IMPORTANCE: Understanding global variation in firearm mortality rates could guide prevention policies and interventions. OBJECTIVE: To estimate mortality due to firearm injury deaths from 1990 to ...2016 in 195 countries and territories. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This study used deidentified aggregated data including 13 812 location-years of vital registration data to generate estimates of levels and rates of death by age-sex-year-location. The proportion of suicides in which a firearm was the lethal means was combined with an estimate of per capita gun ownership in a revised proxy measure used to evaluate the relationship between availability or access to firearms and firearm injury deaths. EXPOSURES: Firearm ownership and access. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Cause-specific deaths by age, sex, location, and year. RESULTS: Worldwide, it was estimated that 251 000 (95% uncertainty interval UI, 195 000-276 000) people died from firearm injuries in 2016, with 6 countries (Brazil, United States, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, and Guatemala) accounting for 50.5% (95% UI, 42.2%-54.8%) of those deaths. In 1990, there were an estimated 209 000 (95% UI, 172 000 to 235 000) deaths from firearm injuries. Globally, the majority of firearm injury deaths in 2016 were homicides (64.0% 95% UI, 54.2%-68.0%; absolute value, 161 000 deaths 95% UI, 107 000-182 000); additionally, 27% were firearm suicide deaths (67 500 95% UI, 55 400-84 100) and 9% were unintentional firearm deaths (23 000 95% UI, 18 200-24 800). From 1990 to 2016, there was no significant decrease in the estimated global age-standardized firearm homicide rate (−0.2% 95% UI, −0.8% to 0.2%). Firearm suicide rates decreased globally at an annualized rate of 1.6% (95% UI, 1.1-2.0), but in 124 of 195 countries and territories included in this study, these levels were either constant or significant increases were estimated. There was an annualized decrease of 0.9% (95% UI, 0.5%-1.3%) in the global rate of age-standardized firearm deaths from 1990 to 2016. Aggregate firearm injury deaths in 2016 were highest among persons aged 20 to 24 years (for men, an estimated 34 700 deaths 95% UI, 24 900-39 700 and for women, an estimated 3580 deaths 95% UI, 2810-4210). Estimates of the number of firearms by country were associated with higher rates of firearm suicide (P < .001; R2 = 0.21) and homicide (P < .001; R2 = 0.35). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This study estimated between 195 000 and 276 000 firearm injury deaths globally in 2016, the majority of which were firearm homicides. Despite an overall decrease in rates of firearm injury death since 1990, there was variation among countries and across demographic subgroups.
Despite ongoing efforts to characterize the host response toward SARS-CoV-2, a major gap in our knowledge still exists regarding the magnitude and duration of the humoral response. Analysis of the ...antibody response in mild versus moderate/severe patients, using our new developed quantitative electrochemiluminescent assay for detecting IgM/IgA/IgG antibodies toward SARS-CoV-2 antigens, revealed a rapid onset of IgG/IgA antibodies, specifically in moderate/severe patients. IgM antibodies against the viral receptor binding domain, but not against nucleocapsid protein, were detected at early stages of the disease. Furthermore, we observed a marked reduction in IgM/IgA antibodies over-time. Adapting our assay for ACE2 binding-competition, demonstrated that the presence of potentially neutralizing antibodies is corelated with IgG/IgA. Finally, analysis of the cytokine profile in COVID-19 patients revealed unique correlation of an IL-12p70/IL33 and IgG seroconversion, which correlated with disease severity. In summary, our comprehensive analysis has major implications on the understanding and monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 infections.
The Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity visited two active wind‐blown sand dunes within Gale crater, Mars, which provided the first ground‐based opportunity to compare Martian and terrestrial ...eolian dune sedimentary processes and study a modern analog for the Martian eolian rock record. Orbital and rover images of these dunes reveal terrestrial‐like and uniquely Martian processes. The presence of grainfall, grainflow, and impact ripples resembled terrestrial dunes. Impact ripples were present on all dune slopes and had a size and shape similar to their terrestrial counterpart. Grainfall and grainflow occurred on dune and large‐ripple lee slopes. Lee slopes were ~29° where grainflows were present and ~33° where grainfall was present. These slopes are interpreted as the dynamic and static angles of repose, respectively. Grain size measured on an undisturbed impact ripple ranges between 50 μm and 350 μm with an intermediate axis mean size of 113 μm (median: 103 μm). Dissimilar to dune eolian processes on Earth, large, meter‐scale ripples were present on all dune slopes. Large ripples had nearly symmetric to strongly asymmetric topographic profiles and heights ranging between 12 cm and 28 cm. The composite observations of the modern sedimentary processes highlight that the Martian eolian rock record is likely different from its terrestrial counterpart because of the large ripples, which are expected to engender a unique scale of cross stratification. More broadly, however, in the Bagnold Dune Field as on Earth, dune‐field pattern dynamics and basin‐scale boundary conditions will dictate the style and distribution of sedimentary processes.
Key Points
Impact ripples, grainfall, and grainflows occur on Martian dunes and are similar to terrestrial counterparts
Unique, meter‐scale large ripples are found on Martian dunes and would distinguish the Martian and terrestrial eolian rock records
The angle of repose on Martian dunes and large ripples is found to be around 29°, which is similar to that found on Earth
Plain Language Summary
The Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity visited two active wind‐blown sand dunes within Gale crater, Mars, which provided the first opportunity to make a ground‐based observations of sand dunes on Mars. These observations are compared to dunes on Earth and are used as a modern analog for ancient sedimentary rocks on Mars. Dune attributes, such as wind impact ripples and sand flow avalanches, are found to be similar to terrestrial dunes. The avalanches formed between 29 and 40 degrees, which is similar to Earth and supports the idea gravity plays little role in how steeply sand can pile up. The most distinct departure from terrestrial dunes was the presence of meter‐scale ripples superimposed on the dunes. This scale of ripple does not exist on terrestrial dunes and is thought to form because of the low‐atmospheric density on Mars. This scale of ripple would likely manifest as decimeter‐scale wind‐blown cross‐stratification in the Martian rock record, which is an unusual scale for the terrestrial counterpart.
The Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover performed coordinated measurements to examine the textures and compositions of aeolian sands in the active Bagnold dune field. The Bagnold sands are ...rounded to subrounded, very fine to medium sized (~45–500 μm) with ≥6 distinct grain colors. In contrast to sands examined by Curiosity in a dust‐covered, inactive bedform called Rocknest and soils at other landing sites, Bagnold sands are darker, less red, better sorted, have fewer silt‐sized or smaller grains, and show no evidence for cohesion. Nevertheless, Bagnold mineralogy and Rocknest mineralogy are similar with plagioclase, olivine, and pyroxenes in similar proportions comprising >90% of crystalline phases, along with a substantial amorphous component (35% ± 15%). Yet Bagnold and Rocknest bulk chemistry differ. Bagnold sands are Si enriched relative to other soils at Gale crater, and H2O, S, and Cl are lower relative to all previously measured Martian soils and most Gale crater rocks. Mg, Ni, Fe, and Mn are enriched in the coarse‐sieved fraction of Bagnold sands, corroborated by visible/near‐infrared spectra that suggest enrichment of olivine. Collectively, patterns in major element chemistry and volatile release data indicate two distinctive volatile reservoirs in Martian soils: (1) amorphous components in the sand‐sized fraction (represented by Bagnold) that are Si‐enriched, hydroxylated alteration products and/or H2O‐ or OH‐bearing impact or volcanic glasses and (2) amorphous components in the fine fraction (<40 μm; represented by Rocknest and other bright soils) that are Fe, S, and Cl enriched with low Si and adsorbed and structural H2O.
