Dense packings of spheres in cylinders: Simulations

We study the optimal packing of hard spheres in an infinitely long cylinder, using simulated annealing, and compare our results with the analogous problem of packing disks on the unrolled surface of a cylinder. The densest structures are described and tabulated in detail up to D/d=2.873 (ratio of cylinder and sphere diameters). This extends previous computations into the range of structures which include internal spheres that are not in contact with the cylinder.Comment: 18 pages, 14 figures, 1 table, to be submitted to PR

The multidisciplinary, theory-based co-design of a new digital health intervention supporting the care of oesophageal cancer patients

Objective: Oesophageal cancer patients have complex care needs. Cancer clinical nurse specialists play a key role in coordinating their care but often have heavy workloads. Digital health interventions can improve patient care but there are few examples for oesophageal cancer. This paper aims to describe the multidisciplinary co-design process of a digital health intervention to improve the experience of care and reduce unmet needs among patients with oesophageal cancer. Methods: A theory-based, multi-disciplinary, co-design approach was used to inform the developmental process of the digital health intervention. Key user needs were elicited using mixed methodology from systematic reviews, focus groups and interviews and holistic need assessments. Overarching decisions were discussed among a core team of patients, carers, health care professionals including oncologists and cancer clinical nurse specialists, researchers and digital health providers. A series of workshops incorporating a summary of findings of key user needs resulted in the development of a minimum viable product. This was further refined after a pilot study based on feedback from end users. Results: The final digital health intervention consists of a mobile app feature for patients and carers connected to a dashboard with supporting additional features for clinical nurse specialist. It contains a one-way messaging function for clinical nurse specialists to communicate with patients, functions for patients to record weight and holistic need assessment results which could be viewed by their clinical nurse specialists as well as a library of informative articles. Conclusions: The multidisciplinary co-design of a digital health intervention providing support for oesophageal cancer patients and health care professionals has been described. Future studies to establish its impact on patient outcomes are planned

Isolation and biochemical characterizations of the bacteria (Acidovorax avenae subsp. avenae) associated with red stripe disease of sugarcane

Studies on Acidovorax avenae subsp. avenae, associated with red stripe disease of sugarcane was conducted in the Department of Plant Pathology, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi during 2009 to 2010, in collaboration with Shakarganj Sugar Research Institute (SSRI), Jhang, Pakistan. Red stripe of sugarcane were recently observed on promising clones of sugarcane planted in autumn 2009 at Ashaba Research Farm of SSRI. Bacteria were isolated from diseased plants. These isolates yielded off white convex colonies on potato dextrose agar (PDA) media at 29°C with 1.7 to 1.9 mm diameter and were yellow on yeast extract dextrose chalk agar (YDC) media at 27°C with 1.8 to 2.0 mm diameter. The bacteria were rod shape measuring 0.5 to 0.6 × 1.4 to 1.6 μm on PDA and 0.6 to 0.7 × 1.5 to 1.7 μm on YDC. Bacterial culture was stored at different temperature levels for 150 days. Reisolation of bacterial culture which was stored at 4°C showed best result on YDC at 27°C after 150 days, whereas it showed positive result after 120 days on PDA at 29°C. Bacteria were gram negative, citrate utilization was positive, oxidase was negative, catalase was positive and urease was negative. Morphological appearance and biochemical characterizations identified the bacteria as A. avenae subsp. Avenae. In vitro screening for the efficacy of various antibiotics to inhibit the growth of A. avenae subsp. avenae on YDC media showed that ampicillin and vancomycin were most effective. Artificial inoculation on sugarcane against red stripe disease was observed. Observations were made upto six weeks for disease development. Out of 27 varieties, 16 were found resistant, four moderately resistant, five moderately susceptible and two susceptible.Key words: Sugarcane, yeast extract dextrose chalk agar (YDC), potato dextrose agar (PDA), Acidovorax avenae subsp. avenae, biochemical characterization, antibiotics

