Mechanism that repairs brain after stroke discovered

 

October 10, 2014

Lund University

A previously unknown mechanism through which the brain produces new nerve cells after a stroke has been discovered by researchers. A stroke is caused by a blood clot blocking a blood vessel in the brain, which leads to an interruption of blood flow and therefore a shortage of oxygen. Many nerve cells die, resulting in motor, sensory and cognitive problems. The researchers have shown that following an induced stroke in mice, support cells, so-called astrocytes, start to form nerve cells in the injured part of the brain.

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A stroke is caused by a blood clot blocking a blood vessel in the brain, which leads to an interruption of blood flow and therefore a shortage of oxygen. Many nerve cells die, resulting in motor, sensory and cognitive problems.

A previously unknown mechanism through which the brain produces new nerve cells after a stroke has been discovered at Lund University and Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. The findings have been published in the journal Science.

A stroke is caused by a blood clot blocking a blood vessel in the brain, which leads to an interruption of blood flow and therefore a shortage of oxygen. Many nerve cells die, resulting in motor, sensory and cognitive problems.

The researchers have shown that following an induced stroke in mice, support cells, so-called astrocytes, start to form nerve cells in the injured part of the brain. Using genetic methods to map the fate of the cells, the scientists could demonstrate that astrocytes in this area formed immature nerve cells, which then developed into mature nerve cells.

"This is the first time that astrocytes have been shown to have the capacity to start a process that leads to the generation of new nerve cells after a stroke," says Zaal Kokaia, Professor of Experimental Medical Research at Lund University.

The scientists could also identify the signalling mechanism that regulates the conversion of the astrocytes to nerve cells. In a healthy brain, this signalling mechanism is active and inhibits the conversion, and, consequently, the astrocytes do not generate nerve cells. Following a stroke, the signalling mechanism is suppressed and astrocytes can start the process of generating new cells.

"Interestingly, even when we blocked the signalling mechanism in mice not subjected to a stroke, the astrocytes formed new nerve cells," says Zaal Kokaia.

"This indicates that it is not only a stroke that can activate the latent process in astrocytes. Therefore, the mechanism is a potentially useful target for the production of new nerve cells, when replacing dead cells following other brain diseases or damage."

The new nerve cells were found to form specialized contacts with other cells. It remains to be shown whether the nerve cells are functional and to what extent they contribute to the spontaneous recovery that is observed in a majority of experimental animals and patients after a stroke.

A decade ago, Kokaia's and Lindvall's research group was the first to show that stroke leads to the formation of new nerve cells from the adult brain's own neural stem cells. The new findings further underscore that when the adult brain suffers a major blow such as a stroke, it makes a strong effort to repair itself using a variety of mechanisms.

The major advancement with the new study is that it demonstrates for the first time that self-repair in the adult brain involves astrocytes entering a process by which they change their identity to nerve cells.

"One of the major tasks now is to explore whether astrocytes are also converted to neurons in the human brain following damage or disease. Interestingly, it is known that in the healthy human brain, new nerve cells are formed in the striatum. The new data raise the possibility that some of these nerve cells derive from local astrocytes. If the new mechanism also operates in the human brain and can be potentiated, this could become of clinical importance not only for stroke patients, but also for replacing neurons which have died, thus restoring function in patients with other disorders such as Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease," says Olle Lindvall, Senior Professor of Neurology.

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Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by Lund University. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

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Journal Reference:

1. J. P. Magnusson, C. Goritz, J. Tatarishvili, D. O. Dias, E. M. K. Smith, O. Lindvall, Z. Kokaia, J. Frisen. A latent neurogenic program in astrocytes regulated by Notch signaling in the mouse. Science, 2014; 346 (6206): 237 DOI: 10.1126/science.346.6206.237

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Hungry black hole eats faster than thought possible

 

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Primary Image: This is a combined optical/X-ray image of NGC 7793. Inset image: This is a rendering of what P13 would look like close up.

Astronomers have discovered a black hole that is consuming gas from a nearby star 10 times faster than previously thought possible.

The black hole -- known as P13 -- lies on the outskirts of the galaxy NGC7793 about 12 million light years from Earth and is ingesting a weight equivalent to 100 billion billion hot dogs every minute. (That black hole is richer than Gates, and securely will become very obese)

The discovery was published today in the journal Nature.

International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research astronomer Dr Roberto Soria, who is based at ICRAR's Curtin University node, said that as gas falls towards a black hole it gets very hot and bright.

He said scientists first noticed P13 because it was a lot more luminous than other black holes, but it was initially assumed that it was simply bigger.

"It was generally believed the maximum speed at which a black hole could swallow gas and produce light was tightly determined by its size," Dr Soria said.

