All-sky Meteor Orbit System AMOS and preliminary analysis of three unusual meteor showers

All-sky Meteor Orbit System (AMOS) is a semi-autonomous video observatory for detection of transient events on the sky, mostly the meteors. Its hardware and software development and permanent placement on several locations in Slovakia allowed the establishment of Slovak Video Meteor Network (SVMN) monitoring meteor activity above the Central Europe. The data reduction, orbital determination and additional results from AMOS cameras–the SVMN database– as well as from observational expeditions on Canary Islands and in Canada provided dynamical and physical data for better understanding of mutual connections between parent bodies of asteroids and comets and their meteoroid streams. We present preliminary results on exceptional and rare meteor streams such as September ε Perseids (SPE) originated from unknown long periodic comet on a retrograde orbit, suspected asteroidal meteor stream of April α Comae Berenicids (ACO) in the orbit of meteorites Příbram and Neuschwanstein and newly observed meteor stream Camelopardalids (CAM) originated from Jupiter family comet 209P/Linear.

Optical Light Curve Observations to Determine Attitude States of Space Debris

The currently proposed space debris remediation measures include the active removal of large objects and “just in time” collision avoidance by deviating the objects using, e.g., ground-based lasers. Both techniques require precise knowledge of the attitude state and state changes of the target objects. In the former case, to devise methods to grapple the target by a tug spacecraft, in the latter, to precisely propagate the orbits of potential collision partners as disturbing forces like air drag and solar radiation pressure depend on the attitude of the objects. Non-resolving optical observations of the magnitude variations, so-called light curves, are a promising technique to determine rotation or tumbling rates and the orientations of the actual rotation axis of objects, as well as their temporal changes. The 1-meter telescope ZIMLAT of the Astronomical Institute of the University of Bern has been used to collect light curves of MEO and GEO objects for a considerable period of time. Recently, light curves of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) targets were acquired as well. We present different observation methods, including active tracking using a CCD subframe readout technique, and the use of a high-speed scientific CMOS camera. Technical challenges when tracking objects with poor orbit redictions, as well as different data reduction methods are addressed. Results from a survey of abandoned rocket upper stages in LEO, examples of abandoned payloads and observations of high area-to-mass ratio debris will be resented. Eventually, first results of the analysis of these light curves are provided.

Prognosis of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Symptomatic Peripheral Arterial Disease: Data from the REduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health (REACH) Registry

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) mortality. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic implication of AF in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). METHODS: The International Reduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health (REACH) Registry included 23,542 outpatients in Europe with established coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease (CVD), PAD and/or >/=3 risk factors. Of these, 3753 patients had symptomatic PAD. CV risk factors were determined at baseline. Study end point was a combination of cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke (CV events) during 2 years of follow-up. Cox regression analysis adjusted for age, gender and other risk factors (i.e., congestive heart failure, coronary artery re-vascularisation, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), MI, hypertension, stroke, current smoking and diabetes) was used. RESULTS: Of 3753 PAD patients, 392 (10%) were known to have AF. Patients with AF were older and had a higher prevalence of CVD, diabetes and hypertension. Long-term CV mortality occurred in 5.6% of patients with AF and in 1.6% of those without AF (p<0.001). Multivariable analyses showed that AF was an independent predictor of late CV events (hazard ratio (HR): 1.5; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09-2.0). CONCLUSION: AF is common in European patients with symptomatic PAD and is independently associated with a worse 2-year CV outcome.

Benchmarking in the SWISSspine registry: results of 52 Dynardi lumbar total disc replacements compared with the data pool of 431 other lumbar disc prostheses

