A review of wildland fire spread modelling, 1990-present, 1: Physical and quasi-physical models

In recent years, advances in computational power and spatial data analysis (GIS, remote sensing, etc) have led to an increase in attempts to model the spread and behaviour of wildland fires across the landscape. This series of review papers endeavours to critically and comprehensively review all types of surface fire spread models developed since 1990. This paper reviews models of a physical or quasi-physical nature. These models are based on the fundamental chemistry and/or physics of combustion and fire spread. Other papers in the series review models of an empirical or quasi-empirical nature, and mathematical analogues and simulation models. Many models are extensions or refinements of models developed before 1990. Where this is the case, these models are also discussed but much less comprehensively.Comment: 31 pages + 8 pages references + 2 figures + 5 tables. Submitted to International Journal of Wildland Fir

Posterior subhyaloid precipitates in cytomegalovirus retinitis

This study aims to report a novel finding of posterior subhyaloid precipitates (PSPs) in two patients with cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis. A small case series was conducted. Clinical findings, treatment, and follow-up of two patients with CMV and PSPs are presented. Inflammatory precipitates may collect in the posterior subhyaloid space in acute CMV retinitis and resolve with treatment

Risk Factors for Endophthalmitis and Retinal Detachment with Retained Intraocular Foreign Bodies

Purpose. To analyze risk factors for endophthalmitis and retinal detachment (RD) in patients with retained intraocular foreign bodies (IOFBs). Design. A retrospective, interventional, consecutive case series. Participants. All patients treated at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute for traumatic IOFBs between 1999 and 2008. Methods. Analysis of visual outcome, mechanism of injury, management, and postoperative course. Results. 108 eyes with IOFBs were identified. Endophthalmitis occurred in 7 eyes (6.4%) at presentation, and risk was higher with vegetable matter exposure (P = 0.003). All eyes with posterior segment IOFBs received intravitreal antibiotics and there were no cases of endophthalmitis after initial management. RD was identified in 6 of 108 eyes (5.5%) at presentation. Risk factors were entry more than 5 mm behind the limbus (P < 0.001) and posterior segment IOFB (P = 0.028). Postoperative RD occurred in 11 of 102 eyes (10.7%). Risk factors for postoperative RD were preoperative endophthalmitis (P = 0.001), posterior segment IOFB (P = 0.008), and retinal impact sites (P = 0.028). Conclusions. Risk factors for endophthalmitis included vegetable matter exposure and delay to initial management. Risk factors for RD were posterior entry site, posterior segment IOFB, endophthalmitis, and retinal impact sites. No eyes developed endophthalmitis after presentation

Sustained-Release Corticosteroid Options

Sustained-release corticosteroid treatment has shown to be a promising strategy for macular edema due to retinovascular disease (i.e., diabetes and retinal vein occlusion) and for the treatment of noninfectious posterior uveitis. Clinicians now have the option of three sustained-release corticosteroid implants: Ozurdex (Allergan Inc., Irvine, CA) which releases dexamethasone and two devices that release fluocinolone acetonide, Retisert (Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, NY), and Iluvien (Alimera Science, Alpharetta, GA). Each has different physical characteristics and duration effect and has been approved for different indications. Herein we provide a summary of the current clinical knowledge regarding these implants

Warming alters plankton body-size distributions in a large field experiment

The threat of climate change has renewed interest in the responses of communities and ecosystems to warming, with changes in size spectra expected to signify fundamental shifts in the structure and dynamics of these multispecies systems. While substantial empirical evidence has accumulated in recent years on such changes, we still lack general insights due to a limited coverage of warming scenarios that span spatial and temporal scales of relevance to natural systems. We addressed this gap by conducting an extensive freshwater mesocosm experiment across 36 large field mesocosms exposed to intergenerational warming treatments of up to +8 °C above ambient levels. We found a nonlinear decrease in the overall mean body size of zooplankton with warming, with a 57% reduction at +8 °C. This pattern was broadly consistent over two tested seasons and major taxonomic groups. We also detected some breakpoints in the community-level size-temperature relationship, indicating that the system’s response shifts noticeably above a certain level of warming. These results underscore the need to capture intergenerational responses to large gradients in warming at appropriate scales in time and space in order to better understand the effects of warming on natural communities and ecosystems

