cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
Can routinely collected electronic health data be used to develop novel healthcare associated infection surveillance tools?
Creators: name: King, Carina
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2012

description: Background: Healthcare associated infections (HCAI) pose a significant burden to health systems both within the UK and internationally. Surveillance is an essential component to any infection control programme, however traditional surveillance systems are time consuming and costly. Large amounts of electronic routine data are collected within the English NHS, yet these are not currently exploited for HCAI surveillance. Aim: To investigate whether routinely collected electronic hospital data can be exploited for HCAI surveillance within the NHS. Methods: This thesis made use of local linked electronic health data from Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, including information on patient admissions, discharges, diagnoses, procedures, laboratory tests, diagnostic imaging requests and traditional infection surveillance data. To establish the evidence base on surveillance and risks of HCAI, two literature reviews were carried out. Based on these, three types of innovative surveillance tools were generated and assessed for their utility and applicability. Results: The key findings were firstly the emerging importance of automated and syndromic surveillance in infection surveillance, but the lack of investigation and application of these tools within the NHS. Syndromic surveillance of surgical site infections was successful in coronary artery bypass graft patients; however it was an inappropriate methodology for caesarean section patients. Automated case detection of healthcare associated urinary tract infections, based on electronic microbiology data, demonstrated similar rates of infection to those recorded during a point prevalence survey. Routine administrative data demonstrated mixed utility in the creation of simplified risk scores or infection, with poorly performing risk models of surgical site infections but reasonable model fit for HCA UTI. Conclusion: Whilst in principle routine administrative data can be used to generate novel surveillance tools for healthcare associated infections; in reality it is not yet practical within the IT infrastructure of the NHS.
Diversity-Management in Pflegeteams – Entwicklung der Zusammenarbeit in interprofessionellen Teams1
Creators: name: Hauswirth, Petra
Publisher: name: Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz FHNW
Year: 2016
Subjects: Diversitymanagement
Teamrollen
Identifikation
Teamentwicklung
berufliche Identität
Profession

description: Das Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit ist es zu untersuchen, wie die drei Berufsgruppen Fachfrauen/Fachmänner Gesundheit EFZ, Pflegefachpersonen HF und Pflegefachpersonen FH mit Diversity-Aspekten in der interprofessionellen Zusammenarbeit umgehen und welche Faktoren darauf einwirken. Aufgrund einer Dokumentenanalyse wurden die drei Berufsprofile miteinander verglichen und zueinander in Verbindung gebracht. Basierend auf den theoretisch ausgearbeiteten Erkenntnissen wurden jeweils drei Berufsangehörige der untersuchten Berufsgruppen sowie drei Teamleitungen in Experteninterviews befragt. Die Untersuchungsergebnisse zeigen, dass die untersuchten Betriebe bereits grosse Anstrengungen unternommen haben, um den Diversity- Aspekten zu begegnen, die Berufsbilder der Fachfrauen/Fachmänner Gesundheit und der Pflegefachpersonen FH jedoch noch nicht vollständig etabliert sind. Es wird weiteres Optimierungspotential festgestellt, insbesondere in den Bereichen der interprofessionellen Kommunikation und der Differenzierung innerhalb des Kompetenzmanagements.
Sustainability assessment in strategic management of wastewater transport system: a case study in Trondheim, Norway
Creators: name: Beheshti, Maryam
name: Sægrov, Sveinung
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: Space Science
subject: Medicine
subject: 59999 Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Earth and related environmental sciences
subject: 39999 Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Chemical sciences
subject: Ecology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Science Policy

description: Sewer networks represent high value in water infrastructure assets and it is important to develop and operate them by specified sustainable management. This paper presents the results of a sustainability analysis on the wastewater transport system of Trondheim, Norway, for future planning (2014–2040) from a metabolism-based performance analysis by the Dynamic Metabolism Model (DMM). The aim of this work is to demonstrate a methodology for comparing different pathways toward a sustainable management of wastewater systems. For this purpose, four intervention strategies ‘infiltration and inflow reduction’, ‘increasing rehabilitation rate’, ‘extension of system regarding population growth’, ‘energy management’ along with different combinations of them have been analysed. The results of this study may give some support to decision-makers in wastewater departments. In practice, to achieve strategic level planning of sustainable sewer asset management, it is vital to assess different aspects of sustainability and manage them in a comprehensive system.
Investigation into AMPK phosphatases and identification and characterisation of the interaction between AMPK and PAK1
Creators: name: Zhang, Shuai
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2013