The SWISSspine registry is the first mandatory registry of its kind in the history of Swiss orthopaedics and it follows the principle of "coverage with evidence development". Its goal is the generation of evidence for a decision by the Swiss federal office of health about reimbursement of the concerned technologies and treatments by the basic health insurance of Switzerland. Recently, developed and clinically implemented, the Dynardi total disc arthroplasty (TDA) accounted for 10% of the implanted lumbar TDAs in the registry. We compared the outcomes of patients treated with Dynardi to those of the recipients of the other TDAs in the registry. Between March 2005 and October 2009, 483 patients with single-level TDA were documented in the registry. The 52 patients with a single Dynardi lumbar disc prosthesis implanted by two surgeons (CE and OS) were compared to the 431 patients who received one of the other prostheses. Data were collected in a prospective, observational multicenter mode. Surgery, implant, 3-month, 1-year, and 2-year follow-up forms as well as comorbidity, NASS and EQ-5D questionnaires were collected. For statistical analyses, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and chi-square test were used. Multivariate regression analyses were also performed. Significant and clinically relevant reduction of low back pain and leg pain as well as improvement in quality of life was seen in both groups (P < 0.001 postop vs. preop). There were no inter-group differences regarding postoperative pain levels, intraoperative and follow-up complications or revision procedures with a new hospitalization. However, significantly more Dynardi patients achieved a minimum clinically relevant low back pain alleviation of 18 VAS points and a quality of life improvement of 0.25 EQ-5D points. The patients with Dynardi prosthesis showed a similar outcome to patients receiving the other TDAs in terms of postoperative low back and leg pain, complications, and revision procedures. A higher likelihood for achieving a minimum clinically relevant improvement of low back pain and quality of life in Dynardi patients was observed. This difference might be due to the large number of surgeons using other TDAs compared to only two surgeons using the Dynardi TDA, with corresponding variations in patient selection, patient-physician interaction and other factors, which cannot be assessed in a registry study.

Effects of cardiac preload reduction and dobutamine on hepatosplanchnic blood flow regulation in porcine endotoxemia

Insufficient cardiac preload and impaired contractility are frequent in early sepsis. We explored the effects of acute cardiac preload reduction and dobutamine on hepatic arterial (Qha) and portal venous (Qpv) blood flows during endotoxin infusion. We hypothesized that the hepatic arterial buffer response (HABR) is absent during preload reduction and reduced by dobutamine. In anesthetized pigs, endotoxin or vehicle (n = 12, each) was randomly infused for 18 h. HABR was tested sequentially by constricting superior mesenteric artery (SMA) or inferior vena cava (IVC). Afterward, dobutamine at 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 μg/kg per minute or another vehicle (n = 6, each) was randomly administered in endotoxemic and control animals, and SMA was constricted during each dose. Systemic (cardiac output, thermodilution) and carotid, splanchnic, and renal blood flows (ultrasound Doppler) and blood pressures were measured before and during administration of each dobutamine dose. HABR was expressed as hepatic arterial pressure/flow ratio. Compared with controls, 18 h of endotoxin infusion was associated with decreased mean arterial blood pressure [49 ± 11 mmHg vs. 58 ± 8 mmHg (mean ± SD); P = 0.034], decreased renal blood flow, metabolic acidosis, and impaired HABR during SMA constriction [0.32 (0.18-1.32) mmHg/ml vs. 0.22 (0.08-0.60) mmHg/ml; P = 0.043]. IVC constriction resulted in decreased Qpv in both groups; whereas Qha remained unchanged in controls, it decreased after 18 h of endotoxemia (P = 0.031; constriction-time-group interaction). One control and four endotoxemic animals died during the subsequent 6 h. The maximal increase of cardiac output during dobutamine infusion was 47% (22-134%) in controls vs. 53% (37-85%) in endotoxemic animals. The maximal Qpv increase was significant only in controls [24% (12-47%) of baseline (P = 0.043) vs. 17% (-7-32%) in endotoxemia (P = 0.109)]. Dobutamine influenced neither Qha nor HABR. Our data suggest that acute cardiac preload reduction is associated with preferential hepatic arterial perfusion initially but not after established endotoxemia. Dobutamine had no effect on the HABR.

Chances and risks of publication of quality data - the perspectives of Swiss physicians and nurses