Piezo1 channel activation mimics high glucose as a stimulator of insulin release

Glucose and hypotonicity induced cell swelling stimulate insulin release from pancreatic β-cells but the mechanisms are poorly understood. Recently, Piezo1 was identified as a mechanically-activated nonselective Ca2+ permeable cationic channel in a range of mammalian cells. As cell swelling induced insulin release could be through stimulation of Ca2+ permeable stretch activated channels, we hypothesised a role for Piezo1 in cell swelling induced insulin release. Two rat β-cell lines (INS-1 and BRIN-BD11) and freshly-isolated mouse pancreatic islets were studied. Intracellular Ca2+ measurements were performed using the fura-2 Ca2+ indicator dye and ionic current was recorded by whole cell patch-clamp. Piezo1 agonist Yoda1, a competitive antagonist of Yoda1 (Dooku1) and an inactive analogue of Yoda1 (2e) were used as chemical probes. Piezo1 mRNA and insulin secretion were measured by RT-PCR and ELISA respectively. Piezo1 mRNA was detected in both β-cell lines and mouse islets. Yoda1 evoked Ca2+ entry was inhibited by Yoda1 antagonist Dooku1 as well as other Piezo1 inhibitors gadolinium and ruthenium red, and not mimicked by 2e. Yoda1, but not 2e, stimulated Dooku1-sensitive insulin release from β-cells and pancreatic islets. Hypotonicity and high glucose increased intracellular Ca2+ and enhanced Yoda1 Ca2+ influx responses. Yoda1 and hypotonicity induced insulin release were significantly inhibited by Piezo1 specific siRNA. Pancreatic islets from mice with haploinsufficiency of Piezo1 released less insulin upon exposure to Yoda1. The data show that Piezo1 channel agonist induces insulin release from β-cell lines and mouse pancreatic islets suggesting a role for Piezo1 in cell swelling induced insulin release. Hence Piezo1 agonists have the potential to be used as enhancers of insulin release

INFLUENCE OF INCREASING FLUORIDE DOSE RATES ON SELECTED LIVER AND KIDNEY ENZYMES PROFILE IN DOMESTIC CHICKEN (Gallus domesticus)

ABSTRACT Fluoride has been considered to cause hepatic and renal tissue damages in animals and humans. The present study investigated the effect of varying concentrations of fluoride on hepatic and renal enzyme profile in domestic chicken (n=80). Chicken were distributed into 4 groups. Group A was kept unexposed while group B, C and D were exposed to 10, 20 and 30 µg/g body weight of NaF respectively on weekly basis for four weeks. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine amino-transferase (ALT) and bilirubin were determined as indicators of liver function test (LFT), while uric acid was as a parameter for renal function test (RFT). All LFT and RFT parameters showed high values (P< 0.05) after one, two three and four weeks in all groups. 579.4 ± 1.55, 355.0 ± 2.13, 246.2 ± 2.45 and 0.83 ± 1.46 were the ALP, AST, ALAT and bilirubin values for LFT and uric acid was 6.74 ± 2.92 in D group at the end of four weeks. All these results indicate the probability of severe effect on the physiology of the liver and kidneys in the exposed birds

INFLUENCE OF INCREASING FLUORIDE DOSE RATES ON SELECTED LIVER AND KIDNEY ENZYMES PROFILE IN DOMESTIC CHICKEN (Gallus domesticus)

ABSTRACT Fluoride has been considered to cause hepatic and renal tissue damages in animals and humans. The present study investigated the effect of varying concentrations of fluoride on hepatic and renal enzyme profile in domestic chicken (n=80). Chicken were distributed into 4 groups. Group A was kept unexposed while group B, C and D were exposed to 10, 20 and 30 µg/g body weight of NaF respectively on weekly basis for four weeks. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine amino-transferase (ALT) and bilirubin were determined as indicators of liver function test (LFT), while uric acid was as a parameter for renal function test (RFT). All LFT and RFT parameters showed high values (P< 0.05) after one, two three and four weeks in all groups. 579.4 ± 1.55, 355.0 ± 2.13, 246.2 ± 2.45 and 0.83 ± 1.46 were the ALP, AST, ALAT and bilirubin values for LFT and uric acid was 6.74 ± 2.92 in D group at the end of four weeks. All these results indicate the probability of severe effect on the physiology of the liver and kidneys in the exposed birds

How to Cost the Implementation of Major System Change for Economic Evaluations: Case Study Using Reconfigurations of Specialist Cancer Surgery in Part of London, England.

