Towards the Affect of Intimacy

Abstract This thesis explores the trajectory that the developing technological fields of Ambient Intelligence and Persuasive Technologies introduce new intricate relationships beyond fundamental use and availability because they change our abilities to act. Since its classic articulation by Hegel (1927) philosophical explication of the relationship between people and technology states that technology is a mediating factor between people and the world. Associated with this view, which has characterized the resulting phenomenology and philosophy of technology for nearly two decades, is an understanding of technology as a form of alienation. In this dissertation the author shows how this old interpretation of the relationship between a person and their tool has emphasized how the person is active whilst the tool is passive. This traditional distinction fails to grasp the complex interaction between people and technology in the contemporary world. The nature of new technologies and novel theoretical work in this field suggests that this critical framework is now inadequate. Today, technology mediates the relationship between people and the world in increasingly complex and often collective ways. McLuhan (1967) stated: “Media evoke in us unique ratios of sense perceptions. The extension of any one of these senses alters the way we think and act”. As Greenfield (2006) and Fogg (2002) also posit, certain Ambient Intelligence and Persuasive Technologies are in-principle shaping everyday human behaviours in radically new ways. In particular, I explore how new technologies like those developed in the Artificial Companions Project can impact on our understanding of intimacy and identity. Indeed, Ambient Intelligence Technologies may play the role of reference groups (Shibutani 1987), groups who are real or imaginary and whose standpoints are being used as the frame of reference for the human actor. Given that these technologies have continuously reconfigured identification and profiling practices, this analysis rephrases insight of philosophers like Paul Ricoeur (1990), George Herbert Mead (1959) and Helmuth Plessner (1975) to trace how: The construction of our identity is mediated by how we profile others as profiling us. Thus, new technologies can become reference groups, encroaching on our everyday activities and even affecting our moral decision-making processes. As genuine upgrades of our practical space, they are destined to play a larger formative role in people’s lives in the future. Following Heidegger in Das Ding (Heidegger 1951), Latour once framed the wider social role of technologies as res publica or ‘public things’ (Latour 2005). He pointed out that the old German word ‘ding’ etymologically did not only infer ‘material object’ but also to assembly as gathering space - that thing that can bring together what it separates. Following Latour, Verbeek states that technological ‘things’ do not only mediate our existence, but are places where these mediations are made explicit – therefore, Verbeek argues, they are the places where people have to start to discuss and criticise the quality of the ways in which these ‘things’ help to shape our daily lives (Verbeek 2008). This thesis attempts to offer a new approach to this criticism through theoretical comparison and transdisciplinary analysis

Semantic Technologies in the SIMDAT Grid Project

The SIMDAT project aims at developing generic grid technology for the solution of complex application problems and using this new technology in several industrial application sectors. Semantic technologies are expected to offer a significant added value to other technologies with respect to the management of resources on the process level and on the data level. The strategic objectives of SIMDAT are (i) to test and enhance data grid technology for product development and production process design, (ii) to develop federated versions of problem-solving environments (PSEs) by leveraging enhanced grid services, (iii) to exploit data grids as a basis for distributed knowledge discovery, (iv) to promote de facto standards for these enhanced grid technologies across a range of disciplines and sectors as well as (v) to raise awareness for the advantages of data grids in important industrial sectors

Impact of daclizumab, low-dose cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil and steroids on renal function after kidney transplantation

Background. Early and long-term use of cyclosporine A (CsA) leads to increased risks of renal toxicity. We hypothesized that administration of daclizumab in combination with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) allows a relevant reduction in the dose of CsA. Methods. We carried out a 3-year, prospective, randomized, controlled clinical multi-centre trial in 156 patients. The patients were randomized to standard treatment (CsA, MMF, steroids) or to high-dose daclizumab (first dose: 2 mg/kg), in combination with low-dose CsA, MMF and steroids. We maintained the mean CsA levels of daclizumab patients at 57% of standard patients (132 versus 216 ng/ml) on Day 7 post-transplant, and 84% by 6 months. Results. Primary outcome, creatinine clearance (with imputation of informative dropouts) at 12 months, was significantly better in daclizumab-treated (34 ± 17) than standard patients (29 ± 17; P = 0.028, two sided). Only 5 cases of BPAR were recorded in the daclizumab compared to 22 in the standard group (P = 0.0016). Daclizumab patients had 91% event-free survival after 1 year compared to 66% in standard patients (P = 0.00017). Conclusion. We demonstrate here that high-dose daclizumab in combination with lower CsA levels in adult renal transplant recipients is as or more effective than standard regimen (CsA, MMF, steroids) and may result in better outcomes at 12 months post-transplant with no increase in adverse reaction