"So it made sense to assume that P13 was bigger than the ordinary, less bright black holes we see in our own galaxy, the Milky Way."

When Dr Soria and his colleagues from the University of Strasbourg measured the mass of P13 they found it was actually on the small side, despite being at least a million times brighter than the Sun. It was only then that they realised just how much material it was consuming.

"There's not really a strict limit like we thought, black holes can actually consume more gas and produce more light," Dr Soria said.

Dr Soria said P13 rotates around a supergiant 'donor' star 20 times heavier than our own Sun.

He said the scientists saw that one side of the donor star was always brighter than the other because it was illuminated by X-rays coming from near the black hole, so the star appeared brighter or fainter as it went around P13.

"This allowed us to measure the time it takes for the black hole and the donor star to rotate around each other, which is 64 days, and to model the velocity of the two objects and the shape of the orbit," Dr Soria said.

"From this, we worked out that the black hole must be less than 15 times the mass of our Sun."

Dr Soria compared P13 to small Japanese eating champion Takeru Kobayashi.

"As hotdog-eating legend Takeru Kobayashi famously showed us, size does not always matter in the world of competitive eating and even small black holes can sometimes eat gas at an exceptional rate," he said.

Dr Soria said P13 is a member of a select group of black holes known as ultraluminous X-ray sources.

"These are the champions of competitive gas eating in the Universe, capable of swallowing their donor star in less than a million years, which is a very short time on cosmic scales," he said.

 

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Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR). Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

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Journal Reference:

1. C. Motch, M. W. Pakull, R. Soria, F. Grisé, G. Pietrzyński. A mass of less than 15 solar masses for the black hole in an ultraluminous X-ray source. Nature, 2014; 514 (7521): 198 DOI: 10.1038/nature13730

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Long-span construction: Ultra light-weight cloud arch architectural technology for sustainable construction

 

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Cloud Arch on display at Marina Bay Sands.

A research team from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has developed Cloud Arch^TM, an innovative, ultra-light architecture that will revolutionise the way large open public spaces, such as market, airport, stadium, concert hall, factory, are built.

This patent-pending technology is jointly developed by a research team led by Japanese architect Assistant Professor Shinya Okuda, who is from the NUS School of Design and Environment, and Professor Tan Kiang Hwee from the NUS Faculty of Engineering, in collaboration with structural engineering consultancy firm Web Structures.

Cloud Arch^TM is a new generation of architectural technology that harnesses ultra-light materials to meet the construction needs of sustainable future. The first prototype debuted as one of the two winners of Archifest 2014 Pavilion Competition that was held in Singapore from May to June 2014. Cloud Arch^TM was on display from 26 September to 11 October 2014.

Assistant Professor Shinya Okuda, who is from the NUS Department of Architecture, said, "Shed is one of the most primitive forms of architecture. We are interested in creating column-free space in a way that saves materials and time, by using ultra lightweight materials. We decided to use Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam, a widely used packaging material. More than 95% of this material is air, and its composite can be fire-resistant. After two years of prototyping and structural testing, we successfully developed a technique to control the composite material and applied it for the construction of long-span structures. This novel technology has been granted a provisional US patent."

"We have also developed several prototypes -- starting from a mere 4-metre span, to the current design comprising two sets of 14-metre span in the form of the Pavilion. As the design looks like a floating cloud, we called it Cloud Arch^TM," added Asst Prof Okuda.

Cloud Arch^TM: Lightweight, scalable, reduces costs and setup time

Elaborating on the merits of Cloud Arch^TM, Asst Prof Okuda said, "Structurally optimised forms are often doubly curved. By applying digital fabrication technology on the EPS foam, we could shape complex forms in a fast and cost-efficient manner. As the material is extremely lightweight, we could achieve significant savings in terms transportation cost as well as the time taken to set up and dismantle the structures. With Cloud Arch^TM, we hope to reduce the construction cost by one-third and construction time by half, compared to conventional construction materials, such as concrete."

Professor Tan Kiang Hwee, who is from the NUS Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, added, "EPS foam has almost similar compression strength to weight ratio as concrete and is currently used as landfill for landscape works. We are also testing its composite properties when reinforced with bonded fabric as a possible material for permanent construction."

Dr. Hossein Rezai, Director of Web Structures, which has been conducting structural simulations of the Cloud Arch commented, "A very encouraging fact is that, we have barely needed to increase the EPS composite thickness for the longer spans, but only to reinforce its composite strength. This implies that Cloud Arch's advantageous ultra-lightweight, will be further realised when the target spans get longer."

The research team's next step will be to develop a 24-metre span factory roofing prototype. This project is supported by the NUS-JTC Industrial Infrastructure Innovation (I³) Centre, which was set up jointly by NUS and JTC Corporation in 2011 to promote the development of innovative and sustainable industrial infrastructure solutions in Singapore. Other possible applications of the technology include developing longer spans for airplane hangars.

