively, this study found that hTERT-HM cells exhibited the most similarity to primary human myometrial cells and, therefore, is an optimal substitute for large-scale screening to identify novel therapeutic regulators of myometrial contractility. Moreover, VSMCs can serve as an important counter-screening tool to assess uterine-selectivity of targets and drugs given the similarity observed in the transcriptome and response to compounds.

Blood product wastage reduction by utilising low-cost, low-impact multimodal physician-to-physician communication initiatives.

OBJECTIVES: To assess a multimodal physician-to-physician communication initiative that is low in cost and impact to daily workflow to reduce blood product wastage. BACKGROUND: Blood product stewardship is an important issue in all hospital systems. Previous studies have proposed low-cost interventions to reduce blood product wastage, but few have evaluated improvements in communication between the blood bank and providers. We undertook a prospective quality improvement project focusing on improving communication to reduce blood product wastage. METHODS: We conducted a prospective quality improvement project over the first quarter of 2017, identifying patients with issued but unused blood products. Each service overseeing the care of patients identified on the unit status report was contacted through two possible methods: (i) phone or (ii) proprietary Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 compliant digital messaging application. Collected variables included reserved blood product type and participant time spent. Outcomes included the rate of blood product release and changes in wastage compared with historical data tracked by the blood bank. RESULTS: Eight hundred and forty products were reserved during the study period, of which 436 (52%) were released. Average participant times ranged from 2 ± 1 min to 15 ± 4 min with no significant differences in time spent between participants (P = 0·194). Compared with the average product wastage 10 months prior to project initiation, there were significant reductions in the average wastage for platelets (5·3 ± 2·5 units vs 2·5 ± 1·5 units, P = 0·05), RBCs (6·1 ± 3·7 units vs 0 ± 0 units, P = 0·01) and overall wastage (58·3 ± 14·9 units vs 40 ± 15·7 units, P = 0·05). CONCLUSION: Efforts focusing on improving provider-to-provider communication can reduce blood product wastage.

Conditional fetal and infant killing by male baboons.

Sexually selected feticide-the death of infants in utero as a result of male behaviour-has only rarely been described or analysed, although it is presumed to be favoured by the same selective pressures that favour sexually selected infanticide. To test this hypothesis, we measured the frequency of feticide and infanticide by male baboons of the Amboseli basin in Kenya, and examined which characteristics of a male and his environment made him more likely to commit feticide and/or infanticide. We found a dramatic increase in fetal and infant death rates, but no increase in death rates of 1- to 2-year-old individuals, following the immigration of males who stood to benefit from feticide and infanticide. Specifically, fetal and infant death rates were highest following immigrations in which: (i) the immigrant male rapidly attained high rank, (ii) that male remained consistently resident in the group for at least three months, (iii) food availability and social group range overlap was relatively low and (iv) relatively many pregnant females and/or dependent infants were present. Together, these results provide strong evidence for the existence of both sexually selected feticide and infanticide in our population, and they indicate that feticide and infanticide are conditional male behavioural strategies employed under particular circumstances.

Comparing immediate-type food allergy in humans and companion animals-revealing unmet needs.

Adverse food reactions occur in human as well as veterinary patients. Systematic comparison may lead to improved recommendations for prevention and treatment in both. In this position paper, we summarize the current knowledge on immediate-type food allergy vs other food adverse reactions in companion animals, and compare this to the human situation. While the prevalence of food allergy in humans has been well studied for some allergens, this remains to be investigated for animal patients, where owner-reported as well as veterinarian-diagnosed food adverse reactions are on the increase. The characteristics of the disease in humans vs dogs, cats, and horses are most often caused by similar, but sometimes species-dependent different pathophysiological mechanisms, prompting the specific clinical symptoms, diagnoses, and treatments. Furthermore, little is known about the allergen molecules causative for type I food allergy in animals, which, like in human patients, could represent predictive biomarkers for risk evaluation. The definite diagnosis of food allergy relies-as in humans-on elimination diet and provocation tests. Besides allergen avoidance in daily practice, novel treatment options and tolerization strategies are underway. Taken together, numerous knowledge gaps were identified in veterinary food allergy, which need to be filled by systematic comparative studies.

Well-being in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Relationship to Symptoms and Psychological Distress.

