Digital optical and scanning probe microscopy for biocells inspection and manipulation

This paper was presented at the 3rd Micro and Nano Flows Conference (MNF2011), which was held at the Makedonia Palace Hotel, Thessaloniki in Greece. The conference was organised by Brunel University and supported by the Italian Union of Thermofluiddynamics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University of Thessaly, IPEM, the Process Intensification Network, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the Heat Transfer Society, HEXAG - the Heat Exchange Action Group, and the Energy Institute.Nanobiotechnology and scanning probe microscopy (SPM) are new fields that are of interest to modern medical science. Nowadays atomic force microscopy (AFM) is widely used in medical-biological researches from the all variety of SPM. Without special methods of preparation AFM gives an opportunity to investigate the morphology of the surface of different biological objects with nanoresolution. Also this method allows to analyze the physical and mechanical properties at micro- and nanoscale. Our experimental complex with the functions of scanning probe and optical microscopy is intended for different materials investigation including biological cells. A special optical system makes it possible to visualize the objects position of the probe in the microscale. AFM is used for visualization and identification of the local adhesion and viscoelastic properties of biological cells. Dynamic laser speckle (DLS) is used for real-time monitoring of cells motility in living tissues. Another opportunity of this complex is some manipulation with the cell by means of the applied load variation. This technique greatly enhances the possibilities and opens a new field of experiments in cell biology. The purpose of this work is to show the possibility of AFM and DLS for studies of biological cells, namely measurement of the general cells motility in living tissues, the elastic modulus of the single cell membrane, as well as to identify the forces causing damage of the membrane.This study is partially funded by the National Academy of Sciences and Foundation for Basic Research of Belarus with grants and projects “ЭЭ 1.6.1”, T11MC-023, T10Р-029

Efficacy and cost-effectiveness of a web-based and mobile stress-management intervention for employees: design of a randomized controlled trial

Background: Work-related stress is associated with a variety of mental and emotional problems and can lead to substantial economic costs due to lost productivity, absenteeism or the inability to work. There is a considerable amount of evidence on the effectiveness of traditional face-to-face stress-management interventions for employees; however, they are often costly, time-consuming, and characterized by a high access threshold. Web-based interventions may overcome some of these problems yet the evidence in this field is scarce. This paper describes the protocol for a study that will examine the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of a web-based guided stress-management training which is based on problem solving and emotion regulation and aimed at reducing stress in adult employees. Methods. The study will target stressed employees aged 18 and older. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) design will be applied. Based on a power calculation of d=.35 (1-β of 80%, α =.05), 264 participants will be recruited and randomly assigned to either the intervention group or a six-month waitlist control group. Inclusion criteria include an elevated stress level (Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale-10 ≥ 22) and current employment. Exclusion criteria include risk of suicide or previously diagnosed psychosis or dissociative symptoms. The primary outcome will be perceived stress, and secondary outcomes include depression and anxiety. Data will be collected at baseline and seven weeks and six months after randomization. An extended follow up at 12 months is planned for the intervention group. Moreover, a cost-effectiveness analysis will be conducted from a societal perspective and will include both direct and indirect health care costs. Data will be analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis and per protocol. Discussion. The substantial negative consequences of work-related stress emphasize the necessity for effective stress-management trainings. If the proposed internet intervention proves to be (cost-) effective, a preventative, economical stress-management tool will be conceivable. The strengths and limitations of the present study are discussed. Trial registration. German Register of Clinical Studies (DRKS): DRKS00004749. © 2013 Heber et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd

Integrating Positive and Clinical Psychology: Viewing Human Functioning as Continua from Positive to Negative Can Benefit Clinical Assessment, Interventions and Understandings of Resilience

In this review we argue in favour of further integration between the disciplines of positive and clinical psychology. We argue that most of the constructs studied by both positive and clinical psychology exist on continua ranging from positive to negative (e.g., gratitude to ingratitude, anxiety to calmness) and so it is meaningless to speak of one or other field studying the “positive” or the “negative”. However, we highlight historical and cultural factors which have led positive and clinical psychologies to focus on different constructs; thus the difference between the fields is more due to the constructs of study rather than their being inherently “positive” or “negative”. We argue that there is much benefit to clinical psychology of considering positive psychology constructs because; (a) constructs studied by positive psychology researchers can independently predict wellbeing when accounting for traditional clinical factors, both cross-sectionally and prospectively, (2) the constructs studied by positive psychologists can interact with risk factors to predict outcomes, thereby conferring resilience, (3) interventions that aim to increase movement towards the positive pole of well-being can be used encourage movement away from the negative pole, either in isolation or alongside traditional clinical interventions, and (4) research from positive psychology can support clinical psychology as it seeks to adapt therapies developed in Western nations to other cultures

Direct-sum behavior of modules over one-dimensional rings

Let R be a reduced, one-dimensional Noetherian local ring whose integral closure is finitely generated over R. Since is a direct product of finitely many principal ideal domains (one for each minimal prime ideal of R), the indecomposable finitely generated-modules are easily described, and every finitely generated-module is uniquely a direct sum of indecomposable modules. In this article we will see how little of this good behavior trickles down to R. Indeed, there are relatively few situations where one can describe all of the indecomposable R-modules, or even the torsion-free ones. Moreover, a given finitely generated module can have many different representations as a direct sum of indecomposable modules. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

Balancing the benefits and harms of thyroid cancer surveillance in survivors of Childhood, adolescent and young adult cancer: Recommendations from the international Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group in collaboration with the PanCareSurFup Consortium

\ua9 2017 Elsevier Ltd Radiation exposure to the thyroid gland during treatment of childhood, adolescent and young adult cancer (CAYAC) may cause differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Surveillance recommendations for DTC vary considerably, causing uncertainty about optimum screening practices. The International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group, in collaboration with the PanCareSurFup Consortium, developed consensus recommendations for thyroid cancer surveillance in CAYAC survivors. These recommendations were developed by an international multidisciplinary panel that included 33 experts in relevant medical specialties who used a consistent and transparent process. Recommendations were graded according to the strength of underlying evidence and potential benefit gained by early detection and appropriate management. Of the two available surveillance strategies, thyroid ultrasound and neck palpation, neither was shown to be superior. Consequently, a decision aid was formulated to guide the health care provider in counseling the survivor. The recommendations highlight the need for shared decision making regarding whether to undergo surveillance for DTC and in the choice of surveillance modality

Prime Ideals And Decompositions Of Modules

this article, we discuss this question and more generally consider how the prime ideals behave in various general rings with certain properties. We also describe the prime ideal structure for certain specific rings. Although we have more to say when the ring is Noetherian, we include statements for certain non-Noetherian rings