Restorers of Hope: Shaping Conditions for Success Against Al-Qaeda’s Regional Insurgency

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-01-01

government of Afghanistan in their most important projects, including building the Teachers Training College, the Artificial Insemination Farm, and the...West; multinational corporations; international communications and data exchange systems; international news agencies and satellite media channels; and

Pulsed plane wave analytic solutions for generic shapes and the validation of Maxwell's equations solvers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yarrow, Maurice; Vastano, John A.; Lomax, Harvard

1992-01-01

Generic shapes are subjected to pulsed plane waves of arbitrary shape. The resulting scattered electromagnetic fields are determined analytically. These fields are then computed efficiently at field locations for which numerically determined EM fields are required. Of particular interest are the pulsed waveform shapes typically utilized by radar systems. The results can be used to validate the accuracy of finite difference time domain Maxwell's equations solvers. A two-dimensional solver which is second- and fourth-order accurate in space and fourth-order accurate in time is examined. Dielectric media properties are modeled by a ramping technique which simplifies the associated gridding of body shapes. The attributes of the ramping technique are evaluated by comparison with the analytic solutions.

Making Evidence on Health Policy Issues Accessible to the Media

PubMed Central

Roos, Noralou P.; O'Grady, Kathleen; Singer, Sharon Manson; Turczak, Shannon; Tapp, Camilla

2012-01-01

The media shape consumer expectations and interpretations of health interventions, influencing how people think about their need for care and the sustainability of the system. EvidenceNetwork.ca is a non-partisan, web-based project funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Manitoba Health Research Council to make the latest evidence on controversial health policy issues available to the media. This website links journalists with health policy experts. We publish opinion pieces on current health policy issues in both French and English. We track who follows and uses the EvidenceNetwork.ca website and monitor the impact of our efforts. PMID:23968614

Magnetic nanoparticles in different biological environments analyzed by magnetic particle spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Löwa, Norbert; Seidel, Maria; Radon, Patricia; Wiekhorst, Frank

2017-04-01

Quantification of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MNP) in biological systems like cells, tissue, or organs is of vital importance for development of novel biomedical applications, e.g. magnetofection, drug targeting or hyperthermia. Among others, the recently developed magnetic measurement technique magnetic particle spectroscopy (MPS) provides signals that are specific for MNP. MPS is based on the non-linear magnetic response of MNP exposed to a strong sinusoidal excitation field of up to 25 mT amplitude and 25 kHz frequency. So far, it has been proven a powerful tool for quantification of MNP in biological systems. In this study we investigated in detail the influence of typical biological media on the magnetic behavior of different MNP systems by MPS. The results reveal that amplitude and shape (ratio of harmonics) of the MPS spectra allow for perceptively monitoring changes in MNP magnetism caused by different physiological media. Additionally, the observed linear correlation between MPS amplitude and shape alterations can be used to reduce the quantification uncertainty for MNP suspended in a biological environment.

Distribution of randomly diffusing particles in inhomogeneous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yiwei; Kahraman, Osman; Haselwandter, Christoph A.

2017-09-01

Diffusion can be conceptualized, at microscopic scales, as the random hopping of particles between neighboring lattice sites. In the case of diffusion in inhomogeneous media, distinct spatial domains in the system may yield distinct particle hopping rates. Starting from the master equations (MEs) governing diffusion in inhomogeneous media we derive here, for arbitrary spatial dimensions, the deterministic lattice equations (DLEs) specifying the average particle number at each lattice site for randomly diffusing particles in inhomogeneous media. We consider the case of free (Fickian) diffusion with no steric constraints on the maximum particle number per lattice site as well as the case of diffusion under steric constraints imposing a maximum particle concentration. We find, for both transient and asymptotic regimes, excellent agreement between the DLEs and kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of the MEs. The DLEs provide a computationally efficient method for predicting the (average) distribution of randomly diffusing particles in inhomogeneous media, with the number of DLEs associated with a given system being independent of the number of particles in the system. From the DLEs we obtain general analytic expressions for the steady-state particle distributions for free diffusion and, in special cases, diffusion under steric constraints in inhomogeneous media. We find that, in the steady state of the system, the average fraction of particles in a given domain is independent of most system properties, such as the arrangement and shape of domains, and only depends on the number of lattice sites in each domain, the particle hopping rates, the number of distinct particle species in the system, and the total number of particles of each particle species in the system. Our results provide general insights into the role of spatially inhomogeneous particle hopping rates in setting the particle distributions in inhomogeneous media.

Investigating the role of particle shape on colloid transport and retention in saturated porous media (Invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Y.; Seymour, M.; Chen, G.; Su, C.

2013-12-01

Mechanistic understanding of the transport and retention of nanoparticles in porous media is essential both for environmental applications of nanotechnology and assessing the potential environmental impacts of engineered nanomaterials. Engineered and naturally occurring nanoparticles can be found in various shapes including rod-shape carbon nanotubes that have high aspect ratios. Although it is expected that nonspherical shape could play an important role on their transport and retention behaviors, current theoretical models for particle transport in porous media, however, are mostly based on spherical particle shape. In this work, the effect of particle shape on its transport and retention in porous media was evaluated by stretching carboxylate-modified fluorescent polystyrene spheres into rod shapes with aspect ratios of 2:1 and 4:1. Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation experiments (QCM-D) were conducted to measure the deposition rates of spherical and rod-shaped nanoparticles to the collector (poly-L-lysine coated silica sensor) surface under favorable conditions. Under unfavorable conditions, the retention of nanoparticles in a microfluidic flow cell packed with glass beads was studied with the use of laser scanning cytometry (LSC). Under favorable conditions, the spherical particles displayed a significantly higher deposition rate compared with that of the rod-shaped particles. Theoretical analysis based on Smoluchowski-Levich approximation indicated that the rod-shaped particles largely counterbalance the attractive energies due to higher hydrodynamic forces and torques experienced during their transport and rotation. Under unfavorable conditions, significantly more attachment was observed for rod-shaped particles than spherical particles, and the attachment rate of the rod-shaped particles showed an increasing trend with the increase in injection volume. Rod-shaped particles were found to be less sensitive to the surface charge heterogeneity change than spherical particles. Increased attachment rate of rod-shaped particles was attributed to surface heterogeneity and possibly enhanced hydrophobicity during the stretching process.

High-speed single-shot optical focusing through dynamic scattering media with full-phase wavefront shaping.

PubMed

Hemphill, Ashton S; Shen, Yuecheng; Liu, Yan; Wang, Lihong V

2017-11-27

In biological applications, optical focusing is limited by the diffusion of light, which prevents focusing at depths greater than ∼1 mm in soft tissue. Wavefront shaping extends the depth by compensating for phase distortions induced by scattering and thus allows for focusing light through biological tissue beyond the optical diffusion limit by using constructive interference. However, due to physiological motion, light scattering in tissue is deterministic only within a brief speckle correlation time. In in vivo tissue, this speckle correlation time is on the order of milliseconds, and so the wavefront must be optimized within this brief period. The speed of digital wavefront shaping has typically been limited by the relatively long time required to measure and display the optimal phase pattern. This limitation stems from the low speeds of cameras, data transfer and processing, and spatial light modulators. While binary-phase modulation requiring only two images for the phase measurement has recently been reported, most techniques require at least three frames for the full-phase measurement. Here, we present a full-phase digital optical phase conjugation method based on off-axis holography for single-shot optical focusing through scattering media. By using off-axis holography in conjunction with graphics processing unit based processing, we take advantage of the single-shot full-phase measurement while using parallel computation to quickly reconstruct the phase map. With this system, we can focus light through scattering media with a system latency of approximately 9 ms, on the order of the in vivo speckle correlation time.

High-speed single-shot optical focusing through dynamic scattering media with full-phase wavefront shaping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hemphill, Ashton S.; Shen, Yuecheng; Liu, Yan; Wang, Lihong V.

2017-11-01

In biological applications, optical focusing is limited by the diffusion of light, which prevents focusing at depths greater than ˜1 mm in soft tissue. Wavefront shaping extends the depth by compensating for phase distortions induced by scattering and thus allows for focusing light through biological tissue beyond the optical diffusion limit by using constructive interference. However, due to physiological motion, light scattering in tissue is deterministic only within a brief speckle correlation time. In in vivo tissue, this speckle correlation time is on the order of milliseconds, and so the wavefront must be optimized within this brief period. The speed of digital wavefront shaping has typically been limited by the relatively long time required to measure and display the optimal phase pattern. This limitation stems from the low speeds of cameras, data transfer and processing, and spatial light modulators. While binary-phase modulation requiring only two images for the phase measurement has recently been reported, most techniques require at least three frames for the full-phase measurement. Here, we present a full-phase digital optical phase conjugation method based on off-axis holography for single-shot optical focusing through scattering media. By using off-axis holography in conjunction with graphics processing unit based processing, we take advantage of the single-shot full-phase measurement while using parallel computation to quickly reconstruct the phase map. With this system, we can focus light through scattering media with a system latency of approximately 9 ms, on the order of the in vivo speckle correlation time.

Seeking science information online: Data mining Google to better understand the roles of the media and the education system.

PubMed

Segev, Elad; Baram-Tsabari, Ayelet

2012-10-01

Which extrinsic cues motivate people to search for science-related information? For many science-related search queries, media attention and time during the academic year are highly correlated with changes in information seeking behavior (expressed by changes in the proportion of Google science-related searches). The data mining analysis presented here shows that changes in the volume of searches for general and well-established science terms are strongly linked to the education system. By contrast, ad-hoc events and current concerns were better aligned with media coverage. The interest and ability to independently seek science knowledge in response to current events or concerns is one of the fundamental goals of the science literacy movement. This method provides a mirror of extrapolated behavior and as such can assist researchers in assessing the role of the media in shaping science interests, and inform the ways in which lifelong interests in science are manifested in real world situations.

Kinematic Model of Transient Shape-Induced Anisotropy in Dense Granular Flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nadler, B.; Guillard, F.; Einav, I.

2018-05-01

Nonspherical particles are ubiquitous in nature and industry, yet previous theoretical models of granular media are mostly limited to systems of spherical particles. The problem is that in systems of nonspherical anisotropic particles, dynamic particle alignment critically affects their mechanical response. To study the tendency of such particles to align, we propose a simple kinematic model that relates the flow to the evolution of particle alignment with respect to each other. The validity of the proposed model is supported by comparison with particle-based simulations for various particle shapes ranging from elongated rice-like (prolate) to flattened lentil-like (oblate) particles. The model shows good agreement with the simulations for both steady-state and transient responses, and advances the development of comprehensive constitutive models for shape-anisotropic particles.

Perspectives: Unconventional Wisdom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Burck

2013-01-01

Since online learning burst on the scene in the late 1990s, predictions of traditional higher education's obsolescence and disruption have been steady fare in the trade and popular media. This time the change is shaping up to be more profound than most had envisioned. As alternatives to the degree system (and the accreditation/financial…

The "Oprahfication" of Literacy: Reading "Oprah's Book Club."

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hall, R. Mark

2003-01-01

Considers how although the influence of "Oprah's Book Club" has been well documented in the popular media, it has received little attention from the academic community. Examines the club as a literacy delivery system, asking how literacy takes its shape from the interests of both Winfrey and her readers. (SG)

Modeling the behaviour of shape memory materials under large deformations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rogovoy, A. A.; Stolbova, O. S.

2017-06-01

In this study, the models describing the behavior of shape memory alloys, ferromagnetic materials and polymers have been constructed, using a formalized approach to develop the constitutive equations for complex media under large deformations. The kinematic and constitutive equations, satisfying the principles of thermodynamics and objectivity, have been derived. The application of the Galerkin procedure to the systems of equations of solid mechanics allowed us to obtain the Lagrange variational equation and variational formulation of the magnetostatics problems. These relations have been tested in the context of the problems of finite deformation in shape memory alloys and ferromagnetic materials during forward and reverse martensitic transformations and in shape memory polymers during forward and reverse relaxation transitions from a highly elastic to a glassy state.

Interplay between media and social influence in the collective behavior of opinion dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Colaiori, Francesca; Castellano, Claudio

2015-10-01

Messages conveyed by media act as a major drive in shaping attitudes and inducing opinion shift. On the other hand, individuals are strongly affected by peer pressure while forming their own judgment. We solve a general model of opinion dynamics where individuals either hold one of two alternative opinions or are undecided and interact pairwise while exposed to an external influence. As media pressure increases, the system moves from pluralism to global consensus; four distinct classes of collective behavior emerge, crucially depending on the outcome of direct interactions among individuals holding opposite opinions. Observed nontrivial behaviors include hysteretic phenomena and resilience of minority opinions. Notably, consensus could be unachievable even when media and microscopic interactions are biased in favor of the same opinion: The unfavored opinion might even gain the support of the majority.

Interplay between media and social influence in the collective behavior of opinion dynamics.

PubMed

Colaiori, Francesca; Castellano, Claudio

2015-10-01

Messages conveyed by media act as a major drive in shaping attitudes and inducing opinion shift. On the other hand, individuals are strongly affected by peer pressure while forming their own judgment. We solve a general model of opinion dynamics where individuals either hold one of two alternative opinions or are undecided and interact pairwise while exposed to an external influence. As media pressure increases, the system moves from pluralism to global consensus; four distinct classes of collective behavior emerge, crucially depending on the outcome of direct interactions among individuals holding opposite opinions. Observed nontrivial behaviors include hysteretic phenomena and resilience of minority opinions. Notably, consensus could be unachievable even when media and microscopic interactions are biased in favor of the same opinion: The unfavored opinion might even gain the support of the majority.

Defense.gov - Special Report - Social Media

Science.gov Websites

social media space, the Marine Corps now leads the way in the era of emerging media. Story» Featured Articles Social Media Shapes Military The Defense Department and all of its components use Facebook and other social media tools to help promote their initiatives as the entire informational environment

Stereotypes and Representations of Aging in the Media

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mason, Susan E.; Darnell, Emily A.; Prifti, Krisiola

2010-01-01

How are older adults presented in print and in the electronic media? Are they underrepresented? Are they accurately portrayed? Based on our examination of several forms of media over a four-month period, we discuss the role of the media in shaping our views on aging. Quantitative and qualitative analyses reveal that media representations often…

Literacy, Play and Globalization: Converging Imaginaries in Children's Critical and Cultural Performances. Routledge Research in Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Medina, Carmen L.; Wohlwend, Karen E.

2014-01-01

This book takes on current perspectives on children's relationships to literacy, media, childhood, markets and transtionalism in converging global worlds. It introduces the idea of multi-sited imaginaries to explain how children's media and literacy performances shape and are shaped by shared visions of communities that we collectively imagine,…

Focusing light through scattering media by polarization modulation based generalized digital optical phase conjugation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Jiamiao; Shen, Yuecheng; Liu, Yan; Hemphill, Ashton S.; Wang, Lihong V.

2017-11-01

Optical scattering prevents light from being focused through thick biological tissue at depths greater than ˜1 mm. To break this optical diffusion limit, digital optical phase conjugation (DOPC) based wavefront shaping techniques are being actively developed. Previous DOPC systems employed spatial light modulators that modulated either the phase or the amplitude of the conjugate light field. Here, we achieve optical focusing through scattering media by using polarization modulation based generalized DOPC. First, we describe an algorithm to extract the polarization map from the measured scattered field. Then, we validate the algorithm through numerical simulations and find that the focusing contrast achieved by polarization modulation is similar to that achieved by phase modulation. Finally, we build a system using an inexpensive twisted nematic liquid crystal based spatial light modulator (SLM) and experimentally demonstrate light focusing through 3-mm thick chicken breast tissue. Since the polarization modulation based SLMs are widely used in displays and are having more and more pixel counts with the prevalence of 4 K displays, these SLMs are inexpensive and valuable devices for wavefront shaping.

Microbial Biosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles in Different Culture Media.

PubMed

Luo, Ke; Jung, Samuel; Park, Kyu-Hwan; Kim, Young-Rok

2018-01-31

Microbial biosynthesis of metal nanoparticles has been extensively studied for the applications in biomedical sciences and engineering. However, the mechanism for their synthesis through microorganism is not completely understood. In this study, several culture media were investigated for their roles in the microbial biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The size and morphology of the synthesized AgNPs were analyzed by UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier-transform-infrared (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The results demonstrated that nutrient broth (NB) and Mueller-Hinton broth (MHB) among tested media effectively reduced silver ions to form AgNPs with different particle size and shape. Although the involved microorganism enhanced the reduction of silver ions, the size and shape of the particles were shown to mainly depend on the culture media. Our findings suggest that the growth media of bacterial culture play an important role in the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles with regard to their size and shape. We believe our findings would provide useful information for further exploration of microbial biosynthesis of AgNPs and their biomedical applications.

Thermal Analysis for Ion-Exchange Column System

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, Si Y.; King, William D.

2012-12-20

Models have been developed to simulate the thermal characteristics of crystalline silicotitanate ion exchange media fully loaded with radioactive cesium either in a column configuration or distributed within a waste storage tank. This work was conducted to support the design and operation of a waste treatment process focused on treating dissolved, high-sodium salt waste solutions for the removal of specific radionuclides. The ion exchange column will be installed inside a high level waste storage tank at the Savannah River Site. After cesium loading, the ion exchange media may be transferred to the waste tank floor for interim storage. Models weremore » used to predict temperature profiles in these areas of the system where the cesium-loaded media is expected to lead to localized regions of elevated temperature due to radiolytic decay. Normal operating conditions and accident scenarios (including loss of solution flow, inadvertent drainage, and loss of active cooling) were evaluated for the ion exchange column using bounding conditions to establish the design safety basis. The modeling results demonstrate that the baseline design using one central and four outer cooling tubes provides a highly efficient cooling mechanism for reducing the maximum column temperature. In-tank modeling results revealed that an idealized hemispherical mound shape leads to the highest tank floor temperatures. In contrast, even large volumes of CST distributed in a flat layer with a cylindrical shape do not result in significant floor heating.« less

Trends in local newspaper reporting of London cyclist fatalities 1992-2012: the role of the media in shaping the systems dynamics of cycling

PubMed Central

Macmillan, Alex; Roberts, Alex; Woodcock, James; Aldred, Rachel; Goodman, Anna

2016-01-01

Background Successfully increasing cycling across a broad range of the population would confer important health benefits, but many potential cyclists are deterred by fears about traffic danger. Media coverage of road traffic crashes may reinforce this perception. As part of a wider effort to model the system dynamics of urban cycling, in this paper we examined how media coverage of cyclist fatalities in London changed across a period when the prevalence of cycling doubled. We compared this with changes in the coverage of motorcyclist fatalities as a control group. Methods Police records of traffic crashes (STATS19) were used to identify all cyclist and motorcyclist fatalities in London between 1992 and 2012. We searched electronic archives of London's largest local newspaper to identify relevant articles (January 1992–April 2014), and sought to identify which police-reported fatalities received any media coverage. We repeated this in three smaller English cities. Results Across the period when cycling trips doubled in London, the proportion of fatalities covered in the local media increased from 6% in 1992–1994 to 75% in 2010–2012. By contrast, the coverage of motorcyclist fatalities remained low (4% in 1992–1994 versus 5% in 2010–2012; p = 0.007 for interaction between mode and time period). Comparisons with other English cities suggested that the changes observed in London might not occur in smaller cities with lower absolute numbers of crashes, as in these settings fatalities are almost always covered regardless of mode share (79–100% coverage for both cyclist and motorcyclist fatalities). Conclusion In large cities, an increase in the popularity (and therefore ‘newsworthiness’) of cycling may increase the propensity of the media to cover cyclist fatalities. This has the potential to give the public the impression that cycling has become more dangerous, and thereby initiate a negative feedback loop that dampens down further increases in cycling. Understanding these complex roles of the media in shaping cycling trends may help identify effective policy levers to achieve sustained growth in cycling. PMID:26551734

Trends in local newspaper reporting of London cyclist fatalities 1992-2012: the role of the media in shaping the systems dynamics of cycling.

PubMed

Macmillan, Alex; Roberts, Alex; Woodcock, James; Aldred, Rachel; Goodman, Anna

2016-01-01

Successfully increasing cycling across a broad range of the population would confer important health benefits, but many potential cyclists are deterred by fears about traffic danger. Media coverage of road traffic crashes may reinforce this perception. As part of a wider effort to model the system dynamics of urban cycling, in this paper we examined how media coverage of cyclist fatalities in London changed across a period when the prevalence of cycling doubled. We compared this with changes in the coverage of motorcyclist fatalities as a control group. Police records of traffic crashes (STATS19) were used to identify all cyclist and motorcyclist fatalities in London between 1992 and 2012. We searched electronic archives of London's largest local newspaper to identify relevant articles (January 1992-April 2014), and sought to identify which police-reported fatalities received any media coverage. We repeated this in three smaller English cities. Across the period when cycling trips doubled in London, the proportion of fatalities covered in the local media increased from 6% in 1992-1994 to 75% in 2010-2012. By contrast, the coverage of motorcyclist fatalities remained low (4% in 1992-1994 versus 5% in 2010-2012; p=0.007 for interaction between mode and time period). Comparisons with other English cities suggested that the changes observed in London might not occur in smaller cities with lower absolute numbers of crashes, as in these settings fatalities are almost always covered regardless of mode share (79-100% coverage for both cyclist and motorcyclist fatalities). In large cities, an increase in the popularity (and therefore 'newsworthiness') of cycling may increase the propensity of the media to cover cyclist fatalities. This has the potential to give the public the impression that cycling has become more dangerous, and thereby initiate a negative feedback loop that dampens down further increases in cycling. Understanding these complex roles of the media in shaping cycling trends may help identify effective policy levers to achieve sustained growth in cycling. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Eating disorders and body image concerns as influenced by family and media among university students in Sharjah, UAE.

PubMed

Radwan, Hadia; Hasan, Hayder A; Najm, Lina; Zaurub, Sara; Jami, Faridah; Javadi, Fahimeh; Deeb, Lina Adeeb; Iskandarani, Amani

2018-01-01

Eating disorders (ED) can be influenced by psychological and socio-cultural factors. The aim of this study was to explore the association between parental and media influences and body image concerns as factors in the onset of ED. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 662 students (407 women and 255 men) attending one of three universities in United Arab Emirates (UAE). The study employed an online self-administered questionnaire with validated scales: Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ), Media Influences Scale, and Family Influences Scale (FIS). About 33% of the sample had EAT- 26 scores >=20 and 45% showed mild to marked concerns about their body shape. Women students were significantly more concerned about their shape, and more influenced by media than men. There were significant differences in the means of all scores, except for media influence, among the four BMI groups. The EAT-26 score showed strongest correlation with BSQ (r=0.48), followed by FIS, Media and BMI (r=0.419, r=0.276 and r=0.18 respectively). The BSQ was the best predictor of ED and was inversely associated with the EAT-26 score (B=-1.51, OR=0.219, 95% CI: 0.152-0.316, p<0.001). The findings of this study indicate that ED and body shape concerns are highly prevalent among the university student sample, and highlight the strong influence that both the media and families exert on the development of ED among young adults. These findings provide baseline data for future longitudinal studies to investigate factors influencing ED.

Gender and Age in Media Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gajek, Elzbieta

2009-01-01

Nowadays mass media shape the perception of social values and roles. Thus, aspects of media education that deal with various kinds of inequalities influence general sensitivity to diversity and its consequences. In this respect media and intercultural competences interrelate. Not only minorities' rights have to be secured, but also majorities…

Does Helicobacter pylori exhibit corkscrew motion while swimming?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Constantino, Maira; Hardcastle, Joseph; Bansil, Rama

2015-03-01

Helicobacter pylori is a spiral shaped bacterium associated with ulcers, gastric cancer, gastritis among other diseases. In order to colonize the harsh acidic environment of the stomach H. pylori has to go across the viscoelastic mucus layer of the stomach. Many studies have been conducted on the swimming of H. pylori in viscous media however none have taken into account the influence of cell-body shape on the trajectory. We present an experimental study of the effects of body shape in the swimming trajectory of H. pylori in viscous media by a quantitative analysis of the bacterium rotation and translation in gels using phase contrast microscopy and particle tracking techniques. Preliminary microscopic tracking measurements show very well defined helical trajectories in the spiral-shaped wild type H. pylori. These helical trajectories are not seen in rod-shaped mutants which sometimes display whirling motion about one end acting as a hinge. We will present an analysis of the different trajectories for bacteria swimming in media with different viscoelastic parameters. Supported by the National Science Foundation PHY PoLS.

Optical quantitation of absorbers in variously shaped turbid media based on the microscopic Beer-Lambert law. A new approach to optical computerized tomography.

PubMed

Tsuchiya, Y; Urakami, T

1998-02-09

To determine the concentrations of an absorber in variously shaped turbid media such as human tissue, we propose analytical expressions for diffuse re-emission in time and frequency domains, based on the microscopic Beer-Lambert law that holds true when we trace a zigzag photon path in the medium. Our expressions are implicit for the scattering properties, the volume shape, and the source-detector separation. We show that three observables are sufficient to determine the changes in the concentration and the absolute concentrations of an absorber in scattering media as long as the scattering property remains constant. The three observables are: the re-emission, the mean pathlength or group delay, and the extinction coefficient of the absorber. We also show that our equations can be extended to describe photon migration in nonuniform media. The validity of the predictions is confirmed by measuring a tissue-like phantom.

Gender, Race and Class in Media. A Text-Reader.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dines, Gail, Ed.; Humez, Jean M., Ed.

This reader is intended to introduce undergraduates to the richness, sophistication, and diversity that characterize contemporary media scholarship. Another goal is to take the mystery out of the idea of media culture by examining its production, construction, and the meaning-making processes through which media imagery and messages help shape our…

The Lifeworld of Youth in the Information Society

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Morimoto, Shauna A.; Friedland, Lewis A.

2011-01-01

Media is now central to how youth form their identities. Media also shapes the cultural background of much of young people's action and decision making and the institutional framework of social interaction. This article explores this mediated "lifeworld" of young people by examining rates of current media use and the infiltration of media into…

Composing Focus: Shaping Temporal, Social, Media, Social Media, and Attentional Environments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fife, Jane

2017-01-01

Writers must learn to control factors that influence the ability to focus, especially in what some call a culture of distraction. In our efforts to promote metacognition and flexible writing processes, writing teachers need to engage students in study and discussion of factors in our temporal, social, media, social media, and attentional…

Focusing light through dynamical samples using fast continuous wavefront optimization.

PubMed

Blochet, B; Bourdieu, L; Gigan, S

2017-12-01

We describe a fast continuous optimization wavefront shaping system able to focus light through dynamic scattering media. A micro-electro-mechanical system-based spatial light modulator, a fast photodetector, and field programmable gate array electronics are combined to implement a continuous optimization of a wavefront with a single-mode optimization rate of 4.1 kHz. The system performances are demonstrated by focusing light through colloidal solutions of TiO 2 particles in glycerol with tunable temporal stability.

Implementation of a SVWP-based laser beam shaping technique for generation of 100-mJ-level picosecond pulses.

PubMed

Adamonis, J; Aleknavičius, A; Michailovas, K; Balickas, S; Petrauskienė, V; Gertus, T; Michailovas, A

2016-10-01

We present implementation of the energy-efficient and flexible laser beam shaping technique in a high-power and high-energy laser amplifier system. The beam shaping is based on a spatially variable wave plate (SVWP) fabricated by femtosecond laser nanostructuring of glass. We reshaped the initially Gaussian beam into a super-Gaussian (SG) of the 12th order with efficiency of about 50%. The 12th order of the SG beam provided the best compromise between large fill factor, low diffraction on the edges of the active media, and moderate intensity distribution modification during free-space propagation. We obtained 150 mJ pulses of 532 nm radiation. High-energy, pulse duration of 85 ps and the nearly flat-top spatial profile of the beam make it ideal for pumping optical parametric chirped pulse amplification systems.

Amplifying modeling for broad bandwidth pulse in Nd:glass based on hybrid-broaden mechanism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Su, J.; Liu, L.; Luo, B.; Wang, W.; Jing, F.; Wei, X.; Zhang, X.

2008-05-01

In this paper, the cross relaxation time is proposed to combine the homogeneous and inhomogeneous broaden mechanism for broad bandwidth pulse amplification model. The corresponding velocity equation, which can describe the response of inverse population on upper and low energy level of gain media to different frequency of pulse, is also put forward. The gain saturation and energy relaxation effect are also included in the velocity equation. Code named CPAP has been developed to simulate the amplifying process of broad bandwidth pulse in multi-pass laser system. The amplifying capability of multi-pass laser system is evaluated and gain narrowing and temporal shape distortion are also investigated when bandwidth of pulse and cross relaxation time of gain media are different. Results can benefit the design of high-energy PW laser system in LFRC, CAEP.

A line scanned light-sheet microscope with phase shaped self-reconstructing beams.

PubMed

Fahrbach, Florian O; Rohrbach, Alexander

2010-11-08

We recently demonstrated that Microscopy with Self-Reconstructing Beams (MISERB) increases both image quality and penetration depth of illumination beams in strongly scattering media. Based on the concept of line scanned light-sheet microscopy, we present an add-on module to a standard inverted microscope using a scanned beam that is shaped in phase and amplitude by a spatial light modulator. We explain technical details of the setup as well as of the holograms for the creation, positioning and scaling of static light-sheets, Gaussian beams and Bessel beams. The comparison of images from identical sample areas illuminated by different beams allows a precise assessment of the interconnection between beam shape and image quality. The superior propagation ability of Bessel beams through inhomogeneous media is demonstrated by measurements on various scattering media.

Media-Educational Habitus of Future Educators in the Context of Education in Day-Care Centers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Friedrichs-Liesenkötter, Henrike

2015-01-01

This research explores these questions: (1) How are the forms of media-educational habitus of future educators shaped? (2) What conditions influence whether or not media education is done in day-care centers? The qualitative study consists of six semi-structured interviews with media education teachers in educator training, four focus group…

Media Creation and Sharing in Informal, Situated, Authentic Mobile Learning for Local Cultural Diversity Investigation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walinski, Jacek

2013-01-01

New media shape the intensity of intercultural contacts not only through content consumption but also through content creation with modern technologies. Enabling citizens to participate in the content exchange via the Web 2.0 paradigm (audiences as both media consumers and media creators, which is prevalent in modern online services) results in…

Media Narratives and Possibilities for Teachers' Embodied Concepts of Self

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Townsend, Jane S.; Ryan, Patrick A.

2012-01-01

Non-print media of radio, television, and film tell narratives about the image and practice of teachers, but how might these media narratives shape conceptions of teachers as well as teachers' conceptions of themselves? What elements of the media narratives do we incorporate and reject in the narratives that we construct about their professional…

Hyperuniformity, quasi-long-range correlations, and void-space constraints in maximally random jammed particle packings. II. Anisotropy in particle shape.

PubMed

Zachary, Chase E; Jiao, Yang; Torquato, Salvatore

2011-05-01

We extend the results from the first part of this series of two papers by examining hyperuniformity in heterogeneous media composed of impenetrable anisotropic inclusions. Specifically, we consider maximally random jammed (MRJ) packings of hard ellipses and superdisks and show that these systems both possess vanishing infinite-wavelength local-volume-fraction fluctuations and quasi-long-range pair correlations scaling as r(-(d+1)) in d Euclidean dimensions. Our results suggest a strong generalization of a conjecture by Torquato and Stillinger [Phys. Rev. E 68, 041113 (2003)], namely, that all strictly jammed saturated packings of hard particles, including those with size and shape distributions, are hyperuniform with signature quasi-long-range correlations. We show that our arguments concerning the constrained distribution of the void space in MRJ packings directly extend to hard-ellipse and superdisk packings, thereby providing a direct structural explanation for the appearance of hyperuniformity and quasi-long-range correlations in these systems. Additionally, we examine general heterogeneous media with anisotropic inclusions and show unexpectedly that one can decorate a periodic point pattern to obtain a hard-particle system that is not hyperuniform with respect to local-volume-fraction fluctuations. This apparent discrepancy can also be rationalized by appealing to the irregular distribution of the void space arising from the anisotropic shapes of the particles. Our work suggests the intriguing possibility that the MRJ states of hard particles share certain universal features independent of the local properties of the packings, including the packing fraction and average contact number per particle.

Spectrally tunable, temporally shaped parametric front end to seed high-energy Nd:glass laser systems

DOE PAGES

Dorrer, C.; Consentino, A.; Cuffney, R.; ...

2017-10-18

Here, we describe a parametric-amplification–based front end for seeding high-energy Nd:glass laser systems. The front end delivers up to 200 mJ by parametric amplification in 2.5-ns flat-in-time pulses tunable over more than 15 nm. Spectral tunability over a range larger than what is typically achieved by laser media at similar energy levels is implemented to investigate cross-beam energy transfer in multibeam target experiments. The front-end operation is simulated to explain the amplified signal’s sensitivity to the input pump and signal. A large variety of amplified waveforms are generated by closed-loop pulse shaping. Various properties and limitations of this front endmore » are discussed.« less

Spectrally tunable, temporally shaped parametric front end to seed high-energy Nd:glass laser systems

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dorrer, C.; Consentino, A.; Cuffney, R.

Here, we describe a parametric-amplification–based front end for seeding high-energy Nd:glass laser systems. The front end delivers up to 200 mJ by parametric amplification in 2.5-ns flat-in-time pulses tunable over more than 15 nm. Spectral tunability over a range larger than what is typically achieved by laser media at similar energy levels is implemented to investigate cross-beam energy transfer in multibeam target experiments. The front-end operation is simulated to explain the amplified signal’s sensitivity to the input pump and signal. A large variety of amplified waveforms are generated by closed-loop pulse shaping. Various properties and limitations of this front endmore » are discussed.« less

Do universal media literacy programs have an effect on weight and shape concern by influencing media internalization?

PubMed

Wade, Tracey D; Wilksch, Simon M; Paxton, Susan J; Byrne, Susan M; Austin, S Bryn

2017-07-01

The current study examined whether media internalization, found to mediate the relationship between selected prevention programs and outcomes, mediated the impact of two universal prevention programs that targeted risk factors for eating disorders and obesity, namely weight concern, and shape concern. Students randomized to a media literacy (Media Smart) program (N = 269, 65% females, mean age 12.97 years) and a healthy lifestyle (Life Smart) program (N = 347, 69% females, mean age 13.07 years) were included in the analyses. There were four waves of data (baseline, end of intervention, 6- and 12-month follow-up). Latent growth curve modeling was used to explore whether group assignment influenced levels of media internalization, and whether that in turn influenced change over time of our two outcome variables. Being randomly allocated to Media Smart as opposed to Life Smart resulted in less growth of both outcome variables through the influence on decreasing levels of media internalization. Findings provided support for the suggestion that media literacy programs exert an impact on outcomes related to eating disorder risk through changes to media internalization. Future research should examine whether these mechanisms of change differ between girls and boys. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Socio-Semiotic Patterns in Digital Meaning-Making: Semiotic Choice as Indicator of Communicative Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sofkova Hashemi, Sylvana

2017-01-01

Access to digital technology in the classroom enables the composition and organization of ideas on screen with a variety of semiotic systems of different modes and media. This study explores patterns of communication and preference of design in digital meaning-making of twelve 7-8 years old students. Meanings were shaped in complex uses and…

Arylethynyl receptors for neutral molecules and anions: emerging applications in cellular imaging.

PubMed

Carroll, Calden N; Naleway, John J; Haley, Michael M; Johnson, Darren W

2010-10-01

This critical review will focus on the application of shape-persistent receptors for anions that derive their rigidity and optoelectronic properties from the inclusion of arylethynyl linkages. It will highlight a few of the design strategies involved in engineering selective and sensitive fluorescent probes and how arylacetylenes can offer a design pathway to some of the more desirable properties of a selective sensor. Additionally, knowledge gained in the study of these receptors in organic media often leads to improved receptor design and the production of chromogenic and fluorogenic probes capable of detecting specific substrates among the multitude of ions present in biological systems. In this ocean of potential targets exists a large number of geometrically distinct anions, which present their own problems to the design of receptors with complementary binding for each preferred coordination geometry. Our interest in targeting charged substrates, specifically how previous work on receptors for cations or neutral guests can be adapted to anions, will be addressed. Additionally, we will focus on the design and development of supramolecular arylethynyl systems, their shape-persistence and fluorogenic or chromogenic optoelectronic responses to complexation. We will also examine briefly how the "chemistry in the cuvet" translates into biological media (125 references).

Global food terror in Japan: media shaping risk perception, the nation, and women.

PubMed

Rosenberger, Nancy

2009-01-01

This article traces the Japanese media's response to Chinese poison pot-stickers (gyoza) in Japan's food system as they debate and guide consumer-citizens' feelings of increasing vulnerability as individuals in the global market, the nation, and families. Global food becomes a key metaphor for threats to national borders and the need for national food, yet simultaneously for inevitable risk to globally attuned stomachs that can be controlled only by alert housewives and education of the young. Food terror effectively signals citizens' lack of protection in risk society, but leaves unsaid important differences among consumer-citizens to save themselves with scarce Japanese-made food.

Association between mass media and body weight concern among Jordanian adolescents' residents of Amman: the role of gender and obesity.

PubMed

Tayyem, Reema F; Bawadi, Hiba A; AbuMweis, Suhad S; Allehdan, Sabika; Agraib, Lana; Ghazzawi, Hadeel A; Al-Mannai, Mariam A; Musaiger, AbdulRahman O

2016-11-01

Body image in the mass media promotes an unrealistic picture of body shape that leads to body dissatisfaction among adolescentsQuery. Therefore, the study presented in this paper aimed to assess the association between mass media and adolescents' weight concerns and perceptions of body weight and shape. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on school adolescents aged between 15 and 18 years during the academic year 2013-2014. Multistage stratified sampling method was used. The number of participants in the study was 795 students: 400 boys and 395 girls. All participants have a common behavior in rarely reading magazines, but they spend more than 2 h in watching television or less than 3 h using the internet. However, most of obese/non-obese adolescents, boys or girls, have shown high influence (p < 0.05) of reading magazines on the subject of dieting to lose weight. While obese students read more magazines on dieting to lose weight, other mass media did not show the same results on weight concerns and body shape among Jordanian adolescents.

Surgical success of boomerang-shaped chondroperichondrial graft in pediatric chronic otitis media cases.

PubMed

Dundar, Riza; Kulduk, Erkan; Soy, Fatih Kemal; Aslan, Mehmet; Yukkaldiran, Ahmet; Guler, Osman Kadir; Ozbay, Can

2015-06-01

To reveal the success of boomerang-shaped chondroperichondrial graft (BSCPG) in pediatric chronic otitis media cases. A total of 43 pediatric patients (age 7-16 years) who had undergone type 1 tympanoplasty with the diagnosis of chronic otitis media between March 2010 and March 2013 were included in this retrospective study. The main outcome measures were the graft success rate and level of hearing improvement. Graft intake success rate was 90.7%. Mean preoperative and postoperative air-bone gap values were 20.51 ± 4.34 dB SPL and 9.32 ± 5.64 dB SPL, respectively (p < 0.001). Mean preoperative and postoperative pure tone average values were 28.6 ± 3.52 and 12.24 ± 5.22 respectively (p < 0.001). Air-bone gap was improved to ≤ 10 dB in 38 (88.37%) patients during the postoperative period. Boomerang-shaped chondroperichondrial grafting technique seems to be a successful alternative in the management of pediatric chronic otitis media cases. It has relatively higher grade graft success rate. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Citizen journalism in a time of crisis: lessons from a large-scale California wildfire

Treesearch

S. Gillette; J. Taylor; D.J. Chavez; R. Hodgson; J. Downing

2007-01-01

The accessibility of news production tools through consumer communication technology has made it possible for media consumers to become media producers. The evolution of media consumer to media producer has important implications for the shape of public discourse during a time of crisis. Citizen journalists cover crisis events using camera cell phones and digital...

The Adult Learner, the News Media, and the Third World: Suppressing and Facilitating Critical Thinking.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shor, Francis

1993-01-01

Suggests that news media play a major role in shaping adult college students' views and in suppressing critical thinking. Reports on Wayne State University students' perceptions of the Gulf War, linking those perceptions to the media. Describes the use of class discussion in a media literacy and critical thinking course. Includes the Gulf War…

Media Consumption on the World Wide Web: Integrating Theories of Media Choice and Global Media Flows to Explain Global Cultural Consumption

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Taneja, Harsh

2014-01-01

The cross border availability of media content has raised speculations that content preferences would largely drive audience choices. In such a scenario, technologies and institutional structures would primarily shape patterns of global cultural consumption, sweeping away old allegiances based on cultural traits such as language and geography. On…

A Social Semiotic Mapping of Voice in Youth Media: The Pitch in Youth Video Production

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pyles, Damiana Gibbons

2017-01-01

An ethics of youth media production is the interplay of identities, media literacy, and modality that shape the environment within which young people produce media, yet how "voice" is fostered and/or constrained in these environments could still be explored more fully. This paper stems from a larger qualitative study of how youth created…

The engineered biofiltration system

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pisotti, D.A.

