Internet information on birth options after caesarean compared to the RCOG patient information leaflet : a web survey

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Qualitative website analysis of information on birth after caesarean section

Date of Acceptance: 10/08/2015 © 2015 Peddie et al.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Estimation of Critical Torque Using Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation of the Quadriceps in Humans

Critical torque (CT) is an integrative measure/concept that represents the “critical” or upper boundary of steady-state work that can be performed without leading to exhaustive fatigue. While this concept has been observed across multiple voluntary exercise modalities, it has not been tested using neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES). PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to 1) observe if an electrically stimulated exercise protocol in the quadriceps results in a hyperbolic power-duration pattern seen in voluntary contractions, and 2) determine if the decline in torque production over time during electrically stimulated exercise occurred due to similar mechanism(s) as the decline in torque during voluntary exercise. METHODS: Participants (Men = 6, Women = 8) completed 2 familiarizations and 3 testing visits. Voluntary CT (VOL) and involuntary end-test torque (ETT) were assessed at several frequencies including 100 Hz, an intermediate frequency (Intermediate; 15-30 Hz) and a frequency that elicited a torque below the ETT of 100 Hz (Below; <15 Hz). Twitch torque (TT), low frequency fatigue (LFF), M-wave amplitude, and lactate were measured during each exercise protocol, and %ACT was assessed during the VOL test. RESULTS: ETT was calculated as the mean peak of the last 7 contractions for the stimulated exercises. Mean and relative ETT was significantly different from starting torque for each of the 100 Hz and Intermediate (15-30 Hz) protocols (p ≤ 0.002), but ETT was not significantly different across protocols (p ≥ 0.127). ETT of the Below protocol did not change from starting (p ≥ 0.558), and ETT was significantly lower than any of the other stimulated protocols (p ≤ 0.035).VOL TT declined approximately 60% from starting TT (p ≤ 0.014). TT declined about 50-60% during the 100 Hz protocols (p ≤ 0.018). Except for transient increases in the middle of the protocol, there were no changes in TT for the Below protocol (p ≥ 0.052).VOL LFF ratio was significantly reduced from pre exercise measures at all post exercise time points (p ≤ 0.004). There was acute high frequency fatigue immediately after all of the stimulated protocols (p ≤ 0.040). M-wave amplitude decreased about 10% from pre to immediately post (IP) for the 100 Hz protocols (p ≤ 0.027). There were no changes in M-wave amplitude for VOL, Intermediate, and Below protocols (p ≥ 0.19). Lactate levels during VOL were significantly higher than of all of the stimulated protocols IP and 3-min post (3P) exercise (p ≤ 0.001). The 100 Hz protocols were significantly higher than the Below protocol at both IP and 3P measures (p ≤ 0.018). The 100 Hz protocols were not significantly different from the Intermediate protocol at IP (p ≥ 0.59), but D2 was significantly higher than Intermediate at 3P (p = 0.044), while D1 was not (p = 0.598). Lactate during IF was not significantly higher than Below at IP (p = 0.234), but was higher at 3P (p = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: Despite differences in fatigue mechanisms, NMES exercise at 100 Hz and at intermediate frequencies declined to a similar torque value, while exercise under ETT showed no declines in torque. These findings suggest that the observed threshold during NMES exercise is CT

Visualizing volcanic ash forecasts: scientist and stakeholder decisions using different graphical representations and conflicting forecasts

During volcanic eruptions, Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres issue ash advisories for aviation showing the forecasted outermost extent of the ash cloud. During the 2010 Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull eruption, the UK Met Office produced supplementary forecasts of quantitative ash concentration, due to demand from airlines. Additionally, satellite retrievals of estimated volcanic ash concentration are now available. To test how these additional graphical representations of volcanic ash affect flight decisions, whether users infer uncertainty in graphical forecasts of volcanic ash, and how decisions are made when given conflicting forecasts, a survey was conducted of 25 delegates representing UK research and airline operations dealing with volcanic ash. Respondents were more risk-seeking with safer flight paths and risk-averse with riskier flight paths when given location and concentration forecasts compared to when given only the outermost extent of the ash. Respondents representing operations were more risk-seeking than respondents representing research. Additionally, most respondents' hand-drawn no-fly zones were larger than the areas of unsafe ash concentrations in the forecasts. This conservatism implies that respondents inferred uncertainty from the volcanic ash concentration forecasts. When given conflicting forecasts, respondents became more conservative than when given a single forecast. The respondents were also more risk-seeking with high-risk flight paths and more risk-averse with low-risk flight paths when given conflicting forecasts than when given a single forecast. The results show that concentration forecasts seem to reduce flight cancellations while maintaining safety. Open discussion with the respondents suggested that definitions of "uncertainty" may differ between research and operations

