Low-latency gravitational wave alert products and their performance at the time of the fourth LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA observing run

Multimessenger searches for binary neutron star (BNS) and neutron star-black hole (NSBH) mergers are currently one of the most exciting areas of astronomy. The search for joint electromagnetic and neutrino counterparts to gravitational wave (GW)s has resumed with ALIGO's, AdVirgo's and KAGRA's fourth observing run (O4). To support this effort, public semiautomated data products are sent in near real-time and include localization and source properties to guide complementary observations. In preparation for O4, we have conducted a study using a simulated population of compact binaries and a mock data challenge (MDC) in the form of a real-time replay to optimize and profile the software infrastructure and scientific deliverables. End-toend performance was tested, including data ingestion, running online search pipelines, performing annotations, and issuing alerts to the astrophysics community. We present an overview of the low-latency infrastructure and the performance of the data products that are now being released during O4 based on the MDC. We report the expected median latency for the preliminary alert of full bandwidth searches (29.5 s) and show consistency and accuracy of released data products using the MDC. We report the expected median latency for triggers from early warning searches (-3.1 s), which are new in O4 and target neutron star mergers during inspiral phase. This paper provides a performance overview for LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA (LVK) low-latency alert infrastructure and data products using theMDCand serves as a useful reference for the interpretation of O4 detections.

[Multisite validation study of questionnaire assessing out-patient satisfaction with care questionnaire in ambulatory chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment]

Patient satisfaction is now recognised as an important quality of care outcome which is particularly relevant in oncology. Adapted from the EORTC In-Patsat32, the Out-Patsat35 is a 35-item satisfaction with care questionnaire measuring cancer outpatients' perception of hospital doctors and nurses, as well as aspects of care organisation and services. This study assessed the psychometric properties of this scale. Patients undergoing ambulatory chemotherapy (CT) or radiotherapy (RT) in 7 cancer centres in France were invited to complete at home the Out-Patsat35 as well as EORTC QLQ-C30 for psychometric testing. Of 416 eligible patients recruited, 96% returned the questionnaire. Most patients (71% in CT; 69% in RT) completed this scale within 15 minutes and the mean rate of item omission was only 4.4%. Confirmatory analyses revealed good convergent validity and excellent internal consistency, although some subscales within the Out-Patsat35 were relatively highly correlated. Items and subscales of the Out-Patsat35 and of the QLQ-C30 were not significantly correlated, underlying that the two questionnaires are assessing quite distinct concepts. The subscales of the Out-Patsat35 were not related to age, gender and education, suggesting a cultural evolution in French cancer patients towards a greater homogeneity in their opinion toward care. This study supports the acceptability to patients, and the psychometric properties of the EORTC Out-Patsat35 questionnaire.

Asymmetric modulation of human visual cortex activity during 10° lateral gaze (fMRI study)

We used BOLD fMRI to study the differential effects of the direction of gaze on the visual and the ocular motor systems. Fixation of a target straight ahead was compared to fixation of a target 10 degrees to the right and 10 degrees to the left from gaze straight ahead, and to eyes open in complete darkness in thirteen healthy volunteers. While retinotopic coordinates remained the same in all fixation conditions, the fixation target shifted with respect to a head-centered frame of reference. During lateral fixation, deactivations in higher-order visual areas (one ventral cluster in the lingual and fusiform gyri and one dorsal cluster in the postero-superior cuneus) and, as a trend, activations in early visual cortical areas were found predominantly in the hemisphere contralateral to the fixation target. We propose that visual processing is performed predominantly in the hemisphere contralateral to gaze direction, even during small gaze shifts into one visual hemifield. The excitability of visual neurons may be modulated depending on eye position to construct a head-centered frame of reference from a retinotopic input, thus allowing perceptual stability of space during eye movements. A further finding was that BOLD signal increases in fronto-parietal ocular motor and attentional structures were more pronounced during lateral than central fixation.

[Burn out syndrome in oncology]

SEPS or burnout syndrome was described among health care workers. Oncology care givers--physicians and nurses--can be concerned. Burnout is a chronical stress reaction. Emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation are more prevalent than low personal accomplishment. Burnout is essentially assessed by questionnaires. Oncologists report an higher level of burnout, than AIDS medical or palliative care staff. Causes of burn out are numerous: insufficient personal time, sense of failure,... followed by poorly management and difficulties in staff or institution relationships. Prevention and therapy of burn out can be considered on three levels: personal, (psychotherapy, advices on health way of life), team (improvement in communication) and institution (support meetings and talking groups).

