A resonant sextuplet of sub-Neptunes transiting the bright star HD 110067.

Planets with radii between that of the Earth and Neptune (hereafter referred to as 'sub-Neptunes') are found in close-in orbits around more than half of all Sun-like stars1,2. However, their composition, formation and evolution remain poorly understood3. The study of multiplanetary systems offers an opportunity to investigate the outcomes of planet formation and evolution while controlling for initial conditions and environment. Those in resonance (with their orbital periods related by a ratio of small integers) are particularly valuable because they imply a system architecture practically unchanged since its birth. Here we present the observations of six transiting planets around the bright nearby star HD 110067. We find that the planets follow a chain of resonant orbits. A dynamical study of the innermost planet triplet allowed the prediction and later confirmation of the orbits of the rest of the planets in the system. The six planets are found to be sub-Neptunes with radii ranging from 1.94R⊕ to 2.85R⊕. Three of the planets have measured masses, yielding low bulk densities that suggest the presence of large hydrogen-dominated atmospheres.

The Southern Ocean Exchange: porous boundaries between humpback whale breeding populations in southern polar waters.

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are a cosmopolitan species and perform long annual migrations between low-latitude breeding areas and high-latitude feeding areas. Their breeding populations appear to be spatially and genetically segregated due to long-term, maternally inherited fidelity to natal breeding areas. In the Southern Hemisphere, some humpback whale breeding populations mix in Southern Ocean waters in summer, but very little movement between Pacific and Atlantic waters has been identified to date, suggesting these waters constituted an oceanic boundary between genetically distinct populations. Here, we present new evidence of summer co-occurrence in the West Antarctic Peninsula feeding area of two recovering humpback whale breeding populations from the Atlantic (Brazil) and Pacific (Central and South America). As humpback whale populations recover, observations like this point to the need to revise our perceptions of boundaries between stocks, particularly on high latitude feeding grounds. We suggest that this "Southern Ocean Exchange" may become more frequent as populations recover from commercial whaling and climate change modifies environmental dynamics and humpback whale prey availability.

Single-shot frequency-resolved optical gating for retrieving the pulse shape of high energy picosecond pulses.

Accurate characterization of laser pulses used in experiments is a crucial step to the analysis of their results. In this paper, a novel single-shot frequency-resolved optical gating (FROG) device is described, one that incorporates a dispersive element which allows it to fully characterize pulses up to 25 ps in duration with a 65 fs per pixel temporal resolution. A newly developed phase retrieval routine based on memetic algorithms is implemented and shown to circumvent the stagnation problem that often occurs with traditional FROG analysis programs when they encounter a local minimum.

Streptococcus equi Infections in Horses: Guidelines for Treatment, Control, and Prevention of Strangles-Revised Consensus Statement.

This consensus statement update reflects our current published knowledge and opinion about clinical signs, pathogenesis, epidemiology, treatment, complications, and control of strangles. This updated statement emphasizes varying presentations in the context of existing underlying immunity and carrier states of strangles in the transmission of disease. The statement redefines the "gold standard" for detection of possible infection and reviews the new technologies available in polymerase chain reaction diagnosis and serology and their use in outbreak control and prevention. We reiterate the importance of judicious use of antibiotics in horses with strangles. This updated consensus statement reviews current vaccine technology and the importance of linking vaccination with currently advocated disease control and prevention programs to facilitate the eradication of endemic infections while safely maintaining herd immunity. Differentiation between immune responses to primary and repeated exposure of subclinically infected animals and responses induced by vaccination is also addressed.

Prevalence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus from Equine Nasopharyngeal and Guttural Pouch Wash Samples.

BACKGROUND: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is recognized as a cause of nosocomial infections in both human and veterinary medicine. Studies that examine the nasopharynx and guttural pouches of the horse as carriage sites for MRSA have not been reported. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVE: MRSA colonizes the nasopharynx and guttural pouch of horses. To determine the prevalence of MRSA in equine nasopharyngeal wash (NPW) and guttural pouch lavage (GPL) samples in a field population of horses. SAMPLES: One hundred seventy-eight samples (123 NPW and 55 GPL) from 108 horses. METHODS: Prospective study. Samples were collected from a convenience population of clinically ill horses with suspected Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (S. equi) infection, horses convalescing from a known S. equi infection, and asymptomatic horses undergoing S. equi screening. Samples were submitted for S. aureus aerobic bacterial culture with mannitol salt broth and two selective agars (cefoxitin CHROMagar as the PBP2a inducer and mannitol salt agar with oxacillin). Biochemical identification of Staphylococcus species and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), to determine clonal relationships between isolates, were performed. RESULTS: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus (MRS) was isolated from the nasopharynx of 7/108 (4%) horses. Three horses had MRSA (2.7%), and 4 had MR-Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP). MRSA was isolated from horses on the same farm. PFGE revealed the 3 MRSA as USA 500 strains. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Sampling the nasopharynx and guttural pouch of community-based horses revealed a similarly low prevalence rate of MRSA as other studies sampling the nares of community-based horses. More study is required to determine the need for sampling multiple anatomic sites when screening horses for MRSA.

