286 research outputs found
Conclusive quantum steering with superconducting transition edge sensors
Quantum steering allows two parties to verify shared entanglement even if one
measurement device is untrusted. A conclusive demonstration of steering through
the violation of a steering inequality is of considerable fundamental interest
and opens up applications in quantum communication. To date all experimental
tests with single photon states have relied on post-selection, allowing
untrusted devices to cheat by hiding unfavourable events in losses. Here we
close this "detection loophole" by combining a highly efficient source of
entangled photon pairs with superconducting transition edge sensors. We achieve
an unprecedented ~62% conditional detection efficiency of entangled photons and
violate a steering inequality with the minimal number of measurement settings
by 48 standard deviations. Our results provide a clear path to practical
applications of steering and to a photonic loophole-free Bell test.Comment: Preprint of 7 pages, 3 figures; the definitive version is published
in Nature Communications, see below. Also, see related experimental work by
A. J. Bennet et al., arXiv:1111.0739 and B. Wittmann et al., arXiv:1111.076
Astronomical Spectroscopy
Spectroscopy is one of the most important tools that an astronomer has for
studying the universe. This chapter begins by discussing the basics, including
the different types of optical spectrographs, with extension to the ultraviolet
and the near-infrared. Emphasis is given to the fundamentals of how
spectrographs are used, and the trade-offs involved in designing an
observational experiment. It then covers observing and reduction techniques,
noting that some of the standard practices of flat-fielding often actually
degrade the quality of the data rather than improve it. Although the focus is
on point sources, spatially resolved spectroscopy of extended sources is also
briefly discussed. Discussion of differential extinction, the impact of
crowding, multi-object techniques, optimal extractions, flat-fielding
considerations, and determining radial velocities and velocity dispersions
provide the spectroscopist with the fundamentals needed to obtain the best
data. Finally the chapter combines the previous material by providing some
examples of real-life observing experiences with several typical instruments.Comment: An abridged version of a chapter to appear in Planets, Stars and
Stellar Systems, to be published in 2011 by Springer. Slightly revise
Medication management of febrile children: a qualitative study on pharmacy employees’ experiences
Study protocol for POSITIF, a randomised multicentre feasibility trial of a brief cognitive-behavioural intervention plus information versus information alone for the treatment of post-stroke fatigue
© 2020 The Author(s). Background: Approximately, half of stroke survivors experience fatigue. Fatigue may persist for many months and interferes with participation in everyday activities and has a negative impact on social and family relationships, return to work, and quality of life. Fatigue is among the top 10 priorities for 'Life after Stroke' research for stroke survivors, carers, and clinicians. We previously developed and tested in a small uncontrolled pilot study a manualised, clinical psychologist-delivered, face-to-face intervention, informed by cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). We then adapted it for delivery by trained therapists via telephone. We now aim to test the feasibility of this approach in a parallel group, randomised controlled feasibility trial (Post Stroke Intervention Trial In Fatigue, POSITIF). Methods/design: POSITIF aims to recruit 75 stroke survivors between 3 months and 2 years post-stroke who would like treatment for their fatigue. Eligible consenting stroke survivors will be randomised to either a 7-session manualised telephone-delivered intervention based on CBT principles plus information about fatigue, or information only. The aims of the intervention are to (i) provide an explanation for post-stroke fatigue, in particular that it is potentially reversible (an educational approach), (ii) encourage participants to overcome the fear of taking physical activity and challenge negative thinking (a cognitive approach) and (iii) promote a balance between daily activities, rest and sleep and then gradually increase levels of physical activity (a behavioural approach). Fatigue, mood, quality of life, return to work and putative mediators will be assessed at baseline (just before randomisation), at the end of treatment and 6 months after randomisation. POSITIF will determine the feasibility of recruitment, adherence to the intervention and the resources required to deliver the intervention in a larger trial. Discussion: The POSITIF feasibility trial will recruit until 31 January 2020. Data will inform the utility and design of a future adequately powered randomised controlled trial. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03551327. Registered on 11 June 2018
Implementing health research through academic and clinical partnerships : a realistic evaluation of the Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC)
Background: The English National Health Service has made a major investment in nine partnerships between
higher education institutions and local health services called Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health
Research and Care (CLAHRC). They have been funded to increase capacity and capability to produce and
implement research through sustained interactions between academics and health services. CLAHRCs provide a
natural ‘test bed’ for exploring questions about research implementation within a partnership model of delivery.
This protocol describes an externally funded evaluation that focuses on implementation mechanisms and
processes within three CLAHRCs. It seeks to uncover what works, for whom, how, and in what circumstances.
Design and methods: This study is a longitudinal three-phase, multi-method realistic evaluation, which
deliberately aims to explore the boundaries around knowledge use in context. The evaluation funder wishes to see
it conducted for the process of learning, not for judging performance. The study is underpinned by a conceptual
framework that combines the Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services and Knowledge to
Action frameworks to reflect the complexities of implementation. Three participating CLARHCS will provide indepth
comparative case studies of research implementation using multiple data collection methods including
interviews, observation, documents, and publicly available data to test and refine hypotheses over four rounds of
data collection. We will test the wider applicability of emerging findings with a wider community using an
interpretative forum.
