The spin-temperature dependence of the 21-cm-LAE cross-correlation

Cross-correlating 21 cm with known cosmic signals will be invaluable proof of the cosmic origin of the first 21-cm detections. As some of the widest fields available, comprising thousands of sources with reasonably known redshifts, narrow-band Lyman-α emitter (LAE) surveys are an obvious choice for such cross-correlation. Here, we revisit the 21-cm-LAE cross-correlation, relaxing the common assumption of reionization occurring in a pre-heated intergalactic medium (IGM). Using specifications from the Square Kilometre Array and the Subaru Hyper Supreme-Cam, we present new forecasts of the 21-cm-LAE cross-correlation function at z ∼7. We sample a broad parameter space of the mean IGM neutral fraction and spin temperature, (arx-H small I,arT-S). The sign of the cross-correlation roughly follows the sign of the 21-cm signal: Ionized regions that surround LAEs correspond to relative hot spots in the 21-cm signal when the neutral IGM is colder than the CMB, and relative cold spots when the neutral IGM is hotter than the CMB. The amplitude of the cross-correlation function generally increases with increasingarx-H small I, following the increasing bias of the cosmic H ii regions. As is the case for 21 cm, the strongest cross signal occurs when the IGM is colder than the CMB, providing a large contrast between the neutral regions and the ionized regions, which host LAEs. We also vary the topology of reionization and the epoch of X-ray heating. The cross-correlation during the first half of reionization is sensitive to these topologies, and could thus be used to constrain them.Cross-correlating 21 cm with known cosmic signals will be invaluable proof of the cosmic origin of the first 21-cm detections. As some of the widest fields available, comprising thousands of sources with reasonably known redshifts, narrow-band Lyman-α emitter (LAE) surveys are an obvious choice for such cross-correlation. Here, we revisit the 21-cm-LAE cross-correlation, relaxing the common assumption of reionization occurring in a pre-heated intergalactic medium (IGM). Using specifications from the Square Kilometre Array and the Subaru Hyper Supreme-Cam, we present new forecasts of the 21-cm-LAE cross-correlation function at z ∼7. We sample a broad parameter space of the mean IGM neutral fraction and spin temperature, (\barx-H small I,\barT-S). The sign of the cross-correlation roughly follows the sign of the 21-cm signal: Ionized regions that surround LAEs correspond to relative hot spots in the 21-cm signal when the neutral IGM is colder than the CMB, and relative cold spots when the neutral IGM is hotter than the CMB. The amplitude of the cross-correlation function generally increases with increasing\barx-H small I, following the increasing bias of the cosmic H ii regions. As is the case for 21 cm, the strongest cross signal occurs when the IGM is colder than the CMB, providing a large contrast between the neutral regions and the ionized regions, which host LAEs. We also vary the topology of reionization and the epoch of X-ray heating. The cross-correlation during the first half of reionization is sensitive to these topologies, and could thus be used to constrain them

Winter storm risk of residential structures ? model development and application to the German state of Baden-Württemberg

International audienceThe derivation of probabilities of high wind speeds and the establishment of risk curves for storm damage is of prime importance in natural hazard risk analysis. Risk curves allow the assessment of damage being exceeded at a given level of probability. In this paper, a method for the assessment of winter storm damage risk is described in detail and applied to the German state of Baden-Württemberg. Based on meteorological observations of the years 1971?2000 and on damage information of 4 severe storm events, storm hazard and damage risk of residential buildings is calculated on the level of communities. For this purpose, highly resolved simulations of storm wind fields with the Karlsruher Atmospheric Mesoscale Model (KAMM) are performed and a storm damage model is developed. Risk curves including the quantification of the uncertainties are calculated for every community. Local differences of hazard and risk are presented in state-wide maps. An average annual winter storm damage to residential buildings of minimum 15 million Euro (reference year 2000) for Baden-Württemberg is expected

Clinicians’ perceptions of medication errors with opioids in cancer and palliative care services: a priority setting report

© 2018, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. This paper reports the findings of a priority setting process, undertaken with cancer and palliative care clinicians, to better understand the characteristics of medication errors with opioids within their services. Participants representing six public hospitals in one Australian state took part in a series of priority setting workshops and, drawing on actual incidents occurring in their services, sought to identify where in the opioid medication process errors were most frequently occurring. Opioid error types and perceived contributing factors were explored, and strategies to reduce/prevent opioid errors were proposed. The priority setting process provided valuable insights into the types of opioid errors that occur in cancer and palliative care services and the complexity of addressing opioid errors from the clinician’s perspective. The findings from this priority setting process will inform future targeted quality improvement initiatives to support safe opioid medication practices in cancer and palliative care services

Quality of online self-management resources for adults living with primary brain cancer, and their carers: a systematic environmental scan

