Evolution of Octupole Deformation in Radium Nuclei from Coulomb Excitation of Radioactive

There is sparse direct experimental evidence that atomic nuclei can exhibit stable "pear" shapes arising from strong octupole correlations. In order to investigate the nature of octupole collectivity in radium isotopes, electric octupole (E3) matrix elements have been determined for transitions in ^{222,228}Ra nuclei using the method of sub-barrier, multistep Coulomb excitation. Beams of the radioactive radium isotopes were provided by the HIE-ISOLDE facility at CERN. The observed pattern of E3 matrix elements for different nuclear transitions is explained by describing ^{222}Ra as pear shaped with stable octupole deformation, while ^{228}Ra behaves like an octupole vibrator.

Advances in the treatment of cytomegalovirus.

BACKGROUND: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a threat to immunologically weak patients. HCMV cannot yet be eliminated with a vaccine, despite recent advances. SOURCES OF DATA: Sources of data are recently published research papers and reviews about HCMV treatments. AREAS OF AGREEMENT: Current antivirals target the UL54 DNA polymerase and are limited by nephrotoxicity and viral resistance. Promisingly, letermovir targets the HCMV terminase complex and has been recently approved by the FDA and EMA. AREAS OF CONTROVERSY: Should we screen newborns for HCMV, and use antivirals to treat sensorineural hearing loss after congenital HCMV infection? GROWING POINTS: Growing points are developing drugs against latently infected cells. In addition to small molecule inhibitors, a chemokine-based fusion toxin protein, F49A-FTP, has shown promise in killing both lytically and latently infected cells. AREAS TIMELY FOR DEVELOPING RESEARCH: We need to understand what immune responses are required to control HCMV, and how best to raise these immune responses with a vaccine.

Importance of a One Health approach in advancing global health security and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The One Health approach supports global health security by improving coordination, collaboration and communication at the human-animal-environment interface to address shared health threats such as zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, food safety and others. Over the past decade, country after country has implemented the One Health approach and demonstrated recognised benefits. However, in order to build sustainability of One Health in these efforts, One Health champions and implementers need to collect and provide government decision-makers with country-level data on One Health's impact to help justify policy decisions and resource allocations. Due to the broad, often seemingly all encompassing, nature of One Health in promoting synergies of multiple disciplines and sectors, the One Health community has faced difficulties in determining specific One Health impact indicators for formally evaluating One Health successes. In this paper, the author a) briefly reviews the ongoing commentary on the recognised benefits of the implementation of a One Health approach in the global health security context, b) discusses challenges in measuring the impact of One Health, and c) proposes possible solutions for evaluating the impact of One Health on global health security.

L'approche Une seule santé soutient la sécurité sanitaire mondiale en améliorant la coordination, la collaboration et la communication à l'interface entre les humains, les animaux et l'environnement afin de répondre aux menaces qui leur sont communes, qu'il s'agisse des maladies zoonotiques, de la résistance aux agents antimicrobiens, de la sécurité sanitaire des aliments ou d'autres encore. Au cours de la dernière décennie, les pays ont peu à peu adopté l'approche. Une seule santé et perçu les bénéfices qu'elle apporte. Toutefois, pour asseoir la durabilité des efforts déployés selon l'approche Une seule santé, les principaux pionniers et acteurs de sa mise en œuvre doivent recueillir des données sur l'impact de cette approche au niveau national et les communiquer aux décideurs politiques afin de les aider à justifier les politiques menées et les allocations de ressources. En raison de l'ampleur de l'approche Une seule santé et du caractère souvent globalisant qu'elle peut présenter dans la promotion des synergies pluridisciplinaires et intersectorielles, la communauté Une seule santé rencontre quelques difficultés à déterminer des indicateurs d'impact spécifiques permettant d'évaluer formellement les résultats positifs d'Une seule santé. Dans cet article, l'auteur a) fait le point sur la perception actuelle des bénéfices reconnus de la mise en œuvre de l'approche Une seule santé dans le contexte de la sécurité sanitaire mondiale ; b) examine les défis liés à l'estimation de l'impact d'Une seule santé ; c) propose quelques solutions envisageables pour évaluer cet impact sur la sécurité sanitaire mondiale.

