Simulation and data analysis of supernova neutrinos in the HALO 1kt neutrino detector

University of Minnesota M.S. thesis. July 2019. Major: Physics. Advisor: Alec Habig. 1 computer file (PDF); xviii, 113 pages.When a star explodes in a core-collapse supernova(SN),∼99% of the gravitationalbinding energy of the star is released as neutrinos and anti-neutrinos of all flavors[1].The energies of these neutrinos are in the order of tens of MeV and the supernova neu-trinos arrive over a timescale of a few tens of seconds. Neutrinos interact with matterprimarily through weak charged-current (CC) and neutral-current (NC) interactions.The products from these interactions can be detected in detectors which can then beused to study the properties of the incoming neutrino. High rates of interactions canbe produced in detectors using heavy nuclei such as iron and lead. Lead is primarilysensitive to electron neutrinos while most neutrino detectors are sensitive to electronanti-neutrinos. Core collapse supernovae produce a huge flux of electron neutrinosand the sensitivity of lead to this flavor of neutrinos makes lead based detectors[2]useful for studying SN neutrinos. An example of a neutrino detector using lead isHALO in Canada. HALO 1kt is a proposed upgrade of HALO at LNGS in Italy. TheHALO 1kt[3] detector is intended to be more sensitive than the HALO detector. Theresults from the simulation of the HALO 1kt detector will be used to study if HALO1kt is better at distinguishing some supernova models than othersSukumar, Prasanth. (2019). Simulation and data analysis of supernova neutrinos in the HALO 1kt neutrino detector. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/208963

Priority Needs for Conducting Pandemic-Relevant Clinical Research With Children in Europe : A Consensus Study With Pediatric Clinician-Researchers

Background: Infectious disease pandemics (IDP) pose a considerable global threat and can disproportionately affect vulnerable populations including children. Pediatric clinical research in pandemics is essential to improve children’s healthcare and minimize risks of harm by interventions that lack an adequate evidence base for this population. The unique features of IDPs require consideration of special processes to facilitate clinical research. We aimed to obtain consensus on pediatric clinician-researchers’ perceptions of the priorities to feasibly conduct clinical pediatric pandemic research in Europe.Methods: Mixed method study in 2 stages, recruiting pediatric clinician-researchers with experience of conducting pediatric infectious disease (ID) research in clinical settings in Europe. Stage one was an expert stakeholder workshop and interviews. Discussions focused on participant’s experience of conducting pediatric ID research and processes to facilitate pandemic research. Information informed stage two; an on-line consensus survey to identify pediatric clinician-researchers priorities to enable IDP research.Results: Twenty-three pediatric clinician-researchers attended the workshop and thirty-nine completed the survey. Priorities were primarily focused on structural and operational requirements of research design and regulation: 1) Clarity within the European Clinical Trials Directive for pediatric pandemic research; 2) Simplified regulatory processes for research involving clinical samples and data; and 3) Improved relationships between regulatory bodies and researchers.Conclusions: Results suggest that changes need to be made to the current regulatory environment to facilitate and improve pediatric research in the pandemic context. These findings can provide expert evidence to research policy decision makers and regulators and to develop a strategy to lobby for change.</p

The Unhappy Viewer: Heavy Television Viewing, Happiness, Social Interaction and the Situation of the Sociology of the Media

In this paper the role of television in crowding out other social activities is considered in the context of a number of attitudes and feelings. Correlations based on European Social Survey data are presented that demonstrate that the more television people watch the less they participate in social interactions and the less happy etc. they are. It is also indicated that television is just one small part of the wider explanation of the degree of social interaction or happiness. Sociology, it is argued, still has a lot to offer us in coming to a more nuanced understanding for the phenomenon of television and its role in people’s lives

The impact of road safety strategy and policy on admissions to a national rehabilitation hospital; a 5-year retrospective review and reflection on trauma data