description: Abstract AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) plays important roles in the regulation of energy homeostasis and has been implicated in a number of diseases including diabetes and cancer. Obtaining a full picture of AMPK signalling is important for the understanding of these disease states and the development of novel therapies. AMPK is activated by phosphorylation of T-172 within the α catalytic subunit. While a number of AMPK upstream kinases have been identified, identification of the AMPK phosphatase has proved elusive. In the first part of this thesis, the identity of the AMPK phosphatase(s) was investigated. The data presented shows that treatment of mammalian cells with the protein phosphatase (PPP) family inhibitor Calyculin-A caused marked increases in AMPK activity. These results indicate that one or more of the AMPK phosphatases belong to the PPP family, with the concentration profile pointing towards PP1 involvement. However, using siRNA based techniques; it was not possible to pinpoint the specific phosphatase(s) that dephosphorylates AMPK. Our results, combined with recently published studies, suggest that regulation of AMPK dephosphorylation is a complex process with involvement of different protein phosphatases depending on cell-type and/or conditions of cell stress. Next, quantitative mass spectrometry techniques were utilised in order to identify AMPK interacting proteins. From the list of candidate interactors, the interaction between AMPK and the PAK1 signalling complex was characterised. AMPK directly phosphorylated PAK1 on Ser-21 leading to its activation. Activation of AMPK in mammalian cells led to increased activity and phosphorylation of endogenous PAK1. PAK1 activity/phosphorylation was reduced in cortical neurons derived from AMPK α1 knockout mice compared to wild-type neurons. Furthermore, activation of AMPK with A769662 in melanoma cell-lines significantly increased cell invasion and this effect was abolished by the PAK1 inhibitor, IPA3. These results show that PAK1 is an AMPK substrate and suggest that at least part of the effects of AMPK on axonogenesis and tumour formation is mediated through PAK1 signalling. In addition to the effects of AMPK on PAK1, PAK1 was shown to directly phosphorylate the AMPK α1 subunit at Thr-377 and Ser-403/405. This phosphorylation was able to further increase the activity of CaMKKβ phosphorylated AMPK. This finding adds a novel layer of control to the regulation of AMPK.
Investigation into the role of monocyte tumour necrosis factor-alpha converting enzyme as a regulator of the inflammatory response in sepsis
Creators: name: O’Callaghan, David John Patrick
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2013

description: Sepsis consists of both the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and the compensatory anti-inflammatory response syndrome (CARS). How these differential response states are regulated is yet to be fully elucidated. Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) is one of the principal cytokines involved in mediating SIRS. TNF is released from cells by tumour necrosis factor-alpha converting enzyme (TACE), this enzyme is responsible for the ectodomain cleavage of a number of other substrates relevant to inflammation including both TNF receptors and the adhesion molecule L-selectin. How TACE contributes to, and functions in, SIRS and CARS is not yet known. My objective was to investigate TACE activity and associated substrate shedding in monocytes, specifically how the enzyme behaved in the context of in vitro models that I designed to induce states of priming and tolerance. I then obtained in vivo samples from critically ill patients to determine whether there were similarities between the TACE activity profiles found in patient cells, and volunteer cells placed in the in vitro models. My aims were: 1) Determine how TACE activity profiles were altered when sequential inflammatory stimuli were utilised in a two-hit model of sepsis designed to induce states of priming and tolerance and 2) To perform a clinical study to investigate TACE behaviour in the context of critical illness. I successfully refined a method of isolating primary monocytes from healthy volunteers and patients that allowed determination of TACE activity profiles. Furthermore, I demonstrated that the LPS-TACE axis was reset in the context of a two-hit LPS model and in sepsis. I found evidence of differential signalling pathway reprogramming in monocytes taken from patients with infectious and non-infectious SIRS. Finally, I demonstrated that the monocyte TACE response to LPS is dependent on cell contact. These data provide new insights into monocyte inflammatory function during the immune response.
Different balancing methods for Net Zero Energy Buildings - Impact of time steps, grid interaction and weighting factors
Creators: name: Hall, Monika
name: Geissler, Achim
Publisher: name: Elsevier
Year: 2017
Subjects: self-consumption
grid interactioin
energy balance
primary energy
net zero energy building

description: Adding large photovoltaic systems to buildings is becoming more and more popular. To date, the self-consumption/grid interaction is not typically part of the energy balance. The choice of symmetric or asymmetric primary energy factors has an impact on the balance. The primary energy factor for import from the grid depends on the chosen type of the power mix in the grid. If this factor is higher/lower than the primary energy factor of the on-site PV-system, a larger/smaller PV system than when using symmetrical factors is required in order to fulfil the NZEB balance.
The role of microRNAs in the endometrium
Creators: name: Shah, Kunal Mukesh
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2012