Mr David Tan, Assistant CEO of JTC Corporation's Development Group, said, "JTC is glad to support the project through the NUS-JTC I³ Centre. We hope that the Centre will continue to push the boundaries of innovation and explore new possibilities in sustainable industrial infrastructure solutions, land intensification, planning and design, and systems integration and optimisation, to support the transformation and growth of Singapore's industrial landscape."

Mr Theodore Chan, 54th President of Singapore Institute of Architect and Chairman of the Jury Panel for the Archifest 2014 Pavilion competition noted in the competition's announcement letter dated 4 July 2014, "A breakthrough in technology, the patent-filed structural-foam of Cloud Arch^TM intrinsically lends itself to a statement of true architectural form. The innovative use of fire-resistant structural foam coupled with technological research and rigorous testing, is a commendable effort on the part of the architect-designers behind Cloud Arch^TM. The efficiently spanned arched roof immediately achieves a 'wow' factor together with relative ease and speed of construction. In today's context of the industry's drive towards enhanced productivity and buildability, Cloud Arch^TM represents great promise in material technology advancement."

On his vision for future applications of Cloud Arch^TM, Asst Prof Okuda said, "20th century visionary R. Buckminster Fuller once envisioned his invention Geodesic dome to cover 3km radius over the Manhattan in the 1960's for the energy efficient built environment. We hope that the Cloud Arch^TM could make such a great impact on the sustainable built environment in the 21st Century."

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Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by National University of Singapore. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

DARPA unveils Ground X-Vehicle Technologies display concept

 

DARPA’s concept provides the driver with a closed cockpit, that's equipped with visualization technologies (Image: DARPA)

DARPA’s Ground X-Vehicle Technologies (GXV-T) program, announced earlier this year, aims to move away from the traditional battle tank paradigm – creating a new class of faster, more agile vehicles that are better at negotiating terrain and detecting targets. Today, the agency has provided the first details on what this new breed of ground-based armoured vehicles might look like.

While a lot of military research continues to focus on adding greater resilience to existing vehicles, DARPA’s new initiative is tackling the problem in a different way. The goal of the GXV-T program is to create a new type of all-terrain vehicle that’s smaller, faster and provides the crew with a similar level of awareness as that afforded to fighter pilots.

The agency is focusing on the latter point first, working to improve the situational awareness of the vehicle’s driver by means of heads-up visualization technology. A concept video has been released that highlights a number of potential technologies and approaches that may make their way into the final vehicles.

The heavily armored nature of battle tanks means that situational awareness is inherently lower than with other vehicles, such as fighter jets, where wide-angle cockpits are the norm. DARPA’s concept aims to tackle this by providing the driver with a closed cockpit that incorporates visualization technologies to provide wide-angle, high-definition visibility of external conditions.

The projected display shown in the video is able to highlight optimal routes over difficult terrain, show both infrared and terrain classification views, as well as visually track both allies and adversaries. The concept vehicle also includes autopilot abilities, allowing the driver to focus on strategic activities and decisions.

Having only been announced in August, GXV-T is still in the early stages of development, though DARPA is hoping to see the first vehicles roll out within two years of the April 2015 contract award date.

 

Source: DARPA

 

Just smile

Josh Groban and Martina McBride sing this song magnificently. Download them and you’ll agree with me. .

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'Sepsis sniffer' generates faster sepsis care, suggests reduced mortality

 

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Craig A. Umscheid, MD, MSCE, director of Penn’s Center for Evidence-based Practice

An automated early warning and response system for sepsis developed by Penn Medicine experts has resulted in a marked increase in sepsis identification and care, transfer to the ICU, and an indication of fewer deaths due to sepsis. A study assessing the tool is published online in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.

Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening complication of an infection; it can severely impair the body's organs, causing them to fail. There are as many as three million cases of severe sepsis and 750,000 resulting deaths in the United States annually. Early detection and treatment, typically with antibiotics and intravenous fluids, is critical for survival.

The Penn prediction tool, dubbed the "sepsis sniffer," uses laboratory and vital-sign data (such as body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure) in the electronic health record of hospital inpatients to identify those at risk for sepsis. When certain data thresholds are detected, the system automatically sends an electronic communication to physicians, nurses, and other members of a rapid response team who quickly perform a bedside evaluation and take action to stabilize or transfer the patient to the intensive care unit if warranted.

The study developed the prediction tool using 4,575 patients admitted to the University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS) in October 2011. The study then validated the tool during a pre-implementation period from June to September 2012, when data on admitted patients was evaluated and alerts triggered in a database, but no notifications were sent to providers on the ground. Outcomes in that control period were then compared to a post-implementation period from June to September 2013. The total number of patients included in the pre and post periods was 31,093.

