Optimizing Fully Anisotropic Elastic Propagation on 2nd Generation Intel Xeon Phi Processors

This work shows several optimization strategies evaluated and applied to an elastic wave propagation engine, based on a Fully Staggered Grid, running on the latest Intel Xeon Phi processors, the second generation of the product (code-named Knights Landing). Our fully optimized code shows a speed-up of about 4x when compared with the same algorithm optimized for the previous generation processor.Authors also thank Repsol for the permission to publish the present research, carried out at the Repsol-BSC Research Center. This work has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Programme (2014-2020) and from the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation through Rede Nacional de Pesquisa (RNP) under the HPC4E Project (www.hpc4e.eu), grant agreement n.◦ 689772. * Other brands and names are the property of their respective owners.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Primary bony non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the cervical spine: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Non-Hodgkin lymphoma primarily originating from the bone is exceedingly rare. To our knowledge, this is the first report of primary bone lymphoma presenting with progressive cord compression from an origin in the cervical spine. Herein, we discuss the unusual location in this case, the presenting symptoms, and the management of this disease.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report on a 23-year-old Caucasian-American man who presented with two months of night sweats, fatigue, parasthesias, and progressive weakness that had progressed to near quadriplegia. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging demonstrated significant cord compression seen primarily at C7. Surgical management, with corpectomy and dorsal segmental fusion, in combination with adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy, halted the progression of the primary disease and preserved neurological function. Histological analysis demonstrated an aggressive anaplastic large cell lymphoma.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Isolated primary bony lymphoma of the spine is exceedingly rare. As in our case, the initial symptoms may be the result of progressive cervical cord compression. Anterior corpectomy with posterolateral decompression and fusion succeeded in preventing progressive neurologic decline and maintaining quality of life. The reader should be aware of the unique presentation of this disease and that surgical management is a successful treatment strategy.</p

Social and emotional loneliness among older people living in nursing homes in Spain: a cross-sectional study

Loneliness, little studied in Nursing Homes (NHs), can affect physical and mental health. We aimed to analyze the factors associated with overall, social, and emotional loneliness in 65 residents of 5 NHs from Central Catalonia (Spain), and to verify its prevalence. The sample consisted of 81.5% women with a mean age of 84±7.13 years. The cross-sectional study included older adults aged 65 or over and with preserved cognitive status. De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale was used to assess overall loneliness and its subtypes; and sociodemographic and health-related variables were collected. The chi-square (or Fisher’s) test and logistic regression were used for bivariate and multivariate analysis respectively. Prevalence of overall loneliness was 70.7% (95%CI:58.2-81.4), social loneliness 44.6% (95% CI: 33.1-56.6) and emotional loneliness 46.2% (95% CI: 34.5–58.1). Overall loneliness was associated with lower perceived quality of life (Odds Ratio-OR = 5.52, 95% CI:1.25-24.38) and NHs with state subsidized places (OR = 0.19, 95% CI: .05-.74); social loneliness with having 0-1 children (OR = .25, 95% CI: .08-.77), and emotional loneliness with depression (OR = 4.54, 95% CI: 1.28-16.08) and urinary incontinence (UI) (OR = 4.65, 95% CI: 1.23-17.52). Loneliness was present in almost 71% of residents and was associated with type of NH and poorer quality of life, the emotional with depression and UI and the social one with having less than 2 children.La soledad, poco estudiada en las residencias de ancianos, puede afectar a la salud física y mental. Nuestro objetivo es analizar los factores asociados a la soledad global, social y emocional de un total de 65 residentes de 5 residencias de la Cataluña Central (España), y comprobar su prevalencia. La muestra estuvo formada por 81.5% mujeres con una edad media de 84±7.13 años. El estudio transversal incluyó a adultos mayores de 65 años y con estado cognitivo preservado. Se utilizó la Escala de Soledad de De Jong Gierveld para evaluar la soledad general y sus subtipos; y se recogieron variables sociodemográficas y relacionadas con la salud. Se utilizó la prueba de chi-cuadrado (o de Fisher) y la regresión logística para el análisis bivariante y multivariante, respectivamente. La prevalencia de la soledad global fue del 70.7% (IC 95%: 58.2-81.4), la soledad social del 44.6% (IC 95%: 33.1-56.6) y la soledad emocional del 46.2% (IC 95%: 34.5-58.1). La soledad global se asoció con una menor calidad de vida percibida (Odds Ratio-OR = 5.52, IC 95%: 1.25-24.38) y las residencias concertadas (OR = 0.19, IC 95%: 0.05-0. 74); la soledad social con tener 0-1 hijos (OR = 0.25, IC 95%: 0.08-0.77), y la soledad emocional con la depresión (OR = 4.54, IC 95%: 1.28-16.08) y la incontinencia urinaria (UI) (OR = 4.65, IC 95%: 1.23-17.52). La soledad estuvo presente en casi el 71% de los residentes y se asoció con el tipo de residencia y la peor calidad de vida, la emocional con la depresión y la IU y la social con tener menos de 2 hijos

