Mattia Damiani (1705–1776), poet and scientist in eighteenth century Tuscany

Mattia Damiani da Volterra (1705–1776), “renowned Doctor,” was the author in 1754 of a collection of scientifi c poems, Le Muse Fisiche (The Physical Muses) on two subjects: Newtonian physics and the plurality of the worlds. Damiani’s interest in science was precocious, but even at that, it was superimposed on his studies in jurisprudence completed in Pisa in 1726. In 2003, Damiani’s lost text, De Hygrometris et eorum defectibus disputatio (Disputation about hygrometers and their defects), which was printed in 1726 in Pisa, was brought to light. It characterizes him as a young scientist who refl ected upon the properties and limits of laboratory instruments and on nascent aspects of climatology. In this Disputation, a delightful amalgamation of scientifi c and humanistic literature is pursued. A discussion of the properties and limits of contemporary hygrometers and a comparison of the Cartesian and Newtonian hypotheses about cloud formations are interspersed with quotations of verses on natural phenomena, mostly from poems of the classic age—a prelude to the author’s future involvement in writing scientifi c verses. The poetry of Damiani, which often shows a musicality comparable to that of the poet Giacomo Leopardi (1798–1837), deserves to be recognized and saved from oblivion. Especially remarkable is the implicit “multimedia” project of a union among science, poetry, theater, and music. The rediscovered Disputation about hygrometers opens a new window on the personages involved and on the evolution of meteorological concepts in Europe in the context of the then-new Galilean and Newtonian physics

Isoniazid-resistant tuberculosis: a cause for concern?

The drug isoniazid (INH) is a key component of global tuberculosis (TB) control programmes. It is estimated, however, that 16.1% of TB disease cases in former Soviet Union countries and 7.5% of cases outside of those settings have non-multidrug resistant (MDR) INH resistance. Resistance has been linked to poorer treatment outcomes, post-treatment relapse and death, at least for specific sites of disease. Multiple genetic loci are associated with phenotypic resistance, but the relationship between genotype and phenotype is complex. This restricts the use of rapid sequencing techniques as part of the diagnostic process to determine the most appropriate treatment regimens for patients. The burden of resistance also influences the usefulness of INH preventative therapy. Despite seven decades of the use of INH our knowledge in key areas - such as the epidemiology of resistant strains, their clinical consequences, whether tailored treatment regimens are required, and the role of INH resistance in fuelling the MDR -TB epidemic - is limited. The importance of non-MDR INH resistance needs to be re-evaluated both globally and by national TB control programmes

Providing web-based mental health services to at-risk women

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We examined the feasibility of providing web-based mental health services, including synchronous internet video conferencing of an evidence-based support/education group, to at-risk women, specifically poor lone mothers. The objectives of this study were to: (i) adapt a face-to-face support/education group intervention to a web-based format for lone mothers, and (ii) evaluate lone mothers' response to web-based services, including an online video conferencing group intervention program.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Participating mothers were recruited through advertisements. To adapt the face-to-face intervention to a web-based format, we evaluated participant motivation through focus group/key informant interviews (n = 7), adapted the intervention training manual for a web-based environment and provided a computer training manual. To evaluate response to web-based services, we provided the intervention to two groups of lone mothers (n = 15). Pre-post quantitative evaluation of mood, self-esteem, social support and parenting was done. Post intervention follow up interviews explored responses to the group and to using technology to access a health service. Participants received $20 per occasion of data collection. Interviews were taped, transcribed and content analysis was used to code and interpret the data. Adherence to the intervention protocol was evaluated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Mothers participating in this project experienced multiple difficulties, including financial and mood problems. We adapted the intervention training manual for use in a web-based group environment and ensured adherence to the intervention protocol based on viewing videoconferencing group sessions and discussion with the leaders. Participant responses to the group intervention included decreased isolation, and increased knowledge and confidence in themselves and their parenting; the responses closely matched those of mothers who obtained same service in face-to-face groups. Pre-and post-group quantitative evaluations did not show significant improvements on measures, although the study was not powered to detect these.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We demonstrated that an evidence-based group intervention program for lone mothers developed and evaluated in face-to-face context transferred well to an online video conferencing format both in terms of group process and outcomes.</p

Asymptotic Behavior of Ext functors for modules of finite complete intersection dimension

Let $R$ be a local ring, and let $M$ and $N$ be finitely generated $R$-modules such that $M$ has finite complete intersection dimension. In this paper we define and study, under certain conditions, a pairing using the modules \Ext_R^i(M,N) which generalizes Buchweitz's notion of the Herbrand diference. We exploit this pairing to examine the number of consecutive vanishing of \Ext_R^i(M,N) needed to ensure that \Ext_R^i(M,N)=0 for all $i\gg 0$. Our results recover and improve on most of the known bounds in the literature, especially when $R$ has dimension at most two

Characterizing normal crossing hypersurfaces

The objective of this article is to give an effective algebraic characterization of normal crossing hypersurfaces in complex manifolds. It is shown that a hypersurface has normal crossings if and only if it is a free divisor, has a radical Jacobian ideal and a smooth normalization. Using K. Saito's theory of free divisors, also a characterization in terms of logarithmic differential forms and vector fields is found and and finally another one in terms of the logarithmic residue using recent results of M. Granger and M. Schulze.Comment: v2: typos fixed, final version to appear in Math. Ann.; 24 pages, 2 figure

Big Line Bundles over Arithmetic Varieties

We prove a Hilbert-Samuel type result of arithmetic big line bundles in Arakelov geometry, which is an analogue of a classical theorem of Siu. An application of this result gives equidistribution of small points over algebraic dynamical systems, following the work of Szpiro-Ullmo-Zhang. We also generalize Chambert-Loir's non-archimedean equidistribution

Improved treatment completion for tuberculosis patients: The case for a dedicated social care team

OBJECTIVES: The increasing social needs of people with Tuberculosis (TB), and the poor adherence to anti-TB therapy (ATT) associated with homelessness, drug or alcohol abuse, and prison history, led us to introduce a social care team (SCT) to support patient engagement with care within this low TB incidence setting. METHODS: Using a risk assessment, patients with social risk factors (SRF) for non-adherence to ATT are identified and a referral made to the SCT, who then provide intensive casework support for areas including homelessness, housing, benefits, debt and immigration. Retrospective data analysis of the social care database from 2017 to 2019 was conducted. Patients who were (n = 170) and were not referred to the SCT (n = 734) were compared. RESULTS: Patients referred were significantly more likely to complete treatment for TB than those not (88.2% versus 77.7% respectively, p = 0.0025), irrespective of receipt of Directly/Video Observed Therapy and adjusting for confounders. CONCLUSIONS: This paper demonstrates important evidence for the positive impact of a dedicated SCT within a TB service, and these improved treatment outcomes provide a strong argument for development of similar SCTs within UK TB services and similar healthcare settings

Mean-Field HP Model, Designability and Alpha-Helices in Protein Structures

Analysis of the geometric properties of a mean-field HP model on a square lattice for protein structure shows that structures with large number of switch backs between surface and core sites are chosen favorably by peptides as unique ground states. Global comparison of model (binary) peptide sequences with concatenated (binary) protein sequences listed in the Protein Data Bank and the Dali Domain Dictionary indicates that the highest correlation occurs between model peptides choosing the favored structures and those portions of protein sequences containing alpha-helices.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Fluoroquinolones and isoniazid-resistant tuberculosis: implications for the 2018 WHO guidance.

INTRODUCTION: 2018 World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for the treatment of isoniazid (H)-resistant (Hr) tuberculosis recommend a four-drug regimen: rifampicin (R), ethambutol (E), pyrazinamide (Z) and levofloxacin (Lfx), with or without H ([H]RZE-Lfx). This is used once Hr is known, such that patients complete 6 months of Lfx (≥6[H]RZE-6Lfx). This cohort study assessed the impact of fluoroquinolones (Fq) on treatment effectiveness, accounting for Hr mutations and degree of phenotypic resistance. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of 626 Hr tuberculosis patients notified in London, 2009-2013. Regimens were described and logistic regression undertaken of the association between regimen and negative regimen-specific outcomes (broadly, death due to tuberculosis, treatment failure or disease recurrence). RESULTS: Of 594 individuals with regimen information, 330 (55.6%) were treated with (H)RfZE (Rf=rifamycins) and 211 (35.5%) with (H)RfZE-Fq. The median overall treatment period was 11.9 months and median Z duration 2.1 months. In a univariable logistic regression model comparing (H)RfZE with and without Fqs, there was no difference in the odds of a negative regimen-specific outcome (baseline (H)RfZE, cluster-specific odds ratio 1.05 (95% CI 0.60-1.82), p=0.87; cluster NHS trust). Results varied minimally in a multivariable model. This odds ratio dropped (0.57, 95% CI 0.14-2.28) when Hr genotype was included, but this analysis lacked power (p=0.42). CONCLUSIONS: In a high-income setting, we found a 12-month (H)RfZE regimen with a short Z duration to be similarly effective for Hr tuberculosis with or without a Fq. This regimen may result in fewer adverse events than the WHO recommendations