Electrical and optical properties of semiconductor nanocrystals

Application of semiconductor nanocrystals in optoelectronic devices requires an understanding not only of their emission and absorption properties, but also of the processes of charge injection and transport in nanocrystalline films. Here, we present measurements of the electrical properties of nanocrystalline films and of blends of nanocrystals with conjugated polymers. We also describe the attachment of nanocrystals to semiconductor surfaces, and we investigate the emission of nanocrystalline films in microcavity structures and at high excitation intensities.

Measurements and predictions of light scattering by clear coatings

Comparisons are made between calculated and measured angle-resolved light-scattering distributions from clear dielectric isotropic epoxy coatings over a range of rms roughness conditions, resulting in strongly specular scattering to diffuse scattering characteristics. Calculated distributions are derived from topography measurements performed with interferometric microscopes. Two methods of calculation are used. One determines the intensity of scattered light waves with a phase integral in the Kirchhoff approximation. The other is based on the reflection of light rays by locally flat surfaces. The angle-resolved scattering distributions for the coatings are measured with the spectral trifunction automated reference reflectometer (STARR) developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Comparisons between measured and calculated results are shown for three surfaces with rms roughness values of approximately 3, 150, and 800 nm for an angle of incidence of 20 degrees .

Angular distribution of light scattered from a sinusoidal grating

The angular distributions of light scattered by gold-coated and aluminum-coated gratings with amplitudes of approximately 90 nm and periods of 6.67 microm were measured and calculated for light incident from a He-Ne laser at an angle of 6 degrees. Experimental results are compared with predictions of Beckmann's scalar theory and Rayleigh's vector theory. The measured scattering pattern has a background of scattered light due mainly to residual surface roughness. Also the power in the higher-order peaks is larger by several orders of magnitude than the computed one, which can be attributed mainly to the low-order contributions of the harmonics in the profile.

The contribution of extracranial blood oxygenation on near-infrared spectroscopy during carotid thrombendarterectomy

To determine the contribution of extracranial oxygenation on regional cerebral oxygenation measured by an Invos 3100 near-infrared spectrometer, we measured oxygenation in blood drawn from both the facial vein (draining substantially blood from forehead areas) and the jugular venous bulb. There was no correlation between regional cerebral oxygenation and facial vein oxygenation (p = 0.35) but there was a significant correlation between regional cerebral oxygenation and jugular venous bulb oxygenation (p = 0.027). Linear regression analysis predicted a 3.6% change in regional oxygenation for every 10% change in jugular venous bulb oxygenation. We showed that extracranial tissue oxygenation had a negligible influence on the values recorded using near-infrared spectroscopy. Individual changes in jugular venous bulb oxygenation were poorly reflected. Data obtained by this near-infrared spectroscopy device are an unreliable guide to the adequacy of cerebral oxygenation.

Do the ward notes reflect the quality of end-of-life care?

OBJECTIVES

To study the accuracy of reviewing ward notes (chart review) as a measure of the quality of care rendered to patients with "Do Not Resuscitate" (DNR) orders.

DESIGN

We reviewed the charts of 19 consecutive, competent inpatients with DNR orders for evidence that the staff addressed a broad range of patient care needs called Concurrent Care Concerns (CCCs), such as withholding treatments other than resuscitation itself, and attention to patient comfort needs. We then interviewed the patient, consultant physician, house officer, and primary nurse and compared the ward notes with the understandings of these staff members.

SETTING

The medical service of an urban university medical centre.

RESULTS

The average number of documented CCCs addressed per DNR order was 1.1. The ward notes generally agreed with the perceptions of patients, house officers, and nurses (% agreement with notes = 79%, 77%, and 82%; kappa = 0.43, 0.40, 0.50). Consultant physicians' understandings were poorly reflected in the ward notes (% agreement = 59%; kappa = 0.18). They overestimated attention to CCCs compared with the notes (P < 0.0001) and with other observers (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Chart review for attention to CCCs accurately reflects the understandings of patients, house officers, and nurses, but consultant physicians report more attention to CCCs than is recorded in the ward notes or understood by other observers. Better communication regarding end-of-life care plans should be encouraged.

