35 research outputs found
A Look at Tuberculosis and Multi-Drug Resistant TB in the United States & China
There are many things plaguing the world today, one of them is Mycobacterium tuberculosis otherwise known as Tuberculosis (TB). Since itâs origin TB has become more virulent against antibiotics and became multi-drug resistant (MDR-TB). Two countries come to mind for comparison, China and the United States. China is having severe problems with the disease while the United States is managing it a bit better. Each country has unique circumstances and the statistics show that both may be doing better with just TB but MDR-TB is sticking around and gradually becoming more and more of an issue.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/uresposters/1067/thumbnail.jp
Single particle characterization using the soot particle aerosol mass spectrometer (SP-AMS)
Understanding the impact of atmospheric black carbon (BC) containing particles on human health and radiative forcing requires knowledge of the mixing state of BC, including the characteristics of the materials with which it is internally mixed. In this study, we demonstrate for the first time the capabilities of the Aerodyne Soot-Particle Aerosol Mass Spectrometer equipped with a light scattering module (LS-SP-AMS) to examine the mixing state of refractory BC (rBC) and other aerosol components in an urban environment (downtown Toronto). K-means clustering analysis was used to classify single particle mass spectra into chemically distinct groups. One resultant cluster is dominated by rBC mass spectral signals (C+1 to C+5) while the organic signals fall into a few major clusters, identified as hydrocarbon-like organic aerosol (HOA), oxygenated organic aerosol (OOA), and cooking emission organic aerosol (COA). A nearly external mixing is observed with small BC particles only thinly coated by HOA ( 28% by mass on average), while over 90% of the HOA-rich particles did not contain detectable amounts of rBC. Most of the particles classified into other inorganic and organic clusters were not significantly associated with BC. The single particle results also suggest that HOA and COA emitted from anthropogenic sources were likely major contributors to organic-rich particles with low to mid-range aerodynamic diameter (dva). The similar temporal profiles and mass spectral features of the organic clusters and the factors from a positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis of the ensemble aerosol dataset validate the conventional interpretation of the PMF results
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White matter signal abnormalities in former National Football League players
Introduction: Later-life brain alterations in former tackle football players are poorly understood, particularly regarding their relationship with repetitive head impacts (RHIs) and clinical function. We examined white matter signal abnormalities (WMSAs) and their association with RHIs and clinical function in former National Football League (NFL) players. Methods: Eighty-six clinically symptomatic former NFL players and 23 same-age reportedly asymptomatic controls without head trauma exposure underwent magnetic resonance imaging and neuropsychological testing. FreeSurfer calculated WMSAs. A cumulative head impact index quantified RHIs. Results: In former NFL players, increased volume of WMSAs was associated with higher cumulative head impact index scores (P = .043) and worse psychomotor speed and executive function (P = .015). Although former NFL players had greater WMSA volume than controls (P = .046), these findings are inconclusive due to recruitment of controls based on lack of clinical symptoms and head trauma exposure. Discussion In former NFL players, WMSAs may reflect long-term microvascular and nonmicrovascular pathologies from RHIs that negatively impact cognition
Exploring adultsâ experiences of sedentary behaviour and participation in nonworkplace interventions designed to reduce sedentary behaviour: a thematic synthesis of qualitative studies
Background: Sedentary behaviour is any waking behaviour characterised by an energy expenditure of â€1.5 metabolic equivalent of task while in a sitting or reclining posture. Prolonged bouts of sedentary behaviour have been associated with negative health outcomes in all age groups. We examined qualitative research investigating perceptions and experiences of sedentary behaviour and of participation in non-workplace interventions designed to reduce sedentary behaviour in adult populations.
Method: A systematic search of seven databases (MEDLINE, AMED, Cochrane, PsychINFO, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL and Web of Science) was conducted in September 2017. Studies were assessed for methodological quality and a thematic synthesis was conducted. Prospero database ID: CRD42017083436.
Results: Thirty individual studies capturing the experiences of 918 individuals were included. Eleven studies examined experiences and/or perceptions of sedentary behaviour in older adults (typically â„60 years); ten studies focused on sedentary behaviour in people experiencing a clinical condition, four explored influences on sedentary behaviour in adults living in socio-economically disadvantaged communities, two examined university studentsâ experiences of sedentary behaviour, two on those of working-age adults, and one focused on cultural influences on sedentary behaviour. Three analytical themes were identified: 1) the impact of different life stages on sedentary behaviour 2) lifestyle factors influencing sedentary behaviour and 3) barriers and facilitators to changing sedentary behaviour.
