Transdisciplinary unifying implications of circadian findings in the 1950s

A few puzzles relating to a small fraction of my endeavors in the 1950s are summarized herein, with answers to a few questions of the Editor-in-Chief, to suggest that the rules of variability in time complement the rules of genetics as a biological variability in space. I advocate to replace truisms such as a relative constancy or homeostasis, that have served bioscience very well for very long. They were never intended, however, to lower a curtain of ignorance over everyday physiology. In raising these curtains, we unveil a range of dynamics, resolvable in the data collection and as-one-goes analysis by computers built into smaller and smaller devices, for a continued self-surveillance of the normal and for an individualized detection of the abnormal. The current medical art based on spotchecks interpreted by reference to a time-unqualified normal range can become a science of time series with tests relating to the individual in inferential statistical terms. This is already doable for the case of blood pressure, but eventually should become possible for many other variables interpreted today only based on the quicksand of clinical trials on groups. These ignore individual differences and hence the individual's needs. Chronomics (mapping time structures) with the major aim of quantifying normalcy by dynamic reference values for detecting earliest risk elevation, also yields the dividend of allowing molecular biology to focus on the normal as well as on the grossly abnormal

Aerospace medicine and biology: A continuing bibliography with indexes (supplement 369)

This bibliography lists 209 reports, articles and other documents introduced into the NASA Scientific and Technical Information System during Nov. 1992. Subject coverage includes: aerospace medicine and physiology, life support systems and man/system technology, protective clothing, exobiology and extraterrestrial life, planetary biology, and flight crew behavior and performance

Aerospace Medicine and Biology: A cumulative index to the 1981 issues

The aeromedical research reported considers the safety of the human component in manned space flight. The effects of spacecraft environment, radiation and weightlessness on human biological and psychological processes are covered

Effects of circadian rhythm phase alteration on physiological and psychological variables: Implications to pilot performance (including a partially annotated bibliography)

The effects of environmental synchronizers upon circadian rhythmic stability in man and the deleterious alterations in performance and which result from changes in this stability are points of interest in a review of selected literature published between 1972 and 1980. A total of 2,084 references relevant to pilot performance and circadian phase alteration are cited and arranged in the following categories: (1) human performance, with focus on the effects of sleep loss or disturbance and fatigue; (2) phase shift in which ground based light/dark alteration and transmeridian flight studies are discussed; (3) shiftwork; (4)internal desynchronization which includes the effect of evironmental factors on rhythmic stability, and of rhythm disturbances on sleep and psychopathology; (5) chronotherapy, the application of methods to ameliorate desynchronization symptomatology; and (6) biorythm theory, in which the birthdate based biorythm method for predicting aircraft accident susceptability is critically analyzed. Annotations are provided for most citations

Interdisciplinary cardiovascular health research: quantitative methods, heliogeophysical influence, demographics, and spatial trends

The study of cardiovascular health involves myriad scientific disciplines associated with diverse factors that contribute to health which further necessitates interdisciplinary endeavors. The current series of studies concern cardiovascular health from multiple interdisciplinary perspectives including biomedical signal processing, heliobiology, and public health, with a particular focus on quantitative methods throughout. The first study examined heart rate variability (HRV) derived from healthy and arrhythmia human electrocardiograph records. Data processed using wavelet entropy was quantitatively novel compared to traditional indices of HRV and also demonstrated significant accuracy for prediction and classification of arrhythmia. Next, heliobiological perspectives of cardiovascular physiology were examined beginning with experimental verification of previous correlational results. Artificially simulated geomagnetic impulses were associated with significant increases in participant HRV, particularly for frequency-based components. An additional pilot case study demonstrated similar effects for natural geomagnetic storms, while a nonlinear relationship was observed overall for HRV and geomagnetic activity. National data regarding mortalities due to hypertensive diseases in Canada from 1979 to 2009 were aggregated and investigated for periodic components and relationships with space weather parameters. Time-lagged linear correlations were observed along with conspicuously overlapping temporal trends, for which geomagnetic activity and solar wind pressures were identified as central sources of variance. Finally, three ecological cross-sectional studies investigated sub-provincial cardiovascular concerns across Canada at the health region level with emphasis on demography and spatial statistics. Hospitalizations due to myocardial infarction demonstrated significant relationships with socioeconomic and behavioral factors as well as significant geospatial clustering of high rates in Northern Ontario and Quebec. Aggregate rates of self-reported hypertension were similarly related to income and demographics with spatial results demonstrating high rates clustered in the North Atlantic, particularly Newfoundland. Furthermore, analyses for hypertension specifically among older adult Canadians (≥ 65 years of age) suggested that education was the strongest contributor at the health region level and there were no significant spatial relationships, in contrast to age-standardized rates. Various implications and other relevant associations are discussed throughout.Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Human Studie

Salt intake and iodine status around the world

Background: Salt reduction and universal salt iodisation programmes are implemented worldwide to prevent cardiovascular disease and iodine deficiency disorders, respectively. Concerns have been raised regarding the potential policy conflicts, and a programme coalition is proposed by the World Health Organization to optimise salt and iodine intakes at population level. This study aimed 1) to estimate population salt intake and iodine status in index countries; 2) to investigate the association between salt and iodine intakes; 3) to assess the impact of salt intake modification on iodine status; 4) to estimate the determinants of and potential geographical variation in salt and iodine intakes where data are available; and 5) to provide suggestions to policy makers. Data and Methods: In the ecological analysis, national estimations of salt and iodine intakes were extracted from international organisation databases and published papers. Three case studies used population level data obtained from the Kumasi Salt Reduction Study in Ghana, the Third United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) and the 2000-01 UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey 19-64 years (NDNS). Linear regression was used in the Kumasi analysis, and Bayesian geo-additive models were used in the other two analyses by accounting for the spatial effect and important linear and nonlinear risk factors. Results: Salt intake varied between countries, with Kumasi lower than the western countries. Iodine status also varied by country, but with no consistent association with salt intake. A moderate salt reduction programme is unlikely to have a major impact on iodine status in countries committed to universal salt iodisation, provided that iodine concentration is titrated to actual salt intake, maximum coverage is achieved as in China and iodised salt becomes part of food processing. At least in Britain, high salt intake is associated with low socioeconomic status, irrespective of geographic location. Conclusions: Policy-makers may therefore need to adjust iodine content in salt in accordance with each country’s context. The Bayesian geo-additive models are useful for monitoring and evaluating salt reduction and iodine supplementation

Covipendium : information available to support the development of medical countermeasures and interventions against COVID-19

The living paper on the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) provides a structured compilation of scientific data about the virus, the disease and its control. Its objective is to help scientists identify the most relevant publications on COVID-19 in the mass of information that appears every day. It is also expected to foster a global understanding of disease control and stimulate transdisciplinary initiatives

Life Sciences Program Tasks and Bibliography

This document includes information on all peer reviewed projects funded by the Office of Life and Microgravity Sciences and Applications, Life Sciences Division during fiscal year 1995. Additionally, this inaugural edition of the Task Book includes information for FY 1994 programs. This document will be published annually and made available to scientists in the space life sciences field both as a hard copy and as an interactive Internet web pag

Life Sciences Program Tasks and Bibliography for FY 1997

This document includes information on all peer reviewed projects funded by the Office of Life and Microgravity Sciences and Applications, Life Sciences Division during fiscal year 1997. This document will be published annually and made available to scientists in the space life sciences field both as a hard copy and as an interactive internet web page

Life Sciences Program Tasks and Bibliography for FY 1996

This document includes information on all peer reviewed projects funded by the Office of Life and Microgravity Sciences and Applications, Life Sciences Division during fiscal year 1996. This document will be published annually and made available to scientists in the space life sciences field both as a hard copy and as an interactive Internet web page