The Stochastic Toolbox User's Guide -- xSPDE3: extensible software for stochastic ordinary and partial differential equations

The xSPDE toolbox treats stochastic partial and ordinary differential equations, with applications in biology, chemistry, engineering, medicine, physics and quantum technologies. It computes statistical averages, including time-step and/or sampling error estimation. xSPDE can provide higher order convergence, Fourier spectra and probability densities. The toolbox has graphical output and $\chi^{2}$ statistics, as well as weighted, projected, or forward-backward equations. It can generate input-output quantum spectra. All equations may have independent periodic, Dirichlet, and Neumann or Robin boundary conditions in any dimension, for any vector field component, and at either end of any interval.Comment: User manual for xSPDE software on Github, at https://github.com/peterddrummond/xspde_matlab. Total of 160 pages with examples. This is a replacement with minor corrections and an updated reference list. Accepted, and will appear in Scipos

Midpoint projection algorithm for stochastic differential equations on manifolds

Stochastic differential equations projected onto manifolds occur in physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, nanotechnology, and optimization, with interdisciplinary applications. Intrinsic coordinate stochastic equations on the manifold are sometimes computationally impractical, and numerical projections are therefore useful in many cases. In this paper a combined midpoint projection algorithm is proposed that uses a midpoint projection onto a tangent space, combined with a subsequent normal projection to satisfy the constraints. We also show that the Stratonovich form of stochastic calculus is generally obtained with finite bandwidth noise in the presence of a strong enough external potential that constrains the resulting physical motion to a manifold. Numerical examples are given for a wide range of manifolds, including circular, spheroidal, hyperboloidal, and catenoidal cases, higher-order polynomial constraints that give a quasicubical surface, and a ten-dimensional hypersphere. In all cases the combined midpoint method has greatly reduced errors compared to other methods used for comparison, namely, a combined Euler projection approach and a tangential projection algorithm. We derive intrinsic stochastic equations for spheroidal and hyperboloidal surfaces for comparison purposes to verify the results. Our technique can handle multiple constraints, which allows manifolds that embody several conserved quantities. The algorithm is accurate, simple, and efficient. A reduction of an order of magnitude in the diffusion distance error is found compared to the other methods and an up to several orders of magnitude reduction in constraint function errors.</p

Awareness of cervical cancer and practice of Papanicolou smears among adult women availing health services or visiting a rural maternity hospital, Ramnagara District, Karnataka, India

Background: Cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. Almost 87% of cervical cancer deaths occur in low and middle-income countries. The study was conducted to assess the awareness of cervical cancer and practice of Papanicolou (Pap) smears among women availing health services or visiting a rural maternity hospital, Karnataka.Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted using a 50-item interview schedule. The interview was administered to women >18 years of age who availed services at the hospital and their caretakers.Results: Mean age of the 158 women interviewed was 32.68±13.7 years. Only 21% of women had heard about cervical cancer. Only 11.4% knew at least one symptom and 1.9% knew one risk factor of cervical cancer. Most of the women (99%) were not aware about prevention of cervical cancer. Only 4% of the women had heard about Pap smears and 3% of the women had undergone a Pap smear test.Conclusions: Women in our study had very poor awareness of cervical cancer and practice of Pap smears. Gainfully employed women (OR=32; 8.8-111.2) and women who reported cervical cancer among family members or friends (OR=116; 20.2-665.4).  were more likely to have heard about cervical cancer. This study indicates a need to increase the awareness on cervical cancer and its prevention especially regarding Pap smears among rural women in Karnataka

Wigner's Friend paradoxes: consistency with weak-contextual and weak-macroscopic realism models

