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The Wilderness Medical Society convened a panel to review available evidence supporting practices for medical direction of search and rescue teams. This panel included of members of the Wilderness Medical Society Search and Rescue Committee, the National Association of EMS Physicians Wilderness Committee, and leadership of the Mountain Rescue Association. Literature about definitions and terminology, epidemiology, currently accepted best practices, and regulatory and legal considerations was reviewed. The panel graded available evidence supporting practices according to the American College of Chest Physicians criteria and then made recommendations based on that evidence. Recommendations were based on the panel's collective clinical experience and judgment when published evidence was lacking.

Emergency medical services (EMS) has existed in its modern form for over 50 years. EMS has become a critical public safety net and access point to the larger health care system. Mature EMS systems are in place in most urban areas. However, EMS systems are not as developed in wilderness areas. A barrier to further development of these systems is the lack of an agreed-upon standard of minimum competence and validation of specialized practice. A practice analysis was completed to create such standards. The practice analysis was completed using a multi-step process. A group of subject matter experts constructed a survey of tasks and knowledge needed for wilderness EMS (WEMS) specialty practice. The tasks and knowledge were validated through an industry survey. A total of 947 surveys were submitted for analysis. Of these, 196 were at least 55% complete and used for analysis. North America was heavily represented as a primary practice location with 177 (90.3%) responses out of the 196 total. Of these 177 responses, 164 (92.7%) were from the United States and 12 (6.8%) were from Canada. One hundred seven of the 116 tasks identified by the subject matter expert group were passed by the survey group, and 164 of the 175 knowledge statements were passed by the survey group. An index of agreement (IOA) was calculated and found to be greater than 0.9 for each task and knowledge statement across all subgroups. A content coverage rating was also calculated and the results indicate survey participants felt the content was "adequate" to "well" covered. The survey results were used to construct a pilot examination. Beta testing of the pilot examination was performed. The beta test results were analyzed and a cut score was determined using the Angoff method with a Beuk compromise. The final product of this process is a defensible exam that will certify candidates' cognitive knowledge of the specialty of WEMS. Completion of this practice analysis solidifies WEMS as distinct subspecialty of out-of-hospital medicine. Additionally, it establishes a consensus definition of wilderness paramedicine and standards that may be used by WEMS systems and regulatory entities.

Consciousness develops gradually in the womb and after birth, rather than being an all or none phenomenon. A newborn infant is aroused and wakes up at birth, due to the enormous sensory stimulation and stress that it undergoes during the transition from an aquatic environment to air. Its first breaths activate the locus coeruleus, as indicated by the large pupils of the newborn. The infant seems to be aware of its body and can recognise its mother's facial expressions, voice and smell. A default mode network matures soon after birth which appears to keep the brain in a conscious state. Thus the newborn infant is probably conscious, albeit at a low level. The foetus also shows some signs of being conscious after about 24 weeks of gestation, although it is mainly asleep in the womb and less aware of its environment. Before that stage, the nerves from the primary somatosensory, visual and auditory areas are not yet connected with the site of consciousness in the cerebral cortex., (© 2025 The Author(s). Acta Paediatrica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Foundation Acta Paediatrica.)

Research suggests that socioeconomic circumstances and stress predict memory skills in adults and older children, yet few studies have addressed this question in infancy. The current study used the visual-paired comparison paradigm to examine whether socioeconomic circumstances, maternal perceived stress, and/or maternal physiological stress, all measured prenatally, predict memory performance among 6-month-old infants. We found no significant associations between infant memory and any measure of socioeconomic circumstance or stress. Potential explanations for these null findings are discussed., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

