Using quantum effects in nanomaterials for unique identification

Authentication and identification are critical to information security systems. Traditionally, these processes are achieved with the use of secret keys that are stored in electronic memories, or with difficult-to-clone systems (e.g., fingerprints or holograms). The persistent development of technology, however, means that the barrier to cloning such systems is becoming lower. Moreover, counterfeiting, device spoofing, and identity fraud are formidable problems in all markets. The ideal solution, therefore, would be to produce a nano-fingerprint from the atomic arrangement of a structure embedded within a device. By shrinking down to the atomic scale, the challenge of cloning the system becomes as difficult as possible, i.e., the density of secure information is maximized and the number of resources required to read the fingerprint is minimized

El significado de “parálisis general del demente” en Victoria, Australia; 1886-1906

This paper presents a conclusion to the meaning of the historical diagnosis “general paralysis of the insane” in nineteenth century Victorian Registrar General”s reports. Most studies suggest that in the past the diagnosis refers to neuro-syphilis, and while after 1906 this is not disputed, this paper will show that the diagnosis had a much broader meaning incorporating many forms of degenerative brain disease during the study period (Victoria 1886 to 1906). It is acknowledged, however, that the use of this diagnosis may have varied dramatically in the past based on a doctor’s education and/or background. This conclusion has been arrived at by analysing both government and general hospital records on the Australian, Victorian population. This paper also presents methods for determining the meaning of obsolete medical diagnoses where the definition is poorly understood.En este trabajo presenta una conclusión sobre el significado de la “parálisis general de los locos” como diagnóstico en los informes del Victorian Registrar General durante el siglo XIX. La mayoría de los estudios sugieren que en el pasado el diagnóstico se refiere a la neuro-sífilis, y aunque después de 1906 no se discute, este trabajo mostrará que el diagnóstico tiene un significado mucho más amplio e incorpora muchas formas de enfermedad degenerativa del cerebro durante el período de estudio (Victoria 1886 a 1906). Se reconoce, sin embargo, que el uso de este diagnóstico puede haber variado drásticamente en el pasado dependiendo de la formación y del ambiente médico. Se ha llegado a esta conclusión mediante el análisis de los registros hospitalarios de la población de Victoria, Australia. Este documento también presenta métodos para determinar el significado de los diagnósticos médicos obsoletos cuya definición es confusa

Risk factors associated with paediatric unplanned hospital readmissions: A systematic review

Objective To synthesise evidence on risk factors associated with paediatric unplanned hospital readmissions (UHRs). Design Systematic review. Data source CINAHL, EMBASE (Ovid) and MEDLINE from 2000 to 2017. Eligibility criteria Studies published in English with full-text access and focused on paediatric All-cause, Surgical procedure and General medical condition related UHRs were included. Data extraction and synthesis Characteristics of the included studies, examined variables and the statistically significant risk factors were extracted. Two reviewers independently assessed study quality based on six domains of potential bias. Pooling of extracted risk factors was not permitted due to heterogeneity of the included studies. Data were synthesised using content analysis and presented in narrative form. Results Thirty-six significant risk factors were extracted from the 44 included studies and presented under three health condition groupings. For All-cause UHRs, ethnicity, comorbidity and type of health insurance were the most frequently cited factors. For Surgical procedure related UHRs, specific surgical procedures, comorbidity, length of stay (LOS), age, the American Society of Anaesthesiologists class, postoperative complications, duration of procedure, type of health insurance and illness severity were cited more frequently. The four most cited risk factors associated with General medical condition related UHRs were comorbidity, age, health service usage prior to the index admission and LOS. Conclusions This systematic review acknowledges the complexity of readmission risk prediction in paediatric populations. This review identified four risk factors across all three health condition groupings, namely comorbidity; public health insurance; longer LOS and patients<12 months or between 13-18 years. The identification of risk factors, however, depended on the variables examined by each of the included studies. Consideration should be taken into account when generalising reported risk factors to other institutions. This review highlights the need to develop a standardised set of measures to capture key hospital discharge variables that predict unplanned readmission among paediatric patients

Wind tunnel balance

A flow-through balance is provided which includes a non-metric portion and a metric portion which form a fluid-conducting passage in fluid communication with an internal bore in the sting. The non-metric and metric portions of the balance are integrally connected together by a plurality of flexure beams such that the non-metric portion, the metric portion and the flexure beams form a one-piece construction which eliminates mechanical hysteresis between the non-metric and the metric portion. The system includes structures for preventing the effects of temperature, pressure and pressurized fluid from producing asymmetric loads on the flexure beams. A temperature sensor and a pressure sensor are located within the fluid-conducting passage of the balance. The system includes a longitudinal bellows member connected at two ends to one of the non-metric portion and the metric portion and at an intermediate portion thereof to the other of (1) and (2). A plurality of strain gages are mounted on the flexure beams to measure strain forces on the flexure beams. The flexure beams are disposed so as to enable symmetric forces on the flexure beams to cancel out so that only asymmetric forces are measured as deviations by the strain gages