OBJECTIVE: There is growing recognition in psychology that wellness is more than the absence of disease and distress. Well-being has been defined in numerous ways. Two dominant models include Diener, Eunkook, Suh, Lucas and Smith's (1999) model of subjective well-being (SWB) and Ryff's (1989) model of psychological well-being (PWB). In contrast to the abundance of research investigating negative constructs and psychopathology in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), there has been a paucity of positive psychology studies. This study had two aims: to examine PWB and SWB and their relationship to symptoms in CFS and to compare PWB scores in a subgroup of the CFS sample to a matched control group. METHOD: Chronic fatigue syndrome participants (n = 60) completed self-report scales of PWB, SWB, fatigue, anxiety and depression. PWB scores in a subgroup of the CFS sample (n = 42) were compared with those of a matched nonclinical control group (n = 42). RESULTS: Correlations between scales of symptoms and well-being were complex. Well-being dimensions were largely independent of physical components of fatigue but strongly related to psychological components of fatigue and psychological distress. Multiple regression indicated that five dimensions of well-being uniquely predicted symptomatology. Compared with the control group, the CFS group scored significantly lower on five of Ryff's six PWB dimensions, with particularly marked deficits in personal growth, environmental mastery and self-acceptance. CONCLUSION: This multidimensional assessment of well-being advances our understanding of CFS and offers new treatment targets. Future research must investigate whether interventions targeting theses well-being deficits can boost the efficacy of symptom-focused treatments. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. KEY PRACTITIONER MESSAGES: Previous psychological research into CFS has largely focused on the identification of negative constructs and CBT, a treatment that targets evidenced-based negative constructs, has demonstrated efficacy in reducing levels of fatigue and disability. However, the majority of people continue to experience psychiatric symptoms and excessive levels of fatigue post-treatment. Finding ways to enhance the efficacy of existing treatments is a clinical priority. There is evidence to suggest that in clinical populations, standard CBT is effective at reducing negative affect and thinking but fails to enhance low levels of positive affect and thinking, implying treatments may be more effective if they promote positive functioning alongside a reduction of negative functioning. Multidimensional models of well-being suggest that well-being is not a single phenomenon, and different psychological disorders may be characterized by varying well-being deficit profiles. Psychological well-being was found to be diminished in CFS participants compared with controls, with particularly marked deficits in personal growth, environmental mastery and self-acceptance, suggesting that these may be particularly important treatment targets. Well-being dimensions within the CFS group were largely independent of physical symptoms but strongly related to psychological symptoms, suggesting what may be causing low levels of well-being in CFS is largely psychological factors and the general impact of living with a chronic illness rather than symptom levels per se.

LQTS in Northern BC: homozygosity for KCNQ1 V205M presents with a more severe cardiac phenotype but with minimal impact on auditory function.

Long QT syndrome (LQTS), a rare congenital cardiac condition associated with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias is characterized by a prolonged QT interval on electrocardiograph corrected for heart rate [corrected QT (QTc)]. LQTS has been historically categorized into the autosomal dominant Romano-Ward syndrome (RWS) and the autosomal recessive Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome (JLNS). JLNS is associated with prelingual sensorineural deafness. Both types of LQTS can be caused by mutations in channel genes (e.g. KCNQ1) responsible for potassium homeostasis in cardiac myocytes and cochlea. Autosomal dominant mutations often cause the RWS phenotype and homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations contribute to JLNS. Two First Nations communities in northern British Columbia are affected disproportionately with LQTS largely due to the V205M mutation in KCNQ1, however, the pathology and phenotypic expression for those V205M homozygous has been unknown. Here, we show that four V205M homozygous individuals have a significantly higher 'peak' QTc, and a more severe cardiac phenotype compared with 41 V205M heterozygous carriers and 57 first to third degree relatives without mutations. Given the lack of prelingual deafness the homozygous V205M LQTS patients present with a phenotype more typical of RWS than JLNS.

Separated response function ratios in exclusive, forward π(±) electroproduction.

The study of exclusive π(±) electroproduction on the nucleon, including separation of the various structure functions, is of interest for a number of reasons. The ratio RL=σL(π-)/σL(π+) is sensitive to isoscalar contamination to the dominant isovector pion exchange amplitude, which is the basis for the determination of the charged pion form factor from electroproduction data. A change in the value of RT=σT(π-)/σT(π+) from unity at small -t, to 1/4 at large -t, would suggest a transition from coupling to a (virtual) pion to coupling to individual quarks. Furthermore, the mentioned ratios may show an earlier approach to perturbative QCD than the individual cross sections. We have performed the first complete separation of the four unpolarized electromagnetic structure functions above the dominant resonances in forward, exclusive π(±) electroproduction on the deuteron at central Q(2) values of 0.6, 1.0, 1.6 GeV(2) at W=1.95 GeV, and Q(2)=2.45 GeV(2) at W=2.22 GeV. Here, we present the L and T cross sections, with emphasis on RL and RT, and compare them with theoretical calculations. Results for the separated ratio RL indicate dominance of the pion-pole diagram at low -t, while results for RT are consistent with a transition between pion knockout and quark knockout mechanisms.