The impact of mitigation measures on perinatal outcomes during the first nine months of the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review with meta-analysis

Acknowledgements Thank you to the authors who provided additional primary data for use in this meta-analysis.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Cascadia Rising: Cascadia Subduction Zone Catastrophic Earthquake and Tsunami Functional Excercise Scenario Document

A large magnitude Cascadia Subduction Zone fault earthquake and tsunami is perhaps one of the most complex disaster scenarios that we face as emergency management and public safety officials in the Pacific Northwest. Due to this complexity, life-saving and life-sustaining response operations will hinge on the effective coordination and integration of governments at all levels – cities, counties, state agencies, federal departments, the military, and tribal nations – as well as non-governmental organizations and the private sector. It is this joint-operational whole community approach that we seek to enhance and test during the Cascading Rising exercise

South Georgia blue whales five decades after the end of whaling

Blue whales Balaenoptera musculus at South Georgia were heavily exploited during 20th century industrial whaling, to the point of local near-extirpation. Although legal whaling for blue whales ceased in the 1960s, and there were indications of blue whale recovery across the wider Southern Ocean area, blue whales were seldom seen in South Georgia waters in subsequent years. We collated 30 yr of data comprising opportunistic sightings, systematic visual and acoustic surveys and photo-identification to assess the current distribution of blue whales in the waters surrounding South Georgia. Over 34000 km of systematic survey data between 1998 and 2018 resulted in only a single blue whale sighting, although opportunistic sightings were reported over that time period. However, since 2018 there have been increases in both sightings of blue whales and detections of their vocalisations. A survey in 2020 comprising visual line transect surveys and directional frequency analysis and recording (DIFAR) sonobuoy deployments resulted in 58 blue whale sightings from 2430 km of visual effort, including the photo-identification of 23 individual blue whales. Blue whale vocalisations were detected on all 31 sonobuoys deployed (114 h). In total, 41 blue whales were photo-identified from South Georgia between 2011 and 2020, none of which matched the 517 whales in the current Antarctic catalogue. These recent data suggest that blue whales have started to return to South Georgia waters, but continued visual and acoustic surveys are required to monitor any future changes in their distribution and abundance

Ontario Neurodegenerative Disease Research Initiative (ONDRI): Structural MRI Methods and Outcome Measures

The Ontario Neurodegenerative Research Initiative (ONDRI) is a 3 years multi-site prospective cohort study that has acquired comprehensive multiple assessment platform data, including 3T structural MRI, from neurodegenerative patients with Alzheimer\u27s disease, mild cognitive impairment, Parkinson\u27s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia, and cerebrovascular disease. This heterogeneous cross-section of patients with complex neurodegenerative and neurovascular pathologies pose significant challenges for standard neuroimaging tools. To effectively quantify regional measures of normal and pathological brain tissue volumes, the ONDRI neuroimaging platform implemented a semi-automated MRI processing pipeline that was able to address many of the challenges resulting from this heterogeneity. The purpose of this paper is to serve as a reference and conceptual overview of the comprehensive neuroimaging pipeline used to generate regional brain tissue volumes and neurovascular marker data that will be made publicly available online

Support report mapping sustainable fashion opportunities for SMEs

The report maps the current initiatives and key organisations in sustainable fashion and textiles across Europe. It also provides an overview of opportunities and challenges in adopting environmentally and economically sustainable business models in the fashion sector. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make up the majority of businesses in the fashion sector. Therefore, they are recognised as key agents of change. With the right support, they can lead the transition towards a more sustainable fashion industry. Corporate authors: Centre for Sustainable Fashion, Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (European Commission), Institut Français de la Mode, London College of Fashion, Middlesex University, Politecnico di Milano, University of the Arts Londo