Time sequencing the TRAP-18 indicators

A time sequence analysis is conducted on 125 lone-actor terrorists, most of whom mounted attacks in Europe and North America, utilizing the Terrorist Radicalization Assessment Protocol (TRAP-18), a structured professional judgment instrument with demonstrable interrater reliability and criterion, discriminant, and predictive validity. Both frequency filters (≥3) and coefficient filters (>.50) were applied to the data. Results indicate that virtually all distal characteristics, such as criminal violence, mental disorder, and ideology, preceded the proximal warning behaviors, such as pathway, fixation, identification, leakage, last resort, and directly communicated threats. Indicators that were “gatekeepers” and “turning point events” were also identified (Taylor et al., 2008). The time sequence analysis further validates the model of the TRAP-18 as a risk instrument for the assessment and management of lone-actor terrorist violence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved

Florida’s Multiple Approaches to Addressing Rural Mobility

The State of Florida presents many challenges to public transportation providers due to its diverse development patterns and multiple population segments. While the state is commonly thought of as dense and urbanized, Florida is also significantly influenced by rural communities. Like in other states, rural mobility is especially challenging for some residents due to longer trips, limited and declining infrastructure, and lack of available options and resources. Accessible, affordable, and reliable transportation is a critical component to community inclusion. Having access to community resources is essential to fostering independence and self-sufficiency. This article provides an overview of the mobility challenges faced by rural Floridians as well as some of the programs and approaches that the state has undertaken to address this need. Many of the initiatives highlighted below are Floridian applications of existing federal programs; thus, they can be implemented in any state to address rural residents’ mobility challenges

Understanding the effect of seams on the aerodynamics of an association football

The aerodynamic properties of an association football were measured using a wind tunnel arrangement. A third scale model of a generic football (with seams) was used in addition to a 'mini-football'. As the wind speed was increased, the drag coefficient decreased from 0.5 to 0.2, suggesting a transition from laminar to turbulent behaviour in the boundary layer. For spinning footballs, the Magnus effect was observed and it was found that reverse Magnus effects were possible at low Reynolds numbers. Measurements on spinning smooth spheres found that laminar behaviour led to a high drag coefficient for a large range of Reynolds numbers, and Magnus effects were inconsistent, but generally showed reverse Magnus behaviour at high Reynolds number and spin parameter. Trajectory simulations of free kicks demonstrated that a football that is struck in the centre will follow a near straight trajectory, dipping slightly before reaching the goal, whereas a football that is struck off centre will bend before reaching the goal, but will have a significantly longer flight time. The curving kick simulation was repeated for a smooth ball, which resulted in a longer flight time, due to increased drag, and the ball curving in the opposite direction, due to reverse Magnus effects. The presence of seams was found to encourage turbulent behaviour, resulting in reduced drag and more predictable Magnus behaviour for a conventional football, compared with a smooth ball. © IMechE 2005

Quantifying and contextualizing disinfection byproducts during the Flint Water Crisis: a case study, and framework for broader application

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) and other disinfection byproducts (DBPs) have been a concern in Flint, Michigan, in both delivered water and water from home water heaters. Historical TTHM data and DBP sampling results from Flint were combined with models for predicting hot water TTHMs to assess the probability of certain DBP concentrations. Results were compared with hot and cold water DBPs from a water system in Florida. Flint results were used to estimate cancer risk resulting from chronic exposure to hot water TTHMs, and compared to similar risk assessments in other water systems. Results indicate TTHM concentrations decreased in Flint following a return to water from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, and were very near the mean value for public drinking water systems in the United States. Measurement of other unregulated DBPs also indicated levels within the typical ranges. Monte Carlo simulations coupled with modeling of hot water TTHMs indicated a low probability of TTHMs exceeding 80 μg/L in Flint in 2016. The estimated cancer risk from exposure to TTHMs in Flint is similar to other areas. The methods used in this work can apply broadly to other water systems to de-escalate perceptions of risk following a water crisis

Combination GLP-1 and Insulin Treatment Fails to Alter Myocardial Fuel Selection Versus Insulin Alone in Type 2 Diabetes

Context Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and the clinically available GLP-1 agonists have been shown to exert effects on the heart. It is unclear whether these effects occur at clinically used doses in vivo in humans, possibly contributing to CVD risk reduction. Objective To determine whether liraglutide at clinical dosing augments myocardial glucose uptake alone or in combination with insulin compared to insulin alone in metformin-treated Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Design Comparison of myocardial fuel utilization after 3 months of treatment with insulin detemir, liraglutide, or combination detemir+liraglutide. Setting Academic hospital Participants Type 2 diabetes treated with metformin plus oral agents or basal insulin. Interventions Insulin detemir, liraglutide, or combination added to background metformin Main Outcome Measures Myocardial blood flow, fuel selection and rates of fuel utilization evaluated using positron emission tomography, powered to demonstrate large effects. Results We observed greater myocardial blood flow in the insulin-treated groups (median[25th, 75th percentile]: detemir 0.64[0.50, 0.69], liraglutide 0.52[0.46, 0.58] and detemir+liraglutide 0.75[0.55, 0.77] mL/g/min, p=0.035 comparing 3 groups and p=0.01 comparing detemir groups to liraglutide alone). There were no evident differences between groups in myocardial glucose uptake (detemir 0.040[0.013, 0.049], liraglutide 0.055[0.019, 0.105], detemir+liraglutide 0.037[0.009, 0.046] µmol/g/min, p=0.68 comparing 3 groups). Similarly there were no treatment group differences in measures of myocardial fatty acid uptake or handling, and no differences in total oxidation rate. Conclusions These observations argue against large effects of GLP-1 agonists on myocardial fuel metabolism as mediators of beneficial treatment effects on myocardial function and ischemia protection

