Infrasound detection of approaching lahars

Infrasound may be used to detect the approach of hazardous volcanic mudflows, known as lahars, tens of minutes before their flow fronts arrive. We have analyzed signals from more than 20 secondary lahars caused by precipitation events at Fuego Volcano during Guatemala's rainy season in May through October of 2022. We are able to quantify the capabilities of infrasound monitoring through comparison with seismic data, time lapse camera imagery, and high-resolution video of a well-recorded event on August 17. We determine that infrasound sensors, deployed adjacent to the lahar path and in small-aperture (10 s of meters) arrays, are particularly sensitive to remote detection of lahars, including small-sized events, at distances of at least 5 km. At Fuego Volcano these detections could be used to provide timely alerts of up to 30 min before lahars arrive at a downstream monitoring site, such as in the frequently impacted Ceniza drainage. We propose that continuous infrasound monitoring, from locations adjacent to a drainage, may complement seismic monitoring and serve as a valuable tool to help identify approaching hazards. On the other hand, infrasound arrays located a kilometer or more from the lahar path can be effectively used to track a lahar's progression.

793 COLLATERAL HISTORY IN PATIENTS WITH CONFUSION

Introduction

The aims of the project were to intervene early on admission, by taking a collateral history for patients with confusion; to improve the quality and detail of collateral history being taken to better establish certain clinically important specks of information. These include triggers for delirium, the patient’s baseline cognition, any patterns in the change of a patient’s cognition to help determine if a patient was displaying aspects of a certain type of dementia prior to admission, baseline mobility and housing situation, baseline continence, history of substance misuse and alcohol etc. Ultimately, this project aims to identify next of kin from which collateral history can be obtained, but also to establish a firm communication platform to facilitate future discussions on behalf of patients undergoing delirium. This will ultimately, improve care but also making sure family members are involved early on in admission, exploring their ideas, concerns, and expectations.

Methods

We created a collateral history template booklet that was introduced to a geriatric ward. Specific parameters were set and measured, pre-intervention and post-intervention. A second round of post-intervention data collection was performed with an improved collateral history sheet outlook. We measured the outcome of 22 collateral histories for each round.

Results

We found that in both rounds, post intervention, there was an improved outcome compared to pre-intervention in almost all the parameters that were measured. For example, in 100% of the collateral histories there was documentation of the patient’s baseline concentrations and attention, issues with orientation, issues with expressive and receptive dysphasia and the main concerns of the next of kin, any problems with executive functioning and the baseline functional status of the patients.

Conclusion

The collateral history, both improved the overall quality and the quantity of the information gathered in patients with confusion and, contributed to a structured management.

Lymphotoxin-β-receptor (LTβR) signaling on hepatocytes is required for liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy

Lymphotoxin-β-receptor deficient (LTβR^-/-) and Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor p55 deficient (TNFRp55^-/-) mice show defects in liver regeneration (LR) after partial hepatectomy (PHx) with significantly increased mortality. LTβR and TNFRp55 belong to the core members of the TNF/TNFR superfamily. Interestingly, combined failure of LTβR and TNFRp55 signaling after PHx leads to a complete defect in LR. Here, we first addressed the question which liver cell population crucially requires LTβR signaling for efficient LR. To this end, mice with a conditionally targeted LTβR allele (LTβR^fl/fl) were crossed to AlbuminCre and LysozymeMCre mouse lines to unravel the function of the LTβR on hepatocytes and monocytes/macrophages/Kupffer cells, respectively. Analysis of these mouse lines clearly reveals that LTβR is required on hepatocytes for efficient LR while no deficit in LR was found in LTβR^fl/fl × LysMCre mice. Second, the molecular basis for the cooperating role of LTβR and TNFRp55 signaling pathways in LR was investigated by transcriptome analysis of etanercept treated LTβR^-/- (LTβR^-/-/ET) mice. Bioinformatic analysis and subsequent verification by qRT-PCR identified novel target genes (Cyclin-L2, Fas-Binding factor 1, interferon-related developmental regulator 1, Leucyl-tRNA Synthetase 2, and galectin-4) that are upregulated by LTβR/TNFRp55 signaling after PHx and fail to be upregulated after PHx in LTβR^-/-/ET mice.