1997-12-31

For years, biofiltration has meant compost, peat, bark, leave mulch, or any combination of these as the substrate to house microorganisms. This has lead to a number of operational and maintenance problems, including: compaction, channeling, anaerobic zones, dry spots, pressure drop, and media degradation. All of these cause reduced efficiency and increased maintenance and increased operational costs. For these reasons inert media, including plastic beads and low grade carbons have been added to the media for buffering capacity, resists compaction, channeling and to increase efficiency. This has led to search for a more reliable and sturdy media. The media themore » authors chose was activated carbon. Pelletized activated carbon was the ideal candidate due to its uniform size and shape, its inherent hardness, adsorptive capacity, and its ability to withstand microbial degradation. The pressure drop of the system will remain constant after microbial growth occurs, due to the ability to wash the media bed. Carbon allows for the removal of excess biomass which can not be performed on organic media, this is one of the problems leading to media degradation, too many microbes and not enough food (i.e. VOCs). Carbon also allows for spike or increased loads to be treated without performance suffering. Carbon also has tremendous surface area, which allows more microorganisms to be present in a smaller volume, therefore reducing the overall size of the biofilter vessel. This paper will discuss further the findings of a pilot test that was performed using activated carbon as the media for microbial growth. This paper will show the performance of the carbon based biofilter system with respect to pressure drop, residence time, removal efficiency, microbial populations, temperature, moisture, and water requirements. The pilot unit is 350 acfm and operated for 4 months on an air stream in which the contaminant concentrations varied greatly every few minutes.« less

Focusing light into desired patterns through turbid media by feedback-based wavefront shaping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wan, Lipeng; Chen, Ziyang; Huang, Huiling; Pu, Jixiong

2016-07-01

We demonstrate that the focusing of light into desired patterns through turbid media can be realized using feedback-based wavefront shaping. Three desired focused patterns—a triangle, a circle, and a rectangle—are used as examples to study this ability. During the process of modulating scattered light, the Pearson's correlation coefficient is introduced as a feedback signal. It is found that the speckle field formed by the turbid media gradually transforms into the desired pattern through a process of modulation of the input beam wave front. The proposed approach has potential applications in biomedical treatment and laser material processing.

Spiderman and science: How students' perceptions of scientists are shaped by popular media.

PubMed

Tan, Aik-Ling; Jocz, Jennifer Ann; Zhai, Junqing

2017-07-01

This study addresses the influence of popular media on how young children perceive science and the work of scientists. Using an adapted version of the Draw-A-Scientist Test, 15 classes of fourth graders (9-10 years old) at three different schools in Singapore were sampled ( n =  266). The students' drawings as well as their identification of three sources from which they obtained inspiration for their drawings were analyzed. Our results showed a strong relationship between students' drawings of scientists and their reported sources of inspiration. The results suggest that popular media play a large role in shaping how young children view scientists.

Photoshopping the selfie: Self photo editing and photo investment are associated with body dissatisfaction in adolescent girls.

PubMed

McLean, Siân A; Paxton, Susan J; Wertheim, Eleanor H; Masters, Jennifer

2015-12-01

Social media engagement by adolescent girls is high. Despite its appeal, there are potential negative consequences for body dissatisfaction and disordered eating from social media use. This study aimed to examine, in a cross-sectional design, the relationship between social media use in general, and social media activities related to taking "selfies" and sharing specifically, with overvaluation of shape and weight, body dissatisfaction, and dietary restraint. Participants were 101 grade seven girls (M(age)  = 13.1, SD = 0.3), who completed self-report questionnaires of social media use and body-related and eating concerns measures. Results showed that girls who regularly shared self-images on social media, relative to those who did not, reported significantly higher overvaluation of shape and weight, body dissatisfaction, dietary restraint, and internalization of the thin ideal. In addition, among girls who shared photos of themselves on social media, higher engagement in manipulation of and investment in these photos, but not higher media exposure, were associated with greater body-related and eating concerns, including after accounting for media use and internalization of the thin ideal. Although cross-sectional, these findings suggest the importance of social media activities for body-related and eating concerns as well as potential avenues for targeted social-media-based intervention. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Media Coverage and Public Opinion on Scientific Controversies.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mazur, Allan

1981-01-01

Examines the relationship of media coverage and public opinion in scientific controversy. A survey of coverage of controversies arising regarding sociobiology, water fluoridation, nuclear power and the Three Mile Island disaster indicates that the media play an active role in shaping and constructing controversy rather than just reporting it. (JMF)

Online surveillance of media health event reporting in Nepal: digital disease detection from a One Health perspective.

PubMed

Schwind, Jessica S; Norman, Stephanie A; Karmacharya, Dibesh; Wolking, David J; Dixit, Sameer M; Rajbhandari, Rajesh M; Mekaru, Sumiko R; Brownstein, John S

2017-09-21

Traditional media and the internet are crucial sources of health information. Media can significantly shape public opinion, knowledge and understanding of emerging and endemic health threats. As digital communication rapidly progresses, local access and dissemination of health information contribute significantly to global disease detection and reporting. Health event reports in Nepal (October 2013-December 2014) were used to characterize Nepal's media environment from a One Health perspective using HealthMap - a global online disease surveillance and mapping tool. Event variables (location, media source type, disease or risk factor of interest, and affected species) were extracted from HealthMap. A total of 179 health reports were captured from various sources including newspapers, inter-government agency bulletins, individual reports, and trade websites, yielding 108 (60%) unique articles. Human health events were reported most often (n = 85; 79%), followed by animal health events (n = 23; 21%), with no reports focused solely on environmental health. By expanding event coverage across all of the health sectors, media in developing countries could play a crucial role in national risk communication efforts and could enhance early warning systems for disasters and disease outbreaks.

"Sharing Our Stories with All Canadians": Decolonizing Aboriginal Media and Aboriginal Media Politics in Canada

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Knopf, Kerstin

2010-01-01

The mass media are an essential constituent in the construction of a nation's and an individual's self-image. Whether people like and know it or not, from early childhood on people are surrounded by media images and messages that to a great extent shape their perception and understanding of the world as well as contribute to their identity…

Showtime Science: Effective Use of Popular Media to Enhance Instruction of Simple Machines and Energy Transfer

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bergman, Daniel

2011-01-01

The messages students receive through popular media such as movies, television, the internet, and music videos have a powerful influence and can shape their thinking. A national survey of media use by 8- to 18-year-olds found the average adolescent spends over seven and a half hours daily with entertainment media (KFF 2010). Rather than viewing…

Refusing the Stereotype: Decoding Negative Gender Imagery through a School-Based Digital Media Literacy Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berman, Naomi; White, Alexandra

2013-01-01

The media plays a significant role in shaping cultural norms and attitudes, concomitantly reinforcing "body" and "beauty" ideals and gender stereotypes. Unrealistic, photoshopped and stereotyped images used by the media, advertising and fashion industries influence young people's body image and impact on their feelings of body…

Imaging the Frame: Media Representations of Teachers, Their Unions, NCLB, and Education Reform

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goldstein, Rebecca A.

2011-01-01

This article examines the political discourse surrounding NCLB, educational reform, and how that discourse shaped perceptions of public education during the Bush Administration. Examining mass media campaigns in the New York Times and Time Magazine, the article demonstrates how the media has visually and textually framed and reinforced NCLB and…

Media Construction of Presidential Campaigns

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sperry, Chris; Sperry, Sox

2007-01-01

The next American president will likely be the candidate who crafts the best "impression" in the media. It is the job of social studies teachers to help students separate impressions from substance and to understand the role that media play in crafting people's meaning making and shaping their decision making. Social studies teachers can help…

Body image, media, and eating disorders.

PubMed

Derenne, Jennifer L; Beresin, Eugene V

2006-01-01

Eating disorders, including obesity, are a major public health problem today. Throughout history, body image has been determined by various factors, including politics and media. Exposure to mass media (television, movies, magazines, Internet) is correlated with obesity and negative body image, which may lead to disordered eating. The authors attempt to explain the historical context of the problem and explore potential avenues for change. The authors review changes in ideal female body type throughout history, comment on current attitudes toward shape and weight in both men and women, and outline interventions aimed at increasing healthy habits and fostering self-esteem in youth. Throughout history, the ideal of beauty has been difficult to achieve and has been shaped by social context. Current mass media is ubiquitous and powerful, leading to increased body dissatisfaction among both men and women. Parents need to limit children's exposure to media, promote healthy eating and moderate physical activity, and encourage participation in activities that increase mastery and self-esteem. Funding for high-quality, visible advertising campaigns promoting healthy life styles may increase awareness.

Packing Optimization of Sorbent Bed Containing Dissimilar and Irregular Shaped Media

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Holland, Nathan; Guttromson, Jayleen; Piowaty, Hailey

2011-01-01

The Fire Cartridge is a packed bed air filter with two different and separate layers of media designed to provide respiratory protection from combustion products after a fire event on the International Space Station (ISS). The first layer of media is a carbon monoxide catalyst and the second layer of media is universal carbon. During development of Fire Cartridge prototypes, the two media beds were noticed to have shifted inside the cartridge. The movement of media within the cartridge can cause mixing of the bed layers, air voids, and channeling, which could cause preferential air flow and allow contaminants to pass through without removal. An optimally packed bed mitigates these risks and ensures effective removal of contaminants from the air. In order to optimally pack each layer, vertical, horizontal, and orbital agitations were investigated and a packed bulk density was calculated for each method. Packed bulk density must be calculated for each media type to accommodate variations in particle size, shape, and density. Additionally, the optimal vibration parameters must be re-evaluated for each batch of media due to variations in particle size distribution between batches. For this application it was determined that orbital vibrations achieve an optimal pack density and the two media layers can be packed by the same method. Another finding was media with a larger size distribution of particles achieve an optimal bed pack easier than media with a smaller size distribution of particles.

A white-box model of S-shaped and double S-shaped single-species population growth

PubMed Central

Kalmykov, Lev V.

2015-01-01

Complex systems may be mechanistically modelled by white-box modeling with using logical deterministic individual-based cellular automata. Mathematical models of complex systems are of three types: black-box (phenomenological), white-box (mechanistic, based on the first principles) and grey-box (mixtures of phenomenological and mechanistic models). Most basic ecological models are of black-box type, including Malthusian, Verhulst, Lotka–Volterra models. In black-box models, the individual-based (mechanistic) mechanisms of population dynamics remain hidden. Here we mechanistically model the S-shaped and double S-shaped population growth of vegetatively propagated rhizomatous lawn grasses. Using purely logical deterministic individual-based cellular automata we create a white-box model. From a general physical standpoint, the vegetative propagation of plants is an analogue of excitation propagation in excitable media. Using the Monte Carlo method, we investigate a role of different initial positioning of an individual in the habitat. We have investigated mechanisms of the single-species population growth limited by habitat size, intraspecific competition, regeneration time and fecundity of individuals in two types of boundary conditions and at two types of fecundity. Besides that, we have compared the S-shaped and J-shaped population growth. We consider this white-box modeling approach as a method of artificial intelligence which works as automatic hyper-logical inference from the first principles of the studied subject. This approach is perspective for direct mechanistic insights into nature of any complex systems. PMID:26038717

Nonlinear optical waves with the second Painleve transcendent shape of envelope in Kerr media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shcherbakov, Alexandre S.; Tepichin Rodriguez, Eduardo; Sanchez Sanchez, Mauro

2004-05-01

Nonlinear optical wave packets with the second Painleve transcendent shape of envelope are revealed in Kerr media, manifesting weakly focusing cubic nonlinearity, square-law dispersion, and linear losses. When the state of nonlinear optical transmission is realized, two possible types of boundary conditions turn out to be satisfied for these wave packets. The propagation of initially unchirped optical wave packets under consideration could be supported by lossless medium in both normal and anomalous dispersion regimes. At the same time initially chirped optical waves with the second Painleve transcendent shape in low-loss medium and need matching the magnitude of optical losses by the dispersion and nonlinear properties of that medium.

Acoustic invisibility cloaks of arbitrary shapes for complex background media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Jian; Chen, Tianning; Liang, Qingxuan; Wang, Xiaopeng; Xiong, Jie; Jiang, Ping

2016-04-01

We report on the theoretical investigation of the acoustic cloaks working in complex background media in this paper. The constitutive parameters of arbitrary-shape cloaks are derived based on the transformation acoustic theory and coordinate transformation technique. The detailed analysis of boundaries conditions and potential applications of the cloaks are also presented in our work. To overcome the difficulty of achieving the materials with ideal parameters in nature, concentric alternating layered isotropic materials is adopted to approximate the required properties of the cloak. Theoretical design and excellent invisibility are demonstrated by numerical simulations. The inhomogeneous medium and arbitrary-shape acoustic cloaks grow closer to real application and may be a new hot spot in future.

Integrating Mass Media Instruction: "Connecting" NIE and TV Programs for the 21st Century.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shapley, Barbara

More high school students watch television regularly than read newspapers. Newspapers in Education coordinators should be involved in teaching their students critical viewing skills. The essential concepts that students need to learn are to: (1) understand what mass media and popular culture mean; (2) understand how the media shape attitudes and…

Using Social Media to Engage Youth: Education, Social Justice, & Humanitarianism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liang, Belle; Commins, Meghan; Duffy, Nicole

2010-01-01

While youth typically turn to social media for gossip, photo sharing, and friendship building, can it also be used to inspire them toward greater goals? The creators of GenerationPulse.com explore how two theories salient to adolescent social development (positive youth development and relational health) were used to shape a social media website…

Priming International Affairs: How the Media Influence Attitudes toward Foreign Countries.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Willnat, Lars; Graf, Joseph; Brewer, Paul R.

This study broadens the scope of priming research by testing whether media coverage of international affairs shapes the criteria which people use to judge foreign countries. In contrast to previous priming experiments that focused on the effects of television news stories, this study experimentally tests the power of print media to produce priming…

Arabizing Obama: Media's Racial Pathologies and the Rise of Postmodern Racism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Labidi, Imed

2012-01-01

The media's power to shape our views of reality, our socialization, and our politics is indisputable. As we increasingly discover and interpret the world through the screen of our TVs, media narratives and images construct for us confusing representations of reality. In the process, our ability to experience the real is reduced along with our…

Using Media Effectively.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Danzer, Gerald A.; Newman, Mark

1992-01-01

Recommends that media presentations can be used effectively in the history classroom as images of reality. Suggests films and television programs and documentaries that can be utilized to show how movies play a role in shaping opinion and changing perceptions. (DK)

Shaping LGBTQ Identities: Western Media Representations and LGBTQ People's Perceptions in Rural Spain.

PubMed

Sanz López, Josep Maria

2017-10-09

A growing academic discussion has focused on how, in a globalized world, LGBTQ identities are shaped and influenced by different and international actors, such as the media. This article analyzes how LGBTQ people from a rural region of a Western country-Spain-feel toward their representations on TV series from English-speaking countries. Employing a qualitative approach, this research aims to depict whether the academic conceptualizations to analyze these identity conformation processes are accurate. In addition, it explores how dominating media representations are being adapted in a region that, although within the West, can serve a context of a very different nature. The results found that a major rejection of the TV series representations among participants can suggest both an inaccuracy of the conceptualizations used by some scholars to understand LGBTQ flows and a problematic LGBTQ representation in media products that goes beyond regions and spaces.

The Movement of Research from the Laboratory to the Living Room: a Case Study of Public Engagement with Cognitive Science.

PubMed

Broer, Tineke; Pickersgill, Martyn; Deary, Ian J

Media reporting of science has consequences for public debates on the ethics of research. Accordingly, it is crucial to understand how the sciences of the brain and the mind are covered in the media, and how coverage is received and negotiated. The authors report here their sociological findings from a case study of media coverage and associated reader comments of an article ('Does bilingualism influence cognitive aging?') from Annals of Neurology. The media attention attracted by the article was high for cognitive science; further, as associates/members of the Centre where it was produced, the authors of the research reported here had rare insight into how the scientists responsible for the Annals of Neurology article interacted with the media. The data corpus included 37 news items and 228 readers' comments, examined via qualitative thematic analysis. Media coverage of the article was largely accurate, without merely copying the press release. Analysis of reader comments showed these to be an important resource for considering issues of import to neuroethics scholars, as well as to scientists themselves (including how science communication shapes and is shaped by ethical, epistemic, and popular discourse). In particular, the findings demonstrate how personal experiences were vital in shaping readers' accounts of their (dis)agreements with the scientific article. Furthermore, the data show how scientific research can catalyse political discussions in ways likely unanticipated by scientists. The analysis indicates the importance of dialogue between journalists, laboratory scientists and social scientists in order to support the communication of the messages researchers intend.

Quantitative diagnostics of multilayered composite structures with ultrasonic guided waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bunget, Gheorghe; Friedersdorf, Fritz; Na, Jeong K.

2015-03-01

The main objective of the current work is to develop a practical nondestructive inspection methodology for a highly sound absorbing composite structural system consisting of polymeric and metallic materials. Due to constraints in geometrical shapes and thicknesses of the composite system used in this work, ultrasonic guided wave approach has been chosen. Since the polymer coatings have high damping properties, less energy is dissipated into the adjacent media in the presence of interface delaminations. Experimental measurements performed on a targeted composite system, whether it has an aluminum, carbon-fiber-composite, or steel outer casing, show promising results.

Therapists’ Perceptions of Social Media and Video Game Technologies in Upper Limb Rehabilitation

PubMed Central

Shirzad, Navid; Lohse, Keith R; Virji-Babul, Naznin; Hoens, Alison M; Holsti, Liisa; Li, Linda C; Miller, Kimberly J; Lam, Melanie Y; Van der Loos, HF Machiel

2015-01-01

Background The application of technologies, such as video gaming and social media for rehabilitation, is garnering interest in the medical field. However, little research has examined clinicians’ perspectives regarding technology adoption by their clients. Objective The objective of our study was to explore therapists’ perceptions of how young people and adults with hemiplegia use gaming and social media technologies in daily life and in rehabilitation, and to identify barriers to using these technologies in rehabilitation. Methods We conducted two focus groups comprised of ten occupational therapists/physiotherapists who provide neurorehabilitation to individuals with hemiplegia secondary to stroke or cerebral palsy. Data was analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. The diffusion of innovations theory provided a framework to interpret emerging themes. Results Therapists were using technology in a limited capacity. They identified barriers to using social media and gaming technology with their clients, including a lack of age appropriateness, privacy issues with social media, limited transfer of training, and a lack of accessibility of current systems. Therapists also questioned their role in the context of technology-based interventions. The opportunity for social interaction was perceived as a major benefit of integrated gaming and social media. Conclusions This study reveals the complexities associated with adopting new technologies in clinical practice, including the need to consider both client and clinician factors. Despite reporting several challenges with applying gaming and social media technology with clinical populations, therapists identified opportunities for increased social interactions and were willing to help shape the development of an upper limb training system that could more readily meet the needs of clients with hemiplegia. By considering the needs of both therapists and clients, technology developers may increase the likelihood that clinicians will adopt innovative technologies. PMID:25759148

Therapists' perceptions of social media and video game technologies in upper limb rehabilitation.

PubMed

Tatla, Sandy K; Shirzad, Navid; Lohse, Keith R; Virji-Babul, Naznin; Hoens, Alison M; Holsti, Liisa; Li, Linda C; Miller, Kimberly J; Lam, Melanie Y; Van der Loos, H F Machiel

2015-03-10

The application of technologies, such as video gaming and social media for rehabilitation, is garnering interest in the medical field. However, little research has examined clinicians' perspectives regarding technology adoption by their clients. The objective of our study was to explore therapists' perceptions of how young people and adults with hemiplegia use gaming and social media technologies in daily life and in rehabilitation, and to identify barriers to using these technologies in rehabilitation. We conducted two focus groups comprised of ten occupational therapists/physiotherapists who provide neurorehabilitation to individuals with hemiplegia secondary to stroke or cerebral palsy. Data was analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. The diffusion of innovations theory provided a framework to interpret emerging themes. Therapists were using technology in a limited capacity. They identified barriers to using social media and gaming technology with their clients, including a lack of age appropriateness, privacy issues with social media, limited transfer of training, and a lack of accessibility of current systems. Therapists also questioned their role in the context of technology-based interventions. The opportunity for social interaction was perceived as a major benefit of integrated gaming and social media. This study reveals the complexities associated with adopting new technologies in clinical practice, including the need to consider both client and clinician factors. Despite reporting several challenges with applying gaming and social media technology with clinical populations, therapists identified opportunities for increased social interactions and were willing to help shape the development of an upper limb training system that could more readily meet the needs of clients with hemiplegia. By considering the needs of both therapists and clients, technology developers may increase the likelihood that clinicians will adopt innovative technologies.

Libraries and Media around the World. Ohio Media Spectrum. Volume 39, No. 4.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ohio Media Spectrum, 1987

1987-01-01

Devoted to articles on libraries in foreign countries, this issue of a quarterly journal focuses on how these libraries are using print and nonprint resources to serve their patrons. The structure and organization of these foreign library/media services are discussed, as well as their histories and the constraints that have shaped their services.…

News Coverage and Access to Contextual Policy Information in the Case of Recreational Water Rights in Colorado

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Crow, Deserai Anderson

2011-01-01

Local news media help shape the agendas from which new policies emerge. Furthermore, local media help determine public understanding of complex issues. Media should inform citizens and policymakers on important policy issues. This study uses a content analysis of 11 newspapers to understand the manner in which reporters covered a specific…

Ownership and Use of New Media by Teachers in Rural and Urban Areas of Croatia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Topolovcan, Tomislav; Toplak, Tea; Matijevic, Milan

2013-01-01

The development and use of new media in the class emphasizes independent learning based on the activities of the students, constructivist learning and student-centred lessons in general. Using new media in the class does not prompt more efficient learning and teaching in itself, but can initiate the learning processes by didactically shaping the…

The Role of Violent Media Preference in Cumulative Developmental Risk for Violence and General Aggression

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Boxer, Paul; Huesmann, L. Rowell; Bushman, Brad J.; O'Brien, Maureen; Moceri, Dominic

2009-01-01

The impact of exposure to violence in the media on the long-term development and short-term expression of aggressive behavior has been well documented. However, gaps in this literature remain, and in particular the role of violent media exposure in shaping violent and other serious antisocial behavior has not been investigated. Further, studies of…

Shaping American Political Discourse through Media Punditry and Ideological Pontification. (Mass Communication Instructional Unit.)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reppert, James E.

An instructor uses a unique instructional paradigm in his MCOM 1003/Introduction to Mass Communication course at Southern Arkansas University (SAU) in a unit on media and politics. According to his students, one of the most popular learning strategies is the use of original edited videos that focus on dubious practices by some media professionals.…

Who speaks for the climate? Considering `expert' and `authorized' claims-makers in the media (Invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boykoff, M.

2010-12-01

In this presentation, I analyze representations of climate change in traditional and new/social media, and examine contextual elements as well as journalistic pressures that contribute to how claims-makers become ‘experts’ and/or ‘authorities’ as well as how climate-related information becomes ‘news’. These considerations seek to help make sense of how/why particular climate-related discourses find traction in traditional and new/social media, while others remain muffled or silent. In so doing, I explore how power flows through culture, politics, and society, constructing knowledge, norms, conventions and (un)truths about variegated dimensions of climate change via processes of media portrayals. I interrogate how (un)authorized voices in mass media shape claims on ‘truth’ about various facets of present day climate challenges. I argue that these significantly meld our individual and collective ‘ways of knowing’ about climate change, and in turn, vitally shape our ongoing material and social practices. The contested and complex elements explored here contribute critically to cultural interpretations via citizen perceptions and deliberations for action, as media practices stitch together formal science and policy with everyday activities in the public sphere.

Body image, eating disorders, and the relationship to adolescent media use.

PubMed

Benowitz-Fredericks, Carson A; Garcia, Kaylor; Massey, Meredith; Vasagar, Brintha; Borzekowski, Dina L G

2012-06-01

Historically and currently, media messages around body shape and size emphasize the importance of being below-average weight for women and hypermuscular for men. The media messages around physical appearance are not realistic for most and lead to body dissatisfaction for most adolescents. Interventions designed to mitigate the influence of negative media messages on adolescents' body image are presented; however, most have shown limited success. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Electrostatic Self-Assembled Chitosan-Pectin Nano- and Microparticles for Insulin Delivery.

PubMed

Maciel, Vinicius B V; Yoshida, Cristiana M P; Pereira, Susana M S S; Goycoolea, Francisco M; Franco, Telma T

2017-10-12

A polyelectrolyte complex system of chitosan-pectin nano- and microparticles was developed to encapsulate the hormone insulin. The aim of this work was to obtain small particles for oral insulin delivery without chemical crosslinkers based on natural and biodegradable polysaccharides. The nano- and microparticles were developed using chitosans (with different degrees of acetylation: 15.0% and 28.8%) and pectin solutions at various charge ratios (n⁺/n - given by the chitosan/pectin mass ratio) and total charge. Nano- and microparticles were characterized regarding particle size, zeta potential, production yield, encapsulation efficiency, stability in different media, transmission electron microscopy and cytotoxicity assays using Caco-2 cells. The insulin release was evaluated in vitro in simulated gastric and intestinal media. Small-sized particles (~240-~1900 nm) with a maximum production yield of ~34.0% were obtained. The highest encapsulation efficiency (~62.0%) of the system was observed at a charge ratio (n⁺/n - ) 5.00. The system was stable in various media, particularly in simulated gastric fluid (pH 1.2). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed spherical shape particles when insulin was added to the system. In simulated intestinal fluid (pH 6.8), controlled insulin release occurred over 2 h. In vitro tests indicated that the proposed system presents potential as a drug delivery for oral administration of bioactive peptides.

Shaped Charge Jet Penetration of Discontinuous Media

DTIC Science & Technology

1977-07-01

operational at the Ballistic1Research Laboratory. These codes are OIL, 1 TOIL, 2 DORF, 3 and HELP,4 ,5 which are Eulerian formulated, and HEMP ,6 which...ELastic Plastic ) is a FORTRAN code developed by Systems, Science and Software, Inc. It evolved from three major hydrodynamic codes previously developed...introduced into the treatment of moving surfaces. The HELP code, using the von Mises yield condition, treats materials as being elastic- plastic . The input for

Digital Dividend Aware Business Models for the Creative Industries: Challenges and Opportunities in EU Markets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cossiavelou, Vassiliki

EU counties have a historically unique opportunity to enable their creative industries to promote the knowledge societies, applying new business models to their media content and networks markets, that are digital dividend (DD) aware. This new extra-media gatekeeping factor could shape new alliances and co operations among the member states and the global media markets, as well.

Changing Media Representations of Youth in the News--A Content Analysis of Danish Newspapers 1953-2003

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Levinsen, Klaus; Wien, Charlotte

2011-01-01

Media plays an important role in shaping public perceptions of youth. Previous studies have shown consistently negative images of youth in news media through a heavy focus on crime, accidents, and moral decay. Most research in this area has only collected data over short timeframes, which makes it difficult to register possible changes in modes of…

The role of contact angle on unstable flow formation during infiltration and drainage in wettable porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wallach, Rony; Margolis, Michal; Graber, Ellen R.

2013-10-01

The impact of contact angle on 2-D spatial and temporal water-content distribution during infiltration and drainage was experimentally studied. The 0.3-0.5 mm fraction of a quartz dune sand was treated and turned subcritically repellent (contact angle of 33°, 48°, 56°, and 75° for S33, S48, S56, and S75, respectively). The media were packed uniformly in transparent flow chambers and water was supplied to the surface as a point source at different rates (1-20 ml/min). A sequence of gray-value images was taken by CCD camera during infiltration and subsequent drainage; gray values were converted to volumetric water content by water volume balance. Narrow and long plumes with water accumulation behind the downward moving wetting front (tip) and negative water gradient above it (tail) developed in the S56 and S75 media during infiltration at lower water application rates. The plumes became bulbous with spatially uniform water-content distribution as water application rates increased. All plumes in these media propagated downward at a constant rate during infiltration and did not change their shape during drainage. In contrast, regular plume shapes were observed in the S33 and S48 media at all flow rates, and drainage profiles were nonmonotonic with a transition plane at the depth that water reached during infiltration. Given that the studied media have similar pore-size distributions, the conclusion is that imbibition hindered by the nonzero contact angle induced pressure buildup at the wetting front (dynamic water-entry value) that controlled the plume shape and internal water-content distribution during infiltration and drainage.

Impact of projectiles of different geometries on dry granular media using DEM simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vajrala, Spandana; Bagheri, Hosain; Emady, Heather; Marvi, Hamid; Particulate Process; Product Design Group Team; Birth Lab Collaboration

Recently, several studies involving numerical and experimental methods have focused on the study of impact dynamics in both dry and wet granular media. Most of these studies considered the impact of spherical projectiles under different conditions, while representative models could involve more complex shapes. Examples include such things as an animal's foot impacting sand or an asteroid hitting the ground. Dropping different shaped geometries with conserved density, volume and velocity on a granular bed may experience contrasting drag forces upon penetration. This is the result of the difference in the surface areas coming in contact with the granular media. Therefore, this work will utilize three-dimensional Discrete Element Modelling (DEM) simulations to observe and compare the impact of different geometries like cylinder and cuboid of same material properties and volume. These geometries will be impacted on a loosely packed non-cohesive dry granular bed with the same impact velocities where the effect of surface area in contact with the granular media will be analyzed upon impact and penetration.

Excitation of atoms and ions in plasmas by ultra-short electromagnetic pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Astapenko, V. A.; Sakhno, S. V.; Svita, S. Yu; Lisitsa, V. S.

2017-02-01

The problem of atoms and ions diagnostics in rarefied and dense plasmas by ultrashort laser pulses (USP) is under consideration. The application of USP provides: 1) excitation from ground states due to their carrier frequency high enough, 2) penetration into optically dense media due to short pulses duration. The excitation from ground atomic states increases sharply populations of excited atomic states in contrast with standard laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy based on radiative transitions between excited atomic states. New broadening parameter in radiation absorption, namely inverse pulse duration time 1/τ appears in addition to standard line-shape width in the profile G(ω). The Lyman-beta absorption spectra for USP are calculated for Holtsmark static broadening mechanism. Excitation of highly charged H-like ions in hot plasmas is described by both Gaussian shapes for Doppler broadening and pulse spectrum resulting in analytical absorption line-shape. USP penetration into optically thick media and corresponding excitation probability are calculated. It is shown a great effect of USP duration on excitation probabilities in optically thick media. The typical situations for plasma diagnostics by USP are discussed in details.

Fixed bed sorption of phosphorus from wastewater using iron oxide-based media derived from acid mine drainage

USGS Publications Warehouse

Sibrell, Philip L.; Tucker, T.W.

2012-01-01

Phosphorus (P) releases to the environment have been implicated in the eutrophication of important water bodies worldwide. Current technology for the removal of P from wastewaters consists of treatment with aluminum (Al) or iron (Fe) salts, but is expensive. The neutralization of acid mine drainage (AMD) generates sludge rich in Fe and Al oxides that has hitherto been considered a waste product, but these sludges could serve as an economical adsorption media for the removal of P from wastewaters. Therefore, we have evaluated an AMD-derived media as a sorbent for P in fixed bed sorption systems. The homogenous surface diffusion model (HSDM) was used to analyze fixed bed test data and to determine the value of related sorption parameters. The surface diffusion modulus Ed was found to be a useful predictor of sorption kinetics. Values of Ed < 0.2 were associated with early breakthrough of P, while more desirable S-shaped breakthrough curves resulted when 0.2 < Ed < 0.5. Computer simulations of the fixed bed process with the HSDM confirmed that if Ed was known, the shape of the breakthrough curve could be calculated. The surface diffusion coefficient D s was a critical factor in the calculation of Ed and could be estimated based on the sorption test conditions such as media characteristics, and influent flow rate and concentration. Optimal test results were obtained with a relatively small media particle size (average particle radius 0.028 cm) and resulted in 96 % removal of P from the influent over 46 days of continuous operation. These results indicate that fixed bed sorption of P would be a feasible option for the utilization of AMD residues, thus helping to decrease AMD treatment costs while at the same time ameliorating the impacts of P contamination.

Unconventional imaging with contained granular media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quadrelli, Marco B.; Basinger, Scott; Sidick, Erkin

2017-09-01

Typically, the cost of a space-borne imaging system is driven by the size and mass of the primary aperture. The solution that we propose uses a method to construct an imaging system in space in which the nonlinear optical properties of a cloud of micron-sized particles, shaped into a specific surface by electromagnetic means, and allows one to form a very large and lightweight aperture of an optical system, hence reducing overall mass and cost. Recent work at JPL has investigated the feasibility of a granular imaging system, concluding that such a system could be built and controlled in orbit. We conducted experiments and simulation of the optical response of a granular lens. In all cases, the optical response, measured by the Modulation Transfer Function, of hexagonal reflectors was closely comparable to that of a conventional spherical mirror. We conducted some further analyses by evaluating the sensitivity to fill factor and grain shape, and found a marked sensitivity to fill factor but no sensitivity to grain shape. We have also found that at fill factors as low as 30%, the reflection from a granular lens is still excellent. Furthermore, we replaced the monolithic primary mirror in an existing integrated model of an optical system (WFIRST Coronagraph) with a granular lens, and found that the granular lens that can be useful for exoplanet detection provides excellent contrast levels. We will present our testbed and simulation results in this paper.

Deconstructing the Portrayals of Haitian Women in the Media: A Thematic Analysis of Images in the Associated Press Photo Archive

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rendon, Maria Jose; Nicolas, Guerda

2012-01-01

Haitian women constitute a group that is lauded within Haiti as the "pillar of society" and yet is also often silenced both within Haiti and abroad. Given the role of the media in shaping attitudes and behaviors toward Women of Color, evaluation of media portrayals is critical to challenge oppressive discourses about these groups. Therefore, in…

Advancing cancer control research in an emerging news media environment.

PubMed

Smith, Katherine C; Niederdeppe, Jeff; Blake, Kelly D; Cappella, Joseph N

2013-12-01

Cancer is both highly feared and highly newsworthy, and there is a robust body of research documenting the content and effects of cancer news coverage on health behaviors and policy. Recent years have witnessed ongoing, transformative shifts in American journalism alongside rapid advances in communication technology and the public information environment. These changes create a pressing need to consider a new set of research questions, sampling strategies, measurement techniques, and theories of media effects to ensure continued relevance and adaptation of communication research to address critical cancer control concerns. This paper begins by briefly reviewing what we know about the role of cancer news in shaping cancer-related beliefs, attitudes, behaviors, and policies. We then outline challenges and opportunities, both theoretical and methodological, posed by the rapidly changing news media environment and the nature of audience engagement. We organize our discussion around three major shifts associated with the emerging news media environment as it relates to health communication: 1) speed and dynamism of news diffusion, 2) increased narrowcasting of media content for specialized audiences, and 3) broadened participation in shaping media content. In so doing, we articulate a set of questions for future theory and research, in an effort to catalyze innovative communication scholarship to improve cancer prevention and control.

The utilization of mind map painting on 3D shapes with curved faces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nur Sholikhah, Ayuk; Usodo, Budi; Pramudya, Ikrar

2017-12-01

This paper aims to study on the use of mind map painting media on material with 3D shapes with curved faces and its effect on student’s interest. Observation and literature studies were applied as the research method with the sake design of utilization of mind map painting. The result of this research is the design of mind map painting media can improve students' ability to solve problems, improve the ability to think, and maximize brain power. In relation, mind map painting in learning activities is considered to improve student interest.

Fabrication of Propeller-Shaped Supra-amphiphile for Construction of Enzyme-Responsive Fluorescent Vesicles.

PubMed

Li, Jie; Liu, Kaerdun; Han, Yuchun; Tang, Ben Zhong; Huang, Jianbin; Yan, Yun

2016-10-04

Propeller-shaped molecules have been recognized to display fantastic AIE (aggregation induced emission), but they can hardly self-assemble into nanostructures. Herein, we for the first time report that ionic complexation between a water-soluble tetrapheneyl derivative and an enzyme substrate in aqueous media produces a propeller-shaped supra-amphiphile that self-assembles into enzyme responsive fluorescent vesicles. The supra-amphiphile was fabricated upon complexation between a water-soluble propeller-shaped AIE luminogen TPE-BPA and myristoylcholine chloride (MChCl) in aqueous media. MChCl filled in the intramolecular voids of propeller-shaped TPE-BPA upon supra-amphiphile formation, which endows the supra-amphiphile superior self-assembling ability to the component molecules thus leading to the formation of fluorescent vesicles. Because MChCl is the substrate of cholinesterases, the vesicles dissemble in the presence of cholinesterases, and the fluorescent intensity can be correlated to the level of enzymes. The resulting fluorescent vesicles may be used to recognize the site of Alzheimer's disease, to encapsulate the enzyme inhibitor, and to release the inhibitor at the disease site.

Media portrayal of elite athletes with disability - a systematic review.

PubMed

Rees, Leanne; Robinson, Priscilla; Shields, Nora

2017-11-10

The media plays an important role in shaping society's beliefs about disability and sport. The aim of this systematic review is to identify how elite athletes with disability are portrayed in the media. Six electronic databases were searched from 2001 to March 2017 for quantitative or qualitative content analysis of media coverage of elite athletes with disability: SportsDiscus, CINAHL, PsychInfo, Medline 1996-, Embase, and Proquest. Quality assessment and data extraction were performed by two independent assessors. Seventeen moderate quality articles were included. Six themes emerged from the data such as frequency of articles and photos about elite athletes with disability; athlete gender; athlete nationality; disability; athleticism; and Olympic Games versus Paralympic Games. Our results show that elite athletes with disability are less visible in the media than their nondisabled counterparts; female athletes received less coverage than male; the media favored domestic athletes and certain types of disability; and, although there was a focus on athleticism, this was underpinned by a "supercrip" narrative and a medicalised description of disability. Although there has been a positive shift in the narrative around elite athletes with disability in media, relative absence and differing portrayal is present. Considering the power of media shaping society's perceptions of disability, further investigation is warranted. Implications for Rehabilitation Media has a role in how elite athletes with disability are portrayed and consequently perceived by the public. Elite athletes with disability rarely feature in media. Images of disability are minimized, and certain types of disabilities are favored. An athletic narrative is emerging; however, a medicalised description of athletes remains, shifting the focus from athleticism. "Supercrip" and "Superhuman" terms are commonly used, but may negatively impact the broader disability community.

News for assimilation or integration? Examining the functions of news in shaping acculturation experiences of immigrants in the Netherlands and Spain

PubMed Central

Alencar, Amanda; Deuze, Mark

2017-01-01

This study investigates the functions of news media in shaping acculturation experiences of new economic and refugee immigrants in the Netherlands and Spain. Focus group data revealed that consumption of host country news media was mainly connected to immigrants’ deliberate strategies to assimilate the culture, politics and language of the host society, while exposure to transnational news was viewed in terms of strategies of integration in both countries. We also observed that participants’ educational background and language skills combined with their perceptions of the host country’s news have an impact on the use they make of news for assimilating and/or integrating into the host society. Finally, important sociopolitical conditions of the context influenced the ways participants use the news media in their process of acculturation. PMID:28579663

News for assimilation or integration? Examining the functions of news in shaping acculturation experiences of immigrants in the Netherlands and Spain.

PubMed

Alencar, Amanda; Deuze, Mark

2017-04-01

This study investigates the functions of news media in shaping acculturation experiences of new economic and refugee immigrants in the Netherlands and Spain. Focus group data revealed that consumption of host country news media was mainly connected to immigrants' deliberate strategies to assimilate the culture, politics and language of the host society, while exposure to transnational news was viewed in terms of strategies of integration in both countries. We also observed that participants' educational background and language skills combined with their perceptions of the host country's news have an impact on the use they make of news for assimilating and/or integrating into the host society. Finally, important sociopolitical conditions of the context influenced the ways participants use the news media in their process of acculturation.

Digital atmospheres: affective practices of care in Elefriends.

PubMed

Tucker, Ian M; Goodings, Lewis

2017-05-01

This article develops the concept of digital atmosphere to analyse the affective power of social media to shape practices of care and support for people living with mental distress. Using contemporary accounts of affective atmospheres, the article focuses on feelings of distress, support and care that unfold through digital atmospheres. The power of social media intersects with people's support and care-seeking practices in multiple ways and not in a straightforward model of 'accessing or providing support'. Indeed, we find that the caring relations developed through social media often need to be cared for themselves. The article draws on online and interview data from a larger project investigating how practices of care and support are (re)configured in the mental health-related social media site Elefriends. Users have to negotiate the disruption of moving support online, as well as the possibility of becoming subject to a fragility in care, in which caring for oneself becomes bound up in the ambiguities of caring for others. We argue that understanding how experiences of distress are shaped by social media is essential for understanding the implications of the increased digitisation of mental healthcare. © 2017 Foundation for the Sociology of Health & Illness.

The School Leader's Guide to Social Media

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Williamson, Ronald; Johnston, J. Howard

2012-01-01

Social media has exploded onto American culture--including our schools--giving educators a unique opportunity to shape this phenomenon into a powerful tool for improving educational leadership practices. With real-world examples and practical tips, this essential guide shows school leaders how to address both the potential benefits and common…

Children's Media Culture in the New Millennium: Mapping the Digital Landscape.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Montgomery, Kathryn C.