Forward and backward diffraction radiation of relativistic electrons in a dielectric targets

BACKGROUND: Early and long-term use of cyclosporine A (CsA) leads to increased risks of renal toxicity. We hypothesized that administration of daclizumab in combination with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) allows a relevant reduction in the dose of CsA. METHODS: We carried out a 3-year, prospective, randomized, controlled clinical multi-centre trial in 156 patients. The patients were randomized to standard treatment (CsA, MMF, steroids) or to high-dose daclizumab (first dose: 2 mg/kg), in combination with low-dose CsA, MMF and steroids. We maintained the mean CsA levels of daclizumab patients at 57% of standard patients (132 versus 216 ng/ml) on Day 7 post-transplant, and 84% by 6 months. RESULTS: Primary outcome, creatinine clearance (with imputation of informative dropouts) at 12 months, was significantly better in daclizumab-treated (34 +/- 17) than standard patients (29 +/- 17; P = 0.028, two sided). Only 5 cases of BPAR were recorded in the daclizumab compared to 22 in the standard group (P = 0.0016). Daclizumab patients had 91% event-free survival after 1 year compared to 66% in standard patients (P = 0.00017). CONCLUSION: We demonstrate here that high-dose daclizumab in combination with lower CsA levels in adult renal transplant recipients is as or more effective than standard regimen (CsA, MMF, steroids) and may result in better outcomes at 12 months post-transplant with no increase in adverse reactions

Guideline adherence in the use of coronary angiography in patients presenting at the emergency department without myocardial infarction – results from the German ENLIGHT-KHK project

Background For patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), direct coronary angiography (CA) is recommended, while for non-AMI patients, the diagnostic work-up depends on clinical criteria. This analysis provides initial prospective German data for the degree of guideline-adherence (GL) in the use of CA on non-AMI patients presenting at the emergency department (ED) with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) according to the 2015 ESC-ACS-GL. Furthermore the implications of the application of the 2020 ESC-ACS-GL recommendations were evaluated. Methods Patient symptoms were identified using a standardized questionnaire; medical history and diagnostic work-up were acquired from health records. In accordance with the 2015 ESC-ACS-GL, CA was considered GL-adherent if intermediate risk criteria (IRC) were present or non-invasive, image-guided testing (NIGT) was pathological. Results Between January 2019 and August 2021, 229 patients were recruited across seven centers. Patients presented with chest pain, dyspnea, and other symptoms in 66.7%, 16.2% and 17.1%, respectively, were in mean 66.3 ± 10.5 years old, and 36.3% were female. In accordance with the 2015 ESC-ACS-GL, the use of CA was GL-adherent for 64.0% of the patients. GL-adherent compared to non-adherent use of CA resulted in revascularization more often (44.5% vs. 17.1%, p < 0.001). Applying the 2020 ESC-ACS-GL, 20.4% of CA would remain GL-adherent. Conclusions In the majority of cases, the use of CA was adherent to the 2015 ESC-ACS-GL. With regard to the 2020 and 2023 ESC-ACS-GL, efforts to expand the utilization of NIGT are crucial, especially as GL-adherent use of CA is more likely to result in revascularization

Multi-criteria assessment of integrating legumes into cropping systems across Europe