The reliability and validity of a portfolio designed as a programmatic assessment of performance in an integrated clinical placement

Background Little is known about the technical adequacy of portfolios in reporting multiple complex academic and performance-based assessments. We explored, first, the influencing factors on the precision of scoring within a programmatic assessment of student learning outcomes within an integrated clinical placement. Second, the degree to which validity evidence supported interpretation of student scores. Methods Within generalisability theory, we estimated the contribution that each wanted factor (i.e. student capability) and unwanted factors (e.g. the impact of assessors) made to the variation in portfolio task scores. Relative and absolute standard errors of measurement provided a confidence interval around a pre-determined pass/fail standard for all six tasks. Validity evidence was sought through demonstrating the internal consistency of the portfolio and exploring the relationship of student scores with clinical experience. Results The mean portfolio mark for 257 students, across 372 raters, based on six tasks, was 75.56 (SD, 6.68). For a single student on one assessment task, 11% of the variance in scores was due to true differences in student capability. The most significant interaction was context specificity (49%), the tendency for one student to engage with one task and not engage with another task. Rater subjectivity was 29%. An absolute standard error of measurement of 4.74%, gave a 95% CI of +/- 9.30%, and a 68% CI of +/- 4.74% around a pass/fail score of 57%. Construct validity was supported by demonstration of an assessment framework, the internal consistency of the portfolio tasks, and higher scores for students who did the clinical placement later in the academic year. Conclusion A portfolio designed as a programmatic assessment of an integrated clinical placement has sufficient evidence of validity to support a specific interpretation of student scores around passing a clinical placement. It has modest precision in assessing students’ achievement of a competency standard. There were identifiable areas for reducing measurement error and providing more certainty around decision-making. Reducing the measurement error would require engaging with the student body on the value of the tasks, more focussed academic and clinical supervisor training, and revisiting the rubric of the assessment in the light of feedback

The relationship between the halosperm assay and semen analysis performed according to the 4th and 5th Editions of the World Health Organization guidelines

Background: As a standard reference to evaluate male factor infertility, the majority of fertility laboratories use the 4th or 5th Editions of the World Health Organization’s semen analysis guidelines. Following the release of the 5th Edition, debate over its legitimacy has resulted in some laboratories using the 4th and others the 5th Edition. DNA integrity tests have been shown to be a valuable adjunct to semen analysis and have subsequently been adopted by many fertility laboratories. This study explored the prevalence of samples with high DNA fragmentation levels according to semen analysis categories using both the 4th and the 5th Edition reference ranges. Materials and Methods: The study included 905 consecutive semen samples from 863 infertile couples attending a fertility clinic. A semen analysis was conducted according to both the 4th and 5th Edition guidelines published by the World Health Organization. DNA damage was assessed using the Halosperm G2 test kit and expressed as a percentage DNA fragmentation level. Results: Alongside both the World Health Organization 4th and 5th Edition semen analysis criteria abnormal DNA fragmentation levels were more common in abnormal semen samples however elevated DNA fragmentation levels were also found in normal semen samples using the same criteria. Of the samples that were graded as normozoospermic according to the 5th Edition guidelines 16% were deemed to have elevated DNA fragmentation levels compared to 11.7% graded by the 4th Edition guidelines. The number of normozoospermic samples, graded according to the 5th Edition guidelines was significantly higher (n=697) than when the same samples were graded according to 4th Edition guidelines (n=385) (p=0.001). A significant proportion of samples with an abnormal DNA fragmentation level corresponding to the World Health Organisation 4th and 5th Edition criteria were evident in normozoospermic (

Integrated clinical pathways for lower limb orthopaedic surgeries: An updated systematic review