Sarcopenia and associated factors according to the EWGSOP2 criteria in older people living in nursing homes: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: In 2018, the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) updated the original definition of sarcopenia, establishing new criteria to be used globally. Early diagnosis of sarcopenia in nursing home residents and the identification of contributing factors would target interventions to reduce the incidence of malnutrition, social isolation, functional decline, hospitalization and mortality. AIM: Verify the prevalence and the degree of severity of sarcopenia according to the new EWSGOP2 criteria and to analyse its associated factors in residents living in nursing homes in Central Catalonia (Spain). DESIGN: A cross-sectional multicenter study was conducted in 4 nursing homes. SARC-F test was applied as the initial screening, muscle strength was measured by a dynamometer, skeletal muscle mass by bioimpedance analysis and physical performance by Gait Speed. Four categories were used: total probable sarcopenia, probable sarcopenia, confirmed sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia. RESULTS: Among the total sample of 104 nursing home residents (mean age 84.6, ± 7.8; median 86, IQR 110), 84.6% were women and 85 (81.7%) (95% confidence interval [CI] 73.0-88.0) had total probable sarcopenia, 63 (60.5%) had probable sarcopenia, 19 (18.3%) had confirmed sarcopenia and 7 (6.7%) had severe sarcopenia. In the bivariate analysis, obesity was negatively associated and total time in sedentary behavior positively associated with all sarcopenia categories. In addition, malnutrition and urinary continence were positively associated with total and probable sarcopenia. Urinary incontinence was a positive associated factor of total and probable sarcopenia. In the multivariate analysis, obesity represented a negative associated factor: OR = 0.13 (0.03 - 0.57), p = 0.007 and OR = 0.14 (0.03 - 0.60), p = 0.008 with total and probable sarcopenia, respectively, adjusted by urinary incontinence status. For confirmed sarcopenia, obesity also represented a negative associated factor OR = 0.06 (0.01 - 0.99), p = 0.049 and the total time in sedentary behavior a positive associated factor OR = 1.10 (1.00- 1.20), p = 0.040. CONCLUSIONS: According the EWGSOP2 criteria, high prevalence of sarcopenia was found in institutionalized older people, ranging from 6.7 to 81.7% depending on the category. Malnutrition, urinary incontinence and total time in sedentary behavior were associated with sarcopenia, whilst obesity represented a protective factor in this population

