Nanotechnology Fundamentals Applied to Clinical Infectious Diseases and Public Health

Nanotechnology involves the discovery and fabrication of nanoscale materials possessing unique physicochemical properties that are being employed in industry and medicine. Infectious Diseases clinicians and public health scientists utilize nanotechnology applications to diagnose, treat, and prevent infectious diseases. However, fundamental principles of nanotechnology are often presented in technical formats that presuppose an advanced knowledge of chemistry, physics, and engineering, thereby limiting the clinician’s grasp of the underlying science. While nanoscience is technically complex, it need not be out of reach of the clinical practitioner. The aim of this review is to introduce fundamental principles of nanotechnology in an accessible format, describe examples of current clinical infectious diseases and public health applications, and provide a foundation that will aid understanding of and appreciation for this burgeoning and important field of science.

EPOS 4 Patients

EPOS2020 is the 4th and most recent version of the European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps which was first published in 2005. It aims to provide the most up to date scientifically robust information on the topic published in the literature which has been critically analysed by an international group of clinicians drawn from all disciplines dealing with these problems together with patients. The guidelines offer evidence-based recommendations and care pathways for acute and chronic rhinosinusitis in both adults and children. Management of these diseases from the patients' perspective is an important part of EPOS2020. Not only is this included in the main document but, for the first time, we have produced a separate supplement dedicated to and in collaboration with patients, EPOS4Patients, which aims to provide information in an accessible format, to answer frequently asked questions about these diseases and their treatment options as well as including useful patient resources and websites. It has never been more important for patients to be actively involved in their care. Being well informed helps you to make the best decisions together with your doctor.

A unified resource and configurable model of the synapse proteome and its role in disease

Genes encoding synaptic proteins are highly associated with neuronal disorders many of which show clinical co-morbidity. We integrated 58 published synaptic proteomic datasets that describe over 8000 proteins and combined them with direct protein–protein interactions and functional metadata to build a network resource that reveals the shared and unique protein components that underpin multiple disorders. All the data are provided in a flexible and accessible format to encourage custom use.

IntelliRehabDS (IRDS)—A Dataset of Physical Rehabilitation Movements

In this article, we present a dataset that comprises different physical rehabilitation movements. The dataset was captured as part of a research project intended to provide automatic feedback on the execution of rehabilitation exercises, even in the absence of a physiotherapist. A Kinect motion sensor camera was used to record gestures. The dataset contains repetitions of nine gestures performed by 29 subjects, out of which 15 were patients and 14 were healthy controls. The data are presented in an easily accessible format, provided as 3D coordinates of 25 body joints along with the corresponding depth map for each frame. Each movement was annotated with the gesture type, the position of the person performing the gesture (sitting or standing) as well as a correctness label. The data are publicly available and were released with to provide a comprehensive dataset that can be used for assessing the performance of different patients while performing simple movements in a rehabilitation setting and for comparing these movements with a control group of healthy individuals.

From prose to poetry: retelling the experiences of children with autism navigating around a school to promote empathy and understanding

PurposeThe purpose of this paper was to describe the experiences of four children with autism spectrum disorder navigating around the corridors of an unfamiliar school and translate the findings into poetic format. Poetry could provide a more accessible format to a nonacademic audience and promote empathy and understanding about this population.Design/methodology/approachEach participant was shown a route from the start point to the destination by the researcher then asked to lead the way there. Post-study, participants were interviewed for their perceptions and feelings about navigating.FindingsParticipants' responses and behaviors differed, e.g. some were stimulated by colors, some noticed small details and some were distracted. Poetic translation vividly emphasized these behaviors and emotions.Originality/valueFew studies have described how children with autism navigate the built environment or asked their opinion about navigating. None in the field have used poetic translation to explore data.