Methods for calculating the electrode position Jacobian for impedance imaging.

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) or electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) current and measure voltages at the boundary of a domain through electrodes. SIGNIFICANCE: The movement or incorrect placement of electrodes may lead to modelling errors that result in significant reconstructed image artifacts. These errors may be accounted for by allowing for electrode position estimates in the model. Movement may be reconstructed through a first-order approximation, the electrode position Jacobian. A reconstruction that incorporates electrode position estimates and conductivity can significantly reduce image artifacts. Conversely, if electrode position is ignored it can be difficult to distinguish true conductivity changes from reconstruction artifacts which may increase the risk of a flawed interpretation. OBJECTIVE: In this work, we aim to determine the fastest, most accurate approach for estimating the electrode position Jacobian. APPROACH: Four methods of calculating the electrode position Jacobian were evaluated on a homogeneous halfspace. MAIN RESULTS: Results show that Fréchet derivative and rank-one update methods are competitive in computational efficiency but achieve different solutions for certain values of contact impedance and mesh density.

Integral steric asymmetry in the inelastic scattering of NO(X2Π).

The integral steric asymmetry for the inelastic scattering of NO(X) by a variety of collision partners was recorded using a crossed molecular beam apparatus. The initial state of the NO(X, v = 0, j = 1/2, Ω=1/2, ϵ=-1,f) molecule was selected using a hexapole electric field, before the NO bond axis was oriented in a static electric field, allowing probing of the scattering of the collision partner at either the N- or O-end of the molecule. Scattered NO molecules were state selectively probed using (1 + 1') resonantly enhanced multiphoton ionisation, coupled with velocity-map ion imaging. Experimental integral steric asymmetries are presented for NO(X) + Ar, for both spin-orbit manifolds, and Kr, for the spin-orbit conserving manifold. The integral steric asymmetry for spin-orbit conserving and changing transitions of the NO(X) + O2 system is also presented. Close-coupled quantum mechanical scattering calculations employing well-tested ab initio potential energy surfaces were able to reproduce the steric asymmetry observed for the NO-rare gas systems. Quantum mechanical scattering and quasi-classical trajectory calculations were further used to help interpret the integral steric asymmetry for NO + O2. Whilst the main features of the integral steric asymmetry of NO with the rare gases are also observed for the O2 collision partner, some subtle differences provide insight into the form of the underlying potentials for the more complex system.

Resident reflections on end-of-life education: a mixed-methods study of the 3 Wishes Project.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to describe residents' experiences with end-of-life (EOL) education during a rotation in the intensive care unit (ICU), and to understand the possible influence of the 3 Wishes Project. DESIGN: We enrolled dying patients, their families and 1-3 of their clinicians in the 3 Wishes Project, eliciting and honouring a set of 3 wishes to bring peace to the final days of a critically ill patient's life, and ease the grieving process for families. We conducted semistructured interviews with 33 residents who had cared for 50 dying patients to understand their experiences with the project. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, then analysed using a qualitative descriptive approach. SETTING: 21-bed medical surgical ICU in a tertiary care, university-affiliated hospital. RESULTS: 33 residents participated from internal medicine (24, 72.7%), anaesthesia (8, 24.2%) and laboratory medicine (1, 3.0%) programmes in postgraduate years 1-3. 3 categories and associated themes emerged. (1) EOL care is a challenging component of training in that (a) death in the ICU can invoke helplessness, (b) EOL education is inadequate, (c) personal connections with dying patients is difficult in the ICU and (d) EOL skills are valued by residents. (2) The project reframes the dying process for residents by (a) humanising this aspect of practice, (b) identifying that family engagement is central to the dying process, (c) increasing emotional responsiveness and (d) showing that care shifts, not stops. (3) The project offers experiential education by (a) intentional role modelling, (b) facilitating EOL dialogue, (c) empowering residents to care in a tangible way and (d) encouraging reflection. CONCLUSIONS: For residents, the 3 Wishes Project integrated many forms of active learning for residents. Practice-based rather than classroom-based programmes may engage trainees to develop EOL skills transferable to other settings.

