Retrospective, epidemiological cluster analysis of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) epidemic using open source data.

The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is caused by a novel coronavirus discovered in 2012. Since then, 1806 cases, including 564 deaths, have been reported by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and affected countries as of 1 June 2016. Previous literature attributed increases in MERS-CoV transmission to camel breeding season as camels are likely the reservoir for the virus. However, this literature review and subsequent analysis indicate a lack of seasonality. A retrospective, epidemiological cluster analysis was conducted to investigate increases in MERS-CoV transmission and reports of household and nosocomial clusters. Cases were verified and associations between cases were substantiated through an extensive literature review and the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch's Tiered Source Classification System. A total of 51 clusters were identified, primarily nosocomial (80·4%) and most occurred in KSA (45·1%). Clusters corresponded temporally with the majority of periods of greatest incidence, suggesting a strong correlation between nosocomial transmission and notable increases in cases.

The Far Ultra-Violet imager on the ICON mission.

ICON Far UltraViolet (FUV) imager contributes to the ICON science objectives by providing remote sensing measurements of the daytime and nighttime atmosphere/ionosphere. During sunlit atmospheric conditions, ICON FUV images the limb altitude profile in the shortwave (SW) band at 135.6 nm and the longwave (LW) band at 157 nm perpendicular to the satellite motion to retrieve the atmospheric O/N2 ratio. In conditions of atmospheric darkness, ICON FUV measures the 135.6 nm recombination emission of O+ ions used to compute the nighttime ionospheric altitude distribution. ICON Far UltraViolet (FUV) imager is a CzernyTurner design Spectrographic Imager with two exit slits and corresponding back imager cameras that produce two independent images in separate wavelength bands on two detectors. All observations will be processed as limb altitude profiles. In addition, the ionospheric 135.6 nm data will be processed as longitude and latitude spatial maps to obtain images of ion distributions around regions of equatorial spread F. The ICON FUV optic axis is pointed 20 degrees below local horizontal and has a steering mirror that allows the field of view to be steered up to 30 degrees forward and aft, to keep the local magnetic meridian in the field of view. The detectors are micro channel plate (MCP) intensified FUV tubes with the phosphor fiber-optically coupled to Charge Coupled Devices (CCDs). The dual stack MCP-s amplify the photoelectron signals to dominate the CCD noise and the rapidly scanned frames are co-added to digitally create 12-second integrated images. Digital on-board signal processing is used to compensate for geometric distortion and satellite motion and to achieve data compression. The instrument was originally aligned in visible light by using a special grating and visible cameras. Final alignment, functional and environmental testing and calibration were performed in a large vacuum chamber with a UV source. The test and calibration program showed that ICON FUV meets its design requirements and is ready to be launched on the ICON spacecraft.

Contribution of rural-to-urban migration in the prevalence of drug resistant tuberculosis in China.

Increased drug resistance rates to the first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs and multidrug resistance (MDR) were observed in China. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence and risk factors for drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) in urban China and, more specifically, to determine the contribution of migration to case burden and drug resistance rates of urban cities. A facility-based epidemiological study of all active TB patients reported in the four districts of Shanghai and Ningbo between April 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009 was conducted. Residents had significantly higher drug-resistance rates than migrants (any drug resistance: 29.8% vs. 23.5%, respectively, P = 0.038; MDR: 10.9% vs. 6.1%, P = 0.048). Previously treated migrant patients were more likely to harbor drug-resistant TB and MDR-TB than new migrant cases, with adjusted odds ratios of 3.85 and 6.52, respectively. In total, 46.2% of the previously treated cases were resistant to INH, 38.5% to SM, 33.3% to RMP and 30.8% to EMB, while 13.1%, 17.5%, 7.0% and 6.8% of new cases were resistant to the four agents, respectively. To prevent the transmission of drug-resistant TB among migrants and residents, improved case management and appropriate treatment regimens should be sustained to prevent acquired drug resistance.

Over-time changes in adjustment and competence among adolescents from authoritative, authoritarian, indulgent, and neglectful families.

In a previous report, we demonstrated that adolescents' adjustment varies as a function of their parents' style (e.g., authoritative, authoritarian, indulgent, neglectful). This 1-year follow-up was conducted in order to examine whether the observed differences are maintained over time. In 1987, an ethnically and socioeconomically heterogeneous sample of approximately 2,300 14-18-year-olds provided information used to classify the adolescents' families into 1 of 4 parenting style groups. That year, and again 1 year later, the students completed a battery of standardized instruments tapping psychosocial development, school achievement, internalized distress, and behavior problems. Differences in adjustment associated with variations in parenting are either maintained or increase over time. However, whereas the benefits of authoritative parenting are largely in the maintenance of previous levels of high adjustment, the deleterious consequences of neglectful parenting continue to accumulate.

