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This study aimed to describe the patient experience and incidence of adverse events in unfasted patients undergoing coronary angiography and angioplasty. In addition, to identify any association between duration of fasting and adverse events. Historically, patients were fasted before elective cardiac catheterisation. Routine fasting was not evidence-based, and many centres, including our unit, have discontinued the practice. Patients undergoing cardiac catheterisation at a large urban teaching hospital were invited to participate in a prospective observational cohort study documenting the duration of fasting and incidence of adverse events (n=508). Of these participants, 257 also completed a survey that captured perspectives and opinions regarding not fasting. The mean time since last fluid was 1.9±2.2 hours and for food was 3.9±3.7 hours. The most common adverse event was hypotension (10.0%). Rates of nausea (3.9%) and vomiting (0.6%) were low, and there were no episodes of aspiration. No associations were identified between the time since the last food or fluid and any adverse events. Thematic analysis of survey data yielded three themes: (1) in most, not fasting is preferable to fasting; (2) being able to eat and drink before the procedure positively affected well-being, and (3) one-fifth of the cohort expressed no preference between fasting and non-fasting. Not fasting before cardiac catheterisation is viewed favourably by patients. While this study provides additional evidence that not fasting is safe, event rates are low, and larger multicentre studies are needed for confirmation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the risks and ethical challenges that lawyers face when asked to sign nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) by their clients. It explains that while clients may have valid reasons for requesting NDAs, such as protecting confidential information, it is generally unnecessary for lawyers to sign them. NDAs can potentially conflict with lawyers' duty of confidentiality and their ability to disclose information in certain circumstances. The article also discusses the complications that arise when lawyers are asked to sign NDAs by prospective clients. It recommends that lawyers avoid signing NDAs whenever possible, but if they do choose to sign, they should carefully review the language and consider adding a savings clause to mitigate risks. Ultimately, the safest choice for a lawyer is to avoid signing an NDA altogether. [Extracted from the article]

Since 1990, it has been proposed that olenelloid and paradoxidid trilobites overlapped in age, even though the former represents the traditional lower Cambrian of Laurentia and the latter represents the traditional middle Cambrian of the ‘Acadobaltic Realm’ (i.e., Baltica, West Gondwana) and Siberia. Subsequent studies on biostratigraphical correlation and radiometric ages have supported this conclusion. The recent discovery of the oryctocephalid trilobites Oryctocephalops frischenfeldi Lermontova, 1940, Ovatoryctocara cf. O. yaxiensis Yuan et al. 2009, and Protoryctocephalus? aff. P.? arcticus Geyer & Peel 2011 from the mid-Dyeran Stage portion of the Harkless Formation, Nevada, not only verifies a direct overlap of olenelloid and paradoxidine trilobites, but also indicates that the upper six olenelloid biochrons of the Cordilleran margin of Laurentia are age equivalent to the range of the oldest paradoxidines. This new fauna from the Harkless Formation also allows for a precise biostratigraphical correlation of this level to age-equivalent strata in Greenland, the Siberian Platform, and South China. This correlation indicates that the upper Dyeran and a portion of the mid-Dyeran Stage are biostratigraphically equivalent to the Bonnia–Pagetides elegans Biozone of Greenland, the Ovatoryctocara Biozone (which contains Paradoxides (s.l.) in its lower part) of the Siberian Platform, and the Protoryctocephalus arcticus to Bathynotus kueichouensis–Ovatoryctocara sinensis biozones of the South China palaeocontinent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early "ptychoparioid" trilobites are likely to play a crucial role in determining the currently unresolved phylogenetic relationships among the numerous Cambrian libristomate clades. However, such phylogenetic analyses are hindered by the fact that many species and genera of early "ptychoparioids" are known from very limited material and are typically defined only on cranidial features. Herein, we report new "ptychoparioid" assemblages from the Saline Valley Tongue, Harkless Formation at Clayton Ridge, Nevada. These middle to upper Dyeran Stage (Cambrian Series 2, Stage 4) assemblages contain well-preserved early "ptychoparioids" that are represented by articulated exoskeletons as well as isolated cranidia, rostral plates, librigenae, thoracic segments, and pygidia, which together provide morphological details for the complete or nearly complete exoskeleton of three new genera and four new species: Anebocephalus silverpeakensis n. gen. n. sp.; Coenoides scholteni n. gen. n. sp.; Harklessaspis rasettii n. gen. n. sp.; and H. parvigranulosus n. gen. n. sp. Pending a formal phylogenetic analysis, it is deemed preferable to assign these taxa to new genera rather than to shoehorn them in to potentially ill-diagnosed existing genera. These new genera are compared to the Cambrian Series 2 taxa Crassifimbra and Eokochaspis, and the Miaolingian Series taxon Elrathina, which are similar in morphology and known from sclerites other than just cranidia. Also documented in this study are the "ptychoparioids" Crassifimbra walcotti, Cr.? sp. A, Cr. sp. B, and "ptychoparioid" spp. A, B, C, and D from the Saline Valley Tongue and the overlying Mule Spring Limestone and lowermost