Streptococcus equi Detection Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay for Equine Nasopharyngeal and Guttural Pouch Wash Samples.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for the detection of Streptococcus equi in nasopharyngeal washes (NPW) and guttural pouch lavage (GPL) samples have low sensitivity. In human diagnostics, processing of samples with flocked swabs has improved recovery rates of bacterial agents because of improved surface area and elution factors. HYPOTHESIS: For S. equi subsp. equi (S. equi) detection in NPW and GPL samples we hypothesized that: direct-PCR would be more reliable than flocked swab culture (FS culture); flocked swab PCR (FS-PCR) would be equivalent to direct-PCR; and FS culture would be more reliable than traditional culture. SAMPLES: A total of 193 samples (134 NPW and 59 GPL) from 113 horses with either suspected S. equi infection, convalescing from a known S. equi infection, or asymptomatic horses screened for S. equi. METHODS: Prospective study. Samples were submitted for S. equi direct-PCR. Using logistic regression, direct-PCR (gold standard) was compared to FS culture, traditional culture, and FS-PCR also performed. RESULTS: Direct-PCR was statistically more sensitive than FS-PCR, FS culture, and traditional culture (P < .001). All methods had sensitivities <70% relative to the direct-PCR. FS culture had a similar sensitivity relative to traditional culture. The odds of GPL samples being positive on direct-PCR (P = .030) and FS-PCR were greater than those for NPW samples (P = .021). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Use of flocked swabs during laboratory preprocessing did not improve detection of S. equi via either PCR or bacterial culture from samples. Direct-PCR is the preferred method of detection of S. equi.

Solvent stimulated actuation of polyurethane-based shape memory polymer foams using dimethyl sulfoxide and ethanol.

Solvent exposure has been investigated to trigger actuation of shape memory polymers (SMPs) as an alternative to direct heating. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and ethanol (EtOH) to stimulate polyurethane-based SMP foam actuation and the required solvent concentrations in water for rapid actuation of hydrophobic SMP foams. SMP foams exhibited decreased Tg when submerged in DMSO and EtOH when compared to water submersion. Kinetic DMA experiments showed minimal or no relaxation for all SMP foams in water within 30 min, while SMP foams submerged in EtOH exhibited rapid relaxation within 1 min of submersion. SMP foams expanded rapidly in high concentrations of DMSO and EtOH solutions, where complete recovery over 30 min was observed in DMSO concentrations greater than 90% and in EtOH concentrations greater than 20%. This study demonstrates that both DMSO and EtOH are effective at triggering volume recovery of polyurethane-based SMP foams, including in aqueous environments, and provides promise for use of this actuation technique in various applications.

Clinical treatment and prognosis of equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis is an infrequent and underdiagnosed form of severe dental disease in horses that can affect quality of life. The study was performed to compare the clinical, radiographic, histological and prognostic findings specific to equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis in horses. Removal of affected teeth is currently the best treatment. OBJECTIVES: The goals are to report salient clinical and histological features of the disease and its management in a case series describing an under-reported syndrome in horses and the long-term prognosis. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: Medical records from New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania from January 2000 to December 2012 were reviewed from horses that had a diagnosis of 'cementoma' or 'hypercementosis' and any associated dental-related diagnosis affecting the teeth and oral cavity. Radiographic, surgical and histological reports were collated and the clinical cases compared and tabulated to provide a better description of the equine disease. RESULTS: A total of 18 cases were identified, 17 of which were geldings and one of which was a nonbreeding stallion; no mares had the disease. The mean age at diagnosis was 24 years, with a range of 17-29 years. There was no breed predilection, and varied clinical signs relating to the mouth were found. Some teeth involved had only radiographic changes of disease and not gross clinical evidence. The mandibular incisors were generally affected earlier than the maxillary incisors, but the disease is progressive, and eventually, all of the incisors and sometimes the canines are involved. No premolars or molars were affected in this case series. CONCLUSIONS: Based on this case series, all teeth, and particularly the incisors, should be examined for signs of gingivitis and hypercementosis and subsequently radiographed for an early diagnosis and management. When compared with our hospital population, older geldings were more likely to be affected with cementoma formation and its accompanying resorptive process. Removal of clinically and radiographically affected teeth carries a good prognosis for improved quality of life.

Saccharomyces boulardii viability and efficacy in horses with antimicrobial-induced diarrhoea.

Saccharomyces boulardii has been successfully used in the prevention and treatment of antimicrobial-associated diarrhoea in humans. We hypothesised that a viable, dried lyophilised preparation of S boulardii would survive in the gastrointestinal tract of horses with antimicrobial-associated enterocolitis, and significantly decrease the duration of diarrhoea. Twenty-one horses, over one year of age, with antimicrobial-associated diarrhoea of up to 72 hours duration, were consecutively randomised in a controlled prospective study. The treatment group received S boulardii (25 g, orally, every 12 hours) until the cessation of clinical signs. S boulardii was successfully cultured in 58.3 per cent of treatment horses on day 3. No statistically significant differences were found in days to return to normal faecal consistency; resolution of watery diarrhoea; return to normal heart rate, respiratory rate and temperature; resolution of leucopaenia; attitude improvement; appetite improvement; and survival at discharge. This is the first study to demonstrate survival of S boulardii in horses with gastrointestinal illness. Further study of the efficacy and safety of S boulardii in horses with antimicrobial-associated diarrhoea in a larger group is warranted.

Are there benefits in introducing dairy heifers to the main dairy herd in the evening rather than the morning?

Twenty-eight Holstein Friesian dairy heifers were assigned to 1 of 2 treatments after calving. These experimental heifers were introduced to an established group of resident cows either between 0600 and 0800h (i.e., after morning milking, a.m.) or between 1600 and 1800 h (i.e., after evening milking, p.m.). The size of the resident group remained constant at 18 animals (12 multiparous cows and 6 primiparous cows). There were 5 replicate or resident groups in total, and 2 to 3 nonexperimental primiparous cows in each group were replaced by a.m. and by p.m. heifers as they calved. Fresh total mixed ration was provided daily between 1000 and 1030 h, and concentrate feed was offered in the milking parlor. The behavior of the experimental heifers was assessed over a 2-h period immediately after mixing into the resident group, and also after feed provision during the first month in the group. In addition, time spent lying was assessed each week for 1 mo using data loggers attached over 24-h periods. The lying behavior and location of the entire group was also assessed by direct observations during the 2-h period before evening milking on 2 consecutive days each week for 1 mo. The time spent feeding by experimental heifers was recorded automatically using computerized feeding gates. Milk production, milk cortisol concentrations, and changes in body condition and body weight were also assessed over the first month after calving. Heifers in the a.m. treatment spent longer in receipt of aggressive behaviors such as threats, butts, and chases immediately after mixing compared with those in the p.m. treatment. During the feeding periods, heifers in the a.m. treatment were observed feeding for longer, showed less pen exploration, and also received more butts. No significant treatment effects were shown on overall feed intake levels, milk yield, milk cortisol concentrations, body weight, or body condition score loss. However, feed intakes were higher in the a.m. treatment during the second week after mixing, and automated recordings showed that a.m. animals spent longer average periods of time feeding. No significant treatment differences were shown in overall time spent lying, with heifers in both treatments lying for less than 4h during the first 24h in the group. Observations of the entire group showed that p.m. heifers spent less time lying than resident animals or a.m. heifers. In conclusion, the reduction in received aggression and the lack of adverse effects on performance (milk production and weight and condition loss) suggest that heifers should be introduced to the main dairy herd after evening rather than morning milking. Further research to determine the relative importance of time of day and time since feeding on behavior immediately after mixing would be beneficial.

Effect of pendant group structure on the hydrolytic stability of polyaspartamide polymers under physiological conditions.

We describe the synthesis of metal chelating polymers based on polyaspartamide and polyglutamide backbones as carriers for (111)In in radioimmunoconjugates. These polymers [PAsp(DTPA), PGlu(DTPA)] have a biotin end group and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) chelators attached to the primary amines of the diethylenetriamine (DET) pendant groups of biotin-poly{N'-[N-(2-aminoethyl)-2-aminoethyl]aspartamide} [PAsp(DET)] and of biotin-poly{N'-[N-(2-aminoethyl)-2-aminoethyl]glutamide} [PGlu(DET)]. Like Asn-containing proteins and polypeptides, polyaspartamides undergo uncatalyzed degradation under model physiological conditions (10 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, 150 mM NaCl). We studied the uncatalyzed degradation of the polyaspartamide polymers by size exclusion chromatography and found that the degradation rate was sensitive to the nature of the pendant groups. The metal-free polymer underwent somewhat slower degradation than the corresponding polymers in which the DTPA groups were saturated with Eu(3+) or In(3+), but even after 14 days, substantial fractions of the polymers survived. We conclude that these polymers undergo negligible degradation on the time scale (24-48 h) of radioimmunotherapy treatment of tumors with (111)In. From a mechanistic perspective, we note that these degradation rates are on the order of the deamidation rates reported [J. Peptide Res. 2004, 63, 426] for Asn-containing pentapeptides, with half-times on the order of 10 days, but much slower than the rapid decay (hours) reported recently [Biomaterials 2010, 31, 3707] for poly{N'-[N-(2-aminoethyl)-2-aminoethyl]aspartamide} itself. This variation in degradation rate can be explained in terms of the influence of positive charges on the pendant group enhancing the acidity of the side-chain amide nitrogen of the aspartamide repeat unit. The DET pendant group is positively charged at pH 7, but in indium-loaded PAsp(DTPA) this charge is offset by the net negative charge of the DTPA-In complex.

