Early probiotic supplementation for the prevention of atopic disease in newborns-probiotics and the hygiene hypothesis-.

Environmental factors during early infancy could theoretically affect immune system development and subsequent risk of allergic disease. One potentially helpful exposure is early infant supplementation with specific probiotic strains. Unlike other exposures, probiotic supplementation is feasible and has a good safety profile. A review of recent randomized, controlled trials suggests that the effect of supplementation with probiotics on preventing the development of allergic disease is mixed. Further studies are needed to define potential mechanisms of action, such as effects on infant microbiota, as well as potential subgroups of patients that may benefit from these interventions

Implementation of probabilistic approach to rock mass strength estimation while excavating through fault zones

Purpose. The paper addresses the rock mass state estimation while excavating a cross-heading through the area of regional fault “Bohdanivskyi” based on probabilistic approach to assessing the rock strength. Methods. The boundaries and fault zone extension are specified based on geological service database. This hazardous fault area has been confirmed, and the expected water inflow and methane emission have been identified based on the probe holes drilled ahead of the advancing face. To assess the strength of rocks, the statistical strength theory is used. Numerical simulation is performed using finite element method that is well-tested in geomechanical problems. Findings. The technique of rock mass strength estimation using structural factor based on statistical strength theory has been implemented to improve the adequacy of mathematical modeling. Numerical simulation of geomechanical processes based on finite element method and Hoek-Brown failure criterion is carried out. The changes of rock stress-strain state while excavating the cross-heading through various sites of the fault zone are determined depending on the level of rock disintegration. Originality. New regularities of rock mass behavior within the fault area are determined based on developed technique of rock strength assessment considering the rock mass disintegration and watering. Practical implications. Estimation of rock failure has resulted in designing the combination of support systems comprising metal sets, rockbolts and shotcrete.Мета. Стаття спрямована на оцінку стану породного масиву при проведенні відкаточного квершлагу через зону великого регіонального геологічного порушення “Богданівський” скид на основі ймовірнісного підходу до оцінки міцності гірських порід. Методика. Межі зони геологічного порушення визначалися із використанням бази даних геологічної служби. Значення очікуваного водотоку та наявність метану визначалися із використанням методу пробного буріння попереду вибою. Для оцінки міцності гірських порід використана статистична теорія міцності. Чисельне моделювання проводилося з використання добре апробованого в задачах геомеханіки методу скінченних елементів. Результати. Методика оцінки міцності масиву гірських порід, що заснована на статистичній теорії міцності, була використана для підвищення адекватності математичного моделювання. Виконано чисельне моделювання геомеханічних процесів на основі методу скінченних елементів і критерію міцності Хока-Брауна. Визначено зміни напружено-деформованого стану порід при проведенні відкаточного квершлагу через різні ділянки зони геологічного порушення в залежності від ступеню дезінтеграції порід. Наукова новизна. Встановлено нові закономірності поведінки породного масиву в зоні геологічного порушення на основі оцінки міцності порід, що враховує ступінь дезінтеграції й обводнення породного масиву. Практична значимість. Адекватна оцінка міцності породного масиву і ступеня його зрушеності дозволила розробити комбіноване кріплення, що включає металеву арку, анкерну систему та шар торкретбетону.Цель. Статья направлена на оценку состояния породного массива при проведении откаточного квершлага через зону крупного регионального геологического нарушения “Богдановский” сброс на основе вероятностного подхода к оценке прочности горных пород. Методика. Границы зоны геологического нарушения определялись с использованием базы данных геологической службы. Значения ожидаемого водопритока и наличие метана определялись с использованием метода пробных бурений, выполняемых впереди забоя выработки. Для оценки прочности горных пород использована статистическая теория прочности. Численное моделирование выполнено с использованием метода конечных элементов, хорошо апробированного в задачах геомеханики. Результаты. Методика оценки прочности массива горных пород, основанная на статистической теории прочности, применена с целью повышения адекватности математического моделирования. Выполнено численное моделирование геомеханических процессов на основе метода конечных элементов и критерия прочности Хока-Брауна. Определены изменения напряженно-деформированного состояния пород при проведении откаточного квершлага через различные участки зоны геологического нарушения в зависимости от степени дезинтеграции пород. Научная новизна. Установлены новые закономерности поведения породного массива в зоне геологического нарушения на основе оценки прочности пород, учитывающей степень дезинтеграции и обводнения породного массива. Практическая значимость. Адекватная оценка прочности породного массива и степени его нарушенности позволила разработать комбинированную крепь, включающую металлическую арку, анкерную систему и слой торкретбетона.This work was supported by PJS Company “DTEK Pavlohradvuhillia”, grants No. 050420/372-PU-SHUTr. The authors would like to thank all technical staff of the mine “Samarska” for the help during the in situ observation

Commercial Crew Development

This slide presentation reviews the use of commercial spacecraft and launch vehicles to deliver cargo to the International Space Station and other purposes

Implementing pediatric inpatient asthma pathways.