Emigrant Formation. UUID: http://zoobank.org/864d4005-2676-4f3f-b676-911efde7d263 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most Cambrian Series 2 faunas of Laurentia are dominated by olenelline trilobites; however, non-olenelline trilobites occur with the olenellines and sometimes dominate the assemblages. Reported here are such non-olenelline trilobites from the Harkless Formation and Mule Spring Limestone at Clayton Ridge, Nevada. At the bottom of the Saline Valley Tongue, Harkless Formation, are two assemblages that are characterized by corynexochines and/or ptychoparioids, with olenellines occurring as only rare components. The corynexochines present in these assemblages include Bonnia cf. B. brennus (Walcott, 1916), Ovatoryctocara cf. O. yaxiensisYuan et al., 2009, Protoryctocephalus? aff. P.? arcticusGeyer and Peel, 2011, Ogygopsis sp. indet., and Oryctocephalops frischenfeldiLermontova, 1940. These assemblages are from the mid-Dyeran Stage, below the lowermost zone in the upper Dyeran (Arcuolenellus arcuatus Biozone), and can be correlated to Series 2 Stage 4 (Cambrian) assemblages in Greenland, Siberia, and South China based on the corynexochines. Also in the Saline Valley Tongue and the overlying Mule Spring Limestone and lowermost Emigrant Formation are olenelloid-dominated assemblages that contain the corynexochines Bonnia columbensisResser, 1936, Zacanthopsis aff. Z. levis (Walcott, 1886), and Z. sp. indet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oryctocephalid trilobites are seldom abundant and often tectonically deformed, creating problems for robust species delimitation and compromising their utility in biostratigraphic and evolutionary studies. By studying more than 140 specimens recovered from the upper portion of the Combined Metals Member (Pioche Formation, Nevada; Cambrian Stage 4, Series 2), we exploit a rare opportunity to explore how morphological variation among oryctocephalid specimens is partitioned into intraspecific variation versus interspecific disparity. Qualitative and quantitative analyses reveal that two species are represented: Oryctocephalites palmeri Sundberg and McCollum, 1997 and Oryctocephalites sp. A, the latter known from a single cranidium stratigraphically below all occurrences of the former. In contrast to the conclusions of a previous study, there is no evidence of cranidial dimorphism in O. palmeri. However, that species exhibits considerable variation in cranidial shape and pygidial spine arrangement and number. Cranidial shape variation within O. palmeri is approximately one-half of the among-species disparity within the genus. Comparison of cranidial shape between noncompacted and compacted samples reveals that compaction causes significant change in mean shape and an increase in shape variation; such changes are interpretable in terms of observed fracture patterns. Nontaphonomic variation is partitioned into ontogenetic and nonallometric components. Those components share similar structure with each other and with interspecific disparity, suggesting that ontogenetic shape change might be an important source of variation available for selection. This highlights the importance of ontogenetic and taphonomic sources of variation with respect to species delimitation, morphospace occupation, and investigation of evolutionary patterns and processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Morphological homeostasis limits the extent to which genetic and/or environmental variation is translated into phenotypic variation, providing generation-to-generation fitness advantage under a stabilizing selection regime. Depending on its lability, morphological homeostasis might also have a longer-term impact on evolution by restricting the variation—and thus the response to directional selection—of a trait. The fossil record offers an inviting opportunity to investigate whether and how morphological homeostasis constrained trait evolution in lineages or clades on long timescales (thousands to millions of years) that are not accessible to neontological studies. Fossils can also reveal insight into the nature of primitive developmental systems that might not be predictable from the study of modern organisms. The ability to study morphological homeostasis in fossils is strongly limited by taphonomic processes that can destroy, blur, or distort the original biological signal: genetic data are unavailable; phenotypic data can be modified by tectonic or compaction-related deformation; time-averaging limits temporal resolution; and environmental variation is hard to study and impossible to control. As a result of these processes, neither allelic sensitivity (and thus genetic canalization) nor macroenvironmental sensitivity (and thus environmental canalization) can be unambiguously assessed in the fossil record. However, homeorhesis—robustness against microenvironmental variation (developmental noise)— can be assessed in ancient developmental systems by measuring the level of fluctuating asymmetry (FA) in a nominally symmetric trait. This requires the analysis of multiple, minimally time-averaged samples of exquisite preservational quality. Studies of FA in fossils stand to make valuable contributions to our understanding of the deep-time significance of homeorhesis. Few empirical studies have been conducted to date, and future paleontological research focusing on how homeorhesis relates to evolutionary rate (including stasis), species survivorship, and purported macroevolutionary trends in evolvability would reap high reward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper presents the results of pushout test of deconstructable clamping connectors which are utilized to connect precast concrete planks and steel beams in a deconstructable composite floor system. A specified turn-of-the-nut rotation