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Optical trap displays (OTD) are an emerging display technology with the ability to create full-color images in air. Like all volumetric displays, OTDs lack the ability to show virtual images. However, in this paper we show that it is possible to instead simulate virtual images by employing a time-varying perspective projection backdrop.

Rolling neutrophils form tethers with submicron diameters. Here, we report that these tethers detach, forming elongated neutrophil-derived structures (ENDS) in the vessel lumen. We studied ENDS formation in mice and humans in vitro and in vivo. ENDS do not contain mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, or DNA, but are enriched for S100A8, S100A9, and 57 other proteins. Within hours of formation, ENDS round up, and some of them begin to present phosphatidylserine on their surface (detected by annexin-5 binding) and release S100A8-S100A9 complex, a damage-associated molecular pattern protein that is a known biomarker of neutrophilic inflammation. ENDS appear in blood plasma of mice upon induction of septic shock. Compared with healthy donors, ENDS are 10-100-fold elevated in blood plasma of septic patients. Unlike neutrophil-derived extracellular vesicles, most ENDS are negative for the tetraspanins CD9, CD63, and CD81. We conclude that ENDS are a new class of bloodborne submicron particles with a formation mechanism linked to neutrophil rolling on the vessel wall., Competing Interests: Disclosures: The authors declare no competing interests exist., (© 2020 Marki et al.)

Since the introduction of optical trap displays in 2018, there has been significant interest in further developing this technology. In an effort to channel interest in the most productive directions, this work seeks to illuminate those areas that, in the authors' opinion, are most critical to the ultimate success of optical trap displays as a platform for aerial 3D imaging. These areas include trapping, scanning, scaling, robustness, safety, and occlusion.

A special magnetic body force, the differential magneto-thermal (DMT) force, was proposed to reverse thermal equilibration by 'pushing' a fluid element colder than its surroundings to a colder region, and a fluid element hotter than its surroundings to a hotter region [1]. In this work, we discuss the fulfilment of the requirements for this force and the experiment to verify it. We present experimental and analytical results that clearly demonstrate: (1) approaching thermal equilibrium in our magnetic fluid sample was indeed 'reversed' as the magnetic body force introduces the localized flows that stop the conventional convective heat transfer; (2) the DMT force density calculated with experimental parameters agrees with the design principle. These results prove the feasibility of the predicted mechanism for a new generation of heat transfer apparatus that can transfer heat energy with higher efficiency than the ones discussed in textbooks, such as heat engines.

Purpose of the Study: The aim of this study was to compare performance of candidates who declared an expert-confirmed diagnosis of dyslexia with all other candidates in the Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) of the Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners licensing examination., Study Design: We used routinely collected data from candidates who took the AKT on one or more occasions between 2010 and 2015. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyse performance of candidates who declared dyslexia with all other candidates, adjusting for candidate characteristics known to be associated with examination success including age, sex, ethnicity, country of primary medical qualification, stage of training, number of attempts and time spent completing the test., Results: The analysis included data from 14 examinations involving 14 801 candidates of which 2.6% (379/14 801) declared dyslexia. The pass rate for candidates who declared dyslexia was 83.6% compared with 95.0% for other candidates. After adjusting for covariates linked to examination success including age, sex, ethnicity, country of primary medical qualification, stage of training, number of attempts and time spent completing the test dyslexia was not significantly associated with pass rates in the AKT. Candidates declaring dyslexia after initially failing the AKT were more likely to have a primary medical qualification outside the UK., Conclusions: Performance was similar in AKT candidates disclosing dyslexia with other candidates once covariates associated with examination success were adjusted for. Candidates declaring dyslexia after initially failing the AKT were more likely to have a primary medical qualification outside the UK., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.)