Conclusions: Sedentary behaviour is multifaceted and influenced by a complex interaction between individual, environmental and socio-cultural factors. Micro and macro pressures are experienced at different life stages and in the context of illness; these shape individualsâ beliefs and behaviour related to sedentariness. Knowledge of sedentary behaviour and the associated health consequences appears limited in adult populations, therefore there is a need for provision of accessible information about ways in which sedentary behaviour reduction can be integrated in peopleâs daily lives. Interventions targeting a reduction in sedentary behaviour need to consider the multiple influences on sedentariness when designing and implementing interventions
The Simons Observatory microwave SQUID multiplexing detector module design
Advances in cosmic microwave background (CMB) science depend on increasing
the number of sensitive detectors observing the sky. New instruments deploy
large arrays of superconducting transition-edge sensor (TES) bolometers tiled
densely into ever larger focal planes. High multiplexing factors reduce the
thermal loading on the cryogenic receivers and simplify their design. We
present the design of focal-plane modules with an order of magnitude higher
multiplexing factor than has previously been achieved with TES bolometers. We
focus on the novel cold readout component, which employs microwave SQUID
multiplexing (mux). Simons Observatory will use 49 modules containing
60,000 bolometers to make exquisitely sensitive measurements of the CMB. We
validate the focal-plane module design, presenting measurements of the readout
component with and without a prototype detector array of 1728
polarization-sensitive bolometers coupled to feedhorns. The readout component
achieves a yield and a 910 multiplexing factor. The median white noise
of each readout channel is 65 . This impacts the
projected SO mapping speed by , which is less than is assumed in the
sensitivity projections. The results validate the full functionality of the
module. We discuss the measured performance in the context of SO science
requirements, which are exceeded.Comment: Accepted to The Astrophysical Journa
The James Webb Space Telescope Mission
Twenty-six years ago a small committee report, building on earlier studies,
expounded a compelling and poetic vision for the future of astronomy, calling
for an infrared-optimized space telescope with an aperture of at least .
With the support of their governments in the US, Europe, and Canada, 20,000
people realized that vision as the James Webb Space Telescope. A
generation of astronomers will celebrate their accomplishments for the life of
the mission, potentially as long as 20 years, and beyond. This report and the
scientific discoveries that follow are extended thank-you notes to the 20,000
team members. The telescope is working perfectly, with much better image
quality than expected. In this and accompanying papers, we give a brief
history, describe the observatory, outline its objectives and current observing
program, and discuss the inventions and people who made it possible. We cite
detailed reports on the design and the measured performance on orbit.Comment: Accepted by PASP for the special issue on The James Webb Space
Telescope Overview, 29 pages, 4 figure
Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries
Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P < 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely
Interventions outside the workplace for reducing sedentary behaviour in adults under 60 years of age
Background Adults spend a majority of their time outside the workplace being sedentary. Large amounts of sedentary behaviour increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and both allâcause and cardiovascular disease mortality. Objectives Primary âą To assess effects on sedentary time of nonâoccupational interventions for reducing sedentary behaviour in adults under 60 years of age Secondary âą To describe other health effects and adverse events or unintended consequences of these interventions âą To determine whether specific components of interventions are associated with changes in sedentary behaviour âą To identify if there are any differential effects of interventions based on health inequalities (e.g. age, sex, income, employment) Search methods We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CINAHL, PsycINFO, SportDiscus, and ClinicalTrials.gov on 14 April 2020. We checked references of included studies, conducted forward citation searching, and contacted authors in the field to identify additional studies. Selection criteria We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and cluster RCTs of interventions outside the workplace for communityâdwelling adults aged 18 to 59 years. We included studies only when the intervention had a specific aim or component to change sedentary behaviour. Data collection and analysis Two review authors independently screened titles/abstracts and fullâtext articles for study eligibility. Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias. We contacted trial authors for additional information or data when required. We examined the following primary outcomes: deviceâmeasured sedentary time, selfâreport sitting time, selfâreport TV viewing time, and breaks in sedentary time. Main results We included 13 trials involving 1770 participants, all undertaken in highâincome countries. Ten were RCTs and three were cluster RCTs. The mean age of study participants ranged from 20 to 41 years. A majority of participants were female. All interventions were delivered at the individual level. Intervention components included personal monitoring devices, information or education, counselling, and prompts to reduce sedentary behaviour. We judged no study to be at low risk of bias across all domains. Seven studies were at high risk of bias for blinding of outcome assessment due to use of selfâreport outcomes measures. Primary outcomes Interventions outside the workplace probably show little or no difference in deviceâmeasured sedentary time in the short term (mean difference (MD) â8.36 min/d, 95% confidence interval (CI) â27.12 to 10.40; 4 studies; IÂČ = 0%; moderateâcertainty evidence). We are uncertain whether interventions reduce deviceâmeasured sedentary time in the medium term (MD â51.37 min/d, 95% CI â126.34 to 23.59; 3 studies; IÂČ = 84%; very lowâcertainty evidence) We are uncertain whether interventions outside the workplace reduce selfâreport sitting time in the short term (MD â64.12 min/d, 95% CI â260.91 to 132.67; IÂČ = 86%; very lowâcertainty evidence). Interventions outside the workplace may show little or no difference in selfâreport TV viewing time in the medium term (MD â12.45 min/d, 95% CI â50.40 to 25.49; 2 studies; IÂČ = 86%; lowâcertainty evidence) or in the long term (MD 0.30 min/d, 95% CI â0.63 to 1.23; 2 studies; IÂČ = 0%; lowâcertainty evidence). It was not possible to pool the five studies that reported breaks in sedentary time given the variation in definitions used. Secondary outcomes Interventions outside the workplace probably have little or no difference on body mass index in the medium term (MD â0.25 kg/mÂČ, 95% CI â0.48 to â0.01; 3 studies; IÂČ = 0%; moderateâcertainty evidence). Interventions may have little or no difference in waist circumference in the medium term (MD â2.04 cm, 95% CI â9.06 to 4.98; 2 studies; IÂČ = 65%; lowâcertainty evidence). Interventions probably have little or no difference on glucose in the short term (MD â0.18 mmol/L, 95% CI â0.30 to â0.06; 2 studies; IÂČ = 0%; moderateâcertainty evidence) and medium term (MD â0.08 mmol/L, 95% CI â0.21 to 0.05; 2 studies, IÂČ = 0%; moderateâcertainty evidence) Interventions outside the workplace may have little or no difference in deviceâmeasured MVPA in the short term (MD 1.99 min/d, 95% CI â4.27 to 8.25; 4 studies; IÂČ = 23%; lowâcertainty evidence). We are uncertain whether interventions improve deviceâmeasured MVPA in the medium term (MD 6.59 min/d, 95% CI â7.35 to 20.53; 3 studies; IÂČ = 70%; very lowâcertainty evidence). We are uncertain whether interventions outside the workplace improve selfâreported lightâintensity PA in the shortâterm (MD 156.32 min/d, 95% CI 34.34 to 278.31; 2 studies; IÂČ = 79%; very lowâcertainty evidence). Interventions may have little or no difference on step count in the shortâterm (MD 226.90 steps/day, 95% CI â519.78 to 973.59; 3 studies; IÂČ = 0%; lowâcertainty evidence) No data on adverse events or symptoms were reported in the included studies. Authors' conclusions Interventions outside the workplace to reduce sedentary behaviour probably lead to little or no difference in deviceâmeasured sedentary time in the short term, and we are uncertain if they reduce deviceâmeasured sedentary time in the medium term. We are uncertain whether interventions outside the workplace reduce selfâreported sitting time in the short term. Interventions outside the workplace may result in little or no difference in selfâreport TV viewing time in the medium or long term. The certainty of evidence is moderate to very low, mainly due to concerns about risk of bias, inconsistent findings, and imprecise results. Future studies should be of longer duration; should recruit participants from varying age, socioeconomic, or ethnic groups; and should gather quality of life, costâeffectiveness, and adverse event data. We strongly recommend that standard methods of data preparation and analysis are adopted to allow comparison of the effects of interventions to reduce sedentary behaviour
Observation of gravitational waves from the coalescence of a 2.5â4.5 Mâ compact object and a neutron star
Increasing frailty is associated with higher prevalence and reduced recognition of delirium in older hospitalised inpatients: results of a multi-centre study
Purpose:
Delirium is a neuropsychiatric disorder delineated by an acute change in cognition, attention, and consciousness. It is common, particularly in older adults, but poorly recognised. Frailty is the accumulation of deficits conferring an increased risk of adverse outcomes. We set out to determine how severity of frailty, as measured using the CFS, affected delirium rates, and recognition in hospitalised older people in the United Kingdom.
Methods:
Adults over 65 years were included in an observational multi-centre audit across UK hospitals, two prospective rounds, and one retrospective note review. Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), delirium status, and 30-day outcomes were recorded.
Results:
The overall prevalence of delirium was 16.3% (483). Patients with delirium were more frail than patients without delirium (median CFS 6 vs 4). The risk of delirium was greater with increasing frailty [OR 2.9 (1.8â4.6) in CFS 4 vs 1â3; OR 12.4 (6.2â24.5) in CFS 8 vs 1â3]. Higher CFS was associated with reduced recognition of delirium (OR of 0.7 (0.3â1.9) in CFS 4 compared to 0.2 (0.1â0.7) in CFS 8). These risks were both independent of age and dementia.
Conclusion:
We have demonstrated an incremental increase in risk of delirium with increasing frailty. This has important clinical implications, suggesting that frailty may provide a more nuanced measure of vulnerability to delirium and poor outcomes. However, the most frail patients are least likely to have their delirium diagnosed and there is a significant lack of research into the underlying pathophysiology of both of these common geriatric syndromes