The effects of nitroxide structure upon H Overhauser dynamic nuclear polarization efficacy at ultralow-field.

The efficacy in H Overhauser dynamic nuclear polarization in liquids at ultralow magnetic field (ULF, B = 92 ± 0.8 µT) and polarization field (B = 1-10 mT) was studied for a broad variety of 26 different spin probes. Among others, piperidine, pyrrolidine, and pyrroline radicals specifically synthesized for this study, along with some well-established commercially available nitroxides, were investigated.

Surveillance of surgical site infections: methodical comparison of the IQTIG and KISS strategies.

In 2017, the Institute for Quality Assurance and Transparency in Healthcare (IQTIG) introduced a quality assurance system for the surveillance of surgical site infections (SSI) on behalf the Federal Joint Committee. The establishment of the new system was made in parallel to existing methods, such as the "Krankenhaus-Infektions-Surveillance-System" (KISS). The aim of this work was to perform a comparative analysis.

Multiple Quantum Coherences Hyperpolarized at Ultra-Low Fields.

The development of hyperpolarization technologies enabled several yet exotic NMR applications at low and ultra-low fields (ULF), where without hyperpolarization even the detection of a signal from analytes is a challenge. Herein, we present a method for the simultaneous excitation and observation of homo- and heteronuclear multiple quantum coherences (from zero up to the third-order), which give an additional degree of freedom for ULF NMR experiments, where the chemical shift variation is negligible. The approach is based on heteronuclear correlated spectroscopy (COSY); its combination with a phase-cycling scheme allows the selective observation of multiple quantum coherences of different orders.

Effect of gloved hand disinfection on hand hygiene before infection-prone procedures on a stem cell ward.

Background: Hand hygiene compliance even before infection-prone procedures (indication 2, 'before aseptic tasks', according to the World Health Organization (WHO)) remains disappointing.

Aim: To improve hand hygiene compliance by implementing gloved hand disinfection as a resource-neutral process optimization strategy.

Methods: We performed a three-phase intervention study on a stem cell transplant ward.

Mutual benefit achieved by combining ultralow-field magnetic resonance and hyperpolarizing techniques.

Ultralow-field (ULF) nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are promising spectroscopy and imaging methods allowing for, e.g., the simultaneous detection of multiple nuclei or imaging in the vicinity of metals.

The Impact of a Ballet and Modern Dance Performance on Heart Rate Variability in Collegiate Dancers.

Heart rate (HR) variability (HRV) is a useful tool for assessing cardiac autonomic function and identifying potential readiness to perform in athletic populations, but has yet to be investigated in dance populations. As such, HRV may be able to provide valuable insight into the preparedness of dancers and the demands of performance in a collegiate dance population. 29 female dancers were monitored leading up to and following a dance performance.

The Relation of Emergency Duties to Cardiac Death Among US Firefighters.

Sudden cardiac death accounted for 42% of all firefighter duty-related fatalities over the last decade. This retrospective study analyzed available medical examiner records for duty-related firefighter fatalities among male firefighters 18 to 65 years of age that occurred between 1999 and 2014 and reported the pathoanatomic substrate for cardiac-related fatalities. Odds of duty-related cardiac death during specific duties compared with fire station duties were calculated by pathoanatomic substrate.

Pathoanatomic Findings Associated With Duty-Related Cardiac Death in US Firefighters: A Case-Control Study.

Background Sudden cardiac death accounts for the greatest proportion of duty-related deaths among US firefighters. Increased understanding of the pathoanatomic causes of sudden cardiac death and the risk associated with underlying cardiac pathologies is needed to develop evidence-based screening recommendations. Methods and Results Using autopsy data for duty-related firefighter fatalities occurring between 1999 and 2014, this retrospective case-control study compared cardiac findings of male firefighters aged 18 to 65 years who died on duty of cardiac-related causes with those who died of noncardiac trauma-related causes.

Do WiFi-based hand hygiene dispenser systems increase hand hygiene compliance?

Innovative methods to ensure better compliance in hand hygiene are urgently needed. The aim of this study was to determine if WiFi-based hand hygiene dispenser-driven self-assessment systems (Wireless Fidelity, WiFi-dispenser) can support the work of infection control teams. Our results suggest that the continuous monitoring of dispenser usage can be a valuable addition to infection prevention and control programs, when used in a bundle in combination with conventional hand hygiene training.

SQUID-based detection of ultra-low-field multinuclear NMR of substances hyperpolarized using signal amplification by reversible exchange.

Ultra-low-field (ULF) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a promising spectroscopy method allowing for, e.g., the simultaneous detection of multiple nuclei.

Thermal response to firefighting activities in residential structure fires: impact of job assignment and suppression tactic.

Firefighters' thermal burden is generally attributed to high heat loads from the fire and metabolic heat generation, which may vary between job assignments and suppression tactic employed. Utilising a full-sized residential structure, firefighters were deployed in six job assignments utilising two attack tactics (1. Water applied from the interior, or 2.

Exercise-induced heat stress disrupts the shear-dilatory relationship.

What is the central question of this study? Although heat stress is known to increase cardiovascular strain, no study, to date, had explored the potential impact of exercise-induced heat stress on vascular function. What is the main finding and its importance? We found that acute exercise tended to reduce flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), owing in part to reduced reactive hyperaemia/shear stimulus; thus, when FMD is normalized to shear no postexercise deficit exists. Exercise-induced heat stress increased reactive hyperaemia, shear rate, coupled with a sustained FMD postexercise, suggests that exercise-induced heat stress increases the amount of shear stimulus to elicit a similar response, indicating reduced vascular responsiveness, or reserve, which might increase cardiovascular susceptibility.

Opioid overdose prevention in a residential care setting: Naloxone education and distribution.

Background: Patients with opioid use disorders are at an increased risk for overdose death if they had a previous overdose, have co-occurring medical and psychiatric comorbidity, and are high-dose opioid users transitioning to relative abstinence or abstinence, i.e., those individuals discharging from drug treatment programs.

Effect of moderate exercise-induced heat stress on carotid wave intensity.

Introduction: Exercise disrupts the interaction between the left ventricle and the vasculature, as measured by wave intensity (WI) analysis. However, the effect of exercise-induced heat stress on WI amplitude is unknown. WI measures are calibrated using brachial or carotid artery blood pressure, but the influence of calibration method on WI outcomes is unknown.

Vascular and central hemodynamic changes following exercise-induced heat stress.

This study examined the effects of moderate exercise-induced heat stress (EIHS) on vascular function, central hemodynamic load and indices of coronary perfusion. Vascular-hemodynamic measures were collected in 12 healthy men (aged 22±3 years) pre and post 100 minutes of moderate, intermittent exercise in two randomized conditions: heat stress (HS; wearing firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE)), and no heat stress (NHS; wearing a cooling shirt and equivalent PPE weight). Aortic blood pressure, reflected wave pressure (Pb), systolic (SPTI) and diastolic pressure time-integral (DPTI), and aortic stiffness were assessed before and after each condition.

Effect of exercise, heat stress and dehydration on myocardial performance.

Background: Myocardial dysfunction is a well-documented outcome of extended periods of high cardiac output. Whether similar effects occur during firefighting, an occupation characterized by repeated periods of work compounded by dehydration and heat stress, is uncertain.

Aims: To investigate the independent and combined effects of moderate heat stress and dehydration on indicators of myocardial performance following intermittent, submaximal treadmill exercise while wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).

Evaluation of a wearable physiological status monitor during simulated fire fighting activities.

A physiological status monitor (PSM) has been embedded in a fire-resistant shirt. The purpose of this research study was to examine the ability of the PSM-shirt to accurately detect heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (RR) when worn under structural fire fighting personal protective equipment (PPE) during the performance of various activities relevant to fire fighting. Eleven healthy, college-aged men completed three activities (walking, searching/crawling, and ascending/descending stairs) that are routinely performed during fire fighting operations while wearing the PSM-shirt under structural fire fighting PPE.

Use of the HR index to predict maximal oxygen uptake during different exercise protocols.

This study examined the ability of the HRindex model to accurately predict maximal oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text]O2max) across a variety of incremental exercise protocols. Ten men completed five incremental protocols to volitional exhaustion. Protocols included three treadmill (Bruce, UCLA running, Wellness Fitness Initiative [WFI]), one cycle, and one field (shuttle) test.

The effect of precooling on cardiovascular and metabolic strain during incremental exercise.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of precooling on the chronotropic index defined as the slope of the heart rate (HR) and oxygen uptake during incremental exercise. Ten men performed incremental exercise following 2 conditions: control (rest in a thermoneutral laboratory, 21.5 ± 0.

Effect of base layer materials on physiological and perceptual responses to exercise in personal protective equipment.

Ten men (non-firefighters) completed a 110 min walking/recovery protocol (three 20-min exercise bouts, with recovery periods of 10, 20, and 20 min following successive bouts) in a thermoneutral laboratory while wearing firefighting personal protective equipment over one of four base layers: cotton, modacrylic, wool, and phase change material. There were no significant differences in changes in heart rate, core temperature, rating of perceived exertion, thermal discomfort, and thermal strain among base layers. Sticking to skin, coolness/hotness, and clothing humidity sensation were more favorable (p < 0.

Effect of clothing layers in combination with fire fighting personal protective clothing on physiological and perceptual responses to intermittent work and on materials performance test results.

Personal protective clothing (PPC) shields firefighters from thermal and other occupational hazards; however, it also contributes to physiological and perceptual strain. This study examined the effect of clothing layers worn under structural fire fighting turnout gear (TOG) on physiological and perceptual responses during alternating work/recovery cycles and assessed the clothing ensembles' (PPC + base layer) material performance. Values are reported as mean ± standard error of the mean.

The prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors and obesity in firefighters.

Obesity is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. CVD is the leading cause of duty-related death among firefighters, and the prevalence of obesity is a growing concern in the Fire Service. Methods.