Humanitarian ignorance: towards a new paradigm of non-knowledge in digital humanitarianism.

This paper introduces the notion of 'humanitarian ignorance' to address growing concern regarding non-knowledge, as datafication becomes a central instrument and ambition of the humanitarian sector. With the turn to digital humanitarianism, contemporary humanitarian action increasingly relies on technology-driven quantification to expand the ability to collect, analyse, and present information. Utilising datafication processes, humanitarian organisations seek to assess 'risk' and mitigate 'uncertainty' more efficiently. Although central to their knowledge management and decision-making in low information circumstances, the conceptual notions of 'risk' and 'uncertainty' are inadequate to capture the full spectrum of non-knowledge in a time of digital humanitarianism. We introduce 'humanitarian ignorance' here to challenge the assumption that datafication allows humanitarian organisations to make fully informed, delimited, and thus 'better' decisions. Ultimately, we accentuate the paradox that while datafication is thought to reduce risk and uncertainty in humanitarian affairs by suggesting higher levels of control, insight, and certainty, these efforts in fact open new expanses of ignorance and unknowns.

Shell biofilm nitrification and gut denitrification contribute to emission of nitrous oxide by the invasive freshwater mussel Dreissena polymorpha (zebra mussel).

Nitrification in shell biofilms and denitrification in the gut of the animal accounted for N(2)O emission by Dreissena polymorpha (Bivalvia), as shown by gas chromatography and gene expression analysis. The mussel's ammonium excretion was sufficient to sustain N(2)O production and thus potentially uncouples invertebrate N(2)O production from environmental N concentrations.

Asynchronous video messaging promotes family involvement and mitigates separation in neonatal care.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the parent and staff experience of a secure video messaging service as a component of neonatal care. DESIGN: Multicentre evaluation incorporating quantitative and qualitative items. SETTING: Level II and level III UK neonatal units. POPULATION: Families of neonatal inpatients and neonatal staff. INTERVENTION: Use of a secure, cloud-based asynchronous video messaging service to send short messages from neonatal staff to families. Evaluation undertaken July-November 2019. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Parental experience, including anxiety, involvement in care, relationships between parents and staff, and breastmilk expression. RESULTS: In pre-implementation surveys (n=41), families reported high levels of stress and anxiety and were receptive to use of the service. In post-implementation surveys (n=42), 88% perceived a benefit of the service on their neonatal experience. Families rated a positive impact of the service on anxiety, sleep, family involvement and relationships with staff. Qualitative responses indicated enhanced emotional closeness, increased involvement in care and a positive effect on breastmilk expression. Seventy-seven post-implementation staff surveys were also collected. Staff rated the service as easy to use, with minimal impact on workload. Seventy-one percent (n=55) felt the service had a positive impact on relationships with families. Staff identified the need to manage parental expectations in relation to the number of videos that could be sent. CONCLUSIONS: Asynchronous video messaging improves parental experience, emotional closeness to their baby and builds supportive relationships between families and staff. Asynchronous video supports models of family integrated care and can mitigate family separation, which could be particularly relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Older Adults Experiences of Learning to Use Tablet Computers: A Mixed Methods Study.

Background: We wanted to understand older adults' experiences of learning how to use a tablet computer in the context of an intervention trial, including what they found helpful or unhelpful about the tablet training, to guide future intervention studies. Methods: Mixed methods study using questionnaire and focus group approaches. Forty-three participants aged between 65 and 76 years old from the "Tablet for Healthy Ageing" study (comprising 22 in the intervention group and 21 controls) completed a post-intervention tablet experience questionnaire. Those who completed the tablet training intervention were invited to share their experiences of engaging with new technology in post-intervention focus groups. We conducted three separate focus groups with 14 healthy older adults (10 females). Results: Questionnaire data suggested that the overall experience of the 22 participants who participated in the tablet training intervention was positive. The majority of participants said that it was likely or very likely they would use a tablet in the future. The focus group themes that emerged were related to the perception of tablet training, the experience of using tablets, and suggestions for future studies. Participants mentioned that their confidence was increased, that they enjoyed being part of a social group and downloading applications, but they also felt challenged at times. Advantages of using tablets included the ability to keep in touch with family and friends, a motivation to contribute to the community, and the potential for tablets to improve mental abilities and overall health and wellbeing. Participants made suggestions that would enable tablet usage, including improvement of features, and suggestions that would improve future tablet training studies, including smaller classes. Conclusion: Our findings have implications for the development of interventions utilizing new technologies that might promote the health and wellbeing of older adults.