Previous experiments observed a 4^{+} state in the N=28 nucleus ^{44}S and suggested that this state may exhibit a hindered E2-decay rate, inconsistent with being a member of the collective ground state band. We populate this state via two-proton knockout from a beam of exotic ^{46}Ar projectiles and measure its lifetime using the recoil distance method with the GRETINA γ-ray spectrometer. The result, 76(14)_{stat}(20)_{syst}  ps, implies a hindered transition of B(E2;4^{+}→2_{1}^{+})=0.61(19) single-particle or Weisskopf units strength and supports the interpretation of the 4^{+} state as a K=4 isomer, the first example of a high-K isomer in a nucleus of such low mass.

Holovideo displays are based on light-bending spatial light modulators. One such spatial light modulator is the anisotropic leaky mode modulator. This modulator is particularly well suited for holographic video experimentation as it is relatively simple and inexpensive to fabricate. Some additional advantages of leaky mode devices include: large aggregate bandwidth, polarization separation of signal light from noise, large angular deflection and frequency control of color. In order to realize these advantages, it is necessary to be able to adequately characterize these devices as their operation is strongly dependent on waveguide and transducer parameters. To characterize the modulators, the authors use a commercial prism coupler as well as a custom characterization apparatus to identify guided modes, calculate waveguide thickness and finally to map the device's frequency input and angular output of leaky mode modulators. This work gives a detailed description of the measurement and characterization of leaky mode modulators suitable for full-color holographic video.

Bacteroides fragilis, an opportunistic pathogen of humans, is a leading cause of bacteraemias and anaerobic abscesses which are often treated with metronidazole, a drug which damages DNA. This study investigated the responses of the B. fragilis recA three gene operon to the stress experienced during metronidazole treatment and exposure to reactive oxygen species simulating those generated by the host immune system during infection. A transcriptionally regulated response was observed using quantitative RT-PCR after metronidazole and hydrogen peroxide treatment, with all three genes being upregulated under stress conditions. In vivo and in vitro analysis of the functional role of the second gene of the operon was done using heterologous complementation and protein expression (in Escherichia coli), with subsequent biochemical assay. This gene encoded a functional bacterioferritin co-migratory protein (BCP) which was thiol-specific and had antioxidant properties, including protection of the glutamine synthetase III enzyme. This in vitro data supports the hypothesis that the genes of the operon may be involved in protection of the bacteria from the oxidative burst during tissue invasion and may play a significant role in bacterial survival and metronidazole resistance during treatment of B. fragilis infections., (Copyright © 2014 Institut Pasteur. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The transition rates from the yrast 2+ and 4+ states in the self-conjugate 72Kr nucleus were studied via lifetime measurements employing the GRETINA array with a novel application of the recoil-distance method. The large collectivity observed for the 4+→2+ transition suggests a prolate character of the excited states. The reduced collectivity previously reported for the 2+→0+ transition was confirmed. The irregular behavior of collectivity points to the occurrence of a rapid oblate-prolate shape transition in 72Kr, providing stringent tests for advanced theories to describe the shape coexistence and its evolution.

