The United States COVID-19 Forecast Hub dataset

Academic researchers, government agencies, industry groups, and individuals have produced forecasts at an unprecedented scale during the COVID-19 pandemic. To leverage these forecasts, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) partnered with an academic research lab at the University of Massachusetts Amherst to create the US COVID-19 Forecast Hub. Launched in April 2020, the Forecast Hub is a dataset with point and probabilistic forecasts of incident cases, incident hospitalizations, incident deaths, and cumulative deaths due to COVID-19 at county, state, and national, levels in the United States. Included forecasts represent a variety of modeling approaches, data sources, and assumptions regarding the spread of COVID-19. The goal of this dataset is to establish a standardized and comparable set of short-term forecasts from modeling teams. These data can be used to develop ensemble models, communicate forecasts to the public, create visualizations, compare models, and inform policies regarding COVID-19 mitigation. These open-source data are available via download from GitHub, through an online API, and through R packages

Effects of various agitation techniques on sealer penetration in dentinal tubules using CLSM: An in-vitro study

Aim: To compare the effect of ultrasonic, sonic and rotary sealer activation techniques on depth of penetration of sealer in the dentinal tubules. Materials and Methods: Freshly extracted 60 single rooted human permanent mandibuar premolar with mature apex were collected. A size 10 no. K file (Dentsply Maillefer) was introduced into each canal. The irrigation procedure was accomplished by using 2ml of 5.25% NAOCl for each file used. Roots were randomly divided into 3 groups on the basis of sealer activation techniques. The specimens were kept in incubator at 37 degree Centigrade temperature for 2 days. The dentin segments were examined on a confocal microscope in Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi under 4X,10X magnification. Results: A total of 60 teeth were included in the study and they were divided into three groups on the basis of method of agitation of sealer: GROUP I - Lentulospiral, Group II-Ultrasonic endodontic tip, Group III - Endoactivator and obturation was done with gutta percha. Mean percentage and depth of penetration was greatest in Group II i.e. Ultrasonics when used for agitation and statistically significant than Group I lentulospiral and Group III Endoactivator.&nbsp

Incidence of posterior wall penetration during internal jugular vein cannulation: A comparison of two techniques using real-time ultrasound

Background and Aims: The true incidence of penetration of the posterior wall (through-and-through puncture) of the internal jugular vein (IJV) during cannulation is unknown. This may have implications if there is hematoma formation, penetration and/or inadvertent cannulation of an underlying carotid artery. This study compared the incidence of posterior wall puncture during IJV cannulation using ultrasound guidance versus traditional landmarks-guided technique. Methods: One hundred and seventy adult patients admitted to a gastro-liver Intensive Care Unit who required central venous lines were randomly divided into Group A: IJV cannulation using anatomical landmark-guided technique and Group B: IJV cannulation using real-time ultrasound guidance. In both groups, a second investigator followed the needle path using real-time ultrasound. The incidence of posterior wall puncture, number of attempts for successful cannulation, incidence of inadvertent arterial punctures and occurrence of complications such as hematoma formation and pneumothorax were recorded. Results: Significantly more (37/80, 46%) patients in Group A had posterior wall puncture compared to 19/90 (21%) in Group B. Incidence of arterial puncture was 8/80 (10%) in Group A, 5/90 (5.5%) in Group B. The number of attempts for venous cannulation and hematoma formation was significantly less in Group B. Conclusion: Real-time ultrasound-guided IJV cannulation significantly reduces but does not wholly eliminate the incidence of posterior venous wall penetrations. It also significantly reduces the incidence of inadvertent arterial punctures and number of attempts for successful cannulation