What are the current challenges of managing cancer pain and could digital technologies help?

OBJECTIVES: Pain remains a problem for people with cancer despite effective treatments being available. We aimed to explore current pain management strategies used by patients, caregivers and professionals and to investigate opportunities for digital technologies to enhance cancer pain management. METHODS: A qualitative study comprising semistructured interviews and focus groups. Patients with cancer pain, their caregivers and health professionals from Northeast Scotland were recruited from a purposive sample of general practices. Professionals were recruited from regional networks. RESULTS: Fifty one participants took part in 33 interviews (eight patients alone, six patient/caregiver dyads and 19 professionals) and two focus groups (12 professionals). Living with cancer was hard work for patients and caregivers and comparable to a 'full-time job'. Patients had personal goals which involved controlling pain intensity and balancing this with analgesic use, side effects, overall symptom burden and social/physical activities.Digital technologies were embraced by most patients, and made living life with advanced cancer easier and richer (eg, video calls with family). Technology was underutilised for pain and symptom management. There were suggestions that technology could support self-monitoring and communicating problems to professionals, but patients and professionals were concerned about technological monitoring adding to the work of managing illness. CONCLUSIONS: Cancer pain management takes place in the context of multiple, sometimes competing personal goals. It is possible that technology could be used to help patients share individual symptom experiences and goals, thus enhancing tailored care. The challenge is for digital solutions to add value without adding undue burden.

Older Adults Perceptions of Technology and Barriers to Interacting with Tablet Computers: A Focus Group Study.

BACKGROUND: New technologies provide opportunities for the delivery of broad, flexible interventions with older adults. Focus groups were conducted to: (1) understand older adults' familiarity with, and barriers to, interacting with new technologies and tablets; and (2) utilize user-engagement in refining an intervention protocol. METHODS: Eighteen older adults (65-76 years old; 83.3% female) who were novice tablet users participated in discussions about their perceptions of and barriers to interacting with tablets. We conducted three separate focus groups and used a generic qualitative design applying thematic analysis to analyse the data. The focus groups explored attitudes toward tablets and technology in general. We also explored the perceived advantages and disadvantages of using tablets, familiarity with, and barriers to interacting with tablets. In two of the focus groups, participants had previous computing experience (e.g., desktop), while in the other, participants had no previous computing experience. None of the participants had any previous experience with tablet computers. RESULTS: The themes that emerged were related to barriers (i.e., lack of instructions and guidance, lack of knowledge and confidence, health-related barriers, cost); disadvantages and concerns (i.e., too much and too complex technology, feelings of inadequacy, and comparison with younger generations, lack of social interaction and communication, negative features of tablets); advantages (i.e., positive features of tablets, accessing information, willingness to adopt technology); and skepticism about using tablets and technology in general. After brief exposure to tablets, participants emphasized the likelihood of using a tablet in the future. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that most of our participants were eager to adopt new technology and willing to learn using a tablet. However, they voiced apprehension about lack of, or lack of clarity in, instructions and support. Understanding older adults' perceptions of technology is important to assist with introducing it to this population and maximize the potential of technology to facilitate independent living.

Spectroscopic studies of aqueous gallium(III) and aluminum(III) citrate complexes.

