Silent Reading

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Nitrous oxide and methane in the Atlantic Ocean between 50 degrees North and 52 degrees South: Latitudinal distribution and sea-to-air flux

We discuss nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) distributions in 49 vertical profiles covering the upper 300 m of the water column along two 13,500 km transects between 50°N and 52°S during the Atlantic Meridional Transect (AMT) programme (AMT cruises 12 and 13). Vertical N2O profiles were amenable to analysis on the basis of common features coincident with Longhurst provinces. In contrast, CH4 showed no such pattern. The most striking feature of the latitudinal depth distributions was a well-defined “plume” of exceptionally high N2O concentrations coincident with very low levels of CH4, located between 23.5°N and 23.5°S; this feature reflects the upwelling of deep waters containing N2O derived from nitrification, as identified by an analysis of N2O, apparent oxygen utilization (AOU) and NO3-, and presumably depleted in CH4 by bacterial oxidation. Sea-to-air emissions fluxes for a region equivalent to 42% of the Atlantic Ocean surface area were in the range 0.40–0.68 Tg N2O yr-1 and 0.81–1.43 Tg CH4 yr-1. Based on contemporary estimates of the global ocean source strengths of atmospheric N2O and CH4, the Atlantic Ocean could account for 6–15% and 4–13%, respectively, of these source totals. Given that the Atlantic Ocean accounts for around 20% of the global ocean surface, on unit area basis it appears that the Atlantic may be a slightly weaker source of atmospheric N2O than other ocean regions but it could make a somewhat larger contribution to marine-derived atmospheric CH4 than previously thought

Pharmacogenetic GWAS meta-analysis of LDL cholesterol response to statins

Cardiolog

Women reporting sport: Still a man’s game?

While it is generally known that sports journalism is an area of gender disparity, no major academic study has established the proportion of women sports writers in the UK press. Although female sports broadcasters have increased their visibility in the United Kingdom, the same is not true in the print media. This research first examines the current visibility of women sports journalists in the national UK press, by counting by-lines according to gender. Second, a study explores if the 2012 London Olympic Games had any effect on the proportion of female sports writers in the UK press, by comparing sports by-lines in a sample 6 months before and after the games. Furthermore, these results are compared to a decade earlier to see if the situation has improved. The findings indicate that the proportion of female sports writers in the UK press is lower than in comparable countries, with little improvement over time

Pulmonary artery interventions after Norwood procedure: Does type or position of shunt predict need for intervention?

ObjectivesPulmonary artery stenosis is a potential complication after Norwood palliation for hypoplastic left heart syndrome. It is unclear whether the shunt type or position in the Norwood procedure is associated with the risk of the development of pulmonary artery stenosis. We examined the risk of pulmonary artery stenosis and the need for pulmonary artery intervention in children undergoing the Norwood procedure with either the right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit or modified Blalock-Taussig shunt.MethodsA retrospective review was performed of all patients who underwent the Norwood procedure from January 1, 2003, to September 1, 2011. The data from 100 patients were reviewed, including catheterization and echocardiographic data, right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit (n = 67, right shunt position in 17 and left in 50), and right ventricle to pulmonary artery (n = 33). The primary outcome measure was the need for operative or catheter-based pulmonary artery intervention.ResultsNo patients in the right ventricle to pulmonary artery group required catheterization-based pulmonary artery interventions. Surgical pulmonary arterioplasty was performed frequently and equally in both the right ventricle to pulmonary artery and right ventricle to pulmonary artery groups at the bidirectional Glenn procedure. Catheter-based pulmonary arterioplasty was performed more frequently in the right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit group, especially when the conduit was positioned to the right side of the neoaorta. These patients had a 12.73 increased odds of a pulmonary artery intervention compared with the left to right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit (P = .04).ConclusionsConsistent with a previous multicenter randomized trial, patients who received a right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit versus a right ventricle to pulmonary artery have a greater risk of requiring pulmonary artery interventions. Patients with right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit placement to the right underwent a greater number of pulmonary artery interventions but demonstrated overall improved growth of the branch pulmonary arteries compared with the patients receiving a left-sided right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit

Cosmetic outcomes and quality of life in children with cardiac implantable electronic devices