Objective The objective of the study was to comprehensively synthesise the components of integrated clinical pathways (ICPs) and post-operative outcomes of patients undergone total hip and knee arthroplasty (THA & TKA) and hip fracture surgeries. Background Previous systematic reviews examined components and effectiveness of ICPs for lower limb joint replacement and hip fracture surgeries. Design and Methods An updated systematic review guided by the Whittemore and Knafl (2005) framework. Electronic databases, Ovid MEDLINE, EBSCOhost-CINAHL, the Cochrane Reviews and Trails, EMBASE and PubMed, were searched from 2007 to 31 January 2021. Due to the heterogeneity of the methods and data collection tools of included studies, pooling of the quantitative data was not possible. Therefore, the included studies were synthesised and presented narratively under subthemes of arthroplasty and hip fracture surgeries. The PRISMA checklist for systematic reviews was used. Results Twenty-four studies met selection criteria with 11 examined ICPs for hip fracture and 13 for the THA and TKA. Twenty-one ICPs were reviewed, and 33 components were extracted. The most frequently included components for hip fracture subgroup were ‘discharge disposition arrangement’ and ‘dedicated personnel and resources’. ‘Exercise plan’ and ‘pain management’ were for the arthroplasty subgroup. A significant reduction in the length of stay and post-operative complications were associated with the ICPs. Results were mixed for the effectiveness of ICPs in reducing unplanned hospital admissions, mortality rates, post-operative complications and hospital costs. Conclusion The number of ICP components varied across studies. This review could not recommend a one size-fits-all ICP that could be adapted for use for patients undergoing hip fracture and joint replacement surgeries. Relevance for clinical practice This review identified research evidence-based components considered as essential for the inclusion in ICP’s for hip fracture and arthroplasty surgeries. Further research is suggested to determine the patient experience and healthcare providers’ acceptance of ICPs

The preparation and culture of washed human sperm: a comparison of a suite of protein-free media with media containing human serum albumin

Objective To compare two suites of culture media (one with HSA and one protein-free (PF) supplemented with methylcellulose) for washing human sperm in IVF. Methods Semen samples (n = 41) underwent parallel density gradient preparation using PF or HSA-supplemented culture medium and subsequent yield, survival, morphology and motility were compared. Results The PF medium resulted in a significantly higher sperm yield (P \u3c 0.0001), but similar sperm morphology (P = 0.822) and 24-h survival (P = 0.11). There was, however, a lower percentage of progressively motile sperm (P \u3c 0.0001) and a higher proportion of sperm demonstrating non-progressive motility (P \u3c 0.0001) in the PF medium when observed on a Makler Chamber, apparently an artefact as a similar sperm motility index was measured using a Sperm Quality Analyser (P = 0.83). Attachment of sperm in PF medium to the glass chamber reduced with time and any differences had disappeared after 6 min on the counting chamber. Conclusion These results support the use of PF media supplemented with methylcellulose as an alternative to HSA, although a modification to the manufacturer\u27s protocol of 6-min pre-incubation before assessing sperm motility must be used. Further studies should investigate the function of such sperm prepared in PF medium

Cinema and Control

This thesis explores the political implications of Gilles Deleuze's two-volume work on the cinema (Cinema 1: The Movement-Image [2005a] and Cinema 2: The Time-Image [2005b]). I argue that counter to the common reading of these works as being primarily concerned with aesthetics and philosophy, Deleuze's cinema books should be understood as a political critique of the operations of cinema. I outline the main arguments set out by these works as a political formulation and argue that they should be directly related to Deleuze's more explicitly political writings. In particular, I argue that these books should be read alongside Deleuze's later 'Postscript on the Societies of Control' (1992), which re-addresses some of the most significant aspects of his earlier work on cinema following a transforation in media technologies and social organisation. I argue that Deleuze's time-image and his later conceptualisation of control should be understood as forming the two poles of his theorisation of cinema and visual culture. When addressed as connected concepts, a significant political dimension emerges in this area of Deleuze's thought, focusing on a time-image that opens a range of possibilities for the future ordering of the world and a system of control that will recurrently close and eliminate these possibilities. Through a series of studies of film texts I will develop the political implications of Deleuze's thinking on cinema and visual culture in order ot show how the forces of control and the time-image operate and how these concepts can be systematised and further integrated into Deleuze's wider political thought

Serum concentrations of the biomarkers CA125, CA15-3, PSA and PAPP-A in early pregnancy

Blood samples were collected serially from 14 women with healthy pregnancies, beginning in gestational week 4 at the time of a positive pregnancy test through to the identification of a foetal heart by ultrasound. Six biomarkers were measured in the serum retrospectively including two reproductive hormones (progesterone and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG)) and four additional biomarkers (prostate-specific antigen (PSA), cancer antigen 15-3 (CA15-3), cancer antigen 125 (CA125) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A)) measured on a Siemens Centaur XP and a Roche Cobas e411 automated analysers, respectively. The progesterone and hCG results were unremarkable following established patterns, but distinctive patterns of change were seen in the other four biomarkers during this period of early pregnancy. PAPP-A and PSA levels rose steadily as the pregnancies progressed, while CA125 levels rose until week 5.5 and then returned to baseline values. CA15-3 serum concentrations were observed to drop as the pregnancies progressed. These biomarker results suggest further investigation is warranted to allow a non-invasive correlation of the biomarkers with the various stages of embryogenesis, implantation and placentation