Contribution of Genetic Background, Traditional Risk Factors, and HIV-Related Factors to Coronary Artery Disease Events in HIV-Positive Persons

We show in human immunodeficiency virus-positive persons that the coronary artery disease effect of an unfavorable genetic background is comparable to previous studies in the general population, and comparable in size to traditional risk factors and antiretroviral regimens known to increase cardiovascular ris

Viral to metazoan marine plankton nucleotide sequences from the Tara Oceans expedition

A unique collection of oceanic samples was gathered by the Tara Oceans expeditions (2009-2013), targeting plankton organisms ranging from viruses to metazoans, and providing rich environmental context measurements. Thanks to recent advances in the field of genomics, extensive sequencing has been performed for a deep genomic analysis of this huge collection of samples. A strategy based on different approaches, such as metabarcoding, metagenomics, single-cell genomics and metatranscriptomics, has been chosen for analysis of size-fractionated plankton communities. Here, we provide detailed procedures applied for genomic data generation, from nucleic acids extraction to sequence production, and we describe registries of genomics datasets available at the European Nucleotide Archive (ENA, www.ebi.ac.uk/ena). The association of these metadata to the experimental procedures applied for their generation will help the scientific community to access these data and facilitate their analysis. This paper complements other efforts to provide a full description of experiments and open science resources generated from the Tara Oceans project, further extending their value for the study of the world's planktonic ecosystems

Monitoring Delayed Toxoplasmosis-Related Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion Using Widefield en face Optical Coherence Tomography and Multimodal Imaging

Ocular toxoplasmosis has a known, rare association with acute retinal artery occlusion (RAO). We describe a 21-year-old male who presented with acute focal toxoplasmosis chorioretinitis in the right eye treated with intravitreal clindamycin, intravitreal dexamethasone, and adjunct oral therapy for vision-threatening retinitis with subsequent quiescence. Nine months from his initial presentation, the patient presented with a branch RAO adjacent to an inactive retinal scar in the right eye. Widefield en face structural swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) centered on the middle retina showed paracentral acute middle maculopathy (PAMM) in an arteriolar distribution. The patient was started on 81 mg of aspirin daily. Six months later, the en face structural SS-OCT and corresponding B-scans showed resolution of PAMM. Along with a review of the literature on toxoplasmosis-related RAOs, we present the first case of delayed-onset RAO in ocular toxoplasmosis

The interplay among nonsuicidal self-injury, depression, loneliness, resilience, and family relationships in youth: A path analysis

Background: Recent research has increasingly highlighted the complex interplay among depression, loneliness, and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Resilience and family relationships have emerged as potential protective factors in mitigating these mental health challenges. Methods: This study investigated the associations among depression, loneliness, NSSI, resilience, and family relationships in a sample of 7146 Italian high school and university students. Participants completed a multidimensional online survey featuring standardized instruments to assess depressive symptoms, loneliness and resilience. Spearman correlations and path analysis were employed to examine the interrelationships among these variables. Results: A substantial proportion of participants reported clinically significant depressive symptoms (42.8 %) and NSSI behaviours (28.4 %). Path analysis revealed a strong positive effect of depressive symptoms on both loneliness and NSSI, alongside a pronounced negative effect on satisfaction with family relationships and resilience. Loneliness significantly reduced satisfaction with family relationships and resilience, while the impact on NSSI was significant, but minimal. Family relationships exhibited a significant but modest negative effect on NSSI behaviours. Limitations: The generalizability of the sample and the potential biases inherent in self-report measures are addressed. Conclusions: This study highlights the intricate interplay between depressive symptoms, loneliness, NSSI, resilience, and family relationships in a large sample of Italian adolescents and young adults. The findings emphasize the need for comprehensive interventions targeting these factors to enhance mental health and well-being

A Case Study of Zoonotic <i>Chlamydia abortus</i> Infection: Diagnostic Challenges From Clinical and Microbiological Perspectives

Chlamydia abortus is the most common causative agent of abortion in small ruminants, but it is poorly recognized as a human pathogen. In most published case studies, diagnosis remained difficult and often resulted in delayed initiation of therapy. In this case study of severe C abortus infection in a pregnant farmer from Switzerland, we highlight the clinical and microbiological diagnostic challenges and provide evidence of a zoonotic epidemiological link