Socioeconomic indicators of heat-related health risk supplemented with remotely sensed data

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Extreme heat events are the number one cause of weather-related fatalities in the United States. The current system of alert for extreme heat events does not take into account intra-urban spatial variation in risk. The purpose of this study is to evaluate a potential method to improve spatial delineation of risk from extreme heat events in urban environments by integrating sociodemographic risk factors with estimates of land surface temperature derived from thermal remote sensing data.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Comparison of logistic regression models indicates that supplementing known sociodemographic risk factors with remote sensing estimates of land surface temperature improves the delineation of intra-urban variations in risk from extreme heat events.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Thermal remote sensing data can be utilized to improve understanding of intra-urban variations in risk from extreme heat. The refinement of current risk assessment systems could increase the likelihood of survival during extreme heat events and assist emergency personnel in the delivery of vital resources during such disasters.</p

Adaptive, Group Sequential Designs that Balance the Benefits and Risks of Wider Inclusion Criteria

We propose a new class of adaptive randomized trial designs aimed at gaining the advantages of wider generalizability and faster recruitment, while mitigating the risks of including a population for which there is greater a priori uncertainty. Our designs use adaptive enrichment, i.e., they have preplanned decision rules for modifying enrollment criteria based on data accrued at interim analyses. For example, enrollment can be restricted if the participants from predefined subpopulations are not benefiting from the new treatment. To the best of our knowledge, our designs are the first adaptive enrichment designs to have all of the following features: the multiple testing procedure fully leverages the correlation among statistics for different populations; the familywise Type I error rate is strongly controlled; for outcomes that are binary, normally distributed, or Poisson distributed, the decision rule and multiple testing procedure are functions of the data only through minimal sufficient statistics. The advantage of relying solely on minimal sufficient statistics is that not doing so can lead to losses in power. Our designs incorporate standard group sequential boundaries for each population of interest; this may be helpful in communicating our designs, since many clinical investigators are familiar with such boundaries, which can be summarized succinctly in a single table or graph. We demonstrate these adaptive designs in the context of a Phase III trial of a new treatment for stroke, and provide user-friendly, free software implementing these designs

Two Novel Dinuclear Cobalt Polypyridyl Complexes in Electro- and Photocatalysis for Hydrogen Production: Cooperativity Increases Performance

Syntheses and mechanisms of two dinuclear Co-polypyridyl catalysts for the H2 evolution reaction (HER) were reported and compared to their mononuclear analogue (R1). In both catalysts, two di-(2,2’-bipyridin-6-yl)-methanone units were linked by either 2,2’-bipyridin-6,6’-yl or pyrazin-2,5-yl. Complexation with CoII gave dinuclear compounds bridged by pyrazine (C2) or bipyridine (C1). Photocatalytic HER gave turnover numbers (TONs) of up to 20000 (C2) and 7000 (C1) in water. Electrochemically, C1 was similar to the R1, whereas C2 showed electronic coupling between the two Co centers. The E(CoII/I) split by 360 mV into two separate waves. Proton reduction in DMF was investigated for R1 with [HNEt3](BF4) by simulation, foot of the wave analysis, and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) with in-line detection of H2. All methods agreed well with an (E)ECEC mechanism and the first protonation being rate limiting (≈104 m−1 s−1). The second reduction was more anodic than the first one. pKa values of around 10 and 7.5 were found for the two protonations. LSV analysis with H2 detection for all catalysts and acids with different pKa values [HBF4, pKa(DMF)≈3.4], intermediate {[HNEt3](BF4), pKa(DMF)≈9.2} to weak [AcOH, pKa(DMF)≈13.5] confirmed electrochemical H2 production, distinctly dependent on the pKa values. Only HBF4 protonated CoI intermediates. The two metals in the dualcore C2 cooperated with an increase in rate to a competitive 105 m−1 s−1 with [HNEt3](BF4). The overpotential decreased compared to R1 by 100 mV. Chronoamperometry established high stabilities for all catalysts with TONlim of 100 for R1 and 320 for C1 and C2

The treatment of cutaneous abscesses: Comparison of emergency medicine providers\u27 practice patterns

INTRODUCTION: Cutaneous abscesses are commonly treated in the emergency department (ED). Although incision and drainage (I&D) remains the standard treatment, there is little high-quality evidence to support additional interventions such as pain control, type of incision, and use of irrigation, wound cultures, and packing. Although guidelines exist to support clinician management of abscesses, they do not clearly specify these additional interventions. This study sought to describe the ED treatments administered to adults with uncomplicated superficial cutaneous abscesses, defined as purulent lesions requiring incision and drainage that could be managed in an ED or outpatient setting. METHODS: Four hundred and seventy-four surveys were distributed to 15 EDs across the United States. Participants were queried about their level of training and practice environment as well as specific questions regarding their management of cutaneous abscesses in the ED. RESULTS: In total, 350 providers responded to the survey (74%). One hundred eighty-nine respondents (54%) were attending physicians, 135 (39%) were residents, and 26 (7%) were midlevel providers. Most providers (76%) used narcotics for pain management, 71% used local anesthetic over the roof of the abscess, and 60% used local anesthetic in a field block for pain control. More than 48% of responders routinely used irrigation after (I&D). Eighty-five percent of responders used a linear incision to drain the abscess and 91% used packing in the wound cavity. Thirty-two percent routinely sent wound cultures and 17% of providers routinely prescribed antibiotics. Most providers (73%) only prescribed antibiotics if certain historical factors or physical findings were present on examination. Antibiotic treatment, if used, favored a combination of 2 or more drugs to cover both Streptococcus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (47%). Follow-up visits were most frequently recommended at 48 hours unless wound was concerning and required closer evaluation. CONCLUSION: Variability exists in the treatment strategies for abscess care. Most providers used narcotic analgesics in addition to local anesthetic, linear incisions, and packing. Most providers did not irrigate, order wound cultures, or routinely prescribe oral antibiotics unless specific risk factors or physical signs were present. Limited evidence is available at this time to guide these treatment strategies