Parental monitoring and peer influences on adolescent substance use.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the joint influences of parental monitoring and peer influence on adolescent substance use over time. SUBJECTS: 6500 adolescents attending six high schools in Wisconsin and northern California. DESIGN: Longitudinal study. RESULTS: Parental monitoring was negatively associated with substance use, whereas the more involved an adolescent's peers were in substance use, the more likely he or she also was to use drugs and alcohol. Effects of monitoring and peer coercion were strongest for boys and girls at the transition into substance use, rather than at the transition from experimentation to regular use. The effect of parental monitoring on changes in adolescent substance use is mediated not so much by the nature of the adolescent's peer associates, but by its direct effect on the adolescent. Specifically, poorly monitored adolescents are more likely to use drugs, and drug-using adolescents seek out like-minded friends. Once an adolescent associates with drug-using peers, his or her own substance use approaches their level. CONCLUSIONS: Intervention effects should include both parents and community-level efforts. Parental monitoring is an effective tool both in the prevention of drug use and in the amelioration of drug use.

Impact of parenting practices on adolescent achievement: authoritative parenting, school involvement, and encouragement to succeed.

This article examines the impact of authoritative parenting, parental involvement in schooling, and parental encouragement to succeed on adolescent school achievement in an ethnically and socio-economically heterogeneous sample of approximately 6,400 American 14-18-year-olds. Adolescents reported in 1987 on their parents' general child-rearing practices and on their parents' achievement-specific socialization behaviors. In 1987, and again in 1988, data were collected on several aspects of the adolescents' school performance and school engagement. Authoritative parenting (high acceptance, supervision, and psychological autonomy granting) leads to better adolescent school performance and stronger school engagement. The positive impact of authoritative parenting on adolescent achievement, however, is mediated by the positive effect of authoritativeness on parental involvement in schooling. In addition, nonauthoritativeness attenuates the beneficial impact of parental involvement in schooling on adolescents achievement. Parental involvement is much more likely to promote adolescent school success when it occurs in the context of an authoritative home environment.

Is the polar bear (Ursus maritimus) a hibernator? Continued studies on opioids and hibernation.

Polar bear behavior and biochemistry suggest they may have the ability to hibernate year-round, even though this species is not considered to be a true hibernator. This observation, plus the discovery of a hibernation-induction trigger (HIT) in the blood of black bears, prompted the examination of polar bear blood collected throughout the year for evidence of HIT, and to determine if it displayed opioid activity, as black bear blood does. A bioassay was conducted by injecting summer 13-lined ground squirrels with serum collected from polar bears at different seasons. One group of squirrels was previously implanted with osmotic pumps containing naloxone. The rest had pumps containing saline. Squirrels with saline pumps all hibernated significantly more than those with naloxone, except the group receiving blood from a November polar bear, observed to be highly active and hyperphagic. An in vitro study, using guinea pig ileum, showed that 400 nM morphine inhibited induced contractions and 100 nM naloxone reversed the inhibition. Ten mg of winter polar bear serum albumin fraction (to which HIT binds in ground squirrels and woodchucks) had a similar inhibiting effect, but naloxone, even at 4,000 nM, didn't reverse it. It is concluded that polar bear blood contains HIT, that it has an inhibiting effect, but naloxone, even at 4,000 nM, didn't reverse it. It is concluded that polar bear blood contains HIT, that it has an opioid effect, but may not itself be an opioid.

Parameters in the use of CCTV's and optical aids.

Data from 96 veterans who had been using a closed circuit television (CCTV) for at least 2 years are presented. Most patients (87%) reported continuing use of the CCTV and demonstrated their proficiency in its use. Fifty percent of all patients used an optical aid, as well as a CCTV for near work. These patients did not differ on mean reading speeds for either type of aid, but the CCTV did provide significantly longer reading durations. Neither near nor far visual acuity measures were correlated with performance variables. Linear magnification, working distance, and effective magnification on the CCTV appeared to interact to influence CCTV reading speed. The data have clear implications for clinical practice.

A preliminary report on experienced closed-circuit television users.

In an attempt to describe the use and usefulness of closed-circuit televisions (C.C.T.V), a preliminary follow-up study of 27 veterans was undertaken by the Western Blind Rehabilitation Center. The veterans had been loaned C.C.T.V.'s by the Veterans Administration and represented a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and pathologies. On the basis of the present data, it is concluded that C.C.T.V. significantly improve the functioning of the majority of users and that this improvement appears to be a long-term benefit.