Aqueous gallium(III) citrate complexes have been studied in the 10(-2) M concentration range with extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and FTIR techniques. From EXAFS data, one mononuclear and one oligomeric species were identified at different Ga(III) to citrate ratios. The first shell of the mononuclear complex was found to be distorted, with average Ga-O bond lengths of 1.95 and 2.06 A, in agreement with the solid-state structure of Ga(Cit)2(3-) (Cit=citrate). Also the oligomeric species was found to have a distorted first shell, with average Ga-O bond lengths of 1.95 and 2.04 A. This complex was found to contain two Ga-Ga distances at 3.03 and 3.56 A, typical for edge and corner sharing GaO6 octahedra, respectively. The gallium(III) and aluminum(III) citrate systems were compared by means of FTIR, and were found to be analogous. The IR results suggest that the bond lengths derived from EXAFS for the 1:2 gallium(III) citrate complex also provide a good estimate of the corresponding distances in the mononuclear 1:1 complex. Direct coordination of citrate to the metal ions in the oligomeric gallium(III) citrate complex was indicated from both EXAFS and IR results, and this complex is stoichiometrically analogous to the Al3(H-1Cit)3(OH)(H2O)4- complex, which has been structurally determined. However, while the formation of the aluminum trimer has been shown to be slow, the gallium trimer was significantly more labile with a rate of formation indicated to be in the order of seconds or faster.

Kinetics of cisplatin binding to short r(GG) containing miRNA mimics - influence of Na(+)versus K(+), temperature and hydrophobicity on reactivity.

Nucleic acids are well recognized targets for platinum-based anticancer drugs, with RNA and DNA being kinetically comparable. In the case of RNA, previous studies have shown that the reaction between small duplex RNAs (dsRNAs) and monoaquated cisplatin (cis-Pt(NH3)2Cl(OH2)(+), ) can be followed by the metal induced hyperchromicity occurring directly after addition of to e.g. microRNA mimics. In the present study, we have used this approach to compare thermal stability and reactivity between intracellularly- and extracellularly relevant salt concentration (CNa(+) and CK(+)ca. 0.1 M), and also as a function of increased hydrophobicity (10% v/v EtOH). In addition, reactivity was studied as a function of temperature in the interval ca. 5-20 °C below the respective dsRNA melting temperatures (Tms). Four different 13- to 20-mer dsRNAs with two different central sequence motifs were used as targets containing either a central r(GG)·r(CC)- or r(GG)·r(UAU)-sequence. The reactions exhibited half-lives in the minute- to hour range at 38 °C in the presence of excess in the µM range. Further, a linear dependence was found between C and the observed pseudo-first-order rate constants. The resulting apparent second-order rate constants were significantly larger for the lower melting r(GG)·r(UAU)-containing sequences compared with that of the fully complementary ones; the higher and lower reactivities represented by RNA-1-3 and RNA-1-1 with k2,appca. 30 and 8 M(-1) s(-1) respectively at CNa(+) = 122 mM. For all RNAs a common small, but significant, trend was observed with increased reactivity in the presence of K(+) compared with Na(+), and decreased reactivity in the presence of EtOH. Finally, the temperature dependence of k2,app was evaluated using the Eyring equation. The retrieved activation parameters reveal positive values for both ΔH(≠) and ΔS(≠) for all dsRNAs, in the range ca. 23-34 kcal mol(-1) and 22-57 cal K(-1) mol(-1) respectively. These values indicate solvational effects to be important for the rate determining step of the reaction, and thus in support of a structural change of the dsRNA to take place in parallel with the adduct formation step.

Utilising out-of-hours primary care for assistance with cancer pain: a semi-structured interview study of patient and caregiver experiences.

BACKGROUND: Pain is the most frequent complication of cancer and an important reason for out-of-hours (OOH) primary care contacts by patients with established cancer. Existing quantitative data give little insight into the reason for these contacts. Exploring such encounters of care could highlight ways to improve anticipatory cancer care and communication between daytime and OOH primary care services. AIM: To explore the experiences, views, and opinions of patients and their caregivers who have used OOH primary care for help with managing cancer pain. DESIGN AND SETTING: A semi-structured interview study with patients and caregivers who have utilised an OOH primary care service in Grampian, Scotland, because of pain related to cancer. METHOD: Semi-structured interviews with 11 patients and four caregivers (n = 15), transcribed verbatim and analysed using framework analysis and, to a lesser extent, inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Six key themes emerged: making sense of pain and predicting its likely course; beliefs about analgesics; priority daytime access; the importance of continuity of care and communication between all involved; barriers and facilitators to seeking help in the OOH period; and satisfaction/dissatisfaction with OOH care. Three prominent sub-themes were: patient knowledge; the influence of a caregiver on decision-making; and the benefits of having a palliative care summary. CONCLUSION: Effective daytime and anticipatory care can positively influence OOH care. Interventions that aid patients in understanding cancer pain, communicating about pain, utilising analgesics effectively, and seeking appropriate and timely help may improve cancer pain management.