was first established to ensure reliable pretension in the bolts. Nine specimens were then tested to study the effects of key parameters, including bolt diameter, reinforcement layout, loading protocol, use of shims and number of cast-in channels. It is shown that the clamping connectors have excellent slip capacity, ductility and energy dissipating capacity. The characteristics of the clamps are compared to steel stud anchors in terms of strength, stiffness and ultimate slip. Design recommendations are also provided to predict the slip and peak strengths of the clamps under monotonic and cyclic loading. Highlights • A deconstructable composite floor system utilizing clamping shear connectors is proposed. • Monotonic and cyclic pushout tests were conducted to study the behavior of the clamps. • Under monotonic loading, the M24 clamps retain approximately 80% of the peak strength at 127 mm (5 in.) slip. • The clamping connectors can withstand large slips with minimal damage. • Design equations are provided to predict the strength of the clamps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ediacaran to lower Cambrian Chilhowee Group of the southern and central Appalachians records the rift-to-drift transition of the newly formed Iapetan margin of Laurentia. Body fossils are rare within the Chilhowee Group, and correlations are based almost exclusively on lithological similarities. A critical review of previous work highlights the relatively weak biostratigraphic and radiometric age constraints on the various units within the succession. Herein, we document a newly discovered fossil-bearing locality within the Murray Shale (upper Chilhowee Group) on Chilhowee Mountain, eastern Tennessee, and formally describe a nevadioid trilobite, Buenellus chilhoweensis n. sp., from that site. This trilobite indicates that the Murray Shale is of Montezuman age (provisional Cambrian Stage 3), which is older than the Dyeran (provisional late Stage 3 to early Stage 4) age suggested by the historical (mis)identification of ' Olenellus sp.' from within the unit as reported by workers more than a century ago. Buenellus chilhoweensis n. sp. represents only the second known species of Buenellus, and demonstrates that the genus occupied both the Innuitian and Iapetan margins of Laurentia during the Montezuman. It is the oldest known trilobite from the Iapetan margin, and proves that the hitherto apparent absence of trilobites from that margin during the Montezuman was an artifact of inadequate sampling rather than a paleobiogeographic curiosity. The species offers a valuable biostratigraphic calibration point within a rock succession that has otherwise proven recalcitrant to refined dating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional drug-eluting stents achieve good safety and performance outcomes, but the stents permanently cage the vessel, leading to a non-plateauing rate of clinical events. The DynamX Bioadaptor is designed to reduce these long-term events through unique design features that permit restoring vessel function and physiology through the disengagement of uncaging elements after the resorption of a biodegradable polymer over six months. Promising initial results have been obtained in the DynamX mechanistic study, with excellent safety and effectiveness, positive arterial remodeling, improved vasomotion, compliance, and cyclic pulsatility. We now aim to confirm these findings randomizing the DynamX Bioadaptor against the Resolute Onyx stent. This multi-center, international, randomized single-blinded study is conducted in 34 sites across Europe, Japan, and New Zealand and is divided into the European/New Zealand cohort and the Japanese cohort (which includes an imaging subset). It is designed to randomly assign 444 patients (222 per region) in a 1:1 ratio to either the DynamX Bioadaptor or the Resolute Onyx stent. Furthermore, a pharmacokinetic substudy is conducted in 9 patients enrolled in Japan to assess the pharmacokinetics of sirolimus after implantation of the DynamX Bioadaptor. Study follow-up is scheduled at one, six, and 12 months, and annually thereafter for five years; imaging follow-up includes angiographic, intravascular ultrasound, and optical coherence tomography assessments at 12 months in a subset of patients. The primary endpoint is 12-month target lesion failure. This trial will provide valuable insights into the safety and efficacy of this novel bioadaptor when compared to a contemporary drug-eluting stent. The DynamX Sirolimus-Eluting Bioadaptor has unique design features aiming to reduce long-term events after percutaneous coronary intervention by permitting the restoration of vessel function through the freeing of uncaging elements. Promising initial results have been obtained in the DynamX mechanistic study. This trial aims to confirm these findings in a randomized setting. The European/ New Zealand and Japanese cohorts were designed to randomly assign 444 subjects in a 1:1 ratio to either the DynamX Bioadaptor or the Resolute Onyx stent. Furthermore, a pharmacokinetic substudy is conducted in 9 patients enrolled in Japan to assess the pharmacokinetics of sirolimus. • The DynamX Bioadaptor is a novel device with a unique uncaging mechanism. • The uncaging mechanism permits vessel motion in the treated segment. • This shall ultimately lead to a reduction of long-term adverse events. • This is the first trial to compare the bioadaptor against a drug-eluting stent (DES). • This will be the first trial to also thoroughly assesses vessel motion in DES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irreversible vision loss due to disease or age is responsible for a reduced quality of life. The experiments in this study test the hypothesis that the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist, PNU-282987, leads to the