description: Decidualization of the endometrium is essential for successful pregnancy and in human females of reproductive age, it occurs every month following the post-ovulatory rise in progesterone levels. The decidualization of primary human endometrial stromal cells (hESCs) can be recapitulated by treatment with cAMP and progestins, which results in changes in gene expression that give rise to phenotypes that favour implantation and survival of the conceptus. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a diverse class of small, non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally and have important roles in many biological processes. Expression profiling revealed several miRNAs to be regulated during decidualization, and alterations in miRNA pathway components were also found. Although induction of Dicer suggested increased capacity to produce mature miRNAs, endogenous miRNA silencing became restricted upon decidualization of hESCs due to the down-regulation of the Argonaute proteins, catalytic components of the RNAinduced silencing complex. This was reflected in the regulation of miRNA target genes, which only appeared to be subject to miRNA-dependent regulation in undifferentiated hESCs. Moreover, the regulation of the androgen receptor (AR), a nuclear hormone receptor known to modulate the expression of a subset of decidual genes, was not dependent on miRNAs during decidualization. Rather, an RNA binding protein, poly(C)- binding protein 1 (PCBP1), regulated AR expression in hESCs during decidualization and in LNCaP cells. Additionally, decidualizing hESCs export miRNAs in exosome-sized vesicles that can be taken up by a variety of cells, including trophoblast and vascular cells, representing a novel mode of communication that may coordinate responses across different cell types at the feto-maternal interface.
Evaluation of Public Health approaches of obesity prevention and management in England: lessons learned for Brunei
Creators: name: Haji Mohamad Tuah, Anni
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2011

description: Tackling obesity is a major public health challenge. Obesity strategy and policy in England has been heavily criticised for being ineffective in tackling the problem of obesity. Although many studies have evaluated interventions for obesity, there is no clear evidence about which interventions are effective in the prevention and management of obesity in primary care and community settings. The main purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of current public health approaches for obesity prevention and management, in particular focusing on behaviour change models as intervention and also policy actions implemented at local level (primary care trusts) in England. It also intended to identify obesity strategies relevant to Brunei as lessons learned from England. The methods used were systematic review, policy analysis and validation. The main finding of this study had shown that the ‘Transtheoretical model stages of change’ used in combination with diet and physical activity has limited impact on weight loss (about 2 kg or less) and there was no conclusive evidence for sustainable weight loss beyond 12 months. In addition, there were significant variations found in obesity strategies implemented by primary care trusts in north-west London based on analysis using the Imperial College Obesity Strategy Assessment Framework. The key lesson learned for Brunei from England’s experiences was the development and application of Brunei-IC-OSAF that contributed to the formulation of ‘comprehensive obesity policy’ for Brunei. The tool had identified strengths and weaknesses of the existing obesity strategies implemented in the country. The outcomes of the study contributed to the existing evidence about what works in tackling obesity in public health settings, informing better pathway development and commissioning decisions.
Automatisierung von Systemtests im industriellen Umfeld
Creators: name: Kellner, Anja
name: Kropp, Martin
Publisher: name: Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz FHNW
Year: 2011
Subjects: subject: Automatisches Testen
subject: Messtechnik
subject: Softwareentwicklung
subject: 600 - Technik
subject: 005 - Computer Programmierung, Programme und Daten

description: Continuous Integration Umgebungen werden in der Regel im Software-Entwicklungszyklus für die kontinuierliche Integration der Software eingesetzt. In diesem Artikel zeigen wir, dass sich solche Systeme auch hervorragend für die Realisierung von automatisierten Testinfrastrukturen im industriellen Umfeld eignen. Im vorliegenden Anwendungsfall wird damit eine fast vollständig automatisierte System- und Akzeptanztestumgebung von Softwareprodukten zur Überwachung und Steuerung von Messtechnik-Sensoren erreicht.
Investigating the CaMKKβ signalling pathway and its role in the regulation of blood pressure
Creators: name: Zhao, Jiexin
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2014

description: Calcium/Calmodulin dependent protein kinase kinase beta (CaMKKβ) is a serine/threonine kinase involved in the Calcium/Calmodulin dependent protein kinase (CaMK) cascade. In 2005, CaMKKβ was shown to phosphorylate and activate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a master regulator of metabolism. Activation of AMPK has previously been reported to inhibit vascular smooth muscle myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation. The phosphorylation state of MLC in smooth muscle is known to directly control the contractility of blood vessels and the maintenance of blood pressure. This thesis describes the characterisation of the global CaMKKβ knockout (CaMKK KO) mice, as well as the investigation of CaMKKβ signalling pathways involved in blood pressure regulation using CaMKK KO mice in a model of lipopolysaccharide induced septic shock. Septic shock is a syndrome defined by persistently reduced blood pressure despite fluid resuscitation leading to multiple organ failure resulting from overwhelming infection. Using implantable telemetry probes, aortic blood pressure was recorded in age matched male wild-type (WT) and CaMKK KO mice under both basal conditions and during lipopolysaccharide induced septic shock. In mice with global deletion of CaMKKβ, basal blood pressure was found to be increased compared to their WT littermates. In addition, when treated with intraperitoneally injected bacterial lipopolysaccharide, the lack of CaMKKβ appears to confer protection against hypotension, with significantly higher blood pressure seen in CaMKK KO mice, as well as improved mobility and general physiological state, compared to WT mice. To investigate the mechanism for the increased blood pressure in CaMKK KO mice, aorta lysate MLC kinase activity and MLC phosphorylation were measured and found to be increased in lipopolysaccharide treated CaMKK KO mice compared to WT mice. In contrast to a recent independent study, no indication of altered inflammatory response was found in CaMKK KO mice compared to WT littermates following intraperitoneal lipopolysaccharide injection. Ex vivo lipopolysaccharide treatment induced similar levels of nitric oxide production and phagocytosis in primary peritoneal macrophages isolated from WT and CaMKK KO mice. In summary, CaMKKβ appears to be involved in the regulation of blood pressure. Loss of CaMKKβ in mice protects against septic shock through increased phosphorylation of MLC and the maintenance of blood pressure. Currently, septic shock is associated with a high mortality rate despite the available pharmacological treatments; inhibition of CaMKKβ could provide an alternative strategy to assist with the maintenance of blood pressure during sepsis.
Recognition of colonic dysplasia at colonoscopy using advanced technology
Creators: name: Ignjatovic, Ana
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2011

