Effects of antiplatelet therapy on stroke risk by brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases: subgroup analyses of the RESTART randomised, open-label trial

Background Findings from the RESTART trial suggest that starting antiplatelet therapy might reduce the risk of recurrent symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage compared with avoiding antiplatelet therapy. Brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases (such as cerebral microbleeds) are associated with greater risks of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage. We did subgroup analyses of the RESTART trial to explore whether these brain imaging features modify the effects of antiplatelet therapy

Middle-aged and mobility-limited: Prevalence of disability and symptom attributions in a national survey

BACKGROUND: Lower limb mobility disabilities are well understood in older people, but the causes in middle age have attracted little attention. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of mobility disabilities among noninstitutionalized adults in England and to compare the disabling symptoms reported by middle-aged and older people. DESIGN: Cross-sectional data from the 2002 English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). Mobility disability was identified by level of reported difficulty walking a quarter mile. PARTICIPANTS: Eleven thousand two hundred sixteen respondents aged 50 years and older living in private households in 2002. RESULTS: The prevalence of difficulty walking a quarter mile increases sharply with age, but even in the middle-aged (50 to 64 years age-group) 18% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 16% to 19%) of men and 19% (95% CI: 17% to 20%) of women reported some degree of difficulty. Of the 16 main symptoms reported as causing mobility disability in middle age, 2 dominated: pain in the leg or the foot (43%; 95% CI: 40% to 46%) and shortness of breath/dyspnea (21%; 95% CI: 18% to 23%). Fatigue or tiredness, and stability problems were cited by only 5% and 6%, respectively. These proportions were slightly different from those in the 65 to 79-year age group: 40%, 23%, 6%, and 8%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Mobility (walking) disabilities in the middle-aged are relatively common. The symptoms reported as causes in this age group differ little from those reported by older groups, and are dominated by lower limb pain and shortness of breath. More clinical attention paid to disabling symptoms may lead to disability reductions in later life

The Multifactorial Basis for Plant Health Promotion by Plant-Associated Bacteria▿

On plants, microbial populations interact with each other and their host through the actions of secreted metabolites. However, the combined action of diverse organisms and their different metabolites on plant health has yet to be fully appreciated. Here, the multifactorial nature of these interactions, at the organismal and molecular level, leading to the biological control of plant diseases is reviewed. To do so, we describe in detail the ecological significance of three different classes of secondary metabolites and discuss how they might contribute to biological control. Specifically, the roles of auxin, acetoin, and phenazines are considered, because they represent very different but important types of secondary metabolites. We also describe how studies of the global regulation of bacterial secondary metabolism have led to the discovery of new genes and phenotypes related to plant health promotion. In conclusion, we describe three avenues for future research that will help to integrate these complex and diverse observations into a more coherent synthesis of bacterially mediated biocontrol of plant diseases

Condensed-Phase Effects on the Structural Properties of FCH₂CN–BF₃ and ClCH₂CN–BF₃: A Matrix-Isolation and Computational Study

We have measured several IR bands of FCH₂CN–BF₃ and ClCH₂CN–BF₃ in solid nitrogen, argon, and neon. These bands include the B–F asymmetric stretch (ν_BF^a), the B–F symmetric stretch (ν_BF^s), the BF₃ symmetric deformation or “umbrella” mode (δ_BF^s), and the CN stretch (ν_CN). For both complexes, the frequencies of these modes shift across the various media, particularly the B–F asymmetric stretching band, and thus they indicate that the inert gas matrix environments significantly alter the structural properties of FCH₂CN–BF₃ and ClCH₂CN–BF₃. Furthermore, the frequencies shift in a manner that parallels the dielectric constant of these media, which suggests a progressive contraction of the B–N distances in these systems and also that it parallels the ability of the medium to stabilize the increase in polarity that accompanies the bond contraction. We have also mapped the B–N distance potentials for FCH₂CN–BF₃ and ClCH₂CN–BF₃ using several density functional and post-Hartree–Fock methods, all of which reveal a flat, shelflike region that extends from the gas-phase minimum (near 2.4 Å) toward the inner wall (to about 1.7 Å). Furthermore, we were able to rationalize the medium effects on the structure by constructing hybrid bond potentials composed of the electrostatic component of the solvation free energy and the gas-phase electronic energy. These curves indicate that the solvation energies are greatest at short B–N distances (at which the complex is more polar), and ultimately, the potential minima shift inward as the dielectric constant of the medium increases

