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Five of 16 patients who had uncomplicated cataract extraction with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation within a 2.5 day period experienced increased anterior segment inflammation on their first postoperative day. Four of these five patients had phacoemulsification and one a planned extracapsular cataract extraction. All had posterior chamber IOL implantation in the capsular bag. In all patients, this anterior segment inflammation cleared with topical steroids over two to three weeks with no evident residual ocular effects. A careful search for the possible cause of the inflammation showed that the ultrasonic cleaning bath and Weck liquid detergent used to clean the instruments contained Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria. Further investigation demonstrated the presence of a heat-stable endotoxin produced by the bacteria. We postulate that endotoxin remaining on the instruments after cleaning and sterilization caused this postoperative anterior segment inflammation. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first reported cases caused by contaminated liquid detergent.

Cognitive radio (CR) has the potential for resolving the spectrum scarcity issue in wireless communications. A CR device can establish unharmful links in the spectrum of the legacy system. Among many enabling functions for CR, spectrum handoff can restore CR's connection when the primary user appears in the occupied channel. In this paper, we study three types of spectrum handoff for the link maintenance: (1) nonspectrum handoff method, (2) the pre-determined channel list spectrum handoff, and (3) the spectrum handoff based on radio sensing scheme. We examine the performances of the three mechanisms in terms of the link maintenance probability and the effective data rate of the secondary user's transmission. Our numerical results show that erroneous channel selection probability, radio sensing time and the number of handoff trials are important for spectrum handoff schemes. We also provide the design guideline for these parameters .

Grassland loss has been extensive worldwide, endangering the associated biodiversity and human well-being that are both dependent on these ecosystems. Ecologists have developed approaches to restore grassland communities and many have been successful, particularly where soils are rich, precipitation is abundant, and seeds of native plant species can be obtained. However, climate change adds a new filter needed in planning grassland restoration efforts. Potential responses of species to future climate conditions must also be considered in planning for long-term resilience. We demonstrate this methodology using a site-specific model and a maximum entropy approach to predict changes in habitat suitability for 33 grassland plant species in the tallgrass prairie region of the U.S. using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change scenarios A1B and A2. The A1B scenario predicts an increase in temperature from 1.4 to 6.4°C, whereas the A2 scenario predicts temperature increases from 2 to 5.4°C and much greater CO2 emissions than the A1B scenario. Both scenarios predict these changes to occur by the year 2100. Model projections for 2040 under the A1B scenario predict that all but three modeled species will lose ~90% of their suitable habitat. Then by 2080, all species except for one will lose ~90% of their suitable habitat. Models run using the A2 scenario predict declines in habitat for just four species by 2040, but models predict that by 2080, habitat suitability will decline for all species. The A2 scenario appears based on our results to be the less severe climate change scenario for our species. Our results demonstrate that many common species, including grasses, forbs, and shrubs, are sensitive to climate change. Thus, grassland restoration alternatives should be evaluated based upon the long-term viability in the context of climate change projections and risk of plant species loss.

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Coastal birds are critical ecosystem constituents on sandy shores, yet are threatened by depressed reproductive success resulting from direct and indirect anthropogenic and natural pressures. Few studies examine clutch fate across the wide range of environments experienced by birds; instead, most focus at the small site scale. We examine survival of model shorebird clutches as an index of true clutch survival at a regional scale (~ 200 km), encompassing a variety of geomorphologies, predator communities, and human use regimes in southeast Queensland, Australia. Of the 132 model nests deployed and monitored with cameras, 45 (34%) survived the experimental exposure period. Thirty-five (27%) were lost to flooding, 32 (24%) were depredated, 9 (7%) buried by sand, 7 (5%) destroyed by people, 3 (2%) failed by unknown causes, and 1 (0.1%) was destroyed by a dog. Clutch fate differed substantially among regions, particularly with respect to losses from flooding and predation. 'Topographic' exposure was the main driver of mortality of nests placed close to the drift line near the base of dunes, which were lost to waves (particularly during storms) and to a lesser extent depredation. Predators determined the fate of clutches not lost to waves, with the depredation probability largely influenced by region. Depredation probability declined as nests were backed by higher dunes and were placed closer to vegetation. This study emphasizes the scale at which clutch fate and survival varies within a regional context, the prominence of corvids as egg predators, the significant role of flooding as a source of nest loss, and the multiple trade-offs faced by beach-nesting birds and those that manage them. 41 (24%) were depredated, 9 (7%) buried by sand, 7 (5%) destroyed by people, 3 (2%) failed by 42 unknown causes, and 1 (0.1%) was destroyed by a dog. Clutch fate differed substantially among 43 regions, particularly with respect to losses from flooding and predation. 'Topographic' exposure 44 was the main driver of mortality of nests placed close to the drift line near the base of dunes, 45 which were lost to waves (particularly during storms) and to a lesser extent depredation.46 Predators determined the fate of clutches not lost to waves, with the depredation probability 47 largely influenced by region. Depredation probability declined as nests were backed by higher 48 dunes and were placed closer to vegetation. This study emphasizes the scale at which clutch fate 49 and survival varies within a regional context, the prominence of corvids as egg predators, the 50 significant role of flooding as a source of nest loss, and the multiple trade-offs faced by beach-51 nesting birds and those that manage them. 5253 Several iconic, threatened species of the world's coastlines nest on ocean-exposed sandy shores 54 (e.g., turtles, birds) and are thought to use nest-site selection to increase clutch success, hatchling 55 survival, and ultimately fitness (Refsnider & Janzen 2010; Spencer 2002). Sandy shores include 56 distinct habitat types ...