As ocean warming threatens reefs worldwide, identifying corals with adaptations to higher temperatures is critical for conservation. Genetically distinct but morphologically similar (i.e. cryptic) coral populations can be specialized to extreme habitats and thrive under stressful conditions. These corals often associate with locally beneficial microbiota (Symbiodiniaceae photobionts and bacteria), obscuring the main drivers of thermal tolerance. Here, we leverage a holobiont (massive Porites) with high fidelity for C15 photobionts to investigate adaptive variation across classic ("typical" conditions) and extreme reefs characterized by higher temperatures and light attenuation. We uncovered three cryptic lineages that exhibit limited micro-morphological variation; one lineage dominated classic reefs (L1), one had more even distributions (L2), and a third was restricted to extreme reefs (L3). L1 and L2 were more closely related to populations ~4300 km away, suggesting that some lineages are widespread. All corals harbored Cladocopium C15 photobionts; L1 and L2 shared a photobiont pool that differed in composition between reef types, yet L3 mostly harbored unique photobiont strains not found in the other lineages. Assemblages of bacterial partners differed among reef types in lineage-specific ways, suggesting that lineages employ distinct microbiome regulation strategies. Analysis of light-harvesting capacity and thermal tolerance revealed adaptive variation underpinning survival in distinct habitats: L1 had the highest light absorption efficiency and lowest thermal tolerance, suggesting that it is a classic reef specialist. L3 had the lowest light absorption efficiency and the highest thermal tolerance, showing that it is an extreme reef specialist. L2 had intermediate light absorption efficiency and thermal tolerance, suggesting that is a generalist lineage. These findings reveal diverging holobiont strategies to cope with extreme conditions. Resolving coral lineages is key to understanding variation in thermal tolerance among coral populations, can strengthen our understanding of coral evolution and symbiosis, and support global conservation and restoration efforts., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Over the past few decades, much progress has been made in the clinical use of electrical stimulation of the central nervous system (CNS) to treat an evergrowing number of conditions from Parkinson's disease (PD) to epilepsy as well as for sensory restoration and many other applications. However, little is known about the effects of microstimulation at the cellular level. Most of the existing research focuses on the effects of electrical stimulation on neurons. Other cells of the CNS such as microglia, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and vascular endothelial cells have been understudied in terms of their response to stimulation. The varied and critical functions of these cell types are now beginning to be better understood, and their vital roles in brain function in both health and disease are becoming better appreciated. To shed light on the importance of the way electrical stimulation as distinct from device implantation impacts non-neuronal cell types, this review will first summarize common stimulation modalities from the perspective of device design and stimulation parameters and how these different parameters have an impact on the physiological response. Following this, what is known about the responses of different cell types to different stimulation modalities will be summarized, drawing on findings from both clinical studies as well as clinically relevant animal models and in vitro systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep has been shown to play an important role in memory consolidation. The direction of studies of learning during sleep is based on the hypothesis that assimilation of new information can occur during the state of sleep. We present here a review of articles addressing the question of the formation of new memory traces during sleep with retention to waking, as well as reports of work seeking to identify the mechanisms of this learning. Associative conditioned reflex, perceptual, and other forms of learning are demonstrated, the main type being implicit learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International volunteers are playing an increasingly important role in meeting diverse challenges and improving lives of many across the world, and more opportunities for international volunteering are available across the nonprofit, government, and corporate sectors than ever. Nevertheless, little is known about international volunteering and the individuals who participate in this activity. This study examines the utility of the existing volunteering literature by testing how the traditional determinants of volunteering predict participation in international volunteering. The findings show that individuals who have attained post-secondary education, are from a high-income household, or are self-employed are most likely to volunteer internationally. The results also indicate that some of the known predictors of volunteering, such as age, race and gender, do not satisfactorily explain participation in international volunteering. This study concludes by providing suggestions for recruitment strategies, calling for further research on international volunteering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To provide a comprehensive overview of the current status of the field of robotic systems for urological surgery and discuss future perspectives. Materials and Methods A non-systematic literature review was performed using PubMed/Medline search electronic engines. Existing patents for robotic devices were researched using the Google search engine. Findings were also critically analysed taking into account the personal experience of the authors. Results The relevant patents for the first generation of the da Vinci platform will expire in 2019. New robotic systems are coming onto the stage. These can be classified according to type of console, arrangement of robotic arms, handles and instruments, and other specific features (haptic feedback, eye-tracking). The Telelap ALF-X robot uses an open console with eye-tracking, laparoscopy-like handles with haptic feedback, and arms mounted on separate carts; first clinical trials with this system were reported in 2016. The Medtronic robot provides an open console using three-dimensional high-definition video technology and three arms. The Avatera robot features a closed console with microscope-like oculars, four arms arranged on one cart, and 5-mm instruments with six degrees of freedom. The REVO-I consists of an open console and a four-arm arrangement on one cart; the first experiments with this system were published in 2016. Medicaroid uses a semi-open console and three robot arms attached to the operating table. Clinical trials of the SP 1098-platform using the da Vinci Xi for console-based single-port surgery were reported in 2015. The SPORT robot has been tested in animal experiments for single-port surgery. The SurgiBot represents a bedside solution for single-port surgery providing flexible tube-guided instruments. The Avicenna Roboflex has been developed for robotic flexible ureteroscopy, with promising early clinical results. Conclusions Several console-based robots for laparoscopic multi- and single-port surgery are expected to come to market within the next 5 years. Future developments in the field of robotic surgery are likely to focus on the specific features of robotic arms, instruments, console, and video technology. The high technical standards of four da Vinci generations have set a high bar for upcoming devices. Ultimately, the implementation of these upcoming systems will depend on their clinical applicability and costs. How these technical developments will facilitate