Indoor positioning system for movement path analysis in healthcare institutions

In this paper, we describe an indoor positioning system designed to provide data on the movement patterns of hospital personnel. The data collection is ongoing and part of a larger study project, which aims to evaluate the impact of an information system implemented in a hospital setting. The indoor positioning system was designed to be non-intrusive and straightforward to deploy in multiple hospitals, while requiring minimal existing infrastructure. To this end, the system is based on battery-powered Bluetooth beacons, and mobile phones measuring the signal strength of the beacons to position their bearers. This paper describes the design and implementation of the system. We analyze the positioning accuracy of the system in order to evaluate its fitness for purpose. Based on the results, the system is suitable for short-term deployments due to its low cost and ease of installation.  In this paper, we describe an indoor positioning system designed to provide data on the movement patterns of hospital personnel. The data collection is ongoing and part of a larger study project, which aims to evaluate the impact of an information system implemented in a hospital setting. The indoor positioning system was designed to be non-intrusive and straightforward to deploy in multiple hospitals, while requiring minimal existing infrastructure. To this end, the system is based on battery-powered Bluetooth beacons, and mobile phones measuring the signal strength of the beacons to position their bearers. This paper describes the design and implementation of the system. We analyze the positioning accuracy of the system in order to evaluate its fitness for purpose. Based on the results, the system is suitable for short-term deployments due to its low cost and ease of installation

Evidence for a Direct Harmful Effect of Alcohol on Myocardial Health: A Large Cross-Sectional Study of Consumption Patterns and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Biomarkers From Northwest Russia, 2015 to 2017.

Background Alcohol drinking is an increasingly recognized risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, there are few studies of the impact of harmful and hazardous drinking on biomarkers of myocardial health. We conducted a study in Russia to investigate the impact of heavy drinking on biomarkers of cardiac damage and inflammation. Methods and Results The Know Your Heart study recruited a random sample of 2479 participants from the population of northwest Russia (general population) plus 278 patients (narcology clinic subsample) with alcohol problems. The general population sample was categorized into harmful drinkers, hazardous drinkers, nonproblem drinkers, and nondrinkers, according to self-reported level of alcohol consumption, whereas the narcology clinic sample was treated as the separate group in the analysis. Measurements were made of the following: (1) high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T, (2) NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide), and (3) hsCRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein). The narcology clinic subsample had the most extreme drinking pattern and the highest levels of all 3 biomarkers relative to nonproblem drinkers in the general population: high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T was elevated by 10.3% (95% CI, 3.7%-17.4%), NT-proBNP by 46.7% (95% CI, 26.8%-69.8%), and hsCRP by 69.2% (95% CI, 43%-100%). In the general population sample, NT-proBNP was 31.5% (95% CI, 3.4%-67.2%) higher among harmful drinkers compared with nonproblem drinkers. Overall, NT-proBNP and hsCRP increased with increasing intensity of alcohol exposure (test of trend P<0.001). Conclusions These results support the hypothesis that heavy alcohol drinking has an adverse effect on cardiac structure and function that may not be driven by atherosclerosis

Features of Anesthesiologists-Reanimatologists’ Emotional States in Different COVID-19 Pandemic Periods in Russia

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most stressful events in recent times. Medical professionals, including anesthesiologists-reanimatologists, suffered the main blow in this difficult and stressful environment. Aims: This study aimed at identifying the features of anesthesiologists-reanimatologists’ emotional states in different COVID-19 pandemic periods. Methods: The study was conducted through an anonymous questionnaire among anesthesiologists-reanimatologists in two periods. In the First stage – which was carried out in May 2020 (during the first COVID-19 pan¬demic wave) – 58 anesthesiologists-reanimatologists in the Arkhangelsk region took part. During the Second segment – which took place in October 2020 (in the second COVID-19 pandemic wave) – 43 anesthesiologists-reanimatologists were examined. Repeated questioning was carried out among the same participants. Results: In October 2020, compared to May, the number of doctors who noted a high intensity of professional activity increased. Regardless of the study period, one-third of the subjects experienced constant pronounced anxiety. Anesthesiologists-reanimatologists, whose professional activity was directly related to the patients in COVID-19 care, noted a poorer emo¬tional state more frequently in October, accompanied by anxiety, depressed mood, irritability and a high burnout level, which may indicate a depletion of internal resources in this group. Conclusions: The study results showed that for anesthesiologists-reanimatologists, a further depletion of emotional resources accompanied the second pandemic wave. The anesthesiologists-reanimatologists’ emotional state was mediated by a number of social and gender factors, as well as specific labor organization features