2000-01-01

Describes technological, demographic, and market forces shaping the new digital media culture and the various Web sites being created for children and teens, explaining how heavily-promoted commercial sites overshadow educational sites. Discusses efforts to create safe Internet zones for children. Recommends actions to promote development of a…

Pedagogy, Process Drama, and Visual Anthropology.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jensen, Amy Petersen; Ashworth, Julia

2003-01-01

Notes that media shapes the way young people contextualize their world. Suggests that process drama could be a pedagogical forum where theater practitioners and young people could use dramatic tools to explore the form and content of the omnipresent media in its historical, social, political, and personal contexts. Provides examples of what this…

Fly Eye radar: detection through high scattered media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Molchanov, Pavlo; Gorwara, Ashok

2017-05-01

Longer radio frequency waves better penetrating through high scattered media than millimeter waves, but imaging resolution limited by diffraction at longer wavelength. Same time frequency and amplitudes of diffracted waves (frequency domain measurement) provides information of object. Phase shift of diffracted waves (phase front in time domain) consists information about shape of object and can be applied for reconstruction of object shape or even image by recording of multi-frequency digital hologram. Spectrum signature or refracted waves allows identify the object content. Application of monopulse method with overlap closely spaced antenna patterns provides high accuracy measurement of amplitude, phase, and direction to signal source. Digitizing of received signals separately in each antenna relative to processor time provides phase/frequency independence. Fly eye non-scanning multi-frequency radar system provides simultaneous continuous observation of multiple targets and wide possibilities for stepped frequency, simultaneous frequency, chaotic frequency sweeping waveform (CFS), polarization modulation for reliable object detection. Proposed c-band fly eye radar demonstrated human detection through 40 cm concrete brick wall with human and wall material spectrum signatures and can be applied for through wall human detection, landmines, improvised explosive devices detection, underground or camouflaged object imaging.

Wavefront shaping with disorder-engineered metasurfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jang, Mooseok; Horie, Yu; Shibukawa, Atsushi; Brake, Joshua; Liu, Yan; Kamali, Seyedeh Mahsa; Arbabi, Amir; Ruan, Haowen; Faraon, Andrei; Yang, Changhuei

2018-02-01

Recently, wavefront shaping with disordered media has demonstrated optical manipulation capabilities beyond those of conventional optics, including extended volume, aberration-free focusing and subwavelength focusing. However, translating these capabilities to useful applications has remained challenging as the input-output characteristics of the disordered media (P variables) need to be exhaustively determined via O(P) measurements. Here, we propose a paradigm shift where the disorder is specifically designed so its exact input-output characteristics are known a priori and can be used with only a few alignment steps. We implement this concept with a disorder-engineered metasurface, which exhibits additional unique features for wavefront shaping such as a large optical memory effect range in combination with a wide angular scattering range, excellent stability, and a tailorable angular scattering profile. Using this designed metasurface with wavefront shaping, we demonstrate high numerical aperture (NA > 0.5) focusing and fluorescence imaging with an estimated 2.2 × 108 addressable points in an 8 mm field of view.

Parallel capillary-tube-based extension of thermoacoustic theory for random porous media.

PubMed

Roh, Heui-Seol; Raspet, Richard; Bass, Henry E

2007-03-01

Thermoacoustic theory is extended to stacks made of random bulk media. Characteristics of the porous stack such as the tortuosity and dynamic shape factors are introduced into the thermoacoustic wave equation in the low reduced frequency approximation. Basic thermoacoustic equations for a bulk porous medium are formulated analogously to the equations for a single pore. Use of different dynamic shape factors for the viscous and thermal effects is adopted and scaling using the dynamic shape factors and tortuosity is demonstrated. Comparisons of the calculated and experimentally derived thermoacoustic properties of reticulated vitreous carbon and aluminum foam show good agreement. A consistent mathematical model of sound propagation in a random porous medium with an imposed temperature is developed. This treatment leads to an expression for the coefficient of the temperature gradient in terms of scaled cylindrical thermoviscous functions.

The nonlinear oil-water two-phase flow behavior for a horizontal well in triple media carbonate reservoir

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yong; Tao, Zhengwu; Chen, Liang; Ma, Xin

2017-10-01

Carbonate reservoir is one of the important reservoirs in the world. Because of the characteristics of carbonate reservoir, horizontal well has become a key technology for efficiently developing carbonate reservoir. Establishing corresponding mathematical models and analyzing transient pressure behaviors of this type of well-reservoir configuration can provide a better understanding of fluid flow patterns in formation as well as estimations of important parameters. A mathematical model for a oil-water two-phase flow horizontal well in triple media carbonate reservoir by conceptualizing vugs as spherical shapes are presented in this article. A semi-analytical solution is obtained in the Laplace domain using source function theory, Laplace transformation, and superposition principle. Analysis of transient pressure responses indicates that seven characteristic flow periods of horizontal well in triple media carbonate reservoir can be identified. Parametric analysis shows that water saturation of matrix, vug and fracture system, horizontal section length, and horizontal well position can significantly influence the transient pressure responses of horizontal well in triple media carbonate reservoir. The model presented in this article can be applied to obtain important parameters pertinent to reservoir by type curve matching.

Effects of Complex System Structure and External Field in Opinion Formation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Long; Cai, Xu

Around us, the society structure and external field, such as government policy, the newspaper, the internet and other mass media, play a special role in shaping the attitudes, beliefs and public opinion. For studying the role of the society structure and the external field, we propose a new opinion model based on the former models. With computer simulations of opinion dynamics, we find that the smaller the clustering coefficient and the society size, the easier the consensus phase is reached and other interesting results.

Data Shaping in the Cultural Simulation Modeler Integrated Behavioral Assessment Capability. Phase I

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-07-01

articles that appeared in global media in the years 1999-2006. The articles were all open source information and were obtained in part through an...agreement between Factiva Dow Jones and the NRL for this project, and in part collected by IndaSea from the Open Source Center database and a variety of...This view implied that a system geared to assist analysts should be open and completely dynamic. It is IndaSea’s perspective that there are advantages

Swiftly moving focus points and forming shapes through the scattering media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tran, Vinh; Sahoo, Sujit Kumar; Tang, Dongliang; Dang, Cuong

2018-02-01

Propagation of light through scattering media such as ground glass or biological tissue limits the quality and intensity of focusing point. Wave front shaping technique which uses spatial light modulator (SLM) devices to reshape the field profile of incoming light, is considered as one of the most effective and convenient methods. Advanced biomedical or manufacturing applications require drawing various contours or shapes quickly and precisely. However, creating each shape behind the scattering medium needs different phase profiles, which are time consuming to optimize or measure. Here, we demonstrate a technique to draw various shapes or contours behind the scattering medium by swiftly moving the focus point without any mechanical movements. Our technique relies on the existence of speckle correlation property in scattering media, also known as optical memory effect. In our procedure, we first modulate the phase-only SLM to create the focus point on the other side of scattering medium. Then, we digitally shift the preoptimized phase profile on the SLM and ramp it to tilt the beam accordingly. Now, the incoming beam with identical phase profile shines on the same scattering region at a tilted angle to regenerate the focus point at the desired position due to memory effect. Moreover, with linear combination of different field patterns, we can generate a single phase profile on SLM to produce two, three or more focus points simultaneously on the other side of a turbid medium. Our method could provide a useful tool for prominent applications such as opto-genetic excitation, minimally invasive laser surgery and other related fields.

Association between exposure to media and body weight concern among female university students in five Arab countries: a preliminary cross-cultural study.

PubMed

Musaiger, Abdulrahman O; Al-Mannai, Mariam

2014-03-01

Mass media play an important role in changing body image. This study aimed to determine the role of media (magazines and television) in body weight concern among university females in five Arab countries. A total sample of 1134 female university students was selected at convenience from universities in five Arab countries: Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Oman and Syria. The females' ages ranged from 17 to 32. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to assess the exposure to mass media regarding weight concerns. For the variables on exposure to mass media, girls were divided into two groups: infrequently exposed and frequently exposed. In general, the females who were exposed to mass media had a greater risk of having dieted to lose weight and changing their ideas of a perfect body shape than those who were not exposed or infrequently exposed. The association of exposure to magazines with having dieted to lose weight was only significant among females in Bahrain (p<0.044), Egypt (p<0.001) and Jordan (p<0.001). Exposure to television had a weaker association than exposure to magazines with body weight concerns of females. The association of exposure to television with females' idea of a perfect body shape was only statistically significant in females in Egypt (p<0.019) and Oman (p<0.019). The pressure from mass media on the body weight concern of female university students may lead these women to practise unhealthy weight control diets.

Dangerous news: media decision making about climate change risk.

PubMed

Smith, Joe

2005-12-01

This article explores the role of broadcast news media decision makers in shaping public understanding and debate of climate change risks. It locates the media within a "tangled web" of communication and debate between sources, media, and publics. The article draws on new qualitative research in the British context. The main body of it focuses on media source strategies, on climate change storytelling in news, and the "myth of detachment" sustained by many news decision makers. The empirical evidence, gathered between 1997 and 2004, is derived primarily from recordings and notes drawn from a series of seminars that has brought together equal numbers of BBC news and television decision makers and environment/development specialists. The seminars have created a rare space for extended dialogue between media and specialist perspectives on the communication of complex climate change science and policy. While the article acknowledges the distinctive nature of the BBC as a public sector broadcaster, the evidence confirms and extends current understanding of the career of climate change within the media more broadly. The working group discussions have explored issues arising out of how stories are sourced and, in the context of competitive and time-pressured newsrooms, shaped and presented in short news pieces. Particularly significant is the disjuncture between ways of talking about uncertainty within science and policy discourse and media constructions of objectivity, truth, and balance. The article concludes with a summary of developments in media culture, technology, and practice that are creating opportunities for enhanced public understanding and debate of climate change risks. It also indicates the need for science and policy communities to be more active critics and sources of news.

Three-link Swimming in Sand

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hatton, R. L.; Ding, Yang; Masse, Andrew; Choset, Howie; Goldman, Daniel

2011-11-01

Many animals move within in granular media such as desert sand. Recent biological experiments have revealed that the sandfish lizard uses an undulatory gait to swim within sand. Models reveal that swimming occurs in a frictional fluid in which inertial effects are small and kinematics dominate. To understand the fundamental mechanics of swimming in granular media (GM), we examine a model system that has been well-studied in Newtonian fluids: the three-link swimmer. We create a physical model driven by two servo-motors, and a discrete element simulation of the swimmer. To predict optimal gaits we use a recent geometric mechanics theory combined with empirically determined resistive force laws for GM. We develop a kinematic relationship between the swimmer's shape and position velocities and construct connection vector field and constraint curvature function visualizations of the system dynamics. From these we predict optimal gaits for forward, lateral and rotational motion. Experiment and simulation are in accord with the theoretical predictions; thus geometric tools can be used to study locomotion in GM.

Molecular dynamics simulation of a needle-sphere binary mixture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raghavan, Karthik

This paper investigates the dynamic behaviour of a hard needle-sphere binary system using a novel numerical technique called the Newton homotopy continuation (NHC) method. This mixture is representative of a polymer melt where both long chain molecules and monomers coexist. Since the intermolecular forces are generated from hard body interactions, the consequence of missed collisions or incorrect collision sequences have a significant bearing on the dynamic properties of the fluid. To overcome this problem, in earlier work NHC was chosen over traditional Newton-Raphson methods to solve the hard body dynamics of a needle fluid in random media composed of overlapping spheres. Furthermore, the simplicity of interactions and dynamics allows us to focus our research directly on the effects of particle shape and density on the transport behaviour of the mixture. These studies are also compared with earlier works that examined molecular chains in porous media primarily to understand the differences in molecular transport in the bulk versus porous systems.

Shaping complex microwave fields in reverberating media with binary tunable metasurfaces

PubMed Central

Kaina, Nadège; Dupré, Matthieu; Lerosey, Geoffroy; Fink, Mathias

2014-01-01

In this article we propose to use electronically tunable metasurfaces as spatial microwave modulators. We demonstrate that like spatial light modulators, which have been recently proved to be ideal tools for controlling light propagation through multiple scattering media, spatial microwave modulators can efficiently shape in a passive way complex existing microwave fields in reverberating environments with a non-coherent energy feedback. Unlike in free space, we establish that a binary-only phase state tunable metasurface allows a very good control over the waves, owing to the random nature of the electromagnetic fields in these complex media. We prove in an everyday reverberating medium, that is, a typical office room, that a small spatial microwave modulator placed on the walls can passively increase the wireless transmission between two antennas by an order of magnitude, or on the contrary completely cancel it. Interestingly and contrary to free space, we show that this results in an isotropic shaped microwave field around the receiving antenna, which we attribute again to the reverberant nature of the propagation medium. We expect that spatial microwave modulators will be interesting tools for fundamental physics and will have applications in the field of wireless communications. PMID:25331498

Partisan Bias in Message Selection: Media Gatekeeping of Party Press Releases

PubMed Central

Haselmayer, Martin; Wagner, Markus; Meyer, Thomas M.

2017-01-01

Parties try to shape media coverage in ways that are favorable to them, but what determines whether media outlets pick up and report on party messages? Based on content analyses of 1,496 party press releases and 6,512 media reports from the 2013 Austrian parliamentary election campaign, we show that media coverage of individual party messages is influenced not just by news factors, but also by partisan bias. The media are therefore more likely to report on messages from parties their readers favor. Importantly, this effect is greater rather than weaker when these messages have high news value. These findings have important implications for understanding the media’s role in elections and representative democracies in general. PMID:29170614

Shaping Student Activists: Discursive Sensemaking of Activism and Participation Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Taha, Diane E.; Hastings, Sally O.; Minei, Elizabeth M.

2015-01-01

As social media becomes a more potent force in society, particularly for younger generations, the role in activism has been contested. This qualitative study examines 35 interviews with students regarding their perceptions of the use of social media in social change, their perceptions of activists, and their level of self-identification as an…

Implementing Linguistic Landscape Investigations with M-Learning for Intercultural Competence Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walinski, Jacek Tadeusz

2014-01-01

Portable multimedia devices shape the intensity of intercultural contacts not only through content consumption but also through content creation. Enabling learners to participate in content exchange via the Web 2.0 paradigm (audiences as both media consumers and media creators) can be employed to create new forms of acquiring knowledge. This study…

The Role of the Mass Media in Shaping Public Opinion.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Porter, Michael J.

This discussion of agenda setting reviews early theories of mass communication and traces the beginnings of agenda setting theory to the 1968 United States presidential campaign, during which researchers found a high correlation between what the media were saying about issues and what the people thought were important issues. The results of more…

Digital Media Shapes Youth Participation in Politics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kahne, Joseph; Middaugh, Ellen

2012-01-01

Will those who Tweet vote? Social media clearly create new opportunities for voice, for agency, and potentially for influence. But they create risks as well, because there is no reason to assume that engagement with participatory politics will inevitably or organically develop in positive ways. That's where schools come into the picture, playing…

Interactive Media Audit Trails: Approaches and Issues.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Misanchuk, Earl R.; Schwier, Richard

This discussion of uses for audit trails in instructional research begins by pointing out that interactive media provide the learner with the opportunity to shape the program, and consequently, the learning experience. The paper focuses on one of the new questions for instructional designers that have come with the advent of these technologies,…

Digital Media, Technologies and Scholarship: Some Shapes of eResearch in Educational Inquiry

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Markauskaite, Lina

2010-01-01

This paper discusses some recent developments in digital media, research technologies and scholarly practices that are known under the umbrella term of "eResearch". Drawing on conceptual ideas of digital materialism, epistemic artefacts and epistemic tools, this paper discusses how the digital inscription of knowledge and knowing could…

Handling News Media: Johnson and Dorman's Bag of Tricks.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Ralph H.; Dorman, William A.

What passes for considered judgment in public discourse today is often little more than "unearned opinion"--the received opinion offered by others who have the power to shape the news. So students must develop consistent intellectual standards for routinely evaluating the news media which so frequently provide the empirical stuff about…

Bioenergetics of the growth of the lactobacillus culture on various nutrient media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ur'yash, V. F.; Gorlova, I. S.; Novoselova, N. V.; Kon'kova, N. K.

2010-07-01

The energy (enthalpy) of the multiplication of lactobacilli on various nutrient media was measured on a DAK-1-1 differential microcalorimeter. Cultivation of lactobacilli on the nutrient media studied was accompanied by a release of energy. The time dependences of heat evolution were similar in shape to the curves of the growth of the microorganism population. The conclusion was drawn that the quantity of the evolved energy depended on the type of the nutrient medium.

100J-level nanosecond pulsed Yb:YAG cryo-cooled DPSSL amplifier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, J. M.; Butcher, T. J.; Mason, P. D.; Ertel, K.; Phillips, P. J.; Banerjee, S.; De Vido, M.; Chekhlov, O.; Divoky, M.; Pilar, J.; Shaikh, W.; Hooker, C.; Lucianetti, A.; Hernandez Gomez, C.; Mocek, T.; Edwards, C.; Collier, J. L.

2018-02-01

We report on the successful demonstration of the world's first kW average power, 100 Joule-class, high-energy, nanosecond pulsed diode-pumped solid-state laser (DPSSL), DiPOLE100. Results from the first long-term test for amplification will be presented; the system was operated for 1 hour with 10 ns duration pulses at 10 Hz pulse repetition rate and an average output energy of 105 J and RMS energy stability of approximately 1%. The laser system is based on scalable cryogenic gas-cooled multi-slab ceramic Yb:YAG amplifier technology. The DiPOLE100 system comprises three major sub-systems, a spatially and temporally shaped front end, a 10 J cryo-amplifier and a 100 J cryo-amplifier. The 10 J cryo-amplifier contain four Yb:YAG ceramic gain media slabs, which are diode pumped from both sides, while a multi-pass architecture configured for seven passes enables 10 J of energy to be extracted at 10 Hz. This seeds the 100 J cryo-amplifier, which contains six Yb:YAG ceramic gain media slabs with the multi-pass configured for four passes. Our future development plans for this architecture will be introduced including closed-loop pulse shaping, increased energy, higher repetition rates and picosecond operation. This laser architecture unlocks the potential for practical applications including new sources for industrial materials processing and high intensity laser matter studies as envisioned for ELI [1], HiLASE [2], and the European XFEL [3]. Alternatively, it can be used as a pump source for higher repetition rate PW-class amplifiers, which can themselves generate high-brightness secondary radiation and ion sources leading to new remote imaging and medical applications.

Morphological Variations in Conidia of Arthrobotrys oligospora on Different Media.

PubMed

Singh, R K; Kumar, Niranjan; Singh, K P

2005-06-01

Most commonly occurring predacious fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora showed great variation in size and shape of conidia on some media. The formation of larger conidia was recorded on beef extract and nutrient agar media. The length of conidia in Richard's YPSS, Sabouraud's, PDA and corn meal agar media was of medium size while smaller conidia were produced on Czapek's, Jensen's, Martin's medium. Maximum width of conidia was recorded on YPSS medium followed by Sabouraud's medium. The average size of spores on nematode infested corn meal agar medium was slightly increased than those on corn meal agar medium.

Real-Time, Digital Pulse-Shape Discrimination in Non-Hazardous Fast Liquid Scintillation Detectors: Prospects for Safety and Security

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joyce, Malcolm J.; Aspinall, Michael D.; Cave, Francis D.; Lavietes, Anthony D.

2012-08-01

Pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) in fast, organic scintillation detectors is a long-established technique used to separate neutrons and γ rays in mixed radiation fields. In the analogue domain the method can achieve separation in real time, but all knowledge of the pulses themselves is lost thereby preventing the possibility of any post- or repeated analysis. Also, it is typically reliant on electronic systems that are largely obsolete and which require significant experience to set up. In the digital domain, PSD is often more flexible but significant post-processing has usually been necessary to obtain neutron/γ-ray separation. Moreover, the scintillation media on which the technique relies usually have a low flashpoint and are thus deemed hazardous. This complicates the ease with which they are used in industrial applications. In this paper, results obtained with a new portable digital pulse-shape discrimination instrument are described. This instrument provides real-time, digital neutron/γ-ray separation whilst preserving the synchronization with the time-of-arrival for each event, and realizing throughputs of 3 × 106 events per second. Furthermore, this system has been tested with a scintillation medium that is non-flammable and not hazardous.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gronke, M.; Dijkstra, M., E-mail: maxbg@astro.uio.no

We perform Lyman- α (Ly α ) Monte-Carlo radiative transfer calculations on a suite of 2500 models of multiphase, outflowing media, which are characterized by 14 parameters. We focus on the Ly α spectra emerging from these media and investigate which properties are dominant in shaping the emerging Ly α profile. Multiphase models give rise to a wide variety of emerging spectra, including single-, double-, and triple-peaked spectra. We find that the dominant parameters in shaping the spectra include (i) the cloud covering factor, f {sub c} , which is in agreement with earlier studies, and (ii) the temperature andmore » number density of residual H i in the hot ionized medium. We attempt to reproduce spectra emerging from multiphase models with “shell models” which are commonly used to fit observed Ly α spectra, and investigate the connection between shell-model parameters and the physical parameters of the clumpy media. In shell models, the neutral hydrogen content of the shell is one of the key parameters controlling Ly α radiative transfer. Because Ly α spectra emerging from multiphase media depend much less on the neutral hydrogen content of the clumps, the shell-model parameters such as H i column density (but also shell velocity and dust content) are generally not well matched to the associated physical parameters of the clumpy media.« less

Engaging cultural resources to promote mental health in Dutch LSES neighborhoods: study of a community-based participatory media project.

PubMed

Knibbe, Mare; de Vries, Marten; Horstman, Klasien

2017-06-01

Community-based participatory media projects form a promising new strategy for mental health promotion that can help address the mental health-gap identified by the World Health Organization. (2008b) mhGAP, Mental Health Gap Action Programme: Scaling Up Care for Mental, Neurological and Substance Use Disorders. World Health Organization, Geneva. In this article we present an ethnographic study about a participatory media project that was developed to promote mental health in selected Dutch low socio-economic status neighborhoods. Through narrowcastings (group film viewings), participant observation and interviews we mapped the ways in which the media project effected and facilitated the collective sense-making process of the audience with regard to sources of stress impacting mental health and opportunities for action. These determinants of mental health are shaped by cultural dimensions, since the cultural context shapes everyday experiences of stress as well as the resources and skills to manage them. Our analysis shows that the media project engaged cultural resources to challenge stressful social scripts. We conclude that more attention should be paid to cultural narratives in a community to understand how health promotion strategies can support social resilience. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Media, a President, and His Generals: How the Media Shaped Civil-Military Relations during the Mexican War

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-05-19

Francis Blair worked out of the White House as the newspaper editor of the Washington Globe . This media outlet served to promote Presidential policies...captured his position. After working out an agreement for parole from confinement, Scott defiantly rejoined the fight against the Red Coats. His heroic...General Taylor, “A little more grape , Captain Bragg,” referring to the skill of U.S. artillery fire against the numerically superior Mexican forces

Media and Influence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bennett, William H.

The public information media provides information on current events (news), entertainment (programming), and opinions offered by trusted public sources (e.g., business, academic or religious spokespersons, journalists, and government officials). Consequently, it is a major force in shaping a populace's attitudes toward significant social issues and of great interest to intervention planners. The chapter attempts to provide modelers and intervention analysts alike with sufficient understanding of media mechanisms and current research that they can begin contributing to, and benefiting from this important area of study.

Diversity of Campaign Exposure and Cognitive Stability in Britain.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Colleau, Sophie

A study was conducted to determine the role played by media use diversity in shaping public opinion during the 1979 campaign to elect a representative from Great Britain to the European Parliament. The study focused on the British audience's evaluation of the clarity of the campaign issues as presented in the media and on individual cognitions…

Parental Mediation of Television Viewing and Videogaming of Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Siblings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kuo, Melissa H.; Magill-Evans, Joyce; Zwaigenbaum, Lonnie

2015-01-01

Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder spend considerable time in media activities. Parents play an important role in shaping adolescents' responses to media. This study explored the mediation strategies that parents of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder used to manage television and video game use, factors associated with their use of…

Teaching Critical Literacy across the Curriculum in Multimedia America.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Semali, Ladislaus M.

The teaching of media texts as a form of textual construction is embedded in the assumption that audiences bring individual preexisting dispositions even though the media may contribute to their shaping of basic attitudes, beliefs, values, and behavior. As summed up by D. Lusted, at the core of such textual construction are basic assumptions that…

Story Telling or Storied Telling? Media's Pedagogical Ability to Shape Narrative as a Form of "Knowing"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blevins, Dean G.

2007-01-01

Storytellers know that stories are "formed" in their telling. Stories, whether oral or written, personal or mass communicated, ultimately express the boundaries of their medium (their "embodiment" through mediated forms). Religious Educators must always address the medium as well as the message in any theory of narrative accounting. Media often…

Beyond Stereotyping: An Understanding of Sport Media As Sites of Struggle.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Duncan, Margaret Carlisle

Commodification is one of the media mechanisms that shape and proliferate images of femininity which result in the disempowerment of women and of female athletes. The method of homology is used to analyze commodification, one of the formal structures or mechanisms of patriarchy. After a description of this mechanism, the discussion focuses on how…

The New Mass Media and the Shaping of Amazigh Identity.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Almasude, Amar

This paper describes the Imazighen of North Africa, known in the West as Berbers; threats to their language and culture from schooling and the dominant Arabo-Islamic culture; and recent effects of mass media. As the indigenous people of North Africa, the Imazighen have been invaded frequently during the last 3000 years, but only the Arabs…

Racial Identity and Media Orientation: Exploring the Nature of Constraint.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Davis, Jessica L.; Gandy, Oscar H., Jr.

1999-01-01

Examines the nature of racial group identity in an effort to determine its role in the formation of African-American media evaluations. Views racial identity as one of many forms of individual identity that help to shape our relations with others. Focuses on areas of domestic violence and the image of Black men. (MMU)

Adolescents and the Media: Medical and Psychological Impact. Developmental Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry, Volume 33.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Strasburger, Victor C.

Aimed at primary care physicians and nurses, educators, and parents, this book reviews media effects on adolescent behavior and psychology. The book notes that television is a powerful medium to which adolescents are uniquely susceptible and how studies have shown television's ability to shape social attitudes. Theories of how television affects…

Conjugate adaptive optics with remote focusing in multiphoton microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tao, Xiaodong; Lam, Tuwin; Zhu, Bingzhao; Li, Qinggele; Reinig, Marc R.; Kubby, Joel

2018-02-01

The small correction volume for conventional wavefront shaping methods limits their application in biological imaging through scattering media. In this paper, we take advantage of conjugate adaptive optics (CAO) and remote focusing (CAORF) to achieve three-dimensional (3D) scanning through a scattering layer with a single correction. Our results show that the proposed system can provide 10 times wider axial field of view compared with a conventional conjugate AO system when 16,384 segments are used on a spatial light modulator. We demonstrate two-photon imaging with CAORF through mouse skull. The fluorescent microspheres embedded under the scattering layers can be clearly observed after applying the correction.

Mental disorders stigma in the media: review of studies on production, content, and influences.

PubMed

Klin, Anat; Lemish, Dafna

2008-01-01

This article analyzes two decades of research regarding the mass media's role in shaping, perpetuating, and reducing the stigma of mental illness. It concentrates on three broad areas common in media inquiry: production, representation, and audiences. The analysis reveals that descriptions of mental illness and the mentally ill are distorted due to inaccuracies, exaggerations, or misinformation. The ill are presented not only as peculiar and different, but also as dangerous. Thus, the media perpetuate misconceptions and stigma. Especially prominent is the absence of agreed-upon definitions of "mental illness," as well as the lack of research on the inter-relationships in audience studies between portrayals in the media and social perceptions. The analysis concludes with suggestions for further research on mass media's inter-relationships with mental illness.

The Challenge of New Colorblind Racism in Art Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Desai, Dipti

2010-01-01

In this article, the author examines the ways the colorblind ideology shapes the post-Civil Rights society, what is now being called the new racism. She looks specifically at the ways colorblind ideology is produced and reinforced through multiculturalism and visual culture (media). She then looks at how it shapes art teachers' understanding of…

The Shape We're In: Community Action Guide.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

2003

"The Shape We're In" is a national public education initiative that places a media spotlight on physical activity and obesity to promote public awareness and spark dialogue and action across the country. The centerpiece is a five-part newspaper series delivered to newspapers nationwide. This community action guide begins by describing…

Shaping Networked Theatre: Experience Architectures, Behaviours and Creative Pedagogies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sutton, Paul

2012-01-01

Since 2006 the UK based applied theatre company C&T has been using its experience and expertise in mixing drama, learning and digital media to create a new online utility for shaping collaborative educational drama experiences. C&T describes this practice as "Networked Theatre". This article describes both the motivations for…

Microstructural effect on radiative scattering coefficient and asymmetry factor of anisotropic thermal barrier coatings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, X. W.; Zhao, C. Y.; Wang, B. X.

2018-05-01

Thermal barrier coatings are common porous materials coated on the surface of devices operating under high temperatures and designed for heat insulation. This study presents a comprehensive investigation on the microstructural effect on radiative scattering coefficient and asymmetry factor of anisotropic thermal barrier coatings. Based on the quartet structure generation set algorithm, the finite-difference-time-domain method is applied to calculate angular scattering intensity distribution of complicated random microstructure, which takes wave nature into account. Combining Monte Carlo method with Particle Swarm Optimization, asymmetry factor, scattering coefficient and absorption coefficient are retrieved simultaneously. The retrieved radiative properties are identified with the angular scattering intensity distribution under different pore shapes, which takes dependent scattering and anisotropic pore shape into account implicitly. It has been found that microstructure significantly affects the radiative properties in thermal barrier coatings. Compared with spherical shape, irregular anisotropic pore shape reduces the forward scattering peak. The method used in this paper can also be applied to other porous media, which designs a frame work for further quantitative study on porous media.

Frequency-dependent electrodeformation of giant phospholipid vesicles in AC electric field

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

A model of vesicle electrodeformation is described which obtains a parametrized vesicle shape by minimizing the sum of the membrane bending energy and the energy due to the electric field. Both the vesicle membrane and the aqueous media inside and outside the vesicle are treated as leaky dielectrics, and the vesicle itself is modeled as a nearly spherical shape enclosed within a thin membrane. It is demonstrated (a) that the model achieves a good quantitative agreement with the experimentally determined prolate-to-oblate transition frequencies in the kilohertz range and (b) that the model can explain a phase diagram of shapes of giant phospholipid vesicles with respect to two parameters: the frequency of the applied alternating current electric field and the ratio of the electrical conductivities of the aqueous media inside and outside the vesicle, explored in a recent paper (S. Aranda et al., Biophys J 95:L19–L21, 2008). A possible use of the frequency-dependent shape transitions of phospholipid vesicles in conductometry of microliter samples is discussed. PMID:21886342

Experimental evidence of chaotic mixing at pore scale in 3D porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heyman, J.; Turuban, R.; Jimenez Martinez, J.; Lester, D. R.; Meheust, Y.; Le Borgne, T.

2017-12-01

Mixing of dissolved chemical species in porous media plays a central role in many natural and industrial processes, such as contaminant transport and degradation in soils, oxygen and nitrates delivery in river beds, clogging in geothermal systems, CO2 sequestration. In particular, incomplete mixing at the pore scale may strongly affect the spatio-temporal distribution of reaction rates in soils and rocks, questioning the validity of diffusion-reaction models at the Darcy scale. Recent theoretical [1] and numerical [2] studies of flow in idealized porous media have suggested that fluid mixing may be chaotic at pore scale, hence pointing to a whole new set of models for mixing and reaction in porous media. However, so far this remained to be confirmed experimentally. Here we present experimental evidence of the chaotic nature of transverse mixing at the pore scale in three-dimensional porous media. We designed a novel experimental setup allowing high resolution pore scale imaging of the structure of a tracer plume in porous media columns consisting of 7, 10 and 20 mm glass bead packings. We conjointly used refractive index matching techniques, laser induced fluorescence and a moving laser-sheet to reconstruct the shape of a steady tracer plume as it gets deformed by the porous media flow. In this talk, we focus on the transverse behavior of mixing, that is, on the plane orthogonal to the main flow direction, in the limit of high Péclet numbers (diffusion is negligible). Moving away from the injection point, the plume cross-section turns quickly into complex, interlaced, lamellar structures. These structures elongated at an exponential rate, characteristic of a chaotic system, that can be characterized by an average Lyapunov exponent. We finally discuss the origin of this chaotic behavior and its most significant consequences for upscaling mixing and reactive transport in porous media. Reference:[1] D. R. Lester, G. Metcafle, M. G. Trefry, Physical Review Letters, 111, 174101 (2013) [2] R. Turuban, D. R. Lester, T. Le Borgne, and Y. Méheust (2017), under review.

Design of Capillary Flows with Spatially Graded Porous Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joung, Young Soo; Figliuzzi, Bruno Michel; Buie, Cullen

2013-11-01

We have developed a new capillary tube model, consisting of multi-layered capillary tubes oriented in the direction of flow, to predict capillary speeds on spatially graded porous films. Capillary flows through thin porous media have been widely utilized for small size liquid transport systems. However, for most media it is challenging to realize arbitrary shapes and spatially functionalized micro-structures with variable flow properties. Therefore, conventional media can only be used for capillary flows obeying Washburn's equation and the modifications thereof. Given this background, we recently developed a method called breakdown anodization (BDA) to produce highly wetting porous films. The resulting surfaces show nearly zero contact angles and fast water spreading speed. Furthermore, capillary pressure and spreading diffusivity can be expressed as functions of capillary height when customized electric fields are used in BDA. From the capillary tube model, we derived a general capillary flow equation of motion in terms of capillary pressure and spreading diffusivity. The theoretical model shows good agreement with experimental capillary flows. The study will provide novel design methodologies for paper-based microfluidic devices.

Biology-Inspired Explorers for Space Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramohalli, Kumar; Lozano, Peter; Furfaro, Roberto

2002-01-01

Building upon three innovative technologies, each of which received a NTR award from NASA, a specific explorer is described. This "robot" does away with conventional gears, levers, pulleys,.... And uses "Muscle Materials" instead; these shape-memory materials, formerly in the Nickel-Titanium family, but now in the much wider class of ElectroActivePolymers(EAP), have the ability to precisely respond to pre"programmed" shape changes upon application of an electrical input. Of course, the pre"programs" are at the molecular level, much like in biological systems. Another important feature is the distributed power. That is, the power use in the "limbs" is distributed, so that if one "limb" should fail, the others can still function. The robot has been built and demonstrated to the media (newspapers and television). The fundamental control aspects are currently being worked upon, and we expect to have a more complete mathematical description of its operation. Future plans, and specific applications for reliable planetary exploration will be outlined.

Bio-media Citizenship and Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology in Sri Lanka.

PubMed

de Silva, M W Amarasiri

2018-04-01

In this article, I examine the crucial role of the biomedical industry, epidemiological and biomedical research, and the media in forming attitudes to and the understanding of chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) in Sri Lanka. Local conceptions of CKDu have been shaped by the circulation in the media of epidemiological research findings pertaining to the disease, biomedical interventions in the management of the disease in hospitals and clinics, community programs involving mass blood surveys and the testing of well water, and local food and health education programs carried out through village health committees. This process of circulation I identify as bio-media citizenship.

A simple homogeneous model for regular and irregular metallic wire media samples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kosulnikov, S. Y.; Mirmoosa, M. S.; Simovski, C. R.

2018-02-01

To simplify the solution of electromagnetic problems with wire media samples, it is reasonable to treat them as the samples of a homogeneous material without spatial dispersion. The account of spatial dispersion implies additional boundary conditions and makes the solution of boundary problems difficult especially if the sample is not an infinitely extended layer. Moreover, for a novel type of wire media - arrays of randomly tilted wires - a spatially dispersive model has not been developed. Here, we introduce a simplistic heuristic model of wire media samples shaped as bricks. Our model covers WM of both regularly and irregularly stretched wires.

Social media and dentistry: some reflections on e-professionalism.

PubMed

Neville, P; Waylen, A

2015-04-24

The proliferation of digital technology is impacting on the training and development of healthcare professionals. Research on the online behaviour of medical and pharmacy students indicates that social media poses a number of risks to the professional practice of healthcare professionals. General Dental Council guidelines on the use of social media also suggest that it has the potential to expose dental professionals to a variety of breaches of professional conduct. This paper explores the various ways social media can help, as well as hinder, the practice of dental professionalism. However, the lack of primary research on the social media behaviour of dental students and qualified dental practitioners alike acts as a barrier to increasing social media awareness within dentistry. The paper concludes by calling for more research-led discussion on the role social media plays in shaping our understanding of dental professionalism in the twenty-first century.

Representations of energy policy and technology in British and Finnish newspaper media: a comparative perspective.

PubMed

Teräväinen, Tuula

2014-04-01

This article analyses media representations of the strengthening technological energy policy orientation in the UK and Finland. Drawing from over 1200 newspaper articles from 1991 to 2006, it scrutinises how energy policy in general and energy technologies in particular have been discussed by the media in these two countries, and how the media representations have changed over time. The results point to the importance of national political, economic and cultural features in shaping media discussions. At the same time, international political events and ideas of technology-driven economic growth have transformed media perceptions of energy technologies. While the British media have been rather critical towards national policies throughout the period of analysis, the Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat has supported successive national governments. In both countries, energy technologies have increasingly become linked to global societal and political questions.

The Ballot or the Blog Post: Creating a Political Self through, and in Spite of, Social Media

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thompson, Winston C.

2012-01-01

In this article the author considers how social media--a new, evolving, and increasingly pervasive form of communication and community--shapes students' attitudes towards practices of communication and community in their futures as political actors. How ought educators respond to this new world; can they lead their students into a culture of…

An Exploratory Study on the Digital Identity Formation of Korean University EFL Learners

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Jang Ho; Kim, Heyoung

2014-01-01

The present study aims to sketch the contours of new media ecology for Korean university students as well as to examine how these learners shape and negotiate their digital identity by using social networking services and digital devices. It also investigates their use of digital media for learning English as a foreign language (EFL). In total,…

Critical Literacy, Self-Protection and Delinquency: The Challenges of Participatory Media for Youths At-Risk

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lim, Sun Sun; Basnyat, Iccha; Vadrevu, Shobha; Chan, Yoke Hian

2013-01-01

While pedagogy is predominantly viewed from the perspective of classroom instruction, educators worldwide invariably play a critical pastoral role of shaping the personal development of their students and nurturing in them life skills. With the avid use of participatory media by young people in peer interaction, educators need to be aware of the…

Process for forming shaped group III-V semiconductor nanocrystals, and product formed using process

DOEpatents

Alivisatos, A. Paul; Peng, Xiaogang; Manna, Liberato

2001-01-01

A process for the formation of shaped Group III-V semiconductor nanocrystals comprises contacting the semiconductor nanocrystal precursors with a liquid media comprising a binary mixture of phosphorus-containing organic surfactants capable of promoting the growth of either spherical semiconductor nanocrystals or rod-like semiconductor nanocrystals, whereby the shape of the semiconductor nanocrystals formed in said binary mixture of surfactants is controlled by adjusting the ratio of the surfactants in the binary mixture.

Process for forming shaped group II-VI semiconductor nanocrystals, and product formed using process

DOEpatents

Alivisatos, A. Paul; Peng, Xiaogang; Manna, Liberato

2001-01-01

A process for the formation of shaped Group II-VI semiconductor nanocrystals comprises contacting the semiconductor nanocrystal precursors with a liquid media comprising a binary mixture of phosphorus-containing organic surfactants capable of promoting the growth of either spherical semiconductor nanocrystals or rod-like semiconductor nanocrystals, whereby the shape of the semiconductor nanocrystals formed in said binary mixture of surfactants is controlled by adjusting the ratio of the surfactants in the binary mixture.

Bright, dark and W-shaped solitons with extended nonlinear Schrödinger's equation for odd and even higher-order terms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bendahmane, Issam; Triki, Houria; Biswas, Anjan; Saleh Alshomrani, Ali; Zhou, Qin; Moshokoa, Seithuti P.; Belic, Milivoj

2018-02-01

We present solitary wave solutions of an extended nonlinear Schrödinger equation with higher-order odd (third-order) and even (fourth-order) terms by using an ansatz method. The including high-order dispersion terms have significant physical applications in fiber optics, the Heisenberg spin chain, and ocean waves. Exact envelope solutions comprise bright, dark and W-shaped solitary waves, illustrating the potentially rich set of solitary wave solutions of the extended model. Furthermore, we investigate the properties of these solitary waves in nonlinear and dispersive media. Moreover, specific constraints on the system parameters for the existence of these structures are discussed exactly. The results show that the higher-order dispersion and nonlinear effects play a crucial role for the formation and properties of propagating waves.

Rayleigh-Taylor instability in soft elastic layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Riccobelli, D.; Ciarletta, P.

2017-04-01

This work investigates the morphological stability of a soft body composed of two heavy elastic layers attached to a rigid surface and subjected only to the bulk gravity force. Using theoretical and computational tools, we characterize the selection of different patterns as well as their nonlinear evolution, unveiling the interplay between elastic and geometric effects for their formation. Unlike similar gravity-induced shape transitions in fluids, such as the Rayleigh-Taylor instability, we prove that the nonlinear elastic effects saturate the dynamic instability of the bifurcated solutions, displaying a rich morphological diagram where both digitations and stable wrinkling can emerge. The results of this work provide important guidelines for the design of novel soft systems with tunable shapes, with several applications in engineering sciences. This article is part of the themed issue 'Patterning through instabilities in complex media: theory and applications.'

Body image, eating disorders, and the media.

PubMed

Hogan, Marjorie J; Strasburger, Victor C

2008-12-01

Adolescence is a time of tremendous change in physical appearance. Many adolescents report dissatisfaction with their body shape and size. Forming one's body image is a complex process, influenced by family, peers, and media messages. Increasing evidence shows that the combination of ubiquitous ads for foods and emphasis on female beauty and thinness in both advertising and programming leads to confusion and dissatisfaction for many young people. Sociocultural factors, specifically media exposure, play an important role in the development of disordered body image. Of significant concern, studies have revealed a link between media exposure and the likelihood of having symptoms of disordered eating or a frank eating disorder. Pediatricians and other adults must work to promote media education and make media healthier for young people. More research is needed to identify the most vulnerable children and adolescents.