description: Colonoscopy remains the gold standard for detection of dysplasia in the colon. Resection of dysplasia at colonoscopy has been shown to reduce the subsequent risk of colorectal cancer. With the recent advent of National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme the number of colonoscopies performed in the United Kingdom has increased significantly. In addition, the recent drive for quality improvement has resulted in increased number of dysplastic lesions detected, resected and sent for histopathology. This has led to substantial increases in the cost associated with the procedure. This thesis investigates how advanced technology can improve detection and characterisation of dysplasia at colonoscopy, potentially contributing to time and cost savings. The introduction reviews the literature on dysplasia detection at colonoscopy, both in terms of basic withdrawal technique and how advanced technology can help reduce miss rates. The significance of small colorectal polyps is reviewed and the accuracy of recent colonoscopic technologies in polyp characterization considered. Three studies examined detection of dysplasia: a small randomized control trial showed that magnetic endoscope imager did not improve caecal intubation or dysplasia detection rates in selected patients when used by experienced colonoscopists. Two studies, one of which was in patients with long standing colitis, did not demonstrate the benefit of narrow band imaging for detection of dysplasia. A cohort study revealed that in vivo characterization of dysplasia can be done accurately and is feasible in routine clinical practice although the inter-observer agreement is moderate at best as assessed by a retrospective study. A computer algorithm was devised to attempt to reduce the inter-observer variability and has shown promising results in a pilot study. A training module on the use of narrow band imaging in characterization was developed and validated leading to improved accuracy and reduced variability amongst the participants. Finally, a quality assurance study confirmed that the still photographs of polyps are adequate record of optical diagnosis.
Emotion regulation choice: the role of environmental affordances
Creators: name: Gaurav Suri
name: Sheppes, Gal
name: Young, Gerald
name: Abraham, Damon
name: Kateri McRae
name: Gross, James J.
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: Neuroscience
subject: Developmental Biology
subject: 111714 Mental Health
subject: FOS: Health sciences

description: Which emotion regulation strategy one uses in a given context can have profound affective, cognitive, and social consequences. It is therefore important to understand the determinants of emotion regulation choice. Many prior studies have examined person-specific, internal determinants of emotion regulation choice. Recently, it has become clear that external variables that are properties of the stimulus can also influence emotion regulation choice. In the present research, we consider whether reappraisal affordances, defined as the opportunities for re-interpretation of a stimulus that are inherent in that stimulus, can shape individuals’ emotion regulation choices. We show that reappraisal affordances have stability across people and across time (Study 1), and are confounded with emotional intensity for a standardised set of picture stimuli (Study 2). Since emotional intensity has been shown to drive emotion regulation choice, we construct a context in which emotional intensity is separable from reappraisal affordances (Study 3) and use this context to show that reappraisal affordances powerfully influence emotion regulation choice even when emotional intensity and discrete emotions are taken into account (Study 4).
Interplay between Polycomb repression and RNA Polymerase II in Embryonic stem cells
Creators: name: Morris, Kelly Jane
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2012

description: RNA Polymerase II (RNAPII) transcribes protein-coding and small structural genes, and its functions are critical for appropriate gene regulation in the cell. Post-translational modifications of RNAPII integrate transcription, chromatin modification and co-transcriptional RNA processing to allow correct and efficient gene expression. Lineage-specific genes have complex regulation in Embryonic Stem (ES) cells. They are repressed by Polycomb-repressive complexes (PRC) but primed with RNAPII complexes that have atypical modification, and occupy promoter and coding regions, in the absence Serine2 phosphorylation (Brookes et al., 2012) suggesting chromatin modification and RNA processing may be compromised. Low-level transcription has been detected at a panel of PRC-repressed genes (Stock et al., 2007) but little else is known about the transcriptional activity of RNAPII at these genes, to shed light on the mechanisms of PRC repression. I have investigated features of RNAPII transcription in ES cells focussing on understanding transcription at PRC-repressed genes. To capture nascent transcripts, I optimised RNA-ChIP using RNAPII antibodies to extract RNA associated with chromatin at active and PRC-repressed genes. Genome-wide analysis by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) showed that PRC-repressed genes are transcribed throughout coding regions, and in a sense orientation, but at lower levels than expected from RNAPII abundance detected by DNA-ChIP. Promoter-associated antisense transcription is lacking, in contrast to active genes. Minimal transcript capping and lack of RNAPII transcription beyond transcription end sites (TES) at PRC-repressed genes suggest multiple regulatory mechanisms may accompany PRC repression, which are linked with compromised RNA processing. Exosome regulates a proportion of PRC-repressed genes at the level of transcription and capping although the extent of involvement is still under scrutiny. The present work and ongoing analysis add valuable information to help elucidate mechanisms of gene regulation associated with Polycomb repression to increase our knowledge of pluripotency and ES cell biology.
Advanced methods for mapping the radiofrequency magnetic fields in MRI
Creators: name: Padormo, Francesco
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2012