surgery and whether their use will translate into better outcomes for our patients remains to be determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to explore the personal development and changes brought about by volunteer tourism among Asian students. This study adopts a qualitative inductive approach to collect data from semistructured interviews with 14 participants, an inductive content analysis to analyze the empirical data, and an interpretive paradigm to explain the results. The main finding of this study is that the participants’ volunteering experiences had certain influence on their academic development, daily life, careers, and choice of future tourism activities. Thirteen themes dealing with changes emerged and could be divided into four groups: (a) inner change, (b) change in view of life and the world, (c) change in learning attitude and future career direction, and (d) change in the choice of future tourism activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The possibilities that making “their own” media might contain for engaging young people in learning has been celebrated in recent years, while the role of adult intermediaries in guiding these projects remains too often obscured. Here, I draw on several years of ethnographic research conducted in the UK and the USA to distinguish among three different types of facilitators: guides who privilege processes over outputs; collaborators who position themselves within an egalitarian team; and mentors, who draw on specialist knowledge to encourage young people to make “high quality” films. I assess the impact of these different modes on the central claims made for youth media as a means of developing skills, critical media literac(ies), and encouraging youth “voice.” Although youth media organizations struggling with sustainability often conflate these practices, these approaches lend themselves to achieving diverse aims and thus differences could be better delineated by facilitators and by funders in order to realize the ambitions proposed by youth media projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the findings of a research project which has involved the establishment of a maternal health phone line in Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea (PNG). Mobile phones and landline phones are key information and communication technologies (ICTs). This research study uses the "ICTs for healthcare development" model to ascertain benefits and barriers to the successful implementation of the Childbirth Emergency Phone. PNG has a very high maternal mortality rate. The "three stages of delay" typology was developed by Thaddeus and Maine to determine factors that might delay provision of appropriate medical treatment and hence increase risk of maternal death. The "three stages of delay" typology has been utilised in various developing countries and also in the present study. Research undertaken has involved semi-structured interviews with health workers, both in rural settings and in the labour ward in Alotau. Additional data has been gathered through focus groups with health workers, analysis of notes made during phone calls, interviews with women and community leaders, observations and field visits. One hundred percent of interviewees (n = 42) said the project helped to solve communication barriers between rural health workers and Alotau Provincial Hospital. Specific examples in which the phone line has helped to create positive health outcomes will be outlined in the paper, drawn from research interviews. The Childbirth Emergency Phone project has shown itself to play a critical role in enabling healthcare workers to address life-threatening childbirth complications. The project shows potential for rollout across PNG; potentially reducing maternal morbidity and maternal mortality rates by overcoming communication challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bibliography deals with Australian pelagic and bay whaling in the nineteenth century. It starts with some general works on the subject, followed by entries on whaling in each of the states. It ends with a section on Australian whalers in New Zealand and another on scrimshaw. Most entries relate to books, chapters in books, and journal articles. Also listed are some unpublished items – including university theses and archaeological reports – as well as a few newspaper articles and websites. Some important reference works, such as published lists of ship arrivals and departures for the two main whaling ports of Sydney and Hobart, are also included. The bibliography was inspired by, and draws on, two earlier works about whaling in the Pacific by Honore Forster, The South Sea Whaler (1985) and More South Sea Whaling (1991). I would like to thank Martin Gibbs for providing a copy of the bibliography from his 1996 thesis on whaling in Western Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background The Safe Passage Study is a large, prospective, multidisciplinary study designed to (1) investigate the association between prenatal alcohol exposure, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and stillbirth, and (2) determine the biological basis of the spectrum of phenotypic outcomes from exposure, as modified by environmental and genetic factors that increase the risk of stillbirth, SIDS, and in surviving children, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Methods The results provided are based on an interim assessment of 6004 women enrolled, out of the 12 000 projected, from the Northern Plains, US, and Cape Town, South Africa, areas known to be of high risk for maternal drinking during pregnancy. Research objectives, study design, and descriptive statistics, including consent, recruitment, and retention information, are provided. Results Overall visit compliance is 87%, and includes prenatal, delivery/newborn, and postnatal contacts through 1 year post-delivery. Pregnancy outcome ascertainment is 98% prior to medical chart review; less than 2% of women withdraw. Consent for the use of DNA and placental tissue exceed 94%, and consent to participate in the autopsy portion of the study is 71%. Conclusions The Safe Passage Study is the first multi-site study of SIDS and stillbirth to integrate prospectively collected exposure information with multidisciplinary biological information in the same maternal and fetal/infant dyad using a common protocol. Essential components of the study design and its success are close ties to the community and rigorous systems and processes to ensure compliance with the study protocol and procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rhetoric of partnerships is deeply embedded in development policy and practice. Critiques of both participatory development in general and partnerships in particular, however, have argued that the rhetoric of partnerships, implying local control and ownership and mutual responsibility and accountability, is matched instead in practice by highly asymmetrical power relationships and continuing dominance and control by northern agencies. Such criticisms can apply to international volunteering in development partnerships, where northern sending agencies maintain control of ‘their’ volunteers and are driven primarily by supply-side factors: the availability, aspirations and capabilities of the volunteers. This paper examines the case of a local development agency in South Africa – Aspire – and finds that it has been particularly effective in promoting its own version of partnership arrangements with volunteers. Through a combination of assertive attitudes, careful use of language and integrated management systems, Aspire is able to implement a demand-driven capabilities approach to its international ‘recruits’ in such a way as to give substance to the transformative promise of robust international partnerships. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