generation of retinal neurons in an adult mammalian retina in the absence of retinal injury or exogenous growth factors. Using antibodies against BrdU, retinal ganglion cells, progenitor cells and Müller glia, the results of this study demonstrate that multiple types of retinal cells and neurons are generated after eye drop application of PNU-282987 in adult Long Evans rats in a dose-dependent manner. The results of this study provide evidence that progenitor cells, derived from Müller glia after treatment with PNU-282987, differentiate and migrate to the photoreceptor and retinal ganglion cell layers. If retinas were treated with the alpha7 nAChR antagonist, methyllycaconitine, before agonist treatment, BrdU-positive cells were significantly reduced. As adult mammalian neurons do not typically regenerate or proliferate, these results have implications for reversing vision loss due to neurodegenerative disease or the aging process to improve the quality of life for millions of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A qualitative study using grounded theory methods was conducted to (a) examine what philosophy of technology assumptions are present in the thinking of K-12 technology leaders, (b) investigate how the assumptions may influence technology decision making, and (c) explore whether technological determinist assumptions are present. Subjects involved technology directors and instructional technology specialists from school districts, and data collection involved interviews and a written questionnaire. Three broad philosophy of technology views were widely held by participants, including an instrumental view of technology, technological optimism, and a technological determinist perspective that sees technological change as inevitable. Technology leaders were guided by two main approaches to technology decision making in cognitive dissonance with each other, represented by the categories Educational goals and curriculum should drive technology, and Keep up with Technology (or be left behind). The researcher concluded that as leaders deal with their perceived experience of the inevitability of technological change, and their concern for preparing students for a technological future, the core category Keep up with technology (or be left behind) is given the greater weight in technology decision making. A risk is that this can on occasion mean a quickness to adopt technology for the sake of technology, without aligning the technology implementation with educational goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SARS-CoV-2 has exhibited varying pathogenesis in a variety of Mammalia family's including Canidae , Mustelidae , Hominidae , Cervidae , Hyaenidae , and Felidae. Novel SARS-CoV-2 variants characterized by spike protein mutations have recently resulted in clinical and epidemiological concerns, as they potentially have increased infectious rates, increased transmission, or reduced neutralization by antibodies produced via vaccination. Many variants have been identified at this time, but the variant of continuing concern has been the Delta variant (B.1.617.2), due to its increased transmissibility and infectious rate. Felines vaccinated using an experimental SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-based veterinary vaccine mounted a robust immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Using a reporter virus particle system and feline serum, we have verified that vaccinated felines produce antibodies that neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan strain and variant B.1.617.2 at comparable levels. • Zoetis SARS-CoV-2 vaccine producesneutralizing antibodies against variant B.1.617.2 in cats. • SARS-CoV-2 In Vitro serum neutralization assays a possible signifier of clinical results. • Zoetis SARS-CoV-2 experimentalvaccine provided to mink farms and zoos may produce cross neutralizingantibodies against viral variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ) and the Australia and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons (ANZSCTS) have joined together to provide recommendations for institutions and individual operators to assess their ability to initiate and maintain a transcatheter valve program. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement has been developed as an alternative to traditional surgical replacement of the aortic valve in high risk patients, particularly the frail elderly. The position paper has endorsed the important role of a multi-disciplinary “Heart Team” in selecting patients for TAVI as fundamental to the establishment of a successful program. The paper outlines recommendations for the cardiologist to have a background in structural intervention and the surgeon to have experience in high-risk aortic valve replacement. It is further recommended that TAVI programs be established in high volume cardiac surgical centres where on site valve surgery is performed. The paper is intended to provide guidance to individual operators and prospective institutions considering the establishment of a successful TAVI program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphological variation within the Early Cambrian olenelline trilobiteOlenellus gilbertifrom the Pioche Formation of Nevada is partitioned into ontogenetic, static (non-ontogenetic), and taphonomic components, providing clearer understanding of the nature and sources of the variation. Such understanding is crucial for improved systematic, phylogenetic and evolutionary analyses of early trilobites. Compaction caused a significant change in mean form and an increase in shape variance, distorting many aspects of biological shape and shape variation. Morphologically mature specimens exhibited variation in many quantitative and qualitative aspects of cephalic morphology, in the distribution of