Moderators and Predictors of Response to Eating Disorder Risk Factor Reduction Programs in Collegiate Female Athletes.

OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this paper was to investigate moderators and predictors of response to two programs designed to reduce eating disorder risk factors in collegiate female athletes. This study served as an ancillary study to a parent trial that investigated the feasibility of an athlete modified cognitive dissonance-based program (AM-DBP) and an athlete modified healthy weight intervention program (AM-HWI). DESIGN: 157 female collegiate athletes were randomized to either the AM-DBP or the AM-HWI program. Participants completed surveys at baseline, post-intervention, 6 weeks, and 1 year. METHODS: After classifying sports as either lean or non-lean, we investigated if sport type acted as a moderator of program response to AM-DBP and AM-HWI using ANOVAs. Next, we examined whether baseline thin-ideal internalization, weight concern, shape concern, bulimic pathology, dietary restraint, and negative affect acted as predictors of changes in bulimic pathology using linear regression models. RESULTS: Athletes in non-lean sports who received AM-DBP showed more improvement in negative affect versus non-lean sport athletes in AM-HWI. Higher baseline scores of bulimic pathology predicted greater response in bulimic pathology to both programs at 6-weeks. In contrast, athletes with higher dietary restraint and negative affect baseline scores showed decreased response to both interventions at 6-weeks. Finally, athletes with higher baseline shape concern showed a decreased response to the AM-HWI intervention at the post intervention time point. CONCLUSION: Results from the present study indicate that lean/non-lean sport may not play a strong role in determining response to efficacious programs. Further, factors such as pre-existing bulimic pathology, dietary restraint, negative affect, and shape concern may affect general response to intervention versus specific responses to specific interventions.

Consistent differences in tissue oxygen levels across 15 insect species reflect a balance between oxygen supply and demand and highlight a hitherto unknown adaptation for extracting sufficient oxygen from water.

Animals, including insects, need oxygen for aerobic respiration and eventually asphyxiate without it. Aerobic respiration, however, produces reactive oxygen species (ROS), which contribute to dysfunction and aging. Animals appear to balance risks of asphyxiation and ROS by regulating internal oxygen relatively low and stable, but sufficient levels. How much do levels vary among species, and how does variation depend on environment and life history? We predicted that lower internal oxygen levels occur in insects with either limited access to environmental oxygen (i.e., insects dependent on aquatic respiration, where low internal levels facilitate diffusive oxygen uptake, and reduce asphyxiation risks) or consistently low metabolic rates (i.e., inactive insects, requiring limited internal oxygen stores). Alternatively, we predicted insects with long life-stage durations would have internal oxygen levels > 1 kPa (preventing high ROS levels that are believed to occur under tissue hypoxia). We tested these predictions by measuring partial pressures of oxygen (PO2) in tissues from juvenile and adult stages across 15 species comprising nine insect orders. Tissue PO2 varied greatly (from 0 to 18.8 kPa) and variation across species and life stages was significantly related to differences in habitat, activity level, and life stage duration. Individuals with aquatic respiration sustained remarkably low PO2 (mean = 0.88 kPa) across all species from Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Plecoptera (stoneflies), Trichoptera (caddisflies), and Diptera (true flies), possibly reflecting a widespread, but hitherto unknown, adaptation for extracting sufficient oxygen from water. For Odonata (dragonflies), aquatic juveniles had higher PO2 levels (mean = 6.12 kPa), but these were still lower compared to terrestrial adults (mean = 13.3 kPa). Follow-up tests in juvenile stoneflies showed that tissue PO2 remained low even when exposed to hyperoxia, suggesting that levels were down-regulated. This was further corroborated since levels could be modulated by ambient oxygen levels in dead individuals. In addition, tissue PO2 was positively related to activity levels of insect life stages across all species and was highest in stages with short durations. Combined, our results support the idea that internal PO2 is an evolutionarily labile trait that reflects the balance between oxygen supply and demand within the context of the environment and life-history of an insect.