description: As MRI systems have increased in static magnetic field strength, the radiofrequency (RF) fields that are used for magnetisation excitation and signal reception have become significantly less uniform. This can lead to image artifacts and errors when performing quantitative MRI. A further complication arises if the RF fields vary substantially in time. In the first part of this investigation temporal variations caused by respiration were explored on a 3T scanner. It was found that fractional changes in transmit field amplitude between inhalation and expiration ranged from 1% to 14% in the region of the liver in a small group of normal subjects. This observation motivated the development of a pulse sequence and reconstruction method to allow dynamic observation of the transmit field throughout the respiratory cycle. However, the proposed method was unsuccessful due to the inherently time-consuming nature of transmit field mapping sequences. This prompted the development of a novel data reconstruction method to allow the acceleration of transmit field mapping sequences. The proposed technique posed the RF field reconstruction as a nonlinear least-squares optimisation problem, exploiting the fact that the fields vary smoothly. It was shown that this approach was superior to standard reconstruction approaches. The final component of this thesis presents a unified approach to RF field calibration. The proposed method uses all measured data to estimate both transmit and receive sensitivities, whilst simultaneously insisting that they are smooth functions of space. The resulting maps are robust to both noise and imperfections in regions of low signal.
Generation of disease-relevant neurons from human pluripotent stem cells
Creators: name: Arber, Charles
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2012

description: This thesis describes investigations into exogenous factors that influence fate-choices during human pluripotent stem cell (PSC) differentiation in vitro. I describe novel growth factor environments and small molecule regimes that provide patterning signals enabling directed differentiation of human PSCs towards biomedically relevant neurons. I provide evidence that the TGFβ growth factor Activin can promote ventral telencephalic differentiation. Small adjustments in Activin administration can produce an over-representation of forebrain derived medium spiny neurons and cortical interneurons, with significance in Huntington’s disease and epilepsy respectively. Additionally, I manipulate the earliest growth factor environments of PSC differentiation to lead to broad changes in rostro-caudal patterning. Inhibiting FGF signalling leads to a midbrain-like phenotype that can be further differentiated towards a ventral midbrain dopaminergic fate, a cell type that degenerates in Parkinson’s disease. Our novel manipulations and differentiation protocols provide insights into early events in human development, which would otherwise be impossible to study. This logic can also be applied to investigate diseased states during human development and ageing via use of disease-specific cell lines. The mature neurons produced may provide a tool that can be applied to large-scale drug screening assays and toxicology testing as well as having the potential for cell based therapies in future years.
Mathematical modelling for assessing HIV epidemics and the impact of interventions in Latin America
Creators: name: Vesga, Juan Fernando
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2014

description: Latin America is a region of diversity, inequality, poverty and an outstanding capacity to remain stable despite these challenges. The HIV epidemic in the region resembles these same characteristics, with a wide range of risk behaviours, a disproportionate burden in vulnerable groups and yet perhaps a highly effective response. Brazil and Colombia have extensively deployed prevention strategies and delivered antiretroviral treatment and there are still further expansions in sight. However, the likely impact of these HIV programmes on the epidemic has never been evaluated. This thesis addresses these gaps by retrospectively evaluating the impact of antiretroviral treatment and prevention campaigns on new HIV infections. This is done by means of mathematical models that represent HIV transmission in these settings and which creates a counterfactual projection for the trajectory the epidemic might otherwise have taken. These estimations are interpreted in the context of ambitious plans to scale treatment further, along with a growing realisation of the long-term costs that these programmes imply. Tracking the epidemic is essential for the evaluation of programmes in the next phase of the response. To support this, a new method for incidence estimation is proposed. This method relies exclusively on case-report data, which is robust in these settings, and a flexible model specification that should be suitable for a wide range of epidemic scenarios. The parameters for the model are estimated in Bayesian framework and applied to the case study of Colombia. These resulting estimates of the historic course of the epidemic in Colombia are strikingly different to that which has previously been estimated and casts new light on the nature of epidemics in this region and the response to it that is now required. Overall, these results stand as the first analysis of this kind in the region and present useful results and methods that should support a continued effective response to HIV epidemic in this region.
A life course study of quality of life at older ages in a French occupational cohort
Creators: name: Platts, Loretta Grace
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2014