prothoracic axial nodes, and in the number of opisthothoracic segments. The variance of two log-transformed size measures does not significantly increase over the first five sampled instars, a pattern interpretable either as the oldest known case of targeted growth in animal history, or as evidence of strong selection during early ontogeny. The magnitude of static cephalic shape variation does not significantly change during late ontogeny, also indicative either of developmental regulation of form or of selection against deviant phenotypes. The dominant structure of cephalic static shape variation is similar to the pattern of shape change during late portions of ontogeny: intraspecific heterochrony might therefore have been an important contributor to size-independent shape variation. For many traits, the developmental system was not well buffered against internal and/or external variation so that the resulting phenotype was not tightly canalized in the condition of those traits. Intraspecific variation in such traits is rarely documented in later (especially post-Cambrian) trilobites, consistent with the claim that developmental systems of early trilobites were relatively poorly canalized. However, other aspects of cephalic growth are consistent with having been under tight developmental regulation, which would not be indicative of general developmental ‘sloppiness’. This cautions against generalizing observations from a limited number of traits to the entire organism. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The world of business is changing rapidly . It is truly global and the speed of change -- driven by the Internet and the amount of data that is being created and analysed to provide new and better services -- is astonishing. Technology is driving disruptive innovation in the ways that business is conducted; the channels, both physical and virtual; and the partners involved in the process. This is having a fundamental effect on the way real estate is used across all sectors -- retail, office, manufacturing, warehousing, and research and development. This paper takes a look at just some of the changes that are occurring, focusing on two areas: the e-commerce world and the impact it is having on warehousing and logistics, and the changing nature of work and the role of the workplace. In both areas, the role of the physical space is becoming more important despite the increasing importance of technology . On the one hand, warehouse design, operation and the supply chain is critical to online retailers (e-tailers), who want to be able to deliver products to consumers at the click of a mouse. On the other hand, businesses are waking up to the fact that the way the workplace is used and managed is critical in enhancing the effectiveness of the organisation in terms of collaboration and attracting talent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modularity of the cranidium of Crassifimbra? metalaspis, a Cambrian ptychoparioid trilobite, is investigated using landmark-based geometric morphometric methods to gain insight into the integration among morphogenetic processes responsible for shaping the head of an ancient arthropod. Of particular interest is the extent to which the structure of phenotypic integration was governed by direct interactions among developmental pathways, because these interactions may generate long-term constraints on evolutionary innovation. A modified two-way ANOVA decomposes cranidial shape variation into components representing symmetric variation among individuals and fluctuating asymmetry (FA). The structure of integration of each of these components is inferred from correlated deviations in shape among nine partitions of the cranidium. Significant correlation among partitions in FA indicates direct interactions among their respective developmental pathways. An a priori hypothesis that modularity was determined by functional association among partitions is not well supported by the among-partition correlation structure for either component of variation. Instead, exploratory analyses reveal that phenotypic integration was strongly influenced by spatially localized morphogenetic controls. Comparison of the structures of the Individuals and FA components of variation reveals that the two share relatively few commonalities: the structure of phenotypic integration was only weakly influenced by direct interactions. The large contribution of parallel variation to phenotypic integration suggests that modularity was unlikely to have imposed a long-term constraint on evolutionary innovation in these early trilobites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment of ontogenetic and geographic variation can have substantial influence on species delimitation and thereby on perceived patterns of species-level morphological variation and diversity in space and time. Here we describe the ontogeny and intraspecific variation of the early Cambrian trilobite, Zacanthopsis palmeri n. sp., based on silicified material from east-central Nevada, USA. Zacanihopsis palineri is the oldest documented Cambrian corynexochine to shift from possessing a fused rostal-hypostomal plate to a functional hypostomal suture in mature specimens during ontogeny. Six geographically distinct samples of mature Z. palmeri from a single silicified limestone bed traceable over tens of kilometers in east-central Nevada permit exploration of geographic variation within this species using geometric morphometric methods. No one sample encompasses all of the shape variation expressed by Z. palmen and several geographically segregated samples show some degree of morphological separation in pairwise comparison. Nonetheless, these samples are not qualitatively or quantitatively different from one another when all samples are taken into account. The degree of