A new deuterium–deuterium (D–D) neutron generator has been developed by Adelphi Technology for prompt gamma neutron activation analysis (PGNAA), neutron activation analysis (NAA), and fast neutron ...radiography. The generator makes an excellent fast, intermediate, and thermal neutron source for laboratories and industrial applications that require the safe production of neutrons, a small footprint, low cost, and small regulatory burden. The generator has three major components: a Radio Frequency Induction Ion Source, a Secondary Electron Shroud, and a Diode Accelerator Structure and Target. Monoenergetic neutrons (2.5MeV) are produced with a yield of 1010n/s using 25–50mA of deuterium ion beam current and 125kV of acceleration voltage. The present study characterizes the performance of the neutron generator with respect to neutron yield, neutron production efficiency, and the ionic current as a function of the acceleration voltage at various RF powers. In addition the Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport (MCNP) simulation code was used to optimize the setup with respect to thermal flux and radiation protection.
COVID-19 stay-at-home orders may reduce access to substance use treatment and naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal drug. The objective of this analysis was to compare monthly trends in ...pharmacy-based dispensing rates of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) (buprenorphine and extended-release ER naltrexone) and naloxone in the United States during March 2019–December 2020 by age and sex.
We calculated monthly prescription dispensing rates per 100,000 persons using IQVIA New to Brand. We used Joinpoint regression to calculate monthly percent change in dispensing rates and Wilcoxon Rank Sum tests to examine differences in median monthly rates overall, and by age and sex between March 2019–December 2019 and March 2020–December 2020.
Buprenorphine dispensing increased among those aged 40–64 years and ≥ 65 years from March 2019 to December 2020. Median rates of total ER naltrexone dispensing were lower in March 2020–December 2020 compared to March 2019–December 2019 for the total population, and for females and males. From March 2019 to December 2020, ER naltrexone dispensing decreased and naloxone dispensing increased for those aged 20–39 years.
Dispensing ER naltrexone declined during the study period. Given the increase in substance use during the COVID-19 pandemic, maintaining equivalent access to MOUD may not be adequate to accommodate rising numbers of new patients with opioid use disorder. Access to all MOUD and naloxone could be further expanded to meet potential needs during and after the public health emergency, given their importance in preventing opioid overdose-related harms.
•Declines in extended-release naltrexone dispensing may indicate reduced access.•Despite increases in buprenorphine and naloxone, there may not be adequate access.•Expanding treatment access is crucial during and after the pandemic.•There are several policies, such as telehealth, that can help increase access.
The franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei) is the most endangered dolphin in the western South Atlantic Ocean due to bycatch. Our goal was to test the efficiency of a likely “seal safe” pinger (Banana ...Pinger, Fishtek Marine Ltd.) to ward off franciscanas, as well as investigating possible side effects of habituation and habitat exclusion. We deployed the pinger within a grid of click detectors (C‐POD, Chelonia Ltd.) in Babitonga Bay, southern Brazil, and the narrow band high frequency sonar click trains were used as a proxy for presence of the franciscanas and response to the pinger. The presence of franciscanas next to the pinger and at 100 m away decreased by 19.4% and 15.4%, respectively, when the pinger was switched on, indicating that the franciscanas avoided the area of the pinger. This avoidance response could not be seen at 400 m away. No habituation effect was noted at any distance. There was a slight gradual decrease in detections over the course of the study at all distances, which is probably related to seasonal variation in the population's habitat use, but this requires attention in future studies. The likely “seal safe” pinger sounds effectively warded off franciscanas and thus has the potential to reduce bycatch.
Aerial photogrammetry protocols using drones have proved efficient in monitoring free‐living cetaceans. In this work an aerial photogrammetry protocol using a drone was applied to estimate ...morphometric measurements and body condition variation in two endangered cetacean species, franciscanas (Pontoporia blainvillei, n = 122) and Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis, n = 41). Sampling occurred in winter and summer in Babitonga Bay, southern Brazil. A 115 cm length object was used to calibrate the scale of measurements at different altitudes. A scale calibration model based on eGSD regression by flight altitude was developed (RMSE = 0.039, r2 = 0.9902, ΔAICc = 0.00) and used to convert measurements from pixels to centimeters. Five morphometric measurements (body length ‐ BL, widths at anterior pectoral fin ‐ AP, axilla ‐ AX, anterior dorsal fin ‐ AD, and posterior dorsal fin ‐ PD) were taken from each animal to infer body condition, in which, the widths in the anterior portions of the body as % BL, can be an auxiliary tool in the evaluation of variation in the body condition of the small cetaceans studied. The aerial photogrammetry protocol allowed for estimating morphometric measurements and monitoring seasonal changes in the body condition of the small cetaceans.