description: Background and aims. This thesis took a life course approach to examining inequalities in quality of life in early old age using the French occupational cohort GAZEL. The cohort combines company administrative records with information from annual questionnaires for 20 625 electricity and gas industry employees. The thesis aimed to examine whether current circumstances, retirement routes, mid-life working conditions or occupational grade were associated with subjective quality of life, measured with CASP-19, in retired participants. Results. Cross-sectional and change analyses using multiple regression demonstrated that social support, financial adequacy and, above all, mental and physical health were strongly associated with quality of life. There was a graded relationship between occupational grade in mid-life and quality of life following labour market exit, a relationship which was largely accounted for by health and financial circumstances in retirement. After adjusting for occupational grade and social class, exposures to physical hazards and ergonomic strain were associated with lower quality of life following retirement; accumulated exposures to carcinogens were not. Pathways from working conditions to poorer quality of life via physical and mental health accounted for the associations between earlier strenuous and dangerous working conditions and quality of life following retirement. Retiring tended to improve subjective quality of life, particularly if it was from difficult psychosocial working conditions. Retiring in ill health was associated with worse quality of life; this retirement route was more likely for individuals who had poor working conditions. Continuing professional activities after retirement was associated with better quality of life, a retirement route more likely for individuals working in higher grades. Conclusions. The thesis demonstrated small but persistent life course influences of employment characteristics upon quality of life which appeared to be mediated via current determinants of quality of life.
Pharma coding final.docx
Creators: name: Hajjar, Rima
name: Bassatne, Aya
name: Cheaito, Mohamad Ali
name: Dine, Rabie Naser El
name: Traboulsy, Sarah
name: Haddadin, Fadi
name: Honein-AbouHaidar, Gladys
name: Akl, Elie A.
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: 220106 Medical Ethics
subject: FOS: Health sciences

description: Characterizing the interaction between physicians, pharmacists and pharmaceutical representatives in a middle-income country: A qualitative study
Spectroscopic, electrochemical and X-ray crystallographic properties of a novel palladium(II) complex of thioamide deprotonated di-2-pyridyl ketone thiosemicarbazone (dpktsc-H)-
Creators: name: Bakir, Mohammed
name: Lawrence, Mark A. W.
name: Marhoun Ferhat
name: Conry, Rebecca R.
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: Biophysics
subject: Biochemistry
subject: 59999 Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Earth and related environmental sciences
subject: 39999 Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Chemical sciences
subject: Cancer

description: The reaction between di-2-pyridyl ketone thiosemicarbazone (dpktsc) and PdCl2(CH3CN)2, generated in situ from the reaction between PdCl2 and CH3CN, gave the unprecedented [Pd2Cl3(κ5-Npy,Nim,S,Npy,Nam-dpktsc-H)]·2CH3CN (1) complex (py = pyridine, im = imine and am = amide). The identity of 1 was confirmed via its elemental analysis and spectroscopic properties. Infrared and 1H-NMR spectra confirmed the coordination of (dpktsc-H)- to the palladium ions. The electronic absorption spectra measured in dmso and dmf and density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT), d-d and intra-ligand charge-transfer (ILCT) electronic transitions. X-ray structural analysis on a crystal of [Pd2Cl3(κ5-Npy,Nim,S,Npy,Nam-dpktsc-H)]·H2O (2) grown from dmf solution of 1 confirmed the formulation and showed that the solid-state structure contains a web of molecules locked via a network of non-covalent interactions. Electrochemical measurements on 1 in dmf revealed metal- and ligand-based redox processes. In contrast to the electrochemical decomposition of uncoordinated dpktsc, coordinated (dpktsc-H)- in 1 does not undergo electrochemical decomposition. Electrochemical titrations of 1 with p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate (p-TSOH) revealed electro-catalytic proton reduction. Over-potential (η) of 180 mV for the H2 evolution was observed and is comparable to several molecular electro-catalysts for proton reduction. Controlled-potential electrolysis confirmed the electro-catalytic proton reduction by the Pd-complex. Electrochemical reactions of CO2 in the presence of 1 exhibited a proton dependence and a metal- and ligand-based electrochemical reaction.
Memory, trauma and post-conflict peacebuilding
Creators: name: Veljanoska, Dragana
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2020
Subjects: peacebuilding
collective memory
Yugoslavia

description: The socio-psychological aspects of peacebuilding are crucial, and different psychological factors play major role in that process. On the level of a whole society, the conflict may re-escalate without reconciliation. The negative socio-psychological repertoire with it's rigidity plays an important role in these cycles of conflicts. It is, therefore of vital necessity to change this repertoire, in order to establish new relations between the rival groups.
McClung et al SI including complete methods, coding, and statistical analysis details from The language of cooperation: shared intentionality drives variation in helping as a function of group membership
Creators: name: McClung, Jennifer Susan
name: Placì, Sarah
name: Bangerter, Adrian
name: Clément, Fabrice
name: Redouan Bshary
Publisher: name: The Royal Society
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: 170299 Cognitive Science not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Psychology
subject: 60801 Animal Behaviour
subject: FOS: Biological sciences