Microbiological possibilities to demonstrate that strawberries have been irradiated

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tamminga, S.K.; Beumer, R.R.; Kampelmacher, E.H.

1973-01-01

Samples of Dutch strawberries, greenhouse and outdoor-grown, were divided into portions, wrapped, and one of the portions was irradiated at 200 krad. The composition of the microflora before and after irradiation was investigated. The flora of the nonirradiated samples was composed mainly of gram- negative rod-shaped bacteria belonging, with only a few exceptions, either to the Enterobacteriaceae family (mainly Erwinia), or to the genus Pseudomonas. Moreover, moulds and yeasts were frequently encountered in varying quantities. Moulds and yeasts did not appear to make good indicator-organisms, as special groups or species, showing such sensitivity that they were always absent after irradiationmore » were not demonstrable. Gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria on the other hand were always found to be absent after irradiation, when solid media were used, even when starting from samples with numbers in the order of magnitude 10/sup 5/ to 10/sup 6//gm. Using outdoor-grown strawberries this always led to a clear difference from the corresponding untreated samples. Greenhouse- strawberries, however, sometimes contain only a very small number of microorganisms, so that the possibility should be taken into account, that none of the media show any growth without irradiation having taken place. Consequently, if gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria are present on strawberries (when using solid media) they have most probably not been irradiated. Of course this does not apply if post contamination has been possible. if there is no growth of the above-mentioned bacteria on any of the media used, there is a considerable possibility that irradiation has taken place. (GE)« less

Bacterially-mediated precipitation of ferric iron during the leaching of basaltic rocks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schnittker, K.; Navarrete, J. U.; Cappelle, I. J.; Borrok, D. M.

2011-12-01

The bacterially-mediated oxidation of ferrous [Fe(II)] iron in environments where its oxidation is otherwise unfavorable (i.e., acidic and/or anaerobic conditions) results in the formation of ferric iron [Fe(III)] precipitates. The mineralogy and morphologies of these precipitates are dictated by solution biochemistry. In this study, we evaluated Fe(III) precipitates that formed during aerobic bioleaching experiments with Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and ilmenite (FeTiO3) and Lunar or Martian basaltic stimulant rocks. Growth media was supplied to support the bacteria; however, all the Fe(II) for chemical energy was supplied by the mineral or rock. During the experiments, the bacteria actively oxidized Fe(II) to Fe(III), resulting in the formation of white and yellow-colored precipitates. In our initial experiments with both ilmentite and basalt, High-Resolution Scanning Electron Microscopic (HRSEM) analysis indicated that the precipitates where small (diameters were less than 5μm and mostly nanometer-scaled), white, and exhibited a platy texture. Networks of mineralized bacterial biofilm were also abundant. In these cases the white precipitates coated the bacteria, forming rod-shaped minerals 5-10μm long by about 1μm in diameter. Many of the rod-shaped minerals formed elongated chains. Energy Dispersive Spectra (EDS) analysis showed that the precipitates were largely composed of Fe and phosphorous (P) with an atomic Fe:P ratio of ˜1. Limited sulfur (S) was also identified as part of the agglomerated precipitates with an atomic Fe:S ratio that ranged from 5 to 10. Phosphorous and S were introduced into the system in considerable amounts as part of the growth media. Additional experiments were performed where we altered the growth media to lower the amount of available P by an order of magnitude. In this case, the experimental behavior remained the same, but the precipitates were more yellow or orange in color relative to those in the experiments using the original growth media. HRSEM/EDS analysis confirmed the presence of minerals with much higher Fe:P ratios (˜2) and much smaller Fe:S ratios (˜0.15). This suggests that the change in growth media chemistry was reflected in precipitates that were rich in S and poorer in P. X-ray diffraction analysis of these precipitates is currently underway. Our results have implications for the interpretation of solution chemistries and precipitation mechanisms associated with biologically-mediated Fe(III)-minerals on Earth, but might also provide insights into possible biosignatures in extraterrestrial systems.

Huggable communication medium decreases cortisol levels.

PubMed

Sumioka, Hidenobu; Nakae, Aya; Kanai, Ryota; Ishiguro, Hiroshi

2013-10-23

Interpersonal touch is a fundamental component of social interactions because it can mitigate physical and psychological distress. To reproduce the psychological and physiological effects associated with interpersonal touch, interest is growing in introducing tactile sensations to communication devices. However, it remains unknown whether physical contact with such devices can produce objectively measurable endocrine effects like real interpersonal touching can. We directly tested this possibility by examining changes in stress hormone cortisol before and after a conversation with a huggable communication device. Participants had 15-minute conversations with a remote partner that was carried out either with a huggable human-shaped device or with a mobile phone. Our experiment revealed significant reduction in the cortisol levels for those who had conversations with the huggable device. Our approach to evaluate communication media with biological markers suggests new design directions for interpersonal communication media to improve social support systems in modern highly networked societies.

Huggable communication medium decreases cortisol levels

PubMed Central

Sumioka, Hidenobu; Nakae, Aya; Kanai, Ryota; Ishiguro, Hiroshi

2013-01-01

Interpersonal touch is a fundamental component of social interactions because it can mitigate physical and psychological distress. To reproduce the psychological and physiological effects associated with interpersonal touch, interest is growing in introducing tactile sensations to communication devices. However, it remains unknown whether physical contact with such devices can produce objectively measurable endocrine effects like real interpersonal touching can. We directly tested this possibility by examining changes in stress hormone cortisol before and after a conversation with a huggable communication device. Participants had 15-minute conversations with a remote partner that was carried out either with a huggable human-shaped device or with a mobile phone. Our experiment revealed significant reduction in the cortisol levels for those who had conversations with the huggable device. Our approach to evaluate communication media with biological markers suggests new design directions for interpersonal communication media to improve social support systems in modern highly networked societies. PMID:24150186

Effect of Fractal Dimension on the Strain Behavior of Particulate Media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Altun, Selim; Sezer, Alper; Goktepe, A. Burak

2016-12-01

In this study, the influence of several fractal identifiers of granular materials on dynamic behavior of a flexible pavement structure as a particulate stratum is considered. Using experimental results and numerical methods as well, 15 different grain-shaped sands obtained from 5 different sources were analyzed as pavement base course materials. Image analyses were carried out by use of a stereomicroscope on 15 different samples to obtain quantitative particle shape information. Furthermore, triaxial compression tests were conducted to determine stress-strain and shear strength parameters of sands. Additionally, the dynamic response of the particulate media to standard traffic loads was computed using finite element modeling (FEM) technique. Using area-perimeter, line divider and box counting methods, over a hundred grains for each sand type were subjected to fractal analysis. Relationships among fractal dimension descriptors and dynamic strain levels were established for assessment of importance of shape descriptors of sands at various scales on the dynamic behavior. In this context, the advantage of fractal geometry concept to describe irregular and fractured shapes was used to characterize the sands used as base course materials. Results indicated that fractal identifiers can be preferred to analyze the effect of shape properties of sands on dynamic behavior of pavement base layers.

Polarimetric scattering from layered media with multiple species of scatterers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nghiem, S. V.; Kwok, R.; Yueh, S. H.; Kong, J. A.; Hsu, C. C.; Tassoudji, M. A.; Shin, R. T.

1995-01-01

Geophysical media are usually heterogeneous and contain multiple species of scatterers. In this paper a model is presented to calculate effective permittivities and polarimetric backscattering coefficients of multispecies-layered media. The same physical description is consistently used in the derivation of both permittivities and scattering coefficients. The strong permittivity fluctuation theory is extended to account for the multiple species of scatterers with a general ellipsoidal shape whose orientations are randomly distributed. Under the distorted Born approximation, polarimetric scattering coefficients are obtained. These calculations are applicable to the special cases of spheroidal and spherical scatterers. The model is used to study effects of scatterer shapes and multispecies mixtures on polarimetric signatures of heterogeneous media. The multispecies model accounts for moisture content in scattering media such as snowpack in an ice sheet. The results indicate a high sensitivity of backscatter to moisture with a stronger dependence for drier snow and ice grain size is important to the backscatter. For frost-covered saline ice, model results for bare ice are compared with measured data at C band and then the frost flower formation is simulated with a layer of fanlike ice crystals including brine infiltration over a rough interface. The results with the frost cover suggest a significant increase in scattering coefficients and a polarimetric signature closer to isotropic characteristics compared to the thin saline ice case.

Role of obesity and media in body weight concern among female university students in Kuwait.

PubMed

Musaiger, Abdulrahman O; Al-Mannai, Mariam

2013-04-01

The aim of this study was to find out the association of media and obesity status with body weight concern among female university students in Kuwait. 228 female students, aged 19-25 years, were selected at convenience from the Women's College in Kuwait. A previously validated questionnaire was used to collect information on the role of media in body concern and how parents, peers and the girls themselves perceived girls' body shapes. Weight and height were gathered by self-reporting. Use of internet and reading women's magazines had a significant impact on dieting by the girls to lose weight (P<0.0007 and P<0.0114, respectively). The mass media had two to three times more influence on obese girls than non-obese girls. Only watching television had a significant impact on girls' body shape concern (P<0.053). About 30% of non-obese and 81% of obese girls were dissatisfied with their current weight. There were significant differences between obese and non-obese girls regarding the girls' views and the views of their peers and parents about the body weight of the girls (P<0.000 for all). The pressure from peers and parents, in addition to the mass media, may lead to disturbed attitudes towards eating among Kuwaiti girls. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Focusing light inside dynamic scattering media with millisecond digital optical phase conjugation (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yan; Ma, Cheng; Shen, Yuecheng; Wang, Lihong V.

2017-02-01

Optical phase conjugation based wavefront shaping techniques are being actively developed to focus light through or inside scattering media such as biological tissue, and they promise to revolutionize optical imaging, manipulation, and therapy. The speed of digital optical phase conjugation (DOPC) has been limited by the low speeds of cameras and spatial light modulators (SLMs), preventing DOPC from being applied to thick living tissue. Recently, a fast DOPC system was developed based on a single-shot wavefront measurement method, a field programmable gate array (FPGA) for data processing, and a digital micromirror device (DMD) for fast modulation. However, this system has the following limitations. First, the reported single-shot wavefront measurement method does not work when our goal is to focus light inside, instead of through, scattering media. Second, the DMD performed binary amplitude modulation, which resulted in a lower focusing contrast compared with that of phase modulations. Third, the optical fluence threshold causing DMDs to malfunction under pulsed laser illumination is lower than that of liquid crystal based SLMs, and the system alignment is significantly complicated by the oblique reflection angle of the DMD. Here, we developed a simple but high-speed DOPC system using a ferroelectric liquid crystal based SLM (512 × 512 pixels), and focused light through three diffusers within 4.7 ms. Using focused-ultrasound-guided DOPC along with a double exposure scheme, we focused light inside a scattering medium containing two diffusers within 7.7 ms, thus achieving the fastest digital time-reversed ultrasonically encoded (TRUE) optical focusing to date.

The Role of Parents' Critical Thinking About Media in Shaping Expectancies, Efficacy and Nutrition Behaviors for Families.

PubMed

Austin, Erica Weintraub; Pinkleton, Bruce E; Radanielina-Hita, Marie Louise; Ran, Weina

2015-01-01

A convenience survey completed online by 137 4-H parents in Washington state explored their orientation toward critical thinking regarding media sources and content and its implications for family dietary behaviors. Parents' critical thinking toward media sources predicted their information efficacy about content. Critical thinking toward media content predicted information efficacy about sources, expectancies for parental mediation, and expectancies for family receptiveness to lower-fat dietary changes. Expectancies for receptiveness to dietary changes and expectancies for parental mediation predicted efficacy for implementing healthy dietary practices; this strongly predicted healthy dietary practices. Media-related critical thinking, therefore, indirectly but consistently affected self-reported family dietary behaviors through its effects on efficacy for managing media and expectancies for the family's receptiveness to healthy dietary changes. The results suggest parents' media literacy skills affect their family's dietary behavior. Health campaigns that help parents interpret and manage the media environment may benefit all family members.

Health Reporting in Print Media in Lebanon: Evidence, Quality and Role in Informing Policymaking.

PubMed

El-Jardali, Fadi; Bou Karroum, Lama; Bawab, Lamya; Kdouh, Ola; El-Sayed, Farah; Rachidi, Hala; Makki, Malak

2015-01-01

Media plays a vital role in shaping public policies and opinions through disseminating health-related information. This study aims at exploring the role of media in informing health policies in Lebanon, identifying the factors influencing health reporting and investigating the role of evidence in health journalism and the quality of health reporting. It also identifies strategies to enhance the use of evidence in health journalism and improve the quality of health reporting. Media analysis was conducted to assess the way media reports on health-related issues and the quality of reporting using a quality assessment tool. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with 27 journalists, researchers and policymakers to explore their perception on the role of media in health policymaking and the factors influencing health reporting. In addition, a validation workshop was conducted. Out of 1,279 health-related news articles identified, 318 articles used certain type of evidence to report health issues 39.8% of which relied on experts' opinions as their source of evidence while only 5.9% referenced peer-reviewed research studies. The quality of health reporting was judged to be low based on a quality assessment tool consisting of a set of ten criteria. Journalists raised concerns about issues impeding them from referring to evidence. Journalists also reported difficulties with the investigative health journalism. Policymakers and researchers viewed media as an important tool for evidence-informed health policies, however, serious concerns were voiced in terms of the current practice and capacities. Our study provides a structured reflection on the role of media and the factors that influence health reporting including context-specific strategies that would enhance the quality and promote the use of evidence in health reporting. In the light of the political changes in many Middle Eastern countries, findings from this study can contribute to redefining the role of media in strengthening health systems.

Health Reporting in Print Media in Lebanon: Evidence, Quality and Role in Informing Policymaking

PubMed Central

El-Jardali, Fadi; Bou Karroum, Lama; Bawab, Lamya; Kdouh, Ola; El-Sayed, Farah; Rachidi, Hala; Makki, Malak

2015-01-01

Background Media plays a vital role in shaping public policies and opinions through disseminating health-related information. This study aims at exploring the role of media in informing health policies in Lebanon, identifying the factors influencing health reporting and investigating the role of evidence in health journalism and the quality of health reporting. It also identifies strategies to enhance the use of evidence in health journalism and improve the quality of health reporting. Methods Media analysis was conducted to assess the way media reports on health-related issues and the quality of reporting using a quality assessment tool. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with 27 journalists, researchers and policymakers to explore their perception on the role of media in health policymaking and the factors influencing health reporting. In addition, a validation workshop was conducted. Results Out of 1,279 health-related news articles identified, 318 articles used certain type of evidence to report health issues 39.8% of which relied on experts’ opinions as their source of evidence while only 5.9% referenced peer-reviewed research studies. The quality of health reporting was judged to be low based on a quality assessment tool consisting of a set of ten criteria. Journalists raised concerns about issues impeding them from referring to evidence. Journalists also reported difficulties with the investigative health journalism. Policymakers and researchers viewed media as an important tool for evidence-informed health policies, however, serious concerns were voiced in terms of the current practice and capacities. Conclusion Our study provides a structured reflection on the role of media and the factors that influence health reporting including context-specific strategies that would enhance the quality and promote the use of evidence in health reporting. In the light of the political changes in many Middle Eastern countries, findings from this study can contribute to redefining the role of media in strengthening health systems. PMID:26308077

Implementing transmission eigenchannels of disordered media by a binary-control digital micromirror device

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Donggyu; Choi, Wonjun; Kim, Moonseok; Moon, Jungho; Seo, Keumyoung; Ju, Sanghyun; Choi, Wonshik

2014-11-01

We report a method for measuring the transmission matrix of a disordered medium using a binary-control of a digital micromirror device (DMD). With knowledge of the measured transmission matrix, we identified the transmission eigenchannels of the medium. We then used binary control of the DMD to shape the wavefront of incident waves and to experimentally couple light to individual eigenchannels. When the wave was coupled to the eigenchannel with the largest eigenvalue, in particular, we were able to achieve about two times more energy transmission than the mean transmittance of the medium. Our study provides an elaborated use of the DMD as a high-speed wavefront shaping device for controlling the multiple scattering of waves in highly scattering media.

Student Drug Testing and the Surveillance School Economy: An Analysis of Media Representation and Policy Transfer in Australian Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Taylor, Emmeline

2018-01-01

Anxieties relating to the health, safety and security of schoolchildren have been met with a variety of surveillance apparatus in schools internationally. Drawing on findings from a content analysis of newspaper reports relating to drug testing in Australian schools, this article seeks to excavate the ways in which the media shapes, informs,…

Challenging Fiction: Exploring Meaning-Making Processes in the Crossover between Social Media and Drama in Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Knudsen, Kristian Nødtvedt

2018-01-01

The aim of this study was to explore how meaning-making activity can be expressed and shaped in the crossover between drama in education and social media. This study concerns the use of empirical material from an educational drama project called #iLive, which was designed and implemented, on four different occasions with a total of 89 students…

Photoacoustic-guided convergence of light through optically diffusive media.

PubMed

Kong, Fanting; Silverman, Ronald H; Liu, Liping; Chitnis, Parag V; Lee, Kotik K; Chen, Y C

2011-06-01

We demonstrate that laser beams can be converged toward a light-absorbing target through optically diffusive media by using photoacoustic-guided interferometric focusing. The convergence of light is achieved by shaping the wavefront of the incident light with a deformable mirror to maximize the photoacoustic signal, which is proportional to the scattered light intensity at the light absorber. © 2011 Optical Society of America

Use of Soybean Lecithin in Shape Controlled Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ayres, Benjamin Robert

The work presented in this dissertation is a composite of experiments in the growth of gold nanoparticles with specific optical properties of interest. The goal is to synthesize these gold nanoparticles using soybean extract for not only shape control, but for propensity as a biocompatible delivery system. The optical properties of these nanoparticles has found great application in coloring glass during the Roman empire and, over the centuries, has grown into its own research field in applications of nanoparticulate materials. Many of the current functions include use in biological systems as biosensors and therapeutic applications, thus making biocompatibility a necessity. Current use of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide leads to rod-shaped gold nanoparticles, however, the stability of these gold nanoparticles does not endure for extended periods of time in aqueous media. In my research, two important components were found to be necessary for stable, anisotropic growth of gold nanoparticles. In the first experiments, it was found that bromide played a key role in shape control. Bromide exchange on the gold atoms led to specific packing of the growing crystals, allowing for two-dimensional growth of gold nanoparticles. It was also discerned that soybean lecithin contained ligands that blocked specific gold facets leading to prismatic gold nanoparticle growth. These gold nanoprisms give a near infrared plasmon absorption similar to that of rod-shaped gold nanoparticles. These gold nanoprisms are discovered to be extremely stable in aqueous media and remain soluble for extended periods of time, far longer than that of gold nanoparticles grown using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. Since soy lecithin has a plethora of compounds present, it became necessary to discover which compound was responsible for the shape control of the gold nanoprisms in order to optimize the synthesis and allow for a maximum yield of the gold nanoprisms. Many of these components were identified by high performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. However, re-spike of these components into growth solutions did not enhance the growth of gold nanoprisms. Upon separating the shapes of the gold nanoparticles using gel electrophoresis, addition of KCN to the separated gold nanoparticles allowed us to extract the culpable ligands for shape control. Analysis of these ligands by mass spectrometry elucidated the identity of PA and upon re-spike of the PA into a growth solution of PC95, the growth of a near-infrared plasmon absorption was seen. The stability of these gold nanoparticles was tested with and without the addition of decane thiol and it was concluded that addition of the thiol allowed for improved stability of the gold nanoparticles towards cyanide. It was determined that at a concentration of 2 μM decanethiol, spherical gold nanoparticles remained stable to cyanide at the expense of the prismatic gold nanoparticles. However, at 5 μM decanethiol, both spherical and prismatic gold nanoparticles retained stability to cyanide in aqueous conditions.

Massively parallelized Monte Carlo software to calculate the light propagation in arbitrarily shaped 3D turbid media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zoller, Christian; Hohmann, Ansgar; Ertl, Thomas; Kienle, Alwin

2017-07-01

The Monte Carlo method is often referred as the gold standard to calculate the light propagation in turbid media [1]. Especially for complex shaped geometries where no analytical solutions are available the Monte Carlo method becomes very important [1, 2]. In this work a Monte Carlo software is presented, to simulate the light propagation in complex shaped geometries. To improve the simulation time the code is based on OpenCL such that graphics cards can be used as well as other computing devices. Within the software an illumination concept is presented to realize easily all kinds of light sources, like spatial frequency domain (SFD), optical fibers or Gaussian beam profiles. Moreover different objects, which are not connected to each other, can be considered simultaneously, without any additional preprocessing. This Monte Carlo software can be used for many applications. In this work the transmission spectrum of a tooth and the color reconstruction of a virtual object are shown, using results from the Monte Carlo software.

News media framing of childhood obesity in the United States from 2000 to 2009.

PubMed

Barry, Colleen L; Jarlenski, Marian; Grob, Rachel; Schlesinger, Mark; Gollust, Sarah E

2011-07-01

The American public holds mixed views about the desirability of government action to combat childhood obesity. The framing of coverage by news media may affect citizens' views about the causes of childhood obesity and the most appropriate strategies for addressing the problem. We analyzed the content of a 20% random sample of news stories on childhood obesity published in 18 national and regional news sources in the United States over a 10-year period (2000-2009). News media coverage patterns indicated that by 2003, childhood obesity was firmly on the news media's agenda and remained so until 2007, after which coverage decreased. We identified changes in news media framing over time and significant differences according to news source. News coverage of causes of childhood obesity that were linked to the food and beverage industry increased in the early years of the study but then decreased markedly in later years. Similarly, mention of solutions to the problem of childhood obesity that involved restrictions on the food and beverage industry followed a reverse U-shaped pattern over the 10-year study period. News stories consistently mentioned individual behavioral changes most often as a solution to the problem of childhood obesity. Television news was more likely than other news sources to focus on behavior change as a solution, whereas newspapers were more likely to identify system-level solutions such as changes that would affect neighborhoods, schools, and the food and beverage industry. Copyright © 2011 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Formation of the Protein Corona: The Interface between Nanoparticles and the Immune System.

PubMed

Barbero, Francesco; Russo, Lorenzo; Vitali, Michele; Piella, Jordi; Salvo, Ignacio; Borrajo, Mireya L; Busquets-Fité, Marti; Grandori, Rita; Bastús, Neus G; Casals, Eudald; Puntes, Victor

2017-12-01

The interaction of inorganic nanoparticles and many biological fluids often withstands the formation of a Protein Corona enveloping the nanoparticle. This Protein Corona provides the biological identity to the nanoparticle that the immune system will detect. The formation of this Protein Corona depends not only on the composition of the nanoparticle, its size, shape, surface state and exposure time, but also on the type of media, nanoparticle to protein ratio and the presence of ions and other molecular species that interfere in the interaction between proteins and nanoparticles. This has important implications on immune safety, biocompatibility and the use of nanoparticles in medicine. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

How Do Personality Traits Shape Information-Sharing Behaviour in Social Media? Exploring the Mediating Effect of Generalized Trust

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Deng, Shengli; Lin, Yanqing; Liu, Yong; Chen, Xiaoyu; Li, Hongxiu

2017-01-01

Introduction: Personality and trust have been found to be important precursors of information-sharing behaviour, but little is known about how these factors interact with each other in shaping information-sharing behaviour. By integrating both trust and user personality into a unified research framework, this study examines how trust mediates the…

Digital Culture, and the Viewing/Participating Pre-Service Teacher: (Re)envisioning Theatre Teacher Training for a Social Media Culture

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jensen, Amy

2012-01-01

This paper explores how our "digital world" shapes the ways that young people want to be engaged and how those desires subsequently shape academic theatre spaces. The paper uses artefacts developed in a university classroom to demonstrate that pre-service theatre educators can create educational materials that interrogate and deploy multiple media…

Facebook for Supervision? Research Education Shaped by the Structural Properties of a Social Media Space

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pimmer, Christoph; Chipps, Jennifer; Brysiewicz, Petra; Walters, Fiona; Linxen, Sebastian; Gröhbiel, Urs

2017-01-01

This study analyses the use of a group space on the social networking site Facebook as a way to facilitate research supervision for teams of learners. Borrowing Lee's framework for research supervision, the goal was to understand how supervision and learning was achieved in, and shaped by, the properties of a social networking space. For this…

Disordered eating, socio-cultural media influencers, body image, and psychological factors among a racially/ethnically diverse population of college women

PubMed Central

Quick, Virginia M.; Byrd-Bredbenner, Carol

2013-01-01

This study examined disordered eating, socio-cultural media influencers, body image, and psychological factors among a large, racially/ethnically diverse sample of college women (n=1445; 58% White, 21% Asian, 11% Hispanic, 11% Black) who completed an online survey. Black women were significantly more satisfied with their weight and shape and had lower eating concerns, disinhibited eating, and emotional eating than all other racial/ethnic groups. Black women tended to have significantly higher levels of self-esteem, were less likely to compare their body to those of people in the media, felt less pressured to attain the physical appearance standard set by the media, and had less awareness of the societal appearance norms set by the media than other racial groups. Findings suggest that Black college women, independent of weight status, may be protected from disordered eating, negative body image, and societal media pressures. PMID:24411747

Disordered eating, socio-cultural media influencers, body image, and psychological factors among a racially/ethnically diverse population of college women.

PubMed

Quick, Virginia M; Byrd-Bredbenner, Carol

2014-01-01

This study examined disordered eating, socio-cultural media influencers, body image, and psychological factors among a large, racially/ethnically diverse sample of college women (n=1445; 58% White, 21% Asian, 11% Hispanic, 11% Black) who completed an online survey. Black women were significantly more satisfied with their weight and shape and had lower eating concerns, disinhibited eating, and emotional eating than all other racial/ethnic groups. Black women tended to have significantly higher levels of self-esteem, were less likely to compare their body to those of people in the media, felt less pressured to attain the physical appearance standard set by the media, and had less awareness of the societal appearance norms set by the media than other racial groups. Findings suggest that Black college women, independent of weight status, may be protected from disordered eating, negative body image, and societal media pressures. © 2013.

Media Agenda Setting Regarding Gun Violence before and after a Mass Shooting.

PubMed

Jashinsky, Jared Michael; Magnusson, Brianna; Hanson, Carl; Barnes, Michael

2016-01-01

Gun violence is related to substantial morbidity and mortality with surrounding discussions framed and shaped by the media. This study's objective was to explore national news media's reporting of gun violence around a mass shooting. National news pieces were coded according to categories of gun violence, media frames, entities held responsible, responses, and reporting of the public heath approach. Individuals were held responsible for gun violence in 63% of pieces before and 32% after the shooting. Lawmakers were held responsible in 30% of pieces before and 66% after. Background checks were a proposed gun violence prevention method in 18% of pieces before and 55% after Sandy Hook, and lethality reduction of firearms was in 9% before and 57% after. Following a mass shooting, the media tended to hold government, not individuals, primarily responsible. The media often misrepresented the real picture of gun violence and key public health roles.

Quality of life for our patients: how media images and messages: influence their perceptions.

PubMed

Carr, Ellen R

2008-02-01

Media messages and images shape patients' perceptions about quality of life (QOL) through various "old" media-literature, film, television, and music-and so-called "new" media-the Internet, e-mail, blogs, and cell phones. In this article, the author provides a brief overview of QOL from the academic perspectives of nursing, psychology, behavioral medicine, multicultural studies, and consumer marketing. Selected theories about mass communication are discussed, as well as new technologies and their impact on QOL in our society. Examples of media messages about QOL and the QOL experience reported by patients with cancer include an excerpt from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation radio interview with author Carol Shields, the 60 Minutes television interview focusing on Elizabeth Edwards (wife of presidential candidate John Edwards), and an excerpt from the 1994 filmThe Shawshank Redemption. Nurses are challenged to think about how they and their patients develop their perceptions about QOL through the media.

Influence of preservative and mounting media on the size and shape of monogenean sclerites.

PubMed

Fankoua, Severin-Oscar; Bitja Nyom, Arnold R; Bahanak, Dieu Ne Dort; Bilong Bilong, Charles F; Pariselle, Antoine

2017-08-01

Based on Cichlidogyrus sp. (Monogenea, Ancyrocephalidae) specimens from Hemichromis sp. hosts, we tested the influence of different methods to fix/preserve samples/specimens [frozen material, alcohol or formalin preserved, museum process for fish preservation (fixed in formalin and preserved in alcohol)] and different media used to mount the slides [tap water, glycerin ammonium picrate (GAP), Hoyer's one (HM)] on the size/shape of sclerotized parts of monogenean specimens. The results show that the use of HM significantly increases the size of haptoral sclerites [marginal hooks I, II, IV, V, and VI; dorsal bar length, width, distance between auricles and auricle length, ventral bar length and width], and changes their shape [angle opening between shaft and guard (outer and inner roots) in both ventral and dorsal anchors, ventral bar much wider, dorsal one less curved]. This influence seems to be reduced when specimens/samples are fixed in formalin. The systematics of Monogenea being based on the size and shape of their sclerotized parts, to prevent misidentifications or description of invalid new species, we recommend the use of GAP as mounting medium; Hoyer's one should be restricted to monogenean specimens fixed for a long time which are more shrunken.

A Systematic Review of the Use of Social Media for Food Safety Risk Communication.

PubMed

Overbey, Katie N; Jaykus, Lee-Ann; Chapman, Benjamin J

2017-09-01

This article covers the current published literature related to the use of social media in food safety and infectious disease communication. The aim was to analyze literature recommendations and draw conclusions about how best to utilize social media for food safety risk communication going forward. A systematic literature review was conducted, and 24 articles were included for analysis. The inclusion criteria were (i) original peer-reviewed articles and (ii) primary focus on communication through social media about food safety and/or infectious diseases. Studies were coded for themes about social media applications, benefits, limitations, and best practices. Trust and personal beliefs were important drivers of social media use. The wide reach, immediacy, and information gathering capacities of social media were frequently cited benefits. Suggestions for social media best practices were inconsistent among studies, and study designs were highly variable. More evidence-based suggestions are needed to better establish guidelines for social media use in food safety and infectious disease risk communication. The information gleaned from this review can be used to create effective messages for shaping food safety behaviors.

The leaf-shape effect on electromagnetic scattering from vegetated media

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Karam, M. A.; Fung, A. K.; Blanchard, A. J.; Shen, G. X.

1988-01-01

Using the generalized Rayleigh Gans approximation along with the radiative transfer method, a bistatic backscattering model for a layer of randomly oriented, elliptic-shaped leaves is formulated. Following a similar procedure the bistatic scattering model for a layer of needle-shaped leaves is also developed to simulate coniferous vegetation. The differences between the scattering characteristics of the deciduous and coniferous leaves are illustrated numerically for different orientation and incidence angles. It is found that both like and cross polarizations are needed to differentiate the difference in scattering due to the shapes of the scatterers. The calculated backscattering coefficients are compared with measured values from artificial canopies with circular-shaped leaves.

Outcomes of three universal eating disorder risk reduction programs by participants with higher and lower baseline shape and weight concern.

PubMed

Wilksch, Simon M; Paxton, Susan J; Byrne, Susan M; Austin, S Bryn; O'Shea, Anne; Wade, Tracey D

2017-01-01

To investigate if baseline shape and weight concern (SWC) moderated outcomes in Prevention Across the Spectrum, a randomized-controlled trial (RCT) of 3 school-based programs aimed at reducing eating disorder and obesity risk factors. N = 1,316 Grade 7 and 8 girls and boys (M age = 13.21 years) across three Australian states were randomly allocated to: Media Smart; Life Smart; Helping, Encouraging, Listening and Protecting Peers Initiative (HELPP) or control (usual school class). Moderation was explored by testing interaction effects for group (Media Smart; Life Smart; HELPP; Control) × moderator (SWC: higher-SWC; lower-SWC) × time (post-program; 6-month follow-up; 12-month follow-up), with baseline risk factor scores entered as covariates. Moderation effects were found for shape concern, weight concern, eating concern, regular eating (i.e., meal skipping), physical activity, body dissatisfaction, dieting, and perfectionism. Post-hoc testing found eating concern at post-program was the only variable where higher-SWC Media Smart participants experienced a reduction in risk relative to controls. Both higher-SWC Life Smart and HELPP participants reported an increase in eating concern relative to controls and both groups were skipping more meals than controls at 12-month follow-up. Amongst lower-SWC participants, Media Smart was the only group to experience a benefit relative to controls (physical activity). This study highlights the need for moderator analyses to become more routinely conducted in universal trials, to ensure that participants across baseline risk levels are benefiting and not harmed from program participation. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2017; 50:66-75). © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Our Appetite for Information: Invented Environment, Non-Transparent Mind, and Evolved Preferences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uhl, Matthias

Evolution and its shaping of our minds are in part responsible for our interest in the media, especially its fictional content. This statement does not mean that everything in the media and fictional plots can be explained on a biological basis. The two other important ingredients are of course the socialization of the individual and the culture it takes place in. The three factors interact.

Dispelling Myths, Restoring Hope. News Media Strategies for Reporting about African American Youth and Their Experiences with Alcohol and Other Drugs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (DHHS/PHS), Rockville, MD. Center for Substance Abuse Prevention.

This booklet has been prepared as a resource guide for professionals in the news business. The tools in this booklet offer new ideas for news stories about African American youth and substance abuse. The facts section offers background on the research that shapes current thinking about alcohol and other drug use. The media strategies section…

Data to inform a social media component for professional development and practices: A design-based research study.

PubMed

Novakovich, Jeanette; Shaw, Steven; Miah, Sophia

2017-02-01

This DIB article includes the course artefacts, instruments, survey data, and descriptive statistics, along with in-depth correlational analysis for the first iteration of a design-based research study on designing curriculum for developing online professional identity and social media practices for a multi-major advanced professional writing course. Raw data was entered into SPSS software. For interpretation and discussion, please see the original article entitled, "Designing curriculum to shape professional social media skills and identity in virtual communities of practice" (J. Novakovich, S. Miah, S. Shaw, 2017) [1].

Health care development: integrating transaction cost theory with social support theory.

PubMed

Hajli, M Nick; Shanmugam, Mohana; Hajli, Ali; Khani, Amir Hossein; Wang, Yichuan

2014-07-28

The emergence of Web 2.0 technologies has already been influential in many industries, and Web 2.0 applications are now beginning to have an impact on health care. These new technologies offer a promising approach for shaping the future of modern health care, with the potential for opening up new opportunities for the health care industry as it struggles to deal with challenges including the need to cut costs, the increasing demand for health services and the increasing cost of medical technology. Social media such as social networking sites are attracting more individuals to online health communities, contributing to an increase in the productivity of modern health care and reducing transaction costs. This study therefore examines the potential effect of social technologies, particularly social media, on health care development by adopting a social support/transaction cost perspective. Viewed through the lens of Information Systems, social support and transaction cost theories indicate that social media, particularly online health communities, positively support health care development. The results show that individuals join online health communities to share and receive social support, and these social interactions provide both informational and emotional support.

Locally adaptive methods for KDE-based random walk models of reactive transport in porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sole-Mari, G.; Fernandez-Garcia, D.

2017-12-01

Random Walk Particle Tracking (RWPT) coupled with Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) has been recently proposed to simulate reactive transport in porous media. KDE provides an optimal estimation of the area of influence of particles which is a key element to simulate nonlinear chemical reactions. However, several important drawbacks can be identified: (1) the optimal KDE method is computationally intensive and thereby cannot be used at each time step of the simulation; (2) it does not take advantage of the prior information about the physical system and the previous history of the solute plume; (3) even if the kernel is optimal, the relative error in RWPT simulations typically increases over time as the particle density diminishes by dilution. To overcome these problems, we propose an adaptive branching random walk methodology that incorporates the physics, the particle history and maintains accuracy with time. The method allows particles to efficiently split and merge when necessary as well as to optimally adapt their local kernel shape without having to recalculate the kernel size. We illustrate the advantage of the method by simulating complex reactive transport problems in randomly heterogeneous porous media.

Interactive food and beverage marketing: targeting adolescents in the digital age.

PubMed

Montgomery, Kathryn C; Chester, Jeff

2009-09-01

Because of their avid use of new media and their increased spending power, adolescents have become primary targets of a new "Media and Marketing Ecosystem." Digital media resonate particularly well with many of the fundamental developmental tasks of adolescence by enabling instantaneous and constant contact with peers, providing opportunities for self-expression, identity exploration, and social interaction, and facilitating mobility and independence. Six key features of interactive media--ubiquitous connectivity, personalization, peer-to-peer networking, engagement, immersion, and content creation--are emblematic of the ways in which young people are both shaping and being shaped by this new digital culture. The advertising industry, in many instances led by food and beverage marketers, is purposefully exploiting the special relationship that teenagers have with new media, with online marketing campaigns that create unprecedented intimacies between adolescents and the brands and products that now literally surround them. Major food and beverage companies, including Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Burger King, and Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), have incorporated these elements into their interactive marketing strategies, posing particular risks to adolescents, who are not being addressed in the current U.S. policy and self-regulatory regimens. However, recent and emerging neuroscience and psychological research on adolescents suggests a need to revisit the traditional approach to regulation of advertising. Despite the growth of interactive marketing, academic research on the impact of digital advertising on children and youth remains underdeveloped. Additional research and policy initiatives are needed to address the growing health threat facing youth in the digital marketplace.

Induced sensitivity of Bacillus subtilis colony morphology to mechanical media compression

PubMed Central

Polka, Jessica K.

2014-01-01

Bacteria from several taxa, including Kurthia zopfii, Myxococcus xanthus, and Bacillus mycoides, have been reported to align growth of their colonies to small features on the surface of solid media, including anisotropies created by compression. While the function of this phenomenon is unclear, it may help organisms navigate on solid phases, such as soil. The origin of this behavior is also unknown: it may be biological (that is, dependent on components that sense the environment and regulate growth accordingly) or merely physical. Here we show that B. subtilis, an organism that typically does not respond to media compression, can be induced to do so with two simple and synergistic perturbations: a mutation that maintains cells in the swarming (chained) state, and the addition of EDTA to the growth media, which further increases chain length. EDTA apparently increases chain length by inducing defects in cell separation, as the treatment has only marginal effects on the length of individual cells. These results lead us to three conclusions. First, the wealth of genetic tools available to B. subtilis will provide a new, tractable chassis for engineering compression sensitive organisms. Second, the sensitivity of colony morphology to media compression in Bacillus can be modulated by altering a simple physical property of rod-shaped cells. And third, colony morphology under compression holds promise as a rapid, simple, and low-cost way to screen for changes in the length of rod-shaped cells or chains thereof. PMID:25289183

Political and news media factors shaping public awareness of the HPV vaccine.

PubMed

Gollust, Sarah E; Attanasio, Laura; Dempsey, Amanda; Benson, Allison M; Fowler, Erika Franklin

2013-01-01

In 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration licensed a vaccine for the human papillomavirus (HPV) that prevents the strains of HPV that cause 70% of cervical cancers. Within months, many states introduced legislation requiring the vaccine for girls, prompting controversy and heightened political and media attention to the issue. Previous research has shown differences in HPV vaccine awareness by individual-level characteristics such as race/ethnicity, income, and education levels. We examined how individual political orientation and exposure to media coverage can also shape awareness of the vaccine. Using data from a 2009 Internet survey of 1,216 nationally representative adult respondents linked to data on state-specific news coverage, we assessed how political orientation, media exposure, and state political context predicted HPV vaccine awareness. Younger people, women, and those with more education were significantly more likely to be aware of the vaccine. Even after controlling for these characteristics, we found that exposure to news media was associated with higher HPV vaccine awareness. Whereas liberals and conservatives were both more aware of the vaccine compared with moderates, the data are suggestive that liberals were more sensitive to news coverage. These findings suggest that individual-level political identities and their interaction with the informational environment may be important factors to consider in evaluating the determinants of individuals' attitudes and behaviors related to politically charged women's health issues. Copyright © 2013 Jacobs Institute of Women's Health. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Analysis of media agenda setting during and after Hurricane Katrina: implications for emergency preparedness, disaster response, and disaster policy.

PubMed

Barnes, Michael D; Hanson, Carl L; Novilla, Len M B; Meacham, Aaron T; McIntyre, Emily; Erickson, Brittany C

2008-04-01

Media agenda setting refers to the deliberate coverage of topics or events with the goal of influencing public opinion and public policy. We conducted a quantitative content analysis of 4 prominent newspapers to examine how the media gathered and distributed news to shape public policy priorities during Hurricane Katrina. The media framed most Hurricane Katrina stories by emphasizing government response and less often addressing individuals' and communities' level of preparedness or responsibility. Hence, more articles covered response and recovery than mitigation and preparation. The newspapers studied focused significantly more on government response than on key public health roles in disaster management. We discuss specific implications for public health professionals, policymakers, and mass media so that, in the future, coordination can be enhanced among these entities before, during, and after disasters occur.

How Movies Shape Students' Attitudes Toward Individuals with Schizophrenia: An Exploration of the Relationships between Entertainment Experience and Stigmatization.