In both the pre- and post-implementation periods, four percent of patient visits triggered the alert. Analysis revealed 90 percent of those patients received bedside evaluations by the care team within 30 minutes of the alert being issued. In addition, the researchers found that the tool resulted in:

•A two to three-fold increase in orders for tests that could help identify the presence of sepsis •A 1.5 to two-fold increase in the administration of antibiotics and intravenous fluids •An increase of more than 50 percent in the proportion of patients quickly transferred to the ICU •A 50 percent increase in documentation of sepsis in the patients' electronic health record

The study found a lower death rate from sepsis and an increase in the number of patients successfully discharged home, although these findings did not reach statistical significance.

"Our study is the first we're aware of that was implemented throughout a multihospital health system," said lead author Craig A. Umscheid, MD, MSCE, director of Penn's Center for Evidence-based Practice. "Previous studies that have examined the impact of sepsis prediction tools at other institutions have only taken place on a limited number of inpatient wards. The varied patient populations, clinical staffing, practice models, and practice cultures across our health system increases the generalizability of our findings to other health care settings."

Umscheid also noted that the tool could help triage patients for suitability of ICU transfer. "By better identifying those with sepsis requiring advanced care, the tool can help screen out patients not needing the inevitably limited number of ICU beds."

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Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

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Journal Reference:

1. Craig A. Umscheid, Joel Betesh, Christine VanZandbergen, Asaf Hanish, Gordon Tait, Mark E. Mikkelsen, Benjamin French, Barry D. Fuchs. Development, implementation, and impact of an automated early warning and response system for sepsis. Journal of Hospital Medicine, 2014; DOI: 10.1002/jhm.2259

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The World as I see it–An Essay by Einstein

"How strange is the lot of us mortals! Each of us is here for a brief sojourn; for what purpose he knows not, though he sometimes thinks he senses it. But without deeper reflection one knows from daily life that one exists for other people -- first of all for those upon whose smiles and well-being our own happiness is wholly dependent, and then for the many, unknown to us, to whose destinies we are bound by the ties of sympathy. A hundred times every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving...

"I have never looked upon ease and happiness as ends in themselves -- this critical basis I call the ideal of a pigsty. The ideals that have lighted my way, and time after time have given me new courage to face life cheerfully, have been Kindness, Beauty, and Truth. Without the sense of kinship with men of like mind, without the occupation with the objective world, the eternally unattainable in the field of art and scientific endeavors, life would have seemed empty to me. The trite objects of human efforts -- possessions, outward success, luxury -- have always seemed to me contemptible.

"My passionate sense of social justice and social responsibility has always contrasted oddly with my pronounced lack of need for direct contact with other human beings and human communities. I am truly a 'lone traveler' and have never belonged to my country, my home, my friends, or even my immediate family, with my whole heart; in the face of all these ties, I have never lost a sense of distance and a need for solitude..."

"My political ideal is democracy. Let every man be respected as an individual and no man idolized. It is an irony of fate that I myself have been the recipient of excessive admiration and reverence from my fellow-beings, through no fault, and no merit, of my own. The cause of this may well be the desire, unattainable for many, to understand the few ideas to which I have with my feeble powers attained through ceaseless struggle. I am quite aware that for any organization to reach its goals, one man must do the thinking and directing and generally bear the responsibility. But the led must not be coerced, they must be able to choose their leader. In my opinion, an autocratic system of coercion soon degenerates; force attracts men of low morality... The really valuable thing in the pageant of human life seems to me not the political state, but the creative, sentient individual, the personality; it alone creates the noble and the sublime, while the herd as such remains dull in thought and dull in feeling.

"This topic brings me to that worst outcrop of herd life, the military system, which I abhor... This plague-spot of civilization ought to be abolished with all possible speed. Heroism on command, senseless violence, and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism -- how passionately I hate them!

"The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science. Whoever does not know it and can no longer wonder, no longer marvel, is as good as dead, and his eyes are dimmed. It was the experience of mystery -- even if mixed with fear -- that engendered religion. A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, our perceptions of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty, which only in their most primitive forms are accessible to our minds: it is this knowledge and this emotion that constitute true religiosity. In this sense, and only this sense, I am a deeply religious man... I am satisfied with the mystery of life's eternity and with a knowledge, a sense, of the marvelous structure of existence -- as well as the humble attempt to understand even a tiny portion of the Reason that manifests itself in nature."

Brazil

 

From its perch atop Corcovado Mountain, "Christ the Redeemer" oversees Rio de Janeiro.