variation within Z. palnieri is similar in magnitude to the differences between other species in the genus known from much less material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although used in biostratigraphy and in studies of early Cambrian trilobite evolution, the olenelloid genus Peachella has received little research attention. The ontogenetic and evolutionary origins of its derived features-an effaced cephalon and grossly inflated genal spines-have remained mysterious. Based on examination of new and existing collections, P. iddingsi and P. brevispina are here described in detail, including aspects of their respective ontogenies and the first description of the thorax of P. iddingsi. A new monotypic genus, Eopeachella, is also described from recently collected material from the Delamar Member of the Pioche Formation, Nevada. Eopeachella angustispina n. gen. n. sp., is less derived and stratigraphically older than both Peachella species and bridges the morphological gap between Peachella and typical olenelloids. The study reveals that cephalic effacement was progressively attained during both ontogeny and phylogeny in the Eopeachella + Peachella dade. Comparative ontogeny with other olenelloids reveals that progressive effacement was a trend superimposed upon and independent of a conserved pattern of ontogenetic shape change in the glabella and did not represent a peramorphic "extension" of glabellar ontogeny. Genal spine inflation was also achieved progressively (in a proximal-to-distal direction) through both ontogeny and phylogeny in the Eopecichella + Peachella dade. Genal spine inflation that convergently arose in later trilobite groups may have been similarly ontogenetically dynamic. Discovery of E. angustispina and P. brevispina in the Delamar Member raises olenelloid diversity in this member to at least 20 species; a higher diversity than in any coeval unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The uppermost 43 cm of Dyeran strata at the Ruin Wash Lagerstätte (Chief Range, Lincoln County, Nevada) contain nonmineralized invertebrates and exceptionally preserved, articulated olenelloid trilobites. However, the environmental factors responsible for the preservation of olenelloids in this unusual state at Ruin Wash have received little study and are therefore poorly understood. Microstratigraphic analysis of this interval reveals that the strata, comprised almost exclusively of clay-sized particles and rather monotonous and featureless in outcrop, were deposited as a series of thin event beds interpreted as tempestites. The energy of deposition progressively waned then waxed through the interval, and benthic redox conditions shifted concurrently. Biostratinomic data for more than 500 trilobite specimens encountered in the measured section reveal that the trilobite fauna was autochthonous, although winnowed surfaces rich in bioclasts occurring at the base and top of the section indicate intervals of prolonged pre-burial exposure time and/or in situ reworking. Trilobite biostratinomy was strongly influenced by subtle environmental shifts: the degree of disarticulation and sclerite fracturing correlate positively with event bed energy and inferred bottom-water oxygen content. These results demonstrate that (1) preservation of articulated trilobites is favoured near the distal limit of scouring associated with depositional events, where rapid sedimentation occurs in the absence of substrate reworking; and (2) differential taphonomic overprint on trilobite preservation can occur within a monofacial succession, driven by subtle environmental change insufficient to leave a distinct lithological signature. This highlights the need for careful microstratigraphic, sedimentological, and ichnological analysis prior to comparison of palaeobiological or palaeoecological parameters inferred from fossil assemblages, even when the assemblages occur within the same lithofacies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Patients with cardiovascular disease taking aspirin and some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) appear to have increased vascular events. This study was conducted to compare the ex vivo antiplatelet effects of 6 commonly used NSAIDs and to determine whether these agents antagonize the effect of aspirin. Platelet function was assessed by Platelet Function Analyzer 100 closure time in normal subjects in a randomized, blinded, multiple-crossover study. Platelet function was measured 12 hours after the administration of each NSAID. The NSAID was then given 2 hours before aspirin 300 mg, and platelet function was reassessed 24 hours later. At 12 hours after the administration of naproxen and tiaprofenic acid, closure time was significantly prolonged, whereas the other NSAIDs did not cause significant prolongations. Compared with placebo plus aspirin, closure time was significantly reduced when ibuprofen, indomethacin, naproxen, or tiaprofenic acid was given before aspirin. In conclusion, ibuprofen, indomethacin, naproxen, and tiaprofenic acid all block the antiplatelet effect of aspirin. Sulindac and celecoxib did not demonstrate any significant antiplatelet effect or reduce the antiplatelet of aspirin and, therefore, of the NSAIDs evaluated may be the drugs of choice for patients requiring aspirin and NSAIDs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The cephalon of Nephrolene/lus multinodus and its stratigraphically higher sister-taxon N. geniculatus passed through the same four successive phases of development: entry into phase 2 is defined by a change from a decrease to an increase in the dynamic pattern of distance between the intergenal spine bases relative to cephalic length; entry into phase 3 is defined by the appearance of genal spines; and entry into phase 4 is defined by the effective isolation