Satellite monitoring of sea surface pollution

There are no author-identified significant results in this report

Sepsis recognition tools in acute ambulatory care::associations with process of care and clinical outcomes in a service evaluation of an Emergency Multidisciplinary Unit in Oxfordshire

To assess the performance of currently available sepsis recognition tools in patients referred to a community-based acute ambulatory care unit.Service evaluation of consecutive patients over a 4-month period.Community-based acute ambulatory care unit.Observations, blood results and outcome data were analysed from patients with a suspected infection. Clinical features at first assessment were used to populate sepsis recognition tools including: systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria, National Early Warning Score (NEWS), quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) criteria. Scores were assessed against the clinical need for escalated care (use of intravenous antibiotics, fluids, ongoing ambulatory care or hospital treatment) and poor clinical outcome (all-cause mortality and readmission at 30 days after index assessment).Of 533 patients (median age 81 years), 316 had suspected infection with 120 patients requiring care escalated beyond simple community care. SIRS had the highest positive predictive value (50.9%, 95% CI 41.6% to 60.3%) and negative predictive value (68.9%, 95% CI 62.6% to 75.3%) for the need for escalated care. Both NEWS and SIRS were better at predicting the need for escalated care than qSOFA and NICE criteria in patients with suspected infection (all P<0.001). While new-onset confusion predicted the need for escalated care for infection in patients ≥85 years old (n=114), 23.7% of patients ≥85 years had new-onset confusion without evidence for infection.Acute ambulatory care clinicians should use caution in applying the new NICE endorsed criteria for determining the need for intravenous therapy and hospital-based location of care. NICE criteria have poorer performance when compared against NEWS and SIRS and new-onset confusion was prevalent in patients aged ≥85 years without infection

ENERGY MEASUREMENTS WITH RESONANT SPIN DEPOLARISATION AT DIAMOND

Abstract A precise knowledge of the electron beam energy is critical for the accurate determination of many light source parameters, such as momentum compaction factor, natural chromaticity, energy stability and undulator spectra. In common with other facilities, a method of energy measurement based on resonant spin depolarisation has been developed at Diamond. In this paper we report on progress towards storage ring characterisation using this method, as well as describing the diagnostics developments that have enabled these measurements to be made

In vivo modeling recapitulates radiotherapy delivery and late-effect profile for childhood medulloblastoma

\ua9 2024 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press, the Society for Neuro-Oncology and the European Association of Neuro-Oncology. Background: Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor, with 5-year survival rates &gt; 70%. Cranial radiotherapy (CRT) to the whole brain, with posterior fossa boost (PFB), underpins treatment for non-infants; however, radiotherapeutic insult to the normal brain has deleterious consequences to neurocognitive and physical functioning, and causes accelerated aging/frailty. Approaches to ameliorate radiotherapy-induced late-effects are lacking and a paucity of appropriate model systems hinders their development. Methods: We have developed a clinically relevant in vivo model system that recapitulates the radiotherapy dose, targeting, and developmental stage of childhood medulloblastoma. Consistent with human regimens, age-equivalent (postnatal days 35-37) male C57Bl/6J mice received computerized tomography image-guided CRT (human-equivalent 37.5 Gy EQD2, n = 12) \ub1 PFB (human-equivalent 48.7 Gy EQD2, n = 12), via the small animal radiation research platform and were longitudinally assessed for &gt; 12 months. Results: CRT was well tolerated, independent of PFB receipt. Compared to a sham-irradiated group (n = 12), irradiated mice were significantly frailer following irradiation (frailty index; P = .0002) and had reduced physical functioning; time to fall from a rotating rod (rotarod; P = .026) and grip strength (P = .006) were significantly lower. Neurocognitive deficits were consistent with childhood MB survivors; irradiated mice displayed significantly worse working memory (Y-maze; P = .009) and exhibited spatial memory deficits (Barnes maze; P = .029). Receipt of PFB did not induce a more severe late-effect profile. Conclusions: Our in vivo model mirrored childhood MB radiotherapy and recapitulated features observed in the late-effect profile of MB survivors. Our clinically relevant model will facilitate both the elucidation of novel/target mechanisms underpinning MB late effects and the development of novel interventions for their amelioration

Factors influencing the consumption of seafood among young children in Perth: a qualitative study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This formative study sought to explore the factors that influence the consumption of fish and seafood among 4–6 year old children in the Perth metropolitan area. Focus groups were conducted with mothers of young children to gain insights into the enablers and barriers to regular seafood consumption in children, and the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of their mothers to including seafood as a regular part of their children's diet.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Purposive sampling techniques were used to select and recruit mothers of children aged between four and six years from within the Perth metropolitan area. A total of seven focus groups were conducted. Thematic content analysis was employed to code data generated and to extract major themes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Findings indicated that all children of study participants had tried fish and seafood products, with some being exposed to a wide variety from an early age. Across focus groups, several dominant factors were apparent in influencing the frequency and type of seafood purchased and consumed. Perceived cost, freshness, availability/accessibility, and the level of confidence to prepare a meal to suit all family members were significant determinants of whether seafood featured regularly on the household menu. The influence of others in the family (particularly the husband or partner) also tended to impact upon the likelihood of serving fish and seafood, and the types of products mothers were willing to serve.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Findings from this qualitative study indicate that interventions seeking to promote seafood (particularly fish) as an integral part of a healthy diet should address existing negative attitudes and beliefs around the storage and preparation of seafood. The influence of dominant male influences within the family unit should also be considered. Strategies directed at parents and children should include experimental 'hands-on' components to encourage experimentation, particularly focussing on ease of preparation and the variety of lower cost seafood available.</p