Photograph by Christian Heeb

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• Playing Rio

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• Megatransect the Amazon

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• The Wild Wet

  Cowboys, caimans, and mud come together in the Pantanal, where modern pressures threaten one of the world's largest wetlands.

• Brazil's Secret Societies Pictures

  Escaped slaves in Brazil created thousands of hidden societies, or quilombos, in the heart of the country. Today these communities are winning rights to their land—and helping protect it.

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Enlarge Map »

 

www.nationalgeographic.com

Sustainable city concepts going into action

 

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The European Commission has nominated the Triangulum project, led by Fraunhofer IAO and with the support of the Steinbeis-Europa Zentrum (SEZ), to be the lead project for the Smart Cities and Communities initiative. This project will transform designated urban districts into smart quarters in three forerunner cities and then transfer the concepts to three further cities. 23 European partners from urban municipalities, research, and industry are involved.

For its concept to develop smart urban districts, a consortium will develop a strategic partnership under the auspices of the Smart Cities and Communities initiative and will be led by Fraunhofer IAO. The project name Triangulum stands for the three points demonstrate, disseminate and reciprocate. The project will implement pioneering concepts in the three cities of Manchester (UK), Eindhoven (Netherlands), and Stavanger (Norway) with support from the European Union. Subsequently, the concepts will be transferred to Leipzig (Germany), Prague (Czech Republic), and Sabadell (Spain). The project emerged from the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft's Morgenstadt (city of tomorrow) initiative.

"Our goal is to find viable solutions to make cities sustainable, smart, and livable in the future. To achieve this, we're implementing pioneering concepts for sustainable energy supply, mobility, and information technology, initially in three selected cities," explains Alanus von Radecki, project manager at Fraunhofer IAO, who has the lead role in the project.

Triangulum will transform the student quarter in Manchester known as the Corridor, which contains around 72,000 students, into a smart city district. This will entail renovating historical buildings and building up an autonomous energy grid to supply the entire district with heat and electricity. The grid will combine geothermal and district heating with two independently operating electricity grids and a fuel cell that can store excess energy. In addition, all conventional cars are to be banished from the district: according to the scientists' vision, only electric vehicles, bicycles, and the city's "Metrolink" electric tram will be allowed in the Corridor.

In Eindhoven, two districts will be transformed into sustainable living environments during the course of the project. The former Philips industrial complex in the "Strijp-S" neighborhood will become a creative smart district. An innovative concept to clean up contaminated land will double as a means of producing energy. A district-wide ICT solution will allow residents to access different kinds of infrastructure, such as booking electric vehicles from a district car sharing scheme or using smart parking concepts. In this way, the IT-based tool will help residents to develop sustainable patterns of energy and mobility behavior. In addition, electric buses will make city traffic more eco-friendly. A different set of challenges is posed by the Eckart-Vaartbroek district, where energy-efficiency renovations will be carried out on the social housing stock that predominates in this area. In order to precisely calculate the energy savings, the project will use an IT-based instrument capable of modeling costs and yield in a 3D visualization of the district.

For the inhabitants of the Norwegian city of Stavanger, electric vehicles are already a familiar sight. In spite of this, the city with the highest density of electric vehicles in Europe wants to be more than that, and would like to be a motor for development and growth.. A high-performance fiber optic network will ensure that data can be exchanged very rapidly. Various energy and mobility projects based on existing high-speed ICT infrastructure will help Stavanger to cleverly integrate energy and mobility solutions. Through sustainable, integrated solutions, Stavanger will lead the way to smarter cities in which companies, people, research institutes and communities can be connected in order to improve urban environments and encourage regional growth. The project also includes new public services, such as video solutions, that leverage the fiber optic infrastructure.

Consequently a secondary linchpin of the project is civic engagement and promoting citizen participation through workshops. "At the heart of our project is an ICT architecture that will be used in all three flagship cities. It is the foundation that enables the individual technologies in the city to be connected and coordinated with each other," says Alanus von Radecki. This standardized architecture also ensures that it will be possible to subsequently transfer the concepts to other cities -- as will be demonstrated when the project moves to its second phase in Leipzig, Prague, and Sabadell.

Triangulum was selected out of a total of 19 submissions by the European Commission to be part of the Smart Cities and Communities initiative and was also selected for a strategic partnership within the Horizon 2020 framework. The Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum accompanied the Fraunhofer IAO in the application process and will assist with administrative, financial and legal project coordination as well as the dissemination of project results.

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Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by Fraunhofer-Institut für Arbeitswirtschaft und Organisation IAO. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

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Demand high for engineers in midwest

 

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Andrew Neary, a paint engineer with Vermeer in Pella, Iowa, discusses job opportunities with Cody Herman, a senior mechanical engineering major from Freeman, South Dakota. Vermeer was one of 105 companies at the Engineering Career Fair sponsored by the Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering at South Dakota State University Oct. 7.

