Hydration and endocrine responses to intravenous fluid and oral glycerol.

Athletes use intravenous (IV) saline in an attempt to maximize rehydration. The diuresis from IV rehydration may be circumvented through the concomitant use of oral glycerol. We examined the effects of rehydrating with differing regimes of oral and IV fluid, with or without oral glycerol, on hydration, urine, and endocrine indices. Nine endurance-trained men were dehydrated by 4% bodyweight, then rehydrated with 150% of the fluid lost via four protocols: (a) oral = oral fluid only; (b) oral glycerol = oral fluid with added glycerol (1.5 g/kg); (c) IV = 50% IV fluid, 50% oral fluid; and (d) IV with oral glycerol = 50% IV fluid, 50% oral fluid with added glycerol (1.5 g/kg), using a randomized, crossover design. They then completed a cycling performance test. Plasma volume restoration was highest in IV with oral glycerol > IV > oral glycerol > oral. Urine volume was reduced in both IV trials compared with oral. IV and IV with oral glycerol resulted in lower aldosterone levels during rehydration and performance, and lower cortisol levels during rehydration. IV with oral glycerol resulted in the greatest fluid retention. In summary, the IV conditions resulted in greater fluid retention compared with oral and lower levels of fluid regulatory and stress hormones compared with both oral conditions.

A modern-day solution to a 100-year-old problem: the use of a Bespoke Off-loading Brace in the rehabilitation of 'Deck-Slap' and other high-energy lower limb injuries.

'Deck-Slap' is an injury pattern first described at the Battle of Jutland; it is still relevant today, with anti-vehicle mines a significant threat to Coalition troops. The effect of a device exploding beneath a vehicle produces a wave of high energy that is rapidly transmitted through the steel floor; this causes significant axial loading of lower limbs often resulting in severe fractures (notably of the calcaneum). Recent advancements in orthopaedic surgery have allowed for limbs that were destined for immediate amputation following significant trauma to be salvaged. However, despite intense rehabilitation, many of these salvaged limbs have subsequently gone on to delayed amputation, as functional outcomes are often poor. Technologically advanced prosthetic devices are available that afford good quality of life and allow for increased activity levels; these devices are, however, expensive to procure and maintain. This report describes a United Kingdom (UK) Armed Forces soldier who suffered a typical 'deck-slap' injury in Afghanistan with subsequent limb salvage. The use of the Bespoke Off-loading Brace (BOB) is discussed. The results presented here indicate that the biomechanical function of a patient with this type of injury improves when wearing the BOB. Further studies are needed to assess long-term clinical outcomes and the functional benefit of the device as a viable and cost-effective alternative to delayed limb amputation.

Machine learning enables completely automatic tuning of a quantum device faster than human experts.

Variability is a problem for the scalability of semiconductor quantum devices. The parameter space is large, and the operating range is small. Our statistical tuning algorithm searches for specific electron transport features in gate-defined quantum dot devices with a gate voltage space of up to eight dimensions. Starting from the full range of each gate voltage, our machine learning algorithm can tune each device to optimal performance in a median time of under 70 minutes. This performance surpassed our best human benchmark (although both human and machine performance can be improved). The algorithm is approximately 180 times faster than an automated random search of the parameter space, and is suitable for different material systems and device architectures. Our results yield a quantitative measurement of device variability, from one device to another and after thermal cycling. Our machine learning algorithm can be extended to higher dimensions and other technologies.

Yeast proteins that recognize nuclear localization sequences.

A variety of peptides can mediate the localization of proteins to the nucleus. We have identified yeast proteins of 70 and 59 kD that bind to nuclear localization peptides of SV-40 T antigen, Xenopus nucleoplasmin, and the yeast proteins Ga14 and histone H2B. These proteins are assayed by the binding of peptide-albumin conjugates to proteins immobilized on nitrocellulose filters. These binding proteins fractionate with nuclei and are extractable with salt but not detergent. Radiolabeled peptide-albumin conjugates also bind to isolated nuclei; the binding is saturable and can be extracted with salt. Different nuclear localization peptides compete with each other, implying that a single class of proteins is responsible for their recognition. The 70- and 59-kD proteins have the properties expected for a receptor that would act to direct proteins to the nucleus.

Nuf2, a spindle pole body-associated protein required for nuclear division in yeast.

The NUF2 gene of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes an essential 53-kd protein with a high content of potential coiled-coil structure similar to myosin. Nuf2 is associated with the spindle pole body (SPB) as determined by coimmunofluorescence with known SPB proteins. Nuf2 appears to be localized to the intranuclear region and is a candidate for a protein involved in SPB separation. The nuclear association of Nuf2 can be disrupted, in part, by 1 M salt but not by the detergent Triton X-100. All Nuf2 can be removed from nuclei by 8 M urea extraction. In this regard, Nuf2 is similar to other SPB-associated proteins including Nufl/SPC110, also a coiled-coil protein. Temperature-sensitive alleles of NUF2 were generated within the coiled-coil region of Nuf2 and such NUF2 mutant cells rapidly arrest after temperature shift with a single undivided or partially divided nucleus in the bud neck, a shortened mitotic spindle and their DNA fully replicated. In sum, Nuf2 is a protein associated with the SPB that is critical for nuclear division. Anti-Nuf2 antibodies also recognize a mammalian 73-kd protein and display centrosome staining of mammalian tissue culture cells suggesting the presence of a protein with similar function.