ObjectivePathways are succinct, operational versions of evidence-based guidelines. Studies have demonstrated pathways improve quality of care for children hospitalized with asthma, but we have limited information on other key factors to guide hospital leaders and clinicians in pathway implementation efforts. Our objective was to evaluate the adoption, implementation, and reach of inpatient pediatric asthma pathways.MethodsThis was a mixed-methods study of hospitals participating in a national collaborative to implement pathways. Data sources included electronic surveys of implementation leaders and staff, field observations, and chart review of children ages 2-17 years admitted with a primary diagnosis of asthma. Outcomes included adoption by hospitals, pathway implementation factors, and reach of pathways to children hospitalized with asthma. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariable regression. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic content analysis.ResultsEighty-five hospitals enrolled; 68 (80%) adopted/completed the collaborative. These 68 hospitals implemented pathways with overall high fidelity, implementing a median of 5 of 5 core pathway components (Interquartile Range [IQR] 4-5) in a median of 5 months (IQR 3-9). Implementation teams reported a median time cost of 78 h (IQR: 40-120) for implementation. Implementation leaders reported the values of pathway implementation included improvements in care, enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration, and access to educational resources. Leaders reported barriers in modifying electronic health records (EHRs), and only 63% of children had electronic pathway orders placed.ConclusionsHospitals implemented pathways with high fidelity. Barriers in modifying EHRs may have limited the reach of pathways to children hospitalized with asthma

Multi-scale functional and taxonomic β-diversity of the macroinvertebrate communities in a Mediterranean coastal lagoon

Benthic macroinvertebrate communities form the basis of the intricate lagoonal food web. Understanding their functional and taxonomic response, from a β-diversity perspective, is essential to disclose underlying patterns with potential applicability in conservation and management actions. Within the central lagoon of Messolonghi we studied the main environmental components structuring the macroinvertebrate community. We analyzed the β-taxonomic and β-functional diversity across the main habitats and seasons, over a year time frame. Our results outline habitat type and vegetation biomass as the major factors structuring the communities. We found environmental variability to have a positive correlation with functional β-diversity, however no correlation was found with taxonomic β-diversity. Across the seasons an asynchronous response of the functional and taxonomic β-diversity was identified. The taxonomic composition displayed significant heterogeneity during the driest period and the functional during the rainy season. Across the habitats the unvegetated presented higher taxonomic homogeneity and functionally heterogeneity, contrary the vegetated habitats present higher taxonomic variability and functional homogeneity. Across the seasons and habitats a pattern of functional redundancy and taxonomic replacement was identified. Besides high functional turnover versus low taxonomic turnover was documented in an anthropogenic organically enriched habitat We conclude that habitats display independent functional and taxonomic seasonal patterns, thus different processes may contribute to their variability. The framework presented here highlights the importance of studying both β-diversity components framed in a multiscale approach to better understand ecological processes and variability patterns. These results are important to understand macroinvertebrate community assembly processes and are valuable for conservation purposes

Barriers to Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease Guideline Recommendations.

National guidelines recommend that providers counsel all patients with sickle cell anemia about hydroxyurea (HU) therapy and screen children with sickle cell anemia annually for the risk of stroke with transcranial Doppler (TCD). We surveyed a national convenience sample of sickle cell disease clinicians to assess factors associated with low adherence. Adherence was 46% for TCD screening. Low adherence was associated with a lack of outcome expectancy (eg, a belief that there would be poor patient follow-up to TCD testing; P < .05). Adherence was 72% for HU counseling. Practice barriers (eg, lack of support staff or time) and a lack of agreement with HU recommendations were associated with low adherence (P < .05). This study demonstrates that different types of strategies are needed to improve TCD screening (to address follow-up and access to testing) versus HU counseling (to address physician agreement and practice barriers)

The effect of early child care attendance on childhood asthma and wheezing: A meta-analysis.

ObjectiveResearch evidence offers mixed results regarding the relationship between early child care attendance and childhood asthma and wheezing. A meta-analysis was conducted to synthesize the current research evidence of the association between early child care attendance and the risk of childhood asthma and wheezing.MethodPeer reviewed studies published from 1964-January 2017 were identified in MEDLINE, CINAL, and EMBASE using MeSH headings relevant to child care and asthma. Two investigators independently reviewed the selected articles from this search. All relevant articles that met our inclusion criteria were selected for further analysis. Data were extracted from studies that had sufficient data to analyze the odds of asthma or wheezing among children who attended child care.ResultsThe meta-analysis of 32 studies found that (1) early child care attendance is protective against asthma in children 3-5 years of age but not for children with asthma 6 years of age or older. (2) Early child care attendance increases the risk of wheezing among children 2 years of age or younger, but not the risk of wheezing for children over 2 years of age.ConclusionsThis meta-analysis shows that early child care attendance is not significantly associated with the risk of asthma or wheeze in children 6 years of age or older

A formal test of linguistic and genetic coevolution in native Central and South America

This paper investigates a mechanism of linguistic and genetic coevolution in Native Central and South America. This mechanism proposes that a process of population fissions, expansions into new territories, and isolation of ancestral and descendant groups will produce congruent language and gene trees. To evaluate this population fissions mechanism, we collected published mtDNA sequences for 1,381 individuals from 17 Native Central and South American populations. We then tested the hypothesis that three well-known language classifications also represented the genetic structure of these populations. We rejected the hypothesis for each language classification. Our tests revealed linguistic and genetic correspondence in several shallow branches common to each classification, but no linguistic and genetic correspondence in the deeper branches contained in two of the language classifications. We discuss the possible causes for the lack of congruence between linguistic and genetic structure in the region, and describe alternative mechanisms of linguistic and genetic correspondence and their predictions. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/55923/1/20542_ftp.pd