Integration of legumes into European agricultural systems would diversify the highly specialized cropping systems that are dominated by cereals and increase resource efficiency of agricultural systems. By providing high quality protein for food and feed as well as regulating and supporting services, legumes contribute essential ecosystem services. In order to assess the overall effects of legumes in agricultural systems, it is necessary to consider how legumes are integrated in cropping systems and evaluate the impacts of this integration. As legumes influence the production of other crops in the rotation and as the interaction of legumes are multiplex, an assessment of the cropping system that considers multiple criteria is required. The objective of this work was to assess the impacts of changes in crop rotations through the integration of legumes using cropping systems implemented in practice. We used a multi-actor approach to incorporate the knowledge of a range of legume experienced actors representing value chains with soybean, pea, faba bean, lupin and forages for food and feed and evaluate thereby the role of legumes in crop rotations of diverse systems from Ireland in the West to Ukraine in the East. Within the research process we firstly identified region-specific crop rotations with cultivation techniques based on expert opinion in the 17 different study areas. One rotation representing the current farming without legumes and at least one alternative legume-based crop rotation was specified per region. Secondly, a valid set of indicators was developed, including environmental, economic and agronomic indicators. The indicators were calculated for each cropping system at the rotational level, considering pre-crop effects i.e. adapted N fertilizer application rates and yields. Finally, the cropping system assessment compared current farming practices to legume-based alternatives. Trade-offs and synergies between different indicators e.g. gross margins and N fertilizer use were identified. On average, crop rotations with legumes reduced nitrous oxide emissions by 21% and 26% and N fertilizer use by 26% and 45% in arable and forage systems, respectively. While protein output was increased by 13% and 5%, energy output was reduced by 10% and 9% in arable and forage systems. Gross margin effects of introducing legumes were variable and site specific. Consideration of the full economic value of the crops as feed, subsidies for legumes, and the application of carbon taxes increased the relative performance of the legume-supported systems. The presented cropping system assessment within a multi-actor approach enables an exploration of the opportunities and challenges for integrating legumes in European crop rotations considering the views of local actors and can thereby provide multi-criteria guidance on the validation of potential alternative strategies.[https://pure.sruc.ac.uk/en/publications/multi-criteria-assessment-of-integrating-legumes-into-cropping-sy

Randomized controlled phase I/II study to investigate immune stimulatory effects by low dose radiotherapy in primarily operable pancreatic cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The efficiencies of T cell based immunotherapies are affected by insufficient migration and activation of tumor specific effector T cells in the tumor. Accumulating evidence exists on the ability of ionizing radiation to modify the tumor microenvironment and generate inflammation. The aim of this phase I/II clinical trial is to evaluate whether low dose single fraction radiotherapy can improve T cell associated antitumor immune response in patients with pancreatic cancer.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>This trial has been designed as an investigator initiated; prospective randomised, 4-armed, controlled Phase I/II trial. Patients who are candidates for resection of pancreatic cancer will be randomized into 4 arms. A total of 40 patients will be enrolled. The patients receive 0 Gy, 0.5 Gy, 2 Gy or 5 Gy radiation precisely targeted to their pancreatic carcinoma. Radiation will be delivered by external beam radiotherapy using a 6 MV Linac with IMRT technique 48 h prior to the surgical resection. The primary objective is the determination of an active local external beam radiation dose, leading to tumor infiltrating T cells as a surrogate parameter for antitumor activity. Secondary objectives include local tumor control and recurrence patterns, survival, radiogenic treatment toxicity and postoperative morbidity and mortality, as well as quality of life. Further, frequencies of tumor reactive T cells in blood and bone marrow as well as whole blood cell transcriptomics and plasma-proteomics will be correlated with clinical outcome. An interim analysis will be performed after the enrolment of 20 patients for safety reasons. The evaluation of the primary endpoint will start four weeks after the last patient's enrolment.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This trial will answer the question whether a low dose radiotherapy localized to the pancreatic tumor only can increase the number of tumor infiltrating T cells and thus potentially enhance the antitumor immune response. The study will also investigate the prognostic and predictive value of radiation-induced T cell activity along with transcriptomic and proteomic data with respect to clinical outcome.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov - <a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01027221">NCT01027221</a></p

Search for dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks in √s = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for weakly interacting massive particle dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks is presented. Final states containing third-generation quarks and miss- ing transverse momentum are considered. The analysis uses 36.1 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at √s = 13 TeV in 2015 and 2016. No significant excess of events above the estimated backgrounds is observed. The results are in- terpreted in the framework of simplified models of spin-0 dark-matter mediators. For colour- neutral spin-0 mediators produced in association with top quarks and decaying into a pair of dark-matter particles, mediator masses below 50 GeV are excluded assuming a dark-matter candidate mass of 1 GeV and unitary couplings. For scalar and pseudoscalar mediators produced in association with bottom quarks, the search sets limits on the production cross- section of 300 times the predicted rate for mediators with masses between 10 and 50 GeV and assuming a dark-matter mass of 1 GeV and unitary coupling. Constraints on colour- charged scalar simplified models are also presented. Assuming a dark-matter particle mass of 35 GeV, mediator particles with mass below 1.1 TeV are excluded for couplings yielding a dark-matter relic density consistent with measurements