Background The release of quality data from acute care hospitals to the general public is based on the aim to inform the public, to provide transparency and to foster quality-based competition among providers. Due to the expected mechanisms of action and possibly the adverse consequences of public quality comparison, it is a controversial topic. The perspective of physicians and nurses is of particular importance in this context. They are mainly responsible for the collection of quality-control data, and are directly confronted with the results of public comparison. The research focus of this qualitative study was to discover what the views and opinions of the Swiss physicians and nurses were regarding these issues. It was investigated as to how the two professional groups appraised the opportunities as well as the risks of the release of quality data in Switzerland. Methods A qualitative approach was chosen to answer the research question. For data collection, four focus groups were conducted with physicians and nurses who were employed in Swiss acute care hospitals. Qualitative content analysis was applied to the data. Results The results revealed that both occupational groups had a very critical and negative attitude regarding the recent developments. The perceived risks were dominating their view. In summary, their main concerns were: the reduction of complexity, the one-sided focus on measurable quality variables, risk selection, the threat of data manipulation and the abuse of published information by the media. An additional concern was that the impression is given that the complex construct of quality can be reduced to a few key figures, and it that it is constructed from a false message which then influences society and politics. This critical attitude is associated with the different value system and the professional self-concept that both physicians and nurses have, in comparison to the underlying principles of a market-based economy and the economic orientation of health care business. Conclusions The critical and negative attitude of Swiss physicians and nurses must, under all conditions, be heeded to and investigated regarding its impact on work motivation and identification with the profession. At the same time, the two professional groups are obligated to reflect upon their critical attitude and take a proactive role in the development of appropriate quality indicators for the publication of quality data in Switzerland.

Improvement in renal function after everolimus introduction and calcineurin inhibitor reduction in maintenance thoracic transplant recipients: the significance of baseline glomerular filtration rate

The NOCTET (NOrdic Certican Trial in HEart and lung Transplantation) trial demonstrated that everolimus improves renal function in maintenance thoracic transplant (TTx) recipients. Nevertheless, introduction of everolimus is not recommended for patients with advanced renal failure. We evaluated NOCTET data to assess everolimus introduction amongst TTx recipients with advanced renal failure.

Predictors of substance use reduction in an epidemiological first-episode psychosis cohort

Aim To assess the predictors of a significant decrease or cessation of substance use (SU) in a treated epidemiological cohort of first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients. Method Participants were FEP patients of the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre in Australia. Patients' medical files were reviewed using a standardized file audit. Data on 432 patients with FEP and baseline co-morbid substance use disorder (SUD) were available for analysis. Predictors of reduction/cessation of SU at follow up were examined using logistic regression analyses. Results In univariate analyses, a reduction/cessation of SU was predicted by baseline measures reflecting higher education, employment, accommodation with others, cannabis use disorder (CUD) only (rather than poly-SUDs), better global functioning and better premorbid social and occupational functioning, later age at onset of psychosis, and a diagnosis of non-affective psychosis. In multivariate analysis, CUD alone and better premorbid social and occupational functioning remained significant predictors. Conclusions Addressing SUDs and social and occupational goals in people with FEP may offer opportunities to prevent SUDs becoming more severe or entrenched. Further longitudinal research on recovery from SU and FEP is needed to disentangle directions of influence and identify key targets for intervention.

Analysis of pedigree and conformation data to explain genetic variability of the horse breed Franches-Montagnes

Franches-Montagnes is the only native horse breed in Switzerland, therefore special efforts should be made for ensuring its survival. The objectives of this study were to characterize the structure of this population as well as genetic variability with pedigree data, conformation traits and molecular markers. Studies were focused to clarify if this population is composed of a heavy- and a light-type subpopulation. Extended pedigree records of 3-year-old stallions (n = 68) and mares (n = 108) were available. Evaluations of body conformation traits as well as pedigree data and molecular markers did not support the two-subpopulation hypothesis. The generation interval ranged from 7.8 to 9.3 years. The complete generation equivalent was high (>12). The number of effective ancestors varied between 18.9 and 20.1, whereof 50% of the genetic variability was attributed to seven of them. Genetic contribution of Warmblood horses ranged from 36% to 42% and that of Coldblood horses from 4% to 6%. The average inbreeding coefficient reached 6%. Inbreeding effective population size was 114.5 when the average increase of the inbreeding coefficient per year since 1910 was taken. Our results suggest that bottleneck situations occurred because of selection of a small number of sire lines. Promotion of planned matings between parents that are less related is recommended in order to avoid a reduction of the genetic diversity.

Harm reduction in Bern: from outreach to heroin maintenance

In Switzerland, harm-reduction programs have the support of the national government and many localities, in congruence with much of the rest of Europe and in contrast with the United States, and take place in public settings. The threat of AIDS is recognized as the greater harm. This paper describes the overall national program and highlights the experience from one city; the program is noteworthy because it is aimed at gathering comparative data from controlled trials.

