Parenteral antibiotics at home

Giving parenteral antibiotics to patients at home compared to in hospital presents unique challenges

Magma Mixing in the 874 AD Hrafntinnuhraun Rhyolite Eruption

The exposed Icelandic crust contains ~10% rhyolite and ~90% basalt, and there is ample evidence in both recent and ancient rocks of interactions between rhyolitic and basaltic magmas. A spectacular and little-studied example is the c. 874 AD rhyolite eruption of Hrafntinnuhraun at the Torfajökull volcano, where after an initial explosive (Plinian) phase a large rhyolite lava field formed. In this lava field, one vent produced a hybrid lava which is a mechanically mixed blend of approximately 83% rhyolite and 17% basalt. Polarized light microscopy was conducted on a suite of Hrafntinnuhraun samples that include flow-banded rhyolites, vesicular basaltic enclaves, and hybrid lavas. The flow-banded rhyolites are nearly aphyric, containing plagioclase and augite phenocrysts, with minor hornblende and biotite. The enclaves contain abundant plagioclase, augite, and olivine. The hybrid lavas contain plagioclase, augite, and olivine, but also contain minor amounts of biotite and hornblende. To better evaluate the magma mixing process, one hybrid lava sample (83:17 rhyolite:basalt) was analyzed by EPMA. This sample contains mineral cargos belonging to both the rhyolite and basalt end-member magmas. Plagioclase compositions range from An22 to An87, with anorthite-rich grains displaying resorption textures. Of particular interest are olivine crystals derived from the basalt, which contain Fo-rich (~Fo80) interiors and narrow rims (~5- 10µm) with lower Fo content (~Fo70). Follow-up work on diffusion modelling will hopefully yield a timescale, thus providing valuable and new information on mixing processes in the conduit prior to the eruption and cooling of this hybrid lava

Characterization of social behavior in a group of domestic donkeys (Equus asinus)

Although the popularity of domestic donkeys is increasing, the scientific literature on their behavior is still limited. This study investigated the social behavior of a group of 13 donkeys (10 females, 3 geldings, aged 3-13 years) stabled in an Animal Assisted Interventions facility in the North of Italy. Our first aim was to assess the distribution of donkeys’ intraspecific social behaviors during daytime and the second aim was to characterize affiliative and agonistic social interactions during peak activity times. Social behaviors were expressed more between 8 and 9 AM than the rest of daytime, mainly reflecting the expression of affiliative behavior. The latter consisted mostly of proximity (55.0% of all affiliative) and following (29.2%). In most cases affiliative behavior was expressed within preferential dyads, composed of either a mother and her offspring or two adult donkeys. This supports the idea that dyadic relationships are a predominant feature of the social organization of the species. However, dyadic interactions were not observed in the oldest sub-adults, suggesting that social preferences undergo a change around the time donkeys reach full growth. Agonistic behaviors were much less common than affiliative ones. The most expressed agonistic behavior was threat (51%), followed by displacement and bite (both 18.5%). They were less expressed by donkeys who were part of an affiliative pair, suggesting that limited expression of agonistic behavior is associated with an actual change in social preferences, not a mere consequence of fewer occasions of conflict over resources. While the study has limitations, the results provide insight into the social behavior of domestic donkeys which could represent a starting point for further research as well as relevant information for donkeys farming

Neocortical integration of transplanted GABA progenitor cells from wild type and GABA(B) receptor knockout mouse donors.

Most cortical interneurons originate in a region of the embryonic subpallium called the medial ganglionic eminence (MGE). When MGE cells are transplanted into cerebral cortex, these progenitors migrate extensively and differentiate into functional inhibitory neurons. Although MGE progenitors have therapeutic potential following transplantation, it is unknown precisely how these cells distribute within neocortical lamina of the recipient brain. Here we transplanted mouse embryonic day 12.5 MGE progenitors into postnatal neocortex and evaluated laminar distribution of interneuron subtypes using double- and triple-label immunohistochemistry. Studies were performed using wild type (WT) or donor mice lacking a metabotropic GABA(B) receptor subunit (GABA(B1)R KO). MGE-derived neurons from WT and GABA(B1)R KO mice preferentially and densely distributed in neocortical layers 2/3, 5 and 6. As expected, MGE-derived neurons differentiated into parvalbumin+ and somatostatin+ interneurons within these neocortical lamina. Our findings provide insights into the anatomical integration of MGE-derived interneurons following transplantation

Australian state influenza notifications and school holiday closures in 2019 [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]

Background: The impact of school holidays on influenza rates has been sparsely documented in Australia. In 2019, the early winter influenza season coincided with mid-year school breaks, enabling us the unusual opportunity to examine how influenza incidence changed during school holiday closure dates. Methods: The weekly influenza data from five Australian state and one territory health departments for the period of week 19 (mid-May) to week 39 (early October) 2019 were compared to each state’s public-school holiday closure dates. We used segmented regression to model the weekly counts and a negative binomial distribution to account for overdispersion due to autocorrelation. The models’ goodness-of-fit was assessed by plots of observed versus expected counts, plots of residuals versus predicted values, and Pearson’s Chi-square test. The main exposure was the July two-week school holiday period, using a lag of one week. The effect is estimated as a percent change in incidence level, and in slope. Results: School holidays were associated with significant declines in influenza incidence in three states and one territory by between 41% and 65%. Two states did not show evidence of declines although one of those states had already passed its peak by the time of the school holidays. The models showed acceptable goodness-of-fit. The first decline during school holidays is seen in the school aged (5-19 years) population, with the declines in the adult and infant populations being smaller and following a week later. Conclusions: Given the significant and rapid reductions in incidence, these results have important public health implications. Closure or extension of holiday periods could be an emergency option for state governments

Nematode Symbiont for Photorhabdus asymbiotica

Photorhabdus asymbiotica is an emerging bacterial pathogen that causes locally invasive soft tissue and disseminated bacteremic infections in the United States and Australia. Although the source of infection was previously unknown, we report that the bacterium is found in a symbiotic association with an insect-pathogenic soil nematode of the genus Heterorhabditis

Chromosome Duplication in <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i>

The accurate and complete replication of genomic DNA is essential for all life. In eukaryotic cells, the assembly of the multi-enzyme replisomes that perform replication is divided into stages that occur at distinct phases of the cell cycle. Replicative DNA helicases are loaded around origins of DNA replication exclusively during G 1 phase. The loaded helicases are then activated during S phase and associate with the replicative DNA polymerases and other accessory proteins. The function of the resulting replisomes is monitored by checkpoint proteins that protect arrested replisomes and inhibit new initiation when replication is inhibited. The replisome also coordinates nucleosome disassembly, assembly, and the establishment of sister chromatid cohesion. Finally, when two replisomes converge they are disassembled. Studies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae have led the way in our understanding of these processes. Here, we review our increasingly molecular understanding of these events and their regulation. Keywords: DNA replication; cell cycle; chromatin; chromosome duplication; genome stability; YeastBookNational Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant GM-052339