Plain Language Summary
The Bagnold dune field is an active sand field with moving dunes and sits between the landing site of the Curiosity rover and rocks of interest higher up on Mount Sharp. When passing through the dune field, we used all of Curiosity's instruments to measure the chemistry, mineralogy, and grain size of sands in the Bagnold dune field in order to figure out where they came from, how the sands are transported, and what volatile materials (like water) lie within Martian soils. We found that the Bagnold sand dunes are very well sorted; no dusty materials are found within them, in stark contrast to soils seen previously with Curiosity and with rovers at other landing sites. We found that the coarser sand grains are enriched in the volcanic minerals olivine and pyroxene, confirming a prediction from orbit that wind‐related activity seems to concentrate these phases. We also found that the dunes were much lower in water and other volatile elements like sulfur and chlorine versus all previous Mars soils. Using a combination of the rover's sieving system and chemical measurement tools, we figured out that two types of materials host water. In the first type of material, common in these sands, water is low in abundance (≤~1%), very tightly bound to the grains, and is not released until temperatures >200°C. In the second type of material, water is higher in abundance (2%) and more easily released by heating. Sieved water‐bearing fine materials may be a useful resource for human explorers.
Key Points
Because of ongoing aeolian activity, the Bagnold dunes consist of well‐sorted sands and lack the finer grains typical of Martian soils
Dune sands are chemically distinct with elevated Si, Mg, and Ni and lower H2O, S, and Cl relative to all previously measured Martian fines
Two distinct, water‐/OH‐bearing amorphous components are identified: Fe‐, S‐, and Cl‐rich material in dust and Si‐rich material in the sands
Diagenetic silica enrichment in fracture‐associated halos that crosscut lacustrine and unconformably overlying aeolian sedimentary bedrock is observed on the lower north slope of Aeolis Mons in Gale ...crater, Mars. The diagenetic silica enrichment is colocated with detrital silica enrichment observed in the lacustrine bedrock yet extends into a considerably younger, unconformably draping aeolian sandstone, implying that diagenetic silica enrichment postdates the detrital silica enrichment. A causal connection between the detrital and diagenetic silica enrichment implies that water was present in the subsurface of Gale crater long after deposition of the lacustrine sediments and that it mobilized detrital amorphous silica and precipitated it along fractures in the overlying bedrock. Although absolute timing is uncertain, the observed diagenesis likely represents some of the most recent groundwater activity in Gale crater and suggests that the timescale of potential habitability extended considerably beyond the time that the lacustrine sediments of Aeolis Mons were deposited.
Key Points
Silica‐rich diagenetic halos penetrate lacustrine and unconformably draping aeolian bedrock in Gale crater, Mars
Colocation of diagenetic and detrital silica suggests aqueous remobilization of detrital silica
Presence of diagenetic halos in the unconformably draping aeolian bedrock suggests late‐stage groundwater activity in Gale crater
Non-invasive in situ monitoring of catalyzed chemical reactions can show and probe the stability of the catalyst and ensure a high yield of the desired chemical processes. Infrared in situ ...measurement techniques in attenuated total reflection (ATR) and transmission mode were used to assess the feasibility of these methods and ultimately compare their ability to monitor and detect active or degrading catalyst species. Four different process configurations were used, namely (i) a stirred tank reactor equipped with ATR-IR; (ii) a continuously operated miniplant with ATR-IR; (iii) a continuously operated miniplant with transmission-IR; (iv) a stirred tank reactor equipped with transmission-IR. The established hydroformylation of a long-chain olefin catalyzed by a rhodium-phosphite catalyst was taken as a representative reaction. The potential for process monitoring in molecular catalysis was evaluated. Advanced chemometric analyses by Band Target Entropy Minimization (BTEM) were performed following spectral monitoring to obtain pure component spectra estimates as well as relative time-dependent concentration profiles. In general, this study showed that infrared measurements in transmission mode are able to detect active catalytic species and can follow deactivation phenomena in batch reactions and continuously operated miniplants. Apart from the substrates and products, a number of catalytic intermediates appear to be in equilibrium exchange at reaction conditions and hence the deconvolution of multispecies spectra exhibits superimpositions of these species. Quantum chemical calculations support the structural identification of measured vibrational spectra. This comparative study of ATR versus transmission and batch experiment versus continuously operated miniplant shows that transmission IR is capable of getting in-depth spectroscopic data that can be deconvoluted by BTEM. A distinct dosing strategy is important to get meaningful data on the molecular catalyst under process conditions. This study gives a unique perspective on in situ spectroscopic infrared investigations in molecular catalysis and future process control.
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is the most common rheumatic condition in children.
