Predictive mapping of the global power system using open data

Limited data on global power infrastructure makes it difficult to respond to challenges in electricity access and climate change. Although high-voltage data on transmission networks are often available, medium- and low-voltage data are often non-existent or unavailable. This presents a challenge for practitioners working on the electricity access agenda, power sector resilience or climate change adaptation. Using state-of-the-art algorithms in geospatial data analysis, we create a first composite map of the global power system with an open license. We find that 97% of the global population lives within 10 km of a MV line, but with large variations between regions and income levels. We show an accuracy of 75% across our validation set of 14 countries, and we demonstrate the value of these data at both a national and regional level. The results from this study pave the way for improved efforts in electricity modelling and planning and are an important step in tackling the Sustainable Development Goals.

A global multi-hazard risk analysis of road and railway infrastructure assets

Transport infrastructure is exposed to natural hazards all around the world. Here we present the first global estimates of multi-hazard exposure and risk to road and rail infrastructure. Results reveal that ~27% of all global road and railway assets are exposed to at least one hazard and ~7.5% of all assets are exposed to a 1/100 year flood event. Global Expected Annual Damages (EAD) due to direct damage to road and railway assets range from 3.1 to 22 billion US dollars, of which ~73% is caused by surface and river flooding. Global EAD are small relative to global GDP (~0.02%). However, in some countries EAD reach 0.5 to 1% of GDP annually, which is the same order of magnitude as national transport infrastructure budgets. A cost-benefit analysis suggests that increasing flood protection would have positive returns on ~60% of roads exposed to a 1/100 year flood event.

Spatial distribution has been rarely studied in global disaster risk models. Here the authors address damaged networked infrastructure at the asset level for a wider range of hazards and reveal a global Expected Annual Damages ranging from $3.1 to 22 billion with a particular vulnerability of transport infrastructure in Small Island Developing States.

Motivation of student radiographers in learning situations based on role-play simulation: A multicentric approach involving trainers and students

INTRODUCTION

Role-play simulation is implemented in different radiography institutions. This tool develops Knowledge, Skills and Competences (KSC) in students. The aim of this study was to identify the strategies implemented by trainers in order to encourage student motivational dynamics and to find those that resonate with students.

METHODS

Three role-play simulation sessions using a grid were observed in two different radiography institutions that have a simulation centre (two French institutions and one Swiss). In order to identify explicitly or implicitly the motivational strategies used, four interviews with trainers were conducted. To understand students' opinions about these strategies, seven interviews with radiography students were done.

RESULTS

Defining motivation was not easy. The trainers used various strategies to motivate students, not all of which were verbalized in interviews. Although students said they were stressed prior to participating in role-play simulation, this study shows that such simulation sessions are effective to develop high motivational dynamics for students.

CONCLUSION

This study has identified three main areas of improvement: exploring students' expectations, give importance to patients briefing so that they can fully perform their role and improving the authenticity of the environment. The latter issue can only be addressed through access to up-to-date equipment in training institutions.

Discussion of “Generalized Estimating Equations: Notes on the Choice of the Working Correlation Matrix”

Objective: To discuss generalized estimating equations as an extension of generalized linear models by commenting on the paper of Ziegler and Vens “Generalized Estimating Equations: Notes on the Choice of the Working Correlation Matrix”.

Methods: Inviting an international group of experts to comment on this paper.

Results: Several perspectives have been taken by the discussants. Econometricians have established parallels to the generalized method of moments (GMM). Statisticians discussed model assumptions and the aspect of missing data. Applied statisticians commented on practical aspects in data analysis.

Conclusions: In general, careful modeling correlation is encouraged when considering estimation efficiency and other implications, and a comparison of choosing instruments in GMM and generalized estimating equations (GEE) would be worthwhile. Some theoretical drawbacks of GEE need to be further addressed and require careful analysis of data. This particularly applies to the situation when data are missing at random.

A systematic review on the effectiveness of medical training therapy for subacute and chronic low back pain

Medical training therapy (MTT) to improve muscular strength and endurance follows evidence based guidelines and is increasingly recommended to patients suffering from subacute and chronic back pain (LBP). This study investigated whether MTT was effective in reducing pain and improving function in patients with subacute or chronic LBP. Data sources were MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Pedro, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. We included RCTs that examined exercise or MTT in adult patients with LBP compared to placebo, no intervention or other interventions. Study outcomes had to include at least one of the following: pain intensity; functional status, absenteeism. Two independent reviewers performed quality assessment. Visual analogue scale ratings ranging from 0-10 MTT quantified the MTT aspects of the intervention. Studies with rating scores >7.5 were included. We identified only 2 studies that examined the effectiveness of MTT. Both trials, one was of high quality, found MTT to decrease pain and improve function significantly better than therapy of uncertain effectiveness. There is moderate evidence that would support the effectiveness of MTT in the treatment chronic LBP. Future high quality RCT will have to clarify whether MTT is effective and would be superior to other forms of therapeutic exercise.