A wide variety of novel single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) viruses have been found in faecal matter of chimpanzees, cows, rodents, bats, badgers, foxes and pigs over the last few years. Using a combination of rolling circle amplification coupled with restriction enzyme digests based approach as well as a next generation sequencing informed approach, we have recovered fourteen full genomes of ssDNA viruses which exhibit genomic features described for members of the recently proposed gemycircularvirus group from a wide variety of mammal and bird faecal samples across New Zealand. The fourteen novel ssDNA viruses (2122-2290nt) encode two major proteins, a replication associated protein (Rep) and a capsid protein (Cp) which are bi-directionally transcribed. Interestingly, the Rep of these novel viruses are similar to gemycircularviruses detected in insects, cassava leaves, and badger faecal matter, the novel viruses share sequence similarities with the mycovirus sclerotinia sclerotiorum hypovirulence-associated DNA virus 1 (SsHADV-1) and Rep-like sequences found in fungal genomes. Pairwise sequence similarities between the 14 novel genomes with other related viral isolates (gemycircularviruses) indicated that they share greater than 55.8% genome-wide identity. Additionally, they share between 55% and 59% pairwise identity with putative novel ssDNA virus genomes recently isolated from sewage baminivirus, niminivirus and nephavirus. Based on the similarities to SsHADV-1 and Rep-like sequences found in fungal genomes, these novel gemycircularviruses may infect fungi., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Despite substantive morbidity, unexplained nausea and vomiting has not been evaluated in a systematic manner via surgically obtained biopsies and direct electrophysiology of the gut, and this information has not been correlated with serologic information. We investigated consecutive patients with unexplained and refractory chronic nausea and vomiting to define the presence of morphologic, physiologic, and/or serologic abnormalities., Methods: In all, 101 of 121 consecutive patients who experienced chronic nausea and vomiting of unknown etiology evaluated in 1 tertiary referral center over a 10-year period were profiled qualitatively by full-thickness small bowel biopsies with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Smith's Silver stains, quantitatively by intraoperative gastric electrophysiology, and semiquantitatively, when it became available, by serum autoimmune Western blot analysis., Results: Overall, 79 of 101 patients had abnormal full-thickness biopsy (70 neuropathies and 9 myopathies) and frequent serum autoimmune abnormalities (mean score = 13.2, normal < 3.0). In addition, 96 of 101 patients had abnormal frequency and/or uncoupling on gastric electrophysiology. Patients with small-intestinal myopathy showed a diversity of diagnoses; some patients with neuropathy had abdominal pain that correlated with autoimmune scores on Western blot., Conclusion: Patients with refractory and unexplained nausea and vomiting have a high incidence of both small bowel morphologic abnormalities (primarily neuropathies) and gastric electrophysiologic abnormalities, which are associated commonly with serologic autoimmune activation. Similar histomorphologic, physiologic, and serologic measures should be considered in the diagnostic evaluation of any patient with refractory or unexplained nausea and vomiting.

Some patients with gastroparesis (GP) require sustained central intravenous access for hydration, medication and/or nutrition, leaving them at risk for venous thrombosis. We studied a group of 53 patients with gastroparesis for identifiable risk factors of clinically significant thrombosis. Patients requiring prolonged central IV access fell into two groups: those who had clinical incidence of IV catheter-related thrombosis confirmed radiologically (CLOT, n = 14), and those who did not form IV catheter thrombosis (NOCLOT, n = 39). We analyzed and compared clinical symptoms, serum/plasma coagulation studies, and autoimmune antibodies in the CLOT and NOCLOT groups. Patients in the CLOT group had statistically more Scl 70 antibodies than did the NOCLOT group, and another autoantibody, Ku 66, was found in higher titers in the NOCLOT group than the CLOT group. Other autoimmune and coagulation factors were not statistically different between the two groups, although a subgroup of CLOT patients had lower plasma Protein S levels. We conclude that the presence of Scl 70 autoantibodies is associated with increased clotting risk in this group of GP patients, and that the Ku 66 antibody may be associated with decreased risk of thrombosis in patients with GP. These findings, coupled with lower Protein S levels in some CLOT patients, suggests that autoimmune factors may be associated with GP patients who thrombose IV access versus patients who do not.