PubMed

Röhm, Alexander; Hastall, Matthias R; Ritterfeld, Ute

2017-03-01

Mass media shape not only public, but also healthcare professionals' attitudes towards individuals with a mental illness. This study investigates how watching a movie about schizophrenia affects stigma-related attitudes of rehabilitation science students, who are likely to work with affected individuals. Participants watched an entertainment movie portrayal of schizophrenia. Stigma-related attitudes and social distance were assessed one week before watching the movie, directly afterwards, and one week later. No significant differences in stigmatization emerged between viewers and non-viewers. Enjoyment, appreciation, and general movie evaluation mediated viewers' transportation into the story on changes in stigmatization. Results are discussed with respect to media effects on stigma-related attitudes and their implications for mental health nursing practice and education.

Negotiated media effects. Peer feedback modifies effects of media's thin-body ideal on adolescent girls.

PubMed

Veldhuis, Jolanda; Konijn, Elly A; Seidell, Jacob C

2014-02-01

The present study introduces a theoretical framework on negotiated media effects. Specifically, we argue that feedback of peers on thin-body ideal media images and individual dispositions guide effects on adolescent girls' psychosocial responses to media exposure. Therefore, we examined the thin-body ideal as portrayed in media and peers' feedback on such thin-ideal images in their combined effects on adolescent girls' body dissatisfaction, objectified body consciousness, and social comparison with media models. Hence, media models and peer comments were systematically combined as incorporated entities in YouTube-formats. Hypotheses were tested in a 3 (media models: extremely thin vs. thin vs. normal weight)×3 (peer comments: 6kg-underweight vs. 3kg-underweight vs. normal-weight)×2 (appearance schematicity: lower vs. higher) between-subjects design (N=216). Results showed that peer comments indicating that a media model was 'only 3kg-underweight' exerted most negative responses, particularly in girls who strongly process appearance relevant information. Peer feedback interacts with media models in guiding perceptions of what is considered an 'ideal' body shape. Results highlight the important role of peers as well as individual predispositions in view of understanding how thin-ideal media images may impact adolescent girls' body image concerns. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Introduction: CRevolution 2: origin and evolution of the Colorado River System II

USGS Publications Warehouse

Karlstrom, Karl E.; Beard, L. Sue; House, P. Kyle; Young, Richard A.; Aslan, Andres; Billingsley, George; Pederson, Joel

2012-01-01

A 2010 Colorado River symposium held in Flagstaff, Arizona, in May 2010, had 70 participants who engaged in intense debate about the origin and evolution of the Colorado River system. This symposium, built on two previous decadal scientific meetings, focused on forging scientific consensus where possible, while also articulating continued controversies regarding the Cenozoic evolution of the Colorado River System and the landscapes of the Colorado Plateau–Rocky Mountain region that it drains. New developments involved hypotheses that Neogene mantle flow is driving plateau tilting and differential uplift, with consensus that multidisciplinary studies involving differential incision studies and additional geochronology and thermochronology are needed to test the relative importance of tectonic and geomorphic forcings in shaping the spectacular landscapes of the Colorado Plateau region. In addition to the scientific goals, the meeting participants emphasized the iconic status of Grand Canyon for geosciences, and the importance of good communication between the research community, the geoscience education/interpretation community, the public, and the media. Building on a century-long tradition, this region still provides a globally important natural laboratory for studies of the interactions of erosion and tectonism in the shaping landscape of elevated plateaus.

Onset of natural convection in a continuously perturbed system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghorbani, Zohreh; Riaz, Amir

2017-11-01

The convective mixing triggered by gravitational instability plays an important role in CO2 sequestration in saline aquifers. The linear stability analysis and the numerical simulation concerning convective mixing in porous media requires perturbations of small amplitude to be imposed on the concentration field in the form of an initial shape function. In aquifers, however, the instability is triggered by local porosity and permeability. In this work, we consider a canonical 2D homogeneous system where perturbations arise due to spatial variation of porosity in the system. The advantage of this approach is not only the elimination of the required initial shape function, but it also serves as a more realistic approach. Using a reduced nonlinear method, we first explore the effect of harmonic variations of porosity in the transverse and streamwise direction on the onset time of convection and late time behavior. We then obtain the optimal porosity structure that minimizes the convection onset. We further examine the effect of a random porosity distribution, that is independent of the spatial mode of porosity structure, on the convection onset. Using high-order pseudospectral DNS, we explore how the random distribution differs from the modal approach in predicting the onset time.

Toward a Critique of the Information Age: Herbert Marcuse's Contribution to Information Science's Conceptions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cibangu, Sylvain K.

2013-01-01

Introduction: Just as we have created them, the new social media technologies have shaped every aspect of our societies. Meanwhile, information science has hardly addressed the ways in which these information technologies have shaped humans, and vice-versa. The major reason is the tendency and pressure to adjust (the needs of) humans to the ever…

Influence of Social Media on Alcohol Use in Adolescents and Young Adults

PubMed Central

Moreno, Megan A.; Whitehill, Jennifer M.

2014-01-01

Participation in online social media Web sites (e.g., Facebook and Twitter) has skyrocketed in recent years and created a new environment in which adolescents and young adults may be exposed to and influenced by alcohol-related content. Thus, young people are exposed to and display pro-alcohol messages and images through online portrayals of drinking on personal pages as well as unregulated alcohol marketing on social media sites that may reach underage people. Such online displays of alcohol behavior have been correlated with offline alcohol behavior and risky drinking. Health behavior theories have been used to describe the influence of social media sites, including Social Learning Theory, the Media Practice Model, and a more recent conceptual approach called the Facebook Influence Model. Researchers are beginning to assess the potential of social media sites in identifying high-risk drinkers through online display patterns as well as delivering prevention messages and interventions. Future studies need to further expand existing observational work to better understand the role of social media in shaping alcohol-related behaviors and fully exploit the potential of these media for alcohol-related interventions. PMID:26259003

Influence of Social Media on Alcohol Use in Adolescents and Young Adults.

PubMed

Moreno, Megan A; Whitehill, Jennifer M

2014-01-01

Participation in online social media Web sites (e.g., Facebook and Twitter) has skyrocketed in recent years and created a new environment in which adolescents and young adults may be exposed to and influenced by alcohol-related content. Thus, young people are exposed to and display pro-alcohol messages and images through online portrayals of drinking on personal pages as well as unregulated alcohol marketing on social media sites that may reach underage people. Such online displays of alcohol behavior have been correlated with offline alcohol behavior and risky drinking. Health behavior theories have been used to describe the influence of social media sites, including Social Learning Theory, the Media Practice Model, and a more recent conceptual approach called the Facebook Influence Model. Researchers are beginning to assess the potential of social media sites in identifying high-risk drinkers through online display patterns as well as delivering prevention messages and interventions. Future studies need to further expand existing observational work to better understand the role of social media in shaping alcohol-related behaviors and fully exploit the potential of these media for alcohol-related interventions.

Social science research on HIV in Vietnam: a critical review and future directions.

PubMed

Dao, Amy; Hirsch, Jennifer S; Giang, Le Minh; Parker, Richard G

2013-01-01

Social science research can enhance the response to Vietnam's growing HIV epidemic by capturing the country's rapidly changing social and political context. The present paper reviews the published, peer-reviewed and English-language social science literature on HIV in Vietnam in order to identify critical theoretical and substantive gaps, while laying the groundwork for future research. We found four broad foci for work on the social context of HIV and AIDS in Vietnam: the cultural meanings and social relationships that shape Vietnam's HIV epidemic; stigma and discrimination; social inequality and structural violence as contributors to HIV risk; and, finally, how broader global and social systems shape Vietnam's HIV epidemic. We signal the particular need for additional research on the effects of the media on attitudes towards HIV and AIDS, on social movements, and on health systems, as well as on a number of other key areas. Work along these lines, in addition to more effective communication of policy-relevant findings to those responsible for the development and implementation of policies and programmes, will strengthen Vietnam's response to HIV and AIDS.

Weight management behaviors in a sample of Iranian adolescent girls.

PubMed

Garousi, S; Garrusi, B; Baneshi, Mohammad Reza; Sharifi, Z

2016-09-01

Attempts to obtain the ideal body shape portrayed in advertising can result in behaviors that lead to an unhealthy reduction in weight. This study was designed to identify contributing factors that may be effective in changing the behavior of a sample of Iranian adolescents. Three hundred fifty adolescent girls from high schools in Kerman, Iran participated in a cross-sectional study based on a self-administered questionnaire. Multifactorial logistic regression modeling was used to identify the factors influencing each of the contributing factors for body management methods, and a decision tree model was constructed to identify individuals who were more or less likely to change their body shape. Approximately one-third of the adolescent girls had attempted dieting, and 37 % of them had exercised to lose weight. The logistic regression model showed that pressure from their mother and the media; father's education level; and body mass index (BMI) were important factors in dieting. BMI and perceived pressure from the media were risk factors for attempting exercise. BMI and perceived pressure from relatives, particularly mothers, and the media were important factors in attempts by adolescent girls to lose weight.

Exopolysaccharide-producing lactic acid bacteria strains from traditional Thai fermented foods: isolation, identification and exopolysaccharide characterization.

PubMed

Smitinont, T; Tansakul, C; Tanasupawat, S; Keeratipibul, S; Navarini, L; Bosco, M; Cescutti, P

1999-10-15

Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) isolated from various traditional Thai fermented foods were screened for exopolysaccharides (EPS) production. From 104 isolates, two rod-shaped and five coccal-shaped LAB were able to produce EPS from sucrose on solid media. However, only the cocci were capable of producing EPS in liquid media and these were identified as Pediococcus pentosaceus. Pediococcus pentosaceus strains AP-1 and AP-3 produced EPS in high yield. In liquid media containing sucrose as carbon source, the amount of EPS produced by AP-1 and AP-3 strains was 6.0 and 2.5 g/L, respectively. The isolated and purified EPSs were chemically characterized. On the basis of sugar composition, methylation analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, both the EPSs were shown to belong to the same dextran class. In particular, both EPSs differed from linear dextran by branching through 3,6-di-Osubstituted alpha-D-glucopyranosyl residues. The EPS from P. pentosaceus AP-3 was characterized by a relatively higher degree of branching and by a higher molecular weight than that from P. pentosaceus AP-1.

Microwave frequency effect in the formation of Au nanocolloids in polar and non-polar solvents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Horikoshi, Satoshi; Abe, Hideki; Sumi, Takuya; Torigoe, Kanjiro; Sakai, Hideki; Serpone, Nick; Abe, Masahiko

2011-04-01

Given earlier observations that microwave frequencies can have a substantial effect on the photoactivity of a well-known photocatalyst (TiO2), in the synthesis of 3,6-diphenyl-4-n-butylpyridazine through a Diels-Alder process, and in the one-pot solvent-free synthesis of a room-temperature ionic liquid, we proceeded to examine the frequency effects of the 5.8 and 2.45 GHz microwave (MW) radiation in the synthesis of gold nanoparticles in non-polar media, such as oleylamine, which have a low dielectric constant (ε'), and we further examine differences in shape and size under otherwise identical temperature conditions when the synthesis of the gold nanoparticles was carried out in an ethylene glycol polar medium in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone. Whereas a change in microwave frequency from 2.45 to 5.8 GHz at equal microwave power levels led to the synthesis of gold nanoparticles in the non-polar media, a change in the microwave frequency had no effect on the size and shape of the gold nanoparticles synthesized in polar media for identical microwave power levels.

Microwave frequency effect in the formation of Au nanocolloids in polar and non-polar solvents.

PubMed

Horikoshi, Satoshi; Abe, Hideki; Sumi, Takuya; Torigoe, Kanjiro; Sakai, Hideki; Serpone, Nick; Abe, Masahiko

2011-04-01

Given earlier observations that microwave frequencies can have a substantial effect on the photoactivity of a well-known photocatalyst (TiO(2)), in the synthesis of 3,6-diphenyl-4-n-butylpyridazine through a Diels-Alder process, and in the one-pot solvent-free synthesis of a room-temperature ionic liquid, we proceeded to examine the frequency effects of the 5.8 and 2.45 GHz microwave (MW) radiation in the synthesis of gold nanoparticles in non-polar media, such as oleylamine, which have a low dielectric constant (ε'), and we further examine differences in shape and size under otherwise identical temperature conditions when the synthesis of the gold nanoparticles was carried out in an ethylene glycol polar medium in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone. Whereas a change in microwave frequency from 2.45 to 5.8 GHz at equal microwave power levels led to the synthesis of gold nanoparticles in the non-polar media, a change in the microwave frequency had no effect on the size and shape of the gold nanoparticles synthesized in polar media for identical microwave power levels.

Invariantly propagating dissolution fingers in finite-width systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dutka, Filip; Szymczak, Piotr

2016-04-01

Dissolution fingers are formed in porous medium due to positive feedback between transport of reactant and chemical reactions [1-4]. We investigate two-dimensional semi-infinite systems, with constant width W in one direction. In numerical simulations we solve the Darcy flow problem combined with advection-dispersion-reaction equation for the solute transport to track the evolving shapes of the fingers and concentration of reactant in the system. We find the stationary, invariantly propagating finger shapes for different widths of the system, flow and reaction rates. Shape of the reaction front, turns out to be controlled by two dimensionless numbers - the (width-based) Péclet number PeW = vW/Dφ0 and Damköhler number DaW = ksW/v, where k is the reaction rate, s - specific reactive surface area, v - characteristic flow rate, D - diffusion coefficient of the solute, and φ0 - initial porosity of the rock matrix. Depending on PeW and DaW stationary shapes can be divided into seperate classes, e.g. parabolic-like and needle-like structures, which can be inferred from theoretical predictions. In addition we determine velocity of propagating fingers in time and concentration of reagent in the system. Our simulations are compared with natural forms (solution pipes). P. Ortoleva, J. Chadam, E. Merino, and A. Sen, Geochemical self-organization II: the reactive-infiltration instability, Am. J. Sci, 287, 1008-1040 (1987). M. L. Hoefner, and H. S. Fogler. Pore evolution and channel formation during flow and reaction in porous media, AIChE Journal 34, 45-54 (1988). C. E. Cohen, D. Ding, M. Quintard, and B. Bazin, From pore scale to wellbore scale: impact of geometry on wormhole growth in carbonate acidization, Chemical Engineering Science 63, 3088-3099 (2008). P. Szymczak and A. J. C. Ladd, Reactive-infiltration nstabilities in rocks. Part II: Dissolution of a porous matrix, J. Fluid Mech. 738, 591-630 (2014).

Reconstruction of Porous Media with Multiple Solid Phases

PubMed

Losic; Thovert; Adler

1997-02-15

A process is proposed to generate three-dimensional multiphase porous media with fixed phase probabilities and an overall correlation function. By varying the parameters, a specific phase can be located either at the interface between two phases or within a single phase. When the interfacial phase has a relatively small probability, its shape can be chosen as granular or lamellar. The influence of a third phase on the macroscopic conductivity of a medium is illustrated.

In Search of Hyperlocal News: An Examination of the Organizational, Technological and Economic Forces that Shape 21st Century Approaches to Independent Online Journalism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Horning, Michael

2012-01-01

In recent years, many popular media reports have observed a new phenomenon in news known as hyperlocal online news. While some accounts suggest that hyperlocal is different from community news in that it focuses on news at the neighborhood level or on areas that are often less frequently covered by the mainstream media, little research has…

Nonhyperbolic reflection moveout for horizontal transverse isotropy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Al-Dajani, A.F.; Tsvankin, I.

1998-09-01

The transversely isotropic model with a horizontal axis of symmetry (HTI) has been used extensively in studies of shear-wave splitting to describe fractured formations with a single system of parallel vertical penny-shaped cracks. Here, the authors present an analytic description of long-spread reflection moveout in horizontally layered HTI media with arbitrary strength of anisotropy. To account for nonhyperbolic moveout, the authors have derived an exact expression for the azimuthally dependent quartic term of the Taylor series traveltime expansion valid for any pure mode in an HTI layer. The quartic moveout coefficient and the NMO velocity are then substituted into themore » nonhyperbolic moveout equation of Tsvankin and Thomsen, originally designed for vertical transverse isotropy (VTI). In multilayered HTI media, the NMO velocity and the quartic moveout coefficient reflect the influence of layering as well as azimuthal anisotropy. The authors show that the conventional Dix equation for NMO velocity remains entirely valid for any azimuth in HTI media if the group-velocity vectors (rays) for data in a common-midpoint (CMP) gather do not deviate from the vertical incidence plane. Although this condition is not exactly satisfied in the presence of azimuthal velocity variations, rms averaging of the interval NMO velocities represents a good approximation for models with moderate azimuthal anisotropy. Furthermore, the quartic moveout coefficient for multilayered HTI media can also be calculated with acceptable accuracy using the known averaging equations for vertical transverse isotropy. This allows one to extend the nonhyperbolic moveout equation to horizontally stratified media composed of any combination of isotropic, VTI, and HTI layers.« less

Relativistic electron beam generator

DOEpatents

Mooney, L.J.; Hyatt, H.M.

1975-11-11

A relativistic electron beam generator for laser media excitation is described. The device employs a diode type relativistic electron beam source having a cathode shape which provides a rectangular output beam with uniform current density.

Time-reversed ultrasonically encoded (TRUE) focusing for deep-tissue optogenetic modulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brake, Joshua; Ruan, Haowen; Robinson, J. Elliott; Liu, Yan; Gradinaru, Viviana; Yang, Changhuei

2018-02-01

The problem of optical scattering was long thought to fundamentally limit the depth at which light could be focused through turbid media such as fog or biological tissue. However, recent work in the field of wavefront shaping has demonstrated that by properly shaping the input light field, light can be noninvasively focused to desired locations deep inside scattering media. This has led to the development of several new techniques which have the potential to enhance the capabilities of existing optical tools in biomedicine. Unfortunately, extending these methods to living tissue has a number of challenges related to the requirements for noninvasive guidestar operation, speed, and focusing fidelity. Of existing wavefront shaping methods, time-reversed ultrasonically encoded (TRUE) focusing is well suited for applications in living tissue since it uses ultrasound as a guidestar which enables noninvasive operation and provides compatibility with optical phase conjugation for high-speed operation. In this paper, we will discuss the results of our recent work to apply TRUE focusing for optogenetic modulation, which enables enhanced optogenetic stimulation deep in tissue with a 4-fold spatial resolution improvement in 800-micron thick acute brain slices compared to conventional focusing, and summarize future directions to further extend the impact of wavefront shaping technologies in biomedicine.

Media Agenda Setting Regarding Gun Violence before and after a Mass Shooting

PubMed Central

Jashinsky, Jared Michael; Magnusson, Brianna; Hanson, Carl; Barnes, Michael

2017-01-01

Gun violence is related to substantial morbidity and mortality with surrounding discussions framed and shaped by the media. This study’s objective was to explore national news media’s reporting of gun violence around a mass shooting. National news pieces were coded according to categories of gun violence, media frames, entities held responsible, responses, and reporting of the public heath approach. Individuals were held responsible for gun violence in 63% of pieces before and 32% after the shooting. Lawmakers were held responsible in 30% of pieces before and 66% after. Background checks were a proposed gun violence prevention method in 18% of pieces before and 55% after Sandy Hook, and lethality reduction of firearms was in 9% before and 57% after. Following a mass shooting, the media tended to hold government, not individuals, primarily responsible. The media often misrepresented the real picture of gun violence and key public health roles. PMID:28119907

Effects of Valenced Media Frames of Cancer Diagnoses and Therapies: Quantifying the Transformation and Establishing of Evaluative Schemas.

PubMed

Guenther, Lars; Froehlich, Klara; Milde, Jutta; Heidecke, Gitte; Ruhrmann, Georg

2015-01-01

Journalists portray health issues within different frames, which may shape news recipients' evaluations, attitudes, and behaviors. As the research on framing continues to face theoretical challenges and methodological concerns, this study examines the transformation and establishing of evaluative schemas, which are steps in the process toward attitudinal change. The study measures recipients' evaluations of actual television clips dealing with cancer diagnoses and cancer therapies. Two valenced (positive vs. negative) media frames were tested in a 3-week online panel (n = 298) using a pretest-posttest design with a German sample. The results offer limited support for the hypothesis that media frames transform participants' schemas, but do not support the hypothesis that new schemas are established in response to media frames. The study also investigates interactions between framing and participants' issue involvement, as well as between framing and topic-specific interest and media use.

Gun violence and media effects: challenges for science and public policy.

PubMed

Elson, Malte; Ferguson, Christopher J

2013-11-01

In response to the Sandy Hook shooting in December 2012, the White House published an action plan to reduce gun violence that, among other things, calls for research into the relationship with violence in digital games or other media images. We acknowledge the administration's efforts to reduce violent crime in society and their obligation to dedicate resources to matters of public interest, such as media effects. However, research projects launched in the midst of a moral panic bear the risk of introducing bias and distracting from more important issues. Ideological rigidity has repeatedly shaped past research on media violence. Current initiatives could be an opportunity to restore credibility to the field and to engage in a responsible dialogue on media effects. In order to inform public policy, we need to close gaps, both in empirical research and the academic debate, while being alert for potential political and social influences.

For Fit's Sake: A Norms-Based Approach to Healthy Behaviors Through Influence of Presumed Media Influence.

PubMed

Ho, Shirley S; Lee, Edmund W J; Ng, Kaijie; Leong, Grace S H; Tham, Tiffany H M

2016-09-01

Based on the influence of presumed media influence (IPMI) model as the theoretical framework, this study examines how injunctive norms and personal norms mediate the influence of healthy lifestyle media messages on public intentions to engage in two types of healthy lifestyle behaviors-physical activity and healthy diet. Nationally representative data collected from 1,055 adults in Singapore demonstrate partial support for the key hypotheses that make up the extended IPMI model, highlighting the importance of a norms-based approach in health communication. Our results indicate that perceived media influence on others indirectly shaped public intentions to engage in healthy lifestyle behaviors through personal norms and attitude, providing partial theoretical support for the extended IPMI model. Practical implications for health communicators in designing health campaigns media messages to motivate the public to engage in healthy lifestyle are discussed.

Media Effects on Lettuce Growth in "Pillows" Designed for the VEGGIE Spaceflight Growth Chamber

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Massa, Gioia; Newsham, Gerard; McCoy, LaShelle; Stutte, Gary; Wheeler, Raymond

2012-01-01

VEGGIE is a prototype vegetable production unit for space designed by Orbital Technologies Corporation that is being developed to fly on the International Space Station. A modular plant rooting system "pillow" is being designed to support plant growth in VEGGIE under microgravity conditions. VEGGIE pillows are small self-contained packets of media with time-release fertilizer that can wick water passively from a root mat reservoir. Seeds are planted in pillows and the entire root system of a plant is contained as the crop develops, preventing loss into the spacecraft cabin. This study compared five media types and three lettuce cultivars in pillows growing in a VEGGIE analog environment.. Media consisted of a peat-based potting mix (Fafard #2,Conrad Fafard Inc., Agawam, MA), and a calcined clay, (arcillite, 1-2 mm sifted, Turface Proleague, Profile LLC, Buffalo Grove IL) as well as three different blends of the two, 70:30, 50:50, and 30:70. Lettuce cultivars tested were 'Sierra', a bi-colored French crisp Batavia lettuce, 'Outredgeous', a red romaine lettuce and 'Flandria', a green butter head variety. Plants were grown for 28 days, harvested, biometric data was obtained, and tissue mineral analysis was performed. For all cultivars, lettuce plants grown in the media blends were more productive than those in the individual media types. All cultivars showed bell-shaped curves in response to increases in arcillite / decreases in Fafard #2 for leaf area, fresh, and dry mass. Plants in 100% Fafard #2 and in 100% arcillite were stunted, but only those in higher levels of Fafard #2 (70% and 100%) had reduced shoot percent moisture, possibly indicating that mechanisms causing stunting differed. Variation in tissue nutrient content are consistent with this, with Mg and Mn highest in plants grown in 100% Fafard and decreasing as the concentration of arcillite increased. Color also varied with media, especially in the 'Sierra' lettuce, with plants grown in increasing levels of Fafard #2 being much more red and those in 100% arcillite almost completely green. The red-leaf cultivar 'Outredgeous' showed increasing chlorophyll (SPAD values) with increasing percentage of arcillite. In all cultivars tested it appears that a mixture of media types, usually 50:50 or 30:70 Fafard #2: arcillite, sustained healthier, more productive plants. Smaller, less productive plants in either of the individual media may indicate stress issues, however more work is needed to understand the reasons for this sub-optimal growth. This work was supported by NASA

Concept for the fast modulation of light in amplitude and phase using analog tilt-mirror arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roth, Matthias; Heber, Jörg; Janschek, Klaus

2017-02-01

The full complex, spatial modulation of light at high frame rates is essential for a variety of applications. In particular, emerging techniques applied to scattering media, such as Digital Optical Phase Conjugation and Wavefront Shaping, request challenging performance parameters. They refer to imaging tasks inside biological media, whose characteristics concerning the transmission and reflection of scattered light may change over time within milliseconds. Thus, these methods call for frame rates in the kilohertz range. Existing solutions typically over frame rate capabilities below 100 Hz, since they rely on liquid crystal spatial light modulators (SLMs). We propose a diffractive MEMS optical system for this application range. It relies on an analog, tilt-type micro mirror array (MMA) based on an established SLM technology, where the standard application is grayscale amplitude control. The new MMA system design allows the phase manipulation at high-speed as well. The article studies properties of the appropriate optical setup by simulating the propagation of the light. Relevant test patterns and sensitivity parameters of the system will be analyzed. Our results illustrate the main opportunities of the concept with particular focus on the tilt mirror technology. They indicate a promising path to realize the complex light modulation at frame rates above 1 kHz and resolutions well beyond 10,000 complex pixels.

Cultural objects as objects: materiality, urban space, and the interpretation of AIDS campaigns in Accra, Ghana.

PubMed

McDonnell, Terence E

2010-05-01

AIDS media lead unexpected lives once distributed through urban space: billboards fade, posters go missing, bumper stickers travel to other cities. The materiality of AIDS campaign objects and of the urban settings in which they are displayed structures how the public interprets their messages. Ethnographic observation of AIDS media in situ and interview data reveal how the materiality of objects and places shapes the availability of AIDS knowledge in Accra, Ghana. Significantly for AIDS organizations, these material conditions often systematically obstruct access to AIDS knowledge for particular groups. Attending to materiality rethinks how scholars assess the cultural power of media.

Framing deadly domestic violence: why the media's spin matters in newspaper coverage of femicide.

PubMed

Gillespie, Lane Kirkland; Richards, Tara N; Givens, Eugena M; Smith, M Dwayne

2013-02-01

The news media play a substantial role in shaping society's perceptions of social issues, including domestic violence. However, minimal research has been conducted to examine whether news media frame stories of femicide within the context of domestic violence. Using frame analysis, the present research compares newspaper articles representing 113 cases of femicide that define the murder as domestic violence to a random sample of 113 cases without coverage defining the femicide as domestic violence. Findings indicate that both groups are represented by multiple frames, including a previously unidentified frame that places the femicide in the context of domestic violence as a social problem.

Who speaks for the climate now? Exploring portrayals of climate change through new/social media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boykoff, M. T.

2011-12-01

Mass media stitch together formal science and policy with everyday activities in the public sphere. Many dynamic, contested and complex factors, along with non-nation state actors (or 'debate shapers'), contribute to how media outlets portray various facets of climate change. Against this backdrop, new and social media have become increasingly influential. The Pew Center Project for Excellence in Journalism has found that topics involving global warming have earned a much greater share of the news hole in new and social media (Internet weblogs, Twitter) than in traditional outlets (television, newspapers, radio), relative to other stories in those same media. This may be due in part to the flexibility and potentially infinite nature of the 'news hole' in new and social media, but may also mark the trends of diminishing traditional news room capabilities. Overall, new and social media have increasingly been harnessed in a variety of ways for communications about climate change around the world. However, with these shifts and developments come numerous questions. Among them: does increased visibility of climate change in new/social media translate to improved communication, or just more noise? Do these spaces provide opportunities for new forms of deliberative community regarding questions of climate mitigation and adaptation? Or has the content of this increased coverage shifted to polemics and arguments over measured traditional media analysis? In this more open space of content production, do new/social media provide more space for contrarian views to circulate? And through its interactivity, does increased consumption of news through new/social media further fragment a public discourse on climate mitigation and adaptation, through information silos where members of the public can stick to sources that help support their already held views? As new and social media representations of climate change demonstrate, the boundaries between who constitute 'authorized' speakers (and who do not) in mass media as well as who are legitimate 'claims-makers' are changing, being interrogated, and challenged. For instance, journalist Alissa Quart has warned of dangers of mistaken (or convenient) reliance on 'fauxperts' over 'experts'. New content-producing voices can readily be amplified through new and social media, and can become merely a Google search away from 21st century media consumer-citizens. Yet others point to the fact that the rise of new and social media has been accompanied by democratizing influences, as these channels of communication often offer a platform for more people to become content producers, and therefore have the potential to more readily shape the public agenda. This paper and presentation pursues these trends, motivated by the interest to better understand how new and social media representational practices may contribute to (mis) perceptions and (mis) understandings that, in turn, shape the spectrum of possibility for responses to contemporary climate challenges.

Controlling Light Transmission Through Highly Scattering Media Using Semi-Definite Programming as a Phase Retrieval Computation Method.

PubMed

N'Gom, Moussa; Lien, Miao-Bin; Estakhri, Nooshin M; Norris, Theodore B; Michielssen, Eric; Nadakuditi, Raj Rao

2017-05-31

Complex Semi-Definite Programming (SDP) is introduced as a novel approach to phase retrieval enabled control of monochromatic light transmission through highly scattering media. In a simple optical setup, a spatial light modulator is used to generate a random sequence of phase-modulated wavefronts, and the resulting intensity speckle patterns in the transmitted light are acquired on a camera. The SDP algorithm allows computation of the complex transmission matrix of the system from this sequence of intensity-only measurements, without need for a reference beam. Once the transmission matrix is determined, optimal wavefronts are computed that focus the incident beam to any position or sequence of positions on the far side of the scattering medium, without the need for any subsequent measurements or wavefront shaping iterations. The number of measurements required and the degree of enhancement of the intensity at focus is determined by the number of pixels controlled by the spatial light modulator.

Emergent dynamics of spatio-temporal chaos in a heterogeneous excitable medium.

PubMed

Bittihn, Philip; Berg, Sebastian; Parlitz, Ulrich; Luther, Stefan

2017-09-01

Self-organized activation patterns in excitable media such as spiral waves and spatio-temporal chaos underlie dangerous cardiac arrhythmias. While the interaction of single spiral waves with different types of heterogeneity has been studied extensively, the effect of heterogeneity on fully developed spatio-temporal chaos remains poorly understood. We investigate how the complexity and stability properties of spatio-temporal chaos in the Bär-Eiswirth model of excitable media depend on the heterogeneity of the underlying medium. We employ different measures characterizing the chaoticity of the system and find that the spatial arrangement of multiple discrete lower excitability regions has a strong impact on the complexity of the dynamics. Varying the number, shape, and spatial arrangement of the heterogeneities, we observe strong emergent effects ranging from increases in chaoticity to the complete cessation of chaos, contrasting the expectation from the homogeneous behavior. The implications of our findings for the development and treatment of arrhythmias in the heterogeneous cardiac muscle are discussed.

Emergent dynamics of spatio-temporal chaos in a heterogeneous excitable medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bittihn, Philip; Berg, Sebastian; Parlitz, Ulrich; Luther, Stefan

2017-09-01

Self-organized activation patterns in excitable media such as spiral waves and spatio-temporal chaos underlie dangerous cardiac arrhythmias. While the interaction of single spiral waves with different types of heterogeneity has been studied extensively, the effect of heterogeneity on fully developed spatio-temporal chaos remains poorly understood. We investigate how the complexity and stability properties of spatio-temporal chaos in the Bär-Eiswirth model of excitable media depend on the heterogeneity of the underlying medium. We employ different measures characterizing the chaoticity of the system and find that the spatial arrangement of multiple discrete lower excitability regions has a strong impact on the complexity of the dynamics. Varying the number, shape, and spatial arrangement of the heterogeneities, we observe strong emergent effects ranging from increases in chaoticity to the complete cessation of chaos, contrasting the expectation from the homogeneous behavior. The implications of our findings for the development and treatment of arrhythmias in the heterogeneous cardiac muscle are discussed.

Magnetic Pd nanocatalyst Fe3O4@Pd for C-C bond formation and hydrogenation reactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Biglione, Catalina; Cappelletti, Ariel L.; Strumia, Miriam C.; Martín, Sandra E.; Uberman, Paula M.

2018-05-01

Small core-shell Fe3O4@Pd superparamagnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were obtained with good control in size and shape distribution by metal-complex thermal decomposition in organic media. The role of the stabilizer in the synthesis of MNPs was studied, employing oleylamine (OA), triphenylphosphine (TPP) and triphenylamine (TPA). The results revealed that, among the stabilizer investigated, the presence of oleylamine in the reaction media is crucial in order to obtain an uniform shell of Pd(0) in Fe3O4@Pd MNPs of 7 ± 1 nm. The synthesized core-shell MNPs were tested in Pd-catalyzed Heck-Mizoroki and Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reactions and p-chloronitrobenzene hydrogenation. High conversion, good reaction yields, and good TOF values were achieved in the three reaction systems with this nanocatalyst. The core-shell nanoparticle was easily recovered by a simple magnetic separation using a neodymium commercial magnet, which allowed performing up to four cycles of reuse. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

A stable high-order perturbation of surfaces method for numerical simulation of diffraction problems in triply layered media

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hong, Youngjoon, E-mail: hongy@uic.edu; Nicholls, David P., E-mail: davidn@uic.edu

The accurate numerical simulation of linear waves interacting with periodic layered media is a crucial capability in engineering applications. In this contribution we study the stable and high-order accurate numerical simulation of the interaction of linear, time-harmonic waves with a periodic, triply layered medium with irregular interfaces. In contrast with volumetric approaches, High-Order Perturbation of Surfaces (HOPS) algorithms are inexpensive interfacial methods which rapidly and recursively estimate scattering returns by perturbation of the interface shape. In comparison with Boundary Integral/Element Methods, the stable HOPS algorithm we describe here does not require specialized quadrature rules, periodization strategies, or the solution ofmore » dense non-symmetric positive definite linear systems. In addition, the algorithm is provably stable as opposed to other classical HOPS approaches. With numerical experiments we show the remarkable efficiency, fidelity, and accuracy one can achieve with an implementation of this algorithm.« less

The Role of Violent Media Preference in Cumulative Developmental Risk for Violence and General Aggression

PubMed Central

Huesmann, L. Rowell; Bushman, Brad J.; O'Brien, Maureen; Moceri, Dominic

2015-01-01

The impact of exposure to violence in the media on the long-term development and short-term expression of aggressive behavior has been well documented. However, gaps in this literature remain, and in particular the role of violent media exposure in shaping violent and other serious antisocial behavior has not been investigated. Further, studies of violent media effects typically have not sampled from populations with confirmed histories of violent and/or nonviolent antisocial behavior. In this study, we analyzed data on 820 youth, including 390 juvenile delinquents and 430 high school students, to examine the relation of violent media use to involvement in violence and general aggression. Using criterion scores developed through cross-informant modeling of data from self, parent/guardian, and teacher/staff reports, we observed that childhood and adolescent violent media preferences contributed significantly to the prediction of violence and general aggression from cumulative risk totals. Findings represent a new and important direction for research on the role of violent media use in the broader matrix of risk factors for youth violence. PMID:19636754

The role of violent media preference in cumulative developmental risk for violence and general aggression.

PubMed

Boxer, Paul; Huesmann, L Rowell; Bushman, Brad J; O'Brien, Maureen; Moceri, Dominic

2009-03-01

The impact of exposure to violence in the media on the long-term development and short-term expression of aggressive behavior has been well documented. However, gaps in this literature remain, and in particular the role of violent media exposure in shaping violent and other serious antisocial behavior has not been investigated. Further, studies of violent media effects typically have not sampled from populations with confirmed histories of violent and/or nonviolent antisocial behavior. In this study, we analyzed data on 820 youth, including 390 juvenile delinquents and 430 high school students, to examine the relation of violent media use to involvement in violence and general aggression. Using criterion scores developed through cross-informant modeling of data from self, parent/guardian, and teacher/staff reports, we observed that childhood and adolescent violent media preferences contributed significantly to the prediction of violence and general aggression from cumulative risk totals. Findings represent a new and important direction for research on the role of violent media use in the broader matrix of risk factors for youth violence.

Physical activity interventions using mass media, print media, and information technology.

PubMed

Marcus, B H; Owen, N; Forsyth, L H; Cavill, N A; Fridinger, F

1998-11-01

Media-based physical activity interventions include a variety of print, graphic, audiovisual, and broadcast media programs intended to influence behavior change. New information technology allows print to be delivered in personalized, interactive formats that may enhance efficacy. Media-based interventions have been shaped by conceptual models from health education, Social Cognitive Theory, the Transtheoretical Model, and Social Marketing frameworks. We reviewed 28 studies of media-based interventions of which seven were mass media campaigns at the state or national level and the remaining 21 were delivered through health care, the workplace, or in the community. Recall of mass-media messages generally was high, but mass-media campaigns had very little impact on physical activity behavior. Interventions using print and/or telephone were effective in changing behavior in the short term. Studies in which there were more contacts and interventions tailored to the target audience were most effective. A key issue for research on media-based physical activity interventions is reaching socially disadvantaged groups for whom access, particularly to new forms of communication technology, may be limited. There is a clear need for controlled trials comparing different forms and intensities of media-based physical activity interventions. Controlled studies of personalized print, interactive computer-mediated programs, and web-based formats for program delivery also are needed. The integration of media-based methods into public and private sector service delivery has much potential for innovation.

A Different World: Children's Perceptions of Race and Class in the Media. A Series of Focus Groups and a National Poll of Children.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Children Now, Oakland, CA.

Although America is engaged in a national dialogue about race, children's voices have yet to be heard on the matter. This study used a series of focus groups and a national poll of 10- to 17-year-olds to examine their views about race and the role of the media in shaping understanding. Participating in the polls were 1,200 children, 300 in each…

The News Media PRISM: Shaping America’s Opinion of Congress

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-01-01

public gleans much of its knowledge of the political process. Accordingly, the tone of media coverage has a remarkable impact as people form their opinions...conditions in sweatshops and the corruption of public officials. This activist journalism, dubbed "muckraking" by President Theodore Roosevelt, led to...then rush to buy a paper and read all the shocking details." 1 9 Both Hearst and Pulitzer, along with E.W. Scripps, covered social and political issues

Granular material flow in two-dimensional hoppers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Brennen, C.; Pearce, J.C.

To aid in improving the transport of granular media for industrial purposes, the California Institute of Technology presents a comparison of experimental data with analytical results for the flow of dry granular media (such as coal) through a two-dimensional or wedge-shaped hopper. The analytical solution, which is based on the constitutive postulates (suggested by A.W. Jenike and R.T. Shield) of intergrain Coulomb friction and isotropy, produces results that are in good agreement with the experimental measurements.

A Model with Ellipsoidal Scatterers for Polarimetric Remote Sensing of Anisotropic Layered Media

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nghiem, S. V.; Kwok, R.; Kong, J. A.; Shin, R. T.

1993-01-01

This paper presents a model with ellipsoidal scatterers for applications to polarimetric remote sensing of anisotropic layered media at microwave frequencies. The physical configuration includes an isotropic layer covering an anisotropic layer above a homogeneous half space. The isotropic layer consists of randomly oriented spheroids. The anisotropic layer contains ellipsoidal scatterers with a preferential vertical alignment and random azimuthal orientations. Effective permittivities of the scattering media are calculated with the strong fluctuation theory extended to account for the nonspherical shapes and the scatterer orientation distributions. On the basis of the analytic wave theory, dyadic Green's functions for layered media are used to derive polarimetric backscattering coefficients under the distorted Born approximation. The ellipsoidal shape of the scatterers gives rise to nonzero cross-polarized returns from the untilted anisotropic medium in the first-order approximation. Effects of rough interfaces are estimated by an incoherent addition method. Theoretical results and experimental data are matched at 9 GHz for thick first-year sea ice with a bare surface and with a snow cover at Point Barrow, Alaska. The model is then used to study the sensitivity of polarimetric backscattering coefficients with respect to correlation lengths representing the geometry of brine inclusions. Polarimetric signatures of bare and snow-covered sea ice are also simulated based on the model to investigate effects of different scattering mechanisms.

Mechanical trapping of particles in granular media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kerimov, Abdulla; Mavko, Gary; Mukerji, Tapan; Al Ibrahim, Mustafa A.

2018-02-01

Mechanical trapping of fine particles in the pores of granular materials is an essential mechanism in a wide variety of natural and industrial filtration processes. The progress of invading particles is primarily limited by the network of pore throats and connected pathways encountered by the particles during their motion through the porous medium. Trapping of invading particles is limited to a depth defined by the size, shape, and distribution of the invading particles with respect to the size, shape, and distribution of the host porous matrix. Therefore, the trapping process, in principle, can be used to obtain information about geometrical properties, such as pore throat and particle size, of the underlying host matrix. A numerical framework is developed to simulate the mechanical trapping of fine particles in porous granular media with prescribed host particle size, shape, and distribution. The trapping of invading particles is systematically modeled in host packings with different host particle distributions: monodisperse, bidisperse, and polydisperse distributions of host particle sizes. Our simulation results show quantitatively and qualitatively to what extent trapping behavior is different in the generated monodisperse, bidisperse, and polydisperse packings of spherical particles. Depending on host particle size and distribution, the information about extreme estimates of minimal pore throat sizes of the connected pathways in the underlying host matrix can be inferred from trapping features, such as the fraction of trapped particles as a function of invading particle size. The presence of connected pathways with minimum and maximum of minimal pore throat diameters can be directly obtained from trapping features. This limited information about the extreme estimates of pore throat sizes of the connected pathways in the host granular media inferred from our numerical simulations is consistent with simple geometrical estimates of extreme value of pore and throat sizes of the densest structural arrangements of spherical particles and geometrical Delaunay tessellation analysis of the pore space of host granular media. Our results suggest simple relations between the host particle size and trapping features. These relationships can be potentially used to describe both the dynamics of the mechanical trapping process and the geometrical properties of the host granular media.

