Association of Hospital Readmission Rates With Discharge Disposition for Patients With Psychotic Disorders.

Goal: We explored how readmissions may result from patients' lack of access to aftercare services, failure to adhere to psychotropic medication plans, and inability to understand and follow hospital discharge recommendations. We also investigated whether insurance status, demographics, and socioeconomic status are associated with hospital readmissions. This study is important because readmissions contribute to increased personal and hospital expenses and decreased community tenure (the ability to maintain stability between hospital admissions).

NanoMi: An open source electron microscope hardware and software platform.

We outline a public license (open source) electron microscopy platform, referred to as NanoMi. NanoMi offers a modular, flexible electron microscope platform that can be utilized for a variety of applications, such as microscopy education and development of proof-of-principle experiments, and can be used to complement an existing experimental apparatus. All components are ultra-high vacuum compatible and the electron optics elements are independent from the vacuum envelope.

Clinical severity of RSV bronchiolitis.

Background: Studies comparing the severity of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis to other viruses are inconclusive. Our study aimed to compare the severity of bronchiolitis according to the virus.

Methods: Data were collected from 1152 infants under one year of age admitted to Children's hospital for Wales, over the winter months of 2014-2020.

Ethical allocation of COVID-19 vaccine in the United States: an evaluation of competing frameworks for the current pandemic and future events.

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, created the need for an effective vaccine. Questions arose about allocating the initial limited supplies in the United States. We present four allocation models and compare their characteristics for ethically meeting the health needs of the population.

After the Storm Has Passed: Barriers to Preparing U.S. Community Hospitals for the Next Pandemic and Other Disasters.

The COVID-19 pandemic illuminated shortcomings in the ability of community hospitals in the United States to respond to crises of this nature. This has led to questions about the effectiveness of community hospital disaster preparedness. A study of hospital preparedness in New York State in 2017 revealed a number of barriers to preparedness.

A Review of 2020 State and DC Face Mask Guidelines for U.S. Healthcare Workers during the Covid-19 Pandemic.

This study reviewed state and District of Columbia (DC) health department guidelines for the use of face masks by healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic via an October 2020 internet search and compared these guidelines to those from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Guidelines varied between states and DC with respect to N95 face mask and surgical mask use, as well as to extended use and re-use of N95 masks. Uniform guidance based on emerging evidence should be required for creating policy and procedures for healthcare workers during this and future pandemics.

When Surgeons Are "Too Old" to Practice Surgery: Recommendations to Balance the Imperatives of Public Safety and Practical Necessity.

Few countries have legally set a maximum age for practicing surgery. This is difficult to sustain as surgeon shortages in many localities require hospitals to grant surgical privileges based on internal peer review systems. This approach is not without problems.

Fast electrons interacting with a natural hyperbolic medium: bismuth telluride.

Fast electrons interacting with matter have been instrumental for probing bulk and surface photonic excitations including Cherenkov radiation and plasmons. Additionally, fast electrons are ideal to investigate unique bulk and longitudinal photonic modes in hyperbolic materials at large wavevectors difficult to probe optically. Here, we use momentum-resolved electron energy loss spectroscopy (k-EELS) to perform the first experimental demonstration of high-k modes and hyperbolic Cherenkov radiation in the natural hyperbolic material BiTe.

Comparison of disaster preparedness between Upstate and Downstate community hospitals in New York.

Objective: This study sought to determine whether differences exist in disaster preparedness between Upstate and Downstate community hospitals in New York.

Design: A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional survey study was conducted using a 35-element questionnaire. These questions examined six disaster preparedness components: disaster plan development, onsite surge capacity, available materials and resources, disaster education and training, disaster preparedness funding levels, and perception of disaster preparedness.

Comparison of Disaster Preparedness Between Urban and Rural Community Hospitals in New York State.

Objective: The intent of this study was to determine whether there are differences in disaster preparedness between urban and rural community hospitals across New York State.

Methods: Descriptive and analytical cross-sectional survey study of 207 community hospitals; thirty-five questions evaluated 6 disaster preparedness elements: disaster plan development, on-site surge capacity, available materials and resources, disaster education and training, disaster preparedness funding levels, and perception of disaster preparedness.

Results: Completed surveys were received from 48 urban hospitals and 32 rural hospitals.

Assessment of community hospital disaster preparedness in New York State.

Objective: The intent of this study was to assess disaster preparedness in community hospitals across New York.

Design: Descriptive and analytical cross-sectional survey study. The survey instrument consisted of 35 questions that examined six elements of disaster preparedness: disaster plan development, onsite surge capacity, available materials and resources, disaster education and training, disaster preparedness funding levels, and perception of disaster preparedness.

Torque-mixing magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

A universal, torque-mixing method for magnetic resonance spectroscopy is presented. In analogy to resonance detection by magnetic induction, the transverse component of a precessing dipole moment can be measured in sensitive broadband spectroscopy, here using a resonant mechanical torque sensor. Unlike induction, the torque amplitude allows equilibrium magnetic properties to be monitored simultaneously with the spin dynamics.