The carbon sources that support the growth of pathogenic Escherichia coli O157:H7 in the mammalian intestine have not previously been investigated. In vivo, the pathogenic E. coli EDL933 grows primarily as single cells dispersed within the mucus layer that overlies the mouse cecal epithelium. We therefore compared the pathogenic strain and the commensal E. coli strain MG1655 modes of metabolism in vitro, using a mixture of the sugars known to be present in cecal mucus, and found that the two strains used the 13 sugars in a similar order and cometabolized as many as 9 sugars at a time. We conducted systematic mutation analyses of E. coli EDL933 and E. coli MG1655 by using lesions in the pathways used for catabolism of 13 mucus-derived sugars and five other compounds for which the corresponding bacterial gene system was induced in the transcriptome of cells grown on cecal mucus. Each of 18 catabolic mutants in both bacterial genetic backgrounds was fed to streptomycin-treated mice, together with the respective wild-type parent strain, and their colonization was monitored by fecal plate counts. None of the mutations corresponding to the five compounds not found in mucosal polysaccharides resulted in colonization defects. Based on the mutations that caused colonization defects, we determined that both E. coli EDL933 and E. coli MG1655 used arabinose, fucose, and N-acetylglucosamine in the intestine. In addition, E. coli EDL933 used galactose, hexuronates, mannose, and ribose, whereas E. coli MG1655 used gluconate and N-acetylneuraminic acid. The colonization defects of six catabolic lesions were found to be additive with E. coli EDL933 but not with E. coli MG1655. The data indicate that pathogenic E. coli EDL933 uses sugars that are not used by commensal E. coli MG1655 to colonize the mouse intestine. The results suggest a strategy whereby invading pathogens gain advantage by simultaneously consuming several sugars that may be available because they are not consumed by the commensal intestinal microbiota.

Background: It is important that serological assays detect antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in all infected individuals, including those infected with less prevalent, more diverse subtypes., Methods: Performance of the ADVIA Centaur HIV 1/O/2 Enhanced (EHIV) Assay was tested on 1344 samples from HIV-positive subjects, 6061 samples from groups at low-risk for HIV infection, and 1042 samples from groups at high-risk for HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection. Results were compared with those of an FDA-approved predicate assay., Results: The ADVIA Centaur EHIV Assay showed good precision with a diagnostic specificity of 99.9% and diagnostic sensitivity of 100%. HIV seroconversion was detected earlier in 6 panels, at the same time in 13 panels and later in only 1 of the panels when compared to the predicate assay, thereby narrowing the window period between infection and antibody detection. Of clinical significance, a blood donor sample that was indeterminate by HIV-1 Western blot and non-reactive by the predicate assay was repeatedly reactive in the ADVIA Centaur Assay and confirmed as positive by HIV-2 immunoblot., Conclusions: The ADVIA Centaur EHIV Assay is useful as an aid in the diagnosis of individuals infected with HIV-1 and/or HIV-2.

Lipid phosphate phosphatase 1 (LPP-1) is presumed to regulate the balance between lipid phosphates and their dephosphorylated counterparts. The currently prevailing hypothesis based on in vitro studies proposes that LPP-1 should regulate phospholipid lipid growth factors and second messengers, including lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), diacylglycerol (DAG), and phosphatidic acid (PA). To evaluate the role of LPP-1 in vivo, three transgenic lines were established. RT-PCR, Western blotting, and enzymatic activity measurement confirmed a copy number-dependent ubiquitous overexpression of LPP-1. PMA-stimulated PA production in immortalized LPP-1 fibroblasts led to an elevation in the accumulation of DAG without major changes in the phospholipid classes isolated from the liver. The LPP-1 phenotype showed reduced body size, birth weight, and abnormalities in fur growth, whereas histological abnormalities included significantly decreased number of hair follicles, disrupted hair structure, and a severely impaired spermatogenesis. Implantation of LPP-1 or wild-type embryos into pseudopregnant LPP-1 mothers yielded a reduced litter size. The plasma level of alanine-leucine aminotransferase was significantly elevated. Unexpectedly, plasma concentrations of the five major acyl-species of LPA were indistinguishable between wild-type and LPP-1 animals. In contrast with previous studies using plasmid-mediated overexpression in vitro, transgenic overexpression of LPP-1 did not affect ERK1/2 activation elicited by LPA, S1P, thrombin, epidermal growth factor (EGF), and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), which was presumed to be a major signaling event regulated by LPP-1. Thus, transgenic overexpression of LPP-1 in mice elicited a number of unexpected phenotypic alterations without affecting several aspects of LPA signaling, which point to previously unappreciated mechanisms and roles of lipid phosphates in select organs.