La filosofía de Una sola salud favorece la seguridad sanitaria mundial porque mejora la labor de coordinación, colaboración y comunicación en la confluencia de personas, animales y medio ambiente para afrontar amenazas sanitarias comunes, como puedan ser enfermedades zoonóticas, resistencias a los antimicrobianos o peligros para la inocuidad de los alimentos. De un decenio a esta parte, en un país tras otro, la noción de Una sola salud ha sido aplicada en la práctica y deparado indudables beneficios. Sin embargo, para inscribirla duraderamente en este quehacer, quienes la promueven y pugnan por aplicarla deben reunir datos que demuestren su incidencia real en cada país y hacer llegar esos datos a las instancias decisorias de los gobiernos para que estos puedan fundamentar en ellos sus decisiones sobre políticas y sobre distribución de los recursos. Por la propia amplitud de la noción de Una sola salud, percibida a menudo como una filosofía global para promover sinergias entre múltiples disciplinas y sectores, quienes trabajan en el tema han tenido dificultades para dar con indicadores referidos específicamente al impacto de Una sola salud que ayuden a evaluar oficialmente los éxitos que haya podido deparar. El autor procede: a) repasar brevemente las observaciones actuales sobre las reconocidas ventajas de abordar las cuestiones de seguridad sanitaria mundial desde la óptica de Una sola salud; b) examinar los problemas que se plantean para cuantificar el impacto de esta filosofía; y c) proponer posibles soluciones para determinar el impacto de Una sola salud en la seguridad sanitaria mundia.

Synergising tools for capacity assessment and One Health operationalisation.

Multisectoral, One Health collaboration is essential for addressing national and international health threats that arise at the human-animal-environment interface. Thanks to the efforts of multiple organisations, countries now have an array of One Health tools available to assess capacities within and between sectors, plan and prioritise activities, and strengthen multisectoral, One Health coordination, communication, and collaboration. By doing so, they are able to address health threats at the human-animal-environment interface, including emerging zoonotic and infectious diseases, more efficiently. However, to ensure optimal outcomes for the countries using these One Health tools, the partners responsible for implementation should regularly collaborate and share information such as implementation timelines, results and lessons learned, so that one process can inform the next. This paper presents a consensus framework on how commonly implemented One Health tools might align to best support countries in strengthening One Health systems. Twelve One Health tools were selected based on their high implementation rates, authors' experience with these tools and their focus on multisectoral, One Health coordination. Through a four-step process, the authors: a) jointly carried out a landscape analysis of One Health tools, using a Cloudbased spreadsheet to share the unique characteristics and applications of each tool; b) performed an implementation analysis to identify and share implementation dynamics and identify respective outcomes and synergies; c) jointly created a consensus conceptual model of how the authors suggest the tools might logically work together; and d) extrapolated from steps 1-3 an agreed-upon overarching conceptual framework for how current and future One Health tools could be categorised to best support One Health system strengthening at the national level. Highlighted One Health tools include the States Parties Annual Reporting Tool under the International Health Regulations (IHR), the World Organisation for Animal Health Performance of Veterinary Services (PVS) Pathway, the Joint External Evaluation process, IHR/PVS National Bridging Workshops, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention One Health Zoonotic Disease Prioritization Tool, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Laboratory Mapping Tool, the FAO Assessment Tool for Laboratories and Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Systems, the FAO Surveillance Evaluation Tool, the One Health Systems Mapping and Analysis Resource Toolkit, the National Action Plan for Health Security, and IHR Monitoring and Evaluation Framework tools for After Action Reviews and Simulation Exercises. A new guidance document entitled, Taking a Multisectoral, One Health Approach: A Tripartite Guide to Addressing Zoonotic Diseases in Countries was also included as a framework that provides guidance to support the implementation of the outputs of the tools described.