Mechanical trapping of particles in granular media.

PubMed

Kerimov, Abdulla; Mavko, Gary; Mukerji, Tapan; Al Ibrahim, Mustafa A

2018-02-01

Mechanical trapping of fine particles in the pores of granular materials is an essential mechanism in a wide variety of natural and industrial filtration processes. The progress of invading particles is primarily limited by the network of pore throats and connected pathways encountered by the particles during their motion through the porous medium. Trapping of invading particles is limited to a depth defined by the size, shape, and distribution of the invading particles with respect to the size, shape, and distribution of the host porous matrix. Therefore, the trapping process, in principle, can be used to obtain information about geometrical properties, such as pore throat and particle size, of the underlying host matrix. A numerical framework is developed to simulate the mechanical trapping of fine particles in porous granular media with prescribed host particle size, shape, and distribution. The trapping of invading particles is systematically modeled in host packings with different host particle distributions: monodisperse, bidisperse, and polydisperse distributions of host particle sizes. Our simulation results show quantitatively and qualitatively to what extent trapping behavior is different in the generated monodisperse, bidisperse, and polydisperse packings of spherical particles. Depending on host particle size and distribution, the information about extreme estimates of minimal pore throat sizes of the connected pathways in the underlying host matrix can be inferred from trapping features, such as the fraction of trapped particles as a function of invading particle size. The presence of connected pathways with minimum and maximum of minimal pore throat diameters can be directly obtained from trapping features. This limited information about the extreme estimates of pore throat sizes of the connected pathways in the host granular media inferred from our numerical simulations is consistent with simple geometrical estimates of extreme value of pore and throat sizes of the densest structural arrangements of spherical particles and geometrical Delaunay tessellation analysis of the pore space of host granular media. Our results suggest simple relations between the host particle size and trapping features. These relationships can be potentially used to describe both the dynamics of the mechanical trapping process and the geometrical properties of the host granular media.

Illicit drugs and the media: models of media effects for use in drug policy research.

PubMed

Lancaster, Kari; Hughes, Caitlin E; Spicer, Bridget; Matthew-Simmons, Francis; Dillon, Paul

2011-07-01

Illicit drugs are never far from the media gaze and although identified almost a decade ago as 'a new battleground' for the alcohol and other drug (AOD) field there has been limited research examining the role of the news media and its effects on audiences and policy. This paper draws together media theories from communication literature to examine media functions. We illustrate how each function is relevant for media and drugs research by drawing upon the existing literature examining Australian media coverage during the late 1990s of escalating heroin-related problems and proposed solutions. Media can influence audiences in four key ways: by setting the agenda and defining public interest; framing issues through selection and salience; indirectly shaping individual and community attitudes towards risk; and feeding into political debate and decision making. Each has relevance for the AOD field. For example, media coverage of the escalating heroin-related problems in Australia played a strong role in generating interest in heroin overdoses, framing public discourse in terms of a health and/or criminal issue and affecting political decisions. Implications AND CONCLUSION: Media coverage in relation to illicit drugs can have multifarious effects. Incorporating media communication theories into future research and actions is critical to facilitate understanding of the short- and long-term impacts of media coverage on illicit drugs and the avenues by which the AOD field can mitigate or inform future media debates on illicit drugs. © 2010 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs.

Shaping Microwave Fields Using Nonlinear Unsolicited Feedback: Application to Enhance Energy Harvesting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

del Hougne, Philipp; Fink, Mathias; Lerosey, Geoffroy

2017-12-01

Wave-front shaping has emerged over the past decade as a powerful tool to control wave propagation through complex media, initially in optics and more recently also in the microwave domain with important applications in telecommunication, imaging, and energy transfer. The crux of implementing wave-front shaping concepts in real life is often its need for (direct) feedback, requiring access to the target to focus on. Here, we present the shaping of a microwave field based on indirect, unsolicited, and blind feedback which may be the pivotal step towards practical implementations. With the example of a radio-frequency harvester in a metallic cavity, we demonstrate tenfold enhancement of the harvested power by wave-front shaping based on nonlinear signals detected at an arbitrary position away from the harvesting device.

Combining natural language processing and network analysis to examine how advocacy organizations stimulate conversation on social media.

PubMed

Bail, Christopher Andrew

2016-10-18

Social media sites are rapidly becoming one of the most important forums for public deliberation about advocacy issues. However, social scientists have not explained why some advocacy organizations produce social media messages that inspire far-ranging conversation among social media users, whereas the vast majority of them receive little or no attention. I argue that advocacy organizations are more likely to inspire comments from new social media audiences if they create "cultural bridges," or produce messages that combine conversational themes within an advocacy field that are seldom discussed together. I use natural language processing, network analysis, and a social media application to analyze how cultural bridges shaped public discourse about autism spectrum disorders on Facebook over the course of 1.5 years, controlling for various characteristics of advocacy organizations, their social media audiences, and the broader social context in which they interact. I show that organizations that create substantial cultural bridges provoke 2.52 times more comments about their messages from new social media users than those that do not, controlling for these factors. This study thus offers a theory of cultural messaging and public deliberation and computational techniques for text analysis and application-based survey research.

Physicians, social media, and conflict of interest.

PubMed

Decamp, Matthew

2013-02-01

Physicians and patients increasingly use social media technologies, such as Facebook, Twitter, and weblogs (blogs), both professionally and personally. Amidst recent reports of physician misbehavior online, as well as concerns about social media's potential negative effect on trust in the medical profession, several national-level physician organizations have created professional guidelines on social media use by physicians. Missing from these guidelines is adequate attention to conflict of interest. Some guidelines do not explicitly mention conflict of interest; others recommend only disclosure. Recommending disclosure fails to appreciate the unique features of social media that make adequate disclosure difficult to accomplish. Moreover, in emphasizing disclosure alone, current guidelines are inconsistent with medicine's general trend toward management or elimination, not just disclosure, of potential conflicts. Because social media sites typically rely on physicians' voluntary compliance with professional norms, physicians necessarily play a major role in shaping these norms' content and scope. To achieve the benefits of social media and ensure the veracity of social media content while preserving trust in the profession, physicians must reaffirm their commitment to disclose potential conflicts; advocate for better electronic disclosure mechanisms; and develop concrete management strategies-including, where necessary, the elimination of conflicts altogether.

Adult Learners' Week in Australia.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cross, John

2002-01-01

Promotional materials and activities for Australia's Adult Learners Week, which are shaped by a variety of stakeholders , include media strategies and a website. Activities are evaluated using a market research company and website and telephone hotline statistics. (SK)

Army Accessions Research Consortium, Shaping the Future Force and Predicting It’s Success, 31 August - 3 September 2009 Hampton, Virginia

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-04-01

recruiting, childhood obesity, JROTC, Whole Soldier, Accessions Research Award, Human Dimension, Army Experience Center, MEPCOM, Mental health...2 September 2009 Opening Comments (COL Jeff Schamburg) “ Childhood Obesity in the US: Prevalence, Trends & Health Risks." (Dr. Cynthia Ogden...experts are saying.” • Claire Raines - (Generational analyst-workforce) – Young people are shaped by defining events, the media, parenting patterns

Tuning ligament shape in dealloyed nanoporous tin and the impact of nanoscale morphology on its applications in Na-ion alloy battery anodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Detsi, Eric; Petrissans, Xavier; Yan, Yan; Cook, John B.; Deng, Ziling; Liang, Yu-Lun; Dunn, Bruce; Tolbert, Sarah H.

2018-05-01

Control over the morphology of nanostructured materials is of primary importance in structure-property relationship studies. Although the size of ligaments and pores in dealloyed nanoporous metals can be controlled by thermal and/or (electro)chemical treatments, tuning the shape of those ligaments is much harder. In the present work, we use corroding media with different reactivity to effectively tailor the ligament shape in nanoporous tin (NP-Sn) during dealloying by free corrosion. NP-Sn architectures with nanowire and granular ligament shapes were made by controlling the pH of the corroding solution, and thus the rate of Sn oxidation relative to the etching rate of the sacrificial component. The standard nanowire structure was formed under acidic conditions where oxidation was slow, but a hierarchical granular structure was formed when fusion of the Sn nanocrystals was inhibited by surface oxidation. To demonstrate the advantages of this architectural control, these two materials systems were investigated as electrodes for Na-ion battery anodes. Similar initial Na storage capacities of ˜500 and 550 mAh/g were achieved in the nanowire and granular materials, respectively, but the cycle life of the two materials was quite different. NP-Sn with a granular ligament shape showed enhanced stability with a capacity retention of ˜55 % over 95 cycles at a specific current of 40 mA/g. By contrast, NP-Sn with a nanowire ligament shape showed very fast capacity fading within the first 10 cycles. This work thus demonstrates the dramatic impact of the nanoscale morphology on the electrochemical performance of nanoporous materials and highlights the need for both shape and size control in dealloyed nanoporous metals.

Micro- and macroscopic photonic control of matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ryabtsev, Anton

This dissertation outlines the development of several methods and techniques that enable comprehensive control of laser-matter interactions and nonlinear optical processes using shaped femtosecond pulses. Manipulation of the spectral phases and amplitudes of femtosecond laser pulses provides an effective way to adjust laser parameters, both those intrinsic to pulse generation within a laser and those induced by laser-matter interactions. When coupled with a fundamental understanding of the interactions between a laser's electric field and the molecules in the propagation media, these methods make the behavior of laser pulses predictable and allow the experimental information they carry to be extracted accurately. The ultimate motivation is to enhance the accuracy and reproducibility of spectroscopic measurements and to control nonlinear processes during light-matter interaction using shaped femtosecond pulses. Ultrafast laser systems have become one of the most important scientific tools in femtochemistry, nanoscale material science, chemical detection and sensing, and many other applications where processes occur at femtosecond (fs, 10-15 of a second) timescales or when broad laser bandwidths are required. As with any measuring instrument, it is very important to know system's exact parameters in order to make meaningful, accurate and reproducible measurements. For ultrafast lasers, these parameters are the intensities of the spectral components, the spectral phase, the temporal profile, the pulse energy, and the spatial laser beam profile. Due to broadband nature of ultrafast laser sources, they are very sensitive to propagation media: gaseous, liquid or solid matter along the paths of laser pulses to the sample, including the material of the sample itself. Optical parameters describing the propagation media, such as linear and nonlinear dispersion, and birefringence, as well as physical parameters, such as temperature and pressure, all affect laser pulse parameters. In order for measurements not to be skewed, these interactions need to be taken into account and mitigated at the time of the experiment or handled later in data analysis and simulations. Experimental results are presented in four chapters. Chapter 2 describes two topics: (1) single-shot real-time monitoring and correction of spectral phase drifts, which commonly originate from temperature and pointing fluctuations inside the laser cavity when the pulses are generated; (2) an all-optical method for controlling the dispersion of femtosecond pulses using other pulses. Chapter 3 focuses on the effects of the propagation media--how intense laser pulses modify media and how, in turn, the media modifies them back--and how these effects can be counteracted. Self-action effects in fused silica are discussed, along with some interesting and unexpected results. A method is then proposed for mitigating self-action processes using binary modulation of the spectral phases of laser pulses. Chapter 4 outlines the design of two laser systems, which are specifically tailored for particular spectroscopic applications and incorporate the comprehensive pulse control described in previous chapters. Chapter 5 shows how control of spatial beam characteristics can be applied to measurements of the mechanical motion of microscale particles and how it can potentially be applied to molecular motion. It also describes an experiment on laser-induced flow in air in which attempts were made to control the macroscopic molecular rotation of gases. My research, with a pulse shaper as the enabling tool, provides important insights into ultrafast scientific studies by making femtosecond laser research more predictable, reliable and practical for measurement and control. In the long term, some of the research methods in this thesis may help the transition of femtosecond lasers from the laboratory environment into clinics, factories, airports, and other everyday settings.

Role of the media in influencing trajectories of youth smoking.

PubMed

Wakefield, Melanie; Flay, Brian; Nichter, Mark; Giovino, Gary

2003-05-01

This paper summarizes results of empirical studies on cigarette advertising and promotions, antismoking advertising, product placement in movies, on television and in music media and news coverage about smoking. In addition, we provide an overview of some of the theoretical literature relevant to the study of media uses and effects. Finally, we discuss empirical findings in the context of these theories to draw some conclusions about media influences on smoking and identify issues for further research. We conclude that (a) the media both shape and reflect social values about smoking; (b) the media provide new information about smoking directly to audiences; (c) the media act as a source of observational learning by providing models which teenagers may seek to emulate; (d) exposure to media messages about smoking also provides direct reinforcement for smoking or not smoking; (e) the media promote interpersonal discussion about smoking; (f) the media can influence "intervening" behaviors that may make teenage smoking less likely; and (g) antismoking media messages can also set the agenda for other change at the community, state or national level. We outline priorities for further research which emphasize the need for longitudinal studies, multi-level studies, an awareness of the probably dynamic relationship between tobacco advertising and antismoking advertising, the importance of determining appraisal of tobacco industry youth smoking prevention efforts and the dearth of research on news coverage about smoking.

Physics of neutrino flavor transformation through matter-neutrino resonances

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Meng-Ru; Duan, Huaiyu; Qian, Yong-Zhong

2016-01-01

In astrophysical environments such as core-collapse supernovae and neutron star-neutron star or neutron star-black hole mergers where dense neutrino media are present, matter-neutrino resonances (MNRs) can occur when the neutrino propagation potentials due to neutrino-electron and neutrino-neutrino forward scattering nearly cancel each other. We show that neutrino flavor transformation through MNRs can be explained by multiple adiabatic solutions similar to the Mikheyev-Smirnov-Wolfenstein mechanism. We find that for the normal neutrino mass hierarchy, neutrino flavor evolution through MNRs can be sensitive to the shape of neutrino spectra and the adiabaticity of the system, but such sensitivity is absent for the inverted hierarchy.

Robophysical study of jumping dynamics on granular media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aguilar, Jeffrey; Goldman, Daniel I.

2016-03-01

Characterizing forces on deformable objects intruding into sand and soil requires understanding the solid- and fluid-like responses of such substrates and their effect on the state of the object. The most detailed studies of intrusion in dry granular media have revealed that interactions of fixed-shape objects during free impact (for example, cannonballs) and forced slow penetration can be described by hydrostatic- and hydrodynamic-like forces. Here we investigate a new class of granular interactions: rapid intrusions by objects that change shape (self-deform) through passive and active means. Systematic studies of a simple spring-mass robot jumping on dry granular media reveal that jumping performance is explained by an interplay of nonlinear frictional and hydrodynamic drag as well as induced added mass (unaccounted by traditional intrusion models) characterized by a rapidly solidified region of grains accelerated by the foot. A model incorporating these dynamics reveals that added mass degrades the performance of certain self-deformations owing to a shift in optimal timing during push-off. Our systematic robophysical experiment reveals both new soft-matter physics and principles for robotic self-deformation and control, which together provide principles of movement in deformable terrestrial environments.

Advocates' Experiences With Media and the Impact of Media on Human Trafficking Advocacy.

PubMed

Houston-Kolnik, Jaclyn D; Soibatian, Christina; Shattell, Mona M

2017-02-01

The present qualitative study explores advocates' opinions of misinformation about human trafficking in the media and describes advocates' strategies to counter the misinformation presented by the media. Thus, 15 advocates who work against human trafficking in Chicago-based nonprofit organizations participated in semistructured interviews about their opinions and strategies. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. The present study identifies specific misperceptions of human trafficking in the media, highlights advocates' opinions of this misinformation, and discusses advocates' strategies to counteract inaccurate media, adding support to the role of media advocacy. Advocates note how media images shape and perpetuate stereotypes of trafficking through glamorizing sex work and sensationalizing stories that are most often international depictions of trafficking. Advocates report media generally shares only a piece of the story, simplifying the stories of survivors and the issue of human trafficking. Advocates critique media perpetuating these misperceptions for how they may contribute to policies and programs which fail to address structural factors that create vulnerabilities to be trafficked and the multisystem needs of survivors. However, advocates also note misperceptions can be counteracted by producing sensitive, informed media through social platforms. Advocates share their strategies counteracting misinformation through engaging in informative conversations, utilizing social media to educate, and promoting media messages of survivor agency. Research, clinical, and policy implications are also discussed. The present study emphasizes the importance of decision makers and service providers being critical consumers of media and to assess how media portrayals may (or may not) inform their understanding and response to the issue.

Beer and Wine Advertising: Impact of Electronic Media. Hearing before the Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Consumer Protection, and Finance of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. House of Representatives, Ninety-Ninth Congress, First Session on H.R. 2526 and H.R. 1901.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Congress of the U.S., Washington, DC. House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

This document presents witness testimonies and prepared statements from the Congressional hearing called to examine the impact of broadcast alcohol advertising on alcohol-related problems, the responsibility of the broadcast media in shaping attitudes about alcohol, and how to reduce any negative impact of advertising. Statements were heard from…

Focusing light through strongly scattering media by controlling binary amplitude optimization using genetic algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Zhipeng; Zhang, Bin; Feng, Qi; Chen, Zhaoyang; Lin, Chengyou; Ding, Yingchun

2017-06-01

Focusing light through strongly scattering media plays an important role in biomedical imaging and therapy. Here, we experimentally demonstrate light focusing through ZnO sample by controlling binary amplitude optimization using genetic algorithm. In the experiment, we use a Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS)-based digital micromirror device (DMD) which is in amplitude-only modulation mode. The DMD consists of 1920×1080 square mirrors that can be independently controlled to reflect light to a desired position. We control only 160 thousand mirrors which are divided into 400 segments to modulate light focusing through the scattering media using advanced genetic algorithm. Light intensity at the target position is enhanced up to 50+/-5 times the average speckle intensity. The diameters of focusing spot can be changed ranging from 7 μm to 70 μm at arbitrary positions and multiple foci are obtained simultaneously. The spatial arrangement of multiple foci can be flexibly controlled. The advantage of DMDs lies in their switching speed up to 30 kHz, which has the potential to generate a focus in an ultra-short period of time. Our work provides a reference for the study of high speed wavefront shaping that is required in vivo tissues imaging.

Dispersion and shape engineered plasmonic nanosensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jeong, Hyeon-Ho; Mark, Andrew G.; Alarcón-Correa, Mariana; Kim, Insook; Oswald, Peter; Lee, Tung-Chun; Fischer, Peer

2016-04-01

Biosensors based on the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of individual metallic nanoparticles promise to deliver modular, low-cost sensing with high-detection thresholds. However, they continue to suffer from relatively low sensitivity and figures of merit (FOMs). Herein we introduce the idea of sensitivity enhancement of LSPR sensors through engineering of the material dispersion function. Employing dispersion and shape engineering of chiral nanoparticles leads to remarkable refractive index sensitivities (1,091 nm RIU-1 at λ=921 nm) and FOMs (>2,800 RIU-1). A key feature is that the polarization-dependent extinction of the nanoparticles is now characterized by rich spectral features, including bipolar peaks and nulls, suitable for tracking refractive index changes. This sensing modality offers strong optical contrast even in the presence of highly absorbing media, an important consideration for use in complex biological media with limited transmission. The technique is sensitive to surface-specific binding events which we demonstrate through biotin-avidin surface coupling.

Initial temperatures effect on the mixing efficiency and flow modes in T-shaped micromixer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lobasov, A. S.; Shebeleva, A. A.

2017-09-01

Flow patterns and mixing of liquids with different initial temperatures in T-shaped micromixers are numerically investigated on the Reynolds number range from 1 to 250. The temperature of the one of mixing media was set equal to 20°C, while the temperature of the another mixing media was varied from 10°C to 50°C its effect on the flow structure and the mixing was studied. The dependences of the mixing efficiency and the pressure difference in this mixer on the difference in initial temperatures of miscible fluids and the Reynolds number were obtained. It was shown that the presence of a difference in initial temperatures of miscible fluids leads to a shift of flow regimes and the flow and mixing of two fluids with different initial temperatures can be considered as self-similar pattern with regard to the reduced Reynolds number.

Development of terahertz otoscope for diagnosing otitis media (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jeon, Tae-In; Ji, Young Bin; Bark, Hyeon Sang; Noh, Sam Kyu; Oh, Seung Jae

2017-03-01

A novel terahertz (THz) otoscope is designed and fabricated to help physicians to diagnose otitis media (OM) with both THz diagnostics and conventional optical diagnostics. The inclusion of indium tin oxide (ITO) glass in the THz otoscope allows physicians to diagnose OM with both THz and conventional optical diagnostics. To determine THz diagnostics for OM, we observed reflection signals from samples behind a thin dielectric film and found that the presence of water behind the membrane could be distinguished based on THz pulse shape. We verified the potential of this tool for diagnosing OM using mouse skin tissue and a human tympanic membrane samples prior to clinical application. The presence of water absorbed by the human membrane was easily distinguished based on differences in pulse shapes and peak-to-peak amplitudes of reflected THz pulses. The potential for early OM diagnosis using the THz otoscope was confirmed by alteration of THz pulse depending on water absorption level.

From Augmentation Media to Meme Media.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tanaka, Yuzuru

Computers as meta media are now evolving from augmentation media vehicles to meme media vehicles. While an augmentation media system provides a seamlessly integrated environment of various tools and documents, meme media system provides further functions to edit and distribute tools and documents. Documents and tools on meme media can easily…

Acoustic Rectification in Dispersive Media

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cantrell, John H.

2008-01-01

It is shown that the shapes of acoustic radiation-induced static strain and displacement pulses (rectified acoustic pulses) are defined locally by the energy density of the generating waveform. Dispersive properties are introduced analytically by assuming that the rectified pulses are functionally dependent on a phase factor that includes both dispersive and nonlinear terms. The dispersion causes an evolutionary change in the shape of the energy density profile that leads to the generation of solitons experimentally observed in fused silica.

Wetting and drying of liquid on crossed fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sauret, Alban; Bick, Alison D.; Stone, Howard A.; Complex Fluids Group Team

2013-11-01

Fibrous media are common in various engineered systems such as filters, paper or the textile industry. Many of these materials can be described as a network of fibers in which a wetting liquid tends to accumulate at its nodes and changes the bulk properties. Here we study a drop of silicone oil sitting on the simplest element of the array: two rigid crossed fibers. In particular, we investigate experimentally how the structure of the material affects the wetting and drying dynamics of that liquid drop. We first show that the liquid can adopt different shapes from a long liquid column to a drop. The transition between these morphologies depends on the volume of liquid, the tilting angle between the fibers, as well as the fiber radius. The wetting length in the column state can be predicted analytically. Because of these different shapes, the liquid exhibits different drying kinetics, which effects the overall drying time. Our study suggests that shearing a wetted array of fibers, by tuning the liquid morphology, may enhance the drying rate.

End-to-end system of license plate localization and recognition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Siyu; Dianat, Sohail; Mestha, Lalit K.

2015-03-01

An end-to-end license plate recognition system is proposed. It is composed of preprocessing, detection, segmentation, and character recognition to find and recognize plates from camera-based still images. The system utilizes connected component (CC) properties to quickly extract the license plate region. A two-stage CC filtering is utilized to address both shape and spatial relationship information to produce high precision and to recall values for detection. Floating peak and valleys of projection profiles are used to cut the license plates into individual characters. A turning function-based method is proposed to quickly and accurately recognize each character. It is further accelerated using curvature histogram-based support vector machine. The INFTY dataset is used to train the recognition system, and MediaLab license plate dataset is used for testing. The proposed system achieved 89.45% F-measure for detection and 87.33% accuracy for overall recognition rate which is comparable to current state-of-the-art systems.

Systemic characterization and evaluation of particle packings as initial sets for discrete element simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morfa, Carlos Recarey; Cortés, Lucía Argüelles; Farias, Márcio Muniz de; Morales, Irvin Pablo Pérez; Valera, Roberto Roselló; Oñate, Eugenio

2018-07-01

A methodology that comprises several characterization properties for particle packings is proposed in this paper. The methodology takes into account factors such as dimension and shape of particles, space occupation, homogeneity, connectivity and isotropy, among others. This classification and integration of several properties allows to carry out a characterization process to systemically evaluate the particle packings in order to guarantee the quality of the initial meshes in discrete element simulations, in both the micro- and the macroscales. Several new properties were created, and improvements in existing ones are presented. Properties from other disciplines were adapted to be used in the evaluation of particle systems. The methodology allows to easily characterize media at the level of the microscale (continuous geometries—steels, rocks microstructures, etc., and discrete geometries) and the macroscale. A global, systemic and integral system for characterizing and evaluating particle sets, based on fuzzy logic, is presented. Such system allows researchers to have a unique evaluation criterion based on the aim of their research. Examples of applications are shown.

Systemic characterization and evaluation of particle packings as initial sets for discrete element simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morfa, Carlos Recarey; Cortés, Lucía Argüelles; Farias, Márcio Muniz de; Morales, Irvin Pablo Pérez; Valera, Roberto Roselló; Oñate, Eugenio

2017-10-01

A methodology that comprises several characterization properties for particle packings is proposed in this paper. The methodology takes into account factors such as dimension and shape of particles, space occupation, homogeneity, connectivity and isotropy, among others. This classification and integration of several properties allows to carry out a characterization process to systemically evaluate the particle packings in order to guarantee the quality of the initial meshes in discrete element simulations, in both the micro- and the macroscales. Several new properties were created, and improvements in existing ones are presented. Properties from other disciplines were adapted to be used in the evaluation of particle systems. The methodology allows to easily characterize media at the level of the microscale (continuous geometries—steels, rocks microstructures, etc., and discrete geometries) and the macroscale. A global, systemic and integral system for characterizing and evaluating particle sets, based on fuzzy logic, is presented. Such system allows researchers to have a unique evaluation criterion based on the aim of their research. Examples of applications are shown.

Repair of Tympanic Membrane Perforations with Customized Bioprinted Ear Grafts Using Chinchilla Models.

PubMed

Kuo, Che-Ying; Wilson, Emmanuel; Fuson, Andrew; Gandhi, Nidhi; Monfaredi, Reza; Jenkins, Audrey; Romero, Maria; Santoro, Marco; Fisher, John P; Cleary, Kevin; Reilly, Brian

2018-03-01

The goal of this work is to develop an innovative method that combines bioprinting and endoscopic imaging to repair tympanic membrane perforations (TMPs). TMPs are a serious health issue because they can lead to both conductive hearing loss and repeated otitis media. TMPs occur in 3-5% of cases after ear tube placement, as well as in cases of acute otitis media (the second most common infection in pediatrics), chronic otitis media with or without cholesteatoma, or as a result of barotrauma to the ear. About 55,000 tympanoplasties, the surgery performed to reconstruct TMPs, are performed every year, and the commonly used cartilage grafting technique has a success rate between 43% and 100%. This wide variability in successful tympanoplasty indicates that the current approach relies heavily on the skill of the surgeon to carve the shield graft into the shape of the TMP, which can be extremely difficult because of the perforation's irregular shape. To this end, we hypothesized that patient specific acellular grafts can be bioprinted to repair TMPs. In vitro data demonstrated that our approach resulted in excellent wound healing responses (e.g., cell invasion and proliferations) using our bioprinted gelatin methacrylate constructs. Based on these results, we then bioprinted customized acellular grafts to treat TMP based on endoscopic imaging of the perforation and demonstrated improved TMP healing in a chinchilla study. These ear graft techniques could transform clinical practice by eliminating the need for hand-carved grafts. To our knowledge, this is the first proof of concept of using bioprinting and endoscopic imaging to fabricate customized grafts to treat tissue perforations. This technology could be transferred to other medical pathologies and be used to rapidly scan internal organs such as intestines for microperforations, brain covering (Dura mater) for determination of sites of potential cerebrospinal fluid leaks, and vascular systems to determine arterial wall damage before aneurysm rupture in strokes.

A pore-level scenario for the development of mixed-wettability in oil reservoirs

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kovscek, A.R.; Wong, H.; Radke, C.J.

Understanding the role of thin films in porous media is vital if wettability is to be elucidated at the pore level. The type and thickness of films coating pore walls determines reservoir wettability and whether or not reservoir rock can be altered from its initial state of wettability. Pore shape, especially pore wall curvature, is an important factor in determining wetting-film thicknesses. Yet, pore shape and the physics of thin wetting films are generally neglected in models of flow in porous rocks. This paper incorporates thin-film forces into a collection of star-shaped capillary tubes model to describe the geological developmentmore » of mixed-wettability in reservoir rock. Here, mixed-wettability refers to continuous and distinct oil and water-wetting surfaces coexisting in the porous medium. The proposed model emphasizes the remarkable role of thin films. New pore-level fluid configurations arise that are quite unexpected. For example, efficient water displacement of oil (i.e, low residual oil saturation) characteristic of mixed-wettability porous media is ascribed to interconnected oil lenses or rivulets which bridge the walls adjacent to a pore corner. Predicted residual oil saturations are approximately 35 % less in mixed-wet rock compared to completely water-wet rock. Calculated capillary pressure curves mimic those of mixed-wet porous media in the primary drainage of water, imbibition of water, and secondary drainage modes. Amott-Harvey indices range from {minus}0.18 to 0.36 also in good agreement with experimental values. (Morrow et al, 1986; Judhunandan and Morrow, 1991).« less

Perspectives on social media in and as research: A synthetic review.

PubMed

Lafferty, Natalie T; Manca, Annalisa

2015-04-01

With the growth of social media use in both the private and public spheres, researchers are currently exploring the new opportunities and practices offered by these tools in the research lifecycle. This area is still in its infancy: As methodological approaches and methods are being tested - mainly through pragmatic and exploratory approaches - practices are being shaped and negotiated by the actors involved in research. A further element of complexity is added by the ambivalent status of social media within research activities. They can be both a tool - for recruitment, data collection, analysis - and data - as what constitutes the corpus to be analysed - both in an observational and interactive domain. This synthetic analysis of the literature is aimed at identifying how social media are currently being used in research and how they fit into the research lifecycle. We identify and discuss emerging evidence and trends in the adoption of social media in research, which can be used and applied by psychiatry research practitioners as a framework to inform the development of a personalized research network and social media strategy in research.

Social science research of HIV in Vietnam: A critical review and future directions

PubMed Central

Dao, Amy; Hirsch, Jennifer; Giang, Le Minh; Parker, Richard G.

2013-01-01

Social science research, with theoretical and methodological tools that are well suited to capture the complexities of Vietnam’s rapidly changing social and political context, could contribute important insights that would enhance the response to Vietnam’s growing HIV epidemic. The present paper reviews the published, peer-reviewed English-language social science literature on HIV in Vietnam in order to identify critical theoretical and substantive gaps and lay the groundwork for future research. We found four broad foci for work on the social context of HIV and AIDS in Vietnam: the cultural meanings and social relationships that shape Vietnam’s HIV epidemic; stigma and discrimination; social inequality and structural violence as contributors to HIV risk; and, finally, how broader global and social systems shape Vietnam’s HIV epidemic. We signal the particular need for additional research on the effects of the media on attitudes toward HIV and AIDS, on social movements, and on health systems, as well as on a number of other key areas. Work along these lines, in addition to more effective communication of policy-relevant findings to those responsible for the development and implementation of policies and programmes, will strengthen Vietnam’s response to HIV and AIDS. PMID:23906241

Application of the Fourier pseudospectral time-domain method in orthogonal curvilinear coordinates for near-rigid moderately curved surfaces.

PubMed

Hornikx, Maarten; Dragna, Didier

2015-07-01

The Fourier pseudospectral time-domain method is an efficient wave-based method to model sound propagation in inhomogeneous media. One of the limitations of the method for atmospheric sound propagation purposes is its restriction to a Cartesian grid, confining it to staircase-like geometries. A transform from the physical coordinate system to the curvilinear coordinate system has been applied to solve more arbitrary geometries. For applicability of this method near the boundaries, the acoustic velocity variables are solved for their curvilinear components. The performance of the curvilinear Fourier pseudospectral method is investigated in free field and for outdoor sound propagation over an impedance strip for various types of shapes. Accuracy is shown to be related to the maximum grid stretching ratio and deformation of the boundary shape and computational efficiency is reduced relative to the smallest grid cell in the physical domain. The applicability of the curvilinear Fourier pseudospectral time-domain method is demonstrated by investigating the effect of sound propagation over a hill in a nocturnal boundary layer. With the proposed method, accurate and efficient results for sound propagation over smoothly varying ground surfaces with high impedances can be obtained.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Joyce, M. J.; Aspinall, M. D.; Cave, F. D.

Pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) in fast, organic scintillation detectors is a long-established technique used to separate neutrons and {gamma} rays in mixed radiation fields. In the analogue domain the method can achieve separation in real time, but all knowledge of the pulses themselves is lost thereby preventing the possibility of any post- or repeated analysis. Also, it is typically reliant on electronic systems that are largely obsolete and which require significant experience to set up. In the digital domain, PSD is often more flexible but significant post-processing has usually been necessary to obtain neutron/{gamma}-ray separation. Moreover, the scintillation media on whichmore » the technique relies usually have a low flash point and are thus deemed hazardous. This complicates the ease with which they are used in industrial applications. In this paper, results obtained with a new portable digital pulse-shape discrimination instrument are described. This instrument provides real-time, digital neutron/{gamma} separation whilst preserving the synchronization with the time-of-arrival for each event, and realizing throughputs of 3 x 10{sup 6} events per second. Furthermore, this system has been tested with a scintillation medium that is non-flammable and not hazardous. (authors)« less

Public education and media relations in psychology.

PubMed

Wedding, Danny

2017-11-01

This article reviews psychology's attempts to influence public attitudes about both the science and the profession of psychology. The early history of the profession is reviewed, and the efforts of the American Psychological Association (APA) to shape the public's perception of psychology are discussed. The rise of social media is reviewed, and important social media outlets relevant to psychology are identified. The activities of the Society for Media Psychology and Technology (APA Division 46) are illustrated, and the presidents of the Division are identified. The work of those psychologists who are noted public intellectuals or who have received Nobel prizes or National Medal of Science awards for their research is briefly reviewed, and the public notoriety of 4 prominent media celebrities (Joy Browne, Joyce Brothers, Laura Schlessinger, and Phil McGraw) is discussed. Several controversies in the field of psychology that have influenced the public and their attitudes about psychology are also briefly reviewed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

Attitudes to genetically modified food over time: How trust in organizations and the media cycle predict support.

PubMed

Marques, Mathew D; Critchley, Christine R; Walshe, Jarrod

2015-07-01

This research examined public opinion toward genetically modified plants and animals for food, and how trust in organizations and media coverage explained attitudes toward these organisms. Nationally representative samples (N=8821) over 10 years showed Australians were less positive toward genetically modified animals compared to genetically modified plants for food, especially in years where media coverage was high. Structural equation modeling found that positive attitudes toward different genetically modified organisms for food were significantly associated with higher trust in scientists and regulators (e.g. governments), and with lower trust in watchdogs (e.g. environmental movement). Public trust in scientists and watchdogs was a stronger predictor of attitudes toward the use of genetically modified plants for food than animals, but only when media coverage was low. Results are discussed regarding the moral acceptability of genetically modified organisms for food, the media's role in shaping public opinion, and the role public trust in organizations has on attitudes toward genetically modified organisms. © The Author(s) 2014.

The stigmatisation of abortion: a qualitative analysis of print media in Great Britain in 2010

PubMed Central

Purcell, Carrie; Hilton, Shona; McDaid, Lisa

2014-01-01

The media play a significant part in shaping public perceptions of health issues, and abortion attracts continued media interest. Detailed examination of media constructions of abortion may help to identify emerging public discourse. Qualitative content analysis was used to examine if and how the print media in contributes to the stigmatisation of abortion. Articles from seven British and five Scottish national newspapers from 2010 were analysed for overall framings of abortion and emergent themes, including potentially stigmatising discursive constructs and language. Abortion was found to be presented using predominantly negative language and discursive associations as ‘risky’, and in association with other ‘discredited’ social practices. Key perspectives were found to be absent or marginalised, including those of women who have sought abortion. Few articles framed abortion as a positive and legitimate choice. Negative media representations of abortion contribute to the stigmatisation of the procedure and of women who have it, and reflect a discrediting of women's reproductive decision-making. There is a need to challenge the notion that abortion stigma is inevitable, and to encourage positive framings of abortion in the media and other public discourse. PMID:25115952

US Media Coverage of Tobacco Industry Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives.

PubMed

McDaniel, Patricia A; Lown, E Anne; Malone, Ruth E

2018-02-01

Media coverage of tobacco industry corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives represents a competitive field where tobacco control advocates and the tobacco industry vie to shape public and policymaker understandings about tobacco control and the industry. Through a content analysis of 649 US news items, we examined US media coverage of tobacco industry CSR and identified characteristics of media items associated with positive coverage. Most coverage appeared in local newspapers, and CSR initiatives unrelated to tobacco, with non-controversial beneficiaries, were most commonly mentioned. Coverage was largely positive. Tobacco control advocates were infrequently cited as sources and rarely authored opinion pieces; however, when their voices were included, coverage was less likely to have a positive slant. Media items published in the South, home to several tobacco company headquarters, were more likely than those published in the West to have a positive slant. The absence of tobacco control advocates from media coverage represents a missed opportunity to influence opinion regarding the negative public health implications of tobacco industry CSR. Countering the media narrative of virtuous companies doing good deeds could be particularly beneficial in the South, where the burdens of tobacco-caused disease are greatest, and coverage of tobacco companies more positive.

US Media Coverage of Tobacco Industry Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives

PubMed Central

McDaniel, Patricia A.; Lown, E. Anne; Malone, Ruth E.

2017-01-01

Media coverage of tobacco industry corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives represents a competitive field where tobacco control advocates and the tobacco industry vie to shape public and policymaker understandings about tobacco control and the industry. Through a content analysis of 649 US news items, we examined US media coverage of tobacco industry CSR and identified characteristics of media items associated with positive coverage. Most coverage appeared in local newspapers, and CSR initiatives unrelated to tobacco, with non-controversial beneficiaries, were most commonly mentioned. Coverage was largely positive. Tobacco control advocates were infrequently cited as sources and rarely authored opinion pieces; however, when their voices were included, coverage was less likely to have a positive slant. Media items published in the South, home to several tobacco company headquarters, were more likely than those published in the West to have a positive slant. The absence of tobacco control advocates from media coverage represents a missed opportunity to influence opinion regarding the negative public health implications of tobacco industry CSR. Countering the media narrative of virtuous companies doing good deeds could be particularly beneficial in the South, where the burdens of tobacco-caused disease are greatest, and coverage of tobacco companies more positive. PMID:28685318

Presuming the influence of the media: teenagers′ constructions of gender identity through sexual/romantic relationships and alcohol consumption

PubMed Central

Hartley, Jane E K; Wight, Daniel; Hunt, Kate

2014-01-01

Using empirical data from group discussions and in-depth interviews with 13 to 15-year olds in Scotland, this study explores how teenagers’ alcohol drinking and sexual/romantic relationships were shaped by their quest for appropriate gendered identities. In this, they acknowledged the influence of the media, but primarily in relation to others, not to themselves, thereby supporting Milkie's ‘presumed media influence’ theory. Media portrayals of romantic/sexual relationships appeared to influence teenagers’ constructions of gender-appropriate sexual behaviour more than did media portrayals of drinking behaviour, perhaps because the teenagers had more firsthand experience of observing drinking than of observing sexual relationships. Presumed media influence may be less influential if one has experience of the behaviour portrayed. Drinking and sexual behaviour were highly interrelated: sexual negotiation and activities were reportedly often accompanied by drinking. For teenagers, being drunk or, importantly, pretending to be drunk, may be a useful way to try out what they perceived to be gender-appropriate identities. In sum, teenagers’ drinking and sexual/romantic relationships are primary ways in which they do gender and the media's influence on their perceptions of appropriate gendered behaviour is mediated through peer relationships. PMID:24443822

An investigation on the motion and deformation of viscoelastic drops descending in another viscoelastic media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davoodi, M.; Norouzi, M.

2016-10-01

In the present study, an investigation of the motion and shape deformation of drops is carried out in creeping flow to highlight the effect of viscoelastic properties on the problem. A perturbation method is employed to derive an analytical solution for the general case that both interior and exterior fluids are viscoelastic, both fluids obeying the Giesekus model. An experiment is also performed for the limiting case of an immiscible drop of a 0.03% (w/w) polyacrylamide in an 80:20 glycerol/water solution falling through a viscous Newtonian silicon oil (410 cP polydimethylsiloxane oil) in order to check the accuracy of the analytical solution. It is shown that the addition of elastic properties to the interior fluid may cause a decrease in the terminal velocity of the droplet while an increase in the elastic properties of the exterior fluid results in the opposite behavior and increases the terminal velocity. The well-known spherical shape of creeping drops for Newtonian fluids is modified by elasticity into either prolate or oblate shapes. Using the analytical solution, it is shown that normal stresses play a key role on the final steady-state shape of the drops. To keep the drops spherical in viscoelastic phases, it is shown that the effect of normal stresses on the interior and exterior media can cancel out under certain conditions. The results presented here may be of interest to industries dealing with petroleum and medicine processing, paint and power-plant related fields where knowledge of the shape and terminal velocity of descending droplets is of great importance.