Engineering students preparing to take their sheepskin and depart into the world of change orders and service requests are finding no shortage of companies wanting to take their resumes.

The Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering at South Dakota State University organized its annual fall career fair Oct. 7, 2014, and a record 105 companies manned booths that overflowed the Volstorff Ballroom in the Student Union and took over the east hallway.

"This has got to be one of the best times I've seen for a graduating senior or one near graduation to be looking for an internship. This is outstanding," according Lew Brown, dean of the college since 2001.

Grace Regan, a civil engineering major from Stillwater, Minnesota, came to the Engineering Career Fair with a full-time job offer in hand as well as plans to head to graduate school in January. "But I'm seeing what's out here. With 105 companies, it never hurts to look around," she said.

Cody Herman, a mechanical engineering major from Freeman, was figuratively "out knocking on doors, looking to stay local."

The senior's preference is for an ag-related firm, "but I'm open for anything as long as there is a challenge involved. I like solving problems." He doesn't expect finding a job to be a long-term challenge. "There are plenty of jobs out there. Everybody is hiring or is going to hire in the near future."

List of job openings grows

One of the firms Herman met with was Vermeer, an ag and industrial equipment manufacturer based in Pella, Iowa, with a satellite facility in Herman's hometown of Freeman.

Vermeer's job listings have grown from three to seven pages in the past year, according to Andrew Neary, a paint engineer and a 2006 State graduate who headed the Joint Engineering Council when he was a senior. The council organizes the career fair, which is repeated in February.

"I've never seen this place so full. In my senior year, we had 63 booths and that was a record year," Neary said.

The 105 companies represent a 23 percent increase from the record 86 companies in 2013. Previous career fairs had been attracting between 60 and 70 companies.

This year's expo was the fifth time for Neary to represent Vermeer and the five-hour career fair definitely wasn't a chance to catch up on emails. "I've had times in the past where it's been stagnant. Today has been busy" for Neary as well as his Vermeer partner Tyler Schiferl, a '09 State grad.

Expo draws wide student interest

More than 400 students registered for the fair, including freshmen just gaining a feel for potential employers.

The breadth of companies present at the career fair also provides students exposure to the wide variety of work available to those in the engineering, technology and math fields. "Many students enroll in the college not knowing which field to enter, but knowing they will have plenty of options if their first choice doesn't fit them," Brown said.

The fair drew students from all nine of the college's majors and for the first year, architectural students were invited.

Regan said, "The College of Engineering is absolutely awesome about emailing students about the career fair; letting them know when it is, what to bring and how to be prepared."

One of the recruiters working the Volstorff hallways was Delvin DeBoer, who retired in 2012 after 33 years on the civil engineering department faculty.

"The words I said to students as a professor are the same as I say to them as an employer. You are seeking a work environment that is mutually attractive to you and the employer, so learn the characteristics of companies and approach them in a professional manner.

"Those minutes spent with company representative at the career fair make a significant first impression," said DeBoer, who is now in Fargo, North Dakota, with Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services.

'It's really competitive'

Scott Omland was at the career fair for a second year with Ottertail Power Co. of Big Stone City. The 2012 graduate went several times as a student and he has found a big difference being on the other side of the table. "It's a little less nerve wracking," the mechanical engineering graduate said with laugh.

Of course, for this year's crop of senior the tension is less.

Dean Brown said, "I remember the years when students would look around hoping for one offer. Now they've got several offers. You ask any of these employers, they'll tell you it's really competitive."

Omland agreed, "It's a time when companies are really looking to the engineering field. Everybody is looking for good engineers."

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Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by South Dakota State University. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

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Insisting only on randomised controlled trials for Ebola treatments unethical, impractical, say leading health experts

 

October 10, 2014

The Lancet

Leading health experts urge the deployment of alternative trial designs to fast-track the evaluation of new Ebola treatments. Senior health professionals and medical ethicists, from Africa, Europe, and USA, argue that although randomized controlled trials (RCTs) provide robust evidence in most circumstances, the lack of effective treatment options for Ebola, high mortality with the current standard of care, and the paucity of effective health care systems in the affected regions means that alternative trial designs need to be considered.

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Leading health experts today urge the deployment of alternative trial designs to fast-track the evaluation of new Ebola treatments. In a letter to The Lancet, 17 senior health professionals and medical ethicists, from Africa, Europe, and USA, argue that although randomised controlled trials (RCTs) provide robust evidence in most circumstances, the lack of effective treatment options for Ebola, high mortality with the current standard of care, and the paucity of effective health care systems in the affected regions means that alternative trial designs need to be considered.