BACKGROUND: Studies have been published regarding the impact of major system change (MSC) on care quality and outcomes, but few evaluate implementation costs or include them in cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA). This is despite large potential costs of MSC: change planning, purchasing or repurposing assets, and staff time. Implementation costs can influence implementation decisions. We describe our framework and principles for costing MSC implementation and illustrate them using a case study. METHODS: We outlined MSC implementation stages and identified components, using a framework conceived during our work on MSC in stroke services. We present a case study of MSC of specialist surgery services for prostate, bladder, renal and oesophagogastric cancers, focusing on North Central and North East London and West Essex. Health economists collaborated with qualitative researchers, clinicians and managers, identifying key reconfiguration stages and expenditures. Data sources (n = approximately 100) included meeting minutes, interviews, and business cases. National Health Service (NHS) finance and service managers and clinicians were consulted. Using bottom-up costing, items were identified, and unit costs based on salaries, asset costs and consultancy fees assigned. Itemised costs were adjusted and summed. RESULTS: Cost components included options appraisal, bidding process, external review; stakeholder engagement events; planning/monitoring boards/meetings; and making the change: new assets, facilities, posts. Other considerations included hospital tariff changes; costs to patients; patient population; and lifetime of changes. Using the framework facilitated data identification and collection. The total adjusted implementation cost was estimated at £7.2 million, broken down as replacing robots (£4.0 million), consultancy fees (£1.9 million), staff time costs (£1.1 million) and other costs (£0.2 million). CONCLUSIONS: These principles can be used by funders, service providers and commissioners planning MSC and researchers evaluating MSC. Health economists should be involved early, alongside qualitative and health-service colleagues, as retrospective capture risks information loss. These analyses are challenging; many cost factors are difficult to identify, access and measure, and assumptions regarding lifetime of the changes are important. Including implementation costs in CEA might make MSC appear less cost effective, influencing future decisions. Future work will incorporate this implementation cost into the full CEAs of the London Cancer MSC. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable

Measuring quality of life of people with predementia and dementia and their caregivers: a systematic review protocol

Introduction Dementia is the fastest growing major cause of disability globally and may have a profound impact on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of both the patient with dementia and those who care for them. This review aims to systematically identify and synthesise the measurements of HRQoL for people with, and their caregivers across the full spectrum of, dementia from its preceding stage of predementia to end of life. Methods and analysis A systematic literature review was conducted in Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online , ExcerptaMedicadataBASE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews , Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effect, National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database and PsycINFO between January 1990 and the end of April 2017. Two reviewers will independently assess each study for inclusion and disagreements will be resolved by a third reviewer. Data will be extracted using a predefined data extraction form following best practice. Study quality will be assessed with the Effective Public Health Practice Project quality assessment tool. HRQoL measurements will be presented separately for people with dementia and caregivers by instrument used and, when possible, HRQoL will be reported by disease type and stage of the disease. Descriptive statistics of the results will be provided. A narrative synthesis of studies will also be provided discussing differences in HRQoL measurements by instrument used to estimate it, type of dementia and disease severity. Ethics and dissemination This systematic literature review is exempt from ethics approval because the work is carried out on published documents. The findings of the review will be disseminated in a related peer-reviewed journal and presented at conferences. They will also contribute to the work developed in the Real World Outcomes across the Alzheimer’s disease spectrum for better care: multimodal data access platform (ROADMAP)