Tumour-growth inhibition by induced hyperglycaemia/hyperlactacidaemia and localized hyperthermia

The present study was undertaken to exploit pathophysiological properties of solid tumours for a tumour-specific therapy. Experiments were carried out on DS-sarcomas implanted s.c. in the hind foot dorsum of Sprague Dawley rats. Treatment strategies included tumour acidification, lactate accumulation and disturbance of the microcirculation by induced systemic hyperglycaemia/hyperlact-acidaemia (15-25/10 mmol/L; for 60 min) as well as localized hyperthermia (water-bath; 43 degrees C, 30 min.). A special infusion solution was developed for the systemic treatment containing glucose, lactic acid and organic buffer without inorganic ions. Growth kinetics of tumour volume and animal survival were taken as endpoints in order to quantify therapeutic efficiency. After a single treatment with combined modalities, i.e., with hyperglycaemia/hyperlactacidaemia and hyperthermia, approximately 50% of the tumours showed complete remission in three independent series of experiments; around 40% of the animals survived more than two months. In the untreated control group, all animals died from the disease within 10-15 days after tumour implantation. The overall effect on tumour volume changes of the combined therapy was supra-additive compared to that of treatment with hyperthermia or hyperglycaemia/hyperlactacidaemia alone. However, treated animals either showed a dramatic response to the combination of treatments with complete tumour remission or hardly responded at all, justifying a subdivision into responders and non-responders. Pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for this behaviour have to be elucidated in future studies. Nevertheless, the present study represents an approach to an efficient tumour therapy with a potential application in clinical oncology in the not too distant future.

Knowledge, confidence, and attitudes regarding medical ethics: how do faculty and housestaff compare?

BACKGROUND

It has been suggested that faculty members' inadequate knowledge of and unfavorable attitudes toward ethics may present barriers to effective education in ethics for house officers.

METHOD

To test this hypothesis, the authors administered a questionnaire assessing the knowledge, confidence, and attitudes regarding ethics of the 73 house officers and 73 full-time faculty members in the Department of Medicine at the Georgetown University Medical Center in 1992-93. Statistical analysis of the responses was performed using chi-square, two-tailed t-tests, and linear regression.

RESULTS

Fifty-five house officers (75%) and 57 faculty (78%) responded. The knowledge scores were similarly low for both groups (53% correct for the faculty and 50% for the house officers). However, the faculty were significantly more confident than the house officers regarding ability to address ethical issues (mean ratings of 3.9 vs 3.4 on a scale from 1, very low, to 5, very high; p = .0001). Seventy-five percent of the faculty and 65% of the house officers believed that ethics training should be mandatory during residency.

CONCLUSION

The attitudes of the faculty per se do not appear to represent a barrier to teaching ethics. However, the gap between the faculty members' confidence and knowledge could interfere with their abilities to model and teach ethics to house officers.

Light scattering by sinusoidal surfaces: illumination windows and harmonics in standards

Sinusoidal surfaces can be used as material standards to help calibrate instruments that measure the angular distribution of the intensity of light scattered by arbitrary surfaces, because the power in the diffraction peaks varies over several orders of magnitude. The calculated power in the higher-order diffraction peaks from sinusoidal surfaces expressed in terms of Bessel functions is much smaller than the values determined from angular distributions that are measured or computed from measured profiles, both of which are determined mainly by the harmonic contents of the profile. The finite size of the illuminated area, represented by an illumination window, gives rise to a background that is much larger than the calculated power in the higher-order peaks. For a rectangular window of a size equal to an even number of periods of the sinusoid, a computation of the power distribution produces minima at or near the location of the diffraction angles for higher-order diffraction angles.

Regimes of surface roughness measurable with light scattering

In this paper we summarize a number of previous experiments on the measurement of the roughness of metallic surfaces by light scattering. We identify several regimes that permit measurement of different surface parameters and functions, and we establish approximate limits for each regime. Using a straightforward criterion, we calculate that the smooth-surface regime, in which the angular distribution of scattered light is closely related to the power spectral density of the roughness, ranges over 0 < σ/λ ≲ 0.05, where σ is the rms roughness and λ is the opitcal wavelength. Above that the surfaceautocorrelation function may be calculated from a Fourier transform of the angular distribution over 0 < σ/λ ≲ 0.14. Then comes the specular regime where the specular beam can still be identified andmeasured over 0 < σ/λ ≲ 0.3. For all these regimes and for rougher surfaces too, the rms width of thescatter distribution is proportional to the rms slope of the surface.

Autocorrelation functions from optical scattering for one-dimensionally rough surfaces

The relationship between the height autocorrelation function of a one-dimensionally rough surface and the Fourier transform of the intensity distribution of the light scattered by that surface is tested experimentally. The theory is derived by using the Fraunhofer approximation, without recourse to the inconsistent Kirchhoff boundary conditions. In spite of the limitations imposed by the approximations used, the results obtained from optical data agree well with those obtained from stylus data, even for an autocorrelation length as small as the optical wavelength. However, this method should be limited to surfaces with rms roughness smaller than approximately 0.14 times the wavelength of light.