of glabellar furrow S3 from the axial furrow. Phase transitions were associated with significant changes in allometric growth patterns of the cephalon. Five instars are identified within the early development (phases I and 2) of N. multinodus. Despite the general similarity in cephalic ontogeny, significant interspecific differences in patterns of shape change are documented throughout phases 1,2, and 3 of cephalic development which, with differences in rates of glabellar shape change relative to size (higher in N. mu/f inodus) and ontogenetic loss of glabellar axial nodes (higher in N. geniculatus), demonstrate that evolutionary modification to ontogeny was mosaic and complex. Stratigraphic occurrences and a temporal trend towards increased rate of glabellar axial node loss relative to size in N. geniculatus ase consistent with a hypothesis that N. geniculatus was a direct descendant of N. multinodus. However, ontogenetic data are needed for immediate outgroups of Nephrolenellus to determine whether two potential autapomorphies of N. multinodus, which refute such a hypothesis, are indeed unique to this taxon. Nephrolenellus jasperensis is recognized as a junior synonym of N. multinodus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphological variation within species is a raw material subject to natural selection. However, temporal change in morphological diversity has usually been studied in terms of variation among rather than within species. The distribution of polymorphic traits in cladistic character-taxon matrices reveals that the frequency and extent of morphological variation in 982 trilobite species are greatest early in the evolution of the group: Stratigraphically old and/or phylogenetically basal taxa are significantly more variable than younger and/or more derived taxa. Through its influence on evolutionary tempo, high intraspecific variation may have played a major role in the pronounced Cambrian diversification of trilobites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demonstration that aldosterone synthesis occurs in the myocardium would suggest that the clinical benefits of aldosterone receptor antagonists may extend to patients with normal circulating plasma levels of aldosterone. Previous studies have reported myocardial aldosterone synthesis in patients with heart failure. This study determined whether myocardial aldosterone and angiotensin II release occurs in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) and/or coronary heart disease (CHD) with normal left ventricular ejection fractions and no clinical heart failure. In 19 patients with severe AS and 18 patients with stable CHD, plasma levels of aldosterone, angiotensin II, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), and procollagen type III amino terminal peptide (PIIINP) were measured in blood samples taken from the coronary sinus and aortic root before diagnostic coronary angiography. Plasma aldosterone was approximately 20% greater in the coronary sinus than the aorta, respectively, in the 2 patient groups (AS: 120 vs 102 pmol/L, p <0.001; CHD: 94 vs 77 pmol/L, p <0.001). Plasma angiotensin II was also greater in the coronary sinus (AS: 16 vs 11 pmol/L, p <0.001; CHD: 12 vs 9 pmol/L, p <0.001). Plasma levels of BNP in the coronary sinus were approximately double those in the aorta in the 2 groups of patients (p <0.001). In contrast, there was no transmyocardial gradient in the plasma level of PIIINP for either AS or CHD. In conclusion, these results indicate that aldosterone, angiotensin II, and BNP are released into the coronary sinus in severe AS and in stable CHD, even when the left ventricular ejection fraction is normal and there is no clinical heart failure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

There are limited prospective angiographic data on stent deployment for long coronary lesions. This multicenter prospective study enrolled 120 patients with a single de novo stenosis >20 mm in length, in a native vessel ≥3 mm diameter, suitable for a MultiLink stent 25 to 35 mm in length with additional stent deployment if required. Quantitative angiography before and immediately after stenting and at 6-month follow-up assessed restenosis for the complete lesion and for 5-mm segments of the stented and adjacent nonstented vessel. By 1 year, myocardial infarction had occurred in 3% and target vessel repeat revascularization in 12% of patients. The mean stented length (35.8 ± 14.6 mm) closely matched mean lesion length (30.1 ± 13.5 mm). Restenosis to ≥50% diameter loss occurred in 32% of patients, but to ≥70% in only 8%. Of the 147 segments (5 mm in length) with baseline stenosis <25%, only 3 patients (2%) developed restenosis of ≥50%, and only in 1 of these was it ≥70%. Stenting of long narrowings is associated with good clinical outcome and a low rate of severe restenosis. Mildly diseased segments of long lesions covered by a stent rarely became severely narrowed and had negligible influence on the overall restenosis rate. These data support a strategy of full lesion coverage by stent deployment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents insights on a study which compared the durable-polymer-coated zotarolimus-eluting Resolute Integrity stent and the biodegradable-polymer-coated biolimus-eluting Biomatrix Flex stent. Topics covered include the similarity of the clinical outcome in both drug-eluting stents, the development of stents with thinner strut profiles and the factors affecting outcomes after deployment of drug-eluting stents.

Assesses how compaction has altered the morphology of well-preserved fossils of Cambrian olenelloid trilobites in clastic sediments from their pre-compactional morphology. Hiding of body folds; Controls on compaction; Formation of cracks on trilobite skeletons; Alteration of cephalic shape.