International volunteering has traditionally been viewed as a pursuit that, while admirable, provided little benefit for the volunteer beyond altruistic satisfaction. Yet several recent studies suggest that an international volunteer placement can fast-track the development of valuable global skills and capabilities. To date, no research has offered a systematic explanation for this. This article presents a framework that outlines the unique mechanisms of international volunteer placements that contribute to them being fertile learning environments for expatriates. In doing so, it draws on evidence from a longitudinal study of the learning experiences of a sample of international volunteers from Australia and New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the 2005 U.S. Current Population Survey, we identify the demographic profile of international volunteers from the United States. According to logistic regression results, those most likely to volunteer internationally are young, white, male, highly educated, foreign-born individuals without dependent children in the home and not employed full time. These findings are discussed through the lens of access and inclusion, examining the possible influences of individual choice and programmatic structure on this demographic profile. Implications are drawn for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three aptitude factor scores for each of 2,985 college-bound, urban high school seniors were used to compare patterns and levels of performance by sex and ethnic group membership. The results indicated that within ethnic groups, men and women exhibit patterns of scores characteristic of their sex. Significant differences in levels of performance between ethnic groups were found on the three factors, and differences on two factors were found for males and females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A subject index for the December 1993 issue of "Journal of Economic Literature," is presented.

A subject and author index of articles featured in 1993 issues of the "Journal of Economic Literature" is presented.

Copyright of European Journal of Wood & Wood Products / Holz als Roh- und Werkstoff is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Presents the table of contents for this issue of the publication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]