La collaboration multisectorielle suivant l'approche Une seule santé est essentielle pour répondre aux menaces sanitaires survenant à l'interface homme­animal­ environnement à l'échelle nationale et internationale. Grâce aux efforts conjugués de nombreuses organisations, les pays disposent désormais d'une gamme d'outils Une seule santé permettant à la fois d'évaluer les capacités intra et intersectorielles, de planifier et prioriser les activités, et de renforcer la coordination, la communication et la collaboration multisectorielles suivant cette approche. Grâce à ces outils, les pays sont mieux armés pour faire face avec efficacité aux menaces sanitaires à l'interface homme­animal­environnement, en particulier celles liées aux maladies zoonotiques et infectieuses émergentes. Néanmoins, pour optimiser les retombées pour les pays du recours aux outils Une seule santé, les partenaires chargés de leur mise en oeuvre devraient régulièrement collaborer et partager leurs informations, notamment le calendrier de mise en oeuvre, les résultats obtenus et les enseignements tirés, afin que chaque processus contribue à l'amélioration des suivants. Les auteurs présentent un cadre consensuel sur la manière dont les outils Une seule santé les plus courants peuvent converger afin d'aider le mieux possible les pays à renforcer leurs systèmes basés sur cette approche. Douze outils ont été choisis en fonction de leur fréquence d'utilisation, de l'expérience acquise par les auteurs et de l'accent mis sur la coordination multisectorielle Une seule santé. Les auteurs ont ensuite procédé à un examen en quatre étapes, comme suit : a) analyse générale des outils sélectionnés, au moyen d'un tableur sur serveur dématérialisé permettant de saisir et de partager les caractéristiques et les applications spécifiques de chaque outil ; b) analyse de la mise en oeuvre des outils, visant à déterminer et à partager la dynamique et les caractéristiques de mise en oeuvre, ainsi que les résultats respectifs et les synergies qui en ressortent ; c) création d'un modèle conceptuel consensuel contenant les propositions des auteurs en vue d'une convergence raisonnée des fonctionnalités de ces outils ; d) à partir des trois étapes précédentes, conception d'un cadre conceptuel transversal destiné à catégoriser les outils Une seule santé actuels et futurs afin d'apporter un soutien optimal au renforcement des systèmes Une seule santé à l'échelle des pays. Parmi les outils examinés figurent l'Outil d'autoévaluation pour l'établissement de rapports annuels par les États Parties de l'Organisation mondiale de la santé (OMS), qui concerne l'application du Règlement sanitaire international (RSI) ; le Processus sur les Performances des Services vétérinaires (PVS) de l'Organisation mondiale de la santé animale (OIE) ; le processus d'Évaluation extérieure conjointe ; les ateliers nationaux de liaison RSI/PVS ; l'outil Une seule santé de priorisation des maladies zoonotiques des Centres pour le contrôle et la prévention des maladies (CDC) ; l'Outil de cartographie des laboratoires de l'Organisation des Nations Unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture (FAO) ; l'Outil d'évaluation de la FAO pour les laboratoires et les systèmes de surveillance de l'antibiorésistance ; l'Outil d'évaluation de la FAO sur la surveillance ; la Boîte à outils cartographiques et analytiques sur les systèmes Une seule santé ; les Plans d'action nationaux de sécurité sanitaire ; et enfin les outils d'examen après action et protocoles de simulation du Cadre de suivi et d'évaluation du RSI. Le document d'orientation récemment publié sous le titre Taking a multisectoral One Health approach: a Tripartite guide to addressing zoonotic diseases in countries [Adopter une approche multisectorielle Une seule santé : Guide tripartite pour lutter contre les maladies zoonotiques] est également présenté, en tant qu'il fournit un cadre directeur en appui de la mise en oeuvre des résultats des outils d'évaluation ci-dessus.