Abstract Background Globally, road traffic collisions (RTCs) are a common cause of death and disability. Although many countries, including Ireland, have road safety and trauma strategies, the impact on rehabilitation services is unclear. This study explores how admissions with RTC related injuries to a rehabilitation facility has changed over 5 years and how they contrast to major trauma audit (MTA) serious injury data from the same timeframe. Methods A retrospective review of healthcare records with data abstraction in accordance with best practice was performed. Fisher’s exact test and binary logistic regression were used to determine associations and statistical process control was used to analyse variation. All patients discharged with an International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 10 coded diagnosis of Transport accidents from 2014 to 2018 were included. In addition, serious injury data was abstracted from MTA reports. Results 338 cases were identified. Of these, 173 did not meet the inclusion criteria (readmissions) and were excluded. The total number analyzed was 165. Of these, 121 (73%) were male and 44 (27%) were female and 115 (72%) were under 40 years of age. The majority [128 (78%)] had traumatic brain injuries (TBI), 33 (20%) had traumatic spinal cord injuries and 4 (2.4%) had traumatic amputation The numbers varied over the time period of the study but showed normal variation and not special cause variation which suggests no significant impact of policy in the time frame. There was a large discrepancy between the number of severe TBIs reported in the MTA reports and the numbers admitted with RTC related TBI to the National Rehabilitation University Hospital (NRH). This suggests there may be many people not accessing the specialist rehabilitation services they require. Conclusion Data linkage between administrative and health datasets does not currently exist but offers huge potential for understanding the trauma and rehabilitation ecosystem in detail. This is required to better understand the impact of strategy and policy. </jats:sec

The Impact of Road Safety Strategy and Policy on Admissions to A National Rehabilitation Hospital; a 5-year Retrospective Review and Reflection on Trauma Data

Abstract Background:Globally, road traffic collisions (RTCs) are a common cause of death and disability. Although many countries, including Ireland, have road safety and trauma strategies, the impact on rehabilitation services is unclear. This study explores how admissions with RTC related injuries to a rehabilitation facility has changed over 5 years and how they contrast to major trauma audit (MTA) serious injury data from the same timeframe. Methods:A retrospective review of healthcare records with data abstraction in accordance with best practice was performed. Chi square test was used to determine associations and statistical process control was used to analyse variation. All patients discharged with an International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 10 coded diagnosis of Transport accidents from 2014-2018 were included. Results:338 cases were identified. Of these, 173 did not meet the inclusion criteria (readmissions) and were excluded. The total number analyzed was 165. Of these, 121 (73%) were male and 44 (27%) were female and 115 (72%) were under 40 years of age. The majority [128 (78%)] had traumatic brain injuries (TBI), 33 (20%) had traumatic spinal cord injuries and 4 (2.4%) had traumatic amputation The numbers varied over the time period of the study but showed normal variation and not special cause variation which suggests no significant impact of policy in the time frame. There was a large discrepancy between the number of severe TBIs reported in the MTA reports and the numbers admitted with RTC related TBI to the NRH. This suggests there may be many people not accessing the specialist rehabilitation services they require. Conclusion:Data linkage between administrative and health datasets does not currently exist but offers huge potential for understanding the trauma and rehabilitation ecosystem in detail. This is required to better understand the impact of strategy and policy.</jats:p

Additional file 1 of The impact of road safety strategy and policy on admissions to a national rehabilitation hospital; a 5-year retrospective review and reflection on trauma data

Supplementary Material

Readability and understandability of clinical research patient information leaflets and consent forms in Ireland and the UK: a retrospective quantitative analysis

ObjectivesThe first aim of this study was to quantify the difficulty level of clinical research Patient Information Leaflets/Informed Consent Forms (PILs/ICFs) using validated and widely used readability criteria which provide a broad assessment of written communication. The second aim was to compare these findings with best practice guidelines.DesignRetrospective, quantitative analysis of clinical research PILs/ICFs provided by academic institutions, pharmaceutical companies and investigators.SettingPILs/ICFs which had received Research Ethics Committee approval in the last 5 years were collected from Ireland and the UK.InterventionNot applicable.Main outcome measuresPILs/ICFs were evaluated against seven validated readability criteria (Flesch Reading Ease, Flesh Kincaid Grade Level, Simplified Measure of Gobbledegook, Gunning Fog, Fry, Raygor and New Dale Chall). The documents were also scored according to two health literacy-based criteria: the Clear Communication Index (CCI) and the Suitability Assessment of Materials tool. Finally, the documents were assessed for compliance with six best practice metrics from literacy agencies.ResultsA total of 176 PILs were collected, of which 154 were evaluable. None of the PILs/ICFs had the mean reading age of &lt;12 years recommended by the American Medical Association. 7.1% of PILs/ICFs were evaluated as ‘Plain English’, 40.3%: ‘Fairly Difficult’, 51.3%: ‘Difficult’ and 1.3%: ‘Very Difficult’. No PILs/ICFs achieved a CCI &gt;90. Only two documents complied with all six best practice literacy metrics.ConclusionsWhen assessed against both traditional readability criteria and health literacy-based tools, the PILs/ICFs in this study are inappropriately complex. There is also evidence of poor compliance with guidelines produced by literacy agencies. These data clearly evidence the need for improved documentation to underpin the consent process.</jats:sec

