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INTRODUCTION: Symptoms may persist after the initial phases of COVID-19 infection, a phenomenon termed long COVID. Current knowledge on long COVID has been mostly derived from test-confirmed and hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Data are required on the burden and predictors of long COVID in a broader patient group, which includes both tested and untested COVID-19 patients in primary care. METHODS: This is an observational study using data from Platform C19, a quality improvement program-derived research database linking primary care electronic health record data (EHR) with patient-reported questionnaire information. Participating general practices invited consenting patients aged 18-85 to complete an online questionnaire since 7th August 2020. COVID-19 self-diagnosis, clinician-diagnosis, testing, and the presence and duration of symptoms were assessed via the questionnaire. Patients were considered present with long COVID if they reported symptoms lasting ≥4 weeks. EHR and questionnaire data up till 22nd January 2021 were extracted for analysis. Multivariable regression analyses were conducted comparing demographics, clinical characteristics, and presence of symptoms between patients with long COVID and patients with shorter symptom duration. RESULTS: Long COVID was present in 310/3151 (9.8%) patients with self-diagnosed, clinician-diagnosed, or test-confirmed COVID-19. Only 106/310 (34.2%) long COVID patients had test-confirmed COVID-19. Risk predictors of long COVID were age ≥40 years (adjusted Odds Ratio [AdjOR]=1.49 [1.05-2.17]), female sex (adjOR=1.37 [1.02-1.85]), frailty (adjOR=2.39 [1.29-4.27]), visit to A&E (adjOR=4.28 [2.31-7.78]), and hospital admission for COVID-19 symptoms (adjOR=3.22 [1.77-5.79]). Aches and pain (adjOR=1.70 [1.21-2.39]), appetite loss (adjOR=3.15 [1.78-5.92]), confusion and disorientation (adjOR=2.17 [1.57-2.99]), diarrhea (adjOR=1.4 [1.03-1.89]), and persistent dry cough (adjOR=2.77 [1.94-3.98]) were symptom features statistically mor

Item does not contain fulltext, BACKGROUND: Most individuals with lung cancer have symptoms for several months before presenting to their GP. Earlier consulting may improve survival. AIM: To evaluate whether a theory-based primary care intervention increased timely consulting of individuals with symptoms of lung cancer. DESIGN AND SETTING: Open randomised controlled trial comparing intervention with usual care in two general practices in north-east Scotland. METHOD: Smokers and ex-smokers aged >/=55 years were randomised to receive a behavioural intervention or usual care. The intervention comprised a single nurse consultation at participants' general practice and a self-help manual. The main outcomes were consultations within target times for individuals with new chest symptoms (

CONTENTS: Strategic Decision Making Exercise 2008 by Colonel Brad Ward; New Media and the Warfighter Workshop by Harry V. Phillips; International Fellows Strategic Crisis Negotiation Exercise 2008 by Ritchie L. Dion; European Interceptor Site Readiness, Activation, Integration, and Deployment Event (EIS RAIDE) by John Auger; and Robotics Day 2008 by Bill Waddell, The Collin Center Update is a quarterly newsletter detailing the activities of the Center for Strategic Leadership, U.S. Army War College. The original document contains color images. All DTIC reproductions will be in black and white.

CONTENTS: The Center for strategic Leadership: An Overview of Recent and Future Activities by Colonel Phil Evans; Strategic Negotiation Exercises at Georgetown and Texas A&M Universities by Ritchie L. Dion; The Senior Leader Seminar (SLS) Concept Development by Colonel (Ret.) Eugene L. Thompson., The Collin Center Update is a quarterly newsletter detailing the activities of the Center for Strategic Leadership, U.S. Army War College. The original document contains color images. All DTIC reproductions will be in black and white.