description: While we know that the degree to which humans are able to cooperate is unrivalled by other species, the variation humans actually display in their cooperative behaviour has yet to be fully explained. This may be because research based on experimental game-theoretical studies neglects fundamental aspects of human sociality and psychology, namely social interaction and language. Using a new optimal foraging game loosely modelled on the prisoner's dilemma, the Egg Hunt, we categorized players as either in-group or out-group to each other and studied their spontaneous language usage while they made interactive, potentially cooperative decisions. Both shared group membership and the possibility to talk led to increased cooperation and overall success in the hunt. Notably, analysis of players' conversations showed that in-group members engaged more in shared intentionality, the human ability to both mentally represent and then adopt another's goal, whereas out-group members discussed individual goals more. Females also helped more and displayed more shared intentionality in discussions than males. Crucially, we show that shared intentionality was the mechanism driving the increase in helping between in-group players over out-group players at a cost to themselves. By studying spontaneous language during social interactions and isolating shared intentionality as the mechanism underlying successful cooperation, the current results point to a probable psychological source of the variation in cooperation humans display.
Future People’s Rights
Creators: name: Schnüriger, Hubert
Publisher: name: Routledge
Year: 2017
Subjects: Nachhaltigkeit
zukünftige Generationen
Rechte

description: Es wird gelegentlich bestritten, dass zukünftig lebende Menschen gegenüber jetzt lebenden Menschen Rechte haben können. Der Beitrag zeigt, dass die vorgebrachten Argumente nicht zu überzeugen vermögen und es durchaus sinnvoll ist, zukünftig lebenden Menschen Rechte zuzuschreiben, die unser gegenwärtiges Handeln binden.
Mobile phone text messaging data collection on care-seeking for childhood diarrhoea and pneumonia in rural China: a mixed methods study
Creators: name: Van Velthoven, Helena Maria Marcella Theodora
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2014

description: Background. Health information systems are inadequate in many countries. For childhood diarrhoea and pneumonia specifically, the leading infectious causes of child mortality worldwide, current data collection methods are not providing sufficient information for surveillance. The collection of health data could be greatly assisted with the use of mobile devices (mHealth). Mobile phone text messaging is widely used, but its potential for health data collection has not yet been realised. Aim. To explore the application of mHealth-based collection of information relevant to childhood diarrhoea and pneumonia in rural China. Methods. A mixed methods approach was used: (i) a survey and semi-structured interviews to assess the usage of mobile phones by caregivers of young children; (ii) cognitive interviews, usability testing and a cluster randomised cross-over study to determine the validity of a text messaging survey on care-seeking for childhood diarrhoea and pneumonia; and (iii) researchers’ observations and structured interviews with participants of the cross-over study to evaluate factors influencing participation in mHealth-based studies. Results. Many of the 1854 survey participants (1620; 87.4%) used mobile phones. Of 1014 participants in the cross-over study, 662 (65.3%) responded to the first text message. Of 651 participants willing to participate, 356 (54.7%) completed the text messaging survey. Overall, text message data were moderately to substantially equivalent to face-to-face data. The text messaging survey was acceptable to parents, but grandparents were often unable to use text messages. Among many factors influencing participation were trust, perceived usefulness and ease of use. Conclusions. Text messaging can be applied to collect data on care-seeking for childhood diarrhoea and pneumonia in rural China, but several questions remain, including how to improve accuracy and response rates. Further work needs to advance innovative mHealth-based data collection methods that can improve health surveillance, enhance implementation of appropriate interventions and ultimately save children’s lives.
Supplementary Figures and Tables from Cross-taxa generalities in the relationship between population abundance and ambient temperatures
Creators: name: Bowler, Diana E.
name: Haase, Peter
name: Hof, Christian
name: Kröncke, Ingrid
name: Baert, Léon
name: Dekoninck, Wouter
name: Domisch, Sami
name: Hendrickx, Frederik
name: Hickler, Thomas
name: Neumann, Hermann
name: O'Hara, Robert B.
name: Sell, Anne F.
name: Sonnewald, Moritz
name: Stoll, Stefan
name: Türkay, Michael
name: Klink, Roel Van
name: Schweiger, Oliver
name: Rikjan Vermeulen
name: Böhning-Gaese, Katrin
Publisher: name: The Royal Society
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: Ecology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences

description: Identifying patterns in the effects of temperature on species' population abundances could help develop a general framework for predicting the consequences of climate change across different communities and realms. We used long-term population time series data from terrestrial, freshwater and marine species communities within central Europe to compare the effects of temperature on abundance across a broad range of taxonomic groups. We asked whether there was an average relationship between temperatures in different seasons and annual abundances of species in a community, and whether species attributes (temperature range of distribution, range size, habitat breadth, dispersal ability, body size and lifespan) explained interspecific variation in the relationship between temperature and abundance. We found that, on average, warmer winter temperatures were associated with greater abundances in terrestrial communities (ground beetles, spiders and birds) but not always in aquatic communities (freshwater and marine invertebrates and fish). The abundances of species with large geographical ranges, larger body sizes and longer lifespans tended to be less related to temperature. Our results suggest that climate change may have, in general, positive effects on species’ abundances within many terrestrial communities in central Europe while the effects are less predictable in aquatic communities.
Generation and Characterisation of Novel Monoclonal Antibodies towards Ovarian Tumour Stem Cells
Creators: name: Luk, Louisa Tien Sze
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2012