Vingkonstruktion till stor RC-modell av C-17 Globemaster

Rapporten behandlar konstruktion av vinge till en radiostyrd modell av Boeing C-17 Globemaster III. Modellen kommer att tillverkas för försäljning av företaget Mil tech. Spännvidden på vingen är omkring sju meter och med den storleken kommer den troligtvis bli det nuvarande största radiostyrda flygplan som konstrueras för försäljning. Rapporten beskriver konstruktionsförslag för delning av vinge, bak- och framkantsklaff, skevroder, luftbroms, motorpyloner och de valda lösningarna samt vilken vingprofil som modellerandet utgått från. Rapporten behandlar inte själva CAD-modellerandet.This report considers modelling of a wing to a radio controlled (R/C) model of Boeing C-17 Globemaster III. The airplane will be manufactured for sales. The wingspan is about seven meters and the airplane will probably be the currently largest R/C-plane made for sales. The report describes design proposal for a wing split, trailing and leading edge flaps, ailerons, lift dumpers, engine pylons and the selected solutions and what aerofoil the modelling started from. The report does not consider the CAD-modelling itself

Interventions for investigating and identifying the causes of stillbirth

Background Identification of the causes of stillbirth is critical to the primary prevention of stillbirth and to the provision of optimal care in subsequent pregnancies. A wide variety of investigations are available, but there is currently no consensus on the optimal approach. Given their cost and potential to add further emotional burden to parents, there is a need to systematically assess the effect of these interventions on outcomes for parents, including psychosocial outcomes, economic costs, and on rates of diagnosis of the causes of stillbirth. Objectives To assess the effect of different tests, protocols or guidelines for investigating and identifying the causes of stillbirth on outcomes for parents, including psychosocial outcomes, economic costs, and rates of diagnosis of the causes of stillbirth. Search methods We searched Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth's Trials Register (31 August 2017), ClinicalTrials.gov and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) (15 May 2017). Selection criteria We planned to include randomised controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-RCTs, and cluster-RCTs. We planned to include studies published as abstract only, provided there was sufficient information to allow us to assess study eligibility. We planned to exclude cross-over trials. Participants included parents (including mothers, fathers, and partners) who had experienced a stillbirth of 20 weeks' gestation or greater. This review focused on interventions for investigating and identifying the causes of stillbirth. Such interventions are likely to be diverse, but could include: * review of maternal and family history, and current pregnancy and birth history; * clinical history of present illness; * maternal investigations (such as ultrasound, amniocentesis, antibody screening, etc.); * examination of the stillborn baby (including full autopsy, partial autopsy or noninvasive components, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerised tomography (CT) scanning, and radiography); * umbilical cord examination; * placental examination including histopathology (microscopic examination of placental tissue); and * verbal autopsy (interviews with care providers and support people to ascertain causes, without examination of the baby). We planned to include trials assessing any test, protocol or guideline (or combinations of tests/protocols/guidelines) for investigating the causes of stillbirth, compared with the absence of a test, protocol or guideline, or usual care (further details are presented in the Background, see Description of the intervention). We also planned to include trials comparing any test, protocol or guideline (or combinations of tests/protocols/guidelines) for investigating the causes of stillbirth with another, for example, the use of a limited investigation protocol compared with a comprehensive investigation protocol. Data collection and analysis Two review authors assessed trial eligibility independently. Main results We excluded five studies that were not RCTs. There were no eligible trials for inclusion in this review. Authors' conclusions There is currently a lack of RCT evidence regarding the effectiveness of interventions for investigating and identifying the causes of stillbirth. Seeking to determine the causes of stillbirth is an essential component of quality maternity care, but it remains unclear what impact these interventions have on the psychosocial outcomes of parents and families, the rates of diagnosis of the causes of stillbirth, and the care and management of subsequent pregnancies following stillbirth. Due to the absence of trials, this review is unable to inform clinical practice regarding the investigation of stillbirths, and the specific investigations that would determine the causes. Future RCTs addressing this research question would be beneficial, but the settings in which the trials take place, and their design, need to be given careful consideration. Trials need to be conducted with the utmost care and consideration for the needs, concerns, and values of parents and families. Assessment of longer-term psychosocial variables, economic costs to health services, and effects on subsequent pregnancy care and outcomes should also be considered in any future trials