ABSTRACT
While seasonal outlooks have been operational for many years, until recently the extended‐range timescale referred to as subseasonal‐to‐seasonal (S2S) has received little attention. S2S ...prediction fills the gap between short‐range weather prediction and long‐range seasonal outlooks. Decisions in a range of sectors are made in this extended‐range lead time; therefore, there is a strong demand for this new generation of forecasts. International efforts are under way to identify key sources of predictability, improve forecast skill and operationalize aspects of S2S forecasts; however, challenges remain in advancing this new frontier. If S2S predictions are to be used effectively, it is important that, along with science advances, an effort is made to develop, communicate and apply these forecasts appropriately. In this study, the emerging operational S2S forecasts are presented to the wider weather and climate applications community by undertaking the first comprehensive review of sectoral applications of S2S predictions, including public health, disaster preparedness, water management, energy and agriculture. The value of applications‐relevant S2S predictions is explored, and the opportunities and challenges facing their uptake are highlighted. It is shown how social sciences can be integrated with S2S development, from communication to decision‐making and valuation of forecasts, to enhance the benefits of ‘climate services’ approaches for extended‐range forecasting. While S2S forecasting is at a relatively early stage of development, it is concluded that it presents a significant new window of opportunity that can be explored for application‐ready capabilities that could allow many sectors the opportunity to systematically plan on a new time horizon.
This large, prospective, community-based study characterized neuropsychological functioning and academic achievement at the time of the first recognized seizure and identified risk factors for ...cognitive deficits.
We compared 282 children (ages 6-14 years, IQ > or =70) with a first recognized seizure to 147 healthy siblings on a battery of well-standardized and widely used neuropsychological and academic achievement tests and examined relationships with demographic and clinical variables.
In this intellectually normal cohort, 27% with just one seizure and up to 40% of those with risk factors exhibited neuropsychological deficits at or near onset. Risk factors associated with neuropsychological deficits included multiple seizures (i.e., second unprovoked seizure; odds ratio OR = 1.96), use of antiepileptic drugs (OR = 2.27), symptomatic/cryptogenic etiology (OR = 2.15), and epileptiform activity on the initial EEG (OR = 1.90); a child with all 4 risks is 3.00 times more likely than healthy siblings to experience neuropsychological deficits by the first clinic visit. Absence epilepsy carried increased odds for neuropsychological impairment (OR = 2.00).
A subgroup of intellectually normal children with seizures showed neuropsychological deficits at onset. Academic achievement was unaffected, suggesting that there is a window early in the disorder for intervention to ameliorate the impact on school performance. Therefore, the risk factors identified here (especially if multiple risks are present) warrant swift referral for neuropsychological evaluation early in the course of the condition.
ABSTRACT We report for the first time a γ-ray and multiwavelength nearly periodic oscillation in an active galactic nucleus. Using the Fermi Large Area Telescope we have discovered an apparent ...quasi-periodicity in the γ-ray flux (E > 100 MeV) from the GeV/TeV BL Lac object PG 1553+113. The marginal significance of the 2.18 0.08 year period γ-ray cycle is strengthened by correlated oscillations observed in radio and optical fluxes, through data collected in the Owens Valley Radio Observatory, Tuorla, Katzman Automatic Imaging Telescope, and Catalina Sky Survey monitoring programs and Swift-UVOT. The optical cycle appearing in ∼10 years of data has a similar period, while the 15 GHz oscillation is less regular than seen in the other bands. Further long-term multiwavelength monitoring of this blazar may discriminate among the possible explanations for this quasi-periodicity.
Pharmacokinetics of an i.v. prodrug of acetaminophen (propacetamol) in neonates after repeat dosing are reported, with scant data for i.v. acetaminophen formulation.
Neonates from an intensive care ...unit received 6-hourly prn i.v. acetaminophen dosed according to postmenstrual age (PMA): 28–32 weeks, 10 mg kg−1; 32–36 weeks, 12.5 mg kg−1; and ≥36 weeks, 15 mg kg−1. A maximum of five blood samples for assay and liver function tests (LFTs) were collected. A one-compartment linear disposition model (zero-order input; first-order elimination) was used to describe time–concentration profiles using population modelling (NONMEM).