New fabrication technique for highly sensitive qPlus sensor with well-defined spring constant.

A new technique for the fabrication of highly sensitive qPlus sensor for atomic force microscopy (AFM) is described. The focused ion beam was used to cut then weld onto a bare quartz tuning fork a sharp micro-tip from an electrochemically etched tungsten wire. The resulting qPlus sensor exhibits high resonance frequency and quality factor allowing increased force gradient sensitivity.

Bridging the sanitation gap between disaster relief and development.

By interpreting disasters as opportunities to initiate the fulfilment of development needs, realise the vulnerability of the affected community and environment, and extend the legacy of relief funds and effort, this paper builds upon the concept linking relief, rehabilitation and development (LRRD) in the sanitation sector. It aims to use a composite of case studies to devise a framework for a semi-hypothetical scenario to identify critical components and generic processes for a LRRD action plan. The scenario is based on a latrine wetland sanitation system in a Muslim community.

Quantitative magneto-mechanical detection and control of the Barkhausen effect.

Quantitative characterization of intrinsic and artificial defects in ferromagnetic structures is critical to future magnetic storage based on vortices or domain walls moving through nanostructured devices. Using torsional magnetometry, we observe finite size modifications to the Barkhausen effect in the limiting case of a single vortex core interacting with individual pointlike pinning sites in a magnetic thin film. The Barkhausen effect in this limit becomes a quantitative two-dimensional nanoscale probe of local energetics in the film.

Nanoelectromechanical devices in a fluidic environment.

We present a comprehensive study of nanoelectromechanical systems in pressurized fluids. Resonant responses and quality factors are monitored in five different gases and one liquid, in pressures ranging from vacuum to 20 MPa, in order to evaluate theoretical models of device-fluid interactions at the nanoscale. The traditional Newell picture of microresonator damping in different pressure regimes is found to be inadequate in describing nanoresonators in general.

A convenient method for electron tomography sample preparation using a focused ion beam.

Here we report a new sample preparation method for three-dimensional electron tomography. The method uses the standard film deposition and focused ion beam (FIB) methods to significantly reduce the problems arising from the projected sample thickness at high tilt angles. The method can be used to prepare tomography samples that can be imaged up to a ±75° tilt range which is sufficient for many practical applications.

Characterization of nanometer-scale porosity in reservoir carbonate rock by focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy.

Sedimentary carbonate rocks are one of the principal porous structures in natural reservoirs of hydrocarbons such as crude oil and natural gas. Efficient hydrocarbon recovery requires an understanding of the carbonate pore structure, but the nature of sedimentary carbonate rock formation and the toughness of the material make proper analysis difficult. In this study, a novel preparation method was used on a dolomitic carbonate sample, and selected regions were then serially sectioned and imaged by focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy.

Understanding the micro structure of Berea Sandstone by the simultaneous use of micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM).

Berea sandstone is the building block for reservoirs containing precious hydrocarbon fuel. In this study, we comprehensively reveal the microstructure of Berea sandstone, which is often treated as a porous material with interconnected micro-pores of 2-5 μm. This has been possible due to the combined application of micro-computed tomography (CT) and focused ion beam (FIB)-scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on a Berea sample.

Taking a little off the top: nanorod array morphology and growth studied by focused ion beam tomography.

The high surface area, large aspect ratio, and porous nature of nanorod arrays make them excellent foundation materials for many devices. Of the many synthesis techniques for forming nanorods, glancing angle deposition (GLAD) offers one of the more straightforward and flexible methods for ensuring control of alignment, porosity, and architecture of the nanorods. Here we demonstrate the first use of a dual-beam (focused ion beam (FIB) combined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM)) instrument to section and image the internal morphology of a nanorod array fabricated using the GLAD technique.

Epirubicin exhibits potent anti-tumor activity in an animal model of malignant glioma when administered via controlled-release polymers.

Epirubicin (EPI) has strong cytotoxic activity that makes it a potential candidate for the treatment of malignant gliomas. To minimize toxicity and increase CNS penetration, EPI was incorporated into biodegradable polymers, and its in vitro and in vivo properties were studied. 9L, F98, C6, U251, and EMT-6 cell lines were treated with EPI in vitro and cell viability was measured.

Viscerosomatic interaction induced by myocardial ischemia in conscious dogs.

Studies tested the hypothesis that myocardial ischemia induces increased paraspinal muscular tone localized to the T(2)-T(5) region that can be detected by palpatory means. This is consistent with theories of manual medicine suggesting that disturbances in visceral organ physiology can cause increases in skeletal muscle tone in specific muscle groups. Clinical studies in manual and traditional medicine suggest this phenomenon occurs during episodes of myocardial ischemia and may have diagnostic potential.