Comments on the classical theory of energy transfer

Energy transfer from an emitting molecule to an absorbing half-space is considered from the viewpoint of electromagnetic theory. The lifetime of a dipole emitter in the presence of a mirror is determined through a calculation of the complex Poynting vector in the dielectric surrounding the dipole. This method has the advantage over previous approaches to this problem in that the radiative and nonradiative components of the lifetime expression may be rigorously separated. The influence on emitter lifetime of a mirror of finite thickness is also described. A simple .expression is derived describing the energy transfer rate in these layered systems. It is shown that nonradiative energy transfer results from coupling of the near field of the dipole to the surface plasmon modes in the metallic absorber. The Forster energy transfer rate law is discussed in the context of the present theory

A Survey of Methods for Volumetric Scene Reconstruction from Photographs

Scene reconstruction, the task of generating a 3D model of a scene given multiple 2D photographs taken of the scene, is an old and difficult problem in computer vision. Since its introduction, scene reconstruction has found application in many fields, including robotics, virtual reality, and entertainment. Volumetric models are a natural choice for scene reconstruction. Three broad classes of volumetric reconstruction techniques have been developed based on geometric intersections, color consistency, and pair-wise matching. Some of these techniques have spawned a number of variations and undergone considerable refinement. This paper is a survey of techniques for volumetric scene reconstruction

Social Workers’ Perceptions of Working with People who have HIV/AIDS

This article presents the results of a cross-sectional online survey sent to a national sample of licensed social workers to examine their attitudes toward individuals living with HIV/AIDS. The survey included the AIDS Attitude Scale (Froman, Owen & Daisy, 1992), the HIV Knowledge Questionnaire-18 (Carey & Schroder, 2002), and the Modern Homonegativity Scale (Morrison & Morrison, 2002). Factors related to education, training, and other personal characteristics are explored. In this sample, 45% of the social workers indicated that more education and training would be beneficial to them in their current position, and greater HIV knowledge was associated with more positive attitudes toward people living with HIV/AIDS. Additionally, 57% of those surveyed indicated knowing someone personally who has HIV/AIDS, and demonstrated overall higher scores on empathy, and lower scores on avoidance. Those social workers who had higher avoidance of people living with HIV/AIDS were also found to be higher in homonegativity. The findings of this study add to the body of knowledge regarding social work attitudes, and provide further insight into an area with little existing data. The authors propose further research to identify causes of attitudes, potential gender and cultural differences, and the impact of the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics on social workers’ attitudes

Tract-specific analysis of diffusion MRI at 3T detects cervical spinal cord aberrations in multiple sclerosis

In people with multiple sclerosis (MS), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) applied in the spinal cord (SC) can reveal microstructural damage prior to significant symptom burden, yet lacks specificity. Diffusion tensor tractography goes beyond conventional DTI-derived microstructural indices and, though widely applied in the brain, has yet to be fully exploited in the SC of people with relapsing-remitting MS (pwRRMS). We sought to determine the course of streamlines within cervical SC white matter (WM) fiber tracts in 46 healthy controls (HCs) and 56 pwRRMS scanned at 3T and investigate whether tractography provides added value beyond conventional analyses. We extended conventional lesion load analysis by investigating lesion load specific to white matter columns and streamlines within white matter columns, and quantified diffusion features along streamlines within a column. We identified reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) within WM columns for females and older participants, though these findings were more limited in WM streamlines. We also determined no significant associations between clinical variables and either lesion load or microstructural indices as derived from streamlines. While tractography in the MS SC may have value for visualization purposes, we did not determine added benefit to applying tractography compared to conventional volume or voxel-based analyses.</p

A Statewide Case Management, Surveillance, and Outcome Evaluation System for Children with Special Health Care Needs

