Evaluating care farming as a means to care for those in trauma and grief

This is the final version. Available on open access from Elsevier via the DOI in this recordThe interrelationships between nature, health, and wellbeing are increasingly recognized and incorporated into therapeutic interventions. Care farming, the concept of utilizing agricultural places and practices for providing care, therapy, and rehabilitation, is a paradigmatic example of this shift. This mixed method study empirically evaluates the efficacy of care farming as an intervention for individuals affected by traumatic grief, a complex experiential condition. Both quantitative and qualitative results suggest this care farm intervention was beneficial, yielding significant reductions in subjective distress to grief intensity. The study's findings add to the growing body of evidence on care farming and support green care as a therapeutic potential for individuals affected by traumatic grief.Wellcome TrustArizona State University’s Watts College of Public Service and Community Solution

Scenarios of domain pattern formation in a reaction-diffusion system

We performed an extensive numerical study of a two-dimensional reaction-diffusion system of the activator-inhibitor type in which domain patterns can form. We showed that both multidomain and labyrinthine patterns may form spontaneously as a result of Turing instability. In the stable homogeneous system with the fast inhibitor one can excite both localized and extended patterns by applying a localized stimulus. Depending on the parameters and the excitation level of the system stripes, spots, wriggled stripes, or labyrinthine patterns form. The labyrinthine patterns may be both connected and disconnected. In the the stable homogeneous system with the slow inhibitor one can excite self-replicating spots, breathing patterns, autowaves and turbulence. The parameter regions in which different types of patterns are realized are explained on the basis of the asymptotic theory of instabilities for patterns with sharp interfaces developed by us in Phys. Rev. E. 53, 3101 (1996). The dynamics of the patterns observed in our simulations is very similar to that of the patterns forming in the ferrocyanide-iodate-sulfite reaction.Comment: 15 pages (REVTeX), 15 figures (postscript and gif), submitted to Phys. Rev.

Rituximab monitoring and redosing in pediatric neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: To study rituximab in pediatric neuromyelitis optica (NMO)/NMO spectrum disorders (NMOSD) and the relationship between rituximab, B cell repopulation, and relapses in order to improve rituximab monitoring and redosing. METHODS: Multicenter retrospective study of 16 children with NMO/NMOSD receiving 652 rituximab courses. According to CD19 counts, events during rituximab were categorized as "repopulation," "depletion," or "depletion failure" relapses (repopulation threshold CD19 6510 7 10(6) cells/L). RESULTS: The 16 patients (14 girls; mean age 9.6 years, range 1.8-15.3) had a mean of 6.1 events (range 1-11) during a mean follow-up of 6.1 years (range 1.6-13.6) and received a total of 76 rituximab courses (mean 4.7, range 2-9) in 42.6-year cohort treatment. Before rituximab, 62.5% had received azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, or cyclophosphamide. Mean time from rituximab to last documented B cell depletion and first repopulation was 4.5 and 6.8 months, respectively, with large interpatient variability. Earliest repopulations occurred with the lowest doses. Significant reduction between pre- and post-rituximab annualized relapse rate (ARR) was observed (p = 0.003). During rituximab, 6 patients were relapse-free, although 21 relapses occurred in 10 patients, including 13 "repopulation," 3 "depletion," and 4 "depletion failure" relapses. Of the 13 "repopulation" relapses, 4 had CD19 10-50 7 10(6) cells/L, 10 had inadequate monitoring ( 641 CD19 in the 4 months before relapses), and 5 had delayed redosing after repopulation detection. CONCLUSION: Rituximab is effective in relapse prevention, but B cell repopulation creates a risk of relapse. Redosing before B cell repopulation could reduce the relapse risk further. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class IV evidence that rituximab significantly reduces ARR in pediatric NMO/NMOSD. This study also demonstrates a relationship between B cell repopulation and relapses

RKKY interaction between adsorbed magnetic impurities in graphene: Symmetry and strain effects

