Towards Evidence Based M-Health Application Design in Cancer Patient Healthy Lifestyle Interventions

Cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases in Europe and the world. Significant correlations between dietary habits and cancer incidence and mortality have been confirmed by the literature. Physical activity habits are also directly implicated in the incidence of cancer. Lifestyle behaviour change may be benefited by using mobile technology to deliver health behaviour interventions. M-Health offers a promising cost-efficient approach to deliver en-masse interventions. Smartphone apps with constructs such as gamification and personalized have shown potential for helping individuals lose weight and maintain healthy lifestyle habits. However, evidence-based content and theory-based strategies have not been incorporated by those apps systematically yet. The aim of the current work is to put the foundations for a methodologically rigorous exploration of wellness/health intervention literature/app landscape towards detailed design specifications for connected health m-apps. In this context, both the overall work plan is described as well as the details for the significant steps of application space and literature space review. Both strategies for research and initial outcomes of it are presented. The expected evidence based design process for patient centered health and wellness interventions is going to be the primary input in the implementation process of upcoming patient centered health/wellness m-health interventions.ENJECT COST-STSM-ECOST-STSM-TD1405-220216-07045

Capturing the Visitor Profile for a Personalized Mobile Museum Experience: an Indirect Approach

An increasing number of museums and cultural institutions around the world use personalized, mostly mobile, museum guides to enhance visitor experiences. However since a typical museum visit may last a few minutes and visitors might only visit once, the personalization processes need to be quick and efficient, ensuring the engagement of the visitor. In this paper we investigate the use of indirect profiling methods through a visitor quiz, in order to provide the visitor with specific museum content. Building on our experience of a first study aimed at the design, implementation and user testing of a short quiz version at the Acropolis Museum, a second parallel study was devised. This paper introduces this research, which collected and analyzed data from two environments: the Acropolis Museum and social media (i.e. Facebook). Key profiling issues are identified, results are presented, and guidelines towards a generalized approach for the profiling needs of cultural institutions are discussed

A cluster of four cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis by Leishmania donovani in Cyprus: a case series

Introduction: Leishmaniasis is endemic in more than 95 countries and is the only tropical/subtropical vector-borne disease that has been endemic in Southern Europe for decades. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of cutaneous leishmaniasis by Leishmania donovani in a child and the first cluster with adult cases reported in Europe. Case presentation: We describe a familial cluster of four cutaneous leishmaniasis cases among Greek Cypriots caused by L. donovani in a Paphos village, in Cyprus. A 6-year-old boy (Case number 1) had a persistent lesion in the left angle of his upper lip, a 60-year-old woman (Case number 2) presented with a 2cm-diameter glabella lesion on her forehead, a 60-year-old man (Case number 3) developed a lesion on his moustache area and a 40-year-old woman (Case number 4) had a lesion on her neck. In Case number 3 the lesion was self-cured; the other cases recovered after surgical resection followed by liposomal amphotericin B (Case numbers 1 and 4) or thermotherapy and liposomal amphotericin B (Case number 2). Conclusions: This familial cluster of cutaneous leishmaniasis, due to the anthroponotic L. donovani, shows that the sand fly species responsible for transmitting this parasite species is found in the area around the three neighbouring houses involved. The factors favourable for the survival, spread and contact of the vector with people could be assessed in this area for the establishment of preventative measures to safeguard public health

Splicing- and cleavage-independent requirement of RNA polymerase II CTD for mRNA release from the transcription site

Eukaryotic cells have a surveillance mechanism that identifies aberrantly processed pre-mRNAs and prevents their flow to the cytoplasm by tethering them near the site of transcription. Here we provide evidence that mRNA release from the transcription site requires the heptad repeat structure of the C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II. The mammalian CTD, which is essential for normal co-transcriptional maturation of mRNA precursors, comprises 52 heptad repeats. We show that a truncated CTD containing 31 repeats (heptads 1–23, 36–38, and 48–52) is sufficient to support transcription, splicing, cleavage, and polyadenylation. Yet, the resulting mRNAs are mostly retained in the vicinity of the gene after transcriptional shutoff. The retained mRNAs maintain the ability to recruit components of the exon junction complex and the nuclear exosome subunit Rrp6p, suggesting that binding of these proteins is not sufficient for RNA release. We propose that the missing heptads in the truncated CTD mutant are required for binding of proteins implicated in a final co-transcriptional maturation of spliced and 3′ end cleaved and polyadenylated mRNAs into export-competent ribonucleoprotein particles