Fifty neonates, median (range) PMA 38.6 (32–45) weeks, mean (sd) weight 2.9 (0.7) kg, received a mean of 15 doses over a median 4 days with 189 serum acetaminophen and 231 LFT measurements. Standardized population parameter estimates for a term neonate were clearance (CL) 5.24 (CV 30.5%) litre h−1 70 kg−1 and volume of distribution (V) 76 (29.6%) litre 70 kg−1. CL increased with PMA from 4.4 litre h−1 70 kg−1 at 34 weeks to 6.3 litre h−1 70 kg−1 at 46 weeks. The presence of unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia was associated with reduced CL: 150 μmol litre−1 associated with 40% CL reduction. Acetaminophen concentrations between 10 and 23 mg litre−1 at steady state are predicted after 15 mg kg−1 6-hourly for a neonate of PMA 40 weeks. Hepatic enzyme analysis of daily samples changed significantly for one patient whose alanine aminotransferase concentration tripled.
The parameter estimates are similar to those described for propacetamol. There was no evidence of hepatotoxicity. Unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia impacts upon CL, dictating dose reduction.
Abstract
Although the idea of the Anthropocene originated in the earth sciences, there have been increasing calls for questions about the Anthropocene to be addressed by pan-disciplinary groups of ...researchers from across the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. We use data analysis techniques from corpus linguistics to examine academic texts about the Anthropocene from these disciplinary families. We read the data to suggest that barriers to a broadly interdisciplinary study of the Anthropocene are high, but we are also able to identify some areas of common ground that could serve as interdisciplinary bridges.
Mutations in optineurin (OPTN) are linked to the pathology of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Emerging evidence indicates that OPTN mutation is involved in ...accumulation of damaged mitochondria and defective mitophagy. Nevertheless, the role played by an OPTN E50K mutation in the pathogenic mitochondrial mechanism that underlies retinal ganglion cell (RGC) degeneration in POAG remains unknown. We show here that E50K expression induces mitochondrial fission-mediated mitochondrial degradation and mitophagy in the axons of the glial lamina of aged E50K
mice in vivo. While E50K activates the Bax pathway and oxidative stress, and triggers dynamics alteration-mediated mitochondrial degradation and mitophagy in RGC somas in vitro, it does not affect transport dynamics and fission of mitochondria in RGC axons in vitro. These results strongly suggest that E50K is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction in RGC degeneration in synergy with environmental factors such as aging and/or oxidative stress.
There is international variation in the rates of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). ‘Bystander CPR’ is defined in the Utstein definitions, however, differences in interpretation may ...contribute to the variation reported. The aim of this cross-sectional survey was to understand how the term ‘bystander CPR’ is interpreted in Emergency Medical Service (EMS) across Europe, and to contribute to a better definition of ‘bystander’ for future reference.
During analysis of the EuReCa ONE study, uncertainty about the definition of a ‘bystander’ emerged. Sixty scenarios were developed, addressing the interpretation of ‘bystander CPR’. An electronic version of the survey was sent to 27 EuReCa National Coordinators, who distributed it to EMS representatives in their countries. Results were descriptively analysed.
362 questionnaires were received from 23 countries. In scenarios where a layperson arrived on scene by chance and provided CPR, up to 95% of the participants agreed that ‘bystander CPR’ had been performed. In scenarios that included community response systems, firefighters and/or police personnel, the percentage of agreement that ‘bystander CPR’ had been performed ranged widely from 16% to 91%. Even in scenarios that explicitly matched examples provided in the Utstein template there was disagreement on the definition.
In this survey, the interpretation of ‘bystander CPR’ varied, particularly when community response systems including laypersons, firefighters, and/or police personnel were involved. It is suggested that the definition of ‘bystander CPR’ should be revised to reflect changes in treatment of OHCA, and that CPR before arrival of EMS is more accurately described.
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