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Public engagement in science with diverse cross-sections of the community is considered a critical aspect of responsible biotechnological innovation. While the research community shows willingness to engage with both ambivalent and supportive audiences about potentially disruptive technological advances, there is less enthusiasm for engaging with groups who hold deeply opposing views to such advances. 'Playing God' and 'tampering with nature' are popular examples of intrinsic objections often made in opposition to the development or use of novel genetic technologies. Historically appearing in arguments against the pursuit of genetically modified organisms in agriculture and food industries, intrinsic objections have previously been labelled by the science community as inconsistent, non-scientific, and vague. Now found in a range of innovation contexts, the domain of synthetic biology appears to attract such objections consistently. We present the findings from a large Australian study (N = 4593) which suggests 'playing God' objections and their variants can be multilayered and, at times, accompanied by meaningful information about risk perceptions. We use qualitative analysis of open-ended responses from an online survey to show how these objections are articulated in response to selected synthetic biology applications across environmental and health domains. Our research invites a rethink of how the synthetic biology community perceives, and engages with, people who express intrinsic objections. These people may additionally hold extrinsic concerns that may be potentially addressed, or at least reasonably considered, through dialogue. We offer some concluding remarks for engaging with publics who employ these types of arguments to communicate unease with aspects of technology development and use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Orthopaedic surgical studies have shown that variations in the vertical distance between the tip of the coracoid process and the supra-glenoid tubercle alter the shape of the subcoracoid outlet. Our objective was to measure the vertical distance between the coracoid tip and the supra-glenoid tubercle (CTGT) on MR and to assess whether this showed better correlation with rotator cuff pathology compared with the axial coraco-humeral distance. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review was performed of 100 consecutive shoulder MR arthrograms. Vertical distance between the coracoid tip and the supraglenoid tubercle was measured in the sagittal oblique plane. Separate assessment was then made of tendon pathology of the subscapularis, supraspinatus and long head of biceps tendons. Axial coraco-humeral distance was then measured. Correlation between tendon abnormalities and the two measurements was then made. Results: Of the 100 cases, 42 had subscapularis tendon lesions, 21 had lesions of the long head of biceps and 53 had supraspinatus tendon lesions. Mean vertical distance from the coracoid tip to supraglenoid tubercle was greater in those with lesions of any of these tendons and was statistically significant for the supraspinatus group ( P = 0.005). Reduced axial coraco-humeral distance was also seen in patients with tendinopathy, although with less statistically significant difference ( p = 0.059). Conclusion: Our results support orthopaedic studies that have shown that the vertical distance between the coracoid tip and the supraglenoid tubercle increases the incidence and risk of rotator cuff disease by altering the shape of the subcoracoid outlet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background context:Spondyloarthropathy has been described radiographically in patients following paralysis from spinal cord trauma. Onset of these findings after cauda equina syndrome have not been reported previously. Furthermore, the magnetic resonance documentation of its early evolution has not been recorded.Purpose:We report a case of early-onset spondyloarthropathy shown by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a patient with cauda equina syndrome due to bilateral sacral insufficiency fractures.Study design:Unique case study review, one case.Methods:Review of the clinical case notes and imaging including initial and subsequent MR imaging.Results:The initial MRI of the lumbosacral spine showed bilateral sacral insufficiency fractures with a kyphotic deformity. The vertebral bodies were normal on the initial computed tomography and MRI studies, which did not reveal pre-existing features of sacroiliitis. The second MRI performed 5 months later clearly showed spondylitis at multiple vertebral levels with partial resolution 18 months post injury.Conclusion:Spondyloarthropathy in patients with paralysis due to spinal cord injury is well documented in the English language literature, but until now this has not been demonstrated by MRI. It is a rare complication of traumatic cauda equina syndrome that commences soon after the traumatic event and can resolve spontaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of DNA to deliver vaccine antigens offers many advantages, including ease of manufacture and cost. However, most DNA vaccines are plasmids and must be grown in bacterial culture, necessitating elements that are either unnecessary for effective gene delivery (for example, bacterial origins of replication) or undesirable (for example, antibiotic resistance genes). Removing these elements may improve the safety profile of DNA for the delivery of vaccines. Here, we describe a novel, double-stranded, linear DNA construct produced by an enzymatic process that solely encodes an antigen expression cassette, comprising antigen, promoter, polyA tail and telomeric ends. We compared these constructs (called 'Doggybones' because of their shape) with conventional plasmid DNA. Using luciferase-expressing constructs, we demonstrated that expression levels were equivalent between Doggybones and plasmids both in vitro and in vivo. When mice were immunized with DNA constructs expressing the HIV envelope protein gp140, equivalent humoral and cellular responses were induced. Immunizations with either construct type expressing hemagluttinin were protective against H1N1 influenza challenge. This is the first example of an effective DNA vaccine, which can be