Remote-controlled experiments with cloud chemistry

Developing cleaner chemical processes often involves sophisticated flow-chemistry equipment that is not available in many economically developing countries. For reactions where it is the data that are important rather than the physical product, the networking of chemists across the internet to allow remote experimentation offers a viable solution to this problem

Prehospital critical care for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: An observational study examining survival and a stakeholder-focused cost analysis

© 2016 The Author(s). Background: Survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remain low, despite remarkable efforts to improve care. A number of ambulance services in the United Kingdom (UK) have developed prehospital critical care teams (CCTs) which attend critically ill patients, including OHCA. However, current scientific evidence describing CCTs attending OHCA is sparse and research to date has not demonstrated clear benefits from this model of care. Methods: This prospective, observational study will describe the effect of CCTs on survival from OHCA, when compared to advanced-life-support (ALS), the current standard of prehospital care in the UK. In addition, we will describe the association between individual critical care interventions and survival, and also the costs of CCTs for OHCA. To examine the effect of CCTs on survival from OHCA, we will use routine Utstein variables data already collected in a number of UK ambulance trusts. We will use propensity score matching to adjust for imbalances between the CCT and ALS groups. The primary outcome will be survival to hospital discharge, with the secondary outcome of survival to hospital admission. We will record the critical care interventions delivered during CCT attendance at OHCA. We will describe frequencies and aim to use multiple logistic regression to examine possible associations with survival. Finally, we will undertake a stakeholder-focused cost analysis of CCTs for OHCA. This will utilise a previously published Emergency Medical Services (EMS) cost analysis toolkit and will take into account the costs incurred from use of a helicopter and the proportion of these costs currently covered by charities in the UK. Discussion: Prehospital critical care for OHCA is not universally available in many EMS. In the UK, it is variable and largely funded through public donations to charities. If this study demonstrates benefit from CCTs at an acceptable cost to the public or EMS commissioners, it will provide a rationale to increase funding and service provision. If no clinical benefit is found, the public and charities providing these services can consider concentrating their efforts on other areas of prehospital care. Trial registration: ISRCTN registry ID ISRCTN18375201

Computational Models of Classical Conditioning guest editors’ introduction

In the present special issue, the performance of current computational models of classical conditioning was evaluated under three requirements: (1) Models were to be tested against a list of previously agreed-upon phenomena; (2) the parameters were fixed across simulations; and (3) the simulations used to test the models had to be made available. These requirements resulted in three major products: (a) a list of fundamental classical-conditioning results for which there is a consensus about their reliability; (b) the necessary information to evaluate each of the models on the basis of its ordinal successes in accounting for the experimental data; and (c) a repository of computational models ready to generate simulations. We believe that the contents of this issue represent the 2012 state of the art in computational modeling of classical conditioning and provide a way to find promising avenues for future model development

Localization and broadband follow-up of the gravitational-wave transient GW150914

A gravitational-wave (GW) transient was identified in data recorded by the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) detectors on 2015 September 14. The event, initially designated G184098 and later given the name GW150914, is described in detail elsewhere. By prior arrangement, preliminary estimates of the time, significance, and sky location of the event were shared with 63 teams of observers covering radio, optical, near-infrared, X-ray, and gamma-ray wavelengths with ground- and space-based facilities. In this Letter we describe the low-latency analysis of the GW data and present the sky localization of the first observed compact binary merger. We summarize the follow-up observations reported by 25 teams via private Gamma-ray Coordinates Network circulars, giving an overview of the participating facilities, the GW sky localization coverage, the timeline, and depth of the observations. As this event turned out to be a binary black hole merger, there is little expectation of a detectable electromagnetic (EM) signature. Nevertheless, this first broadband campaign to search for a counterpart of an Advanced LIGO source represents a milestone and highlights the broad capabilities of the transient astronomy community and the observing strategies that have been developed to pursue neutron star binary merger events. Detailed investigations of the EM data and results of the EM follow-up campaign are being disseminated in papers by the individual teams

Measures of frailty in population-based studies: An overview

Although research productivity in the field of frailty has risen exponentially in recent years, there remains a lack of consensus regarding the measurement of this syndrome. This overview offers three services: first, we provide a comprehensive catalogue of current frailty measures; second, we evaluate their reliability and validity; third, we report on their popularity of use

Localization and broadband follow-up of the gravitational-wave transient GW150914

A gravitational-wave transient was identified in data recorded by the Advanced LIGO detectors on 2015 September 14. The event candidate, initially designated G184098 and later given the name GW150914, is described in detail elsewhere. By prior arrangement, preliminary estimates of the time, significance, and sky location of the event were shared with 63 teams of observers covering radio, optical, near-infrared, X-ray, and gamma-ray wavelengths with ground- and space-based facilities. In this Letter we describe the low-latency analysis of the gravitational wave data and present the sky localization of the first observed compact binary merger. We summarize the follow-up observations reported by 25 teams via private Gamma-ray Coordinates Network Circulars, giving an overview of the participating facilities, the gravitational wave sky localization coverage, the timeline and depth of the observations. As this event turned out to be a binary black hole merger, there is little expectation of a detectable electromagnetic signature. Nevertheless, this first broadband campaign to search for a counterpart of an Advanced LIGO source represents a milestone and highlights the broad capabilities of the transient astronomy community and the observing strategies that have been developed to pursue neutron star binary merger events. Detailed investigations of the electromagnetic data and results of the electromagnetic follow-up campaign will be disseminated in the papers of the individual teams

THE MENTAL HEALTH OF COLLEGIATE STUDENT-ATHLETES: A COMPARISON OF STRESS BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE COLLEGIATE STUDENT-ATHLETES

Jenica D. Alvarez, Ashley Bruce, Sabrina R. Fordham, Andrew J. Jakiel, Blake Podsen, Parker N. Hyde. University of North Georgia, Dahlonega, GA. BACKGROUND: Collegiate student-athletes are a unique population given their ability to couple additional stressors with the physical, emotional, and mental demands of playing an intercollegiate sport. As a possible result of the additional stressors, maladaptive behaviors often evolve which play a significant role in mental health, academic performance, and student success. The purpose of this research was to investigate and report on mental health conditions that impact student-athletes, with emphasis conducted on a comparison of stress levels and stress coping mechanisms between male and female student-athletes. METHODS: A non-experimental quantitative survey research design was used for this research. This study utilized the American College Health Association—National College Health Assessment III (ACHA-NCHA III) to survey collegiate student-athletes (n=89) at a NCAA Division II institution. The 66-component online survey provided self-reported data about general health topics within seven content areas: (a) health, health education, and safety; (b) alcohol, tobacco, and drugs; (c) sex behavior, perceptions, and contraception; (d) weight, nutrition and exercise; (e) mental and physical health; (f) impediments to academic performance; and (g) demographics. RESULTS: Female student-athletes demonstrated higher frequencies of moderate stress when compared to males (67.4% and 40.9%, respectively). Female student-athletes experienced a higher frequency of serious psychological distress when compared to males (9.8% compared to 4.5%, respectively). The percent of student-athletes reporting a positive suicide screening was 9.0%, including 6.8% of males and 11.6% of females. The percent of student-athletes reporting a suicide attempt in the last 12 months was 3.4%; 4.5% of male student-athletes and 2.4% of female student-athletes. CONCLUSION: With the rise in mental health problems, in conjunction with the demanding college lifestyle of student-athletes, ways to support student-athletes’ mental wellbeing—and ultimately their success—need to be addressed. The occurrence of stress was expressed by 93% of the student-athlete participants. If left untreated, stress can lead to suicidal thoughts or attempts. The results contribute empirical evidence towards recommendations for intervention strategies among student-athletes, such as the employment of a sports psychologist, implementation of a mental health support team, future research to track trends over time, and teaching student-athletes how to manage stress. Just as collegiate student-athletes benefit by receiving proper physical care from the athletic trainers and coaching staff, student-athletes would also benefit from athletic departments investing in mental health services