Experimental validation of a drive-by stiffness identification method for bridge monitoring

 An experimental investigation is carried out to verify the feasibility of using an instrumented vehicle to detect and monitor bridge dynamic parameters. The low cost method consists of the use of a moving vehicle fitted with accelerometers on its axles. In the laboratory experiment, the vehicle-bridge interaction model consists of a scaled two-axle vehicle model crossing a simply supported steel beam. The bridge model also includes a scaled road surface profile. The effects of varying the vehicle model configuration and speed are investigated. A finite element beam model is calibrated using the experimental results and a novel algorithm for the identification of global bridge stiffness is validated. Using measured vehicle accelerations as input to the algorithm, the beam stiffness is identified with a reasonable degree of accuracy.European Commission - Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science Postdoctoral Fellowship for North American and European ResearchersJapanese Society for the Promotion of Science Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Researc

Privacy-preserving Early Detection of Epileptic Seizures in Videos

In this work, we contribute towards the development of video-based epileptic seizure classification by introducing a novel framework (SETR-PKD), which could achieve privacy-preserved early detection of seizures in videos. Specifically, our framework has two significant components - (1) It is built upon optical flow features extracted from the video of a seizure, which encodes the seizure motion semiotics while preserving the privacy of the patient; (2) It utilizes a transformer based progressive knowledge distillation, where the knowledge is gradually distilled from networks trained on a longer portion of video samples to the ones which will operate on shorter portions. Thus, our proposed framework addresses the limitations of the current approaches which compromise the privacy of the patients by directly operating on the RGB video of a seizure as well as impede real-time detection of a seizure by utilizing the full video sample to make a prediction. Our SETR-PKD framework could detect tonic-clonic seizures (TCSs) in a privacy-preserving manner with an accuracy of 83.9% while they are only half-way into their progression. Our data and code is available at https://github.com/DevD1092/seizure-detectionComment: Accepted to MICCAI 202

Évaluation objective structurée de l’animation du débriefing (ÉOSAD) : traduction, adaptation et validation d’une rubrique

Contexte : Le débriefing en simulation clinique requiert des habiletés d’animation de la part des formateurs. Bien que des outils d’évaluation validés existent et pourraient servir à leur formation, ils sont uniquement disponibles en anglais et ne sont pas adaptés à la réalité québécoise. But : (1) Traduire une rubrique d’évaluation de la qualité de l’animation du débriefing (Objective Structured Assessment of Debriefing) en français et l’adapter au contexte québécois ; et (2) en tester la validité et la fidélité dans un contexte de formation en sciences infirmières. Méthodes : La rubrique a été traduite et adaptée par trois traducteurs indépendants. Des experts en simulation (n = 11) en ont validé le contenu selon une méthode Delphi modifiée. La rubrique traduite a été mise à l’essai auprès d’animateurs en simulation (n = 10) qui ont évalué la qualité de débriefings filmés (n = 16). Résultats : La rubrique présente une forte validité de contenu selon les experts et une forte validité concomitante en comparaison avec un score d’évaluation générale du débriefing. Les résultats pour les fidélités interjuges et test-retest montrent une variabilité dans l’attribution des scores par les animateurs de débriefing. Conclusion : La rubrique fournit un langage et des critères communs pour évaluer la qualité d’animation des débriefings. Elle pourrait servir de base à la formation des formateurs en précisant des critères de performance et des descripteurs reflétant différents niveaux de performance. Les qualités psychométriques observées suggèrent toutefois qu’une formation plus exhaustive et des modifications dans les descripteurs seraient nécessaires avant que la rubrique ne soit utilisée en contexte de recherche.Context: Educators must be skilled to facilitate debriefing after healthcare simulations. While tools to assess the quality of debriefing exist and could guide educators’ training, they are only available in English and are not adapted to the reality of Quebec. Purpose: (1) To translate a rubric to assess the quality of debriefing (Objective Structured Assessment of Debriefing) in French and adapt it to the context of Quebec; and (2) to test the validity and fidelity of the translated and adapted rubric. Methods: Three independent translators translated and adapted the rubric. Simulation experts (n = 11) validated the rubric’s content through a modified Delphi process. The translated rubric was piloted with a sample of simulation educators (n = 10) whom assessed the quality of recorded debriefings (n = 16). Results: The rubric presented strong content validity according to simulation experts and strong concurrent validity when compared to a general debriefing assessment score. Results for interrater and test-retest reliability showed some variability among educators. Conclusion: The rubric offers a common language and a set of criteria to assess the quality of debriefing. The rubric could guide educators’ training by specifying performance criteria and descriptors reflecting various levels of performance. However, results regarding psychometric properties of the rubric suggest that extensive training and some modification to descriptors are required prior to its use as a research instrument

The RNA-binding proteins Zfp36l1 and Zfp36l2 act redundantly in myogenesis.

