A realistic heat bath: theory and application to kink-antikink dynamics

We propose a new method of studying a real-time canonical evolution of field-theoretic systems with boundary coupling to a realistic heat bath. In the free-field case the method is equivalent to an infinite extension of the system beyond the boundary, while in the interacting case the extension of the system is done in linear approximation. We use this technique to study kink-antikink dynamics in $\varphi^4$ field theory in 1+1 dimensions.Comment: 21 pages including 7 figures (the shar file includes the tex file + 7 postscript files for figures). IUHET-241, IPS-92-29, UALG-PHYS-1

Escape Times in Fluctuating Metastable Potential and Acceleration of Diffusion in Periodic Fluctuating Potentials

The problems of escape from metastable state in randomly flipping potential and of diffusion in fast fluctuating periodic potentials are considered. For the overdamped Brownian particle moving in a piecewise linear dichotomously fluctuating metastable potential we obtain the mean first-passage time (MFPT) as a function of the potential parameters, the noise intensity and the mean rate of switchings of the dichotomous noise. We find noise enhanced stability (NES) phenomenon in the system investigated and the parameter region of the fluctuating potential where the effect can be observed. For the diffusion of the overdamped Brownian particle in a fast fluctuating symmetric periodic potential we obtain that the effective diffusion coefficient depends on the mean first-passage time, as discovered for fixed periodic potential. The effective diffusion coefficients for sawtooth, sinusoidal and piecewise parabolic potentials are calculated in closed analytical form.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures. In press in Physica A, 2004. In press in Physica A, 200

The Physics of the B Factories

This work is on the Physics of the B Factories. Part A of this book contains a brief description of the SLAC and KEK B Factories as well as their detectors, BaBar and Belle, and data taking related issues. Part B discusses tools and methods used by the experiments in order to obtain results. The results themselves can be found in Part C

Preventing the diversion of Turkish opium

Turkey was once one of the world’s largest sources of illicit opium; the majority diverted from sparsely regulated licit production. Since 1972, however, it has contributed almost no opium to the global black market. As such, Turkey is one of a small number of states to have eradicated, or severally reduced, the national supply of illicit opium. This article reconsiders post-1974 Turkish controls from a situational crime prevention perspective. It is suggested that Turkish success was founded upon reducing opportunities for diversion from regulated production by hardening targets, increasing formal and informal surveillance, assisting compliance through fair procurement practices and increasing the risk of non-compliance

The trispecific DARPin ensovibep inhibits diverse SARS-CoV-2 variants

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants with potential resistance to existing drugs emphasizes the need for new therapeutic modalities with broad variant activity. Here we show that ensovibep, a trispecific DARPin (designed ankyrin repeat protein) clinical candidate, can engage the three units of the spike protein trimer of SARS-CoV-2 and inhibit ACE2 binding with high potency, as revealed by cryo-electron microscopy analysis. The cooperative binding together with the complementarity of the three DARPin modules enable ensovibep to inhibit frequent SARS-CoV-2 variants, including Omicron sublineages BA.1 and BA.2. In Roborovski dwarf hamsters infected with SARS-CoV-2, ensovibep reduced fatality similarly to a standard-of-care monoclonal antibody (mAb) cocktail. When used as a single agent in viral passaging experiments in vitro, ensovibep reduced the emergence of escape mutations in a similar fashion to the same mAb cocktail. These results support further clinical evaluation of ensovibep as a broad variant alternative to existing targeted therapies for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Skill retention after desktop and head-mounted-display virtual reality training

Abstract Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly used in learning and can be experienced with a head-mounted display as a 3D immersive version (immersive virtual reality [IVR]) or with a PC (or another computer) as a 2D desktop-based version (desktop virtual reality [DVR]). A research gap is the effect of IVR and DVR on learners’ skill retention. To address this gap, we designed an experiment in which learners were trained and tested for the assembly of a procedural industrial task. We found nonsignificant differences in the number of errors, the time to completion, satisfaction, self-efficacy, and motivation. The results support the view that DVR and IVR are similarly useful for learning retention. These insights may help researchers and practitioners to decide which form of VR they should use.</jats:p

Unmet digital health service needs in dermatology patients

BACKGROUND Digital health services are rapidly gaining acceptance in healthcare systems. Dermatology as an image-centric specialty is particularly well suited for telemedical services. However, dermatology patients' demands of electronic services remain largely unexplored. METHODS This study investigated patients' views in primary, secondary, and tertiary referral centers. In August 2017, 841 questionnaires were filled in by dermatology patients. RESULTS 76.34% expressed interest in using digital healthcare services as part of medical consultations. 84.41% of all patients would complete their initial registration form electronically. Fewer patients were comfortable with sending pictures of skin changes to their doctors using email (40.89%) or mobile health applications (40.61%). Specific interest was indicated for arranging appointments online (90.80%) and electronically-placed prescriptions (76.56%), rather than online learning videos (42.03%), and actual online consultations (34.53%). 65.37% of patients would pay for online consultations themselves. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, interest in electronic health services is high in dermatology patients. Our data suggest that readily understandable electronic services such as online-arranged appointments and electronic prescriptions are of higher interest to patients than the current type of online consultations. Therefore, the full potential of teledermatology still remains to be tapped by newer, more attractive forms of services closely adapted to patients' demands