description: Tumour stem cells (TSCs) are hypothesised to be a rare population of tumour cells which possess stem cell-like properties and are resistant to conventional therapy. Although cell surface markers have been widely used to characterise TSCs, previous literature suggests that no specific marker has been found for ovarian TSCs. We aimed to identify and characterise novel antibodies specific to ovarian epithelial TSCs, particularly towards populations with Hoechst efflux (Side Population, SP) and aldehyde dehydrogenase activity which are associated with a stem cell phenotype and drug resistance. Putative TSC subpopulations from ovarian tumour cell lines isolated by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) using differential Hoechst dye uptake and Aldefluor activity assays displayed stem cell-like characteristics, including the upregulation of stem cell markers, increased anchorage-independent growth and increased invasive properties. A panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) was then generated by injecting Aldefluor-positive ovarian tumour IGROV1 cells into female BALB/c mice. 34 antibodies were found to be specific to Aldefluor-positive cells and 2 of these enriched for SP cells. The 2 mAbs demonstrated cross-reactivity on human embryonic stem cells but no cross-reactivity to normal ovarian cell lines. Subpopulations of ovarian cell lines positive for the mAbs displayed stem cell-like characteristics, including upregulation of stem cell markers - CD133, ABCB1 and ALDH1A1. Sorted mAb populations were injected into non-obese diabetic/severe combined (NOD/SCID) mice and differential in vivo tumour formation was observed. Finally, the target antigen which both mAbs recognised was identified by mass spectrometry to be clathrin heavy chain (CHC1). We conclude that rare subpopulations with tumour-sustaining capability and stem cell-like characteristics can be identified in ovarian cancer using the 2 novel antibodies generated. Both mAbs target CHC1 on tumour-sustaining populations which are enriched for multiple stem cell markers and are therefore potential novel diagnostic markers and/or therapeutic agents.
BIM-Checkliste für ein ausführendes Unternehmen
Creators: name: Angelico, Viviana
Publisher: name: Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz FHNW
Year: 2018
Subjects: BIM

description: Die vorliegende Projektarbeit geht folgender Fragestellung nach „Die BIM-Checkliste – was muss in welcher Phase eines Projekts bei uns als ausführendes Unternehmen beachtet werden, wenn es sich um ein BIM-Projekt handelt?“. Das Resultat ist ein Leitfaden für die Alpiq InTec Schweiz AG, Region Basel, welcher nach einem ganzheitlichen Ansatz den gesamten Workflow eines Projekts im Unternehmen durchleuchtet.
Investigating the role of PD-L1 pathway in human ovarian cancer
Creators: name: Chatterjee, Jay
Publisher: name: Imperial College London
Year: 2014

description: Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality among malignancies of the female reproductive tract. Negative regulatory mechanisms within the tumour microenvironment inhibit anti-tumour T-cell function, leading to evasion from immune responses. The binding of PD-L1, expressed on antigen presenting cells to PD-1 on activated T cells, is thought to result in an important T-cell inhibitory mechanism and promote immune evasion. We have shown that increased PD-L1 expression on monocytes correlates with malignancy, advanced stage and surgical debulking status in ovarian cancer. We have also studied PD-L1 expression on T-cells in women with ovarian tumours and it’s relation with diagnosis. We have devised a sandwich ELISA to accurately detect the presence of soluble PD-L1 in the plasma and ascites of patients with ovarian cancer and have shown increased presence of soluble PD-L1 in women with ovarian cancer when compared with benign ovarian tumours and healthy female donors. We have found high expression of PD-L1 at mRNA and protein level in all serous ovarian cancer cell lines. We have investigated the role of PD-1/PD-L1 engagement in in vitro T-cell responses, using ovarian cancer cell lines. We have shown that PD-L1/PD-1 engagement in tumour and T-cell interaction is associated with reduced T cell proliferation. In an in vitro model of ovarian cancer cell line and stimulated T-cell co-culture we have shown that blocking PD-L1, PD-1 and key cytokines reverse T cell ‘suppression’ and increase proliferation. We have also demonstrated that IL-10 and TGF-β play an important role in regulation of PD-L1 expression on tumour associated monocytes. We have also shown that ascitic monocytes suppress the proliferation of both ascitic T-cells and healthy stimulated T-cells. This suppression by tumour associated monocytes can be completely reversed by combined blocking of PD-L1, PD-1 and IL-10 to the baseline proliferation of T-cells cultured. This research has shown that PD-L1 can be a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in ovarian cancer.