Perioperative intravenous contrast administration and the incidence of acute kidney injury after major gastrointestinal surgery: prospective, multicentre cohort study

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to determine the impact of preoperative exposure to intravenous contrast for CT and the risk of developing postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery.

METHODS

This prospective, multicentre cohort study included adults undergoing gastrointestinal resection, stoma reversal or liver resection. Both elective and emergency procedures were included. Preoperative exposure to intravenous contrast was defined as exposure to contrast administered for the purposes of CT up to 7 days before surgery. The primary endpoint was the rate of AKI within 7 days. Propensity score-matched models were adjusted for patient, disease and operative variables. In a sensitivity analysis, a propensity score-matched model explored the association between preoperative exposure to contrast and AKI in the first 48 h after surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 5378 patients were included across 173 centres. Overall, 1249 patients (23·2 per cent) received intravenous contrast. The overall rate of AKI within 7 days of surgery was 13·4 per cent (718 of 5378). In the propensity score-matched model, preoperative exposure to contrast was not associated with AKI within 7 days (odds ratio (OR) 0·95, 95 per cent c.i. 0·73 to 1·21; P = 0·669). The sensitivity analysis showed no association between preoperative contrast administration and AKI within 48 h after operation (OR 1·09, 0·84 to 1·41; P = 0·498).

CONCLUSION

There was no association between preoperative intravenous contrast administered for CT up to 7 days before surgery and postoperative AKI. Risk of contrast-induced nephropathy should not be used as a reason to avoid contrast-enhanced CT.

Processing symbolic and non-symbolic proportions: Domain-specific numerical and domain-general processes in intraparietal cortex

Previous studies on the processing of fractions and proportions focused mainly on the processing of their overall magnitude information in the intraparietal sulcus (IPS). However, the IPS is also associated with domain-general cognitive functions beyond processing overall magnitude, which may nevertheless be involved in operating on magnitude information of proportions. To pursue this issue, the present study aimed at investigating whether there is a shared neural correlate for proportion processing in the intraparietal cortex beyond overall magnitude processing and how part-whole relations are processed on the neural level. Across four presentation formats (i.e., fractions, decimals, dot patterns, and pie charts) we observed a shared neural substrate in bilateral inferior parietal cortex, slightly anterior and inferior to IPS areas recently found for overall magnitude proportion processing. Nevertheless, when evaluating the neural correlates of part-whole processing (i.e., contrasting fractions, dot patterns, and pie charts vs. decimals), we found wide-spread activation in fronto-parietal brain areas. These results indicate involvement of domain-general cognitive processes in part-whole processing beyond processing the overall magnitude of proportions. The dissociation between proportions involving part-whole relations and decimals was further substantiated by a representational similarity analysis, which revealed common neural processing for fractions, pie charts, and dot patterns, possibly representing their bipartite part-whole structure. In contrast, decimals seemed to be processed differently on the neural level, possibly reflecting missing processes of actual proportion calculation in decimals.

Magnitude processing of symbolic and non-symbolic proportions: an fMRI study

Background

Recent research indicates that processing proportion magnitude is associated with activation in the intraparietal sulcus. Thus, brain areas associated with the processing of numbers (i.e., absolute magnitude) were activated during processing symbolic fractions as well as non-symbolic proportions. Here, we investigated systematically the cognitive processing of symbolic (e.g., fractions and decimals) and non-symbolic proportions (e.g., dot patterns and pie charts) in a two-stage procedure. First, we investigated relative magnitude-related activations of proportion processing. Second, we evaluated whether symbolic and non-symbolic proportions share common neural substrates.

Methods

We conducted an fMRI study using magnitude comparison tasks with symbolic and non-symbolic proportions, respectively. As an indicator for magnitude-related processing of proportions, the distance effect was evaluated.