Comparison of respiratory and Meningitis/Encephalitis viruses detected by FilmArray® multiplex PCR versus real-time PCR

Introduction: Fast and reliable pathogen detection is important for adequate management of infections. Although real-time PCR (rtPCR) is usually the most sensitive method for direct pathogen detection, it requires experienced technicians, includes several working steps and has a turnaround time of multiple hours. Therefore this method is not ideal for emergency diagnostics. The FDA cleared, fully automated sample to answer, FilmArray® (FA) multiplex PCR system (BioFire/bioMérieux) detects a broad spectrum of pathogens in ∼70 min. To optimize our diagnostic services during weekends and off-peak times, we compared the FA Respiratory Panel (RP) and FA Meningitis/Encephalitis (ME) Panel to our routinely used rtPCR assay. The FA panels detect 20 respiratory pathogens (17 viruses, 3 bacteria) in nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) and 14 M/E pathogens (7 viruses, 6 bacteria, Cryptococcus neoformans/gattii) in cerebrospinal fluids (CSF). Materials and methods: With FA we tested 84 retrospective samples (23 NPS, 29 broncheoalveolar lavages [BALs], 32 CSF) and 60 prospectively collected NPS that required urgent testing during the 2015/2016 flu season by FA and rtPCR. FA sample input volume was 300 ml for RP and 200 ml for ME. Commercial RP and ME quality control panels (MMQC Inc., Scarborough, USA), containing samples positive and negative for each analyte detected by the FA panels, were tested multiple times. For rtPCR, nucleic acids were extracted from 220 ml of sample and eluted in 55 ml using NucliSENS easyMAG (bioMérieux). Respiratory viruses were analyzed by real-time PCR using a combination of 7 duplex Respiratory Multi Well System r-gene™ (RG) assays (influenza A/B, RSV/hMPV, HRV&EV/cell control, ADV/HBoV, HCoV/HPIV1-4) (Argene/bioMerieux), according to manufacturer's instructions. Additionally, we expanded FA RP testing to include (BALs), by implementing one additional sample preparation step. CSF was analyzed for virus using laboratory developed tests (LDTs) certified by the Swiss authorities. Results: RP and ME quality control panel results were 100% concordant with expected results. For all NPS, both tests, FA RP and RG, identified one or more viruses in 45/83 (54.2%) samples. FA RP and RG results correlated for 42/48 viruses detected (87.5%). FA RP detected an additional 3 HRV/EV and RG detected additionally 1 FluA, 1 ADV and 1 HRV/EV. Positive percent agreement (PPA) between RG (laboratory standard) and FA RP for NPS was 93.3% and negative percent agreement (NPA) was 92.7%. Overall correlation was 93.2%. Results from BALs yielded 92% PPA, 93.1% NPA and overall correlation of 92.4%. For FA ME testing, 31/33 CSF samples had identical FA ME and LDT results with an overall correlation of 94.4%. FA ME did not detect 2 parechovirus low level LDT positive samples (Ct 36.3 and 37.0). Using LDTs as the laboratory standard, FA ME PPA and NPA were 93.9% and 100%, respectively. Conclusion: Results obtained with the FilmArray® RP and ME panels were highly concordant with our currently used diagnostic methods, demonstrating excellent performance. The simplicity of the FilmArray® system, requiring less than 5 min of hands-on time, easy to read reports, and low sample volume allows for testing during off shifts and when urgent results are required. The comprehensiveness of the FilmArray® panels is ideal for diagnosing clinical syndromes where there are many potential causes

Effect of the COPE Program on Self-Efficacy in Mothers of Preterm Infants

The birth of a premature infant and its subsequent hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit are stressful experiences for mothers. Because of uncertainty concerning interactions with a premature baby, mothers often feel helpless and only hesitantly assume their maternal role. This may have a negative impact on the mother-child interaction and prevents mothers from taking an active part in the care for their child. “Creating Opportunities for Parent Empowerment” (COPE) is a 4-phase educational intervention program aiming to systematically involve parents into caring for their premature infant. In this pretest-posttest quasi-experimental study in 2 Swiss university hospitals, we focused on maternal self-efficacy. We compared self-efficacy in mothers receiving the COPE program or standard care alone at baseline and 3 months after estimated delivery date. To measure maternal self-efficacy, we used the “Tool to measure Parenting Self-Efficacy” (TOPSE). While scores for “Emotion and Affection,” “Empathy and Understanding,” as well as “Learning and Knowledge” increased in both groups, only “Learning and Knowledge” scores were significantly higher in the intervention group. Given the intention of improving learning and knowledge, the COPE program might be a promising intervention contributing to enhanced maternal self-efficacy