Background: Hemorrhagic shock-related leukocyte adherence to endothelial cells is a key step in microvascular injury-related organ damage. Heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1) metabolizes heme, a potent cytotoxic agent, to carbon monoxide and biliverdin. We hypothesized that changing HO-1 expression would change leukocyte adherence after hemorrhagic shock., Methods: Rats were administered hemin, zinc protoporphyrin, or vehicle 6 hours before surgery. HO-1 expression was determined by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in various tissues. Shock was induced in urethane-anesthetized animals by decreasing mean arterial blood pressure to 40 mm Hg for 60 minutes, followed by standard resuscitation measures. Leukocyte adherence was measured by intravital microscopy in rat mesenteric venules., Results: Hemin, hemorrhagic shock, and the combination resulted in significantly increased HO-1 expression, whereas zinc-protoporphyrin (ZNPP) resulted in significantly decreased leukocyte adherence. After hemorrhagic shock and hemin administration, leukocyte adherence was significantly decreased 60 minutes into resuscitation (7.92 +/- 2.29 vs. 4.84 +/- 0.71 cells/100 microm, p < 0.05) and significantly increased after ZNPP plus shock (14.08 +/- 3.95, p

Bacteroides fragilis, a component of the normal intestinal flora, is an obligate anaerobe capable of long-term survival in the presence of air. Survival is attributed to an elaborate oxidative stress response that controls the induction of more than 28 peptides, but there is limited knowledge concerning the identities of these peptides. In this report, RNA fingerprinting by arbitrarily primed PCR identified five new genes whose expression increased following exposure to O2. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the cloned genes indicated that they encoded an outer membrane protein, an aspartate decarboxylase, an efflux pump, heat shock protein HtpG, and an NrdA ortholog constituting the large subunit of a class Ia ribonucleotide reductase (RRase). Attention was focused on the nrdA gene since class I RRases are obligate aerobic enzymes catalyzing the reduction of ribonucleoside 5'-diphosphates by a mechanism that requires molecular oxygen for activity. Sequence analysis of the nrd locus showed that two genes, nrdA and nrdB, are located in the same orientation in a 4.5-kb region. Northern hybridization and primer extension experiments confirmed induction of the genes by O2 and suggested they are an operon. The B. fragilis nrdA and nrdB genes were overexpressed in Escherichia coli, and CDP reductase assays confirmed that they encoded an active enzyme. The enzyme activity was inhibited by hydroxyurea, and ATP was shown to be a positive effector of CDP reductase activity, while dATP was an inhibitor, indicating that the enzyme was a class Ia RRase. A nrdA mutant was viable under anaerobic conditions but had decreased survival following exposure to O2, and it could not rapidly resume growth after O2 treatment. The results presented indicate that during aerobic conditions B. fragilis NrdAB may have a role in maintaining deoxyribonucleotide pools for DNA repair and growth recovery.

Proper blood studies are necessary for the differential diagnosis of many diseases of the eye and visual system. The review of several blood chemistry, serology, and immunology tests is presented here with a brief review of the theory and use of these tests.

The results (average follow-up of 29 months) of the Townley anatomic knee replacement utilizing cruciate release with total tibial component variant is presented in 72 patients with 88 knee replacements. Postoperatively, 94% of the patients had mild or no pain, 99% were able to walk outdoors with minor or no restriction, 82% had flexion of greater than 80 degrees. Ninety-eight per cent of the patients were realigned within 10 degrees of varus/valgus postoperatively. Revision surgery was required in four cases for loosening and in one case for infection. Resurfacing total knee replacements, including the Townley type, appear to be approaching an acceptable level of efficiency and performance, but extensive long-term follow-up is essential for a definitive evaluation of this method.