Background: A primary brain cancer diagnosis is a distressing, life changing event. It adversely affects the quality of life for the person living with brain cancer and their families (‘carers’). Timely access to evidence-based information is critical to enabling people living with brain cancer, and their carers, to self-manage the devastating impacts of this disease. Method: A systematic environmental scan of web-based resources. A depersonalised search for online English-language resources published from 2009 to December 2019 and designed for adults (> 25 years of age), living with primary brain cancer, was undertaken using the Google search engine. The online information was classified according to: 1) the step on the cancer care continuum; 2) self-management domains (PRISMS taxonomy); 3) basic information disclosure (Silberg criteria); 4) independent quality verification (HonCode); 5) reliability of disease and treatment information (DISCERN Sections 1 and 2); and readability (Flesch-Kincaid reading grade). Results: A total of 119 online resources were identified, most originating in England (n = 49); Australia (n = 27); or the USA (n = 27). The majority of resources related to active treatment (n = 76), without addressing recurrence (n = 3), survivorship (n = 1) or palliative care needs (n = 13). Few online resources directly provided self-management advice for adults living with brain cancer or their carers. Just over a fifth (n = 26, 22%) were underpinned by verifiable evidence. Only one quarter of organisations producing resources were HonCode certified (n = 9, 24%). The median resource reliability as measured by Section 1, DISCERN tool, was 56%. A median of 8.8 years of education was required to understand these online resources. Conclusions: More targeted online information is needed to provide people affected by brain cancer with practical self-management advice. Resources need to better address patient and carer needs related to: rehabilitation, managing behavioural changes, survivorship and living with uncertainty; recurrence; and transition to palliative care. Developing online resources that don’t require a high level of literacy and/or cognition are also required

Palmitoylethanolamide exerts neuroprotective effects in mixed neuroglial cultures and organotypic hippocampal slices via peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In addition to cytotoxic mechanisms directly impacting neurons, β-amyloid (Aβ)-induced glial activation also promotes release of proinflammatory molecules that may self-perpetuate reactive gliosis and damage neighbouring neurons, thus amplifying neuropathological lesions occurring in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) has been studied extensively for its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiepileptic and neuroprotective effects. PEA is a lipid messenger isolated from mammalian and vegetable tissues that mimics several endocannabinoid-driven actions, even though it does not bind to cannabinoid receptors. Some of its pharmacological properties are considered to be dependent on the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors-α (PPARα).</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>In the present study, we evaluated the effect of PEA on astrocyte activation and neuronal loss in models of Aβ neurotoxicity. To this purpose, primary rat mixed neuroglial co-cultures and organotypic hippocampal slices were challenged with Aβ_1-42and treated with PEA in the presence or absence of MK886 or GW9662, which are selective PPARα and PPARγ antagonists, respectively. The results indicate that PEA is able to blunt Aβ-induced astrocyte activation and, subsequently, to improve neuronal survival through selective PPARα activation. The data from organotypic cultures confirm that PEA anti-inflammatory properties implicate PPARα mediation and reveal that the reduction of reactive gliosis subsequently induces a marked rebound neuroprotective effect on neurons.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In line with our previous observations, the results of this study show that PEA treatment results in decreased numbers of infiltrating astrocytes during Aβ challenge, resulting in significant neuroprotection. PEA could thus represent a promising pharmacological tool because it is able to reduce Aβ-evoked neuroinflammation and attenuate its neurodegenerative consequences.</p

Smaller medial temporal lobe volumes in individuals with subjective cognitive decline and biomarker evidence of Alzheimer's disease—Data from three memory clinic studies

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies showed associations of brain volume differences and biomarker evidence for Alzheimer's disease (AD) in subjective cognitive decline (SCD). The consistency of this finding across SCD studies has not been investigated. METHODS: We studied gray matter volume differences between SCD subjects with and without cerebrospinal fluid biomarker evidence for AD across three European memory clinic samples (DZNE Longitudinal Cognitive Impairment and Dementia study, Amsterdam, Barcelona). Analysis of covariance models with samples and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers as between-subject factors were calculated. RESULTS: A significant main effect for AD biomarker (Aβ42- > Aβ42+) in the left medial temporal lobe (MTL) was found, with the absence of main effects for sample or interaction effects between AD biomarker and sample. This indicates consistent lower left MTL volume across three samples in SCD subjects with abnormal Aβ42 levels. DISCUSSION: Our results support the model that in the presence of AD pathology, SCD corresponds to the late preclinical stage (stage 2 of AD) with smaller MTL volumes

Virtual models of care for people with palliative care needs living in their own home: A systematic meta-review and narrative synthesis.

Background: Access to palliative care in the community enables people to live in their preferred place of care, which is often home. Community palliative care services struggle to provide timely 24-h services to patients and family. This has resulted in calls for ‘accessible and flexible’ models of care that are ‘responsive’ to peoples’ changing palliative care needs. Digital health technologies provide opportunities to meet these requirements 24-h a day. Aim: To identify digital health technologies that have been evaluated for supporting timely assessment and management of people living at home with palliative care needs and/or their carer(s), and the evidence-base for each. Design: A systematic review of systematic reviews (‘meta-review’). Systematic reviews evaluating evidence for virtual models of palliative or end-of-life care using one or more digital health technologies were included. Systematic reviews were evaluated using the Risk of Bias Tool for Systematic Reviews. A narrative approach was used to synthesise results. Data sources:Medline, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL and Cochrane Database of systematic reviews were searched for English-language reviews published between 2015 and 2020. Results: The search yielded 2266 articles, of which 12 systematic reviews met criteria. Sixteen reviews were included in total, after four reviews were found via handsearching. Other than scheduled telehealth, video-conferencing, or after-hours telephone support, little evidence was found for digital health technologies used to deliver virtual models of palliative care. Conclusions: There are opportunities to test new models of virtual care, beyond telehealth and/or video conferencing, such as 24-h command centres, and rapid response teams