Applying Himawari-8 and JPSS Satellite Products for Forecasting Hurricane-Force Wind Events

No abstract availabl

Association between HIV replication and serum leptin levels: an observational study of a cohort of HIV-1-infected South African women

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Advanced HIV infection can result in lipoatrophy and wasting, even in the absence of ongoing opportunistic infections, suggesting that HIV may directly affect adipose tissue amount and distribution.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We assessed the relationship of fat (measured using anthropometry, DEXA, MRI scans) or markers related to glucose and lipid metabolism with viral load in a cross-sectional sample of 83 antiretroviral-naïve HIV-1-infected South African women. A multivariable linear model was fitted to log₁₀VL to assess the combined effect of these variables.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In addition to higher T cell activation, women with viral load greater than the population median had lower waist circumference, body mass index and subcutaneous abdominal fat, as well as lower serum leptin. We demonstrate that leptin serum levels are inversely associated with viral replication, independent of the amount of adipose tissue. This association is maintained after adjusting for multiple variables associated with disease progression (i.e., cellular activation and innate immunity effector levels).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results demonstrate that serum leptin levels are inversely associated with viral replication, independent of disease progression: we postulate that leptin may affect viral replication.</p

Intensive care unit—acquired weakness (ICUAW) and muscle wasting in critically ill patients with severe sepsis and septic shock

Sepsis presents a major health care problem and remains one of the leading causes of death within the intensive care unit (ICU). Therapeutic approaches against severe sepsis and septic shock focus on early identification. Adequate source control, administration of antibiotics, preload optimization by fluid resuscitation and further hemodynamic stabilisation using vasopressors whenever appropriate are considered pivotal within the early—golden—hours of sepsis. However, organ dysfunction develops frequently in and represents a significant comorbidity of sepsis. A considerable amount of patients with sepsis will show signs of severe muscle wasting and/or ICU-acquired weakness (ICUAW), which describes a frequently observed complication in critically ill patients and refers to clinically weak ICU patients in whom there is no plausible aetiology other than critical illness. Some authors consider ICUAW as neuromuscular organ failure, caused by dysfunction of the motor unit, which consists of peripheral nerve, neuromuscular junction and skeletal muscle fibre. Electrophysiologic and/or biopsy studies facilitate further subclassification of ICUAW as critical illness myopathy, critical illness polyneuropathy or critical illness myoneuropathy, their combination. ICUAW may protract weaning from mechanical ventilation and impede rehabilitation measures, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. This review provides an insight on the available literature on sepsis-mediated muscle wasting, ICUAW and their potential pathomechanisms

Mammal responses to global changes in human activity vary by trophic group and landscape

Wildlife must adapt to human presence to survive in the Anthropocene, so it is critical to understand species responses to humans in different contexts. We used camera trapping as a lens to view mammal responses to changes in human activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Across 163 species sampled in 102 projects around the world, changes in the amount and timing of animal activity varied widely. Under higher human activity, mammals were less active in undeveloped areas but unexpectedly more active in developed areas while exhibiting greater nocturnality. Carnivores were most sensitive, showing the strongest decreases in activity and greatest increases in nocturnality. Wildlife managers must consider how habituation and uneven sensitivity across species may cause fundamental differences in human–wildlife interactions along gradients of human influence.Peer reviewe

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 &lt; 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

Sergio Aguillón-Mata

Como parte de nuestro curso de la gramática avanzada, leímos la obra “Dafeng” escrito por un ensayista de México que se llama Sergio Aguillón-Mata. La meta era poder familiarizarnos con un género literario en español—y en particular con los ensayos—prestando la atención a la gramática que se utiliza. Por medio de la lectura, pudimos aprender un nuevo estilo lingüística y la gramática asociada con este género. El propósito de nuestra investigación del ensayo era hacer conexiones importantes y un análisis de la gramática contenida en el texto. A parte de esto, tuvimos la oportunidad de interactuar con el ensayista Sergio Aguillón-Mata acerca de su obra “Dafeng” en una entrevista virtual. Aquí presentamos nuestros descubrimientos y nuestro análisis de la gramática en los ensayos

A new cyclic impact test instrument and methodology for hand-struck tools.

ABSTRACT The use of hand-struck tools is still a necessary job function for technicians in several industries throughout the world. Despite the importance of these tools, evolving concerns regarding the detrimental effects of their long-term use continue to grow. Repetitive motion injuries, nerve damage of the hands and arms, and hearing loss are some of the problems that continue to afflict users of these types of tools. Although hammer-tool systems are relatively simple mechanical systems that have required very little improvement historically, the growing concerns associated with their use necessitate a thorough evaluation of current tool designs. In addition, the introduction of new and modified tools with improved performance characteristics will be essential to maintaining their long term, effective use in the workplace. Currently, no standard test methods exist to assess the performance characteristics of hand-struck tools. This makes evaluations and comparisons very difficult since performance characteristics are significantly influenced by the user of the tool. As a result, for the purposes of assessing the performance of current hammer-tool systems as well as evaluating alternate designs, a new testing device for hand-struck tools was developed. The device is designed to simulate the approximate cyclic kinematic motion of a user repeatedly hitting a tool with a conventional hammer. A computer controller automates the striking and return stroke actions, and the resulting impact velocity and force exerted by the hammer are adjustable and approximate the performance of a human. For the purpose of development, the testing device was designed to accept steel hand-struck chisels. As configured, a chisel is placed in the device and used to shear a standard, replaceable work piece. The key output of this test is the number of impacts needed to fail the standard piece. Other features integrated into the device include a load cell under the work piece to capture the force exerted during a hammer impact, measurement of the hammer velocity at impact, noise measurements, and an automatic counter to record the number of hammer impacts required to fail the work piece. Preliminary tests with standard, conventional chisels indicate the device is capable of failing a standard 6.5 mm steel drill rod work piece in the same number of hammer blows as an experienced chisel user. Subsequent work will focus on characterizing and improving the properties of hammer-chisel systems relevant to the detrimental effects associated with their long term use