Objectives. To evaluate the feasibility of implementing a statewide children with special health care needs (CSHCN) program evaluation, case management, and surveillance system using a standardized instrument and protocol that operationalized the United States Health and Human Services CSHCN National Performance Measures. Methods. Public health nurses in local public health agencies in Washington State jointly developed and implemented the standardized system. The instrument was the Omaha System. Descriptive statistics were used for the analysis of standardized data. Results. From the sample of CSHCN visit reports (n=127), 314 problems and 853 interventions were documented. The most common problem identified was growth and development followed by health care supervision, communication with community resources, caretaking/parenting, income, neglect, and abuse. The most common intervention category was surveillance (60%), followed by case management (24%) and teaching, guidance, and counseling (16%). On average, there were 2.7 interventions per problem and 6.7 interventions per visit. Conclusions. This study demonstrates the feasibility of an approach for statewide CSHCN program evaluation, case management, and surveillance system. Knowledge, behavior, and status ratings suggest that there are critical unmet needs in the Washington State CSHCN population for six major problems.</jats:p

Negative effect of treatment with mGluR5 negative allosteric modulator AFQ056 on blood biomarkers in young individuals with Fragile X syndrome

BackgroundFragile X syndrome, with an approximate incidence rate of 1 in 4000 males to 1 in 8000 females, is the most prevalent genetic cause of heritable intellectual disability and the most common monogenic cause of autism spectrum disorder. The full mutation of the Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein-1 gene, characterized by an expansion of CGG trinucleotide repeats (&gt;200 CGG repeats), leads to fragile X syndrome. Currently, there are no targeted treatments available for fragile X syndrome. In a recent large multi-site trial, FXLEARN, the effects of the mGluR5 negative allosteric modulator, AFQ056 (mavoglurant), were investigated, but did not show a significant impact of AFQ056 on language development in children with fragile X syndrome aged 3-6 years.ObjectivesThe current analyses from biospecimens collected in the FXLEARN study aimed to determine whether AFQ056 affects the level of potential biomarkers associated with Akt/mTOR and matrix metalloproteinase 9 signaling in young individuals with fragile X syndrome. Previous research has indicated that these biomarkers play crucial roles in the pathophysiology of fragile X syndrome.DesignA double-blind placebo-controlled parallel-group flexible-dose forced titration design.MethodsBlood samples for biomarkers were collected during the FXLEARN at baseline and subsequent visits (1- and 8-month visits). Biomarker analyses included fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein-1 genotyping by Southern blot and PCR approaches, fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein-1 mRNA levels determined by PCR, matrix metalloproteinase 9 levels' detection using a magnetic bead panel, and targets of the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway with their phosphorylation levels detected.ResultsThis research revealed that administering AFQ056 does not affect the expression levels of the investigated blood biomarkers in young children with fragile X syndrome.ConclusionOur findings of the lack of association between clinical improvement and biomarkers' levels in the treatment group are in line with the lack of benefit observed in the FXLEARN study. These findings indicate that AFQ056 does not provide benefits as assessed by primary or secondary endpoints.RegistrationClincalTrials.gov NCT02920892

Nutrition issues in Codex: health claims, nutrient reference values and WTO agreements: a conference report

BACKGROUND: Codex documents may be used as educational and consensus materials for member governments. Also, the WTO SPS Agreement recognizes Codex as the presumptive international authority on food issues. Nutrient bioavailability is a critical factor in determining the ability of nutrients to provide beneficial effects. Bioavailability also influences the quantitative dietary requirements that are the basis of nutrient intake recommendations and NRVs. HEALTH CLAIMS: Codex, EFSA and some national regulatory authorities have established guidelines or regulations that will permit several types of health claims. The scientific basis for claims has been established by the US FDA and EFSA, but not yet by Codex. Evidence-based nutrition differs from evidence-based medicine, but the differences are only recently gaining recognition. Health claims on foods may provide useful information to consumers, but many will interpret the information to mean that they can rely upon the food or nutrient to eliminate a disease risk. NUTRIENT REFERENCE VALUES: NRVs are designed to provide a quantitative basis for comparing the nutritive values of foods, helping to illustrate how specific foods fit into the overall diet. The INL-98 and the mean of adult male and female values provide NRVs that are sufficient when used as targets for individual intakes by most adults. WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION AGREEMENTS: WTO recognizes Codex as the primary international authority on food issues. Current regulatory schemes based on recommended dietary allowances are trade restrictive. A substantial number of decisions by the EFSA could lead to violation of WTO agreements

Correction: Meta-analysis and multidisciplinary consensus statement: exome sequencing is a first-tier clinical diagnostic test for individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper