Systematic Analysis of Stability Patterns in Plant Primary Metabolism

Metabolic networks are characterized by complex interactions and regulatory mechanisms between many individual components. These interactions determine whether a steady state is stable to perturbations. Structural kinetic modeling (SKM) is a framework to analyze the stability of metabolic steady states that allows the study of the system Jacobian without requiring detailed knowledge about individual rate equations. Stability criteria can be derived by generating a large number of structural kinetic models (SK-models) with randomly sampled parameter sets and evaluating the resulting Jacobian matrices. Until now, SKM experiments applied univariate tests to detect the network components with the largest influence on stability. In this work, we present an extended SKM approach relying on supervised machine learning to detect patterns of enzyme-metabolite interactions that act together in an orchestrated manner to ensure stability. We demonstrate its application on a detailed SK-model of the Calvin-Benson cycle and connected pathways. The identified stability patterns are highly complex reflecting that changes in dynamic properties depend on concerted interactions between several network components. In total, we find more patterns that reliably ensure stability than patterns ensuring instability. This shows that the design of this system is strongly targeted towards maintaining stability. We also investigate the effect of allosteric regulators revealing that the tendency to stability is significantly increased by including experimentally determined regulatory mechanisms that have not yet been integrated into existing kinetic models

Lancet

BACKGROUND: In 2015, the second cycle of the CONCORD programme established global surveillance of cancer survival as a metric of the effectiveness of health systems and to inform global policy on cancer control. CONCORD-3 updates the worldwide surveillance of cancer survival to 2014. METHODS: CONCORD-3 includes individual records for 37.5 million patients diagnosed with cancer during the 15-year period 2000-14. Data were provided by 322 population-based cancer registries in 71 countries and territories, 47 of which provided data with 100% population coverage. The study includes 18 cancers or groups of cancers: oesophagus, stomach, colon, rectum, liver, pancreas, lung, breast (women), cervix, ovary, prostate, and melanoma of the skin in adults, and brain tumours, leukaemias, and lymphomas in both adults and children. Standardised quality control procedures were applied; errors were rectified by the registry concerned. We estimated 5-year net survival. Estimates were age-standardised with the International Cancer Survival Standard weights. FINDINGS: For most cancers, 5-year net survival remains among the highest in the world in the USA and Canada, in Australia and New Zealand, and in Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. For many cancers, Denmark is closing the survival gap with the other Nordic countries. Survival trends are generally increasing, even for some of the more lethal cancers: in some countries, survival has increased by up to 5% for cancers of the liver, pancreas, and lung. For women diagnosed during 2010-14, 5-year survival for breast cancer is now 89.5% in Australia and 90.2% in the USA, but international differences remain very wide, with levels as low as 66.1% in India. For gastrointestinal cancers, the highest levels of 5-year survival are seen in southeast Asia: in South Korea for cancers of the stomach (68.9%), colon (71.8%), and rectum (71.1%); in Japan for oesophageal cancer (36.0%); and in Taiwan for liver cancer (27.9%). By contrast, in the same world region, survival is generally lower than elsewhere for melanoma of the skin (59.9% in South Korea, 52.1% in Taiwan, and 49.6% in China), and for both lymphoid malignancies (52.5%, 50.5%, and 38.3%) and myeloid malignancies (45.9%, 33.4%, and 24.8%). For children diagnosed during 2010-14, 5-year survival for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia ranged from 49.8% in Ecuador to 95.2% in Finland. 5-year survival from brain tumours in children is higher than for adults but the global range is very wide (from 28.9% in Brazil to nearly 80% in Sweden and Denmark). INTERPRETATION: The CONCORD programme enables timely comparisons of the overall effectiveness of health systems in providing care for 18 cancers that collectively represent 75% of all cancers diagnosed worldwide every year. It contributes to the evidence base for global policy on cancer control. Since 2017, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has used findings from the CONCORD programme as the official benchmark of cancer survival, among their indicators of the quality of health care in 48 countries worldwide. Governments must recognise population-based cancer registries as key policy tools that can be used to evaluate both the impact of cancer prevention strategies and the effectiveness of health systems for all patients diagnosed with cancer. FUNDING: American Cancer Society; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Swiss Re; Swiss Cancer Research foundation; Swiss Cancer League; Institut National du Cancer; La Ligue Contre le Cancer; Rossy Family Foundation; US National Cancer Institute; and the Susan G Komen Foundation

