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A de-waxing protocol that successfully removes paraffin from tissue microarray (TMA) cores of fixed tissue obtained from oral cancer is described. The success of the protocol is demonstrated by the comparison of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) results obtained on paraffin-embedded and de-waxed tissue and the absence of any significant correlations between infrared scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) images of de-waxed tissue obtained at the three main paraffin IR peaks. The success of the protocol in removing paraffin from tissue is also demonstrated by images obtained with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and by energy dispersive spectra (EDS) of a de-waxed CaF2disc which shows no significant contribution from carbon. The FTIR spectra of the de-waxed TMA core overlaps that obtained from OE19 oesophageal cancer cells which had never been exposed to paraffin.

The Balance Intensity Scales (BIS) have been developed to measure the intensity of balance exercise in older adults.

The Assessment of Military Multitasking Performance (AMMP1) consists of six dual-task and multitask military-relevant performance-based assessments which were developed to provide assistance in making return-to-duty decisions after concussion or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI.) The Run-Roll-Aim (RRA) task, one component of the AMMP, was developed to target vulnerabilities following mTBI including attention, visual function, dynamic stability, rapid transition, and vestibular function. One aim of this study was to assess the known-group and construct validity of the RRA, and additionally to further explore reliability limitations reported previously.

We audited the diagnostic accuracy of ROTEM® (TEM Innovations, GmbH, Munich, Germany) measurements of hypofibrinogenaemia (fibrinogen <1.5 g/l) and thrombocytopenia (platelet count <100 × 109/l) in 200 adult non-transplant patients during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Blood samples were obtained for FIBTEM (assay for the fibrin part of the clot), PLTEM (calculated platelet-specific component), and laboratory measurements simultaneously. Our thresholds for FIBTEM and PLTEM were A10 (clot firmness 10 minutes after clotting time) =8 mm, and <35 mm respectively. We also calculated the accuracy of smaller thresholds and earlier indices. We found that FIBTEM A10 =8 mm had low sensitivity (0.62) for hypofibrinogenaemia. With the 13% hypofibrinogenaemia prevalence in our sample, the positive predictive value (PPV) was 0.47. In contrast, FIBTEM A10 =8 mm had higher specificity (0.90) (negative predictive value [NPV] 0.94). Of the other FIBTEM values analysed, only A5 =6 mm had similar or superior accuracy. The PLTEM results were less encouraging (sensitivity 0.81, specificity 0.62). With our prevalence of thrombocytopenia (also 13%), the PPV was only 0.24. However, the NPV was high (0.96). Of the other PLTEM values analysed, only A5 <25 mm had similar or superior accuracy. These findings indicate that during CPB FIBTEM A10 =8 mm and PLTEM A10 <35 mm have greater accuracy in identifying the absence of hypofibrinogenaemia and thrombocytopenia respectively than their presence. On the basis of these results we would be reassured by FIBTEM A10 values >8 mm and PLTEM A10 values =35 mm, but would continue to use laboratory measurements for confirmation. We would not use FIBTEM A10 =8 mm or PLTEM A10 <35 mm values alone to guide replacement therapy unless clinical conditions warranted an immediate decision before laboratory measurements were available.

Determining duty-readiness after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) remains a priority of the United States Department of Defense as warfighters in both deployed and non-deployed settings continue to sustain these injuries in relatively large numbers. Warfighters with mTBI may experience unresolved sensorimotor, emotional, cognitive sequelae including problems with executive functions, a category of higher order cognitive processes that enable people to regulate goal-directed behavior. Persistent mTBI sequelae interfere with warfighters' proficiency in performing military duties and signal the need for graded return to activity and possibly rehabilitative services. Although significant strides have been carried out in recent years to enhance the identification and management of mTBI in garrison (EXORD 165-13) and deployed settings (EXORD 242-11; DoDI 6,490.11), the Department of Defense still lacks reliable, valid, and clinically feasible functional assessments to help inform duty-readiness decisions. Traditional functional assessments lack face validity for warfighters and may have ceiling effects, especially as related to executive functions. Performance-based multitasking assessments have been shown to be sensitive to executive dysfunction after acquired brain injury but no multitasking assessments have been validated in adults with mTBI. Existing multitasking assessments are not ecologically valid relative to military contexts. A multidisciplinary military-civilian team of researchers developed and evaluated a performance-based assessment called the Assessment of Military Multitasking Performance. One of the Assessment of Military Multitasking Performance multitasks, the Charge of Quarters Duty Test (CQDT), was designed to challenge the divided attention, foresight, and planning dimensions of executive functions. Here, we report on the preliminary validation results of the CQDT.

This article considers the ways in which ideas of authorship have been portrayed in the authorial prefaces (zixu) to a selection of classical Chinese tales of the supernatural (zhiguai). It posits that the authorial preface is a unique forum for exploring the interplay between the author, reader and text. Within the controversial and contested tradition of writings about strange and otherworldly phenomena, it argues that over time the zixuprovided a platform for the emergence of an increasingly individualised authorial persona.

GOING THE EXTRA MILE [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioreduction of ferric iron-rich wastes is a rapidly emerging technology for the extraction/ recovery of metals from low-grade ores and metallurgical wastes. However, despite studies being successful, they have only been demonstrated at laboratory scale and issues relating to economic, industrial scale application have yet to be studied. Using bioreduction as a pre-treatment to increase recovery yield is a relatively new concept. This study examines the biostimulation of microbial communities to induce bioreduction of metalliferous sludge and the effect that this has on the leachability of metals from the waste using dilute sulphuric acid. Data shows an increase in both zinc and copper leachability after bioreduction, with maximum six fold and eleven fold increase (compared to pre-treatment) in the amount of zinc and copper leached respectively.