1
,
2
In approximately one third of patients, the disease is controlled with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and ...an appropriate program of physical and occupational therapy. The remainder are candidates for more aggressive therapy with antirheumatic drugs.
Methotrexate was shown to have a therapeutic advantage over placebo, with an acceptable safety profile, in a randomized, controlled trial in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis who had polyarticular involvement (regardless of the type of onset).
3
Long-term studies showed that methotrexate is efficacious and well tolerated in most children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
3
– . . .
•A maximum log-likelihood algorithm regularizes CRISM oversampled images.•CRISM data are regularized to 12m/pixel, compensating for spatial & spectral blur.•CRISM data are used to predict mineralogy ...for dunes also examined by Curiosity.•CRISM data are used to map smectites for comparison to Opportunity's measurements.
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) hyperspectral image data have been acquired in an along-track oversampled (ATO) mode with the intent of processing the data to better than the nominal ∼18m/pixel ground resolution. We have implemented an iterative maximum log-likelihood method (MLM) that utilizes the instrument spectral and spatial transfer functions and includes a penalty function to regularize the data. Products are produced both in sensor space and as projected hyperspectral image cubes at 12m/pixel. Preprocessing steps include retrieval of surface single scattering albedos (SSA) using the Hapke Function and DISORT-based radiative modeling of atmospheric gases and aerosols. Resultant SSA cubes are despiked to remove extrema and tested to ensure that the remaining data are Poisson-distributed, an underlying assumption for the MLM algorithm implementation. Two examples of processed ATO data sets are presented. ATO0002EC79 covers the route taken by the Curiosity rover during its initial ascent of Mount Sharp in Gale Crater. SSA data are used to model mineral abundances and grain sizes predicted to be present in the Namib barchan sand dune sampled and analyzed by Curiosity. CRISM based results compare favorably to in situ results derived from Curiosity's measurement campaign. ATO0002DDF9 covers Marathon Valley on the Cape Tribulation rim segment of Endeavour Crater. SSA spectra indicate the presence of a minor component of Fe3+ and Mg2+ smectites on the valley floor and walls. Localization to 12m/pixel provided the detailed spatial information needed for the Opportunity rover to traverse to and characterize those outcrops that have the deepest absorptions. The combination of orbital and rover-based data show that the smectite-bearing outcrops in Marathon Valley are impact breccias that are basaltic in composition and that have been isochemically altered in a low water to rock environment.
To investigate sex-specific associations of birth weight with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) in mid-to-late adulthood.
ELSA-Brasil is a multicenter ...cohort study of adults aged 35-74 years affiliated with universities or research institutions of six capital cities in Brazil. After exclusions, we investigated 11 636 participants. Socio-demographic factors and birth weight were obtained by interview. All anthropometry was directly measured at baseline. We categorized birth weight as low (⩽2.5 kg); normal (2.5-4 kg) and high (⩾4 kg). We performed analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) for continuous outcomes and ordinal logistic regression for categorical adiposity outcomes. We examined interaction on the multiplicative scale by sex and by race.
High birth weight uniformly predicted greater overall and central obesity in men and women. However, low (vs normal) birth weight, in ANCOVA models adjusted for participant age, family income, race, education, maternal education, and maternal and paternal history of diabetes, was associated with lower BMI, WC and WHR means for men, but not for women (Pinteraction=0.01, <0.0001 and <0.0001, respectively). In similarly adjusted ordinal logistic regression models, odds of obesity (odds ratio (OR)=0.65, 0.46-0.90) and of being in the high (vs low) tertile of WC (OR=0.66, 0.50-0.87) and of WHR (OR=0.79, 0.60-1.03) were lower for low (vs normal) birth weight men, but trended higher (BMI: OR=1.18, 0.92-1.51; WC: OR=1.21, 0.97-1.53; WHR: OR=1.44, 1.15-1.82) for low (vs normal) birth weight women.
In this Brazilian sample of middle-aged and elderly adults who have lived through a rapid nutritional transition, low birth weight was associated with adult adiposity in a sex-specific manner. In men, low birth weight was associated with lower overall and central adult adiposity, while in women low birth weight was generally associated with greater central adiposity.
PDF