Results

A conjunction analysis indicated joint activation of specific occipito-parietal areas including right intraparietal sulcus (IPS) during proportion magnitude processing. More specifically, results indicate that the IPS, which is commonly associated with absolute magnitude processing, is involved in processing relative magnitude information as well, irrespective of symbolic or non-symbolic presentation format. However, we also found distinct activation patterns for the magnitude processing of the different presentation formats.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that processing for the separate presentation formats is not only associated with magnitude manipulations in the IPS, but also increasing demands on executive functions and strategy use associated with frontal brain regions as well as visual attention and encoding in occipital regions. Thus, the magnitude processing of proportions may not exclusively reflect processing of number magnitude information but also rather domain-general processes.

First Searches for Axions and Axionlike Particles with the LUX Experiment

The first searches for axions and axionlike particles with the Large Underground Xenon experiment are presented. Under the assumption of an axioelectric interaction in xenon, the coupling constant between axions and electrons g_{Ae} is tested using data collected in 2013 with an exposure totaling 95 live days ×118  kg. A double-sided, profile likelihood ratio statistic test excludes g_{Ae} larger than 3.5×10^{-12} (90% C.L.) for solar axions. Assuming the Dine-Fischler-Srednicki-Zhitnitsky theoretical description, the upper limit in coupling corresponds to an upper limit on axion mass of 0.12  eV/c^{2}, while for the Kim-Shifman-Vainshtein-Zhakharov description masses above 36.6  eV/c^{2} are excluded. For galactic axionlike particles, values of g_{Ae} larger than 4.2×10^{-13} are excluded for particle masses in the range 1-16  keV/c^{2}. These are the most stringent constraints to date for these interactions.

Limits on Spin-Dependent WIMP-Nucleon Cross Section Obtained from the Complete LUX Exposure

We present experimental constraints on the spin-dependent WIMP-nucleon elastic cross sections from the total 129.5  kg yr exposure acquired by the Large Underground Xenon experiment (LUX), operating at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, South Dakota (USA). A profile likelihood ratio analysis allows 90% C.L. upper limits to be set on the WIMP-neutron (WIMP-proton) cross section of σ_{n}=1.6×10^{-41}  cm^{2} (σ_{p}=5×10^{-40}  cm^{2}) at 35  GeV c^{-2}, almost a sixfold improvement over the previous LUX spin-dependent results. The spin-dependent WIMP-neutron limit is the most sensitive constraint to date.

Impact of associative word learning on phonotactic processing in 6-month-old infants: A combined EEG and fNIRS study

During early language development native phonotactics are acquired in a 'bottom-up' fashion, relying on exquisite auditory differentiation skills operational from birth. Since basic lexico-semantic abilities have been demonstrated from 6 months onwards, 'top-down' influences on phonotactic learning may complement the extraction of transitional probabilities in phonotactic learning. Such a bidirectional acquisition strategy predicts, that familiarization with (proto)words should affect processing of untrained word-forms of similar phonological structure. We investigated 6-month-old infants undergoing an associative training to establish a pseudoword-pseudoobject link. Comparison between pre- and post-training responses to trained and untrained items allowed investigating training effects. Additionally phonotactic status (50% legal, 50% illegal with regard to German) allowed investigating influences of previous language experience. EEG and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) provided measures of electrophysiological and hemodynamic responses. We find evidence for a robust effect of associative training on pseudoword processing when presented in isolation. This transferred to untrained items. Previous linguistic experience showed a much weaker effect. Taken together the results suggest that sensitivity to phonotactic contrasts is present at 6 months, but that acceptance as lexical candidates is rapidly modulated when word forms following non-native phonotactics become potentially meaningful due to repeated exposure in a semantic context.

Results from a Search for Dark Matter in the Complete LUX Exposure

We report constraints on spin-independent weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP)-nucleon scattering using a 3.35×10^{4}  kg day exposure of the Large Underground Xenon (LUX) experiment. A dual-phase xenon time projection chamber with 250 kg of active mass is operated at the Sanford Underground Research Facility under Lead, South Dakota (USA). With roughly fourfold improvement in sensitivity for high WIMP masses relative to our previous results, this search yields no evidence of WIMP nuclear recoils. At a WIMP mass of 50  GeV c^{-2}, WIMP-nucleon spin-independent cross sections above 2.2×10^{-46}  cm^{2} are excluded at the 90% confidence level. When combined with the previously reported LUX exposure, this exclusion strengthens to 1.1×10^{-46}  cm^{2} at 50  GeV c^{-2}.