Man and the Last Great Wilderness: Human Impact on the Deep Sea

The deep sea, the largest ecosystem on Earth and one of the least studied, harbours high biodiversity and provides a wealth of resources. Although humans have used the oceans for millennia, technological developments now allow exploitation of fisheries resources, hydrocarbons and minerals below 2000 m depth. The remoteness of the deep seafloor has promoted the disposal of residues and litter. Ocean acidification and climate change now bring a new dimension of global effects. Thus the challenges facing the deep sea are large and accelerating, providing a new imperative for the science community, industry and national and international organizations to work together to develop successful exploitation management and conservation of the deep-sea ecosystem. This paper provides scientific expert judgement and a semi-quantitative analysis of past, present and future impacts of human-related activities on global deep-sea habitats within three categories: disposal, exploitation and climate change. The analysis is the result of a Census of Marine Life – SYNDEEP workshop (September 2008). A detailed review of known impacts and their effects is provided. The analysis shows how, in recent decades, the most significant anthropogenic activities that affect the deep sea have evolved from mainly disposal (past) to exploitation (present). We predict that from now and into the future, increases in atmospheric CO2 and facets and consequences of climate change will have the most impact on deep-sea habitats and their fauna. Synergies between different anthropogenic pressures and associated effects are discussed, indicating that most synergies are related to increased atmospheric CO2 and climate change effects. We identify deep-sea ecosystems we believe are at higher risk from human impacts in the near future: benthic communities on sedimentary upper slopes, cold-water corals, canyon benthic communities and seamount pelagic and benthic communities. We finalise this review with a short discussion on protection and management methods

CMS physics technical design report : Addendum on high density QCD with heavy ions

Peer reviewe

Biological Earth observation with animal sensors

Space-based tracking technology using low-cost miniature tags is now delivering data on fine-scale animal movement at near-global scale. Linked with remotely sensed environmental data, this offers a biological lens on habitat integrity and connectivity for conservation and human health; a global network of animal sentinels of environmen-tal change

H-bond cooperativity: polarisation effects on secondary amides.

Formation of a H-bond with an amide carbonyl oxygen atom increases the strength of subsequent H-bonds formed by the amide NH, due to polarisation of the bond. The magnitude of this effect has been quantified by measuring association constants for the formation of 1 : 1 complexes of 2-hydroxylbenzamides with tri-n-butyl phosphine oxide. In 2-hydroxybenzamides, there is an intramolecular H-bond between the phenol OH group and the carbonyl oxygen atom. Comparison of the association constants measured for compounds with and without the 2-hydroxy group allows direct quantification of the effect of the intramolecular H-bond on the H-bond donor properties of the amide NH group. Substituents were used to modulate the strength of the intramolecular and intermolecular H-bonds. The presence of an intramolecular H-bond increases the strength of the intermolecular H-bond by more than one order of magnitude in n-octane solution. The increase in the H-bond donor parameter used to describe the amide NH group is directly proportional to the H-bond donor parameter of the phenol OH group that makes the intramolecular H-bond. These polarisation effects will lead to substantial cooperativity in complex systems that feature networks of non-covalent interactions, and the measurements described here provide a quantitative basis for understanding such phenomena.AstraZenec

Clinical And Morphological Improvement Of Lupus Nephritis Treated With Rituximab

Aim: TO assess the effects of rituximab (RTM) therapy on clinical and morphologic activity of lupus nephritis (LN)