Development and validation of the Safe Sleep Calculator to assess risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy.

We describe the development and validation of a Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI) risk assessment clinical tool. An initial SUDI risk assessment algorithm was developed from an individual participant data meta-analysis of five international SIDS/SUDI case-control studies. The algorithm was translated into a clinical web tool called the Safe Sleep Calculator, which was tested at the routine infant 6-week check-up in primary care clinics in New Zealand. Evidence was gathered through mixed-methods research to inform the revision of the algorithm and the clinical tool. The revised algorithm performance was validated on a new contemporary New Zealand SUDI case-control study dataset and the pilot population data set. The area under the Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) curve is 0.89, with a sensitivity of 83.0% and a specificity of 80.9% in the NZ infant population when 0.3 per 1000 live births or more risk is used to define 'at higher risk'. The Safe Sleep Calculator SUDI risk assessment tool provides individualized evidence-based specific SUDI prevention advice for every infant and enables the concentration of additional SUDI prevention efforts and resource for infants at higher risk.

The spectrum of comet Hale-Bopp (C/1995 O1) observed with the Infrared Space Observatory at 2.9 astronomical units from the sun.

Comet Hale-Bopp (C/1995 O1) was observed at wavelengths from 2.4 to 195 micrometers with the Infrared Space Observatory when the comet was about 2.9 astronomical units (AU) from the sun. The main observed volatiles that sublimated from the nucleus ices were water, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide in a ratio (by number) of 10:6:2. These species are also the main observed constituents of ices in dense interstellar molecular clouds; this observation strengthens the links between cometary and interstellar material. Several broad emission features observed in the 7- to 45-micrometer region suggest the presence of silicates, particularly magnesium-rich crystalline olivine. These features are similar to those observed in the dust envelopes of Vega-type stars.

Comparison of a double-textured prototype manual toothbrush with 3 branded products. A professional brushing study.

BACKGROUND: The consensus has been that there is no one superior design of manual toothbrush for plaque removal, despite, in some cases, encouraging findings from laboratory studies. The user appears the major variable and may mask differences in brush efficacy. AIMS: The aim of this study was to compare 2 new double-filament texture brushes with 3 established brands for plaque removal, under standardised conditions of professional brushing. METHOD: The study was a blind, randomised crossover design, balanced for residual effects. A panel of 15 subjects suspended tooth cleaning for 3 days. On day 4, plaque was scored from 6 sites per tooth before and after a 2-min professional toothbrushing. A washout period of at least 3 days was allowed between study periods. RESULTS: Overall plaque removal was 50% with no significant differences between brushes, a 3% absolute difference in average total mouth plaque separating brushes. However, at upper- and mid-buccal sites, a not significant 8% and a significant 9% difference, respectively, in plaque removal were recorded in favour of one of the prototype brushes, and at the mid-lingual site, there was a non-significant 10% difference in favour of one branded brush. Other sites were cleaned similarly by all brushes except for reduced plaque removal from buccal compared to lingual surfaces and interproximal compared to mid-surface sites. Highly significant subject differences in plaque removal were noted which may be relevant to inherent anatomical difficulties in tooth cleaning for some individuals. Period effects were not significant, supporting the consistency in brushing by the professional brusher. CONCLUSION: The method appeared capable of detecting small benefits of brush design. However, the benefits reported must be taken within the context of an overall lack of difference between brushes. The method could be used to set and record a minimum level of efficacy for toothbrushes.