Characteristics of Damages of Severe Local Storms Based on Field Surveys in Bangladesh

This paper presents field survey results on damage from severe local storms, such as tornadoes. Surveys were conducted in Bangladesh in August 2009 and August 2010 to clarify damage details, meteorological features, factors related to damage generation and spread, recovery problems experienced by local residents due to storm damage and storms prediction in local areas

Historical and future trends in the onset, withdrawal, and duration of the Indian summer monsoon in the northeastern Indian subcontinent

Historical (1976–2006) and future (2071–2100) trends in the onset, withdrawal and duration of the Indian summer monsoon were assessed under changing climatic conditions. First, historical precipitation data (APHRODITE) observed over the Indian subcontinent were analyzed to identify trends in the onset, withdrawal, and duration of the monsoon. In some regions, an earlier onset, increased duration, and delayed withdrawal were identified historically. These trends in the onset and duration were significant in the northeastern Indian subcontinent. Several climate models from the Coupled Model Inter-comparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) could capture the past trends detected in the observation data, and five models were selected to analyze the future period. The future projections of the CMIP5 models under the RCP8.5 scenario had similar trends for the monsoon onset, withdrawal, and duration, albeit with weak statistical significance. The results suggest that the trends toward an earlier onset and delayed withdrawal observed in the past would continue and the duration would increase in the future

Characterization of homogeneous tissue phantoms for performance tests in diffuse optics

Solid homogeneous turbid phantoms can be employed to mimic the attenuation and angular distribution of light emerging from tissue, e.g., to assess the responsivity of the detection system of diffuse optics instrumentation and to support standardized performance tests of functional near-infrared spectroscopy devices. We present three methods to quantify the wavelength-dependent diffuse transmittance, relying on (1) measurement of radiance exiting the phantom by a detector far from the exit aperture, (2) simple recording of radiance by a power meter close to the exit aperture and correction for the finite distance between phantom surface and detector, (3) determination of the reduced scattering and absorption coefficients by time-resolved diffuse transmittance measurements and forward calculation of the time-integrated diffuse transmittance based on the diffusion model. The implications of the different approximations related to these approaches are discussed. The various methods were applied to characterize solid slab phantoms, and the results were compared. Specifically, for an epoxy-resin based phantom having a thickness of 2 cm, a reduced scattering coefficient of about 0.5/mm and an absorption coefficient of about 0.01/mm, the diffuse transmittance values obtained by the three different methods were found to agree within about 10%

Pre-hospital advanced airway management for adults with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: Nationwide cohort study

Objective To determine survival associated with advanced airway management (AAM) compared with no AAM for adults with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Design Cohort study between January 2014 and December 2016. Setting Nationwide, population based registry in Japan (All-Japan Utstein Registry). Participants Consecutive adult patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, separated into two sub-cohorts by their first documented electrocardiographic rhythm: shockable (ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia) and non-shockable (pulseless electrical activity or asystole). Patients who received AAM during cardiopulmonary resuscitation were sequentially matched with patients at risk of AAM within the same minute on the basis of time dependent propensity scores. Main outcome measures Survival at one month or at hospital discharge within one month. Results Of the 310 620 patients eligible, 8459 (41.2%) of 20 516 in the shockable cohort and 121 890 (42.0%) of 290 104 in the non-shockable cohort received AAM during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. After time dependent propensity score sequential matching, 16 114 patients in the shockable cohort and 236 042 in the non-shockable cohort were matched at the same minute. In the shockable cohort, survival did not differ between patients with AAM and those with no AAM: 1546/8057 (19.2%) versus 1500/8057 (18.6%) (adjusted risk ratio 1.00, 95% confidence interval 0.93 to 1.07). In the non-shockable cohort, patients with AAM had better survival than those with no AAM: 2696/118 021 (2.3%) versus 2127/118 021 (1.8%) (adjusted risk ratio 1.27, 1.20 to 1.35). Conclusions In the time dependent propensity score sequential matching for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in adults, AAM was not associated with survival among patients with shockable rhythm, whereas AAM was associated with better survival among patients with non-shockable rhythm.Izawa Junichi, Komukai Sho, Gibo Koichiro, Okubo Masashi, Kiyohara Kosuke, Nishiyama Chika et al. Pre-hospital advanced airway management for adults with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: nationwide cohort study. BMJ 2019; 364 :l43

Distinct Methylphenidate-Evoked Response Measured Using Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy During Go/No-Go Task as a Supporting Differential Diagnostic Tool Between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder Comorbid Children

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been frequently reported as co-occurring with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, ASD-comorbid ADHD is difficult to diagnose since clinically significant symptoms are similar in both disorders. Therefore, we propose a classification method of differentially recognizing the ASD-comorbid condition in ADHD children. The classification method was investigated based on functional brain imaging measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) during a go/no-go task. Optimization and cross-validation of the classification method was carried out in medicated-naïve and methylphenidate (MPH) administered ADHD and ASD-comorbid ADHD children (randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, and crossover design) to select robust parameters and cut-off thresholds. The parameters could be defined as either single or averaged multi-channel task-evoked activations under an administration condition (i.e., pre-medication, post-MPH, and post-placebo). The ADHD children were distinguished by significantly high MPH-evoked activation in the right hemisphere near the midline vertex. The ASD-comorbid ADHD children tended to have low activation responses in all regions. High specificity (86 ± 4.1%; mean ± SD), sensitivity (93 ± 7.3%), and accuracy (82 ± 1.6%) were obtained using the activation of oxygenated-hemoglobin concentration change in right middle frontal, angular, and precentral gyri under MPH medication. Therefore, the significantly differing MPH-evoked responses are potentially effective features and as supporting differential diagnostic tools

Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest across the World: First Report from the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR)

Background Since development of the Utstein style recommendations for the uniform reporting of cardiac arrest, increasing numbers of national and regional out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) registries have been established worldwide. The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) created the Research and Registries Working Group and aimed to systematically report data collected from these registries. Methods We conducted two surveys of voluntarily participating national and regional registries. The first survey aimed to identify which core elements of the current Utstein style for OHCA were collected by each registry. The second survey collected descriptive summary data from each registry. We chose the data collected for the second survey based on the availability of core elements identified by the first survey. Results Seven national and four regional registries were included in the first survey and nine national and seven regional registries in the second survey. The estimated annual incidence of emergency medical services (EMS)-treated OHCA was 30.0 to 97.1 individuals per 100,000 population. The combined data showed the median age varied from 64 to 79 years and more than half were male in all 16 registries. The provision of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and bystander automated external defibrillator (AED) use was 19.1% to 79.0% in all registries and 2.0% to 37.4% among 11 registries, respectively. Survival to hospital discharge or 30-day survival after EMS-treated OHCA was 3.1% to 20.4% across all registries. Favourable neurological outcome at hospital discharge or 30 days after EMS-treated OHCA was 2.8% to 18.2%. Survival to hospital discharge or 30-day survival after bystander witnessed shockable OHCA ranged from 11.7% to 47.4% and favourable neurological outcome from 9.9% to 33.3%. Conclusion This report from ILCOR describes data on systems of care and outcomes following OHCA from nine national and seven regional registries across the world. We found variation in reported survival outcomes and other core elements of the current Utstein style recommendations for OHCA across nations and regions.Peer reviewe

AsiaPEX:Challenges and Prospects in Asian Precipitation Research

The Asian Precipitation Experiment (AsiaPEX) was initiated in 2019 to understand terrestrial precipitation over diverse hydroclimatological conditions for improved predictions, disaster reduction, and sustainable development across Asia under the framework of the Global Hydroclimatology Panel (GHP)/Global Energy and Water Exchanges (GEWEX). AsiaPEX is the successor to GEWEX Asian Monsoon Experiment (GAME; 1995-2005) and Monsoon Asian Hydro-Atmosphere Scientific Research and Prediction Initiative (MAHASRI; 2006-16). While retaining the key objectives of the aforementioned projects, the scientific targets of AsiaPEX focus on land-atmosphere coupling and improvements to the predictability of the Asian hydroclimatological system. AsiaPEX was designed for both fine-scale hydroclimatological processes occurring at the land surface and the integrated Asian hydroclimatological system characterized by multiscale interactions. We adopt six approaches including observation, process studies, scale interactions, high-resolution hydrological modeling, field campaigns, and climate projection, which bridge gaps in research activities conducted in different regions. Collaboration with mesoscale and global modeling researchers is one of the core methods in AsiaPEX. We review these strategies based on the literature and our initial outcomes. These include the estimation and validation of highresolution satellite precipitation, investigations of extreme rainfall mechanisms, field campaigns over the Maritime Continent and Tibetan Plateau, areas of significant impact on the entire AsiaPEX region, process studies on diurnal- to interdecadal-scale interactions, and evaluation of the predictabilities of climate models for long-term variabilities. We will conduct integrated observational and modeling initiative, the Asian Monsoon Year (AMY)-II around 2025-28, whose strategies are the subregional observation platforms and integrated global analysis.</p

A Quantitative Estimation of the Effects of Measures to Counter Climate Change on Well-Being: Focus on Non-Use of Air Conditioners as a Mitigation Measure in Japan

Measures to mitigate climate change are being considered all over the world. Reducing the use of air conditioners is one such measure. While it seems to be effective in mitigating climate change, it may also reduce individuals&rsquo; well-being and increase the risk of heatstroke. To compare the impact of reducing air conditioner use and the mortality risks, the indicator Loss of Happy Life Expectancy (LHpLE), which measures the reduction in the length of life that individuals can spend happily, was used. The reduction in well-being due to non-use of air conditioners was obtained by applying the propensity score matching method to the results of a questionnaire. We evaluated the impact of reducing air conditioner use in both the current and future situation in comparison to the mortality risk from flood and heatstroke, respectively. The increase in mortality risk due to flooding was estimated based on numerical simulation, and the increase in the risk of mortality due to heatstroke was estimated based on existing reports in Japan. Using these results, the magnitude of the impacts on LHpLE caused by the reduction in well-being due to the non-use of an air conditioner and the increase in the mortality risks were compared, both for the current situation and the future. The results show that LHpLE due to non-use of air conditioners was much greater than that due to the risk of mortality due to flood and heatstroke, and implied that reducing air conditioner use is not necessarily a good way as a mitigation measure. This result would be useful for creating and implementing measures to counter climate change and could also be applied in many other fields

Cation Effects on ORR Activity on Low-index Planes of Pd in Alkaline Solution

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) has been studied on low-index planes of Pd in 0.05 M XOH (X = Li, Na, K, and Cs) solutions to determine the effects of cations on ORR activity. The order of ORR activity is Pd(110) ＜ Pd(100) ＜ Pd(111) in all solutions. This order differs from that in HClO4: Pd(110) ＜ Pd(111) ≪ Pd(100). Cationic species do not affect the ORR activity on Pd(110) and Pd(100). In contrast, the ORR activity of Pd(111) increases in the order of Li+ ＜ Na+ ＜ K+ ＜ Cs+. The lower the cation hydration energy, the higher the ORR activity on Pd(111), as is also the case on Pt(111). The ORR activity of Pd(111) in CsOH is 1.8 times higher than that of Pd(100) in HClO4