SleepUp, a Digital Therapeutics Platform for Insomnia

Background: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBTi) is the gold-standard treatment for chronic insomnia. Although effective, CBTi is not easily accessible due to a shortage of specialized professionals and high treatment costs. Online CBTi (CBTi-O) has been proposed as a more accessible and affordable treatment option. CBTi and CBTi-O are equally effective, and some apps have already been approved by regulatory agencies in USA (Somryst™) and UK (Sleepio™). Objetives: SleepUp is a digital therapeutics solution for insomnia, intended to provide evidence-based treatment in an easily accessible format. Methods: The treatment program is based on CBTi-O, composed by seven therapeutic modules (sleep hygiene, relaxation and meditation, psychoeducation, stimulus control, cognitive restructuring, sleep restriction and paradoxical intention). Users are monitored with a sleep log and validated questionnaires assessing insomnia symptoms, sleepiness, sleep quality and sleep hygiene. Additional therapy modules are included, encompassing mindfulness and other meditation techniques. For refractory cases or for those with comorbidities, remote appointments with medical doctors and psychologists specialized in sleep medicine are available. Results: SleepUp is an early-stage startup and its solutions for sleep and insomnia are being constantly developed and improved. The app is already available in Brazil and USA, both for Android™ and IOS™ devices. Preliminary results demonstrate that the treatment is effective, reducing insomnia symptoms in 28%, (n=1700), improving sleep hygiene scores in 32% (n=100) and increasing sleep efficiency in 16% (n=2500). Conclusion: SleepUp aims at providing a more accessible alternative to the treatment of insomnia, based on CBTI-O, an effective and safe therapeutic approach.

Concise Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain

Harry Parkin Over 43,000 entries ‘“What’s in a name?” Juliet asked as she and Romeo tried to puzzle their way around the troubling problem of their warring families. Well, plenty, the most detailed investigation into surnames in the UK and Ireland has found.’ Steven Morris, The Guardian (of The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland) This new dictionary provides up-to date and authoritative explanations of family names found in Britain. It is an edited version of The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names of Britain and Ireland, published to great acclaim in 2016, which provided evidence for the origins, history, and geographical distribution of tens of thousands of family names current in Britain, many of them never explained before. The Concise Dictionary includes almost all the names originally covered, plus some additional rarer names, in a more concise and accessible format, and will be a key research tool for those investigating their family history. Each entry includes British frequencies and main locations as evidenced in the 1881 Census, as well as etymological detail and variants of the name. It tells you what type of name it is – perhaps an occupational name such as Taylor, or a nickname such as Short – the name’s original language and culture, and any multiple origins.

The Oxford Handbook of Isaiah

The book of Isaiah is without doubt one of the most important books in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, as evidenced by its pride of place in both Jewish and Christian traditions as well as in art and music. Most people, scholars and laity alike, are familiar with the words of Isaiah accompanied by the magnificent tones of Handel’s ‘Messiah’. Isaiah is also one of the most complex books due to its variety and plurality, and it has accordingly been the focus of scholarly debate for the last 2000 years. Divided into eight sections, The Oxford Handbook of Isaiah constitutes a collection of essays on one of the longest books in the Bible. They cover different aspects regarding the formation, interpretations, and reception of the book of Isaiah, and also offer up-to-date information in an attractive and easily accessible format. The result does not represent a unified standpoint; rather the individual contributions mirror the wide and varied spectrum of scholarly engagement with the book. The authors of the essays likewise represent a broad range of scholarly traditions from diverse continents and religious affiliations, accompanied by comprehensive recommendations for further reading.

The Marrakesh Treaty

According to the World Blind Union, only 7% of the world’s published books are ever made into an accessible format. This article examines the development of a treaty lead by the World Intellectual Property Organization with hopes of removing some of the barriers to access across the globe. Through explaining the development and history of what became known simply as the Marrakesh Treaty, this article highlights the initial publicity, human rights issues, and lawmaking battles that lead to the United States ultimately agreeing to participate.

Oxford Specialist Handbook: Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Our understanding of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) disorders, a group of clonal haematological malignancies characterized by excessive accumulation of one or more myeloid cell lineages, has grown considerably over the past four decades. Even more importantly is the speed at which many of these findings were translated to accord survival benefits to our patients with MPN, in particular chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), polycythaemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythaemia (ET), and primary myelofibrosis (PMF). This text offers a detailed evidence-based guide to MPN in an easily accessible format, structure to facilitate learning specialist information presenting core information in ‘bite size’ chunks. Each chapter summarizes the state-of-the art preclinical and clinical knowledge, and its impact on the clinical management of patients with MPN.