Discussion: The idea that collaboration between academics and services might lead to more applicable health
research that is actually used in practice is theoretically and intuitively appealing; however the evidence for it is
limited. Our evaluation is designed to capture the processes and impacts of collaborative approaches for
implementing research, and therefore should contribute to the evidence base about an increasingly popular (e.g.,
Mode two, integrated knowledge transfer, interactive research), but poorly understood approach to knowledge
translation. Additionally we hope to develop approaches for evaluating implementation processes and impacts
particularly with respect to integrated stakeholder involvement
Long Distance Dispersal and Connectivity in Amphi-Atlantic Corals at Regional and Basin Scales
Among Atlantic scleractinian corals, species diversity is highest in the Caribbean, but low diversity and high endemism are observed in various peripheral populations in central and eastern Atlantic islands and along the coasts of Brazil and West Africa. The degree of connectivity between these distantly separated populations is of interest because it provides insight into processes at both evolutionary and ecological time scales, such as speciation, recruitment dynamics and the persistence of coral populations. To assess connectivity in broadly distributed coral species of the Atlantic, DNA sequence data from two nuclear markers were obtained for six coral species spanning their distributional ranges. At basin-wide scales, significant differentiation was generally observed among populations in the Caribbean, Brazil and West Africa. Concordance of patterns in connectivity among co-distributed taxa indicates that extrinsic barriers, such as the Amazon freshwater plume or long stretches of open ocean, restrict dispersal of coral larvae from region to region. Within regions, dispersal ability appears to be influenced by aspects of reproduction and life history. Two broadcasting species, Siderastrea siderea and Montastraea cavernosa, were able to maintain gene flow among populations separated by as much as 1,200 km along the coast of Brazil. In contrast, brooding species, such as Favia gravida and Siderastrea radians, had more restricted gene flow along the Brazilian coast
Adaptation of a Smoking Cessation and Prevention Website for Urban American Indian/Alaska Native Youth
Tobacco use among American Indian youth is a disproportionately significant problem. We adapted and modified an existing web-based and youth-focused tobacco control program to make it appropriate for young urban American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs). The results of the focus group indicate that AI/AN youth were very receptive to the use of a web-based Zine-style intervention tool. They wanted the look and feel of the website to be more oriented toward their cultural images. Future research should examine if successful programs for reducing non-ceremonial tobacco use among urban AI/AN youth can keep young irregular smokers from becoming adult smokers
A Detailed Analysis of the Murine TAP Transporter Substrate Specificity
The transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) supplies cytosolic peptides into the endoplasmic reticulum for binding to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules. Its specificity therefore influences the repertoire of peptides presented by MHC molecules. Compared to human TAP, murine TAP's binding specificity has not been characterized as well, even though murine systems are widely used for basic studies of antigen processing and presentation.We performed a detailed experimental analysis of murine TAP binding specificity by measuring the binding affinities of 323 peptides. Based on this experimental data, a computational model of murine TAP specificity was constructed. The model was compared to previously generated data on human and murine TAP specificities. In addition, the murine TAP specificities for known epitopes and random peptides were predicted and compared to assess the impact of murine TAP selectivity on epitope selection.Comparisons to a previously constructed model of human TAP specificity confirms the well-established differences for peptide substrates with positively charged C-termini. In addition these comparisons show that several residues at the N-terminus of peptides which strongly influence binding to human TAP showed little effect on binding to murine TAP, and that the overall influence of the aminoterminal residues on peptide affinity for murine TAP is much lower than for the human transporter. Murine TAP also partly prefers different hydrophobic amino acids than human TAP in the carboxyterminal position. These species-dependent differences in specificity determined in vitro are shown to correlate with the epitope repertoire recognized in vivo. The quantitative model of binding specificity of murine TAP developed herein should be useful for interpreting epitope mapping and immunogenicity data obtained in humanized mouse models
Quality of life among Latina breast cancer patients: a systematic review of the literature
Introduction
The Latino population is the most rapidly growing ethnic minority in the United States and Latinas have higher rates of advanced breast cancer and more rigorous treatments than White women. However, the literature lacks reviews on quality of life among this population of breast cancer patients.
Methods
A systematic review of the breast cancer quality of life (QOL) literature was conducted among studies that provided a comparison of mental, physical, social, or sexual QOL between Latinas and other racial/ethnic groups. Of the 375 studies reviewed, 20 quantitative studies and two qualitative studies met criteria for inclusion.
Results
Latinas were more likely to report poor mental, physical, and social QOL, relative to non-Latinas. Only four studies assessed sexual QOL, making it difficult to draw any conclusions. Of these four QOL domains, the largest disparity was found in the area of mental health in which Latinas reported poorer QOL compared to non-Latina Whites and Blacks.
Discussion/conclusions
Most quantitative studies revealed either that Latinas consistently evidenced significantly lower QOL than non-Latinas on all measures (6 studies) or reported mixed findings in which Latinas generally demonstrated significantly worse QOL on most, but not all, measures (12 studies) included in the study. Explanatory mechanisms including socio-demographic, treatment-related, and culturally-relevant factors are discussed. Implications for research design, measurement, and clinical work are also included.
Implications for cancer survivors
Although not entirely consistent, data suggest that Latina breast cancer survivors on average experience worse QOL than non-Latina Whites.
Understanding ethnic differences in QOL among breast cancer survivors can inform interventions targeted at improving health status for Latinas
Scapular winging: anatomical review, diagnosis, and treatments
Scapular winging is a rare debilitating condition that leads to limited functional activity of the upper extremity. It is the result of numerous causes, including traumatic, iatrogenic, and idiopathic processes that most often result in nerve injury and paralysis of either the serratus anterior, trapezius, or rhomboid muscles. Diagnosis is easily made upon visible inspection of the scapula, with serratus anterior paralysis resulting in medial winging of the scapula. This is in contrast to the lateral winging generated by trapezius and rhomboid paralysis. Most cases of serratus anterior paralysis spontaneously resolve within 24 months, while conservative treatment of trapezius paralysis is less effective. A conservative course of treatment is usually followed for rhomboid paralysis. To allow time for spontaneous recovery, a 6–24 month course of conservative treatment is often recommended, after which if there is no recovery, patients become candidates for corrective surgery
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