Laboratory Assessment of Ferrate for Drinking Water Treatment

A laboratory assessment of ferrate (Fe(VI)) for drinking water treatment was conducted, including batch and continuous flow experiments on natural water samples. In batch experiments, ferrate preoxidation enhanced the removal of ultraviolet light-absorbing compounds (UV254; absorbance at 254 nm) by subsequent coagulation in some water samples, while some samples showed no improvement. Ferrate oxidation was not found to have negative impacts on subsequent coagulation. In continuous flow experiments, ferrate preoxidation improved finished water turbidity, UV254 absorbance, and disinfection by-product formation as compared with no preoxidation and to preoxidation with permanganate. However, improvements were similar in magnitude to those achieved by adding the same mass of ferric iron in place of ferrate prior to a formal coagulation step, in one water study. Particulate iron resulting from Fe(VI) reduction was effectively destabilized and removed via coagulation and filtration. Ferrate may be a viable technology for drinking water treatment depending on raw water quality and treatment goals

Ipsilateral M1 transcranial direct current stimulation increases excitability of the contralateral M1 during an active motor task: Implications for stroke rehabilitation

IntroductionAnodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) of the primary motor cortex (M1) elicits an increase in cortical excitability that outlasts the period of stimulation. However, little is known about effects of a-tDCS on the contralateral M1 during and after ipsilateral M1 stimulation. Therefore, we investigated the changes in corticospinal excitability and inhibition of the left M1 during and after 20min of a-tDCS to the right M1.Material and methodsEight healthy participants received real (2mA) and SHAM a-tDCS to the right M1 randomized across 2 testing sessions. Single- and paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was applied to the left M1 to measure changes motor-evoked potential (MEP) amplitude from the right extensor carpi radialis (ECR) at 130% of resting and active motor threshold, cortical silent period (CSP) and short-interval cortical inhibition (SICI). Active motor threshold was measured during a wrist extension contraction that was less than 5% of maximal electromyographic activation of the ECR. TMS measurements were recorded at baseline, every 5min for 20min during and 10min after a-tDCS.ResultsThe results showed a significant (P<0.05) increase in left M1 MEP amplitude and reduction in CSP duration during (10 and 15min) and after (immediately and 10min post) a-tDCS to the right M1, only during the active motor task. A significant reduction (P<0.05) in SICI during the active task was also found immediately and 10min post a-tDCS. No significant changes in MEP amplitude, CSP and SICI were observed in the resting or active task during SHAM tDCS.DiscussionThe increase in left M1 MEP amplitude and reduction in CSP and SICI during and after 20min of right M1 a-tDCS is most likely to be attributed to a reduction in interhemispheric inhibition that is modulated by a-tDCS during the performance of an active task. Our findings may have significant implications for stroke rehabilitation whereby the application of a-tDCS on the contralesional M1 during neurorehabilitation of the paretic limb may be beneficial for inducing neuroplasticity of the ipsilesional M1 to improve motor function

Comparison of ferrate and ozone pre-oxidation on disinfection byproduct formation from chlorination and chloramination

This study investigated the effects of ferrate and ozone pre-oxidation on disinfection byproduct (DBP) formation from subsequent chlorination or chloramination. Two natural waters were treated at bench-scale under various scenarios (chlorine, chloramine, each with ferrate pre-oxidation, and each with pre-ozonation). The formation of brominated and iodinated DBPs in fortified natural waters was assessed. Results indicated ferrate and ozone pre-oxidation were comparable at molar equivalent doses for most DBPs. A net decrease in trihalomethanes (including iodinated forms), haloacetic acids (HAAs), dihaloacetonitrile, total organic chlorine, and total organic iodine was found with both pre-oxidants as compared to chlorination only. An increase in chloropicrin and minor changes in total organic bromine yield were caused by both pre-oxidants compared to chlorination only. However, ozone led to higher haloketone and chloropicrin formation potentials than ferrate. The relative performance of ferrate versus ozone for DBP precursor removal was affected by water quality (e.g., nature of organic matter and bromide concentration) and oxidant dose, and varied by DBP species. Ferrate and ozone pre-oxidation also decreased DBP formation from chloramination under most conditions. However, some increases in THM and dihaloacetonitrile formation potentials were observed at elevated bromide levels

Hydrophilic polymer embolism identified in brain tumor specimens following Wada testing: A report of 2 cases

Hydrophilic polymers are commonly used as coatings on intravascular medical devices. As intravascular pro-cedures continue to increase in frequency, the risk of embolization of this material throughout the body has become evident. These emboli may be discovered incidentally but can result in serious complications includ-ing death. Here, we report the first two cases of hydrophilic polymer embolism (HPE) identified on brain tu-mor resection following Wada testing. One patient experienced multifocal vascular complications and diffuse cerebral edema, while the other had an uneventful postoperative course. Wada testing is frequently per-formed during preoperative planning prior to epilepsy surgery or the resection of tumors in eloquent brain regions. These cases demonstrate the need for increased recognition of this histologic finding to enable fur-ther correlation with clinical outcomes