The growing interest in carbon-based spintronics has stimulated a number of recent theoretical studies on the RKKY interaction in graphene, with the aim of determining the most energetically favourable alignments between embedded magnetic moments. The RKKY interaction in undoped graphene decays faster than expected for conventional two-dimensional materials and recent studies suggest that the adsorption configurations favoured by many transition-metal impurities may lead to even shorter ranged decays and possible sign-changing oscillations. Here we show that these features emerge in a mathematically transparent manner when the symmetry of the configurations is included in the calculation. Furthermore, we show that by breaking the symmetry of the graphene lattice, via uniaxial strain, the decay rate, and hence the range, of the RKKY interaction can be significantly altered. Our results suggest that magnetic interactions between adsorbed impurities in graphene can be manipulated by careful strain engineering of such systems.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, submitte

Axiomatic Bargaining Theory on Opportunity Assignments

This paper discusses issues of axiomatic bargaining problems over opportunity assignments. The fair arbitrator uses the principle of "equal opportunity" for all players to make the recommendation on re- source allocations. A framework in such a context is developed and several classical solutions to standard bargaining problems are reformulated and axiomatically characterized. Working Paper 06-4

Low Cost and Compact Quantum Cryptography

We present the design of a novel free-space quantum cryptography system, complete with purpose-built software, that can operate in daylight conditions. The transmitter and receiver modules are built using inexpensive off-the-shelf components. Both modules are compact allowing the generation of renewed shared secrets on demand over a short range of a few metres. An analysis of the software is shown as well as results of error rates and therefore shared secret yields at varying background light levels. As the system is designed to eventually work in short-range consumer applications, we also present a use scenario where the consumer can regularly 'top up' a store of secrets for use in a variety of one-time-pad and authentication protocols.Comment: 18 pages, 9 figures, to be published in New Journal of Physic

Sexual Dysfunction and Reproductive Concerns in Young Men Diagnosed With Testicular Cancer: An Observational Study

INTRODUCTION: The survival rates for testicular cancer are excellent; still, there is a lack of knowledge regarding important survivorship issues, such as sexual dysfunction and reproductive concerns. AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and predictors of sexual dysfunction and reproductive concerns and the potential association between these issues in young men ∼2 years after a diagnosis of testicular cancer. METHODS: Data were collected from 111 men (response rate = 50%) diagnosed with testicular cancer at age 16-39. Patients were identified via the Swedish National Quality Registry for Testicular Cancer and approached with a survey, including standardized measures of sexual function, reproductive concerns, body image, and health-related quality of life. The survey was sent to participants approximately 2 years after their cancer diagnosis. Clinical variables were collected from the registry. Predictors were identified by multivariable linear regression analyses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcomes were sexual function, assessed with the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Sexual Function and Satisfaction measure version 2.0, and reproductive concerns, assessed with the Reproductive Concerns After Cancer scale. RESULTS: Sexual dysfunction was reported by 26% of men, and a high level of reproductive concerns was reported by 28%. Lower satisfaction with sex life was associated with older age (β = -0.41), negative body image (β = -0.42), not having a partner (β = 4.8), and dissatisfaction with sex life before cancer (β = 8.31). Negative body image was associated with reproductive concerns in the dimensions of fertility potential (β = 0.06), partner disclosure (β = 0.08), and child's health (β = 0.07), whereas having had fertility preservation predicted higher levels of concerns with regard to personal health (β = 0.52) and achieving pregnancy (β = 0.53). Clinical variables did not predict either sexual function or reproductive concerns. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Our results show that the majority of young men diagnosed with testicular cancer do not report sexual dysfunction or reproductive concerns 2 years after diagnosis. A sizeable minority, however, does report dysfunction or reproductive concerns, which should be recognized in the follow-up care of this population. STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS: A strength of the study is the use of high-quality registry data and validated instruments. The lack of Swedish norms for sexual function and reproductive concerns is a possible limitation. CONCLUSION: A subgroup of young men treated for testicular cancer report sexual dysfunction or reproductive concerns approximately 2 years after diagnosis. Factors associated with these issues seem to mainly be psychological, rather than medical, nature. Ljungman L, Eriksson LE, Flynn KE, et al. Sexual Dysfunction and Reproductive Concerns in Young Men Diagnosed With Testicular Cancer: An Observational Study. J Sex Med 2019;16:1049-1059