Sedation of children in the emergency department for short painful procedures compared with theatre, how much does it save? Economic evaluation.

INTRODUCTION: Sedation of children for short painful procedures is increasingly performed in emergency departments as an alternative to hospital admission and theatre. In this study, the savings of this are sought to be quantified. METHODS: A matched-cohort economic evaluation was conducted. Detailed case note reviews were performed on children who were sedated in the emergency department and children who were admitted to theatre. The costs of these were compared. RESULTS: 17 children underwent sedation in our emergency department and were compared with 20 children admitted to theatre. Each emergency department sedation saved £614 (95% CI £441 to £787), and this result was statistically significant (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Emergency department sedation offers considerable savings, compared with theatre-based management for children who require short painful procedures.

How have changes to out-of-hours primary care services since 2004 affected emergency department attendances at a UK District General Hospital? A longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: The delivery of out-of-hours primary medical care in the United Kingdom has changed substantially since 2004, and there has been little examination of the effect that this has on secondary care. AIM: The authors aimed to quantify the change in patient type presenting to our emergency department. METHODS: In this study, routinely collected coding data before, during and after the changes were analysed. Each September and October between 1999 and 2006 were included. RESULTS: There was a steady increase in all attendances at our emergency department. The number and proportions of patients with non-traumatic conditions rose steadily throughout the study period. The number of patients presenting with traumatic conditions stayed the same. The number of patients presenting with non-traumatic conditions out-of-hours rose after the changes were implemented. INTERPRETATION: The changes to the provision of out-of-hours primary care have been associated with an increase in patients with non-traumatic attendances presenting to our emergency department. This effect is most marked outside of office hours.

Can middle grade and consultant emergency physicians accurately interpret computed tomography scans performed for head trauma? Cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: There has been an increasing demand for computed tomography (CT) scans of the head following trauma over the past 10 years. This has placed radiology services under pressure. AIMS: This study aimed to see whether middle grade and consultant doctors with no particular training in radiology working in the emergency department could interpret CT scans performed for trauma with adequate sensitivity and specificity to allow safe discharge. The secondary aim was to describe which abnormalities, if any, were missed. METHODS: Study participants were middle grade and consultant emergency physicians. A comparison was made of the ability to identify any abnormality on CT and a clinically important brain injury on CT, compared with a gold standard of a neuroradiology report. RESULTS: 243 consecutive CT scans performed for trauma were reviewed by 17 doctors, including five consultants. The overall sensitivity and specificity for detecting clinically important brain injuries was 87.8 (95% CI 73.8 to 95.9) and 80.2 (95% CI 75.2 to 85.3), respectively. All the missed abnormalities were around the base of the brain. The most commonly overdiagnosed abnormality was diffuse cerebral oedema. CONCLUSIONS: Emergency physicians should not interpret CT scans for trauma without extra training.

Can the Ottawa knee rule be applied to children? A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

BACKGROUND: The Ottawa knee rule (OKR), a clinical decision aid is used to reduce unnecessary radiography. It is not clear whether this rule can be applied to children. OBJECTIVE: To establish whether the OKR had adequate sensitivity and acceptable specificity in children to advocate widespread use. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted of observational studies that examined the diagnostic characteristics of the OKR in children. DATA SOURCES: Relevant English language articles were identified from Medline (1950 to date), EMBASE (1974 to date), CINAHL (1982 to date), the Cochrane Library, Google Scholar and a hand search of bibliographies. STUDY SELECTION: Observational studies that included children and have used the OKR for ruling out fractures in children either radiologically or in combination with follow-up. RESULTS: Four relevant studies were identified. Three studies were suitable for inclusion in the meta-analysis, representing 1130 children. The pooled negative likelihood ratio was 0.07 (95% CI 0.02 to 0.29), the pooled positive likelihood ratio was 1.94 (95% CI 1.60 to 2.36), the pooled sensitivity was 99% (CI 94.4 to 99.8) and the pooled specificity was 46% (CI 43.0 to 49.1). The reduction in radiography was between 30% and 40%. CONCLUSION: The OKR has high sensitivity and adequate specificity for children over the age of 5 years. There are not enough good data to advocate application of the OKR in children less than 5 years.