Automatic Reduction of Artifacts in EEG-Signals

Electroencephalograms (EEG) are often contaminated with high amplitude artifacts limiting the usability of data. Methods that reduce these artifacts are often restricted to certain types of artifacts, require manual interaction or large training data sets. Within this paper we introduce a novel method, which is able to eliminate many different types of artifacts without manual intervention. The algorithm first decomposes the signal into different sub-band signals in order to isolate different types of artifacts into specific frequency bands. After signal decomposition with principal component analysis (PCA) an adaptive threshold is applied to eliminate components with high variance corresponding to the dominant artifact activity. Our results show that the algorithm is able to significantly reduce artifacts while preserving the EEG activity. Parameters for the algorithm do not have to be identified for every patient individually making the method a good candidate for preprocessing in automatic seizure detection and prediction algorithms.

Acute device-based blood pressure reduction: electrical activation of the carotid baroreflex in patients undergoing elective carotid surgery

Carotid sinus baroreceptors are involved in controlling blood pressure (BP) by providing input to the cardiovascular regulatory centers of the medulla. The acute effect of temporarily placing an electrode on the carotid sinus wall to electrically activate the baroreflex was investigated. We studied 11 patients undergoing elective carotid surgery. Baseline BP was 146+30/66+/-17 mm Hg and heart rate (HR) 72+/-7 bpm (mean +/- standard deviation). An electrode was placed upon the carotid sinus and after obtaining a steady state baseline of BP and HR, an electric current was applied and increased in 1-volt increments. A voltage dependent and highly significant reduction in BP was observed which averaged 18+/-26* and 8.0+/-12 mm Hg for systolic BP and diastolic BP, respectively. Maximal reductions occurred at 4.4+/-1.2 V: 23+/-24 mm Hg*, 16+/-10 mm Hg* and 7+/-12 bpm* for systolic BP, diastolic BP and HR, respectively ( = p <.05). Thus, electrical stimulation of the carotid sinus activates the carotid baroreflex resulting in a reduction in BP and HR. This presents a proof of concept for device based baroreflex modulation in acute BP regulation and adds to the available data which provide a rationale for evaluating this system in the context of chronic BP reduction in hypertensive patients.

Normobaric hyperoxia--induced improvement in cerebral metabolism and reduction in intracranial pressure in patients with severe head injury: a prospective historical cohort-matched study

OBJECT: The effect of normobaric hyperoxia (fraction of inspired O2 [FIO2] concentration 100%) in the treatment of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of normobaric hyperoxia on five cerebral metabolic indices, which have putative prognostic significance following TBI in humans. METHODS: At two independent neurointensive care units, the authors performed a prospective study of 52 patients with severe TBI who were treated for 24 hours with 100% FIO2, starting within 6 hours of admission. Data for these patients were compared with data for a cohort of 112 patients who were treated in the past; patients in the historical control group matched the patients in our study according to their Glasgow Coma Scale scores after resuscitation and their intracranial pressure within the first 8 hours after admission. Patients were monitored with the aid of intracerebral microdialysis and tissue O2 probes. Normobaric hyperoxia treatment resulted in a significant improvement in biochemical markers in the brain compared with the baseline measures for patients treated in our study (patients acting as their own controls) and also compared with findings from the historical control group. In the dialysate the glucose levels increased (369.02 +/- 20.1 micromol/L in the control group and 466.9 +/- 20.39 micromol/L in the 100% O2 group, p = 0.001), whereas the glutamate and lactate levels significantly decreased (p < 0.005). There were also reductions in the lactate/glucose and lactate/pyruvate ratios. Intracranial pressure in the treatment group was reduced significantly both during and after hyperoxia treatment compared with the control groups (15.03 +/- 0.8 mm Hg in the control group and 12.13 +/- 0.75 mm Hg in the 100% O2 group, p < 0.005) with no changes in cerebral perfusion pressure. Outcomes of the patients in the treatment group improved. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study support the hypothesis that normobaric hyperoxia in patients with severe TBI improves the indices of brain oxidative metabolism. Based on these data further mechanistic studies and a prospective randomized controlled trial are warranted.