High-resolution spectroscopy of Lambda16N by electroproduction

An experimental study of the (16)O(e,e'K(+))(Lambda)(16)N reaction has been performed at Jefferson Lab. A thin film of falling water was used as a target. This permitted a simultaneous measurement of the p(e,e'K(+))Lambda, Sigma(0) exclusive reactions and a precise calibration of the energy scale. A ground-state binding energy of 13.76+/-0.16 MeV was obtained for (Lambda)(16)N with better precision than previous measurements on the mirror hypernucleus (Lambda)(16)O. Precise energies have been determined for peaks arising from a Lambda in s and p orbits coupled to the p(1/2) and p(3/2) hole states of the (15)N core nucleus.

Multimodal Tumor Therapy in a 31-Year-Old Pregnant Woman with Wilms Tumor

Wilms tumor, or nephroblastoma, is the most common malignant tumor of the urinary tract in children, but is rarely found in adults. Here, we report the first case of a female patient with a Wilms tumor, diagnosed during pregnancy, who underwent radical nephrectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy before and after delivering a healthy child. Generally, treatment should follow the guidelines established for the pediatric setting.

High resolution spectroscopy of (lambda)(12)B by electroproduction

An experiment measuring electroproduction of hypernuclei has been performed in hall A at Jefferson Lab on a 12C target. In order to increase counting rates and provide unambiguous kaon identification two superconducting septum magnets and a ring imaging Cherenkov detector were added to the hall A standard equipment. An unprecedented energy resolution of less than 700 keV FWHM has been achieved. Thus, the observed (Lambda)(12)B spectrum shows for the first time identifiable strength in the core-excited region between the ground-state s-wave Lambda peak and the 11 MeV p-wave Lambda peak.

Versorgung der erektilen Dysfunktion nach radikaler Prostatektomie in Deutschland

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this national study was to evaluate ED management after RPX (without any postoperative adjuvant therapy or tumor relapse) from the patient's view compared to the urologist's view.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In May 2003 we queried 1063 urologists and 801 patients following radical prostatectomy without adjuvant therapy. They were asked about preserved potency without erectile aid, existing wish for ED therapy, recommended or tested erectile aid (oral, transurethral, intracorporal, vacuum constriction device[VCD], penile implant) as well as the long-term use. Return rate: patients 80.1%, urologists 26.7%.

RESULTS

According to the urologists' view 9.1% of their affected patients were potent postoperatively without a device, but according to the polled patients only 4.7%. The wish to be treated for erectile dysfunction existed in the urologists' opinion in 46.1% of their patients, while they considered that 44.8% had no wish for treatment. On the other hand, 59.3% of the patients would like to be treated and only 28.5% did not want any kind of treatment. Regarding the long-term use of therapy for ED, the urologists thought that 26.1% of their patients did not receive therapy for the problem, and 69.7% of the patients stated they received no long-term therapy. Only 30.3% of the patients confirmed long-term therapy, while the urologists thought that 73.9% of the patients used an erectile aid. Definite therapy in the urologists' opinion involved: oral medication in 38.4%, MUSE in 3.6%, (SKAT) in 37.3%, VCD in 20.4%, and a prosthesis in 0.3%. Indeed 19.8% of the patients used oral medication, 1.7% MUSE, 26.7% SKAT, 50.9% VCD, and 0.9% penile implant. Considering the satisfaction of patients, urologists thought that 46.2% of the patients were satisfied with their treatment of ED, but only 28.9% of the patients were actually satisfied themselves.

CONCLUSIONS

The comparison of patients' and urologists' views shows a clearly different description of the ED situation after RPX. The proportion of patients with a wish for treatment and the proportion of dissatisfied patients are much higher from the patients' view. This demonstrates an undertreatment of ED patients after RPX, which should also be taken into account under the current changes in the German health care system.

Sodium butyrate and tributyrin induce in vivo growth inhibition and apoptosis in human prostate cancer