Resonance properties and microstructure of ultracompliant metallic nanoelectromechanical systems resonators synthesized from Al-32 at. % Mo amorphous-nanocrystalline metallic composites

This study details the resonance properties of 20 nm thick nanoelectromechanical system scale cantilevers fabricated from a metallic Al-32 at. %Mo nanocomposite. The advantage of the Al-32 at. %Mo alloy is that its strength and near-atomic surface smoothness enable fabrication of single-anchored metallic cantilevers with extreme length-to-thickness ratios, as high as 400:1. This yields uniquely compliant structures with exquisite force sensitivity. For example, an 8 ??m long, 20 nm thick Al-32 at. %Mo device has a spring constant of K280 ??Nm. We show through transmission electron microscope analysis and continuum modeling that the relevant damping mechanisms are related to the device microstructure.open3

CHILES: HI morphology and galaxy environment at z=0.12 and z=0.17

We present a study of 16 HI-detected galaxies found in 178 hours of observations from Epoch 1 of the COSMOS HI Large Extragalactic Survey (CHILES). We focus on two redshift ranges between 0.108 <= z <= 0.127 and 0.162 <= z <= 0.183 which are among the worst affected by radio frequency interference (RFI). While this represents only 10% of the total frequency coverage and 18% of the total expected time on source compared to what will be the full CHILES survey, we demonstrate that our data reduction pipeline recovers high quality data even in regions severely impacted by RFI. We report on our in-depth testing of an automated spectral line source finder to produce HI total intensity maps which we present side-by-side with significance maps to evaluate the reliability of the morphology recovered by the source finder. We recommend that this become a common place manner of presenting data from upcoming HI surveys of resolved objects. We use the COSMOS 20k group catalogue, and we extract filamentary structure using the topological DisPerSE algorithm to evaluate the \hi\ morphology in the context of both local and large-scale environments and we discuss the shortcomings of both methods. Many of the detections show disturbed HI morphologies suggesting they have undergone a recent interaction which is not evident from deep optical imaging alone. Overall, the sample showcases the broad range of ways in which galaxies interact with their environment. This is a first look at the population of galaxies and their local and large-scale environments observed in HI by CHILES at redshifts beyond the z=0.1 Universe.Comment: 23 pages, 12 figures, 1 interactive 3D figure, accepted to MNRA

Sequential decoupling of negative-energy states in Douglas-Kroll-Hess theory

Here, we review the historical development, current status, and prospects of Douglas--Kroll--Hess theory as a quantum chemical relativistic electrons-only theory.Comment: 15 page

Reconstruction of ancient microbial genomes from the human gut

Loss of gut microbial diversity1–6 in industrial populations is associated with chronic diseases7, underscoring the importance of studying our ancestral gut microbiome. However, relatively little is known about the composition of pre-industrial gut microbiomes. Here we performed a large-scale de novo assembly of microbial genomes from palaeofaeces. From eight authenticated human palaeofaeces samples (1,000–2,000 years old) with well-preserved DNA from southwestern USA and Mexico, we reconstructed 498 medium- and high-quality microbial genomes. Among the 181 genomes with the strongest evidence of being ancient and of human gut origin, 39% represent previously undescribed species-level genome bins. Tip dating suggests an approximate diversification timeline for the key human symbiont Methanobrevibacter smithii. In comparison to 789 present-day human gut microbiome samples from eight countries, the palaeofaeces samples are more similar to non-industrialized than industrialized human gut microbiomes. Functional profiling of the palaeofaeces samples reveals a markedly lower abundance of antibiotic-resistance and mucin-degrading genes, as well as enrichment of mobile genetic elements relative to industrial gut microbiomes. This study facilitates the discovery and characterization of previously undescribed gut microorganisms from ancient microbiomes and the investigation of the evolutionary history of the human gut microbiota through genome reconstruction from palaeofaeces.Ethics Overview of samples Reference-based taxonomic composition De novo genome reconstruction Methanobrevibacter smithii tip dating Functional genomic analysis Discussion Online content Method

Training in the practice of noninvasive brain stimulation: Recommendations from an IFCN committee

As the field of noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) expands, there is a growing need for comprehensive guidelines on training practitioners in the safe and effective administration of NIBS techniques in their various research and clinical applications. This article provides recommendations on the structure and content of this training. Three different types of practitioners are considered (Technicians, Clinicians, and Scientists), to attempt to cover the range of education and responsibilities of practitioners in NIBS from the laboratory to the clinic. Basic or core competencies and more advanced knowledge and skills are discussed, and recommendations offered regarding didactic and practical curricular components. We encourage individual licensing and governing bodies to implement these guidelines