Raphaël Blanchard, parasitology, and the positioning of medical entomology in Paris.

The histories of medical entomology and parasitology are entwined. Raphaël Blanchard (1857-1919), Chair of Medical Natural History and Parasitology at the Faculty of Medicine in Paris, organized the teaching of medical entomology and civilian colonial medicine. He also founded and edited the journal Archives de Parasitologie and started the Institute de Médecine Coloniale where he mentored many foreign students and researchers. Additionally, Blanchard is important for his scientific internationalism and medical historical work on the cultural location of parasitology and for training the future professors of parasitology Jules Guiart, Emile Brumpt, and Charles Joyeux.

Correction: Charge-tunnelling and self-trapping: common origins for blinking, grey-state emission and photoluminescence enhancement in semiconductor quantum dots.

Correction for 'Charge-tunnelling and self-trapping: common origins for blinking, grey-state emission and photoluminescence enhancement in semiconductor quantum dots' by M. A. Osborne, et al., Nanoscale, 2016, 8, 9272-9283.

Charge-tunnelling and self-trapping: common origins for blinking, grey-state emission and photoluminescence enhancement in semiconductor quantum dots.

Understanding instabilities in the photoluminescence (PL) from light emitting materials is crucial to optimizing their performance for different applications. Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) offer bright, size tunable emission, properties that are now being exploited in a broad range of developing technologies from displays and solar cells to biomaging and optical storage. However, instabilities such as photoluminescence intermittency, enhancement and bleaching of emission in these materials can be detrimental to their utility. Here, we report dielectric dependent blinking, intensity-"spikes" and low-level, "grey"-state emission, as well as PL enhancement in ZnS capped CdSe QDs; observations that we found consistent with a charge-tunnelling and self-trapping (CTST) description of exciton-dynamics on the QD-host system. In particular, modulation of PL in grey-states and PL enhancement are found to have a common origin in the equilibrium between exciton charge carrier core and surface-states within the CTST framework. Parameterized in terms of size and electrostatic properties of the QD and its nanoenvironment, the CTST offers predictive insight into exciton-dynamics in these nanomaterials.

Inorganic fluoride concentration after long-term sedation with isoflurane.

We report on five patients in whom long-term sedation with isoflurane for up to 7 days was used successfully. Serum inorganic fluoride concentrations were measured daily. The concentrations ranged from 12 mmol l-1 to 29 mmol l-1. These were well below the described renal toxic level of 50 mmol l-1. There was no deterioration in renal function attributable to the use of isoflurane.

The efficacy of tilted axial MRI of the CNS.

The angle between the straight axial plane and the orbito-meatal line was measured in 156 consecutive magnetic resonance examinations. Inconsistent head positioning caused this angle to vary by as much as 44 degrees. Careful positioning of the patient by the technologist can minimize this variability, leading potentially to improved image interpretation. To assess the merit of a standardized orientation for MR examinations of the head, straight axial and tilted axial MR scans were compared in 34 patients. The tilted images were obtained parallel to the orbitomeatal line and were found to be superior for visualization of the cerebellum. When correlative x-ray CTs are available or when an abnormality in the posterior fossa is suspected, tilted axial MR scans should be employed.

Nonoperative estimation of the soleus musculotendinous junction using magnetic resonance imaging.

Although it is recognized as the muscle flap of choice for middle-third defects of the lower limb, the capability for even more distal transposition of the soleus muscle remains controversial. Such reach depends directly on the site of insertion of the muscle and previously has not been assessed convincingly without surgical intervention. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be a noninvasive alternative for determining the distal extent of the musculotendinous junction of the soleus muscle. In our last four patients, preoperative MRI scans were obtained prior to an elective soleus muscle transfer. The distance from the ankle joint to the most distal site of the soleus insertion was measured on the MRI scan and compared with the actual intraoperative measurement, which had a significant correlation (r = 0.98, p = 0.019). A retrospective review of 42 other sagittal ankle MRI scans predicted the mean of this distance to be 1.92 +/- 1.23 cm (range -0.4 to 4.5 cm), compared with gross anatomic dissections in 30 unrelated fresh cadavers, where this was 4.06 +/- 3.11 cm (range -0.7 to 12.5 cm). These additional data are pertinent because they reinforce recognition of the great variation in soleus anatomy, which would limit clinical applications for the distal third of the leg only for those individuals with very distal insertions. The MRI scan can reliably identify the soleus muscle and provides a nonoperative method for evaluation of potential feasibility for its use as a local muscle flap for distal lower extremity defects.