Results on the Spin-Dependent Scattering of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles on Nucleons from the Run 3 Data of the LUX Experiment

We present experimental constraints on the spin-dependent WIMP (weakly interacting massive particle)-nucleon elastic cross sections from LUX data acquired in 2013. LUX is a dual-phase xenon time projection chamber operating at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (Lead, South Dakota), which is designed to observe the recoil signature of galactic WIMPs scattering from xenon nuclei. A profile likelihood ratio analysis of 1.4×10^{4}  kg day of fiducial exposure allows 90% C.L. upper limits to be set on the WIMP-neutron (WIMP-proton) cross section of σ_{n}=9.4×10^{-41}  cm^{2} (σ_{p}=2.9×10^{-39}  cm^{2}) at 33  GeV/c^{2}. The spin-dependent WIMP-neutron limit is the most sensitive constraint to date.

Improved Limits on Scattering of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles from Reanalysis of 2013 LUX Data

We present constraints on weakly interacting massive particles (WIMP)-nucleus scattering from the 2013 data of the Large Underground Xenon dark matter experiment, including 1.4×10^{4}  kg day of search exposure. This new analysis incorporates several advances: single-photon calibration at the scintillation wavelength, improved event-reconstruction algorithms, a revised background model including events originating on the detector walls in an enlarged fiducial volume, and new calibrations from decays of an injected tritium β source and from kinematically constrained nuclear recoils down to 1.1 keV. Sensitivity, especially to low-mass WIMPs, is enhanced compared to our previous results which modeled the signal only above a 3 keV minimum energy. Under standard dark matter halo assumptions and in the mass range above 4  GeV c^{-2}, these new results give the most stringent direct limits on the spin-independent WIMP-nucleon cross section. The 90% C.L. upper limit has a minimum of 0.6 zb at 33  GeV c^{-2} WIMP mass.

Treadmill walking during vocabulary encoding improves verbal long-term memory

Moderate physical activity improves various cognitive functions, particularly when it is applied simultaneously to the cognitive task. In two psychoneuroendocrinological within-subject experiments, we investigated whether very low-intensity motor activity, i.e. walking, during foreign-language vocabulary encoding improves subsequent recall compared to encoding during physical rest. Furthermore, we examined the kinetics of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in serum and salivary cortisol. Previous research has associated both substances with memory performance.

In both experiments, subjects performed better when they were motorically active during encoding compared to being sedentary. BDNF in serum was unrelated to memory performance. In contrast we found a positive correlation between salivary cortisol concentration and the number of correctly recalled items. In summary, even very light physical activity during encoding is beneficial for subsequent recall.

First results from the LUX dark matter experiment at the Sanford underground research facility

The Large Underground Xenon (LUX) experiment is a dual-phase xenon time-projection chamber operating at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (Lead, South Dakota). The LUX cryostat was filled for the first time in the underground laboratory in February 2013. We report results of the first WIMP search data set, taken during the period from April to August 2013, presenting the analysis of 85.3 live days of data with a fiducial volume of 118 kg. A profile-likelihood analysis technique shows our data to be consistent with the background-only hypothesis, allowing 90% confidence limits to be set on spin-independent WIMP-nucleon elastic scattering with a minimum upper limit on the cross section of 7.6 × 10(-46) cm(2) at a WIMP mass of 33 GeV/c(2). We find that the LUX data are in disagreement with low-mass WIMP signal interpretations of the results from several recent direct detection experiments.

The tobacco epidemic in Syria

BACKGROUND

The Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies (SCTS) was established in response to the smoking epidemic in Syria and lack of local knowledge and expertise to confront it.

OBJECTIVES

To (1) study tobacco use and local smoking practices using both qualitative and quantitative research methods; (2) develop and test an effective smoking cessation intervention for the Syrian environment; and (3) train Syrian researchers.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The Aleppo Household Survey involved a representative sample of adults in Aleppo (2038 subjects, 45.2% men, mean age 35.3 years, response rate 86%). The prevalence of cigarette smoking was 56.9% among men and 17.0% among women, while the prevalence of waterpipe smoking was 20.2% among men and 4.8% among women. Daily use predominated for cigarettes (29.0%), while the opposite was seen in waterpipe use with 10.6% smoking occasionally. Interest in quitting was greater for cigarette than waterpipe smokers (74.0% v 48.6%), while quit rates were higher for waterpipe compared to cigarettes (28.2% v 16.5%). In-depth ethnographic interviews with smokers show that smoking waterpipe is often viewed as an aesthetic enjoyable experience, while smoking cigarettes is viewed as a mundane anxiety-relieving addiction. Clinical laboratory studies reveal that both waterpipe and cigarette smokers in Syria are exposed to smoke toxicants and exhibit dependence symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

All these data have been used iteratively to adapt smoking cessation interventions from developed countries to suit the local Syrian environment. Research conducted in the SCTS to date has provided a fertile training ground for Syrian researchers, as well as for the building of regional collaborations.

Mapping the health and environmental situation in informal zones in Aleppo, Syria: report from the Aleppo household survey

OBJECTIVES

Despite large communities living in informal zones around major cities in Syria, there is currently no information on the health and environmental situations in these areas. From May to August 2004, the Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies (SCTS) conducted the first household survey aiming to provide a baseline map of main health problems and exposures affecting these communities in Aleppo, the second largest city in Syria (2,500,000 inhabitants).

METHODS

Information on 1,021 participants randomly selected using stratified cluster sampling were available (46% males, mean age 34+/-11.7, age range 18-65 years, response rate 86%), including self-reported health/disability, exposures, and saliva cotinine measurement.

RESULTS

Some positive findings include better than expected access to electricity, piped water, city sewage, and the use of propane for cooking. Particular areas of concern include high fertility rates, overcrowded housing conditions, and gender inequality in education and work. Household features likely to reflect negatively on residents' health include the use of diesel chimneys for heating and lack of smoking restrictions. Overall, residents of informal zones suffer from substantial physical and mental health problems and are exposed to high levels of indoor air pollution. All seem to affect women and the elderly disproportionately, while men are more affected by smoking, occupational respiratory exposures, and injuries. Both infectious and non-infectious respiratory outcomes were very common among study participants. Chronic and degenerative disease, including CVD and joint problems, were a source of substantial morbidity among the studied communities.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights major health and environmental specificities of marginalized populations living in Aleppo, where women seem to bear a disproportionate burden of poor health and disability. Smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke seem among the major exposures facing these populations.

Functional impact of an increase in ventricular mass after myocardial damage and its attenuation by converting enzyme inhibition

BACKGROUND

A increase in left ventricular mass after ventricular damage has been identified as an initial response to injury. However, the functional significance of this response has not been clearly established and is the focus of this study.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Twelve mongrel dogs underwent transmyocardial direct current shock to produce transmural left ventricular damage. Six were assigned to converting enzyme inhibitor therapy initiated 24 hours after damage and continued for 4 weeks. The remaining six dogs served as a control group. Left ventricular structure (mass and end diastolic volume) and systolic function (regional and global ejection fraction at rest and during afterload stress) were assessed by magnetic resonance imaging before damage and at the end of the 4-week period. After myocardial damage, left ventricular mass increased from 93.6 +/- 4.0 to 107.5 +/- 3.4 gm in the control group (P < .01) with no change in ventricular volume. Ramipril-treated dogs displayed a reduction in mass (83.2 +/- 2.2 to 74.6 +/- 2.9 gm, P < .05). In the control group, there was greater reduction in global ejection fraction in response to afterload stress at 4 weeks compared with baseline (-16 +/- 4 vs -4 +/- 3%, P = .03). Ejection fraction response to afterload stress was maintained at 4 weeks in the converting enzyme inhibitor-treated group (-5 +/- 3 vs - 1 +/- 4%) and was different at 4 weeks from the control group (-1 +/- 4 vs -16 +/- 4%, P = .004).

CONCLUSION

The increase in left ventricular mass noted after direct current shock was associated with the impairment of systolic function during afterload stress. Inhibition of this mass increase results in preservation of function, thus further supporting the concept that attenuation of ventricular remodeling should be a therapeutic goal.

Acute accidental lindane ingestion in toddlers

Lindane toxicity has been reported to occur mostly by way of dermal exposure. Cases of ingestion in which blood levels have been determined are rare. We present three such cases, along with a comparison of cases in the literature with respect to blood level half-lives and correlation with signs of toxicity. Emergency physicians can prevent acute ingestion by educating patients on the proper use of lindane and by selecting less toxic scabicidal agents.

Noninvasive pulse wave analysis for the early detection of vascular disease

A noninvasive technique has been developed and validated for calculating capacitive and oscillatory systemic arterial compliance with the use of pulse wave analysis and a modified Windkessel model. Application of the technique to subjects with hypertension, postmenopausal women with symptomatic coronary artery disease, and appropriate control subjects has confirmed a reduction of oscillatory compliance in the disease states and an increase in capacitive and oscillatory compliances in response to vasodilator drugs. This method should be useful in screening subjects for early evidence of vascular disease and in monitoring the response to therapy.

Bradykinin antagonism inhibits the antigrowth effect of converting enzyme inhibition in the dog myocardium after discrete transmural myocardial necrosis

BACKGROUND

Converting enzyme inhibitor (CEI) therapy, but not angiotensin II subtype I receptor blockade, has been shown to attenuate left ventricular remodeling in the dog after transmyocardial direct current (DC) shock. The purpose of this study was to address the importance of preservation of bradykinin to the antiremodeling effect of CEI treatment in this model.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Twenty-four hours after DC shock, adult mongrel dogs were assigned to one of three groups: a control group; a group treated with ramipril 10 mg BID; and a group treated with ramipril 10 mg BID along with a continuous subcutaneous infusion of HOE 140, a bradykinin antagonist. To assess change in left and right ventricular structure, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study was performed 4 weeks after DC shock and compared with a baseline MRI study performed before DC shock. The increase in left ventricular mass (mean +/- SEM) in the control group was similar to that observed in the CEI-HOE 140 group (+0.73 +/- 0.19 versus +0.75 +/- 0.18 g/kg, P = NS), but both were greater than the change in mass in the ramipril group (-0.48 +/- 0.13 g/kg, P = .004 and P = .0005, respectively). No significant change occurred in left ventricular volume or right ventricular structure in any group. Mean arterial pressure was reduced by ramipril compared with the control group (-8 +/- 2 versus +7 +/- 2 mm Hg, P = .03), and this effect was not blunted by the addition of HOE 140 (-7 +/- 3 mm Hg).

CONCLUSIONS

Prevention by ramipril of the early increase in left ventricular mass in the DC shock model appears to be related to the preservation of bradykinin.

Synthesis of some derivatives of Benz[a]acridine and Benz[c]acridine

The base-catalysed reaction between o-aminobenzaldehyde and naphthalene-1,3-diol gave benz[a]acridin-5-ol which was converted into 5-methoxy-7-methylbenz[a]-acridone. The structure of the latter was established by N.M.R. spectroscopy. ��� Some previous reports on the synthesis of benz[a]acridine and benz[a]acridin-5-ol from o-nitrobenzyl chloride and of benz[c]acridone by the Tanasescu reaction have been confirmed.

Chemical Studies of the Proteaceae. VI Two Naphthoquinones From Stenocarpus salignus

Two pigments, stenocarpoquinone-A and -B, isolated from the wood of Stenocarpus salignus R.Br., are shown to be (R)-3?-hydroxy-β-lapachone (1) and 4?-hydroxy-iso-α-lapachone (2), respectively. No pigments could be obtained from the wood of Stenocarpus sinuatus Endl.