Raw data and noise in spectrophotometry.

Background: Spectrophotometers are ubiquitous in chemical and biological science; however, their precision limits are under-appreciated. Rules-of-thumb and IUPAC referenced guidance restricting absorbance ranges to minimize uncertainty are based on historically important instruments which are no longer as widely used. Advances over the last half-century changed most "raw" data from absorbance and transmittance values directly produced in analog electronics to digitized intensities.

Training and Match Demands of Elite Rugby Union.

Cousins, BEW, Morris, JG, Sunderland, C, Bennett, AM, Shahtahmassebi, G, and Cooper, SB. Training and match demands of elite rugby union. J Strength Cond Res 37(1): 141-148, 2023-This study aimed to examine training and match demands associated with elite Rugby Union.

Estimation of the organ of origin of peri-ampullary malignancy by preoperative CT scan.

Background: Tumors occurring within the pancreatic head commonly arise from the pancreas, duodenal ampulla, distal bile duct, or duodenum. However, they are difficult to distinguish on standard preoperative imaging.

Purpose: To assess the ability of specialist reporting of preoperative computed tomography (CT) scans to determine the organ of origin of pancreatic cancer (PC).

Population density and spreading of COVID-19 in England and Wales.

We investigated daily COVID-19 cases and deaths in the 337 lower tier local authority regions in England and Wales to better understand how the disease propagated over a 15-month period. Population density scaling models revealed residual variance and skewness to be sensitive indicators of the dynamics of propagation. Lockdowns and schools reopening coincided with increased variance indicative of conditions with local impact and country scale heterogeneity.

Synthetic playing surfaces increase the incidence of match injuries in an elite Rugby Union team.

Objectives: To examine differences in match injury incidence between three playing surfaces in elite Rugby Union.

Design: Prospective cohort.

Methods: Match injury incidence was assessed in 89 elite Rugby Union players over two-seasons of professional competition (44 matches, 1014 h player exposure).

From remote sensing and machine learning to the history of the Silk Road: large scale material identification on wall paintings.

Automatic remote reflectance spectral imaging of large painted areas in high resolution, from distances of tens of meters, has made the imaging of entire architectural interior feasible. However, it has significantly increased the volume of data. Here we present a machine learning based method to automatically detect 'hidden' writings and map material variations.

Statistical models for identifying frequent hitters in high throughput screening.

High throughput screening (HTS) interrogates compound libraries to find those that are "active" in an assay. To better understand compound behavior in HTS, we assessed an existing binomial survivor function (BSF) model of "frequent hitters" using 872 publicly available HTS data sets. We found large numbers of "infrequent hitters" using this model leading us to reject the BSF for identifying "frequent hitters.

Rural-urban scaling of age, mortality, crime and property reveals a loss of expected self-similar behaviour.

The urban scaling hypothesis has improved our understanding of cities; however, rural areas have been neglected. We investigated rural-urban population density scaling in England and Wales using 67 indicators of crime, mortality, property, and age. Most indicators exhibited segmented scaling about a median critical density of 27 people per hectare.

Match and Training Load Exposure and Time-Loss Incidence in Elite Rugby Union Players.

Objective: To investigate the impact of match and training load on time-loss incidence in elite, professional Rugby Union players.

Materials And Methods: Eighty-nine Rugby Union players were monitored over two seasons of training and competition. Load was measured for all training sessions and matches using subjective [session ratings of perceived exertion (sRPE) load; RPE × session duration] and objective [global positioning systems (GPS); distance and high-speed running distance] methods and quantified using multiple approaches; absolute match and training load, acute:chronic workload ratio (ACWR), exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) and cumulative 7, 14, 21, and 28 d sums.

Rebound growth of hepatic colorectal metastases after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy: effect on survival after resection.

Background: A period of recovery is commonly allowed between completion of chemotherapy for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) and resection, during which tumour progression may occur. The study-aim is to assess the growth of CRLM in this interval and association with outcome.

Method: Data on 146 patients were analysed.

Assessment of the effect of interval from presentation to surgery on outcome in patients with peri-ampullary malignancy.

Background: Delay between diagnosis of peri-ampullary cancer (PC) and surgery may allow tumour progression and affect outcome. The aim of this study was to explore associations of interval to surgery (IS) with pathological outcomes and survival in patients with PC.

Method: A database review of all patients undergoing surgery between 2006 and 2014 was undertaken.

Gallbladder ejection fraction declines with age in patients undergoing cholecystectomy for acalculous biliary symptoms but has low accuracy in the prediction of gallbladder pathology.

Background/aims: Hepatobiliary Iminodiacetic Acid (HIDA) scan provides a technique to quantify gallbladder ejection fraction (EF) in patients suffering acalculous biliary colic (ACBC). We wished to evaluate the accuracy of EF in the prediction of gallbladder pathology in patients undergoing cholecystectomy.

Methods: Data were retrieved from a database of patients referred for HIDA scan for ACBC, including EF and the pathological outcome of those undergoing cholecystectomy, and compared to normal values obtained from a review of related studies.

Socioeconomic status influences the likelihood but not the outcome of liver resection for colorectal liver metastasis.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the socioeconomic profile of patients undergoing liver resection for colorectal liver metastasis (CLM) in a regional hepatopancreatobiliary unit with that of the local population. A further aim was to determine if degree of deprivation is associated with tumour recurrence after resection.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing liver resection for CLM was performed.

Serum arterial lactate concentration predicts mortality and organ dysfunction following liver resection.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine if the post-operative serum arterial lactate concentration is associated with mortality, length of hospital stay or complications following hepatic resection.

Methods: Serum lactate concentration was recorded at the end of liver resection in a consecutive series of 488 patients over a seven-year period. Liver function, coagulation and electrolyte tests were performed post-operatively.

Extended pathology reporting of resection specimens of colorectal liver metastases: the significance of a tumour pseudocapsule.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of factors reported in the minimum histopathology dataset for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) and other pre-operative factors compared with additional data relating to the presence of tumour pseudocapsules and necrosis on recurrence 1 year after a resection.

Methods: For a period of 14 months, extended histological reporting of CRLM specimens was performed, including the presence of pseudocapsules and necrosis in each tumour. The details of recurrence were obtained from surveillance imaging.