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Head and neck cancer (HNC) surgical patients experience high symptom burden. Exercise prehabilitation has the potential to improve patient outcomes, but the perspectives of patients and healthcare providers (HCPs) must be considered to facilitate implementation. The purpose of this study was to obtain qualitative feedback from HNC surgical patients and HCPs regarding: (1) adding patient assessments across the HNC surgical timeline, and (2) the logistics and potential benefits of a future exercise prehabilitation intervention. Semi-structured interviews took place with patients and HCPs. Interview questions included satisfaction with study recruitment, measurement completion, impact on clinical workflow (HCPs), and perceptions of a future prehabilitation program. Transcripts were analyzed using a constructivist philosophy and interpretive description methodology. Ten patients and ten HCPs participated in this study. Four themes were identified: (1) the value of exercise and its importance in clinical care, (2) acceptability and necessity of assessments, (3) factors to support implementation, and (4) the components of an ideal prehabilitation program. Overall, these findings highlight the importance and value of exercise across the HNC surgical timeline from both the patient and HCPs’ perspective. These findings will inform the future implementation of a multiphasic exercise prehabilitation trial in HNC surgical patients.

Aim We undertook the largest comparative study to date of the form of the island species-area relationship (ISAR) using 207 habitat island datasets and 601 true island datasets. We also undertook analyses of (a) the factors influencing z- and c-values of the power (log-log) model and (b) how z and c vary between different island types. Location Global. Methods We used an information theoretic approach to compare the fit of 20 ISAR models to 207 habitat island datasets. Model performance was ranked according to pre-set criteria, including metrics of generality and efficiency. We also fitted the power (log-log) model to each dataset and analysed variation in parameter estimates and model fits as a function of key dataset characteristics using linear models and constrained analysis of principal coordinates. Results The power (nonlinear) model provided the best fit to the most datasets, and was the highest ranked model overall. In general, the more complex models performed badly. Average z-values were significantly lower for habitat island datasets than for true islands, and were higher for mountaintop and urban habitat islands than for other habitat island types. Average c-values were significantly lower for oceanic islands, and significantly higher for inland water-body islands, than for habitat islands. Values of z and c were related to dataset characteristics including the ratio of the largest to smallest island and the maximum and minimum richness values in a dataset. Main conclusions Our multimodel comparisons demonstrated the nonlinear implementation of the power model to be the best overall model and thus to be a sensible choice for general use. As the z-value of the log-log power model varied in relation to ecological and geographical properties of the study systems, caution should be employed when using canonical values for applied purposes.

Efforts to prioritize conservation planning are undermined by several recognized knowledge shortfalls. Here we highlight a further shortfall, which we term the ‘movement shortfall’, in our knowledge of species movements, with particular reference to dispersive, irruptive and nomadic birds. Despite 100 years of ringing effort, the movement characteristics of these species are still poorly known, as the irregularity of their movements and low human population densities in parts of their range impede traditional methods. A lack of understanding of their movements, combined with an inappropriate conservation approach that relies on protected areas and international frameworks, means that the conservation status of these species continues to deteriorate. We call for the application of new tracking technology and outreach initiatives to help formulate innovative conservation approaches that are better suited to species with irregular movement behaviours.