La colaboración multisectorial en clave de Una sola salud es esencial para responder a las amenazas sanitarias de dimensión nacional e internacional que surgen en la confluencia de personas, animales y medio ambiente. Gracias al trabajo de numerosas organizaciones, los países disponen ahora de un repertorio de herramientas concebidas desde la óptica de Una sola salud para evaluar las capacidades existentes dentro de los sectores y entre ellos, planificar y jerarquizar actividades y potenciar las labores de coordinación, comunicación y colaboración multisectoriales en clave de Una sola salud. Gracias a todo ello, los países están en condiciones de luchar más eficazmente contra las amenazas sanitarias en la interfaz de personas, animales y medio ambiente, en particular las enfermedades infecciosas y zoonóticas emergentes. No obstante, para que los países obtengan resultados óptimos del uso de estas herramientas de Una sola salud es preciso que los distintos colaboradores encargados de aplicarlas colaboren e intercambien información periódicamente, por ejemplo sobre plazos de ejecución, resultados obtenidos y enseñanzas extraídas, de tal manera que un proceso pueda alimentar el siguiente. Los autores presentan un conjunto de principios consensuados sobre el modo en que cabría armonizar entre sí las herramientas de Una sola salud utilizadas con frecuencia para que los países cuenten con un apoyo idóneo a la hora de fortalecer los sistemas de Una sola salud. Ante todo, los autores seleccionaron doce de esas herramientas atendiendo a su (elevado) nivel de utilización, la experiencia de los propios autores con ellas y la medida en que privilegian la coordinación multisectorial en clave de Una sola salud. Después, siguiendo un proceso en cuatro etapas: a) efectuaron colectivamente un análisis general de las herramientas existentes, empleando una hoja de cálculo situada en la «nube¼ para poner en común las características y aplicaciones únicas de cada herramienta; b) analizaron la utilización práctica de esas herramientas de Una sola salud para dilucidar y poner en común la dinámica de aplicación de cada una y determinar sus respectivos resultados y sinergias; c) elaboraron de forma concertada un modelo teórico del modo en que, a su juicio, sería lógico que las herramientas funcionaran conjuntamente; y d) a partir de los pasos 1 a 3, extrapolaron consensuadamente un marco teórico global con el que se podrían clasificar las herramientas de Una sola salud, actuales y futuras, para prestar un apoyo idóneo al fortalecimiento del sistema de Una sola salud en cada país. Las herramientas de Una sola salud seleccionadas son: el instrumento de evaluación para la presentación anual de informes de los Estados Partes que forma parte del Reglamento Sanitario Internacional (RSI); el proceso PVS (Prestaciones de los Servicios Veterinarios) de la Organización Mundial de Sanidad Animal (OIE); la herramienta de evaluación externa conjunta del RSI; los talleres nacionales de coordinación RSI-PVS; la herramienta de jerarquización de enfermedades zoonóticas en clave de Una sola salud de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC); la herramienta de inventario de laboratorios de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Alimentación y la Agricultura (FAO); la herramienta de evaluación de laboratorios y sistemas de vigilancia de las resistencias a los antimicrobianos de la FAO; la herramienta de evaluación de la vigilancia de la FAO; el juego de herramientas y material de análisis y cartografía de los sistemas de Una sola salud; los planes de acción nacional de seguridad sanitaria de la OMS; las herramientas del marco de seguimiento y evaluación del RSI para la realización de exámenes posteriores a la acción y ejercicios de simulación. También se incluyó una nueva guía de la Tripartita para combatir las enfermedades zoonóticas en los países desde la lógica multisectorial de Una sola salud (Taking a multisectoral One Health approach: a Tripartite guide to addressing zoonotic diseases in countries), en el cual se ofrecen pautas para secundar la aplicación en la práctica de los resultados obtenidos con las citadas herramientas.

Evidence-based guides in tracheostomy use in critical patients. / Guías basadas en la evidencia para el uso de traqueostomía en el paciente crítico.

OBJECTIVES: Provide evidence based guidelines for tracheostomy in critically ill adult patients and identify areas needing further research. METHODS: A task force composed of representatives of 10 member countries of the Pan-American and Iberic Federation of Societies of Critical and Intensive Therapy Medicine and of the Latin American Critical Care Trial Investigators Network developed recommendations based on the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system. RESULTS: The group identified 23 relevant questions among 87 issues that were initially identified. In the initial search, 333 relevant publications were identified of which 226 publications were chosen. The task force generated a total of 19 recommendations: 10 positive (1B=3, 2C=3, 2D=4) and 9 negative (1B=8, 2C=1). A recommendation was not possible in six questions. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous techniques are associated with a lower risk of infections compared to surgical tracheostomy. Early tracheostomy only seems to reduce the duration of ventilator use but not the incidence of pneumonia, the length of stay, or the long-term mortality rate. The evidence does not support the use of routine bronchoscopy guidance or laryngeal masks during the procedure. Finally, proper prior training is as important or even a more significant factor in reducing complications than the technique used.

Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and infancy reduces aeroallergen sensitization: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D has immune-modulating effects. We determined whether vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and infancy prevents aeroallergen sensitization and primary care respiratory illness presentations. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel-group trial. We assigned pregnant women, from 27-week gestation to birth, and then their infants, from birth to 6 months, to placebo or one of two dosages of daily oral vitamin D. Woman/infant pairs were randomized to: placebo/placebo, 1000 IU/400 IU or 2000 IU/800 IU. When the children were 18 months old, we measured serum-specific IgE antibodies and identified acute primary care visits described by the doctor to be due to a cold, otitis media, an upper respiratory infection, croup, asthma, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, a wheezy lower respiratory infection or fever and cough. RESULTS: Specific IgE was measured on 185 of 260 (71%) enrolled children. The proportion of children sensitized differed by study group for four mite antigens: Dermatophagoides farinae (Der-f1, Der-f2) and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der-p1, Der-p2). With results presented for placebo, lower dose, and higher dose vitamin D, respectively (all P < 0.05): Der-f1 (18%, 10%, 2%), Der-f2 (14%, 3%, 2%), Der-p1 (19%, 14%, 3%) and Der-p2 (12%, 2%, 3%). There were study group differences in the proportion of children with primary care visits described by the doctor as being for asthma (11%, 0%, 4%, P = 0.002), but not for the other respiratory diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and infancy reduces the proportion of children sensitized to mites at age 18 months. Preliminary data indicate a possible effect on primary care visits where asthma is diagnosed.

Influence of footwear designed to boost energy return on running economy in comparison to a conventional running shoe.

Running economy is a reflection of the amount of inspired oxygen required to maintain a given velocity and is considered a determining factor for running performance. Athletic footwear has been advocated as a mechanism by which running economy can be enhanced. New commercially available footwear has been developed in order to increase energy return, although their efficacy has not been investigated. This study aimed to examine the effects of energy return footwear on running economy in relation to conventional running shoes. Twelve male runners completed 6-min steady-state runs in conventional and energy return footwear. Overall, oxygen consumption (VO2), heart rate, respiratory exchange ratio, shoe comfort and rating of perceived exertion were assessed. Moreover, participants subjectively indicated which shoe condition they preferred for running. Differences in shoe comfort and physiological parameters were examined using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, whilst shoe preferences were tested using a chi-square analysis. The results showed that VO2 and respiratory exchange ratio were significantly lower, and shoe comfort was significantly greater, in the energy return footwear. Given the relationship between running economy and running performance, these observations indicate that the energy return footwear may be associated with enhanced running performance in comparison to conventional shoes.

Isolated brain metastases as first site of recurrence in prostate cancer: case report and review of the literature.

Fewer than 2% of patients with metastatic prostate cancer (pca) develop brain metastases. Autopsy series have confirmed the rarity of brain metastases. When present, brain metastases occur in end stage, once the pca is castrate-resistant and spread to other sites is extensive. Here, we present a rare case of a patient with pca who developed a solitary parenchymal brain metastasis as first site of relapse 9 years after radical therapy. The patient underwent craniotomy and excision of the tumour. A second recurrence was also isolated to the brain. In the literature, pca patients with brain metastases have a poor mean survival of 1-7.6 months. The patient in our case report experienced a relatively favourable outcome, surviving 19 months after his initial brain relapse.

Gender differences in patellofemoral load during the epee fencing lunge.

Clinical analyses have shown that injuries and pain linked specifically to fencing training/competition were prevalent in 92.8% of fencers. Patellofemoral pain is the most common chronic injury in athletic populations and females are considered to be more susceptible to this pathology. This study aimed to examine gender differences in patellofemoral contact forces during the fencing lunge. Patellofemoral contact forces were obtained from eight male and eight female club level epee fencers using an eight-camera 3D motion capture system and force platform data as they completed simulated lunges. Independent t-tests were performed on the data to determine whether gender differences in patellofemoral contact forces were present. The results show that females were associated with significantly greater patellofemoral contact force parameters in comparison with males. This suggests that female fencers may be at greater risk from patellofemoral pathology as a function of fencing training/competition.