Investigation of novel chemical in-situ treatment methods to mitigate cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms in surface waters

As water scarcity is becoming a universal problem to address, it is essential to maintain a high surface water quality and protect the biodiversity of current aquatic biotopes worldwide. Surface water contamination events caused by high nutrient and organic matter loads lead to the formation of cyano-HABs, which are mostly unpredictable. Therefore, highly efficient methods are required for the in-situ restoration of water quality. Several methods have been applied over the years to mitigate cyano-HABs with varying efficiencies. Current trends ask for more environmentally friendly approaches to be implemented in order to safeguard the overall aquatic ecosystems and reduce treatment costs. Hydrogen peroxide is currently being used as an emerging chemical alternative to copper algicides. Even though its broad application showed high efficiency on mitigating dense blooms, the required H2O2 doses for each case and treatment application differ, and in some instances high doses were applied with undesirable side effects on the entire lake ecosystem. Herein, calcium peroxide granules were utilized due to their slow H2O2 releasing properties, which simulate multiple liquid H2O2 doses. Specifically, granules were used in surface waters spiked with Microcystis, Aphanizomenon, and Cylindrospermopsis sp. and in actual water samples during blooming

Quality analysis of the Parisian OSM toponyms evolution

International audienceThe paper presents empirical research on the quality of the toponyms that can be retrieved from OpenStreetMap (OSM) under the purpose of enriching authoritative toponymic databases and gazetteers. An analysis on the volatility of places and points-of-interest (POIs) is presented. We examine how named features behave and change in terms of type, name and location. The challenge is to understand the behavior and consequently the fitness-for-purpose of OSM data when it comes to a possible use and integration with authoritative datasets. We show that, depending on the OSM feature type, the volatility can vary considerably and we elucidate which feature types are consistent, and thus could be used in authoritative gazetteers despite their grassroots nature and if there are spatial patterns behind the location changes of features during their lifespan

Comparison of UVC/S₂O₈ ^2- with UVC/H₂O₂ in terms of efficiency and cost for the removal of micropollutants from groundwater

This study compared the UVC/S2O82- system with the more commonly used AOP in water industry, UVC/H2O2, and examined whether the first one can be an economically feasible alternative technology. Atrazine and 4 volatile compounds (methyl tert-butyl ether, cis-dichlorethen, 1,4-dioxane and 1,1,1-trichloroethane) were chosen as model contaminants because they exhibit different susceptibility to UVC photolysis and AOPs. A collimated beam apparatus was utilized for the majority of the experiments (controlled environment, without mass transfer phenomena), while selected experiments were performed in a flow-through reactor to simulate industrial applications. Initial experiments on the activation of oxidants with a LP lamp indicated that S2O82- is photolysed about 2.3times faster than H2O2 and that the applied treatment times were not sufficient to utilize the majority of the oxidant. The effect of oxidants' concentrations were tested with atrazine alone and in the micropollutants' mixture and it was decided to use 11.8mgL-1 S2O82- and 14.9mgL-1 H2O2 for further testing since is closer to industrial applications and to minimize the residual oxidant concentration. Changes of the matrix composition of the treated water were investigated with the addition of chloride, bicarbonate and humic acids at concentrations relevant to a well-water-sample, the results showed that the system least affected was UVC/H2O2. Only when bicarbonate was used, UVC/S2O82- performed better. Overall, testing these systems with the mixture of micropollutants gave better insights to their efficiency than atrazine alone and UVC/S2O82- is recommended for selective oxidation of challenging matrices

A prime/boost DNA/Modified vaccinia virus Ankara vaccine expressing recombinant Leishmania DNA encoding TRYP is safe and immunogenic in outbred dogs, the reservoir of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis

Previous studies demonstrated safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of DNA/modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) prime/boost vaccines expressing tryparedoxin peroxidase (TRYP) and Leishmania homologue of the mammalian receptor for activated C kinase (LACK) against Leishmania major challenge in mice, which was consistent with results from TRYP protein/adjuvant combinations in non-human primates. This study aimed to conduct safety and immunogenicity trials of these DNA/MVA vaccines in dogs, the natural reservoir host of Leishmania infantum, followed-up for 4 months post-vaccination. In a cohort of 22 uninfected outbred dogs, blinded randomised administration of 1000 μg (high dose) or 100 μg (low dose) DNA prime (day 0) and 1 × 108 pfu MVA boost (day 28) was shown to be safe and showed no clinical side effects. High dose DNA/MVA vaccinated TRYP dogs produced statistically higher mean levels of the type-1 pro-inflammatory cytokine IFN-γ than controls in whole blood assays (WBA) stimulated with the recombinant vaccine antigen TRYP, up to the final sampling at day 126, and in the absence of challenge with Leishmania. TRYP vaccinated dogs also demonstrated significantly higher TRYP-specific total IgG and IgG2 subtype titres than in controls, and positive in vivo intradermal reactions at day 156 in the absence of natural infection, observed in 6/8 TRYP vaccinated dogs. No significant increases in IFN-γ in LACK-stimulated WBA, or in LACK-specific IgG levels, were detected in LACK vaccinated dogs compared to controls, and only 2/9 LACK vaccinated dogs demonstrated DTH responses at day 156. In all groups, IgG1 subclass responses and antigen-specific stimulation of IL-10 were similar to controls demonstrating an absence of Th2/Treg response, as expected in the absence of in vivo restimulation or natural/experimental challenge with Leishmania. These collective results indicate significant antigen-specific type-1 responses and in vivo memory phase cellular immune responses, consistent with superior potential for protective vaccine immunogenicity of DNA/MVA TRYP over LACK

Μεταφράζοντας τη συναισθηματικότητα. Η περίπτωση Γαλλικής-Ελληνικής

Στόχος της παρούσας εργασίας είναι η αντιπαραβολική μελέτη της συναισθηματικότητας. Γλώσσες εργασίας μας θα αποτελέσουν η Ελληνική και η Γαλλική. Θα επιχειρήσουμε να μελετήσουμε τα μέσα με τα οποία εκφράζεται η συναισθηματικότητα, τόσο σε επίπεδο σχηματισμού των λέξεων (π.χ. υποκοριστικά), όσο και σε επίπεδο συντακτικής δομής. Θα επικεντρωθούμε στις ομοιότητες και διαφορές που εντοπίζονται στη χρήση αυτού του επίπεδου στις δύο γλώσσες εργασίας, καθώς και τις παραμέτρους που επηρεάζουν το πέρασμα από την μία γλώσσα στην άλλη κατά τη μεταφραστική διαδικασία. Μία ακόμη ερώτηση που θα μας απασχολήσει είναι το κατά πόσο η συναισθηματικότητα εκφράζεται περισσότερο σε κάποια από τις γλώσσες . Για την μελέτη αυτή θα στηριχθούμε σε παραδείγματα από κόμικς γραμμένα στη Γαλλική γλώσσα (ΤενΤεν, Αστερίξ), τα οποία έχουν μεταφραστεί στην Ελληνική.This paper aims to produce some observations with regard to both similarities and eventual divergences amongst variations between French and Greek comics, in terms of affectivity. We shall examine linguistic markers expressing affectivity in a lexical level (diminutives) as well as in a syntactic level of analysis. It further intends to enlighten aspects of intercultural difference inscribed in comics and question about constraints involved in the process of translating comics. The paper attempts to contrast mainly albums of TinTin and Asterix French ST and Greek TT and to conclude on language users' perception of affectivity and on differences involved in French-Greek comics translating. The data suggests that comics are discourse which may register degrees of preference with respect to particular linguistic features. The French-Greek case illustrates a preference for particular features, which reflect aspects of the collective identity of national audiences