They write that, "No-one insisted that western medical workers offered zMapp and other investigational products were randomised to receive the drug or conventional care plus a placebo. None of us would consent to be randomised in such circumstances. In cancers with a poor prognosis for which there are no good treatments, evidence from studies without a control group can be accepted as sufficient for deployment, and even for licensing by regulators, with fuller analysis following later. There is no need for rules to be bent or corners to be cut: the necessary procedures already exist, and are used."

"We accept that RCTs can generate strong evidence in ordinary circumstances; not, however, in the midst of the worst Ebola epidemic in history," they conclude. "The urgent need is to establish whether new investigational drugs offer survival benefits, and thus which, if any, should be recommended by WHO to save lives. We have innovative but proven trial designs for doing exactly that. We should be using them, rather than doggedly insisting on gold standards that were developed for different settings and purposes."

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The above story is based on materials provided by The Lancet. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

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Journal Reference:

1. Clement Adebamowo, Oumou Bah-Sow, Fred Binka, Roberto Bruzzone, Arthur Caplan, Jean-François Delfraissy, David Heymann, Peter Horby, Pontiano Kaleebu, Jean-Jacques Muyembe Tamfum, Piero Olliaro, Peter Piot, Abdul Tejan-Cole, Oyewale Tomori, Aissatou Toure, Els Torreele, John Whitehead. Randomised controlled trials for Ebola: practical and ethical issues. The Lancet, October 2014 DOI: 10.1016/ S0140-6736(14)61734-7

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Computerized surveillance system quickly detects disease outbreaks among preschoolers

 

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A web-based system that allows preschools and child care centers to report illnesses to local public health departments could improve the detection of disease outbreaks and allow resources to be mobilized more quickly, according to University of Michigan research to be presented Saturday, Oct. 11 at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference & Exhibition in San Diego.

Researchers who designed the biosurveillance system will describe how it can be used to track illness trends and improve public health response to outbreaks during a presentation at 2:09 p.m. PDT in Marina Ballroom Salon E at the San Diego Marriott Marquis.

"For example, if certain child care centers are reporting the beginning of stomach flu (vomiting and diarrhea), other centers can start taking steps to thoroughly clean to kill any viruses before symptoms occur or before a major outbreak takes place," says Andrew N. Hashikawa, M.D., F.A.A.P., a pediatric emergency physician at the University of Michigan's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital.

In addition, if child care providers see that larger centers in their community are reporting flu-like illness, they can use the data to emphasize to parents the need to have their children immunized against influenza sooner rather than later, says Hashikawa, who also is assistant professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, at the University of Michigan Medical School.

Children under age 5 generally become sick earlier and more frequently than school-aged children and adults because their immune systems are underdeveloped. Young children often are responsible for spreading viruses to the rest of the community.

Previously some public health departments have found that school absenteeism as a marker for illness was imprecise, delayed, and unavailable during summer and winter breaks.

"However, child care or preschool absences are typically more likely to be associated with illness and most young children continue to need child care for most of the year," says Hashikawa, a member of the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation.

Most public health departments do not electronically track influenza or stomach illnesses in preschools and child care centers settings.

"Most illness reporting methods used by many public health departments are slow, paper-based and inefficient," says Hashikawa.

To improve reporting, Hashikawa and his colleagues created a computerized system and tested it at four early learning centers in Michigan. Staff were trained to use the system daily to report any ill child. No confidential or identifying information was collected. They entered data on illness type and symptoms in seven categories commonly seen in preschoolers: fever, influenza-like illness, pink eye, stomach illnesses (gastroenteritis), cold or respiratory symptoms, ear infections and rash. They also entered the age range of the ill child (infant, 0-12 months), (toddler, 13-35 months) or (preschooler, 36-59 months), daily attendance at their center, and action taken (e.g., child brought to a physician).

Researchers sent data electronically to the public health department weekly or more frequently if spikes in illness cases were seen.

Results showed centers reported 188 individual episodes of illness from Dec. 10, 2013, through March 28, 2014. Nearly 15 percent were infants, 32 percent were toddlers and 54 percent were preschoolers. The most common illnesses reported were gastroenteritis (37 percent), fever (31 percent), cold (17 percent) and influenza (3 percent).

Data also revealed an unusually large increase in gastroenteritis cases during a two-day period, which was comparable to a countywide spike among schools reported three weeks later.

"Preliminary data suggest that using the online biosurveillance in child care centers and preschools gives us an earlier detection and warning system because the younger children appeared to become sick first compared to middle school and high school aged children within the community," says Hashikawa.

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The above story is based on materials provided by University of Michigan Health System. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

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Hidden population: Thousands of youths take on caregiver role at home

 

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While the typical preteen or adolescent can be found playing sports or video games after school, more than 1.3 million spend their free time caring for a family member who suffers from a physical or mental illness, or substance misuse.