The Influence of Minimalist Footwear on Knee and Ankle Load during Depth Jumping.

Plyometric training is used by athletes to promote strength and explosive power. However plyometric activities such as depth jumping are associated with a high incidence of injuries. This study examined the influence of minimalist and conventional footwear on the loads experienced by the patellofemoral joint and Achilles tendon. Patellofemoral and Achilles tendon forces were obtained from ten male participants using an eight-camera 3D motion capture system and force platform data as they completed depth jumps in both footwear conditions. Differences between footwear were calculated using paired t-tests. The results show that the minimalist footwear were associated with significantly lower patellofemoral contact force/pressure and also knee abduction moment. It is therefore recommended, based on these observations, that those who are susceptible to knee pain should consider minimalist footwear when performing plyometric training.

Alcohol health literacy in young adults with type 1 diabetes and its impact on diabetes management.

AIMS: To investigate the knowledge of alcohol and carbohydrate content of commonly consumed alcoholic drinks among young adults with Type 1 diabetes and to explore alcohol consumption while identifying diabetes self-management strategies used to minimize alcohol-associated risk. METHOD: We conducted an open-access, multiple-choice web survey to investigate knowledge of alcohol and carbohydrate content of typical alcoholic drinks using images. Respondents to the survey also recorded their current alcohol consumption and diabetes self-management strategies when drinking. RESULTS: A total of 547 people aged 18-30 years responded to the survey (341 women; 192 men; mean (sd) age 24.5 (3.7) years), of whom 365 (66.7%) drank alcohol. In all, 84 (32.9%) women and 31 (22.6%) men scored higher than the cut-off score for increased-risk drinking. Knowledge accuracy of alcohol units was poor: only 7.3% (n = 40) correctly identified the alcohol content of six or more out of 10 drinks. Knowledge of carbohydrate content was also poor: no respondent correctly identified the carbohydrate content of six or more out of 10 drinks. Various and inconsistent strategies to minimize alcohol-associated risk were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol consumption was common among the survey respondents, but knowledge of alcohol and carbohydrate content was poor. Greater alcohol-related health literacy is required to minimize alcohol-associated risk. Further research should help develop effective strategies to improve health literacy and support safe drinking for young adults with Type 1 diabetes.

Recurrent bovine tuberculosis in New Zealand cattle and deer herds, 2006-2010.

A retrospective cohort study was conducted to identify risk factors for bovine tuberculosis (bTB) recurrence in New Zealand cattle and deer herds identified as bTB-infected from 1 June 2006 to 1 November 2010. A Cox proportional hazards model identified a positive relationship between the daily hazard of bTB recurrence and: (1) the number of prior bTB episodes for two episodes [hazard ratio (HR) 3·22, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·21-8·60], and for five episodes (HR 89·5, 95% CI 13·8-580), (2) more than one positive bTB case animal at the index episode (HR 2·25, 95% CI 1·19-4·25) and (3) the presence of cleared test-positives at the final test of the index episode. The proportional hazards assumption was violated for the latter variable so a time-dependent covariate was introduced. Up to 2 years post-clearance, the daily hazard of bTB recurrence was greater in herds with test-positives at the final test (HR 2·59, 95% CI 1·30-5·13), but this effect was not observed more than 2 years' post-clearance (HR 1·05, 95% CI 0·28-3·91). We conclude that unresolved infection contributes to further bTB episodes in the first 2 years after herd clearance.

Three-dimensional kinematic differences between the preferred and non-preferred limbs during maximal instep soccer kicking.

