A Novel Solution to the Klein-Gordon Equation in the Presence of a Strong Rotating Electric Field

The Klein-Gordon equation in the presence of a strong electric field, taking the form of the Mathieu equation, is studied. A novel analytical solution is derived for particles whose asymptotic energy is much lower or much higher than the electromagnetic field amplitude. The condition for which the new solution recovers the familiar Volkov wavefunction naturally follows. When not satisfied, significant deviation from the Volkov wavefunction is demonstrated. The new condition is shown to differ by orders of magnitudes from the commonly used one. As this equation describes (neglecting spin effects) the emission processes and the particle motion in Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) cascades, our results suggest that the standard theoretical approach towards this phenomenon should be revised

Nek1 shares structural and functional similarities with NIMA kinase

AbstractThe Aspergillus NIMA serine/threonine kinase plays a pivotal role in controlling entrance into mitosis. A major function attributed to NIMA is the induction of chromatin condensation. We show here that the founder murine NIMA-related kinase, Nek1, is larger than previously reported, and that the full-length protein conserves the structural hallmarks of NIMA. Even though Nek1 bears two classical nuclear localization signals (NLS), the endogenous protein localizes to the cytoplasm. Ectopic overexpression of various Nek1 constructs suggests that the C-terminus of Nek1 bears cytoplasmic localization signal(s). Overexpression of nuclear constructs of Nek1 resulted in abnormal chromatin condensation, with the DNA mainly confined to the periphery of the nucleus. Advanced condensation phenotype was associated with nuclear pore complex dispersal. The condensation was not accompanied by up-regulation of mitotic or apoptotic markers. A similar phenotype has been described following NIMA overexpression, strengthening the notion that the mammalian Nek1 kinase has functional similarity to NIMA

A quality-of-data aware mobile decision support system for patients with chronic illnesses

We present a mobile decision support system (mDSS) which runs on a patient Body Area Network consisting of a smartphone and a set of biosensors. Quality-of-Data (QoD) awareness in decision making is achieved by means of a component known as the Quality-of-Data Broker, which also runs on the smartphone. The QoD-aware mDSS collaborates with a more sophisticated decision support system running on a fixed back-end server in order to provide distributed decision support. This distributed decision support system has been implemented as part of a larger system developed during the European project MobiGuide. The MobiGuide system is a guideline-based Patient Guidance System designed to assist patients in the management of chronic illnesses. The system, including the QOD-aware mDSS, has been validated by clinicians and is being evaluated in patient pilots against two clinical guidelines

Enhancing guideline-based decision support with distributed computation through local mobile application

We introduce the need for a distributed guideline-based decision support (DSS) process, describe its characteristics, and explain how we implemented this process within the European Union’s MobiGuide project. In particular, we have developed a mechanism of sequential, piecemeal projection, i.e., 'downloading' small portions of the guideline from the central DSS server, to the local DSS in the patient's mobile device, which then applies that portion, using the mobile device's local resources. The mobile device sends a callback to the central DSS when it encounters a triggering pattern predefined in the projected module, which leads to an appropriate predefined action by the central DSS, including sending a new projected module, or directly controlling the rest of the workflow. We suggest that such a distributed architecture that explicitly defines a dialog between a central DSS server and a local DSS module, better balances the computational load and exploits the relative advantages of the central server and of the local mobile device

Application of a conceptual framework for the modelling and execution of clinical guidelines as networks of concurrent processes

We present a conceptual framework for modelling clinical guidelines as networks of concurrent processes. This enables the guideline to be partitioned and distributed at run-time across a knowledge-based telemedicine system, which is distributed by definition but whose exact physical configuration can only be determined after design-time by considering, amongst other factors, the individual patient's needs. The framework was applied to model a clinical guideline for gestational diabetes mellitus and to derive a prototype that executes the guideline on a smartphone. The framework is shown to support the full development trajectory of a decision support system, including analysis, design and implementation

Patient-oriented computerized clinical guidelines for mobile decision support in gestational diabetes

The risks associated with gestational diabetes (GD) can be reduced with an active treatment able to improve glycemic control. Advances in mobile health can provide new patient-centric models for GD to create personalized health care services, increase patient independence and improve patients’ self-management capabilities, and potentially improve their treatment compliance. In these models, decision-support functions play an essential role. The telemedicine system MobiGuide provides personalized medical decision support for GD patients that is based on computerized clinical guidelines and adapted to a mobile environment. The patient’s access to the system is supported by a smartphone-based application that enhances the efficiency and ease of use of the system. We formalized the GD guideline into a computer-interpretable guideline (CIG). We identified several workflows that provide decision-support functionalities to patients and 4 types of personalized advice to be delivered through a mobile application at home, which is a preliminary step to providing decision-support tools in a telemedicine system: (1) therapy, to help patients to comply with medical prescriptions; (2) monitoring, to help patients to comply with monitoring instructions; (3) clinical assessment, to inform patients about their health conditions; and (4) upcoming events, to deal with patients’ personal context or special events. The whole process to specify patient-oriented decision support functionalities ensures that it is based on the knowledge contained in the GD clinical guideline and thus follows evidence-based recommendations but at the same time is patient-oriented, which could enhance clinical outcomes and patients’ acceptance of the whole system