Progress and prospects of thermo-mechanical energy storage-a critical review

Abstract The share of electricity generated by intermittent renewable energy sources is increasing (now at 26% of global electricity generation) and the requirements of affordable, reliable and secure energy supply designate grid-scale storage as an imperative component of most energy transition pathways. The most widely deployed bulk energy storage solution is pumped-hydro energy storage (PHES), however, this technology is geographically constrained. Alternatively, flow batteries are location independent and have higher energy densities than PHES, but remain associated with high costs and short lifetimes, which highlights the importance of developing and utilizing additional larger-scale, longer-duration and long-lifetime energy storage alternatives. In this paper, we review a class of promising bulk energy storage technologies based on thermo-mechanical principles, which includes: compressed-air energy storage, liquid-air energy storage and pumped-thermal electricity storage. The thermodynamic principles upon which these thermo-mechanical energy storage (TMES) technologies are based are discussed and a synopsis of recent progress in their development is presented, assessing their ability to provide reliable and cost-effective solutions. The current performance and future prospects of TMES systems are examined within a unified framework and a thermo-economic analysis is conducted to explore their competitiveness relative to each other as well as when compared to PHES and battery systems. This includes carefully selected thermodynamic and economic methodologies for estimating the component costs of each configuration in order to provide a detailed and fair comparison at various system sizes. The analysis reveals that the technical and economic characteristics of TMES systems are such that, especially at higher discharge power ratings and longer discharge durations, they can offer promising performance (round-trip efficiencies higher than 60%) along with long lifetimes (&gt;30 years), low specific costs (often below 100 $ kWh−1), low ecological footprints and unique sector-coupling features compared to other storage options. TMES systems have significant potential for further progress and the thermo-economic comparisons in this paper can be used as a benchmark for their future evolution.</jats:p

Urinary incontinence and sedentary behaviour in nursing home residents in Osona, Catalonia: protocol for the OsoNaH project, a multicentre observational study

Introduction Several studies have shown that physical activity (PA) levels and sedentary behaviour (SB) are independent risk factors for many health-related issues. However, there is scarce evidence supporting the relationship between SB and urinary incontinence (UI) in community-dwelling older adults, and no information on any possible association in institutionalised older adults. Stage I of this project has the main objective of determining the prevalence of UI and its associated factors in nursing home (NH) residents, as well as analysing the association between UI (and its types) and SB. Stage II aims to investigate the incidence and predictive factors of functional and continence decline, falls, hospitalisations, mortality and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic among NH residents.Methods and analysis Stage I is an observational, multicentre, cross-sectional study with mixed methodology that aims to explore the current status of several health-related outcomes in NH residents of Osona (Barcelona, Spain). The prevalence ratio will be used as an association measure and multivariate analysis will be undertaken using Poisson regression with robust variance. Stage II is a 2-year longitudinal study that aims to analyse functional and continence decline, incidence of falls, hospitalisations, mortality and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these outcomes. A survival analysis using the actuarial method for functional decline and continence, evaluated every 6 months, and the Kaplan-Meier method for falls, hospitalisations and deaths, and Cox regression for multivariate analysis will be undertaken.Ethics and dissemination The study received the following approvals: University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia Ethics and Research Committee (92/2019 and 109/2020), Clinical Research Ethics Committee of the Osona Foundation for Health Research and Education (FORES) (code 2020118/PR249). Study results will be disseminated at conferences, meetings and through peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration number NCT04297904

The concept of transport capacity in geomorphology

The notion of sediment-transport capacity has been engrained in geomorphological and related literature for over 50 years, although its earliest roots date back explicitly to Gilbert in fluvial geomorphology in the 1870s and implicitly to eighteenth to nineteenth century developments in engineering. Despite cross fertilization between different process domains, there seem to have been independent inventions of the idea in aeolian geomorphology by Bagnold in the 1930s and in hillslope studies by Ellison in the 1940s. Here we review the invention and development of the idea of transport capacity in the fluvial, aeolian, coastal, hillslope, débris flow, and glacial process domains. As these various developments have occurred, different definitions have been used, which makes it both a difficult concept to test, and one that may lead to poor communications between those working in different domains of geomorphology. We argue that the original relation between the power of a flow and its ability to transport sediment can be challenged for three reasons. First, as sediment becomes entrained in a flow, the nature of the flow changes and so it is unreasonable to link the capacity of the water or wind only to the ability of the fluid to move sediment. Secondly, environmental sediment transport is complicated, and the range of processes involved in most movements means that simple relationships are unlikely to hold, not least because the movement of sediment often changes the substrate, which in turn affects the flow conditions. Thirdly, the inherently stochastic nature of sediment transport means that any capacity relationships do not scale either in time or in space. Consequently, new theories of sediment transport are needed to improve understanding and prediction and to guide measurement and management of all geomorphic systems