In vivo modelling recapitulates radiotherapy delivery and late-effect profile for childhood medulloblastoma

Background Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor, with 5-year survival rates > 70%. Cranial radiotherapy (CRT) to the whole brain, with posterior fossa boost (PFB), underpins treatment for non-infants; however, radiotherapeutic insult to the normal brain has deleterious consequences to neurocognitive and physical functioning, and causes accelerated aging/frailty. Approaches to ameliorate radiotherapy-induced late-effects are lacking and a paucity of appropriate model systems hinders their development. Methods We have developed a clinically relevant in vivo model system that recapitulates the radiotherapy dose, targeting, and developmental stage of childhood medulloblastoma. Consistent with human regimens, age-equivalent (postnatal days 35–37) male C57Bl/6J mice received computerized tomography image-guided CRT (human-equivalent 37.5 Gy EQD2, n = 12) ± PFB (human-equivalent 48.7 Gy EQD2, n = 12), via the small animal radiation research platform and were longitudinally assessed for > 12 months. Results CRT was well tolerated, independent of PFB receipt. Compared to a sham-irradiated group (n = 12), irradiated mice were significantly frailer following irradiation (frailty index; P = .0002) and had reduced physical functioning; time to fall from a rotating rod (rotarod; P = .026) and grip strength (P = .006) were significantly lower. Neurocognitive deficits were consistent with childhood MB survivors; irradiated mice displayed significantly worse working memory (Y-maze; P = .009) and exhibited spatial memory deficits (Barnes maze; P = .029). Receipt of PFB did not induce a more severe late-effect profile. Conclusions Our in vivo model mirrored childhood MB radiotherapy and recapitulated features observed in the late-effect profile of MB survivors. Our clinically relevant model will facilitate both the elucidation of novel/target mechanisms underpinning MB late effects and the development of novel interventions for their amelioration

VAST: An ASKAP Survey for Variables and Slow Transients

The Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) will give us an unprecedented opportunity to investigate the transient sky at radio wavelengths. In this paper we present VAST, an ASKAP survey for Variables and Slow Transients. VAST will exploit the wide-field survey capabilities of ASKAP to enable the discovery and investigation of variable and transient phenomena from the local to the cosmological, including flare stars, intermittent pulsars, X-ray binaries, magnetars, extreme scattering events, interstellar scintillation, radio supernovae and orphan afterglows of gamma ray bursts. In addition, it will allow us to probe unexplored regions of parameter space where new classes of transient sources may be detected. In this paper we review the known radio transient and variable populations and the current results from blind radio surveys. We outline a comprehensive program based on a multi-tiered survey strategy to characterise the radio transient sky through detection and monitoring of transient and variable sources on the ASKAP imaging timescales of five seconds and greater. We also present an analysis of the expected source populations that we will be able to detect with VAST.Comment: 29 pages, 8 figures. Submitted for publication in Pub. Astron. Soc. Australi

Genetic aetiologies for childhood speech disorder: Novel pathways co-expressed during brain development

Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), the prototypic severe childhood speech disorder, is characterized by motor programming and planning deficits. Genetic factors make substantive contributions to CAS aetiology, with a monogenic pathogenic variant identified in a third of cases, implicating around 20 single genes to date. Here we aimed to identify molecular causation in 70 unrelated probands ascertained with CAS. We performed trio genome sequencing. Our bioinformatic analysis examined single nucleotide, indel, copy number, structural and short tandem repeat variants. We prioritised appropriate variants arising de novo or inherited that were expected to be damaging based on in silico predictions. We identified high confidence variants in 18/70 (26%) probands, almost doubling the current number of candidate genes for CAS. Three of the 18 variants affected SETBP1, SETD1A and DDX3X, thus confirming their roles in CAS, while the remaining 15 occurred in genes not previously associated with this disorder. Fifteen variants arose de novo and three were inherited. We provide further novel insights into the biology of child speech disorder, highlighting the roles of chromatin organization and gene regulation in CAS, and confirm that genes involved in CAS are co-expressed during brain development. Our findings confirm a diagnostic yield comparable to, or even higher, than other neurodevelopmental disorders with substantial de novo variant burden. Data also support the increasingly recognised overlaps between genes conferring risk for a range of neurodevelopmental disorders. Understanding the aetiological basis of CAS is critical to end the diagnostic odyssey and ensure affected individuals are poised for precision medicine trials

Exploring Perceptions of Group Processes in Ice Hockey Officiating

This is an Original Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of Applied Sport Psychology on 10 July 2017, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/10413200.2017.1349208.Understanding factors that influence sport officials’ performance is vital to ensuring fair sport competition. Through semi-structured interviews (N = 17), we explored officials’ perceptions of group processes that occurred among ice hockey officiating teams. Participant responses revealed numerous ways that group processes were present within officials’ interactions, and two unique characteristics involved the transient nature of officiating groups (frequently performing with different officials) and intra-team competition pertaining to post-season assignments. In the discussion, we expand on the unique nature of officiating groups, synthesize activities in which officials seek to enhance groupness, and provide insights for future interventions and researchers