Cisplatin-induced duplex dissociation of complementary and destabilized short GG-containing duplex RNAs.

The ability of the anticancer active drug cisplatin to exert biological activity through interference with nucleic acid function is well documented. Since kinetics play a key role in determining product distributions in these systems, methods for accurate documentation of reactivity serve the purpose to identify preferential metal binding sites. In the present study, the aim has been to further explore a recently communicated approach (C. Polonyi and S. K. C. Elmroth, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., 2013, 42, 14959-14962) utilizing UV/vis spectroscopy and metal induced duplex RNA melting for monitoring of kinetics. More specifically, the sensitivity of the UV/vis-methodology has been evaluated by investigation of how overall length and changes of base-pairing in the close vicinity of a centrally located GG-site affect the rate of cisplatin binding, using the intracellularly active mono-aquated form of cisplatin (cis-Pt(NH3)2Cl(OH2)(+), ()) as the platination reagent. For this purpose, the reactivity of five different 13- to 17 base-pair duplex RNAs was monitored at 38 °C. A common trend of a ca. 10-fold reduction in reactivity was found to accompany an increase of bulk sodium concentration from CNa+ = 122 mM to 1.0 M. Typical half-lives are exemplified by the interaction of with the fully complementary 15-mer RNA-1 with t1/2 = ca. 0.5 and 4.8 hours, at CNa+ = 122 mM and 1.0 M respectively, and C = 45 µM. Lowering of melting temperature (Tm) was found to promote reactivity regardless of whether the change involved a decrease or increase of the RNA length. For example, at CNa+ = 1.0 M, truncation of the fully complementary and GG-containing 15-mer RNA-1 (Tm = 68.9 °C) to the 13-mer RNA-1-1-S (Tm = 63.9 °C) resulted in an increase of k2,app from ca. 0.9 M(-1) s(-1) to 2.0 M(-1) s(-1). Further, the 17-mer RNA-1-4 (Tm = 42.0 °C) with a central U4 bulge exhibited the highest reactivity of the sequences studied with k2,app = 4.0 M(-1) s(-1). The study shows that the reactivity of GG-sequences in RNA exhibit a strong variation depending on exact sequence context, and with imperfectly matched and/or stacked regions as particularly reactive sites.

Synthesis, structure and reactivity of cuboidal-type cluster aqua complexes with W3PdS4 4+ core.

The reaction of PdCl(2) with [W3S4(H2O)9]4+ in the presence of hypophosphorous acid in 2 M HCl gives cuboidal cluster [W3(PdCl)S4(H2O)9]3+ (1) which undergoes condensation and crystallises from Hpts solutions as edge-linked double cubane cluster [{W3PdS4(H2O)9}2](pts)(8).19H2O (pts = p-toluenesulfonate) (1'). The substitution of Cl- in (1) by different ligands was explored. The Pd atom in the cluster shows an exceptionally high reactivity in the isomerisation of the hydrophosphoryl H2P(O)(OH), HP(O)(OH)2, HPPh(O)(OH) and HPPh2(O) molecules into the corresponding hydroxo tautomers HP(OH)2, P(OH)3, PhP(OH)2 and Ph2P(OH) stabilised by coordination at Pd. The reactions were followed by UV-Vis spectrophotometry and 31P NMR. Formation constants of the 1 : 1 coordination of [M3(PdCl)S4(H2O)9]3+ (M = Mo, W) with HP(OH)2 and As(OH)3 were obtained. The structures of cucurbit[6]uril (C36H36N24O12, CUC[6]) adducts [W3(PdP(OH)3)S4(H2O)8Cl]-(C36H36N24O12)Cl3.12.5H2O (2), and [W3Pd(PhP(OH)2)S4(H2O)7Cl2]2(C36H36N24O12)Cl4.9H2O (3) were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

Synthesis and structure of nickel-containing cuboidal clusters derived from [W3Se4(H2O)9]4+. Site-differentiated substitution at the nickel site in the series [W3NiQ4(H2O)10]4+ (Q = S, Se).