Abstract The current investigation aimed to determine whether there are differences in ball velocity and 3D kinematics when performing maximal kicks with the dominant and non-dominant limbs. Seventeen male academy soccer players performed maximal speed place kicks with their dominant and the non-dominant limbs. The 3D kinematics of the lower extremities were obtained using a 10-camera motion capture system operating at 500 Hz. Hip, knee and ankle joint kinematics were quantified in the sagittal, coronal and transverse planes and then contrasted using paired t-tests. Significantly higher ball velocities were obtained with the dominant limb. Foot linear velocity and knee extension velocity at ball contact were also found to be significantly greater in the dominant limb. That reduced ball velocities were observed between kicking limbs highlights the potential performance detriments that may occur when kicking with the non-dominant limb; thus, it is recommended that additional bilateral training be undertaken in order to attenuate this and improve overall kicking performance.

Anthropogenic change decouples a freshwater predator's density feedback.

Intraspecific interactions within predator populations can affect predator-prey dynamics and community structure, highlighting the need to better understand how these interactions respond to anthropogenic change. To this end, we used a half-century (1969-2018) of abundance and size-at-age data from Lake Erie's walleye (Sander vitreus) population to determine how anthropogenic alterations have influenced intraspecific interactions. Before the 1980s, the length-at-age of younger walleye (ages 1 and 2) negatively correlated with older (age 3 +) walleye abundance, signaling a 'density feedback' in which intraspecific competition limited growth. However, after the early 1980s this signal of intraspecific competition disappeared. This decoupling of the density feedback was related to multiple anthropogenic changes, including a larger walleye population resulting from better fisheries management, planned nutrient reductions to improve water quality and transparency, warmer water temperatures, and the proliferation of a non-native fish with novel traits (white perch, Morone americana). We argue that these changes may have reduced competitive interactions by reducing the spatial overlap between older and younger walleye and by introducing novel prey. Our findings illustrate the potential for anthropogenic change to diminish density dependent intraspecific interactions within top predator populations, which has important ramifications for predicting predator dynamics and managing natural resources.

A Pragmatic Randomized Trial Comparing Surgical Clipping and Endovascular Treatment of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Surgical clipping and endovascular treatment are commonly used in patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms. We compared the safety and efficacy of the 2 treatments in a randomized trial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clipping or endovascular treatments were randomly allocated to patients with one or more 3- to 25-mm unruptured intracranial aneurysms judged treatable both ways by participating physicians. The study hypothesized that clipping would decrease the incidence of treatment failure from 13% to 4%, a composite primary outcome defined as failure of aneurysm occlusion, intracranial hemorrhage during follow-up, or residual aneurysms at 1 year, as adjudicated by a core lab. Safety outcomes included new neurologic deficits following treatment, hospitalization of >5 days, and overall morbidity and mortality (mRS > 2) at 1 year. There was no blinding. RESULTS: Two hundred ninety-one patients were enrolled from 2010 to 2020 in 7 centers. The 1-year primary outcome, ascertainable in 290/291 (99%) patients, was reached in 13/142 (9%; 95% CI, 5%-15%) patients allocated to surgery and in 28/148 (19%; 95% CI, 13%-26%) patients allocated to endovascular treatments (relative risk: 2.07; 95% CI, 1.12-3.83; P = .021). Morbidity and mortality (mRS >2) at 1 year occurred in 3/143 and 3/148 (2%; 95% CI, 1%-6%) patients allocated to surgery and endovascular treatments, respectively. Neurologic deficits (32/143, 22%; 95% CI, 16%-30% versus 19/148, 12%; 95% CI, 8%-19%; relative risk: 1.74; 95% CI, 1.04-2.92; P = .04) and hospitalizations beyond 5 days (69/143, 48%; 95% CI, 40%-56% versus 12/148, 8%; 95% CI, 5%-14%; relative risk: 0.18; 95% CI, 0.11-0.31; P < .001) were more frequent after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical clipping is more effective than endovascular treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms in terms of the frequency of the primary outcome of treatment failure. Results were mainly driven by angiographic results at 1 year.

Dielectric-barrier discharges in two-dimensional lattice potentials.