Background Resistance to apoptosis is a hallmark of cancer and proteins regulating apoptosis have been proposed as prognostic markers in several malignancies. However, the prognostic impact of apoptotic markers has not been consistently demonstrated in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This inconsistency in reported associations between apoptotic proteins and prognosis can be partly attributed to the intrinsic low resolution and misclassification associated with manual, semi-quantitative methods of biomarker expression measurement. The aim of this study was to examine the association between apoptosis-regulating proteins and clinical outcomes in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) using the quantitative fluorescence immunohistochemistry (IHC) based AQUAnalysis technique. Methods Sixty-nine OSCC patients diagnosed between 1998–2005 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada were included in the study. Clinical data were obtained from the Alberta Cancer Registry and chart review. Tissue microarrays (TMAs) were assembled from triplicate cores of formalin-fixed paraffin embedded pre-treatment tumour tissue. Bax, Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL protein expression was quantified using fluorescent IHC and AQUA technology in normal oral cavity squamous epithelium (OCSE) and OSCC tumour samples. Survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier plots and the Cox proportional hazard model. Results Bax expression was predominantly nuclear in OCSE and almost exclusively cytoplasmic in OSCC. No similar differences in localization were observed for Bcl-2 or Bcl-XL. Only Bax expression associated with disease-specific survival (DSS), with 5-year survival estimates of 85.7% for high Bax versus 50.3% for low Bax (p = 0.006), in univariate analysis. High Bax expression was also significantly associated with elevated Ki67 expression, indicating that increased proliferation might lead to an improved response to radiotherapy in patients with elevated Bax expression. In multivariate analyses, Bax protein expression remained an independent predictor of DSS in OSCC [HR 0.241 (0.078-0.745), p = 0.013]. Conclusions The AQUA technique used in our study eliminates observer bias and provides reliable and reproducible estimates for biomarker expression. AQUA also provides essential measures of quality control that cannot be achieved with manual biomarker scoring techniques. Our results support the use of Bax protein expression as a prognostic marker in conjunction with other clinico-pathological variables when designing personalized treatment strategies for OSCC patients.

We present the first 350 micron polarization measurement for the disk of the T Tauri star (TTS) DG Tau. The data were obtained using the SHARP polarimeter at the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory. We did not detect polarization but we provide constraints on the normalized Stokes parameters q and u. We derive information about the polarization spectrum by comparing our 350 micron result with an 850 micron polarization detection previously published for this source. This empirical information concerning the polarization spectrum disagrees with the predictions of a recent model for TTS disk polarization. We conclude, however, that adding more mass to the model disk would probably result in model polarization spectra that agree much better with the 350 and 850 micron polarimetric observations. We suggest that multiwavelength polarimetry of TTS disk emission may provide a promising method for probing the opacity of TTS disks., Comment: 20 pages, 2 figures, one table

In an effort to determine the functional activity of anti-HIV-1 human mAb and to define the epitopes against which they are directed, supernatants from 10 EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines producing mAb to HIV were tested. Five clones producing mAb to gp41 and five producing mAb to p24 were identified. The anti-HIV-1 human mAb were tested in neutralization and cell fusion assays in the form of cell culture supernatants at concentrations ranging from 1.7 to 22.0 micrograms/ml. None of the human mAb were found either to inhibit HIV-1-(IIIB or RF) associated cell fusion or to neutralize HIV-1 (IIIB) infection of AA5 cells. All human mAb were additionally tested in 6 h 51Cr release assays for their ability to direct HIV-1 specific antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). For ADCC assays, PBMC were isolated from healthy seronegative donors and used as effector cells. HIV-1 infected (IIIB, RF, and MN) CEM.NKR cells as well as CEM.NKR cells with purified gp120 adsorbed onto their surface served as targets. None of the anti-p24 mAb mediated ADCC. In contrast, three of the anti-gp41 mAb were able to direct a significant level of ADCC against each of the infected targets, but as expected, failed to lyse gp120 adsorbed cells. To define the specific epitopes against which the anti-gp41 mAb were directed, seven small peptides homologous to regions within the extracellular domain of gp41 were synthesized. Using RIA, two of the mAb could be mapped. The most effective ADCC-directing human mAb bound to a peptide comprising amino acids 644-663, whereas the least effective ADCC directing anti-gp41 human mAb bound to a region within the immunodominant portion of gp41 outlined by amino acids 579-604. Together, these results for the first time assign a functional activity to human mAb directed at specific regions within gp41 by demonstrating that areas within this molecule can serve as targets for ADCC.