Readability and understandability of clinical research patient information leaflets and consent forms in Ireland and the UK: a retrospective quantitative analysis

Objectives The first aim of this study was to quantify the difficulty level of clinical research Patient Information Leaflets/Informed Consent Forms (PILs/ICFs) using validated and widely used readability criteria which provide a broad assessment of written communication. The second aim was to compare these findings with best practice guidelines.Design Retrospective, quantitative analysis of clinical research PILs/ICFs provided by academic institutions, pharmaceutical companies and investigators.Setting PILs/ICFs which had received Research Ethics Committee approval in the last 5 years were collected from Ireland and the UK.Intervention Not applicable.Main outcome measures PILs/ICFs were evaluated against seven validated readability criteria (Flesch Reading Ease, Flesh Kincaid Grade Level, Simplified Measure of Gobbledegook, Gunning Fog, Fry, Raygor and New Dale Chall). The documents were also scored according to two health literacy-based criteria: the Clear Communication Index (CCI) and the Suitability Assessment of Materials tool. Finally, the documents were assessed for compliance with six best practice metrics from literacy agencies.Results A total of 176 PILs were collected, of which 154 were evaluable. None of the PILs/ICFs had the mean reading age of &lt;12 years recommended by the American Medical Association. 7.1% of PILs/ICFs were evaluated as ‘Plain English’, 40.3%: ‘Fairly Difficult’, 51.3%: ‘Difficult’ and 1.3%: ‘Very Difficult’. No PILs/ICFs achieved a CCI &gt;90. Only two documents complied with all six best practice literacy metrics.Conclusions When assessed against both traditional readability criteria and health literacy-based tools, the PILs/ICFs in this study are inappropriately complex. There is also evidence of poor compliance with guidelines produced by literacy agencies. These data clearly evidence the need for improved documentation to underpin the consent process

An investigation into the factors affecting investigator-initiated trial start-up in Ireland

Abstract Background In common with many countries, Ireland has seen an increasing trend in the number of clinical trials conducted over the past few years. Yet, as elsewhere, trialists in Ireland face several problems and barriers in the starting-up of clinical trials. These barriers impede trial activity significantly, with consequent impacts on patient care. It is critical to understand these issues, to develop approaches to facilitate trial start up. This study identifies the challenges in conducting clinical trials in Ireland and specifically the contractual, ethical, logistical, and regulatory barriers that hinder the start-up of investigator-led trials in Ireland. Methods Data for this study were collected in two stages. In the first stage, a survey was conducted among trialists in Ireland. A total of 44 trialists responded to the survey, and information was collected about their experience in conducting clinical trials, the scale and nature of their most recently completed trial, and the details of specific barriers they encountered during the starting-up of the trial. In the second stage, nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with the awardees of 2018 Irish Health Research Board’s Definitive Intervention Feasibility Award. These interviews facilitated a deeper exploration of issues and problems in conducting clinical trials in Ireland. Results This study identified several issues and bottlenecks in starting-up clinical trials in Ireland with contracts and ethical approval cited as the major issues. The data shows that site identification and activation was also problematic in some cases. Several respondents reported difficulties in accessing dedicated time for protocol development and believe that support in this area can be greatly beneficial. It was reported that availability of skilled staff members like statisticians and data managers was as an issue, especially for small trials. Conclusion This study found that several factors impact trial initiation and progression in Ireland. Delays associated with obtaining contract and ethics approval are perceived as major barriers. Specialist supports in areas such as ethics and regulatory affairs and availability of specialised staff members in areas such as statistics and data management are key actions to enable enhanced clinical trial activity in Ireland. </jats:sec