We use a pin-grid electrode to introduce a corrugated electrical potential into a planar dielectric-barrier discharge (DBD) system, so that the amplitude of the applied electric field has the profile of a two-dimensional square lattice. The lattice potential provides a template for the spatial distribution of plasma filaments in the system and has pronounced effects on the patterns that can form. The positions at which filaments become localized within the lattice unit cell vary with the width of the discharge gap. The patterns that appear when filaments either overfill or underfill the lattice are reminiscent of those observed in other physical systems involving 2D lattices. We suggest that the connection between lattice-driven DBDs and other areas of physics may benefit from the further development of models that treat plasma filaments as interacting particles.

Alcohol-associated risks for young adults with Type 1 diabetes: a narrative review.

AIM: To undertake a narrative review of the impact and pattern of alcohol consumption in young adults with Type 1 diabetes. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, meeting abstracts of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, the American Diabetes Association and Diabetes UK, Current Controlled Trials, ClinicalTrials.gov, UK Clinical Research Network, scrutiny of bibliographies of retrieved papers and contact with experts in the field. INCLUSION CRITERIA: relevant studies of any design of alcohol consumption and young adults with Type 1 diabetes (age 14-25 years) were included. The key outcomes were the quantity, pattern and impact of alcohol consumption, the effect on diabetes control and the effect of interventions to minimize the risks of alcohol for this population. RESULTS: Six articles and two conference abstracts met the inclusion criteria. There were six cross-sectional studies, one qualitative study and one within-subjects design study. Quality of studies was variable. Alcohol use amongst young adults with Type 1 diabetes was reported to be common and potentially harmful. There was a paucity of evidence on interventions to minimize the risks of alcohol in this target group. CONCLUSIONS: Research is required to understand the social context of alcohol consumption in this population with a view to developing appropriate interventions to minimize the risks associated with its use.

Influence of the helical and six available Cardan sequences on 3D ankle joint kinematic parameters.

Cardan/Euler and helical angles are the popular methods of quantifying angular kinematics. Cardan angles are sequence dependent and crosstalk can influence the kinematic calculations. The International Society of Biomechanics (ISB) recommends a sagittal, coronal, and then transverse (XYZ) sequence of rotations, although it has been proposed that when calculating rotations outside of the sagittal plane, this may not be the most appropriate method. This study investigated the influence of the helical and six available Cardan sequences on three-dimensional (3D) ankle joint kinematics. Kinematic data were obtained using an eight-camera motion analysis system as participants ran at 4.0 m/s +/- 5%. Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to compare kinematic parameters, and intraclass correlations were employed to identify evidence of crosstalk across planes. The results indicate that in the transverse and coronal planes, peak angle and range of motion values using the YXZ and ZXY sequences were significantly greater than the other sequences. Furthermore, utilization of YXZ and ZXY sequences was associated with the strongest correlations from the sagittal plane, and the XYZ sequence was found to be associated with the lowest correlations. It appears that for the representation of 3D ankle joint kinematics, the XYZ sequence is associated with minimal planar crosstalk and as such its use is encouraged.

A combination of serum leucine-rich α-2-glycoprotein 1, CA19-9 and interleukin-6 differentiate biliary tract cancer from benign biliary strictures.

BACKGROUND: Biliary tract cancer (BTC) and benign biliary strictures can be difficult to differentiate using standard tumour markers such as serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) as they lack diagnostic accuracy. METHODS: Two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis and tandem mass spectrometry were used to profile immunodepleted serum samples collected from cases of BTC, primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), immunoglobulin G4-associated cholangitis and healthy volunteers. The serum levels of one candidate protein, leucine-rich α-2-glycoprotein (LRG1), were verified in individual samples using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and compared with serum levels of CA19-9, bilirubin, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and other inflammatory markers. RESULTS: We report increased LRG1, CA19-9 and IL-6 levels in serum from patients with BTC compared with benign disease and healthy controls. Immunohistochemical analysis also demonstrated increased staining of LRG1 in BTC compared with cholangiocytes in benign biliary disease. The combination of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for LRG1, CA19-9 and IL-6 demonstrated an area under the ROC curve of 0.98. In addition, raised LRG1 and CA19-9 were found to be independent predictors of BTC in the presence of elevated bilirubin, C-reactive protein and alkaline phosphatase. CONCLUSION: These results suggest LRG1, CA19-9 and IL-6 as useful markers for the diagnosis of BTC, particularly in high-risk patients with PSC.