Relationships between Spatial Biology and Physiological Ecology in the Gopher Tortoise, .

AbstractThe overlap between spatial and physiological ecology is generally understudied, yet both fields are fundamentally related in assessing how individuals balance limited resources. Herein, we quantified the relationships between spatial ecology using two parameters of home range (annual home range area and number of burrows used in 1 yr) and four measures of physiology that integrate stress and immunity (baseline plasma corticosterone [CORT] concentration, plasma lactate concentration, heterophil-to-lymphocyte [H∶L] ratio, and bactericidal ability [BA]) in a wild free-ranging population of the gopher tortoise () to test the hypothesis that space usage is correlated with physiological state. We also used structural equation models (SEMs) to test for causative relationships between the spatial and physiological parameters.

Characteristics and outcomes of cardiac arrests reported in the national collegiate emergency medical services foundation data registry.

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify out-of-hospital cardiac arrest characteristics for patients treated by collegiate-based emergency medical services (CBEMS) organizations.

Participants: CBEMS organizations provided data via the National Collegiate EMS Foundation Cardiac Arrest Data Registry.

Methods: CBEMS organization details, patient demographics, cardiac arrest characteristics and treatments, and prehospital outcomes for cases spanning October 2007 to May 2020 were analyzed with descriptive statistics.

The endogenous circadian system worsens asthma at night independent of sleep and other daily behavioral or environmental cycles.

Asthma often worsens at night. To determine if the endogenous circadian system contributes to the nocturnal worsening of asthma, independent of sleep and other behavioral and environmental day/night cycles, we studied patients with asthma (without steroid use) over 3 wk in an ambulatory setting (with combined circadian, environmental, and behavioral effects) and across the circadian cycle in two complementary laboratory protocols performed in dim light, which separated circadian from environmental and behavioral effects: 1) a 38-h "constant routine," with continuous wakefulness, constant posture, 2-hourly isocaloric snacks, and 2) a 196-h "forced desynchrony" incorporating seven identical recurring 28-h sleep/wake cycles with all behaviors evenly scheduled across the circadian cycle. Indices of pulmonary function varied across the day in the ambulatory setting, and both laboratory protocols revealed significant circadian rhythms, with lowest function during the biological night, around 4:00 AM, uncovering a nocturnal exacerbation of asthma usually unnoticed or hidden by the presence of sleep.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Wastewater at Residential College, Maine, USA, August-November 2020.

We used wastewater surveillance to identify 2 coronavirus disease outbreaks at a college in Maine, USA. Cumulative increases of >1 log severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 RNA in consecutive 24-hour composite samples preceded the outbreaks. For 76% of cases, RNA was identified in grab samples from residence halls <7 days before case discovery.

Substance use prevention research funded by the NIH.

Background: Substance use is a leading preventable cause of death in the U.S. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) provides public funding to advance understanding on the causes of substance use disorders and apply that knowledge to improve public health through research that develops new and improved strategies to prevent substance use.

Nonsymmetrical Bis-Azine Biaryls from Chloroazines: A Strategy Using Phosphorus Ligand-Coupling.

Distinct approaches to synthesize bis-azine biaryls are in demand as these compounds have multiple applications in the chemical sciences and are challenging targets for metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. Most approaches focus on developing new reagents as the formal nucleophilic coupling partner that can function in metal-catalyzed processes. We present an alternative approach using pyridine and diazine phosphines as nucleophilic partners and chloroazines where the heterobiaryl bond is formed via a tandem SAr-phosphorus ligand-coupling sequence.

Heterobiaryl synthesis by contractive C-C coupling via P(V) intermediates.

Heterobiaryls composed of pyridine and diazine rings are key components of pharmaceuticals and are often central to pharmacological function. We present an alternative approach to metal-catalyzed cross-coupling to make heterobiaryls using contractive phosphorus C-C couplings, also termed phosphorus ligand coupling reactions. The process starts by regioselective phosphorus substitution of the C-H bonds para to nitrogen in two successive heterocycles; ligand coupling is then triggered via acidic alcohol solutions to form the heterobiaryl bond.

A Strategy to Aminate Pyridines, Diazines, and Pharmaceuticals via Heterocyclic Phosphonium Salts.

A straightforward process to aminate pyridines and diazines is presented by reacting phosphonium salt derivatives with sodium azide. The iminophosphorane products are versatile precursors to several nitrogen-containing functional groups, and the process can be applied to building block heterocycles, to drug-like fragments, and for late-stage functionalization of complex pharmaceuticals. Appealing features of this strategy include using C-H bonds as precursors, precise regioselectivity, and a distinct scope from other amination methods, particularly those relying on halogenated azaarenes.

National Assessment of Quality Programs in Emergency Medical Services.

Objective: This study aims to understand the adoption of clinical quality measurement throughout the United States on an EMS agency level, the features of agencies that do participate in quality measurement, and the level of physician involvement. It also aims to barriers to implementing quality improvement initiatives in EMS.

Methods: A 46-question survey was developed to gather agency level data on current quality improvement practices and measurement.

The New Cannabis Policy Taxonomy on APIS: Making Sense of the Cannabis Policy Universe.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism's Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS) is, for the first time, adding legal data pertaining to recreational cannabis use to its current offerings on alcohol policy. Now that Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and the District of Columbia have legalized aspects of recreational cannabis, and more states are considering it, there is an urgency to provide high-quality, multi-dimensional legal data to the public health community. This article introduces the Cannabis Policy Taxonomy recently posted on APIS, and explores its theoretical and empirical contributions to the substance abuse literature and its potential for use in policy research.

Selective Functionalization of Pyridines via Heterocyclic Phosphonium Salts.

Methods that directly functionalize pyridines are in high demand due to their presence in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and materials. A reaction that selectively transforms the 4-position C-H bonds in pyridines into C-PPh groups that are subsequently converted into heteroaryl ethers is presented. The two step sequence is effective on complex pyridines, pharmaceutical molecules, and other classes of heterocycles.

Impact of System-Wide King LT Airway Implementation on Orotracheal Intubation.

Objectives: Orotracheal intubation is a key component of prehospital airway management and success rates are dependent on procedural experience. Supraglottic airway devices are increasingly being used in the prehospital setting. As a result, paramedics may have fewer opportunities for performing intubation, limiting their proficiency in the procedure.

Differences in wage rates for males and females in the health sector: a consideration of unpaid overtime to decompose the gender wage gap.

Background: In Australia a persistent and sizable gender wage gap exists. In recent years this gap has been steadily widening. The negative impact of gender wage differentials is the disincentive to work more hours.

Impact of stylet use in a simulated difficult airway model.

Background: Stylet use during endotracheal intubation (ETI) is variable across medical specialty and geographic location; however, few objective data exist regarding the impact of stylet use on ETI performance.

Objective: We evaluated the impact of stylet use on the time required to perform ETI in cases of simulated difficult airways in novice and experienced providers.

Methods: We performed a prospective, randomized observational study of experienced (attending anesthesiologists and emergency physicians) vs inexperienced airway providers (emergency medical technician, paramedic and medical students) comparing the use of stylet vs no stylet in random order using a simulated difficult airway.

Patterns of multimorbidity in working Australians.

Background: Multimorbidity is becoming more prevalent. Previously-used methods of assessing multimorbidity relied on counting the number of health conditions, often in relation to an index condition (comorbidity), or grouping conditions based on body or organ systems. Recent refinements in statistical approaches have resulted in improved methods to capture patterns of multimorbidity, allowing for the identification of nonrandomly occurring clusters of multimorbid health conditions.

Health-related productivity losses increase when the health condition is co-morbid with psychological distress: findings from a large cross-sectional sample of working Australians.

Background: The health condition of workers is known to impact on productivity outcomes. The relationship between health and productivity is of increasing interest amid the need to increase productivity to meet global financial challenges. Prevalence of psychological distress is also of growing concern in Australia with a two-fold increase in the prevalence of psychological distress in Australia from 1997-2005.

Existence of an endogenous circadian blood pressure rhythm in humans that peaks in the evening.

Rationale: Blood pressure (BP) usually decreases during nocturnal sleep and increases during daytime activities. Whether the endogenous circadian control system contributes to this daily BP variation has not been determined under appropriately controlled conditions.

Objective: To determine whether there exists an endogenous circadian rhythm of BP in humans.

Which health conditions impact on productivity in working Australians?

Objective: To identify health conditions associated with productivity loss in working Australians, adjusting for comorbidity, demographics, and work-related characteristics.

Methods: The Australian Work Outcomes Research Cost-benefit study cross-sectional screening data set was used to identify health-related productivity losses in a sample of approximately 78,000 working Australians. Data collected with the World Health Organisation Health and Productivity Questionnaire were analyzed using negative binomial logistic regression and multinomial logistic regression models for absenteeism and presenteeism, respectively.

Work-related injury in the nursing profession: an investigation of modifiable factors.

Aim: This paper is a report of a correlational study of the relationships between work-related injury-risk events and modifiable risk factors in a nursing population after controlling for socioeconomic factors.

Background: Nurses are at high risk for work-related injury. Work-related injury is strongly influenced by psychosocial factors and physical job-related exposures, but the magnitude of effect from modifiable factors remains unclear.

Personal, Medical, and Healthcare Utilization Among Homeless Veterans Served by Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Veteran Facilities.

This study assessed differences in personal, medical, and health care utilization characteristics of homeless veterans living in metropolitan versus nonmetropolitan environments. Data were obtained from a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) network sample of homeless veterans. Chi-square tests were used to assess differences in demographics, military history, living situation, medical history, employment status, and health care utilization.

Impact of the human circadian system, exercise, and their interaction on cardiovascular function.

The risk of adverse cardiovascular events peaks in the morning (≈9:00 AM) with a secondary peak in the evening (≈8:00 PM) and a trough at night. This pattern is generally believed to be caused by the day/night distribution of behavioral triggers, but it is unknown whether the endogenous circadian system contributes to these daily fluctuations. Thus, we tested the hypotheses that the circadian system modulates autonomic, hemodynamic, and hemostatic risk markers at rest, and that behavioral stressors have different effects when they occur at different internal circadian phases.

Employee psychological distress and treated prevalence by indices of rurality.

Objective: Although there is population data on the prevalence and treated prevalence of mental disorders by urban-rural indices, there is a lacuna of information pertaining to employees. This paper examines the prevalence and treated prevalence of psychological distress in employees by urban-rural indicators.

Methods: Cross-sectional employee Health and Performance at Work Questionnaire responses (n=78,726 from 58 large companies) are interrogated by indices of remoteness (Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia), psychological distress (Kessler 6) and treatment-seeking behaviours for mental health problems.

Interacting with the public as a risk factor for employee psychological distress.

Background: The 1-month prevalence of any mental disorder in employees ranges from 10.5% to 18.5%.