This study examined the knowledge carers of children with epilepsy have of the condition and its management. It also examined their experience of medical services for their child and the attitude of staff at their schools. A school nursing sister using a semi-structured technique interviewed 48 carers of 53 children. A majority expressed dissatisfaction with outpatient medical care, especially that outpatient visits did not improve their knowledge of the condition or its treatment. Twenty-eight carers were not satisfied with the attitude of staff at schools. Ways to improve the service are discussed, including the role of the specialist community children's nurse and the need to see children with epilepsy in a dedicated clinic.

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A 12 month review of infants admitted with neonatal abstinence syndrome to a neonatal intensive care unit was undertaken. The relationship of maternal drug abuse to symptoms, the effectiveness of pharmacologic agents in controlling symptoms and the length of inpatient stay were investigated. A retrospective review of maternal and infant records was performed. Those infants with a serial Finnegan score greater than 8 were treated. Pharmacologic treatment was oral morphine sulphate (0.2 mg 4-6 hourly), phenobarbitone (3-7 mgs/kg/day), or combination of the above. 43 infants were admitted to the hospital during the year. The average maternal age was 24.6 years, (18-34 years). Drug use volunteered by the mothers was methadone alone in 6 cases, methadone and benzodiazepines in 14, methadone and heroin and benzodiazepines in 7, methadone and heroin in 10, heroin alone in 2, and other multiple drug use including oral morphine sulphate, dothiepin and cannabis in 4. Average gestational age was 40.3 (35-42 weeks). The average birthweight was 2.81 kgs (1.89-3.91 kgs). Time to onset of withdrawal symptoms was 2.8 (1-13) days. The duration of pharmacologic treatment (oral morphine sulphate and/or phenobarbitone) was 21.8 (1-62) days. The total hospital stay for the 43 infants was 1,011 days. This study confirms that polydrug abuse is the commonest type of drug abuse in Dublin. The duration of withdrawal symptoms is loosely related to drug type, but increasing duration of symptoms is noted for infants exposed to benzodiazepines. Our experience would favour the use of morphine sulphate to treat pure opiate withdrawal symptoms. Over the 12-month period, there was an average occupancy of 3 beds per day in the paediatric department.

The contribution of travel to high incidence countries and the impact of the discontinuation of universal Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccination to there cent rise in tuberculosis (TB) in the United Kingdom remain unclear. An outbreak in a college presented an opportunity to assess these. A cohort of students answered a questionnaire assessing risk factors for TB.Participants were screened with an interferon gamma release assay (IGRA). Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (OR) were calculated using logistic regression.Among 2,284 students, 400 (17.5%) were diagnosed with TB infection. A higher risk was noted for travel to a high incidence area in the past two years (OR: 1.39;95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04–1.89) and among those with the greatest exposure to the index case(OR: 3.94; 95% CI: 2.60–5.97). There was no association between BCG and risk of infection (OR: 1.05; 95%CI: 0.80–1.39). The lack of a protective effect by BCG on TB infection supports the discontinuation of universal vaccination. The association with foreign travel suggests the need to assess the cost-effectiveness of serial IGRA testing and treatment of positive persons among returning travellers.

Summarization: We present the first real-world benchmark for sequentially- optimal team formation, working within the framework of a class of online football prediction games known as Fantasy Football. We model the problem as a Bayesian reinforce- ment learning one, where the action space is exponential in the number of players and where the decision maker’s be- liefs are over multiple characteristics of each footballer. We then exploit domain knowledge to construct computationally tractable solution techniques in order to build a competitive automated Fantasy Football manager. Thus, we are able to es- tablish the baseline performance in this domain, even without complete information on footballers’ performances (accessi- ble to human managers), showing that our agent is able to rank at around the top percentile when pitched against 2.5M human players. Παρουσιάστηκε στο: Twenty-Sixth Conference of the Association for the Advancement for Artificial Intelligence, Toronto, CA, 22 - 26 Jul 2012

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