Worldwide trends in population-based survival for children, adolescents, and young adults diagnosed with leukaemia, by subtype, during 2000–14 (CONCORD-3) : analysis of individual data from 258 cancer registries in 61 countries

Background Leukaemias comprise a heterogenous group of haematological malignancies. In CONCORD-3, we analysed data for children (aged 0–14 years) and adults (aged 15–99 years) diagnosed with a haematological malignancy during 2000–14 in 61 countries. Here, we aimed to examine worldwide trends in survival from leukaemia, by age and morphology, in young patients (aged 0–24 years). Methods We analysed data from 258 population-based cancer registries in 61 countries participating in CONCORD-3 that submitted data on patients diagnosed with leukaemia. We grouped patients by age as children (0–14 years), adolescents (15–19 years), and young adults (20–24 years). We categorised leukaemia subtypes according to the International Classification of Childhood Cancer (ICCC-3), updated with International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, third edition (ICD-O-3) codes. We estimated 5-year net survival by age and morphology, with 95% CIs, using the non-parametric Pohar-Perme estimator. To control for background mortality, we used life tables by country or region, single year of age, single calendar year and sex, and, where possible, by race or ethnicity. All-age survival estimates were standardised to the marginal distribution of young people with leukaemia included in the analysis. Findings 164563 young people were included in this analysis: 121328 (73·7%) children, 22963 (14·0%) adolescents, and 20272 (12·3%) young adults. In 2010–14, the most common subtypes were lymphoid leukaemia (28205 [68·2%] patients) and acute myeloid leukaemia (7863 [19·0%] patients). Age-standardised 5-year net survival in children, adolescents, and young adults for all leukaemias combined during 2010–14 varied widely, ranging from 46% in Mexico to more than 85% in Canada, Cyprus, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, and Australia. Individuals with lymphoid leukaemia had better age-standardised survival (from 43% in Ecuador to ≥80% in parts of Europe, North America, Oceania, and Asia) than those with acute myeloid leukaemia (from 32% in Peru to ≥70% in most high-income countries in Europe, North America, and Oceania). Throughout 2000–14, survival from all leukaemias combined remained consistently higher for children than adolescents and young adults, and minimal improvement was seen for adolescents and young adults in most countries. Interpretation This study offers the first worldwide picture of population-based survival from leukaemia in children, adolescents, and young adults. Adolescents and young adults diagnosed with leukaemia continue to have lower survival than children. Trends in survival from leukaemia for adolescents and young adults are important indicators of the quality of cancer management in this age group.peer-reviewe

Global survival trends for brain tumors, by histology: analysis of individual records for 556,237 adults diagnosed in 59 countries during 2000–2014 (CONCORD-3)

Background: Survival is a key metric of the effectiveness of a health system in managing cancer. We set out to provide a comprehensive examination of worldwide variation and trends in survival from brain tumors in adults, by histology. Methods: We analyzed individual data for adults (15–99 years) diagnosed with a brain tumor (ICD-O-3 topography code C71) during 2000–2014, regardless of tumor behavior. Data underwent a 3-phase quality control as part of CONCORD-3. We estimated net survival for 11 histology groups, using the unbiased nonparametric Pohar Perme estimator. Results: The study included 556,237 adults. In 2010–2014, the global range in age-standardized 5-year net survival for the most common sub-types was broad: in the range 20%–38% for diffuse and anaplastic astrocytoma, from 4% to 17% for glioblastoma, and between 32% and 69% for oligodendroglioma. For patients with glioblastoma, the largest gains in survival occurred between 2000–2004 and 2005–2009. These improvements were more noticeable among adults diagnosed aged 40–70 years than among younger adults. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the largest account to date of global trends in population-based survival for brain tumors by histology in adults. We have highlighted remarkable gains in 5-year survival from glioblastoma since 2005, providing large-scale empirical evidence on the uptake of chemoradiation at population level. Worldwide, survival improvements have been extensive, but some countries still lag behind. Our findings may help clinicians involved in national and international tumor pathway boards to promote initiatives aimed at more extensive implementation of clinical guidelines