New Ni-containing heterometallic cuboidal cluster aqua complex [W3(NiCl)Se4(H2O)9]3+, the missing link in the family of the M3NiQ4 clusters (M = Mo, W; Q = S, Se), has been prepared by the reaction of [W3Se4(H2O)9]4+ with Ni in 2 M HCl. Single crystals of edge-linked double-cuboidal cluster [{W3NiSe4(H2O)9}2](pts)8.18H2O (pts = p-toluenesulfonate) were grown from the solution of the aqua complex in 3 M Hpts, and their structures were determined. The Ni site in the clusters [W3(NiCl)Q4(H2O)9]3+ selectively coordinates typical pi-acceptor ligands such as CO, olefins, acetylenes, phosphines, arsines, or SnCl3-. This allows stabilization by coordination of such elusive species as HP(OH)2 and As(OH)3. The stability constants for coordination of HP(OH)2, As(OH)3, and SnCl3- were determined. The Se for S substitution increases the stability by 1-2 orders of magnitude. Supramolecular adducts with cucurbit[6]uril (Cuc), [W3(Ni(HP(OH)2))Q4(H2O)9]Cl4.Cuc.11H2O and [W3(NiAs(OH)3)S4(H2O)8Cl]Cl3.Cuc.13H2O, were isolated and structurally characterized.

XAFS experiments at beamline I811, MAX-lab synchrotron source, Sweden.

A description of a new facility for X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the materials science beamline, I811, at MAX-lab synchrotron source, Lund, Sweden, is given. The beamline is based on a superconducting multipole wiggler source inserted in a straight section of the 1.5 GeV MAX-II ring. X-rays in the energy range 2.4-12 keV are extracted by a standard optical scheme consisting of a vertical collimating first mirror, double-crystal monochromator, and a second vertically focusing mirror. The second monochromator crystal provides sagittal focusing. The total flux impinging on the sample at 9 keV is 5 x 10(11) photons s(-1), for a minimum beam spot of 0.5 mm x 0.5 mm. The beamline has facilities for experiments in transmission, fluorescence and total-electron-yield mode and experiments have been performed by international research groups on a wide range of materials, such as dilute systems with metal concentrations below 10 p.p.m.

Synthesis, characterization, and physicochemical properties of manganese(III) and manganese(V)-oxo corrolazines.

The structural and physicochemical properties of the manganese-corrolazine (Cz) complexes (TBP8Cz)Mn(V)O (1) and (TBP8Cz)Mn(III) (2) (TBP = p-tert-butylphenyl) have been determined. Recrystallization of 2 from toluene/MeOH resulted in the crystal structure of (TBP8Cz)Mn(III)(CH3OH) (2 x MeOH). The packing diagram of 2 x MeOH reveals hydrogen bonds between MeOH axial ligands and meso N atoms of adjacent molecules. Solution binding studies of 2 with different axial ligands (Cl-, Et3PO, and Ph3PO) reveal strong binding, corroborating the preference of the Mn(III) ion for a five-coordinate environment. High-frequency and field electron paramagnetic resonance (HFEPR) spectroscopy of solid 2 x MeOH shows that 2 x MeOH is best described as a high-spin (S = 2) Mn(III) complex with zero-field splitting parameters typical of corroles. Structural information on 1 was obtained through an X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES)/extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) study and compared to XANES/EXAFS data for 2 x MeOH. The XANES data for 1 shows an intense pre-edge transition characteristic of a high-valent metal-oxo species, and a best fit of the EXAFS data gives a short Mn-O bond distance of 1.56 A, confirming the structure of the metal-oxo unit in 1. Detailed spectroelectrochemical studies of 1 and 2 were performed revealing multiple reversible redox processes for both complexes, including a relatively low potential for the Mn(V) --> Mn(IV) process in 1 (near 0.0 V vs saturated calomel reference electrode). Chemical reduction of 1 results in the formation of a Mn(III)Mn(IV)(mu-O) dimer as characterized by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy.