Novel dosimetric validation of a commercial CT scanner based deep learning automated contour solution for prostate radiotherapy.

Purpose: OAR delineation accuracy influences: (i) a patient's optimised dose distribution (PD), (ii) the reported doses (RD) presented at approval, which represent plan quality. This study utilised a novel dosimetric validation methodology, comprehensively evaluating a new CT-scanner-based AI contouring solution in terms of PD and RD within an automated planning workflow.

Methods: 20 prostate patients were selected to evaluate AI contouring for rectum, bladder, and proximal femurs.

Multi-institutional evaluation of a Pareto navigation guided automated radiotherapy planning solution for prostate cancer.

Background: Current automated planning solutions are calibrated using trial and error or machine learning on historical datasets. Neither method allows for the intuitive exploration of differing trade-off options during calibration, which may aid in ensuring automated solutions align with clinical preference. Pareto navigation provides this functionality and offers a potential calibration alternative.

Paired Indoor and Outdoor Nitrogen Dioxide Associated With Childhood Asthma Outcomes in a Mixed Rural-Urban Setting: A Feasibility Study.

Introduction: Nitrogen dioxide (NO) is known to be a trigger for asthma exacerbation. However, little is known about the role of seasonal variation in indoor and outdoor NO levels in childhood asthma in a mixed rural-urban setting of North America.

Methods: This prospective cohort study, as a feasibility study, included 62 families with children (5-17 years) that had diagnosed persistent asthma residing in Olmsted County, Minnesota.

The Role of Individual-Level Socioeconomic Status on Nursing Home Placement Accounting for Neighborhood Characteristics.

Objective: Independent living is desirable for many older adults. Although several factors such as physical and cognitive functions are important predictors for nursing home placement (NHP), it is also reported that socioeconomic status (SES) affects the risk of NHP. In this study, we aimed to examine whether an individual-level measure of SES is associated with the risk of NHP after accounting for neighborhood characteristics.

Role of geographic risk factors and social determinants of health in COVID-19 epidemiology: Longitudinal geospatial analysis in a midwest rural region.

Background: Studies examining the role of geographic factors in coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) epidemiology among rural populations are lacking.

Methods: Our study is a population-based longitudinal study based on rural residents in four southeast Minnesota counties from March through October 2020. We used a kernel density estimation approach to identify hotspots for COVID-19 cases.

Highest densities of mountain hares () associated with ecologically restored bog but not grouse moorland management.

Over the last 20 years, ecological restoration of degraded habitats has become common in conservation practice. Mountain hares () were surveyed during 2017-2021 using 830 km of line transects in the Peak District National Park, England. Historically degraded bog areas were previously reported having low hare numbers.

Factors associated with willingness to wear a mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in a Midwestern Community.

Objective: To identify motivators and barriers to wearing a mask to prevent COVID-19.

Participants And Methods: An anonymous, online survey of adults from Southeastern Minnesota conducted August 2020. We assessed willingness to wear a mask and its associations with socio-demographics, COVID-19-related factors and prevention behaviors using multivariable ordinal logistic regression.

Artificial intelligence-assisted clinical decision support for childhood asthma management: A randomized clinical trial.

Rationale: Clinical decision support (CDS) tools leveraging electronic health records (EHRs) have been an approach for addressing challenges in asthma care but remain under-studied through clinical trials.

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness and efficiency of Asthma-Guidance and Prediction System (A-GPS), an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-assisted CDS tool, in optimizing asthma management through a randomized clinical trial (RCT).

Methods: This was a single-center pragmatic RCT with a stratified randomization design conducted for one year in the primary care pediatric practice of the Mayo Clinic, MN.

Role of Geographic Risk Factors in COVID-19 Epidemiology: Longitudinal Geospatial Analysis.

Objective: To perform a geospatial and temporal trend analysis for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a Midwest community to identify and characterize hot spots for COVID-19.

Participants And Methods: We conducted a population-based longitudinal surveillance assessing the semimonthly geospatial trends of the prevalence of test confirmed COVID-19 cases in Olmsted County, Minnesota, from March 11, 2020, through October 31, 2020. As urban areas accounted for 84% of the population and 86% of all COVID-19 cases in Olmsted County, MN, we determined hot spots for COVID-19 in urban areas (Rochester and other small cities) of Olmsted County, MN, during the study period by using kernel density analysis with a half-mile bandwidth.

Mobile home residence as a risk factor for adverse events among children in a mixed rural-urban community: A case for geospatial analysis.

Background: Given the significant health effects, we assessed geospatial patterns of adverse events (AEs), defined as physical or sexual abuse and accidents or poisonings at home, among children in a mixed rural-urban community.

Methods: We conducted a population-based cohort study of children (<18 years) living in Olmsted County, Minnesota, to assess geographic patterns of AEs between April 2004 and March 2009 using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes. We identified hotspots by calculating the relative difference between observed and expected case densities accounting for population characteristics (; hotspot ≥ 0.

Spatio-temporal comparison of pertussis outbreaks in Olmsted County, Minnesota, 2004-2005 and 2012: a population-based study.

Objective: Two pertussis outbreaks occurred in Olmsted County, Minnesota, during 2004-2005 and 2012 (5-10 times higher than other years), with significantly higher incidence than for the State. We aimed to assess whether there were similar spatio-temporal patterns between the two outbreaks.

Setting: Olmsted County, Minnesota, USA PARTICIPANTS: We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study of all Olmsted County residents during the 2004-2005 and 2012 outbreaks, including laboratory-positive pertussis cases.

Utilisation of Pareto navigation techniques to calibrate a fully automated radiotherapy treatment planning solution.

Background And Purpose: Current automated radiotherapy planning solutions do not allow for the intuitive exploration of different treatment options during protocol calibration. This work introduces an automated planning solution, which aims to address this problem through incorporating Pareto navigation techniques into the calibration process.

Materials And Methods: For each tumour site a set of planning goals is defined.

Individual housing-based socioeconomic status predicts risk of accidental falls among adults.

Purpose: Accidental falls are a major public health concern among people of all ages. Little is known about whether an individual-level housing-based socioeconomic status measure is associated with the risk of accidental falls.

Methods: Among 12,286 Mayo Clinic Biobank participants residing in Olmsted County, Minnesota, subjects who experienced accidental falls between the biobank enrollment and September 2014 were identified using ICD-9 codes evaluated at emergency departments.

Facilitating permeability of landscapes impacted by roads for protected amphibians: patterns of movement for the great crested newt.

Amphibian populations are highly vulnerable to road mortality and habitat fragmentation caused by road networks. Wildlife road tunnels are considered the most promising road mitigation measure for amphibians yet generally remain inadequately monitored, resulting in mixed success rates in the short-term and uncertain conservation benefits in the long-term. We monitored a complex multi-tunnel and fence system over five years and investigated the impact of the scheme on movement patterns of two newt species, including the largest known UK population of the great crested newt () a European Protected Species.

Artificial reefs and marine protected areas: a study in willingness to pay to access Folkestone Marine Reserve, Barbados, West Indies.

Artificial reefs in marine protected areas provide additional habitat for biodiversity viewing, and therefore may offer an innovative management solution for managing for coral reef recovery and resilience. Marine park user fees can generate revenue to help manage and maintain natural and artificial reefs. Using a stated preference survey, this study investigates the present consumer surplus associated with visitor use of a marine protected area in Barbados.

Assessing health disparities in children using a modified housing-related socioeconomic status measure: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Socioeconomic status (SES) is a well-established risk factor for many health outcomes. Recently, we developed an SES measure based on 4 housing-related characteristics (termed HOUSES) and demonstrated its ability to assess health disparities. In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether fewer housing-related characteristics could be used to provide a similar representation of SES.

Stereoelectronic basis for the kinetic resolution of N-heterocycles with chiral acylating reagents.

The kinetic resolution of N-heterocycles with chiral acylating agents reveals a previously unrecognized stereoelectronic effect in amine acylation. Combined with a new achiral hydroxamate, this effect makes possible the resolution of various N-heterocycles by using easily prepared reagents. A transition-state model to rationalize the stereochemical outcome of this kinetic resolution is also proposed.

The relationship between diver experience levels and perceptions of attractiveness of artificial reefs - examination of a potential management tool.

Artificial reefs are increasingly used worldwide as a method for managing recreational diving since they have the potential to satisfy both conservation goals and economic interests. In order to help maximize their utility, further information is needed to drive the design of stimulating resources for scuba divers. We used a questionnaire survey to explore divers' perceptions of artificial reefs in Barbados.

Asymmetric NHC-catalyzed synthesis of α-fluoroamides from readily accessible α-fluoroenals.

The scope of the NHC-redox amidation has been expanded to include a variety of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, including α-fluoro α,β-unsaturated aldehydes which give rise to enantioenriched α-fluoroamides in good to excellent yield and enantioselectivity (up to 97% ee). Enantioenriched amines may be elaborated to either diastereomer of the product in high diastereoselectivity (up to 99:1). Functionalization of the amide products to amines and fluorohydrins is also demonstrated with retention of enantioenrichment at the fluorine stereocenter.

Exploiting Acyl and Enol Azolium Intermediates via NHeterocyclic Carbene Catalyzed Reactions of Alpha-Reducible Aldehydes.

N-heterocyclic carbenes are well known for their role in catalyzing benzoin and Stetter reactions: the generation of acyl anion equivalents from simple aldehydes to react with a variety of electrophiles. However, when an aldehyde bearing a leaving group or unsaturation adjacent to the acyl anion equivalent is subjected to an NHC, a new avenue of reactivity is unlocked, leading to a number of novel transformations which can generate highly complex products from simple starting materials, many of which are assembled through unconventional bond disconnections. The field of these new reactions - those utilizing -reducible aldehydes to access previously unexplored catalytic intermediates - has expanded rapidly in the past eight years.

Comparison of individual-level versus area-level socioeconomic measures in assessing health outcomes of children in Olmsted County, Minnesota.

Background: Socioeconomic status (SES) is an important determinant of health, but SES measures are frequently unavailable in commonly used datasets. Area-level SES measures are used as proxy measures of individual SES when the individual measures are lacking. Little is known about the agreement between individual-level versus area-level SES measures in mixed urban-rural settings.

Detectability counts when assessing populations for biodiversity targets.

Efficient, practical and accurate estimates of population parameters are a necessary basis for effective conservation action to meet biodiversity targets. The brown hare is representative of many European farmland species: historically widespread and abundant but having undergone rapid declines as a result of agricultural intensification. As a priority species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, it has national targets for population increase that are part of wider national environmental indicators.

Development and initial testing of a new socioeconomic status measure based on housing data.

Socioeconomic status (SES) has been associated with many health outcomes. Commonly used datasets such as medical records often lack data on SES but do include address information. The authors sought to determine whether an SES measure derived from housing characteristics is associated with other SES measures and outcomes known to be associated with SES.