Analysis of Monte Carlo data at low energies in electron-positron collider experiments using Initial State Radiation

This report explores a novel application of the initial state radiation (radiative return) method in an electron-positron collider, to measure the electron-positron annihilation into a neutral pion and a photon  reaction cross section at low energies. The challenge of using ISR events for analysis is due to the combinatorics issue presented by the extra photon(s) in the final state. Through measuring the cross section, access is gained to the time-like electromagnetic transition form factor (TFF) of the neutral pion. This can be used to constrain theoretical models of the hadronic light-by-light scattering contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon (AMM). The aim of this project was to determine if existing, or expected, data samples at the experiments KLOE-2 in Frascati and BES-III in Beijing could provide competitive results for the time-like TFF slope parameter. The analysis was performed through the construction of an event generator, where events were generated for three different reaction models. Considering the amount of data available at low energies, this study indicates that the ISR approach could be a viable option to enhance the data sample in the low energy region. The most promising experiment for further analysis is here indicated to be KLOE-2. Compared to tabulated values for the form factor slope parameter, the uncertainty retrieved here is roughly on the same order of magnitude or smaller.I denna rapport behandlas en ny metod för analys av ISR-data från experiment vid elektron-positron-kolliderare, så som KLOE-2 och BES-III. Strålning i form av en eller flera fotoner som strålats ut från elektronen eller positronen innan kollision kallas ISR. Då en foton strålas ut  från initialtillståndet sänks reaktionens nominella energi. Detta möjliggör analys av reaktioner över ett kontinuerligt energispektrum. Utmaningen med ISR analys ligger i kombinatoriken som uppstår då det återfinns ytterligare fotoner i sluttillståndet för reaktionen.I rapporen beskrivs processen elektron-positron-annihilation till en neutral pion och en foton. Denna reaktion är intressant då kunskap om dess reaktionstvärsnitt ger tillgång till den elektromagnetiska formfaktorn för den neutrala pionen. Formfaktorn beskriver hur reaktionen i fråga avviker från en punkt-lik elektromagnetisk växelverkan. Den elektromagnetiska fromfaktorn för den neutrala pionen är i sin tur en viktig del i beräkningarna för det hadroniska bidraget till myonens anomala magnetiska moment (AMM). Eftersom AMM är experimentellt uppmätt till mycket god noggrannhet kan jämförelser med teoretiska modeller göras med hög precision.  Vid låg reaktionsenergi kan formfaktorn beskrivas med endast en parameter, lutningsparametern. Från Monte Carlo genererad ISR-data har i denna rapport lutningsparametern bestämts med noggrannhet som är likvärdig eller bättre än tabulerade värden, beroende på mängd analyserad data samt val av analysmetod