Acclimatizing the world: a history of the paradigmatic colonial science.

This paper examines the institutions, personages, and the theories that informed acclimatization activities in nineteenth-century France, England, and the two colonies of Algeria and Australia. Treating acclimatization as a scientific concept and activity the essay begins with the conditions of its emergence in Enlightenment France. Subsequent sections trace the growth of the acclimatization movement and its translation to the British context, and consider reasons for its decline in the last third of the nineteenth century. Efforts are made to show why many perceived acclimatization to be the paradigmatic colonial science with applications as diverse as agriculture, settlement schemes, field sports, and human health. Emphasis falls on the French and British cultural spheres, as these were the dual epicenters of both modern colonialism and organized acclimatization activity.

The yeast tribrid system--genetic detection of trans-phosphorylated ITAM-SH2-interactions.

Protein-protein interactions are often dependent on the post-translational modification of one component of a complex. To facilitate the study of these interactions in signal transduction, we have developed the yeast tribrid system, a modification of the yeast two-hybrid system. We demonstrate that the interactions are dependent upon the presence of a tyrosine kinase, an SH2 domain and a tyrosine containing substrate. Using the gamma subunit of the high-affinity IgE receptor, Fc epsilon RI, this approach has been used to isolate a novel SH2-containing family member. The mRNA encoding this novel protein is differentially expressed in rat tissues. The yeast tribrid system can be readily adapted for the characterization of novel tyrosine kinases or substrates, as well as the study of protein-protein interactions which involve other post-translational modifications.

Multi-element survey of wild edible fungi and blackberries in the UK.

A survey of 12 metals including lead (Pb), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As) and platinum (Pt) was carried out using ICP-MS in 34 samples of wild fungi and 48 samples of wild blackberries collected from sites across the UK. On a fresh weight basis (mg/kg) levels of Pb were in the range 0.003-5.990, Cu 0.596-34.800, Cd<0.001-19.6, Hg<0.001-4.150, As 0.001-0.972 and Pt (microg/kg) 0.006-0.200, with higher concentrations found in fungi than in blackberries. The results of the survey showed that the concentrations of the metals were consistent with previous studies, where available. Concentrations in wild fungi of Pt, tin (Sn), and titanium (Ti) were significantly higher at urban sites than at rural sites. Urban blackberries had significantly higher levels of Pb, Ti, and Cd than rural ones, but lower levels of manganese (Mn). Pb, Ti and Sn concentrations were significantly higher in blackberries sampled near main roads rather than in rural areas.

Maternal-fetal outcomes in prolonged pregnancy.

The intrapartum fetal heart rate changes, type of labor, mode of delivery, and neonatal outcome were evaluated in 379 consecutive continuously monitored prolonged pregnancies (greater than 42 weeks by history and early examination). These represent only a fraction of the total prolonged gestation population. There were 56% multiparous women, 33% less than 20 years of age, and 95% with cephalic presentation. Oxytocin was given to 76% (48% induced, 28% enhanced). Delivery was by cesarean section in 13% of patients (9% of induced cases), and 15% had forceps deliveries. Fetal heart rate alterations were observed in high proportion. Cesarean section for cephalopelvic disproportion was indicated in 60% of operations, and 13% of the fetuses weighed greater than 4000 gm. Depression occurred in 15% of infants at 1 minute and in 4% at 5 minutes. Prolonged hospital stay was seen in 9%, and postmaturity syndrome in 19%. There were four perinatal deaths (two corrected). Active induction does not appear to increase the cesarean section rate. The durations of predelivery observation may be longer because the cervices are frequently unripe. There is a high incidence of fetal heart rate alterations. Induction appears justified as an active intervention to prevent some sudden unexplained deaths.

Single-molecule analysis of DNA immobilized on microspheres.

The formation and analysis of single molecules of fluorescently labeled DNA immobilized on polystyrene microspheres is described. Analysis by confocal fluorescence microscopy revealed single-step photobleaching, characteristic of a single fluorophore. Microspheres provide a means of locating single molecules by bright-field microscopy, prior to single-molecule detection. This allows the interrogation of single molecules without suffering the limitations of premature photobleaching. Statistical analysis of fluorescence intensities for >100 microspheres suggests attachment of DNA to micropsheres to be consistent with Poisson statistics.

Magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of persistent carpal tunnel syndrome.

Magnetic resonance imaging was used to assess nine median nerves in the wrists of seven patients who had signs and symptoms of persistent compressive median neuropathy despite previous carpal tunnel release. Intraoperative findings were then correlated in eight surgically treated cases with both MRI findings and postoperative results. Magnetic resonance imaging suggested a potential abnormality in each of eight operative cases. These findings correlated very well with both intraoperative observations and postoperative results, which indicated that some abnormality involving either the median nerve or the transverse carpal ligament had been present in all cases. Magnetic resonance imaging proved to be a sensitive and specific tool in the evaluation of persistent postoperative median nerve compression.