These "caregiving youth" are a hidden population who are at risk of school failure and poor health due to the chronic physical and emotional stress of their responsibilities at home, said Julia Belkowitz, MD, FAAP, author of an abstract titled "Caregiving Youth Project: A School-Based Intervention to Support a Hidden Population in Need." The study will be presented Oct. 11 at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference & Exhibition in San Diego.

Dr. Belkowitz, assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and her colleagues worked with the American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY) to better understand the experiences of caregiving youth in Palm Beach County, Fla. They also studied the impact of services provided by AACY to caregiving youth, including a support system, skills-building classes, home health and community resources, tutoring and respite services along with sponsored fun activities.

"AACY services in Palm Beach County reach only the tip of the iceberg," said Connie Siskowski, RN, PhD, founder and president of AACY. "Today in the U.S., there are many more than the 1.3 million children identified in 2005 who face the challenges of juggling adult-sized responsibilities of caring for ill, injured, aging or disabled family members while trying to keep up at school."

Researchers analyzed approximately 550 intake forms completed by the AACY with youth caregivers. The forms included information on demographics, caregiving activities and health status collected at eight middle schools in Palm Beach County, FL. They also reviewed 200 family intake forms completed when a social worker conducted a home visit with the families, as well as feedback forms completed annually by youth participating in AACY activities.

Sixty-two percent of the youth caregivers were girls; 38% were boys. The median age of caregivers was 12 years.

Youth caregivers reported spending a median of 2.5 hours each school day and four hours each weekend day performing caregiving tasks at home. Estimates of median caregiving task time reported by family members were slightly lower at 1.5 hours on weekdays and 2.25 hours on weekend days.

These tasks include assisting family members with getting around, eating, dressing, toileting, bathing and continence care. Youth caregivers also kept the family member company, provided emotional support, cleaned the house, shopped for groceries, administered medications, translated in clinical settings and handled medical equipment at home.

"This study is an important step toward raising awareness about the issue of caregiving youth," said Dr. Belkowitz, who also is assistant regional dean for student affairs at the regional campus of the Miller School. "The AACY is developing partnerships throughout the nation to further understand this special population and expand programming to provide the resources and support these young people need and deserve."

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Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by American Academy of Pediatrics. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

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Incorrect use of car seats widespread on first trip home from hospital, research shows

 

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Nearly all parents unknowingly put their newborn infants at risk as soon as they drive away from the hospital due to mistakes made with car safety seats, according to research to be presented Oct. 13 at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference & Exhibition in San Diego.

A study of 267 families at Oregon Health and Science University Hospital showed that 93 percent made at least one critical error in positioning their infant in a car safety seat or when installing the safety seat in the vehicle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has defined critical errors as those that put infants at increased risk for injury in a crash.

"Car safety seats can be difficult to use correctly for many families, and we need to provide the resources and services they need to help ensure the safest possible travel for newborns and all children," said Benjamin Hoffman, MD, FAAP, lead author of the study "Unsafe from the Start: Critical Misuse of Car Safety Seats for Newborns at Initial Hospital Discharge."

Dr. Hoffman and his colleagues enrolled randomly selected mother-infant pairs in the hospital's mother-baby unit from November 2013 to May 2014. Infants born at less than 37 weeks' gestation and those who stayed in the neonatal intensive care unit for more than four hours were excluded from the study.

A certified child passenger safety technician observed new mothers or a designee position the newborn in the car safety seat and install the seat in the vehicle in which they would be leaving the hospital. The technician recorded all misuses based on car safety seat and vehicle manufacturer recommendations. Prior to departure, technicians helped caregivers correct all mistakes.

The most common errors in positioning the infant included harness being too loose (69 percent), retainer clip too low (34 percent), use of after-market product not approved with seat (20 percent), harness too high (18 percent) and caregiver not knowing how to adjust the harness (15 percent).

The most common installation errors were car safety seat installed too loosely (43 percent), angle of car safety seat incorrect (36 percent), safety belt used but not locked (23 percent) and incorrect spacing between car safety seat and vehicle front seat (17 percent).

Families with increased risk for one or more critical errors tended to be of lower socioeconomic status, had less education, were non-white, did not speak English, and were unmarried or without a partner. Families who had worked with a certified car seat technician prior to their child's birth were 13 times more likely to position their baby correctly and install the car seat correctly in their vehicle.

"We need to move beyond the idea that we cannot afford to develop and support child passenger safety programs," said Dr. Hoffman, professor of pediatrics and medical director of the Tom Sargent Children's Safety Center at Doernbecher Children's Hospital, Portland, Ore. "Car crashes kill more kids that any other cause; we can't afford not to."

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Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by American Academy of Pediatrics. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

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