Wigner's friend paradoxes highlight contradictions between measurements made by Friends inside a laboratory and superobservers outside a laboratory, who have access to an entangled state of the measurement apparatus. The contradictions lead to no-go theorems for observer-independent facts, thus challenging concepts of objectivity. Here, we examine the paradoxes from the perspective of establishing consistency with macroscopic realism. We present versions of the Brukner-Wigner-friend and Frauchiger-Renner paradoxes in which the spin-$1/2$ system measured by the Friends corresponds to two macroscopically distinct states. The local unitary operations $U_{\theta}$ that determine the measurement setting $\theta$ are carried out using nonlinear interactions, thereby ensuring measurements need only distinguish between the macroscopically distinct states. The macroscopic paradoxes are perplexing, seemingly suggesting there is no objectivity in a macroscopic limit. However, we demonstrate consistency with a contextual weak form of macroscopic realism (wMR): The premise wMR asserts that the system can be considered to have a definite spin outcome $\lambda_{\theta}$, at the time after the system has undergone the unitary rotation $U_{\theta}$ to prepare it in a suitable pointer basis. We further show that the paradoxical outcomes imply failure of deterministic macroscopic local realism, and arise when there are unitary interactions $U_{\theta}$ occurring due to a change of measurement setting at both sites, with respect to the state prepared by each Friend. In models which validate wMR, there is a breakdown of a subset of the assumptions that constitute the Bell-Locality premise. A similar interpretation involving a weak contextual form of realism exists for the original paradoxes

Physician behaviour for antimicrobial prescribing for paediatric upper respiratory tract infections: a survey in general practice in Trinidad, West Indies

BACKGROUND: Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are among the most frequent reasons for physician office visits in paediatrics. Despite their predominant viral aetiology, URTIs continue to be treated with antimicrobials. We explored general practitioners' (GPs) prescribing behaviour for antimicrobials in children (≤ 16 years) with URTIs in Trinidad, using the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a reference. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 92 consenting GPs from the 109 contacted in Central and East Trinidad, between January to June 2003. Using a pilot-tested questionnaire, GPs identified the 5 most frequent URTIs they see in office and reported on their antimicrobial prescribing practices for these URTIs to trained research students. RESULTS: The 5 most frequent URTIs presenting in children in general practice, are the common cold, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, sinusitis and acute otitis media (AOM) in rank order. GPs prescribe at least 25 different antibiotics for these URTIs with significant associations for amoxicillin, co-amoxiclav, cefaclor, cefuroxime, erythromycin, clarithromycin and azithromycin (p < 0.001). Amoxicillin alone or with clavulanate was the most frequently prescribed antibiotic for all URTIs. Prescribing variations from the CDC recommendations were observed for all URTIs except for AOM (50%), the most common condition for antibiotics. Doctors practicing for >30 years were more likely to prescribe antibiotics for the common cold (p = 0.014). Severity (95.7%) and duration of illness (82.5%) influenced doctors' prescribing and over prescribing in general practice was attributed to parent demands (75%) and concern for secondary bacterial infections (70%). Physicians do not request laboratory investigations primarily because they are unnecessary (86%) and the waiting time for results is too long (51%). CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotics are over prescribed for paediatric URTIs in Trinidad and amoxicillin with co-amoxiclav were preferentially prescribed. Except for AOM, GPs' prescribing varied from the CDC guidelines for drug and duration. Physicians recognise antibiotics are overused and consider parents expecting antibiotics and a concern for secondary bacterial infections are prescribing pressures. Guidelines to manage URTIs, ongoing surveillance programs for antibiotic resistance, public health education on non-antibiotic strategies, and postgraduate education for rational pharmacotherapy in general practice would decrease inappropriate antibiotic use in URTIs

Diet and exercise advice and referrals for cancer survivors: An integrative review of medical and nursing perspectives

