Monitoring vegetation dynamics using the universal normalized vegetation index (UNVI): An optimized vegetation index-VIUPD

This paper propose a universal normalized vegetation index (UNVI), which is an improved vegetation index (VI) based on the universal pattern decomposition method (UPDM), termed VIUPD. We also derive new matrices to facilitate convenient calculation of the UNVI based on data from the MODIS and Landsat-TM, ETM, OLI satellite sensors. We compared the performance of the UNVI to the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), enhanced vegetation index (EVI) and modified soil adjusted vegetation index 2 (MSAVI2) to estimate the vegetation dynamics (chlorophyll content and leaf area index [LAI]). The results show that the UNVI was more sensitive to vegetation dynamics than the NDVI, EVI and MSAVI2. The UNVI has a higher LAI saturation point than the other three indices. The UNVI can be used to monitor global changes in above ground biomass (AGB) and gross primary production (GPP) with respect to a wide range of vegetation dynamics.     

Temporal Trends of Women Enrollment in Major Cardiovascular Randomized Clinical Trials

Background

Although it is known that women do not participate in trials as frequently as men, there are limited recent data examining how women recruitment has changed over time.

Dreijahresergebnisse der deutschlandweiten Umfrage zu Augenverletzungen durch Feuerwerkskörper

Weltweit entstehen an Feiertagen schwere Augenverletzungen durch Feuerwerkskörper. Die Datenlage für Deutschland ist bislang unklar. Wie häufig entstehen solche Verletzungen in Deutschland, wer ist gefährdet, wie schwer sind die Verletzungen, welche Therapien erfordern sie, und wie häufig treten Begleitverletzungen auf? Deutschlandweite standardisierte Online-Umfrage an bettenführenden, notdienstleistenden Augenkliniken und Auswertung der Ergebnisse über 3 Jahre. Die Beteiligung konnte von 2016 bis 2019 von 41 auf 51 Augenkliniken gesteigert werden. Von 1356 Patienten war mehr als ein Drittel (33–39 %) minderjährig, rund 60 % 25 Jahre oder jünger und rund 60 % Bystander. Ein Viertel der Verletzungen war schwer und erforderte eine stationäre Therapie. Begleitverletzungen am Partnerauge, an Händen und Gesicht waren bei Minderjährigen häufiger als bei Erwachsenen. Bulbusrupturen wurden bei 10 Kindern und 38 Erwachsenen dokumentiert. Vor allem Minderjährige und Zuschauer müssen besser geschützt werden.     

Relational Potential versus the Parent‐Child Relationship

In an article in this issue of the Hastings Center Report, Aaron Wightman and his coauthors attempt to address health care providers’ moral distress about acceding to parents’ requests to provide life‐sustaining medical treatment to children who have profound cognitive disabilities. They propose combining John Arras's relational potential standard and care ethics, and they argue that the capacity for caring relationships can provide an independent moral justification for honoring such requests. This combination is, however, unstable. Wightman et al.'s language of potential and capacity opens the possibility of substantial misinterpretation. They rely on epistemological and prognostic uncertainty to argue that reciprocity and participation may be present in the parent‐child relationship even when the child's engagement cannot be observed. The terminology suggests that these are characteristics that can be gained or lost rather than characteristics of being born within certain social practices. In contrast, Eva Feder Kittay illuminates family membership as an important social relation. Her articulation of the independent moral value of parenting stands on its own without being conjoined to Arras's position.     

Emerging and Traditional Organic Markers in Areas with Multiple Anthropogenic Activities: Development of an Analytical Protocol and Its Application in Environmental Assessment Studies

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology - This work describes the development of an analytical protocol combining cleanup by liquid–solid extraction and GC–MS for the...     

Development of a high-fidelity minimally invasive mitral valve surgery simulator

Objectives

The aim of this study was to develop a high-fidelity minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS) simulator.

Bone mineral density changes after parathyroidectomy are dependent on biochemical profile

Background

Bone mineral density (BMD) has been found to improve after parathyroidectomy (PTX) in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. There are few data on the effect of PTX on BMD in normocalcemic and normohormonal primary hyperparathyroidism.

What's new in atopic eczema? An analysis of systematic reviews published in 2017. Part 1: treatment and prevention

This review forms part of a series of annual updates that summarize the evidence base for atopic eczema (AE). It provides a summary of key findings from 25 systematic reviews that were published or indexed during 2017, and focuses on the treatment and prevention of AE. There is high‐quality evidence to demonstrate that dupilumab is better than placebo for the treatment of AE, is not associated with a higher incidence of adverse effects and does not increase the risk of infection compared with placebo; however, comparison studies with other systemic treatments are necessary. Topical tofacitinib is a promising treatment for mild–moderate AE, but currently lacks sufficient evidence from well‐designed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing with other active treatments. Topical doxepin may be effective for pruritus in AE, but available studies have short follow‐up periods and longer‐term outcomes are needed. Bleach baths were no more effective than water baths alone at reducing AE severity. Topical antibiotics cannot be recommended for infected AE, owing to insufficient evidence of benefit. There is little comparison of different emollients in RCTs, but overall evidence indicates that they reduce AE severity, are steroid‐sparing and lead to better outcomes in combination with topical corticosteroids (TCS) than TCS alone. No clear benefit was demonstrated for vitamin D/C/E supplementation in pregnancy for eczema prevention.     

Baseline Mammography: What Is It and Why Is It Important? A Cross-Sectional Survey of Women Undergoing Screening Mammography

Objectives

Studies have shown that having a baseline mammogram, the first screening mammogram, available for comparison at the time of interpreting a subsequent mammogram significantly decreases the potential of a false-positive examination. Our aim was to evaluate knowledge of and perception about the significance of baseline mammograms in those women undergoing screening mammography.