Discusses diabetes mellitus as a major independent risk factor for coronary artery disease. Hyperglycemia and effect of optimum glycemic control; Dryslipidaemia; Hypertension and nephropathy; Platelet and coagulation abnormalities; Smoking and obesity; Acute myocardial infarction; Chronic coronary artery disease; Coronary revascularization; Left-ventricular dysfunction; Conclusions.

The authors discuss various clinical trials on drug-eluting stents. Each clinical trial compared the outcome of zotarolimus-eluting stent, sirolimus-eluting stent and/or paclitaxel-eluting stent in terms of mortality, adverse events and revascularization need. The authors describe the findings of the trials, and relate such findings to each other. They conclude that the trials were able to provide valuable information on the use of drug-eluting stents.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Randomized Trial of Primary PCI With or Without Routine Manual Thrombectomy," by S. S. Jolly and colleagues in the April 9, 2015 issue.

The authors discuss the network meta-analysis which examines the risk of stent thrombosis in the first two years after the deployment of stents. They cite the comparison of the results of using cobalt-chromium everolimus-eluting stents (CoCr-EES) and platinum-chromium EES (PtCr-EES) in treating patients. They also explore the limitations of the meta-analysis and contend that the findings can help those who develop stents with resorbable coatings.

Blunt traumatic aortic rupture is a severe thoracic aortic injury associated with 85-90% mortality occurring before patients arrive at the hospital.1 Among those who survive transportation, 30% die before they can reach the operation theatre and a further 25% of patients die during or after the operation.2 Open surgical repair approaches include the clamp-and-sew technique, left ventricle to the descending aorta shunt or ascending aorta to descending aorta shunt, Gott shunt and surgical repair using left heart bypass with circulatory support and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). GLO:HWR/01jan21:ans16074-fig-0002.jpg PHOTO (COLOR): 2 Digital subtraction angiography showing the aortic arch and the descending thoracic aorta endoluminal stent graft with blood filling of the aortic pseudoaneurysm (arrow) from the left subclavian artery. gl This case illustrates a successful end-to-end repair of traumatic aortic isthmus injury after failed TEVAR using CPB and DHCA. [Extracted from the article]

This article comments on a study in this issue looking at randomised trials that compared sirolimus and paclitaxel drug-eluting stents with each other or with bare-metal stents for late stent thrombosis. The author looks at the information offered and says that drug-eluting stents seem to have delayed and incomplete re-endothelialisation compared to bare-metal stents but the bare-metal stents are prone to increase the risk of restenosis unless supplemented with oral medications.

This article presents a commentary on absorbable coronary stents. The author lays out all the advantages to absorbable stents. He examines a study in this issue that found a temporary scaffolding of coronary arteries with a bioabsorbable, non drug eluting magnesium stent. It is possible that the magnesium stent was absorbed too quickly so the artery was not supported for a long enough time. The author believes there is a future for these stents.

Recent excavations at the site of Vermont's historically important Parker Quarry, long considered worked out where fossils were concerned, have yielded not only spectacular lower Cambrian trilobites but also soft‐bodied animals including the early chordate Emmonsaspis cambrensis and a new multi‐segmented bivalved arthropod Vermontcaris montcalmi. The first radiodont specimen from the locality indicates the presence of one of these apex predators more than 30‐cm long. New discoveries from this Burgess Shale‐type deposit add to our knowledge of the geographical diversity of animals that evolved during the Cambrian explosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical presentation of Takotsubo Syndrome (TS) mimics acute coronary syndrome (ACS). A score to differentiate TS from ACS would be helpful to facilitate appropriate investigation and management. We have previously developed a clinical score (NSTE-Takotsubo Score) to distinguish women with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) from TS with non-ST-segment elevation (NSTE-TS). This study sought to assess the diagnostic validity of this score in an external validation cohort. The external cohort consisted of women with NSTE-TS (n=110) and NSTEMI (n=113) from two major tertiary hospitals in New Zealand. The five variables in the arithmetic score (range -6 to +5) and their relative weights are: T-wave inversion (TWI) in ≥6 leads (3 points), recent stress (2 points), diabetes mellitus (DM) (-1 point), prior cardiovascular disease (CVD) (-2 points) and presence of ST depression (-3 points). Two clinicians blinded to the diagnoses calculated the score using clinical and electrocardiogram (ECG) data on day 1 post-admission. The NSTE-Takotsubo Score discriminated well between NSTE-TS and NSTEMI. The sensitivity and specificity of a score ≥1 to distinguish NSTE-TS from NSTEMI were 78% and 85%, respectively. The area under the receiver operator curve was 0.78 (95% CI 0.72 to 0.84). In an external validation cohort, the NSTE-Takotsubo Score was easy to apply and useful to identify women likely to have NSTE-TS on day 1 post-admission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]