produced on a large scale by enzymatic processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carrier relaxation is a key issue in determining the efficiency of semiconductor optoelectronic device operation. Devices incorporating semiconductor quantum dots have the potential to overcome many of the limitations of quantum-well-based devices because of the predicted long quantum-dot excited-state lifetimes. For example, the population inversion required for terahertz laser operation in quantum-well-based devices (quantum-cascade lasers) is fundamentally limited by efficient scattering between the laser levels, which form a continuum in the plane of the quantum well. In this context, semiconductor quantum dots are a highly attractive alternative for terahertz devices, because of their intrinsic discrete energy levels. Here, we present the first measurements, and theoretical description, of the intersublevel carrier relaxation in quantum dots for transition energies in the few terahertz range. Long intradot relaxation times (1.5 ns) are found for level separations of 14 meV (3.4 THz), decreasing very strongly to ∼2 ps at 30 meV (7 THz), in very good agreement with our microscopic theory of the carrier relaxation process. Our studies pave the way for quantum-dot terahertz device development, providing the fundamental knowledge of carrier relaxation times required for optimum device design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outpatient hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT) are usually performed in patients receiving minimally mucotoxic preparative regimens; total body irradiation (TBI)-based regimens typically are excluded. To improve resource utilization and patient satisfaction, we developed a totally outpatient HSCT program for TBI regimens and compared outcomes for our first 100 such transplants to 32 performed as in-patients during the same interval, for caregiver or financial reasons. Symptoms were managed predominately with oral agents; pain management consisted of transdermal fentanyl and oral morphine solution. Except for more unmarried in-patients, the two groups were matched. Time to engraftment, severity of mucositis and transplant duration were identical for the two groups. Twenty-seven of the outpatients were admitted (median-6 days), primarily for progressing infection. Thus 92% of all transplant days were outpatient. There were no septic episodes or hospital admissions for pain management. There were no deaths to day 30 in either group and 100-day survival was identical. There was a mean cost savings of $16 000 per outpatient transplant and outpatient patient/caregiver quality of life was similar to that reported for in-patients. Patients undergoing severely mucotoxic regimens can be safely transplanted in an outpatient setting with a significant cost saving, with no increase in morbidity or mortality.Bone Marrow Transplantation (2006) 38, 757–764. doi:10.1038/sj.bmt.1705525; published online 23 October 2006 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients referred for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) often have knowledge deficits about their disease and overestimate their prognosis making it difficult initially to discuss potentially life-threatening transplant options. To determine patients' understanding of their disease and the adequacy of a 3-h consultation at our center, we developed a survey that measured perceived knowledge deficits of disease, prognosis, and emotional status before and after their initial consultation. Ninety nine consecutive eligible patients completed the survey. Although 76.7% claimed adequate information about their disease pre-HCST visit, 51.5 and 41.4% respectively lacked knowledge about their 1-year prognosis with and without any therapy. After the visit, 66.7% of the patients had obtained enough information to make an informed decision regarding HSCT versus 23.2% pre-visit, and a significant reduction in the need for further information was reported by 53.5% of patients (P<0.001). Patients were not overwhelmed or confused by the visit and there was a small but significant decrease in negative affect. Measures to increase patients understanding of their disease and its prognosis pre-HSCT consultation visit are warranted; however, a 3-h consultation visit provides the majority of patients with sufficient information to make an informed decision about the risk/benefit ratio of HSCT.Bone Marrow Transplantation (2006) 37, 479–484. doi:10.1038/sj.bmt.1705264; published online 23 January 2006 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Il Nuovo Cimento: B is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Il Nuovo Cimento: B is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Immature plants of Lavandula angustifolia x L. latifolia (cv. Twickle Purple) were sprayed with Atrinal and P293 when the growing shoots bore four to six expanded leaves. Atrinal increased the number of inflorescences per plant by stimulating otherwise dormant axillary buds on the shoots of the current season. The number of nonflowering shoots arising on older wood was also increased. The number of florets and the fresh weight per inflorescence were reduced, but the number of florets per plant was increased overall. Oil content per plant was doubled without altering oil composition or floret structure. Flower stalks were shortened below and between the floral nodes. Atrinal sprays achieved a machine-harvestable canopy in 3-year-old plants. Untreated plants required a full year longer to develop similar canopies. P293 and manual disbudding were not as effective as Atrinal. It is suggested that such spray treatments have a useful potential in reducing the time required for the development of the mature canopy form, and so obtaining earlier financial returns on establishment costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Medical & Biological Engineering (0025696X) is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Searches for primordial black holes are reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor in response to the article regarding tailoring pan-retinal photocoagulation for the haemianopic patient" is presented.

A letter to the editor regarding conjunctival ischemia subsequent to posterior subtenon's triamcinolone acetonide injection is presented.