Search for the effect of massive bodies on atomic spectra and constraints on Yukawa-type interactions of scalar particles

We propose a new method to search for hypothetical scalar particles that have feeble interactions with Standard-Model particles. In the presence of massive bodies, these interactions produce a non-zero Yukawa-type scalar-field magnitude. Using radio-frequency spectroscopy data of atomic dysprosium, as well as atomic clock spectroscopy data, we constrain the Yukawa-type interactions of a scalar field with the photon, electron, and nucleons for a range of scalar-particle masses corresponding to length scales $> 10$ cm. In the limit as the scalar-particle mass $m_\phi \to 0$, our derived limits on the Yukawa-type interaction parameters are: $\Lambda_\gamma \gtrsim 8 \times 10^{19}$ GeV, $\Lambda_e \gtrsim 1.3 \times 10^{19}$ GeV, and $\Lambda_N \gtrsim 6 \times 10^{20}$ GeV. Our measurements also constrain combinations of interaction parameters, which cannot otherwise be probed with traditional anomalous-force measurements. We suggest further measurements to improve on the current level of sensitivity.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figure

Logic models help make sense of complexity in systematic reviews and health technology assessments

OBJECTIVE: To describe the development and application of logic model templates for systematic reviews and health technology assessments (HTA) of complex interventions STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: This study demonstrates the development of a method to conceptualise complexity and make underlying assumptions transparent. Examples from systematic reviews with specific relevance to sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) illustrate its usefulness. RESULTS: Two distinct templates are presented: the system-based logic model, describing the system in which the interaction between participants, intervention and context takes place; and the process-orientated logic model, which displays the processes and causal pathways that lead from the intervention to multiple outcomes. CONCLUSION: Logic models can help authors of systematic reviews and HTAs to explicitly address and make sense of complexity, adding value by achieving a better understanding of the interactions between the intervention, its implementation and its multiple outcomes among a given population and context. They thus have the potential to help build systematic review capacity -in SSA and other LMICs - at an individual level, by equipping authors with a tool that facilitates the review process; and at a system-level, by improving communication between producers and potential users of research evidence

Cardiovascular Responses Induced by Obstructive Apnea Are Enhanced in Hypertensive Rats Due to Enhanced Chemoreceptor Responsivity

Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), like patients with sleep apnea, have hypertension, increased sympathetic activity, and increased chemoreceptor drive. We investigated the role of carotid chemoreceptors in cardiovascular responses induced by obstructive apnea in awake SHR. A tracheal balloon and vascular cannulas were implanted, and a week later, apneas of 15 s each were induced. the effects of apnea were more pronounced in SHR than in control rats (Wistar Kyoto; WKY). Blood pressure increased by 57 +/- 3 mmHg during apnea in SHR and by 28 +/- 3 mmHg in WKY (p < 0.05, n = 14/13). the respiratory effort increased by 53 +/- 6 mmHg in SHR and by 34 +/- 5 mmHg in WKY. the heart rate fell by 209 +/- 19 bpm in SHR and by 155 +/- 16 bpm in WKY. the carotid chemoreceptors were then inactivated by the ligation of the carotid body artery, and apneas were induced two days later. the inactivation of chemoreceptors reduced the responses to apnea and abolished the difference between SHR and controls. the apnea-induced hypertension was 11 +/- 4 mmHg in SHR and 8 +/- 4 mmHg in WKY. the respiratory effort was 15 +/- 2 mmHg in SHR and 15 +/- 2 mmHg in WKY. the heart rate fell 63 +/- 18 bpm in SHR and 52 +/- 14 bpm in WKY. Similarly, when the chemoreceptors were unloaded by the administration of 100% oxygen, the responses to apnea were reduced. in conclusion, arterial chemoreceptors contribute to the responses induced by apnea in both strains, but they are more important in SHR and account for the exaggerated responses of this strain to apnea.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Physiol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Physiol, São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 2010/19705-6CNPq: 472187/2010-4Web of Scienc

Making sense of complexity in context and implementation: the Context and Implementation of Complex Interventions (CICI) framework.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of complex interventions, as well as their success in reaching relevant populations, is critically influenced by their implementation in a given context. Current conceptual frameworks often fail to address context and implementation in an integrated way and, where addressed, they tend to focus on organisational context and are mostly concerned with specific health fields. Our objective was to develop a framework to facilitate the structured and comprehensive conceptualisation and assessment of context and implementation of complex interventions. METHODS: The Context and Implementation of Complex Interventions (CICI) framework was developed in an iterative manner and underwent extensive application. An initial framework based on a scoping review was tested in rapid assessments, revealing inconsistencies with respect to the underlying concepts. Thus, pragmatic utility concept analysis was undertaken to advance the concepts of context and implementation. Based on these findings, the framework was revised and applied in several systematic reviews, one health technology assessment (HTA) and one applicability assessment of very different complex interventions. Lessons learnt from these applications and from peer review were incorporated, resulting in the CICI framework. RESULTS: The CICI framework comprises three dimensions-context, implementation and setting-which interact with one another and with the intervention dimension. Context comprises seven domains (i.e., geographical, epidemiological, socio-cultural, socio-economic, ethical, legal, political); implementation consists of five domains (i.e., implementation theory, process, strategies, agents and outcomes); setting refers to the specific physical location, in which the intervention is put into practise. The intervention and the way it is implemented in a given setting and context can occur on a micro, meso and macro level. Tools to operationalise the framework comprise a checklist, data extraction tools for qualitative and quantitative reviews and a consultation guide for applicability assessments. CONCLUSIONS: The CICI framework addresses and graphically presents context, implementation and setting in an integrated way. It aims at simplifying and structuring complexity in order to advance our understanding of whether and how interventions work. The framework can be applied in systematic reviews and HTA as well as primary research and facilitate communication among teams of researchers and with various stakeholders

The development of PubMed search strategies for patient preferences for treatment outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The importance of respecting patients' preferences when making treatment decisions is increasingly recognized. Efficiently retrieving papers from the scientific literature reporting on the presence and nature of such preferences can help to achieve this goal. The objective of this study was to create a search filter for PubMed to help retrieve evidence on patient preferences for treatment outcomes. METHODS: A total of 27 journals were hand-searched for articles on patient preferences for treatment outcomes published in 2011. Selected articles served as a reference set. To develop optimal search strategies to retrieve this set, all articles in the reference set were randomly split into a development and a validation set. MeSH-terms and keywords retrieved using PubReMiner were tested individually and as combinations in PubMed and evaluated for retrieval performance (e.g. sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp)). RESULTS: Of 8238 articles, 22 were considered to report empirical evidence on patient preferences for specific treatment outcomes. The best search filters reached Se of 100 % [95 % CI 100-100] with Sp of 95 % [94-95 %] and Sp of 97 % [97-98 %] with 75 % Se [74-76 %]. In the validation set these queries reached values of Se of 90 % [89-91 %] with Sp 94 % [93-95 %] and Se of 80 % [79-81 %] with Sp of 97 % [96-96 %], respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Narrow and broad search queries were developed which can help in retrieving literature on patient preferences for treatment outcomes. Identifying such evidence may in turn enhance the incorporation of patient preferences in clinical decision making and health technology assessment

The effect of parenteral nnutrition with lipovenous or intralipid on the fatty acid composition of plasma and erythrocyte membrane lipids in very-low-birthweight infants

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Theories used to develop or evaluate social prescribing in studies: a scoping review

This scoping review aims to provide an overview of how theories were used in the development or evaluation of social prescribing (SP) intervention studies.This scoping review aims to provide an overview of how theories were used in the development or evaluation of social prescribing (SP) intervention studies