BACKGROUND: Members of the ZFP36 family of RNA-binding proteins regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally by binding to AU-rich elements in the 3'UTR of mRNA and stimulating mRNA degradation. The proteins within this family target different transcripts in different tissues. In particular, ZFP36 targets myogenic transcripts and may have a role in adult muscle stem cell quiescence. Our study examined the requirement of ZFP36L1 and ZFP36L2 in adult muscle cell fate regulation. METHODS: We generated single and double conditional knockout mice in which Zfp36l1 and/or Zfp36l2 were deleted in Pax7-expressing cells. Immunostained muscle sections were used to analyse resting skeletal muscle, and a cardiotoxin-induced injury model was used to determine the regenerative capacity of muscle. RESULTS: We show that ZFP36L1 and ZFP36L2 proteins are expressed in satellite cells. Mice lacking the two proteins in Pax7-expressing cells have reduced body weight and have reduced skeletal muscle mass. Furthermore, the number of satellite cells is reduced in adult skeletal muscle and the capacity of this muscle to regenerate following muscle injury is diminished. CONCLUSION: ZFP36L1 and ZFP36L2 act redundantly in myogenesis. These findings add further intricacy to the regulation of the cell fate of Pax7-expressing cells in skeletal muscle by RNA-binding proteins

A case report of COVID-19 monitoring in the Austrian professional football league

Since the beginning of the COVID -19 pandemic, many contact sport teams are facing major challenges to safely continue training and competition. We present the design and implementation of a structured monitoring concept for the Austrian national football league. 146 professional players from five clubs of the professional Austrian football league were monitored for a period of 12 weeks. Subjective health parameters, PCR- test results and data obtained from a geo-tracking app were collected. Simulations modelling the consequences of a COVID-19 case with increasing reproduction number were computed. No COVID -19 infection occurred during the observation period in the players. Infections in the nearer surroundings lead to increased perceived risk of infection. Geo tracking was particularly hindered due to technical problems and reluctance of users. Simulation models suggested a hypothetical shut-down of all training and competition activities. A structured monitoring concept can help to continue contact sports safely in times of a pandemic. Cooperation of all involved is essential. Trial registration: ID: DRKS00022166 15/6/2020 https://www.who.int/ictrp/search/en/

Teaching for the transition: The Canadian PGY-1 neurosurgery \u27rookie camp\u27

Background: Transitioning from medical school to residency is difficult and stressful, necessitating innovation in easing this transition. In response, a Canadian neurosurgical Rookie Camp was designed and implemented to foster acquisition of technical, cognitive and behavioral skills among incoming Canadian post graduate year one (PGY-1) neurosurgery residents. Methods: The inaugural Rookie Camp was held in July 2012 in Halifax. The curriculum was developed based on a national needs-assessment and consisted of a pre-course manual, 7 case-based stations, 4 procedural skills stations and 2 group discussions. The content was clinically focused, used a variety of teaching methods, and addressed multiple CanMEDS competencies. Evaluation included participant and faculty surveys and a pre-course, post-course, and 3-month retention knowledge test. Results: 17 of 23 PGY-1 Canadian neurosurgical residents participated in the Camp. All agreed the course content was relevant for PGY-1 training and the experience prepared them for residency. All participants would recommend the course to future neurosurgical residents. A statistically significant improvement was observed in knowledge related to course content (F(2,32) = 7.572, p\u3c0.002). There were no significant differences between post-test and retention-test scores at three months. Conclusion: The inaugural Canadian Neurosurgery Rookie Camp for PGY-1 residents was successfully delivered, with engagement from participants, training programs, the Canadian Neurosurgical Society, and the Royal College. In addition to providing fundamental knowledge, which was shown to be retained, the course eased junior residents\u27 transition to residency by fostering camaraderie and socialization within the specialty

ICD-11 for quality and safety: overview of the who quality and safety topic advisory group

This paper outlines the approach that the WHO's Family of International Classifications (WHO-FIC) network is undertaking to create ICD-11. We also outline the more focused work of the Quality and Safety Topic Advisory Group, whose activities include the following: (i) cataloguing existing ICD-9 and ICD-10 quality and safety indicators; (ii) reviewing ICD morbidity coding rules for main condition, diagnosis timing, numbers of diagnosis fields and diagnosis clustering; (iii) substantial restructuring of the health-care related injury concepts coded in the ICD-10 chapters 19/20, (iv) mapping of ICD-11 quality and safety concepts to the information model of the WHO's International Classification for Patient Safety and the AHRQ Common Formats; (v) the review of vertical chapter content in all chapters of the ICD-11 beta version and (vi) downstream field testing of ICD-11 prior to its official 2015 release. The transition from ICD-10 to ICD-11 promises to produce an enhanced classification that will have better potential to capture important concepts relevant to measuring health system safety and quality—an important use case for the classificatio