BackgroundAxillary implant location is an alternative implant location in patients for cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) for the purposes of improved cosmetic outcome. The impact from the patient’s perspective is unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare scar perception scores and quality of life (QOL) in pediatric patients with axillary CIED implant location versus the standard infraclavicular approach.MethodsThis is a multicenter prospective study conducted at eight pediatric centers and it includes patients aged from 8 to 18 years with a CIED. Patients with prior sternotomy were excluded. Scar perception and QOL outcomes were compared between the infraclavicular and axillary implant locations.ResultsA total of 141 patients (83 implantable cardioverter defibrillator [ICD]/58 pacemakers) were included, 55 with an axillary device and 86 with an infraclavicular device. Patients with an ICD in the axillary position had better perception of scar appearance and consciousness. Patients in the axillary group reported, on average, a total Pediatric QOL Inventory score that was 6 (1, 11) units higher than the infraclavicular group, after adjusting for sex and race (P = 0.02).ConclusionsQOL is significantly improved in axillary in comparison to the infraclavicular CIED position, regardless of device type. Scar perception is improved in patients with ICD in the axillary position.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/147032/1/pace13522.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/147032/2/pace13522_am.pd

The Remote-Handled TRU Waste Program

RH TRU Waste is radioactive waste that requires shielding in addition to that provided by the container to protect people nearby from radiation exposure. By definition, the radiation dose rate at the outer surface of the container is greater than 200 millirem per hour and less than 1,000 rem per hour. The DOE is proposing a process for the characterization of RH TRU waste planned for disposal in the WIPP. This characterization process represents a performance-driven approach that satisfies the requirements of the New Mexico Hazardous Waste Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations for WIPP long-term performance, the transportation requirements of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Department of Transportation, as well as the technical safety requirements of RH TRU waste handling. The transportation, management and disposal of RH TRU waste is regulated by external government agencies as well as by the DOE itself. Externally, the characterization of RH-TRU waste for disposal at the WIPP is regulated by 20.4.1.500 New Mexico Administrative Code (incorporating 40 CFR 261.13) for the hazardous constituents and 40 CFR 194.24 for the radioactive constituents. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission certifies the shipping casks and the transportation system must meet DOT regulations. Internally, the DOE evaluates the environmental impacts of RH TRU waste transportation, handling and disposal through its National Environmental Policy Act program. The operational safety is assessed in the RH TRU Waste Safety Analysis Report, to be approved by the DOE. The WIPP has prepared a modification request to the Hazardous Waste Facility Permit that includes modifications to the WIPP facility for the safe receipt and handling of RH TRU waste and the addition of an RH TRU waste analysis plan. Modifications to the facility include systems and equipment for safe handling of RHTRU containers. Two shipping casks are to be used to optimize RH TRU was te throughput: the RH-72B and the CNS 10-160B transportation casks. Additionally, a draft Notification of Proposed Change to the EPA 40 CFR 194 Certification of the WIPP has been prepared, which contains a proposal for the RH TRU characterization program for compliance with the EPA requirements

Acute kidney injury is associated with subsequent infection in neonates after the Norwood procedure: a retrospective chart review

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) and infection are common complications after pediatric cardiac surgery. No pediatric study has evaluated for an association between postoperative AKI and infection. The objective of this study was to determine if AKI in neonates after cardiopulmonary bypass was associated with the development of a postoperative infection. Methods: We performed a single center retrospective chart review from January 2009 to December 2015 of neonates (age ≤ 30 days) undergoing the Norwood procedure. AKI was defined by the modified neonatal Kidney Disease Improving Global outcomes serum creatinine criteria using (1) measured serum creatinine and (2) creatinine corrected for fluid balance on postoperative days 1-4. Infection, (culture positive or presumed), must have occurred after a diagnosis of AKI and within 60 days of surgery. Results: Ninety-five patients were included, of which postoperative infection occurred in 42 (44%). AKI occurred in 38 (40%) and 42 (44%) patients by measured serum creatinine and fluid overload corrected creatinine, respectively, and was most commonly diagnosed on postoperative day 2. The median time to infection from the time of surgery and AKI was 7 days (IQR 5-14 days) and 6 days (IQR 3-13 days), respectively. After adjusting for confounders, the odds of a postoperative infection were 3.64 times greater in patients with fluid corrected AKI (95% CI, 1.36-9.75; p = 0.01). Conclusions: Fluid corrected AKI was independently associated with the development of a postoperative infection. These findings support the notion that AKI is an immunosuppressed state that increases the risk of infection