Enhanced proliferation of coronary endothelial cells in response to growth factors is synergized by hemodialysate compounds in vitro

Using capillary endothelial cells from the coronary system of guinea pig heart, we have devised an in vitro assay suitable for measuring proliferative and growth-promoting effects mediated by drugs and growth factors. In this assay, hemodialysate and fractions isolated from it--consisting exclusively of low-molecular-weight compounds from calf blood--stimulate the proliferation of coronary endothelial cells. This effect is not a trivial nutritive one. Furthermore, in respect to the stimulation of proliferation, hemodialysate synergizes with epidermal growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, and endothelial cell growth factor, but not with insulin, which shows no proliferative effect in our system. From data obtained by analysis of hemodialysate fractions, it is deduced that the active compounds are strongly negatively charged oligosaccharides with a molecular weight of apparently 3000 Dalton. The synergistic effect of hemodialysate compounds on proliferation of endothelial cells as well as their previously demonstrated insulin-like activity is believed to explain the therapeutic efficacy of hemodialysate in cases of impaired wound healing and occlusive diseases.

Light scattering from glossy coatings on paper

The application of angle-resolved light scattering (ARLS) to the measurement of the surface roughness of glossy coatings on paper was investigated. To this end, ARLS patterns were measured for laser light scattered from several glossy paper samples, and these patterns were compared with those calculated using a theoretical model based on plane-wave scattering from an isotropic rough surface. Mechanical stylus profilometry data for the rms roughnesses and the autocorrelation functions of the coatings were used as input to calculate the patterns. For all the paper samples measured, as well as for all the incidence angles used, there was good agreement between the experimental and the calculated patterns when all the rms roughnesses measured by profilometry were reduced by 30%. The indication from these experiments is that ARLS may be used to determine the roughness parameters of the coatings. As a check on these results, measurements were also performed with a commercial optical surface probe; these data agreed well with both the ARLS and the stylus profilometry results.

Direct and inverse problems for light scattered by rough surfaces

Calculations are performed to relate the stylus profile of a one-dimensionally rough surface to the angular distribution of the light scattered by such a surface. In the direct problem, the angular distribution of the scattered light calculated from the profile is shown to agree with the measured one. In the inverse problem, the rms roughness and the autocorrelation function are found by a least-squares fit to the measured angular distribution. For the smoother surfaces, the rms roughness is mostly determined by the ratio between the power of the specular beam and the total power of the scattered light; the computed values are proportional to those calculated directly from the stylus profiles. The values of the parameters obtained by the least-squares fit are affected by a variety of errors and agree only partially with those obtained from the stylus profile.

Lactate-induced inhibition of tumor cell proliferation

Culture medium that was recovered from tumor cell or fibroblast cultures during the plateau phase, and that was replenished by addition of glucose, glutamine, and serum and readjustment of pH had a distinct growth-inhibiting effect on monolayer cell cultures. The effect, which was not specific for a given cell strain, may be partially responsible for the "density inhibition" commonly observed in malignant cells grown in monolayer cultures. By modifying fresh growth media, it was shown that the growth inhibition observed can be partly attributed to the accumulation of lactate in the culture medium of plateau phase cells. This substance reduced the plating efficiency and the number of cells per petri dish in the plateau phase. It is concluded that this effect may be used for inducing growth inhibition in tumors in vivo by manipulating the cellular production of lactate and/or by impeding its removal from the cellular microenvironment.

Treatment of surgical infections with a modern quinolone: therapy of soft tissue infections and pneumonia with ofloxacin

A randomized, open, prospective study including 45 patients with either soft tissue infections (29 cases) or pneumonia (15 cases) after surgical intervention and one case having both indications was carried out with ofloxacin. The standard dose was 200 mg ofloxacin b. i. d. In most cases, clinical symptoms, such as fever, rubor, swelling and pain in soft tissue infections, as well as fever, dyspnoea, physical and radiological signs for pneumonia, subsided within two to seven days. Laboratory data (blood analyses, liver enzymes) remained in the normal range. The overall tolerability was good. Bacteriological controls have proven that ofloxacin is able to eradicate a broad range of pathogens, including persister pathogens and also certain bacteria like Clostridium perfringens and Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. In our study, Streptococcus faecalis was of intermediate sensitivity in one case and resistant in another. Ofloxacin has proven to be effective in soft tissue infections and pneumonia after surgical intervention.