SJUKSKÖTERSKORS ATTITYDER GENTEMOT PATIENTER MED ÖVERVIKT ELLER FETMA

Bakgrund: Patienter med övervikt eller fetma blir allt vanligare i samhället och sjuksköterskor är en av de professioner inom hälso-och sjukvården som de kommer i kontakt med. Patienter med övervikt eller fetma har komplexa behov som sjukvården ska tillgodose, såväl inom primärvården som på inneliggande sjukhusavdelning. Forskningen kring sjuksköterskors attityder till patienter med övervikt eller fetma är sparsam och därför syftar föreliggande arbete till att sammanställa befintlig forskning inom ämnet.Syftet: Att belysa sjuksköterskors attityder gentemot patienter med övervikt eller fetmaMetod: Litteraturstudie där resultatet från tio vetenskapliga artiklar med kvalitativ studiedesign har sammanställts. Artiklarna har behandlat sjuksköterskors attityder gentemot patienter med övervikt eller fetma. Studierna var genomförda både inom primärvården, i sjukhusmiljö och inom kriminalvården.Resultat: Resultatet från analysen genererade tre kategorier och sju underkategorier. Dessa visar på att sjuksköterskor har en rad positiva och negativa attityder mot patienter med övervikt eller fetma. Resultatet visade att sjuksköterskor i stor utsträckning kände empati för denna patientgrupp då de upplevde att de befann sig i ett utanförskap. De visar också på att sjuksköterskor har fördomar och negativa föreställningar om patienter med övervikt eller fetma.Konklusion: Det finns en rad fördomar mot personer med övervikt eller fetma i samhället som speglas även inom vården. Sjuksköterskors fördomar mot denna patientgrupp gör att de drar sig för att söka vård. Föreliggande studie vittnar om ett behov av värdegrundsarbete inom vården och ett aktivt ställningstagande mot fördomar.Background: Patients living with overweight or obesity are increasingly common in the society and nurses are one of the professions within the health care the patients living with overweight or obesity make contact with. Patients living with overweight or obesity have complex needs for health care to cater to, both within primary care as well as hospital care. Research within of nurses attitudes towards patients living with overweight or obesity is not widespread and the present work aims to compile existing research within the area.Aim: To shed light on nurses attitudes towards patients living with overweight or obesity.Method: A literature study where the results of ten scientific articles with qualitative study design has been compiled. The articles has researched nurses attitudes towards patients living with overweight or obesity. The studies was completed within the primary care, in hospital environment and within prison environment.Results: The results from the analysis generated three categories with seven sub- categories. These results sheds light on nurses positive attitudes as well as negative attitudes towards patients living with overweight and obesity. The results indicated that nurses extensively felt empathy towards the studied patient group because of their alienation within society. The positive attitudes consisted of feelings of empathy towards patients living with overweight and obesity because of them being alienated in society. The results also indicated that nurses hold negative attitudes and prejudices towards the patient group.Conclusions: There is an abundance of prejudices towards people living with overweight and obesity in society and they resonance within the healthcare setting. Nurses prejudices towards patients living with overweight and obesity is causing them to a lesser extent seek medical care. This literature study concludes that effort has to be put towards re-evaluating values and prejudices of nurses