The aim of this study was the quantification of the apical fixation forces of mitral valved stents for the first time. A test set-up was developed to measure the forces acting on the apical fixation ...of mitral valved stents. Twenty pigs received a self-expanding valved stent in the mitral position
via
a transapical approach in an off-pump procedure. Following stent deployment in the beating heart, the apical fixation forces were recorded following a standardized protocol and normalized. The apical fixation force of two different valved stent designs (AP: sole apical fixation,
n
= 10; SA: additional sub-annular fixation,
n
= 10) was compared to quantify the impact of the design change. Force measurement was successfully conducted in 18 of 20 animals (design AP:
n
= 10; design SA:
n
= 8). Evaluation showed higher mean forces and amplitude in the group with sole apical fixation (
p
= 0.046; Table 1). The impact of the additional sub-annular fixation was shown by a significant reduction of the force acting upon the apex of the heart. Quantification of these
in vivo
forces provides important information about the impact of different stent designs and might provide an objective parameter for stent performance evaluation in clinical application.
The Gram-negative intracellular pathogen Francisella tularensis is known for its ability to dampen host immune responses. We recently performed a microarray analsyis comparing human monocyte ...responses to the highly virulent F. tularensis tularensis Schu S4 strain (F.t.) versus the less virulent F. tularensis novicida (F.n.).
1
Many groups of genes were affected, including those involved with autophagy and with the regulation of autophagy. Here, we discuss the implications in the context of Francisella virulence and host cell response, then conclude with potential future experiments.
Francisella tularensis infects macrophages and escapes phago-lysosomal fusion to replicate within the host cytosol, resulting in host cell apoptosis. Here we show that the Fas-mediated death pathway ...is activated in infected cells and correlates with escape of the bacterium from the phagosome and the bacterial burden. Our studies also demonstrate that constitutive activation of Akt, or deletion of SHIP, promotes phago-lysosomal fusion and limits bacterial burden in the host cytosol, and the subsequent induction of Fas expression and cell death. Finally, we show that phagosomal escape/intracellular bacterial burden regulate activation of the transcription factors sp1/sp3, leading to Fas expression and cell death. These data identify for the first time host cell signaling pathways that regulate the phagosomal escape of Francisella, leading to the induction of Fas and subsequent host cell death.
Objective
The EuroSCORE risk stratification model has been developed in 1995 and is still widely used to assess individual patient risk prior to cardiac surgery. Furthermore, the score advanced to a ...decision tool to determine so-called “high-risk patients” and in consequence serves as an important selection criterion in new technologies, such as the catheter-based aortic valve replacement. Several studies with relatively small patient numbers showed a substantial overestimation of risk by the EuroSCORE. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether the nationwide data support this finding.
Methods
A subgroup of the registry of the German Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery from 2006 and 2007, with 32,806 patients undergoing isolated coronary surgery and isolated aortic valve replacement was investigated.
Results
The overall hospital mortality in isolated coronary surgery in this patient cohort (
n
= 26,501 patients) was 2.6% (
n
= 695). The overall hospital mortality in isolated aortic valve replacement in this patient cohort (
n
= 6,305 patients) was 3.9% (
n
= 245). The logistic EuroSCORE predicted a proportion of 5.2% for patients with isolated CABG and 7.3% for patients with isolated aortic valve replacement. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.77 for isolated CABG procedures and 0.69 for isolated valve procedures, supporting the substantial lack of predictive value of the EuroSCORE.
Conclusion
The logistic EuroSCORE insufficiently evaluates the risk of the current patient population and therefore should be carefully used as a tool for important therapeutic decision-making.
PDF