Purpose: To examine the perspectives of medical and nursing health professionals concerning their roles and responsibilities in providing dietary and exercise advice to cancer survivors, and referrals to allied health professionals. Methods: An integrative review. PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Embase, Web of Science databases, and bibliographies of relevant studies were searched from December 2011 to June 2021. All studies were eligible for inclusion. The Mixed-Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) was used to critically appraise included studies. Data were extracted and synthesised regarding the perspectives of medical and nursing health professionals on their roles, responsibilities, barriers, and facilitators. Results: Twenty-one studies involving 3401 medical and nursing health professionals and 264 cancer survivors of diverse cancer types were included. Ten quantitative, nine qualitative, and two mixed-methods studies were eligible. All included studies met at least 80% of the quality criteria in the MMAT. Major findings include the following: (1) medical and nursing health professionals were unclear on their roles in providing dietary and exercise advice to cancer survivors but agreed they play a key role in referrals to dietitians and exercise professionals; (2) most cancer survivors valued the involvement of their general practitioner when receiving dietary and exercise advice. Conclusion: Although medical and nursing health professionals understand that referrals to allied health professionals form part of their role, there is a lack of clarity regarding their roles to provide dietary and exercise advice to cancer survivors. Future studies should address barriers and facilitators of dietary and exercise advice and referral by medical and nursing health professionals

Dietary supplements in people with metastatic cancer who are experiencing malnutrition, cachexia, sarcopenia, and frailty: A scoping review

Cancer‐associated malnutrition, or cachexia, stemming from cancer or its treatments, is particularly prevalent in metastatic cancers, and is often interrelated with sarcopenia and frailty. Evidence suggests that dietary supplements play a role in managing these conditions. As metastatic cancer cells are associated with notable genomic and phenotypic alterations, response to dietary supplements may differ between metastatic and non‐metastatic cancers. However, research in this area is lacking. This scoping review aims to identify the dietary supplements that have been studied in patients with metastatic cancers and malnutrition‐related conditions, along with their proposed effects, mechanisms, outcome measures, and tools used. A systematic search was conducted across databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and clinical trial registries. Of the initial 6535 records screened, a total of 48 studies were included, covering a range of dietary supplements— vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, proteins, amino acids, fatty acids, fiber, and others. While the types of dietary supplements included varied across cancer types, omega‐3 and carnitine were investigated most often. Proposed relevant attributes of dietary supplements included their antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, anti‐cancer, and immunomodulatory properties. Overall, there was a paucity of interventional studies, and more randomized controlled trials are warranted

Benefits of supportive strategies for carers of people with high-grade glioma: a systematic review: Strategies for addressing the needs of high-grade glioma carers

Purpose: To systematically review and examine current evidence for the carer-reported benefits of supportive care strategies for carers of adults with high-grade glioma (HGG). Methods: Four databases (CINAHL, EMBASE, PubMed, PsycINFO) were searched for articles published between January 2005 and April 2022 that assessed strategies for addressing the supportive care needs of carers of adults with HGG (WHO grade 3–4). Study selection and critical appraisal were conducted independently by three authors (DJ/MC, 2021; DJ/RJ 2022). Data extraction was conducted by one author (DJ) and checked by a second author (RJ). Results were synthesised narratively. Results: Twenty-one studies involving 1377 caregivers were included, targeting the carer directly (n = 10), the patient-carer dyad (n = 3), or focused on people with HGG + / − their carers (n = 8). A paucity of high-quality evidence exists for effective and comprehensive support directly addressing outcomes for carers of adults with HGG. Strategies that demonstrated some benefits included those that built carer knowledge or provided emotional support, delivered by health professionals or through peer support. Supportive and early palliative care programmes have potential to reduce unmet carer needs while providing ongoing carer support. Conclusion: Strategies incorporating an educational component, emotional support, and a regular needs assessment with corresponding tailored support are most valued by carers. Future practice development research should adopt a value-based approach and exceed evaluation of efficacy outcomes to incorporate evaluation of the experience of patients, carers, and staff, as well as costs

The European Language Resources and Technologies Forum: Shaping the Future of the Multilingual Digital Europe

Proceedings of the 1st FLaReNet Forum on the European Language Resources and Technologies, held in Vienna, at the Austrian Academy of Science, on 12-13 February 2009

Strengthening universal HIV 'test-and-treat' approaches with social science research.

Prevention, Population and Disease management (PrePoD