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACs) are known to exhibit antiproliferative effects on various carcinoma cells. In this study, the in vivo efficiency of two HDACs, sodium butyrate and tributyrin, on prostate cancer growth inhibition were investigated. To gain an insight into the possible underlying pathways, cell culture experiments were performed focusing on the expression of p21, Rb and c-myc. For in vivo testing, prostate cancer cell lines (PC3 and TSU-Pr1) were seeded on the chorioallantois membrane (CAM) and implanted in a xenograft model using nude mice. Standard Western blot analysis was performed for protein expression of p21, Rb and c-myc in HDAC-treated vs untreated prostate cancer cells. Both sodium butyrate and tributyrin had a considerable treatment effect on microtumours on the chicken egg at already very low concentrations of 0.1 mM. Tributyrin-treated tumours showed the strongest effect with 38% apoptotic nuclei in the prostate cancer cell line PC3. In the mouse model, there was almost no difference between sodium butyrate and tributyrin. In untreated animals the tumours were almost double the size 4 weeks after implantation. Tumours of the treatment groups had a significantly lower percentage of Ki-67-positive-stained nuclei. As demonstrated by Western blot analysis, these effects seem to be independent of p53 status and a pathway via p21–Rb–c-myc is possibly involved. In this study we have demonstrated a substantial in vivo treatment effect, which can be induced by the application of sodium butyrate or the orally applicable tributyrin in human prostate cancer. The given results may provide the rationale to apply these drugs in well-controlled clinical trials in patients being at high risk of recurrence after specific therapy or in patients with locally or distant advanced prostate cancer.

Synthesis of 8-chloro-benzo[c]quinolizin-3-ones as potent and selective inhibitors of human steroid 5alpha-reductase 1

The synthesis of a series of differently substituted 8-chloro-benzo[c]quinolizin-3-ones, as potent and selective human steroid 5alpha-reductase type 1 inhibitors, has been accomplished by a four-step procedure based on the TiCl4-promoted tandem Mannich-Michael cyclization of 2-silyloxy-1,3-butadienes with N-t-Boc iminium ions from quinolin-2-ones. The presence on the benzo[c]quinolizinone nucleus of a methyl group and a double bond at positions 6 and 4-4a, respectively, as in compound 1d, gave rise to one of the most potent non-steroidal 5alphaR-1 inhibitors reported so far (IC50 = 14 nM).

Regulation by repression of urease biosynthesis in Proteus rettgeri

Measuring the specific enzyme activity in cells of Proteus rettgeri it was shown that urease formation is controlled by repression through ammonia. Derepressed synthesis of the enzyme, as initiated by the absence of ammonia, required an external nitrogen source, which may not only be urea, but also nitrate, glutamate or nutrient broth. In contradiction to earlier reports the observations indicated that urea is not required for the synthesis of this enzyme, and that, therefore, urease is not an inducible enzyme in this microorganism.

Induction of chromosome shattering by ultraviolet irradiation and caffeine: comparison of whole-cell and partial-cell irradiation

Synchronized and asynchronously growing cells of a V79 sub-line of the Chinese hamster were either whole-cell irradiated ( gamma, 254 nm) or laser-UV-microirradiated ( gamma, 257 nm). Post-incubation with caffeine (1-2 mM) often resulted in chromosome shattering, which was a rare event in the absence of this compound. In experiments with caffeine, the following results were obtained. Shattering of all the chromosomes of a cell (generalized chromosome shattering, GCS) was induced by whole-cell irradiation at the first post-irradiation mitosis when the UV fluence exceeded a "threshold" value in the sensitive phases of the cell cycle (G1 and S). GCS was also induced by laser-UV-microirradiation of a small part of the nucleus in G1 or S whereas microirradiation of cytoplasm beside the nucleus was not effective. An upper limit of the UV fluence in the non-irradiated nuclear part due to scattering of the microbeam was experimentally obtained. This UV fluence was significantly below the threshold fluence necessary to induce GCS in whole-cell irradiation experiments. In other cells, partial nuclear irradiation resulted in shattering of a few chromosomes only, while the majority remained intact (partial chromosome shattering, PCS). G1/early S was the most sensitive phase for induction of GCS by whole-cell and partial nuclear irradiation. The frequency of PCS was observed to increase when partial nuclear irradiation was performed either at lower incident doses or at later stages of S. We suggest that PCS and GCS indicate 2 levels of chromosome damage which can be produced by the synergistic action of UV irradiation and caffeine. PCS may be restricted to microirradiated chromatin whereas GCS involves both irradiated and unirradiated chromosomes in the microirradiated nucleus.

Laser UV microirradiation of interphase nuclei and post-treatment with caffeine. A new approach to establish the arrangement of interphase chromosomes

Laser UV microirradiation of Chinese hamster interphase cells combined with caffeine post-treatment produced different patterns of chromosome damage in mitosis following irradiation of a small area of the nucleus that may be classified in three categories: I)intact metaphase figures, II)chromosome damage confined to a small area of the metaphase spread, III)mitotic figures with damage on all chromosomes. Category III might be the consequence of a non-localized distortion of nuclear metabolism. By contrast, category II may reflect localized DNA damage induced by microirradiation, which could not be efficiently repaired due to the effect of caffeine. If this interpretation is right, in metaphase figures of category II chromosome damage should occur only at the irradiation site. The effect might then be used to investigate neighbourhood relationships of individual chromosomes in the interphase nucleus.