The northern blot, or RNA gel blot, is a widely used method for the discovery, validation and expression analysis of small regulatory RNA such as small interfering RNA (siRNA), microRNA (miRNA) and piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA). Although it is straightforward and quantitative, the main disadvantage of a northern blot is that it detects such RNA less sensitively than most other approaches. We found that the standard dose of UV used in northern blots was not the most efficient at immobilizing small RNA of 20-40 nt on nylon membranes. However, increasing the dose of UV reduced the detection of miRNA by hybridization in northern blotting experiments. We discovered that using the soluble carbodiimide, EDC, to cross-link RNA to nylon membranes greatly improved the detection of small RNA by hybridization. Compared to standard UV cross-linking procedures, EDC cross-linking provided a 25-50-fold increase in the sensitivity of detection of siRNA from plants and miRNA or piRNA from mammalian cells. All types of hybridization probes tested benefited from the new cross-linking procedure. Cross-linking was dependent on a terminal phosphate and so, should be applicable to other related categories of small RNA.

The objective of this research is to start filling the mesoscale gap to improve understanding and probability forecasts of formation and intensity variations of tropical cyclones. Sampling by aircraft equipped to measure mesoscale processes is expensive, thus confined in place and time. Hence we turn to satellite products. This paper reports preliminary results of a tropical cyclone genesis and early intensification study. We explore the role of mesoscale processes using a combination of products from TRMM, QuikSCAT, AMSU, also SSM/I, geosynchronous and model output. Major emphasis is on the role of merging mesoscale vortices. These initially form in midlevel stratiform cloud. When they form in regions of lowered Rossby radius of deformation (strong background vorticity) the mesoscale vortices can last long enough to interact and merge, with the weaker vortex losing vorticity to the stronger, which can then extend down to the surface. In an earlier cyclongenesis case (Oliver 1993) off Australia, intense deep convection occurred when the stronger vortex reached the surface; this vortex became the storm center while the weaker vortex was sheared out as the major rainband. In our study of Atlantic tropical cyclones originating from African waves, we use QuikSCAT to examine surface winds in the African monsoon trough and in the vortices which move westward off the coast, which may or may not undergo genesis (defined by NHC as reaching TD, or tropical depression, with a west wind to the south of the surface low). We use AMSU mainly to examine development of warm cores. TRMM passive microwave TMI is used with SSM/I to look at the rain structure, which often indicates eye formation, and to look at the ice scattering signatures of deep convection. The TRMM precipitation radar, PR, when available, gives precipitation cross sections. So far we have detailed studies of two African-origin cyclones, one which became severe hurricane Floyd 1999, and the other reached TD2 in June

This thesis supports a project to implement a wireless ATM network utilizing OFDM for rural communities. In particular, this thesis explores the prospect of integrating the network into the mountain communities of Summit County, Colorado. There are many issues of the wireless environment that OFDM helps to combat and ATM appears to be a useful protocol for implementing present and future data requirements. This thesis presents a brief review of OFDM and a more in-depth review of ATM. The main focus of the thesis is a simulation model of a contention based reservation channel, connection admission control, and output buffering analysis. The results appear to support the conclusion that wireless ATM can support a vast mix of data requirements of today and tomorrow.

The concept of framing has been widely used to help understand how aspects of messages can shape people’s expectations and consequently influence the outcomes of communicative interactions. In this study we examine transcripts of a contentious and ultimately unsuccessful public meeting between police officials and members of the African American community following the fatal shooting of a young African American woman by police officers. We show how contradictory framing between public officials and members of the community as well as within each group may have contributed to unintended and asymmetrical ironies, and ultimately to the failure of the meeting to achieve the objectives of either group. We suggest steps that might lead to better outcomes in similar situations in the future.

The concept of framing has been widely used to help understand how aspects of messages can shape people’s expectations and consequently influence the outcomes of communicative interactions. In this study we examine transcripts of a contentious and ultimately unsuccessful public meeting between police officials and members of the African American community following the fatal shooting of a young African American woman by police officers. We show how contradictory framing between public officials and members of the community as well as within each group may have contributed to unintended and asymmetrical ironies, and ultimately to the failure of the meeting to achieve the objectives of either group. We suggest steps that might lead to better outcomes in similar situations in the future.

International Flatfish symposium 11-16 November 2017, Saint-Malo, France