SJUKSKÖTERSKORS ATTITYDER GENTEMOT PATIENTER MED ÖVERVIKT ELLER FETMA

Bakgrund: Patienter med övervikt eller fetma blir allt vanligare i samhället och sjuksköterskor är en av de professioner inom hälso-och sjukvården som de kommer i kontakt med. Patienter med övervikt eller fetma har komplexa behov som sjukvården ska tillgodose, såväl inom primärvården som på inneliggande sjukhusavdelning. Forskningen kring sjuksköterskors attityder till patienter med övervikt eller fetma är sparsam och därför syftar föreliggande arbete till att sammanställa befintlig forskning inom ämnet.Syftet: Att belysa sjuksköterskors attityder gentemot patienter med övervikt eller fetmaMetod: Litteraturstudie där resultatet från tio vetenskapliga artiklar med kvalitativ studiedesign har sammanställts. Artiklarna har behandlat sjuksköterskors attityder gentemot patienter med övervikt eller fetma. Studierna var genomförda både inom primärvården, i sjukhusmiljö och inom kriminalvården.Resultat: Resultatet från analysen genererade tre kategorier och sju underkategorier. Dessa visar på att sjuksköterskor har en rad positiva och negativa attityder mot patienter med övervikt eller fetma. Resultatet visade att sjuksköterskor i stor utsträckning kände empati för denna patientgrupp då de upplevde att de befann sig i ett utanförskap. De visar också på att sjuksköterskor har fördomar och negativa föreställningar om patienter med övervikt eller fetma.Konklusion: Det finns en rad fördomar mot personer med övervikt eller fetma i samhället som speglas även inom vården. Sjuksköterskors fördomar mot denna patientgrupp gör att de drar sig för att söka vård. Föreliggande studie vittnar om ett behov av värdegrundsarbete inom vården och ett aktivt ställningstagande mot fördomar.Background: Patients living with overweight or obesity are increasingly common in the society and nurses are one of the professions within the health care the patients living with overweight or obesity make contact with. Patients living with overweight or obesity have complex needs for health care to cater to, both within primary care as well as hospital care. Research within of nurses attitudes towards patients living with overweight or obesity is not widespread and the present work aims to compile existing research within the area.Aim: To shed light on nurses attitudes towards patients living with overweight or obesity.Method: A literature study where the results of ten scientific articles with qualitative study design has been compiled. The articles has researched nurses attitudes towards patients living with overweight or obesity. The studies was completed within the primary care, in hospital environment and within prison environment.Results: The results from the analysis generated three categories with seven sub- categories. These results sheds light on nurses positive attitudes as well as negative attitudes towards patients living with overweight and obesity. The results indicated that nurses extensively felt empathy towards the studied patient group because of their alienation within society. The positive attitudes consisted of feelings of empathy towards patients living with overweight and obesity because of them being alienated in society. The results also indicated that nurses hold negative attitudes and prejudices towards the patient group.Conclusions: There is an abundance of prejudices towards people living with overweight and obesity in society and they resonance within the healthcare setting. Nurses prejudices towards patients living with overweight and obesity is causing them to a lesser extent seek medical care. This literature study concludes that effort has to be put towards re-evaluating values and prejudices of nurses

Interacting with Hand Gestures in Augmented Reality : A Typing Study

Smartphones are used today to accomplish a variety of different tasks, but it has some issues that might be solved with new technology. Augmented Reality is a developing technology that in the future can be used in our daily lives to solve some of the problems that smartphones have. Before people will adopt the new augmented technology it is important to have an intuitive method to interact with it. Hand gesturing has always been a vital part of human interaction. Using hand gestures to interact with devices has the potential to be a more natural and familiar method than traditional methods, such as keyboards, controllers, and computer mice. The aim of this thesis is to explore whether hand gesture recognition in an Augmented Reality head-mounted display can provide the same interaction possibilities as a smartphone touchscreen. This was done by implementing an application in Unity that mimics an interface of a smartphone, but uses hand gestures as input in AR. The Leap Motion Controller was the device used to perform hand gesture recognition. To test how practical hand gestures are as an interaction method, text typing was chosen as the task to be used to measure this, as it is used in many applications on smartphones. Thus, the results can be better generalized to real world usage.Five different keyboards were designed and tested in a pilot study. A controlled experiment was conducted, in which 12 participants tried two hand gesturing keyboards and a touchscreen keyboard. This was done to compare how hand gestures compare to touchscreen interaction. In the experiment, participants wrote words using the keyboards, while their completion time and accuracy was recorded. After using a keyboard, a questionnaire was completed by the participants to measure the usability.  The results consists of an implementation of five different keyboards, and data collected from the experiment. The data gathered from the experiment consists of completion time, accuracy, and usability derived from questionnaire responses. Statistical tests were used to determine statistical significance between the keyboards used in the experiment. The results are presented in graphs and tables. The results show that typing with pinch gestures in augmented reality is a slow and tiresome way of typing and affects the users completion time and accuracy negatively, in relation to using a touchscreen. The lower completion time, and higher usability, of the touchscreen keyboard could be determined with statistical significance. Prediction and auto-completion might help with fatigue as fewer key presses are needed to create a word. The research concludes that hand gestures are reasonable to use as input technique to accomplish certain tasks that a smartphone performs. These include simple tasks such as scrolling through a website or opening an email. However, tasks that involve typing long sentences, e.g. composing an email, is arduous using pinch gestures. When it comes to typing, the authors advice developers to employ a continuous gesture typing approach such as Swype for Android and iOS