The isolation and identification of endophytic bacteria from mangrove (Sonneratia alba) that produces gelatinase

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nursyam, H.; Prihanto, A. A.; Warasari, N. I.; Saadah, M.; Masrifa, R. E.; Nabila, N. A.; Istiqfarin, N.; Siddiq, I. J.

2018-04-01

Gelatinase is an enzyme that hydrolyze gelatin into gelatin hydrolyzate. The purpose of this study was to isolate and to identify endophytic bacteria from Sonneratia alba mangrove which able to produce gelatinase enzyme. Sonneratia alba mangroves was obtained from Bajul Mati Beach, Malang Regency. The samples in this study were, stems, and leaves. Pure cultured bacteria were investigated for its capability for producing gelatinase enzyme by using gelatin media. Best producer would further be analyzed its species using microbact system. Screening process resulted in 3 positive isolates, namely code isolate of R, B, and L. R which was isolate from root of S. alba was the best producer for gelatinase. Identification process with morphology and microbact system revelaed that A. SBM is a Gram-negative bacterium that has a basil cell shape, with a diameter colony of 2.19 mm. Based on the microbact system test carried out, the bacteria is Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

#Cleft: The use of Social Media Amongst Parents of Infants with Clefts.

PubMed

Khouri, Joseph S; McCheyne, Melisande J; Morrison, Clinton S

2018-01-01

Introduction Many societies and organizations are using social media to reach their target audience. The extent to which parents of patients with craniofacial anomalies use social media has yet to be determined. The goal of this study is to characterize and describe the use of social media by the parents of children with cleft lip and palate as it pertains to the care of their child. Materials and Methods Parents or guardian of all patients presenting for initial consultation regarding a child's congenital cleft anomaly were contacted by phone or mail to complete a survey regarding their use of social media vis-à-vis their child's cleft anomaly. Participants were asked to answer a 19-question survey. Results Thirty-two families were contacted and 25 surveys were completed. Ninety-two percent of respondents used social media to learn about their child's diagnosis. Facebook (76%) and blogs (24%) were the most commonly accessed social media outlets, followed by Instagram (8%). Education about the diagnosis and treatment of cleft pathology (87%) was the most common reason for accessing social media, followed by companionship and support (56%), and advice about perioperative care (52%). Almost half (43%) of parents used social media to obtain information on their caregiver and treatment team, and 26% of parents used information gained on social media to guide their decision on where to seek care. Conclusion Social media is a readily available resource, one that will certainly shape the experiences of our patients and families for years to come.

Examining the association between exposure to mass media and health insurance enrolment in Ghana.

PubMed

Kansanga, Moses Mosonsieyiri; Asumah Braimah, Joseph; Antabe, Roger; Sano, Yuji; Kyeremeh, Emmanuel; Luginaah, Isaac

2018-04-01

Although previous studies have explored the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Ghana, very little attention is paid to the influence of mass media exposure on NHIS enrolment. Yet, understanding this linkage is important, particularly due to the critical role of mass media in disseminating health information and shaping people's health perceptions and choices. Using data from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, we employed logistic regression analysis to understand the relationship between NHIS enrolment and exposure to print media, radio, and television. Our findings indicate that women with more exposure to radio (OR = 1.23, P < 0.01) and television (OR = 1.24, P < 0.01) were more likely to enroll in the NHIS than those with no exposure. For men, more exposure to print media was associated with higher odds of enrolling in the NHIS (OR = 1.41, P < 0.01). In conclusion, all 3 types of media may be helpful in promoting NHIS enrolment in Ghana. However, given that the relationship between media exposure and enrolment in the NHIS was gendered, we recommend that policymakers should pay attention to these dynamics to ensure effective targeting in NHIS media campaigns for increased enrolment into the scheme. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Combining natural language processing and network analysis to examine how advocacy organizations stimulate conversation on social media

PubMed Central

Bail, Christopher Andrew

2016-01-01

Social media sites are rapidly becoming one of the most important forums for public deliberation about advocacy issues. However, social scientists have not explained why some advocacy organizations produce social media messages that inspire far-ranging conversation among social media users, whereas the vast majority of them receive little or no attention. I argue that advocacy organizations are more likely to inspire comments from new social media audiences if they create “cultural bridges,” or produce messages that combine conversational themes within an advocacy field that are seldom discussed together. I use natural language processing, network analysis, and a social media application to analyze how cultural bridges shaped public discourse about autism spectrum disorders on Facebook over the course of 1.5 years, controlling for various characteristics of advocacy organizations, their social media audiences, and the broader social context in which they interact. I show that organizations that create substantial cultural bridges provoke 2.52 times more comments about their messages from new social media users than those that do not, controlling for these factors. This study thus offers a theory of cultural messaging and public deliberation and computational techniques for text analysis and application-based survey research. PMID:27694580

Estimation of representative elementary volume for DNAPL saturation and DNAPL-water interfacial areas in 2D heterogeneous porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Ming; Cheng, Zhou; Wu, Jianfeng; Wu, Jichun

2017-06-01

Representative elementary volume (REV) is important to determine properties of porous media and those involved in migration of contaminants especially dense nonaqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) in subsurface environment. In this study, an experiment of long-term migration of the commonly used DNAPL, perchloroethylene (PCE), is performed in a two dimensional (2D) sandbox where several system variables including porosity, PCE saturation (Soil) and PCE-water interfacial area (AOW) are accurately quantified by light transmission techniques over the entire PCE migration process. Moreover, the REVs for these system variables are estimated by a criterion of relative gradient error (εgi) and results indicate that the frequency of minimum porosity-REV size closely follows a Gaussian distribution in the range of 2.0 mm and 8.0 mm. As experiment proceeds in PCE infiltration process, the frequency and cumulative frequency of both minimum Soil-REV and minimum AOW-REV sizes change their shapes from the irregular and random to the regular and smooth. When experiment comes into redistribution process, the cumulative frequency of minimum Soil-REV size reveals a linear positive correlation, while frequency of minimum AOW-REV size tends to a Gaussian distribution in the range of 2.0 mm-7.0 mm and appears a peak value in 13.0 mm-14.0 mm. Undoubtedly, this study will facilitate the quantification of REVs for materials and fluid properties in a rapid, handy and economical manner, which helps enhance our understanding of porous media and DNAPL properties at micro scale, as well as the accuracy of DNAPL contamination modeling at field-scale.

Method and System for Producing Full Motion Media to Display on a Spherical Surface

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Starobin, Michael A. (Inventor)

2015-01-01

A method and system for producing full motion media for display on a spherical surface is described. The method may include selecting a subject of full motion media for display on a spherical surface. The method may then include capturing the selected subject as full motion media (e.g., full motion video) in a rectilinear domain. The method may then include processing the full motion media in the rectilinear domain for display on a spherical surface, such as by orienting the full motion media, adding rotation to the full motion media, processing edges of the full motion media, and/or distorting the full motion media in the rectilinear domain for instance. After processing the full motion media, the method may additionally include providing the processed full motion media to a spherical projection system, such as a Science on a Sphere system.

Making projects, making friends: online community as catalyst for interactive media creation.

PubMed

Brennan, Karen; Monroy-Hernández, Andrés; Resnick, Mitchel

2010-01-01

To become full and active participants in today's technologically saturated society, young people need to become creators (and not just consumers) of interactive media. Developing the requisite abilities and capacities is not a wholly individual process; it is important for young people to have access to communities where they can collaborate and share ideas. This article uses the Scratch online community for exploring how different forms of participation and collaboration can support and shape the ways in which young people develop as creators of interactive media. We describe participation in this community in terms of a spectrum ranging from socializing to creating and present examples of three forms of collaboration within the community. We argue that the most exciting interactive media creation and valuable learning experiences are taking place in the middle space, where participants draw on the best of socializing and creating practices.

The Influence of Social Media on Addictive Behaviors in College Students.

PubMed

Steers, Mai-Ly N; Moreno, Megan A; Neighbors, Clayton

2016-12-01

Social media has become a primary way for college students to communicate aspects of their daily lives to those within their social network. Such communications often include substance use displays (e.g., selfies of college students drinking). Furthermore, students' substance use displays have been found to robustly predict not only the posters' substance use-related outcomes (e.g., consumption, problems) but also that of their social networking peers. The current review summarizes findings of recent literature exploring the intersection between social media and substance use. Specifically, we examine how and why such substance use displays might shape college students' internalized norms surrounding substance use and how it impacts their substance use-related behaviors. Additional social media-related interventions are needed in order to target reduction of consumption among this at-risk group. We discuss the technological and methodological challenges inherent to conducting research and devising interventions in this domain.

A changing climate of skepticism: The factors shaping climate change coverage in the US press.

PubMed

Schmid-Petri, Hannah; Adam, Silke; Schmucki, Ivo; Häussler, Thomas

2017-05-01

Skepticism toward climate change has a long tradition in the United States. We focus on mass media as the conveyors of the image of climate change and ask: Is climate change skepticism still a characteristic of US print media coverage? If so, to what degree and in what form? And which factors might pave the way for skeptics entering mass media debates? We conducted a quantitative content analysis of US print media during one year (1 June 2012 to 31 May 2013). Our results show that the debate has changed: fundamental forms of climate change skepticism (such as denial of anthropogenic causes) have been abandoned in the coverage, being replaced by more subtle forms (such as the goal to avoid binding regulations). We find no evidence for the norm of journalistic balance, nor do our data support the idea that it is the conservative press that boosts skepticism.

Transformation of Adolescent Peer Relations in the Social Media Context: Part 2-Application to Peer Group Processes and Future Directions for Research.

PubMed

Nesi, Jacqueline; Choukas-Bradley, Sophia; Prinstein, Mitchell J

2018-04-07

As social media use becomes increasingly widespread among adolescents, research in this area has accumulated rapidly. Researchers have shown a growing interest in the impact of social media on adolescents' peer experiences, including the ways that the social media context shapes a variety of peer relations constructs. This paper represents Part 2 of a two-part theoretical review. In this review, we offer a new model for understanding the transformative role of social media in adolescents' peer experiences, with the goal of stimulating future empirical work that is grounded in theory. The transformation framework suggests that the features of the social media context transform adolescents' peer experiences by changing their frequency or immediacy, amplifying demands, altering their qualitative nature, and/or offering new opportunities for compensatory or novel behaviors. In the current paper, we consider the ways that social media may transform peer relations constructs that often occur at the group level. Our review focuses on three key constructs: peer victimization, peer status, and peer influence. We selectively review and highlight existing evidence for the transformation of these domains through social media. In addition, we discuss methodological considerations and key conceptual principles for future work. The current framework offers a new theoretical perspective through which peer relations researchers may consider adolescent social media use.

Dynamic Nonreciprocity in Loss-Compensated Piezophononic Media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Merkel, Aurélien; Willatzen, Morten; Christensen, Johan

2018-03-01

Violating time-reversal symmetry enables one to engineer nonreciprocal structures for isolating and rectifying sound and mechanical vibrations. Rectifying sound is commonly achieved in nonlinear media, but the operation is inherently linked to weak and distorted signals. Here, we show how a pronounced electron-phonon coupling in linear piezophononic media under electrical bias can generate full mechanical rectification of broad spectral width, which permits the isolation of pulsed vibrations while keeping the wave-front shape fully intact. In this context, we deliberately show how the acoustoelectric effect can provide active loss compensation against lattice anharmonicity and thermoelastic damping. Further, our predictions confirm tunable nonreciprocity at an ultralarge contrast ratio, which should open the doors for future mechanical diodes and compact ultrasonic transducers for sensing and imaging.

Indigenous obesity in the news: a media analysis of news representation of obesity in Australia's Indigenous population.

PubMed

Islam, Salwa; Fitzgerald, Lisa

2016-01-01

High rates of obesity are a significant issue amongst Indigenous populations in many countries around the world. Media framing of issues can play a critical role in shaping public opinion and government policy. A broad range of media analyses have been conducted on various aspects of obesity, however media representation of Indigenous obesity remains unexplored. In this study we investigate how obesity in Australia's Indigenous population is represented in newsprint media coverage. Media articles published between 2007 and 2014 were analysed for the distribution and extent of coverage over time and across Indigenous and mainstream media sources using quantitative content analysis. Representation of the causes and solutions of Indigenous obesity and framing in text and image content was examined using qualitative framing analysis. Media coverage of Indigenous obesity was very limited with no clear trends in reporting over time or across sources. The single Indigenous media source was the second largest contributor to the media discourse of this issue. Structural causes/origins were most often cited and individual solutions were comparatively overrepresented. A range of frames were employed across the media sources. All images reinforced textual framing except for one article where the image depicted individual factors whereas the text referred to structural determinants. This study provides a starting point for an important area of research that needs further investigation. The findings highlight the importance of alternative news media outlets, such as The Koori Mail, and that these should be developed to enhance the quality and diversity of media coverage. Media organisations can actively contribute to improving Indigenous health through raising awareness, evidence-based balanced reporting, and development of closer ties with Indigenous health workers.

Mechanochemical synthesis of fluorescent carbon dots from cellulose powders

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chae, Ari; Ram Choi, Bo; Choi, Yujin; Jo, Seongho; Kang, Eun Bi; Lee, Hyukjin; Park, Sung Young; In, Insik

2018-04-01

A novel mechanochemical method was firstly developed to synthesize carbon nanodots (CNDs) or carbon nano-onions (CNOs) through high-pressure homogenization of cellulose powders as naturally abundant resource depending on the treatment times. While CNDs (less than 5 nm in size) showed spherical and amorphous morphology, CNOs (10-50 nm in size) presented polyhedral shape, and onion-like outer lattice structure, graphene-like interlattice spacing of 0.36 nm. CNOs showed blue emissions, moderate dispersibility in aqueous media, and high cell viability, which enables efficient fluorescence imaging of cellular media.

Magnetization reversal modes in fourfold Co nano-wire systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blachowicz, T.; Ehrmann, A.

2015-09-01

Magnetic nano-wire systems are, as well as other patterned magnetic structures, of special interest for novel applications, such as magnetic storage media. In these systems, the coupling between neighbouring magnetic units is most important for the magnetization reversal process of the complete system, leading to a variety of magnetization reversal mechanisms. This article examines the influence of the magnetic material on hysteresis loop shape, coercive field, and magnetization reversal modes. While iron nano-wire systems exhibit flat or one-step hysteresis loops, systems consisting of cobalt nano-wires show hysteresis loops with several longitudinal steps and transverse peaks, correlated to a rich spectrum of magnetization reversal mechanisms. We show that changing the material parameters while the system geometry stays identical can lead to completely different hysteresis loops and reversal modes. Thus, especially for finding magnetic nano-systems which can be used as quaternary or even higher-order storage devices, it is rational to test several materials for the planned systems. Apparently, new materials may lead to novel and unexpected behaviour - and can thus result in novel functionalities.

Experiences of housing support in everyday life for persons with schizophrenia and the role of the media from a societal perspective.

PubMed

Jormfeldt, Henrika; Hallén, Malin

2016-01-01

The mental health-care system in Sweden, as in many other counties, has its main focus on the reduction of psychiatric symptoms and the prevention of relapses. People diagnosed with schizophrenia often have significant health issues and experience reduced well-being in everyday life. The social imaginary of mental illness as an imbalance of the brain has implications concerning general attitudes in society. The news media are an important source of information on psychiatric disorders and have an important role in cultivating public perceptions and stigma. News media can contribute to the mental illness stigma and place individuals with mental illnesses at risk of not receiving adequate care and support. The aim of this preliminary study was to describe users' experiences of housing support in everyday life. The results revealed three themes of housing support, which were needed, but frequently insufficiently fulfilled in the municipality. The three themes were: "Support to Practice Healthy Routines in Daily Life," "Support to Shape Meaningful Contents in Everyday Life," and "Support to Meet Needs of Integrity and Respect." The findings support previous studies arguing that current health care and housing support fails to meet basic needs and may lead to significant and unnecessary health risks. Further investigation is needed regarding the links between attitudes to mental illness in society and political and financial principles for health care and housing support for persons with schizophrenia. Further research is needed regarding the role of the media in policymaking concerning health promotion interventions for people diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Do parents have any influence over how young people appraise tobacco images in the media?

PubMed

McCool, Judith; Cameron, Linda D; Robinson, Elizabeth

2011-02-01

Socio-cultural factors, including media and family, play an important role in introducing and reinforcing pro-smoking intentions. Tendencies to appraise smokers in media in positive, negative, and empathic ways may play a role in the social and familial dynamics influencing smoking intentions. This study assessed: (1) social group differences in appraisals of pro- and antismoking imagery in media; (2) whether parental antismoking expectations are associated with less positive appraisals; and (3) whether these appraisal tendencies mediate the relationship between parental antismoking expectations and smoking intentions. Adolescents (N = 515, ages 11-13, M = 11.5 years) from Auckland, New Zealand completed a multimedia, computer-based questionnaire assessing media exposure of smoking imagery in four media clips as well as media exposure, parental attitudes toward smoking, and smoking intentions. Appraisals of smoking imagery in the media clips and media consumption were patterned on the basis of gender, ethnic group, school economic status, and peer and parent smoking behaviors. Positive appraisals of the smoking images were found to mediate the relationship between weaker parental antismoking expectations and greater smoking intentions. Parents may have significant influence over how adolescents perceive smoking imagery in media by presenting clear and unambiguous expectations about tobacco use at home. These expectations may shape how adolescents respond to smoking images by effectively "tainting" the image. Copyright © 2011 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Underbelly of Economy versus Environment Conflicts: Detangling Sources of Tension in Contentious Natural Resource Decisions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clermont, Holly J. K.

It is well-established that biodiversity confers resilience to social-ecological systems, and also that humans are collectively and routinely degrading and destroying ecosystems and driving species to extinction through development and other avenues. In the decade preceding this research, biodiversity loss at local and globally-aggregated scales persistently and substantially exceeded the safe operating space for biosphere integrity, contributing to assertions that the stability of Earth's systems could no longer be relied upon. The propensity to protect biodiversity, or contribute to its demise, arises from a variety of tangled motivations. I investigated five of these influences, including values, sense of place, networks of relationships, media frames, and perceptions of science, for two contentious proposed energy projects in western Canada. I first conducted a frame analysis of online media regarding an oil pipeline expansion from Alberta to British Columbia (BC), and a run-of-river hydroelectric project on the BC coast. I then surveyed and interviewed participants, mapped their place connections, analyzed social networks and social media networks, and examined text and oral submissions to regulatory agencies. These findings were systematically integrated to explore how the five influences contributed to each conflict and decisions affecting biodiversity. Support and opposition for the pipeline were found to be proxies for the prioritization of self-enhancement and self-transcendence (nature) values, respectively, while self-transcendence (nature) values were found on both sides of the run-of-river conflict. For the pipeline conflict, disparities in senses of place underscored a clash of regions. In both cases, well-intentioned but polarizing leaders contributed to online media frames that emphasized conflict and buttressed extreme positions, while helping shape or reinforce siloed networks and the diffusion, uptake, and understanding of scientific and other information. Environmental review processes were mostly unresponsive to these influences. Leverage points to better reduce environmental conflict and protect biodiversity were identified for environmental assessment and similar processes.

General scaling relations for locomotion in granular media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Slonaker, James; Motley, D. Carrington; Zhang, Qiong; Townsend, Stephen; Senatore, Carmine; Iagnemma, Karl; Kamrin, Ken

2017-05-01

Inspired by dynamic similarity in fluid systems, we have derived a general dimensionless form for locomotion in granular materials, which is validated in experiments and discrete element method (DEM) simulations. The form instructs how to scale size, mass, and driving parameters in order to relate dynamic behaviors of different locomotors in the same granular media. The scaling can be derived by assuming intrusion forces arise from resistive force theory or equivalently by assuming the granular material behaves as a continuum obeying a frictional yield criterion. The scalings are experimentally confirmed using pairs of wheels of various shapes and sizes under many driving conditions in a common sand bed. We discuss why the two models provide such a robust set of scaling laws even though they neglect a number of the complexities of granular rheology. Motivated by potential extraplanetary applications, the dimensionless form also implies a way to predict wheel performance in one ambient gravity based on tests in a different ambient gravity. We confirm this using DEM simulations, which show that scaling relations are satisfied over an array of driving modes even when gravity differs between scaled tests.

Formation of polymer nanoparticles by UV pulsed laser ablation of poly (bisphenol A carbonate) in liquid environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martínez-Tong, Daniel E.; Sanz, Mikel; Ezquerra, Tiberio A.; Nogales, Aurora; Marco, José F.; Castillejo, Marta; Rebollar, Esther

2017-10-01

Suspensions of poly(bisphenol A carbonate) (PBAC) nanoparticles of varying size and shape have been produced by ablation of a PBAC target in liquid media with the fourth harmonic of a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (wavelength 266 nm, full width at half maximum 4 ns, repetition rate 10 Hz). The polymer target was placed at the bottom of a rotating glass vessel filled with around a 10 mm column of liquid. Laser ablation in water leads to spherical nanoparticles with diameters of several tens of nanometers for fluences close to 1 J/cm2. Ablation at lower fluences, around 0.1 J/cm2, results in the production of nanoparticles of smaller diameters and also of non-spherical nanoparticles. Additional irradiations at the fluence of 0.1 J/cm2 were performed in several liquid media with different properties, in terms of density, viscosity, thermal conductivity, boiling temperature, isothermal compressibility and polarity. The different size distributions observed were related to the thermal conductivity of the systems, while their viscosity seems to be responsible for the development of nanostructures with different morphologies.

Science in the Media: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Salleh, Anna

2001-01-01

Aims to provide insight into some of the factors that shape science news in the hope of facilitating judicious use of this resource in educational and other contexts. Examines the effects of journalism on public perception of science. (MM)

The Learning Virus: An Affective, Constructivist Movement Shaped by Ultrasociality in the Age of Social Media

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ershler, Jeff; Stabile, Chris

2015-01-01

Redefining the discourse toward a "better fit" cultural framework of beliefs, thought, language, and action through ultrasociality, a constructivist meme can help nurture an epistemological break (or rupture) from the traditional objectivist paradigm in education.

MBBR system performance improvement for petroleum hydrocarbon removal using modified media with activated carbon.

PubMed

Sayyahzadeh, Amir Hossein; Ganjidoust, Hossein; Ayati, Bita

2016-01-01

Moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) system has a successful operation in the treatment of different types of wastewater. Since the media, i.e. the place of growth and formation of biofilm, play the main role in the treatment in this system, MBBR systems were operated in the present research with modified Bee-cell media. Activated carbon granules of almond or walnut shells were placed in media pores to improve the treatment of refinery oil wastewater and their operation with MBBR system was compared with the conventional Bee-cell media. In these experiments, the effects of organic loading rate, hydraulic retention time (HRT), media filling ratio (MFR), and activated carbon concentration (ACC) used in the media were investigated on the operation of MBBR systems. The analysis of results estimated the optimal values of HRT, MFR, and ACC used in the media between the studied levels, being equal to 22 h, 50%, and 7.5 g/L, respectively. Under these conditions, total petroleum hydrocarbons removal efficiencies for MBBR systems using Bee-cell media with carbon of almond, carbon of walnut shells, and a carbon-free system were 95 ± 1.17%, 91 ± 1.11%, and 57 ± 1.7%, respectively, which confirms the adsorption ability of systems with the media containing activated carbon in the removal of petroleum compounds from wastewater.

STS-114: Discovery Day 13 Mission Status Briefing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2005-01-01

LeRoy Cain, STS-114 Ascent/Entry Flight Director, takes a solo stand with the Press in this briefing. He reports that the vehicle is in good shape, consumable status is excellent, and the shuttle crew is in high spirits and preparing for de-orbit and landing. LeRoy and his team have completed the entry system check up, flight control check up, reactor control system check up, and noted that all are at nominal performance; weather forecast is very good, the Entry team is ready and looking forward to de-orbit and landing at the Kennedy Space Center on Monday, August 8th. Re-entry, personal feelings, Columbia accident, data gathering, consumable situation, back up sites, weather, communication block out, night and day landing, and Commander Collin's piloting skills during night flight are some of the topics covered with the News media.

Facilitating surgeon understanding of complex anatomy using a three-dimensional printed model.

PubMed

Cromeens, Barrett P; Ray, William C; Hoehne, Brad; Abayneh, Fikir; Adler, Brent; Besner, Gail E

2017-08-01

3-dimensional prints (3DP) anecdotally facilitate surgeon understanding of anatomy and decision-making. However, the actual benefit to surgeons or patients has not been quantified. This study investigates how surgeon understanding of complex anatomy is altered by a 3DP compared to computed tomography (CT) scan or CT + digital reconstruction (CT + DR). Key anatomic features were segmented from a CT-abdomen/pelvis of pygopagus twins to build a DR and printed in color on a 3D printer. Pediatric surgery trainees and attendings (n = 21) were tested regarding anatomy identification and their understanding of point-to-point distances, scale, and shape. There was no difference between media regarding point-to-point distances. The 3DP led to an increased number of correct answers for questions of scale and shape compared to CT (P < 0.05). CT + DR performance was intermediate but not statistically different from 3DP or CT. Identification of anatomy was inconsistent between media; however, answers were significantly closer to correct when using the 3DP. Participants completed the test faster with the 3DP (6.6 ± 0.5 min) (P < 0.05) than with CT (18.9 ± 2.5 min) or CT + 3DR (14.9 ± 1.5 min). Although point-to-point measurements were not different, 3DP increased the understanding of shape, scale, and anatomy. It enabled understanding significantly faster than other media. In difficult surgical cases with complex anatomy and a need for efficient multidisciplinary coordination, 3D printed models should be considered for surgical planning. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Reciprocal relationships between friends' and parental mediation of adolescents' media use and their sexual attitudes and behavior.

PubMed

Nikken, Peter; de Graaf, Hanneke

2013-11-01

Research has argued that adolescents are at risk for harmful effects of sexual media, but little is known about the role of parents and friends on adolescents' media use in regard of these effects. The present two-wave study investigated whether prior parental and friends' influences on adolescents' use of sexual media shape their sexual attitudes and behaviors, and vice versa if prior sexual attitudes and behaviors predict parental and friends' media mediation. At two measurement points 18 months apart, 528 adolescents (12-17 years; 51.3% girls) reported on permissive sexual attitudes, sexual experience, perceived parental and friends' mediation of sexual media use, and communication with parents and friends about sex. Structural Equation Modeling shows that parents' mediation activities on adolescents' media use were not followed by less sexual experience and less permissive attitudes. On the contrary, parental restrictive mediation of girls' media use unexpectedly was followed by somewhat more sexual experience. Friends' interventions with media use did not predict adolescents' sexual experience and attitudes neither. Inverse relationships showed that prior sexual experience was followed by less restrictive parental mediation among boys, and both among boys and girls that permissive sexual attitudes were followed by less restrictive and less active parental mediation. At the same time, sexually more experienced and more permissive boys and girls did report more media pressure from and sexual communication with their friends later on. Our study thus indicates that the opposite agent roles of parents and friends for adolescents also applies to their usage of sexual media.

Visual analysis of immiscible displacement processes in porous media under ultrasound effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naderi, Khosrow; Babadagli, Tayfun

2011-05-01

The effect of sonic waves, in particular, ultrasonic radiation, on immiscible displacement in porous media and enhanced oil recovery has been of interest for more than five decades. Attempts were made to investigate the effect through core scale experimental or theoretical models. Visual experiments are useful to scrutinize the reason for improved oil recovery under acoustic waves of different frequency but are not abundant in literature. In this paper, we report observations and analyses as to the effects of ultrasonic energy on immiscible displacement and interaction of the fluid matrix visually in porous media through two-dimensional (2D) sand pack experiments. 2D glass bead models with different wettabilities were saturated with different viscosity oils and water was injected into the models. The experiments were conducted with and without ultrasound. Dynamic water injection experiments were preferred as they had both viscous and capillary forces in effect. The displacement patterns were evaluated both in terms of their shape, size, and the interface characteristics quantitatively and qualitatively to account for the effects of ultrasonic waves on the displacement and the reason for increased oil production under this type of sonic wave. More compact clusters were observed when ultrasonic energy was present in water-wet systems. In the oil-wet cases, more oil was produced after breakthrough when ultrasound was applied and no compact clusters were formed in contrast to the water-wet cases.

Modeling of heat flow and effective thermal conductivity of fractured media: Analytical and numerical methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nguyen, S. T.; Vu, M.-H.; Vu, M. N.; Tang, A. M.

2017-05-01

The present work aims to modeling the thermal conductivity of fractured materials using homogenization-based analytical and pattern-based numerical methods. These materials are considered as a network of cracks distributed inside a solid matrix. Heat flow through such media is perturbed by the crack system. The problem of heat flow across a single crack is firstly investigated. The classical Eshelby's solution, extended to the thermal conduction problem of an ellipsoidal inclusion embedding in an infinite homogeneous matrix, gives an analytical solution of temperature discontinuity across a non-conducting penny-shaped crack. This solution is then validated by the numerical simulation based on the finite elements method. The numerical simulation allows analyzing the effect of crack conductivity. The problem of a single crack is then extended to a medium containing multiple cracks. Analytical estimations for effective thermal conductivity, that take into account the interaction between cracks and their spatial distribution, are developed for the case of non-conducting cracks. Pattern-based numerical method is then employed for both cases non-conducting and conducting cracks. In the case of non-conducting cracks, numerical and analytical methods, both account for the spatial distribution of the cracks, fit perfectly. In the case of conducting cracks, the numerical analyzing of crack conductivity effect shows that highly conducting cracks weakly affect heat flow and the effective thermal conductivity of fractured media.

Understanding of assembly phenomena by aromatic-aromatic interactions: benzene dimer and the substituted systems.

PubMed

Lee, Eun Cheol; Kim, Dongwook; Jurecka, Petr; Tarakeshwar, P; Hobza, Pavel; Kim, Kwang S

2007-05-10

Interactions involving aromatic rings are important in molecular/biomolecular assembly and engineering. As a consequence, there have been a number of investigations on dimers involving benzene or other substituted pi systems. In this Feature Article, we examine the relevance of the magnitudes of their attractive and repulsive interaction energy components in governing the geometries of several pi-pi systems. The geometries and the associated binding energies were evaluated at the complete basis set (CBS) limit of coupled cluster theory with singles, doubles, and perturbative triples excitations [CCSD(T)] using a least biased scheme for the given data set. The results for the benzene dimer indicate that the floppy T-shaped structure (center-to-center distance: 4.96 A, with an axial benzene off-centered above the facial benzene) is isoenergetic in zero-point-energy (ZPE) corrected binding energy (D0) to the displaced-stacked structure (vertical interplanar distance: 3.54 A). However, the T-shaped structure is likely to be slightly more stable (D0 approximately equal to 2.4-2.5 kcal/mol) if quadruple excitations are included in the coupled cluster calculations. The presence of substituents on the aromatic ring, irrespective of their electron withdrawing or donating nature, leads to an increase in the binding energy, and the displaced-stacked conformations are more stabilized than the T-shaped conformers. This explains the wide prevalence of displaced stacked structures in organic crystals. Despite that the dispersion energy is dominating, the substituent as well as the conformational effects are correlated to the electrostatic interaction. This electrostatic origin implies that the substituent effect would be reduced in polar solution, but important in apolar media, in particular, for assembling processes.

Social media: A contextual framework to guide research and practice.

PubMed

McFarland, Lynn A; Ployhart, Robert E

2015-11-01

Social media are a broad collection of digital platforms that have radically changed the way people interact and communicate. However, we argue that social media are not simply a technology but actually represent a context that differs in important ways from traditional (e.g., face-to-face) and other digital (e.g., email) ways of interacting and communicating. As a result, social media is a relatively unexamined type of context that may affect the cognition, affect, and behavior of individuals within organizations. We propose a contextual framework that identifies the discrete and ambient stimuli that distinguish social media contexts from digital communication media (e.g., email) and physical (e.g., face-to-face) contexts. We then use this contextual framework to demonstrate how it changes more person-centered theories of organizational behavior (e.g., social exchange, social contagion, and social network theories). These theoretical insights are also used to identify a number of practical implications for individuals and organizations. This study's major contribution is creating a theoretical understanding of social media features so that future research may proceed in a theory-based, rather than platform-based, manner. Overall, we intend for this article to stimulate and broadly shape the direction of research on this ubiquitous, but poorly understood, phenomenon. (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

Media Messages and Perceptions of the Affordable Care Act during the Early Phase of Implementation.

PubMed

Fowler, Erika Franklin; Baum, Laura M; Barry, Colleen L; Niederdeppe, Jeff; Gollust, Sarah E

2017-02-01

Public opinion about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has been polarized since the law's passage. Past research suggests these conditions would make any media influence on the public limited at best. However, during the early phase of implementation, locally broadcast ACA-related media messages-in the form of paid health insurance and political advertisements and news media stories-abounded as advocates, insurance marketers, and politicians sought to shape the public's perceptions of the law. To what extent did message exposure affect ACA perceptions during the first open enrollment period? We merge data on volumes of messaging at the media market level with nationally representative survey data to examine the relationship between estimated exposure to media messaging and the public's perceptions of how informed they were about and favorable toward the ACA in October 2013. We find that higher volumes of insurance advertising and local news coverage are associated with participants' perceptions of being informed about the law. Volumes of insurance advertising and of local news coverage are also associated with participants' favorability toward the law, but the relationship varies with partisanship, supporting the growing body of research describing partisan perceptual bias. Copyright © 2017 by Duke University Press.

Integrating Journalism Into Health Promotion: Creating and Disseminating Community Narratives.

PubMed

Brown, Louis D; Berryhill, Joseph C; Jones, Eric C

2018-06-01

Media coverage of mental health and other social issues often relies on episodic narratives that suggest individualistic causes and solutions, while reinforcing negative stereotypes. Community narratives can provide empowering alternatives, serving as media advocacy tools used to shape the policy debate on a social issue. This article provides health promotion researchers and practitioners with guidance on how to develop and disseminate community narratives to broaden awareness of social issues and build support for particular programs and policy solutions. To exemplify the community narrative development process and highlight important considerations, this article examines a narrative from a mental health consumer-run organization. In the narrative, people with mental health problems help one another while operating a nonprofit organization, thereby countering stigmatizing media portrayals of people with mental illness as dangerous and incompetent. The community narrative frame supports the use of consumer-run organizations, which are not well-known and receive little funding despite evidence of effectiveness. The article concludes by reviewing challenges to disseminating community narratives, such as creating a product of interest to media outlets, and potential solutions, such as engaging media representatives through community health partnerships and using social media to draw attention to the narratives.

Improvement of physicomechanical properties of carbamazepine by recrystallization at different pH values.

PubMed

Javadzadeh, Yousef; Mohammadi, Ameneh; Khoei, Nazaninossadat Seyed; Nokhodchi, Ali

2009-06-01

The morphology of crystals has an appreciable impact role on the physicochemical properties of drugs. Drug properties such as flowability, dissolution, hardness and bioavailability may be affected by crystallinity behaviours of drugs. The objective of this study was to achieve an improved physicomechanical property of carbamazepine powder through recrystallization from aqueous solutions at different pH values. For this purpose, carbamazapine was recrystallized from aqueous solutions at different pH values (1, 7, 11). The morphology of crystals was investigated using scanning electron microscopy; X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) was used to identify polymorphism; thermodynamic properties were analyzed using differential scanning calorimetery (DSC). Dissolution rate was determined using USP dissolution apparatus. Mechanical behavior of recrystallized carbamazepine powders was investigated by making tablets under different compaction pressure and measuring their hardness. SEM studies showed that the carbamazepine crystallization in different media affected the morphology and size of carbamazepine crystals. The shape of carbamazepine crystals changed from flaky or thin plate-like to needle shape. XRPD and DSC results ruled out any crystallinity changes occurring due to the temperature during recrystallization procedure or pH of crystallization media. The crushing strength of tablets indicated that all of the recrystallized carbamazepine samples had better compactiblity than the original carbamazepine powder. In vitro dissolution studies of carbamazepine samples showed a higher dissolution rate for carbamazepine crystals obtained from media with pH 11 and 1. Carbamazepine particles recrystallized from aqueous solutions of different pH values (all media) appeared to have superior mechanical properties to those of the original carbamazepine sample.

Television, disordered eating, and young women in Fiji: negotiating body image and identity during rapid social change.

PubMed

Becker, Anne E

2004-12-01

Although the relationship between media exposure and risk behavior among youth is established at a population level, the specific psychological and social mechanisms mediating the adverse effects of media on youth remain poorly understood. This study reports on an investigation of the impact of the introduction of television to a rural community in Western Fiji on adolescent ethnic Fijian girls in a setting of rapid social and economic change. Narrative data were collected from 30 purposively selected ethnic Fijian secondary school girls via semi-structured, open-ended interviews. Interviews were conducted in 1998, 3 years after television was first broadcast to this region of Fiji. Narrative data were analyzed for content relating to response to television and mechanisms that mediate self and body image in Fijian adolescents. Data in this sample suggest that media imagery is used in both creative and destructive ways by adolescent Fijian girls to navigate opportunities and conflicts posed by the rapidly changing social environment. Study respondents indicated their explicit modeling of the perceived positive attributes of characters presented in television dramas, but also the beginnings of weight and body shape preoccupation, purging behavior to control weight, and body disparagement. Response to television appeared to be shaped by a desire for competitive social positioning during a period of rapid social transition. Understanding vulnerability to images and values imported with media will be critical to preventing disordered eating and, potentially, other youth risk behaviors in this population, as well as other populations at risk.

The Media As Opiate: Blacks in the Performing Arts.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Staples, Robert

1986-01-01

It is ironic that the barometer of progress for Blacks has been their success in the performing arts. The film industry has historically shaped and reflected racist attitudes toward Blacks, while the popular music industry still segregates and exploits Black artists. (Author/GC)

Representations of Disability in Print News Media in Postsocialist Ukraine

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Phillips, Sarah D.

2012-01-01

This article examines the narrative discourses that shape representations of disability in newspapers in postsocialist Ukraine, arguing that narratives about disability are linked to a meta-discourse of "transition" that emphasizes disorder. Further, newspaper coverage prescribes competing and contradictory models of citizenship and…

Line Designs Inspired by Paul Klee

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blanchette, Lisa

2009-01-01

In this lesson, students learn about line, shape, color, mixed media and abstraction, while being introduced to Swiss artist, Paul Klee (1879-1940). This lesson works well with a variety of age levels and abilities and could also be used to teach analogous or triad color schemes.

Critical Reading: Visual Skills.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Adams, Dennis M.

The computer controlled visual media, particularly television, are becoming an increasingly powerful instrument for the manipulation of thought. Powerful visual images increasingly reflect and shape personal and external reality--politics being one such example--and it is crucial that the viewing public understand the nature of these media…

Assessment of Environmental Intention of Journalists

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Skanavis, Constantina; Sakellari, Maria

2007-01-01

The main objective of environmental education (EE) is that citizens develop a responsible environmental behavior. Environmental awareness constitutes an important factor for the shaping of a responsible environmental behavior. The mass media can strengthen the degree of environmental awareness of the public, through the dissemination of…

Humanizing Blindness through Public Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Augusto, C. R.; McGraw, J. M.

1990-01-01

Public attitudes toward blindness are shaped by limited contacts with visually impaired people and unrealistic portrayals of blind people in the media. Proactive efforts including national and local public education programs are needed to change stereotyped thinking, humanize blindness, and lead to greater opportunities for fuller participation in…

Filamentation and light bullet formation dynamics in solid-state dielectric media with weak, moderate and strong anomalous group velocity dispersion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gražulevičiūtė, I.; Garejev, N.; Majus, D.; Jukna, V.; Tamošauskas, G.; Dubietis, A.

2016-02-01

We present a series of measurements, which characterize filamentation dynamics of intense ultrashort laser pulses in the space-time domain, as captured by means of three-dimensional imaging technique in sapphire and fused silica, in the wavelength range of 1.45-2.25 μm, accessing the regimes of weak, moderate and strong anomalous group velocity dispersion (GVD). In the regime of weak anomalous GVD (at 1.45 μm), pulse splitting into two sub-pulses producing a pair of light bullets with spectrally shifted carrier frequencies in both nonlinear media is observed. In contrast, in the regimes of moderate (at 1.8 μm) and strong (at 2.25 μm) anomalous GVD we observe notably different transient dynamics, which however lead to the formation of a single self-compressed quasistationary light bullet with an universal spatiotemporal shape comprised of an extended ring-shaped periphery and a localized intense core that carries the self-compressed pulse.

Algorithmic psychometrics and the scalable subject.

PubMed

Stark, Luke

2018-04-01

Recent public controversies, ranging from the 2014 Facebook 'emotional contagion' study to psychographic data profiling by Cambridge Analytica in the 2016 American presidential election, Brexit referendum and elsewhere, signal watershed moments in which the intersecting trajectories of psychology and computer science have become matters of public concern. The entangled history of these two fields grounds the application of applied psychological techniques to digital technologies, and an investment in applying calculability to human subjectivity. Today, a quantifiable psychological subject position has been translated, via 'big data' sets and algorithmic analysis, into a model subject amenable to classification through digital media platforms. I term this position the 'scalable subject', arguing it has been shaped and made legible by algorithmic psychometrics - a broad set of affordances in digital platforms shaped by psychology and the behavioral sciences. In describing the contours of this 'scalable subject', this paper highlights the urgent need for renewed attention from STS scholars on the psy sciences, and on a computational politics attentive to psychology, emotional expression, and sociality via digital media.

Experimental recovery of intrinsic fluorescence and fluorophore concentration in the presence of hemoglobin: spectral effect of scattering and absorption on fluorescence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Du Le, Vinh Nguyen; Patterson, Michael S.; Farrell, Thomas J.; Hayward, Joseph E.; Fang, Qiyin

2015-12-01

The ability to recover the intrinsic fluorescence of biological fluorophores is crucial to accurately identify the fluorophores and quantify their concentrations in the media. Although some studies have successfully retrieved the fluorescence spectral shape of known fluorophores, the techniques usually came with heavy computation costs and did not apply for strongly absorptive media, and the intrinsic fluorescence intensity and fluorophore concentration were not recovered. In this communication, an experimental approach was presented to recover intrinsic fluorescence and concentration of fluorescein in the presence of hemoglobin (Hb). The results indicated that the method was efficient in recovering the intrinsic fluorescence peak and fluorophore concentration with an error of 3% and 10%, respectively. The results also suggested that chromophores with irregular absorption spectra (e.g., Hb) have more profound effects on fluorescence spectral shape than chromophores with monotonic absorption and scattering spectra (e.g., black India ink and polystyrene microspheres).

Representations of celebrities' weight and shape during pregnancy and postpartum: a content analysis of three entertainment magazine websites.

PubMed

Gow, Rachel W; Lydecker, Janet A; Lamanna, Jennifer D; Mazzeo, Suzanne E

2012-01-01

Entertainment magazine websites provide a continuous stream of celebrity news accessed by over 13 million unique viewers each month. Celebrities' experiences of pregnancy and new motherhood appear to be popular topics within these media outlets; however, little research has investigated the content of this coverage. In this study, investigators coded articles (N=387) published between August 1, 2007 and August 1, 2008 on three popular entertainment magazine websites. Relatively few articles about celebrities' pregnancies discussed weight (13%) or shape (30%), and an even smaller proportion (6.2%) included any discussion of postpartum body dissatisfaction. This suggests a gap between portrayal of celebrities' pregnancies and postpartum experiences and those of non-celebrity women. This disparity is concerning as it might lead to unrealistic expectations about pregnancy and postpartum for both pregnant readers and a more general audience. This study provides important initial information about the messages these media provide regarding pregnancy-related appearance. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Exploration of material removal rate of srf elliptical cavities as a function of media type and cavity shape on niobium and copper using centrifugal barrel polishing (cbp)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Palczewski, Ari; Ciovati, Gianluigi; Li, Yongming

Centrifugal barrel polishing (cbp) for SRF application is becoming more wide spread as the technique for cavity surface preparation. CBP is now being used in some form at SRF laboratories around the world including in the US, Europe and Asia. Before the process can become as mature as wet chemistry like eletro-polishing (EP) and buffered chemical polishing (BCP) there are many questions which remain unanswered. One of these topics includes the uniformity of removal as a function of cavity shape and material type. In this presentation we show CBP removal rates for various media types on 1.3 GHz TESLA andmore » 1.5 GHz CEBAF large/fine grain niobium cavities, and 1.3GHz low surface field copper cavity. The data will also include calculated RF frequency shift modeling non-uniform removal as a function of cavity position and comparing them with CBP results.« less

Propaganda, Public Information, and Prospecting: Explaining the Irrational Exuberance of Central Place Foragers During a Late Nineteenth Century Colorado Silver Rush.

PubMed

Glover, Susan M

2009-10-01

Traditionally, models of resource extraction assume individuals act as if they form strategies based on complete information. In reality, gathering information about environmental parameters may be costly. An efficient information gathering strategy is to observe the foraging behavior of others, termed public information. However, media can exploit this strategy by appearing to supply accurate information while actually shaping information to manipulate people to behave in ways that benefit the media or their clients. Here, I use Central Place Foraging (CPF) models to investigate how newspaper propaganda shaped ore foraging strategies of late nineteenth-century Colorado silver prospectors. Data show that optimistic values of silver ore published in local newspapers led prospectors to place mines at a much greater distance than was profitable. Models assuming perfect information neglect the possibility of misinformation among investors, and may underestimate the extent and degree of human impacts on areas of resource extraction.

Representations of Celebrities’ Weight and Shape during Pregnancy and Postpartum: A Content Analysis of Three Entertainment Magazine Websites

PubMed Central

Gow, Rachel W.; Lydecker, Janet A.; Lamanna, Jennifer D.; Mazzeo, Suzanne E.

2011-01-01

Entertainment magazine websites provide a continuous stream of celebrity news accessed by over 13 million unique viewers each month. Celebrities’ experiences of pregnancy and new motherhood appear to be popular topics within these media outlets; however, little research has investigated the content of this coverage. In this study, investigators coded articles (N = 387) published between August 1, 2007 and August 1, 2008 on three popular entertainment magazine websites. Relatively few articles about celebrities’ pregnancies discussed weight (13%) or shape (30%), and an even smaller proportion (6.2%) included any discussion of postpartum body dissatisfaction. This suggests a gap between portrayal of celebrities’ pregnancies and postpartum experiences and those of non-celebrity women. This disparity is concerning as it might lead to unrealistic expectations about pregnancy and postpartum for both pregnant readers and a more general audience. This study provides important initial information about the messages these media provide regarding pregnancy-related appearance. PMID:21873126

What's Manifest in the History of SciTech: Reflections on The History Manifesto.

PubMed

Kevles, Daniel J

2016-06-01

Making nuts-and-bolts public policy is not--and never has been--the long suit of professional historians, but general historical work, whatever its durée, has done a good deal to shape discourse on public issues. Jo Guldi and David Armitage neglect that fact, as well as the opinion-shaping influence of history conveyed via nonprint media. They also ignore the large body of scholarship produced in all media during recent decades in the history of science, technology, and science-related medicine (SciTech), even though SciTech itself looms enormously large in the modern era as an instrument of national and international security, a driver of the economy, and a transformer of medicine, public health, and the environment. Much of this scholarship, even though of short durée, can illuminate salient contemporary issues, including innovation; patronage and practice; government and policy; imperialism and globalization; intellectual property; science and religion; and human rights, environment, energy, and disasters.

The relationship between decorrelation time and sample thickness in acute rat brain tissue slices (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brake, Joshua; Jang, Mooseok; Yang, Changhuei

2016-03-01

The optical opacity of biological tissue has long been a challenge in biomedical optics due to the strong scattering nature of tissue in the optical regime. While most conventional optical techniques attempt to gate out multiply scattered light and use only unscattered light, new approaches in the field of wavefront shaping exploit the time reversible symmetry of optical scattering in order to focus light inside or through scattering media. While these approaches have been demonstrated effectively on static samples, it has proven difficult to apply them to dynamic biological samples since even small changes in the relative positions of the scatterers within will cause the time symmetry that wavefront shaping relies upon to decorrelate. In this paper we investigate the decorrelation curves of acute rat brain slices for thicknesses in the range 1-3 mm (1/e decorrelation time on the order of seconds) using multi-speckle diffusing wave spectroscopy (MSDWS) and compare the results with theoretical predictions. The results of this study demonstrate that the 1/L^2 relationship between decorrelation time and thickness predicted by diffusing wave spectroscopy provides a good rule of thumb for estimating how the decorrelation of a sample will change with increasing thickness. Understanding this relationship will provide insight to guide the future development of biophotonic wavefront shaping tools by giving an estimate of how fast wavefront shaping systems need to operate to overcome the dynamic nature of biological samples.

CRevolution 2—Origin and evolution of the Colorado River system, workshop abstracts

USGS Publications Warehouse

Beard, L. Sue; Karlstrom, Karl E.; Young, Richard A.; Billingsley, George H.

2011-01-01

A 2010 Colorado River symposium, held in Flagstaff, Arizona, involved 70 participants who engaged in intense debate about the origin and evolution of the Colorado River system. This symposium, built upon two previous decadal scientific meetings, focused on forging scientific consensus, where possible, while articulating continued controversies regarding the Cenozoic evolution of the Colorado River System and the landscapes of the Colorado Plateau-Rocky Mountain region that it drains. New developments involved hypotheses that Neogene mantle flow is driving plateau tilting and differential uplift and new and controversial hypotheses for the pre-6 Ma presence and evolution of ancestral rivers that may be important in the history and birth of the present Colorado River. There is a consensus that plateau tilt and uplift models must be tested with multidisciplinary studies involving differential incision studies and additional geochronology and thermochronology to determine the relative importance of tectonic and geomorphic forces that shape the spectacular landscapes of the Colorado Plateau, Arizona and region. In addition to the scientific goals, the meeting participants emphasized the iconic status of Grand Canyon for geosciences and the importance of good communication between the research community, the geoscience education/interpretation community, the public, and the media. Building on a century-long tradition, this region still provides a globally important natural laboratory for studies of the interactions of erosion and tectonism in shaping the landscape of elevated plateaus.

Parallelized Monte Carlo software to efficiently simulate the light propagation in arbitrarily shaped objects and aligned scattering media.

PubMed

Zoller, Christian Johannes; Hohmann, Ansgar; Foschum, Florian; Geiger, Simeon; Geiger, Martin; Ertl, Thomas Peter; Kienle, Alwin

2018-06-01

A GPU-based Monte Carlo software (MCtet) was developed to calculate the light propagation in arbitrarily shaped objects, like a human tooth, represented by a tetrahedral mesh. A unique feature of MCtet is a concept to realize different kinds of light-sources illuminating the complex-shaped surface of an object, for which no preprocessing step is needed. With this concept, it is also possible to consider photons leaving a turbid media and reentering again in case of a concave object. The correct implementation was shown by comparison with five other Monte Carlo software packages. A hundredfold acceleration compared with central processing units-based programs was found. MCtet can simulate anisotropic light propagation, e.g., by accounting for scattering at cylindrical structures. The important influence of the anisotropic light propagation, caused, e.g., by the tubules in human dentin, is shown for the transmission spectrum through a tooth. It was found that the sensitivity to a change in the oxygen saturation inside the pulp for transmission spectra is much larger if the tubules are considered. Another "light guiding" effect based on a combination of a low scattering and a high refractive index in enamel is described. (2018) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE).

Media coverage of health issues and how to work more effectively with journalists: a qualitative study

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background The mass media has enormous potential to influence health-related behaviours and perceptions. Much research has focused on how the media frames health issues. This study sought to explore how journalists in Australia select and shape news on health issues. Methods The study involved semi-structured interviews with 16 journalists from major Australian print, radio and television media organisations reporting on avian influenza and pandemic planning. Journalists, including reporters, editors and producers, were interviewed between October 2006 and August 2007. Thematic analysis was used to draw out major lessons for health communicators. Results Journalists routinely attempted to balance different, sometimes competing, aims amidst significant operational constraints. They perceived the most trusted sources on health issues to be respected and independent doctors. Specialist health and medical reporters had a more sound technical knowledge, channels to appropriate sources, power within their organisations, and ability to advocate for better quality coverage. Conclusions An awareness of how to work with the media is essential for health communicators. This includes understanding journalists' daily routines, being available, providing resources, and building relationships with specialist health reporters. PMID:20822552

Scattering from randomly oriented scatterers of arbitrary shape in the low-frequency limit with application to vegetation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Karam, M. A.; Fung, A. K.

1983-01-01

A general theory of intensity scattering from small particles of arbitrary shape has been developed based on the radiative transfer theory. Upon permitting the particles to orient in accordance with any prescribed distribution, scattering models can be derived. By making an appropriate choice of the particle size, the scattering model may be used to estimate scattering from media such as snow, vegetation and sea ice. For the purpose of illustration only comparisons with measurements from a vegetated medium are shown. The difference in scattering between elliptic- and circular-shaped leaves is demonstrated. In the low-frequency limit, the major factors on backscattering from vegetation are found to be the depth of the vegetation layer and the orientation distribution of the leaves. The shape of the leaf is of secondary importance.

Scattering from randomly oriented scatterers of arbitrary shape in the low-frequency limit with application to vegetation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Karam, M. A.; Fung, A. K.

1984-01-01

A general theory of intensity scattering from small particles of arbitrary shape was developed based on the radiative transfer theory. Upon permitting the particles to orient in accordance with any prescribed distribution, scattering models can be derived. By making an appropriate choice of the particle size, the scattering model may be used to estimate scattering from media such as snow, vegetation and sea ice. For the purpose of illustration only comparisons with measurements from a vegetated medium are shown. The difference in scattering between elliptic and circular shaped leaves is demonstrated. In the low frequency limit, the major factors on backscattering from vegetation are found to be the depth of the vegetation layer and the orientation distribution of the leaves. The shape of the leaf is of secondary importance.

Effect of (social) media on the political figure fever model: Jokowi-fever model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yong, Benny; Samat, Nor Azah

2016-02-01

In recent years, political figures begin to utilize social media as one of alternative to engage in communication with their supporters. Publics referred to Jokowi, one of the candidates in Indonesia presidential election in 2014, as the first politician in Indonesia to truly understand the power of social media. Social media is very important in shaping public opinion. In this paper, effect of social media on the Jokowi-fever model in a closed population will be discussed. Supporter population is divided into three class sub-population, i.e susceptible supporters, Jokowi infected supporters, and recovered supporters. For case no positive media, there are two equilibrium points; the Jokowi-fever free equilibrium point in which it locally stable if basic reproductive ratio less than one and the Jokowi-fever endemic equilibrium point in which it locally stable if basic reproductive ratio greater than one. For case no negative media, there is only the Jokowi-fever endemic equilibrium point in which it locally stable if the condition is satisfied. Generally, for case positive media proportion is positive, there is no Jokowi-fever free equilibrium point. The numerical result shows that social media gives significantly effect on Jokowi-fever model, a sharp increase or a sharp decrease in the number of Jokowi infected supporters. It is also shown that the boredom rate is one of the sensitive parameters in the Jokowi-fever model; it affects the number of Jokowi infected supporters.

Video Games Do Indeed Influence Children and Adolescents' Aggression, Prosocial Behavior, and Academic Performance: A Clearer Reading of Ferguson (2015).

PubMed

Boxer, Paul; Groves, Christopher L; Docherty, Meagan

2015-09-01

Psychological scientists have long sought to determine the relative impact of environmental influences over development and behavior in comparison with the impact of personal, dispositional, or genetic influences. This has included significant interest in the role played by media in children's development with a good deal of emphasis on how violent media spark and shape aggressive behavior in children and adolescents. Despite a variety of methodological weaknesses in his meta-analysis, Ferguson (2015, this issue) presents evidence to support the positive association between violent media consumption and a number of poor developmental outcomes. In this Commentary we discuss this meta-analytic work and how it fits into a broader understanding of human development. © The Author(s) 2015.

I want to media multitask and I want to do it now: Individual differences in media multitasking predict delay of gratification and system-1 thinking.

PubMed

Schutten, Dan; Stokes, Kirk A; Arnell, Karen M

2017-01-01

Media multitasking, the concurrent use of multiple media forms, has been shown to be related to greater self-reported impulsivity and less self-control. These measures are both hallmarks of the need for immediate gratification which has been associated with fast, intuitive 'system-1' decision making, as opposed to more deliberate and effortful 'system-2' decision making. In Study 1, we used the Cognitive Reflection Task (CRT) to examine whether individuals who engage heavily in media multitasking differ from those who are light media multitaskers in their degree of system-1 versus system-2 thinking. In Study 2 we examined whether heavy and light media multitaskers differ in delay of gratification, using the delay discounting measure which estimates the preference for smaller immediate rewards, relative to larger delayed rewards in a hypothetical monetary choice task. We found that heavy media multitaskers were more likely than light media multitaskers to endorse intuitive, but wrong, decisions on the CRT indicating a greater reliance on 'system-1' thinking. Heavy media multitaskers were also willing to settle for less money immediately relative to light media multitaskers who were more willing to wait for the larger delayed reward. These results suggest that heavy media multitaskers have a reactive decision-making style that promotes current desires (money, ease of processing) at the expense of accuracy and future rewards. These findings highlight the potential for heavy media multitaskers to be at risk for problematic behaviors associated with delay discounting - behaviors such as substance abuse, overeating, problematic gambling, and poor financial management.

U-Shaped and Surface Functionalized Polymer Optical Fiber Probe for Glucose Detection.

PubMed

Azkune, Mikel; Ruiz-Rubio, Leire; Aldabaldetreku, Gotzon; Arrospide, Eneko; Pérez-Álvarez, Leyre; Bikandi, Iñaki; Zubia, Joseba; Vilas-Vilela, Jose Luis

2017-12-25

In this work we show an optical fiber evanescent wave absorption probe for glucose detection in different physiological media. High selectivity is achieved by functionalizing the surface of an only-core poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) polymer optical fiber with phenilboronic groups, and enhanced sensitivity by using a U-shaped geometry. Employing a supercontinuum light source and a high-resolution spectrometer, absorption measurements are performed in the broadband visible light spectrum. Experimental results suggest the feasibility of such a fiber probe as a low-cost and selective glucose detector.

Packing Optimization of an Intentionally Stratified Sorbent Bed Containing Dissimilar Media Types

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kidd, Jessica; Guttromson, Jayleen; Holland, Nathan

2010-01-01

The Fire Cartridge is a packed bed air filter with two different and separate layers of media designed to provide respiratory protection from combustion products after a fire event on the International Space Station (ISS). The first layer of media is a carbon monoxide catalyst made from gold nanoparticles dispersed on iron oxide. The second layer of media is universal carbon, commonly used in commercial respirator filters. Each layer must be optimally packed to effectively remove contaminants from the air. Optimal packing is achieved by vibratory agitations. However, if post-packing movement of the media within the cartridge occurs, mixing of the bed layers, air voids, and channeling could cause preferential air flow and allow contaminants to pass. Several iterations of prototype fire cartridges were developed to reduce post-packing movement of the media within each layer (settling), and to prevent mixing of the two media types. Both types of movement of the media contribute to decreased fire cartridge performance. Each iteration of the fire cartridge design was tested to demonstrate mechanical loads required to cause detrimental movement within the bed, and resulting level of functionality of the media beds after movement was detected. In order to optimally pack each layer, vertical, horizontal, and orbital agitations were tested and a final packed bulk density was calculated for each method. Packed bulk density must be calculated for each lot of catalyst to accommodate variations in particle size, shape, and density. In addition, a physical divider sheet between each type of media was added within the fire cartridge design to further inhibit intermixing of the bed layers.

Sympathy, shame, and few solutions: News media portrayals of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

PubMed

Eguiagaray, Ines; Scholz, Brett; Giorgi, Caterina

2016-09-01

there is a lack of public understanding about fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), and many countries lack policies to deal with FASD concerns. Given the role of news media in disseminating a range of health information, the aim of the current study was to explore the media coverage on alcohol use during pregnancy and FASD, and to identify ways to improve associated health messages. the current study uses a framing analysis of news media reports about FASD over a 1-year period. Framing analysis seeks to better understand how media messages serve to shape the thoughts, feelings, and decisions of readers. two frames dominated the media coverage of FASD: a frame of sympathy, and a frame of shame. Some news media encouraged feelings of sympathy for children with FASD, while others encouraged sympathy towards mothers of these children. At the same time, mothers were also portrayed as deserving of shame. the interrelated frames of sympathy and shame may confuse readers, as they inconsistently hold different parties responsible for the impact of FASD. Media portrayals that encourage women to refrain from alcohol consumption during pregnancy might be more useful than stigmatising and isolating those who do. practitioners should be aware that conflicting messages about alcohol consumption during pregnancy might lead to shame and confusion, and should encourage openness with mothers to challenge stigma. Guidelines for media reporting should discourage stigmatising frames, and media articles should also consider the role that government, non-government organisations, and the alcohol industry could play for improving FASD shame. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Mind the gap: social media engagement by public health researchers.

PubMed

Keller, Brett; Labrique, Alain; Jain, Kriti M; Pekosz, Andrew; Levine, Orin

2014-01-14

The traditional vertical system of sharing information from sources of scientific authority passed down to the public through local health authorities and clinicians risks being made obsolete by emerging technologies that facilitate rapid horizontal information sharing. The rise of Public Health 2.0 requires professional acknowledgment that a new and substantive forum of public discourse about public health exists on social media, such as forums, blogs, Facebook, and Twitter. Some public health professionals have used social media in innovative ways: to surveil populations, gauge public opinion, disseminate health information, and promote mutually beneficial interactions between public health professionals and the lay public. Although innovation is on the rise, most in the public health establishment remain skeptical of this rapidly evolving landscape or are unclear about how it could be used. We sought to evaluate the extent to which public health professionals are engaged in these spaces. We conducted a survey of professorial- and scientist-track faculty at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. We asked all available faculty via email to complete a 30-question survey about respondent characteristics, beliefs about social media, and usage of specific technologies, including blogs, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. A total of 181 (19.8%) of 912 professor- and scientist-track faculty provided usable responses. The majority of respondents rarely used major social media platforms. Of these 181 respondents, 97 (53.6%) had used YouTube, 84 (46.4%) had used Facebook, 55 (30.4%) had read blogs, and 12 (6.6%) had used Twitter in the prior month. More recent degree completion was the best predictor of higher usage of social media. In all, 122 (67.4%) agreed that social media is important for disseminating information, whereas only 55 (30.4%) agreed that social media is useful for their research. In all, 43 (23.8%) said social media was helpful for professional career advancement, whereas 72 (39.8%) said it was not. Only 43 (23.8%) faculty said they would employ a full- or part-time social media consultant, and 30 (16.6%) currently employed one. Despite near-universal appreciation of the potential for social media to serve as a component of public health strategy, a small minority are actually engaged in this space professionally, whereas most are either disinterested or actively opposed to professional engagement. Social media is seen by most as more useful for spreading information than obtaining it. As public discourse on a number of critical health topics continues to be influenced and sometimes shaped by discussions online from Twitter to Facebook, it would seem that greater discourse is needed about when and how public health professionals should engage in these media, and also how personal, institutional, and professional barriers to greater use of social media may be overcome.

Mind the Gap: Social Media Engagement by Public Health Researchers

PubMed Central

Keller, Brett; Jain, Kriti M; Pekosz, Andrew; Levine, Orin

2014-01-01

Background The traditional vertical system of sharing information from sources of scientific authority passed down to the public through local health authorities and clinicians risks being made obsolete by emerging technologies that facilitate rapid horizontal information sharing. The rise of Public Health 2.0 requires professional acknowledgment that a new and substantive forum of public discourse about public health exists on social media, such as forums, blogs, Facebook, and Twitter. Objective Some public health professionals have used social media in innovative ways: to surveil populations, gauge public opinion, disseminate health information, and promote mutually beneficial interactions between public health professionals and the lay public. Although innovation is on the rise, most in the public health establishment remain skeptical of this rapidly evolving landscape or are unclear about how it could be used. We sought to evaluate the extent to which public health professionals are engaged in these spaces. Methods We conducted a survey of professorial- and scientist-track faculty at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. We asked all available faculty via email to complete a 30-question survey about respondent characteristics, beliefs about social media, and usage of specific technologies, including blogs, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Results A total of 181 (19.8%) of 912 professor- and scientist-track faculty provided usable responses. The majority of respondents rarely used major social media platforms. Of these 181 respondents, 97 (53.6%) had used YouTube, 84 (46.4%) had used Facebook, 55 (30.4%) had read blogs, and 12 (6.6%) had used Twitter in the prior month. More recent degree completion was the best predictor of higher usage of social media. In all, 122 (67.4%) agreed that social media is important for disseminating information, whereas only 55 (30.4%) agreed that social media is useful for their research. In all, 43 (23.8%) said social media was helpful for professional career advancement, whereas 72 (39.8%) said it was not. Only 43 (23.8%) faculty said they would employ a full- or part-time social media consultant, and 30 (16.6%) currently employed one. Conclusions Despite near-universal appreciation of the potential for social media to serve as a component of public health strategy, a small minority are actually engaged in this space professionally, whereas most are either disinterested or actively opposed to professional engagement. Social media is seen by most as more useful for spreading information than obtaining it. As public discourse on a number of critical health topics continues to be influenced and sometimes shaped by discussions online from Twitter to Facebook, it would seem that greater discourse is needed about when and how public health professionals should engage in these media, and also how personal, institutional, and professional barriers to greater use of social media may be overcome. PMID:24425670

Inelastic Vector Soliton Collisions: A Lattice-Based Quantum Representation

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-01-01

components in these orthogonal polarizations will travel at slightly different speeds. It can be shown (Lakshmanan & Kanna 2001) that the slowly varying...media. Phys. Rev. E 58, 6752-6758. Kivshar, Y. S. & Agrawal, G. P. 2003 Optical solitons. Academic. Lakshmanan, M. & Kanna , T. 2001 Shape changing

Listening to Children's Voices: Children as Participants in Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McTavish, Marianne; Streelasky, Jodi; Coles, Linda

2012-01-01

Recently, researchers have begun to investigate the ways contemporary childhoods are being shaped by a range of multimodal communicative practices (Kress, "Literacy in the new media age," Routledge, New York, 2003; Lankshear and Knobel, "New literacies: Changing knowledge and classroom learning," Open University Press, Milton…

GCLR Web Seminars as a Venue for Transformative Educational Policy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Angay-Crowder, Tuba; Albers, Peggy; Pace, Christi L.; Jung, Jin Kyeong Frances; Hwang, Ju A.; Pang, Myoung Eun

2014-01-01

This article features a discussion about the significance of global perspectives in shaping critical literacy through a web seminar project, Global Conversations in Literacy Research (GCLR). Ubiquitous media and worldwide communication via Internet change the perceptions about literacy and language, urging critical discussions around literacy…

The History of Germany's Response to Climate Change.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cavender, Jeannine; Jager, Jill

1993-01-01

Traces the history of the German climate change debate in the last 50 years and discusses the forces and events that shaped it. Examines the way in which scientists, the government, industry, nongovernmental organizations, and the media entered into and influenced the debate. (54 references) (MDH)

Teaching Language and Culture in a Digital Age

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chamberlin-Quinlisk, Carla

2012-01-01

This article examines part of the complex relationship between linguistic and cultural diversity and the digital technologies that shape our social worlds. In particular, the author explores how digital media cultivate ideas about language practice in multicultural communities and simultaneously serve as a pedagogical tool for discussing…

Transqueer Representations and How We Educate

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Siebler, Kay

2010-01-01

This article examines the representations of transqueers (specifically female to male transsexuals) in popular media and how these representations shape attitudes of transqueers both with those outside the LGBT community and those within the community. The article discusses how these cultural images of FTM transqueers imply that being accepted…

Finding One's Own Space in Cyberspace.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bruckman, Amy

1996-01-01

Discusses the availability of virtual communities on the Internet. Stresses that there are online environments for nearly everyone, and offers advice for those designing new communities by relating experiences from the development of the specialized MediaMOO, a multiuser dungeon. Discusses restricting access, shaping development of the community,…

Systematic description of the effect of particle shape on the strength properties of granular media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Azéma, Emilien; Estrada, Nicolas; Preechawuttipong, Itthichai; Delenne, Jean-Yves; Radjai, Farhang

2017-06-01

In this paper, we explore numerically the effect of particle shape on the mechanical behavior of sheared granular packings. In the framework of the Contact Dynamic (CD)Method, we model angular shape as irregular polyhedral particles, non-convex shape as regular aggregates of four overlapping spheres, elongated shape as rounded cap rectangles and platy shape as square-plates. Binary granular mixture consisting of disks and elongated particles are also considered. For each above situations, the number of face of polyhedral particles, the overlap of spheres, the aspect ratio of elongated and platy particles, are systematically varied from spheres to very angular, non-convex, elongated and platy shapes. The level of homogeneity of binary mixture varies from homogenous packing to fully segregated packings. Our numerical results suggest that the effects of shape parameters are nonlinear and counterintuitive. We show that the shear strength increases as shape deviate from spherical shape. But, for angular shapes it first increases up to a maximum value and then saturates to a constant value as the particles become more angular. For mixture of two shapes, the strength increases with respect of the increase of the proportion of elongated particles, but surprisingly it is independent with the level of homogeneity of the mixture. A detailed analysis of the contact network topology, evidence that various contact types contribute differently to stress transmission at the micro-scale.

Unhealthy Acts: interpreting narratives of community mental health care in Waikato, New Zealand.

PubMed

Joseph, A. E; Kearns, R. A.

1999-01-01

This paper provides a regional commentary on the progress of deinstitutionalization in an era of restructuring in New Zealand. The commentary focuses on the Waikato region, where the transition to community-based psychiatric care has been underway since the announcement of the closure of Tokanui Hospital in 1993. We use media reports to construct a narrative illuminating the distinctive threads of alternative discourse on the re-placing of people with mental health problems and sites of treatment 'into the community'. Our interpretation of this local narrative is cast against a series of backdrops: firstly, we provide an abbreviated history of deinstitutionalization in New Zealand; secondly, we examine mental health care as a sector within a rapidly evolving health system; and, thirdly, we reflect on the implementation of community mental health care in a re-regulated civil society. We argue that the effective implementation of community care has been hampered by the lack of concerted policy in the mental health care sector, by a fiscal squeeze on the health care system and by the impingement of non-health care legislation (the Commerce Act, the Privacy Act and the Resource Management Act) on the local expression and management of community care. In the Waikato narrative, we also identify administrative practices that have recast people with mental health problems as criminals and re-established prisons as the site of treatment. We conclude that the media in New Zealand have a role that extends beyond simply reporting on events. Indeed, the media act as a reflexive conduit; journalists interpret issues and through their 'stories' help to shape the course of events.

Media actors' perceptions of their roles in reporting food incidents.

PubMed

Wilson, Annabelle M; Henderson, Julie; Coveney, John; Meyer, Samantha B; Webb, Trevor; Calnan, Michael; Caraher, Martin; Lloyd, Sue; McCullum, Dean; Elliott, Anthony; Ward, Paul R

2014-12-18

Previous research has shown that the media can play a role in shaping consumer perceptions during a public health crisis. In order for public health professionals to communicate well-informed health information to the media, it is important that they understand how media view their role in transmitting public health information to consumers and decide what information to present. This paper reports the perceptions of media actors from three countries about their role in reporting information during a food incident. This information is used to present ideas and suggestions for public health professionals working with media during food incidents. Thirty three semi-structured interviews with media actors from Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom were conducted and analysed thematically. Media actors were recruited via purposive sampling using a sampling strategy, from a variety of formats including newspaper, television, radio and online. Media actors said that during a food incident, they play two roles. First, they play a role in communicating information to consumers by acting as a conduit for information between the public and the relevant authorities. Second, they play a role as investigators by acting as a public watchdog. Media actors are an important source of consumer information during food incidents. Public health professionals can work with media by actively approaching them with information about food incidents; promoting to media that as public health professionals, they are best placed to provide the facts about food incidents; and by providing angles for further investigation and directing media to relevant and correct information to inform such investigations. Public health professionals who adapt how they work with media are more likely to influence media to portray messages that fit what they would like the public to know and that are in line with public health recommendations and enable consumers to engage in safe and health promoting behaviours in response to food incidents.

Does the media matter to suicide?: Examining the social dynamics surrounding media reporting on suicide in a suicide-prone community.

PubMed

Mueller, Anna S

2017-05-01

Despite the widespread acknowledgement by public health organizations that media reporting matters to suicide, this link has been much debated and the mechanisms undergirding it poorly understood. With this study, I combine a media analysis with ethnographic data collected during 2014-2016 (N = 91) to examine the social dynamics surrounding media reporting on suicide in a community (that I call Poplar Grove, USA) with an enduring adolescent suicide problem. I illustrate how the media crafted a particular story about why youth die by suicide that emphasized academic pressure over other plausible causes. In so doing, the media may have broadened ideas about when suicide is seen as an option. However, I also provide evidence that cautions against attributing too much causal power to the media. The media coverage in Poplar Grove reflected conditions that were already present in the community; it was already a high-pressure place for youth to live with widespread mental health stigma. These factors likely shaped media reporting, while also contributing independently to the suicide problem. Finally, I found that the suicide deaths that received media coverage were those that triggered significant cognitive dissonance and thus were much discussed among youth, independent of the media reporting. This generated ample opportunities for peer role modeling of suicide. Thus, while the media may have helped solidify a certain view of suicide in the community, it was not the only social force contributing to suicide in Poplar Grove. While the findings from this study do not negate the importance of responsible reporting on suicide, they do contextualize the role of the media in suicide and suggest that researchers must take a broader view of how suicide suggestion operates in the media and in social contexts. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Regeneration of iron-based adsorptive media used for removing arsenic from groundwater.

PubMed

Chen, Abraham S C; Sorg, Thomas J; Wang, Lili

2015-06-15

Adsorptive media technology is regarded as a simple, low cost method of removing arsenic from drinking water particularly for small systems. Currently, when the effluent of a treatment system reaches the USEPA maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 ug/L, the exhausted media is removed and replaced by new virgin media. Although the commonly used iron-based media products are reasonable in price, the replacement cost accounts for around 80% of the systems total operational costs. One option to media replacement is on-site regeneration and reuse of the exhausted media. To determine whether an iron based media can be successfully regenerated and reused, laboratory batch and column regeneration tests were conducted on six exhausted iron-based media products obtained from six full scale arsenic removal treatment systems. Batch tests conducted on three of the media products to evaluate the effectiveness of 1-6% caustic regenerant solutions found that arsenic desorption increased until around 4%. Using 4% caustic solutions, the columns tests on the six exhausted media products showed arsenic removals ranged from 25 to 90% with the best results obtained with the Severn Trent E33 media. Exposing the media to caustic (pH ≥ 13) and acid (pH ≤ 2) solutions found minimal media loss with the caustic solution, but significant media dissolution with a pH 2 acid solution. A six column pilot plant test at an Ohio test site with the lab regenerated media products found that the regenerated media could achieve arsenic removals somewhat similar to virgin media. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

An upscaled rate law for magnesite dissolution in heterogeneous porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wen, Hang; Li, Li

2017-08-01

Spatial heterogeneity in natural subsurface systems governs water fluxes and residence time in reactive zones and therefore determines effective rates of mineral dissolution. Extensive studies have documented mineral dissolution rates in natural systems, although a general rate law has remain elusive. Here we fill this gap by answering two questions: (1) how and to what extent does spatial heterogeneity affect water residence time and effectively-dissolving surface area? (2) what is the upscaled rate law that quantifies effective dissolution rates in natural, heterogeneous media? With data constraints from experimental work, 240 Monte-Carlo numerical experiments of magnesite dissolution within quartz matrix were run with spatial distributions characterized by a range of permeability variance σ2lnκ (0.5-6.0) and correlation length (2-50 cm). Although the total surface area and global residence time (τa) are the same in all experiments, the water fluxes through reactive magnesite zones varies between 0.7 and 72.8% of the total water fluxes. Highly heterogeneous media with large σ2lnκ and long λ divert water mostly into non-reactive preferential flow paths, therefore bypassing and minimizing flow in low permeability magnesite zones. As a result, the water residence time in magnesite zones (i.e., reactive residence time τa,r) is long and magnesite dissolution quickly reaches local equilibrium, which leads to small effective surface area and low dissolution rates. Magnesite dissolution rates in heterogeneous media vary from 2.7 to 100% of the rates in the equivalent homogeneous media, with effectively-dissolving surface area varying from 0.18 to 6.83 m2 (out of 51.71 m2 total magnesite surface area). Based on 240 numerical experiments and 45 column experiments, a general upscaled rate law in heterogeneous media, RMgCO3,ht =kAe,hm(1 - exp(-τa/τa,r))α, was derived to quantify effective dissolution rates. The dissolution rates in heterogeneous media are a function of the rate constants k being those measured under well-mixed conditions, effective surface area in equivalent homogeneous media Ae,hm, and the heterogeneity factor (1 - exp(-τa/τa,r))α. The heterogeneity factor quantify heterogeneity effects and depends on the relative magnitude of global residence time (τa) and reactive residence time (τa,r), as well as the shape factor α(= 5 σlnκ2) of the gamma distribution for reactive residence times. Exponential forms of rate laws have been used at the micro-scale describing direct interactions among water and mineral surface, and at the catchment scale describing weathering rates and concentration-discharge relationships. These observations highlight the key role of mineral-water contact time in determining dissolution rates at different scales. This work also emphasizes the importance of critical interfaces between reactive and non-reactive zones as determined by the details of spatial patterns and effective surface area as a scaling factor that quantifies dissolution rates in heterogeneous media across scales.

Nanofluid MHD natural convection through a porous complex shaped cavity considering thermal radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sheikholeslami, M.; Li, Zhixiong; Shamlooei, M.

2018-06-01

Control volume based finite element method (CVFEM) is applied to simulate H2O based nanofluid radiative and convective heat transfer inside a porous medium. Non-Darcy model is employed for porous media. Influences of Hartmann number, nanofluid volume fraction, radiation parameter, Darcy number, number of undulations and Rayleigh number on nanofluid behavior were demonstrated. Thermal conductivity of nanofluid is estimated by means of previous experimental correlation. Results show that Nusselt number enhances with augment of permeability of porous media. Effect of Hartmann number on rate of heat transfer is opposite of radiation parameter.

Practical Guide for the Selection of Audio Visual Media. General Criteria System and Evaluation Procedure for Educational Media Decisions.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Klepzig, H. J.; Weiss, M.

Designed to aid in making concrete decisions on the acquisition and use of media, the criteria system and evaluation procedure described is a multiphase, objective-based decision making process. This report includes guidelines for setting up goal systems and developing criteria for the evaluation of media based on a goal system; an outline of…

Towards next generation 3D cameras

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gupta, Mohit

2017-03-01

We are in the midst of a 3D revolution. Robots enabled by 3D cameras are beginning to autonomously drive cars, perform surgeries, and manage factories. However, when deployed in the real-world, these cameras face several challenges that prevent them from measuring 3D shape reliably. These challenges include large lighting variations (bright sunlight to dark night), presence of scattering media (fog, body tissue), and optically complex materials (metal, plastic). Due to these factors, 3D imaging is often the bottleneck in widespread adoption of several key robotics technologies. I will talk about our work on developing 3D cameras based on time-of-flight and active triangulation that addresses these long-standing problems. This includes designing `all-weather' cameras that can perform high-speed 3D scanning in harsh outdoor environments, as well as cameras that recover shape of objects with challenging material properties. These cameras are, for the first time, capable of measuring detailed (<100 microns resolution) scans in extremely demanding scenarios with low-cost components. Several of these cameras are making a practical impact in industrial automation, being adopted in robotic inspection and assembly systems.

Media Literacy Education from Kindergarten to College: A Comparison of How Media Literacy Is Addressed across the Educational System

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schmidt, Hans C.

2013-01-01

This study of media literacy education at all levels of the educational system considered faculty perceptions of student media literacy competencies, the extent to which media literacy is addressed in class, and the extent to which faculty members consider media literacy education to be important. Data suggest that despite the research and policy…

Universal Serial Bus Architecture for Removable Media (USB-ARM)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

2011-03-09

USB-ARM creates operating system drivers which sit between removable media and the user and applications. The drivers isolate the media and submit the contents of the media to a virtual machine containing an entire scanning system. This scanning system may include traditional anti-virus, but also allows more detailed analysis of files, including dynamic run-time analysis, helping to prevent "zero-day" threats not already identified in anti-virus signatures. Once cleared, the media is presented to the operating system, at which point it becomes available to users and applications.

The Influence of Social Media on Addictive Behaviors in College Students

PubMed Central

Steers, Mai-Ly N.; Moreno, Megan A.; Neighbors, Clayton

2016-01-01

Social media has become a primary way for college students to communicate aspects of their daily lives to those within their social network. Such communications often include substance use displays (e.g., selfies of college students drinking). Furthermore, students’ substance use displays have been found to robustly predict not only the posters’ substance use-related outcomes (e.g., consumption, problems) but also that of their social networking peers. Purpose of review The current review summarizes findings of recent literature exploring the intersection between social media and substance use. Recent findings Specifically, we examine how and why such substance use displays might shape college students’ internalized norms surrounding substance use and how it impacts their substance use-related behaviors. Summary Additional social media-related interventions are needed in order to target reduction of consumption among this at-risk group. We discuss the technological and methodological challenges inherent to conducting research and devising interventions in this domain. PMID:28458990

Polarization recovery through scattering media.

PubMed

de Aguiar, Hilton B; Gigan, Sylvain; Brasselet, Sophie

2017-09-01

The control and use of light polarization in optical sciences and engineering are widespread. Despite remarkable developments in polarization-resolved imaging for life sciences, their transposition to strongly scattering media is currently not possible, because of the inherent depolarization effects arising from multiple scattering. We show an unprecedented phenomenon that opens new possibilities for polarization-resolved microscopy in strongly scattering media: polarization recovery via broadband wavefront shaping. We demonstrate focusing and recovery of the original injected polarization state without using any polarizing optics at the detection. To enable molecular-level structural imaging, an arbitrary rotation of the input polarization does not degrade the quality of the focus. We further exploit the robustness of polarization recovery for structural imaging of biological tissues through scattering media. We retrieve molecular-level organization information of collagen fibers by polarization-resolved second harmonic generation, a topic of wide interest for diagnosis in biomedical optics. Ultimately, the observation of this new phenomenon paves the way for extending current polarization-based methods to strongly scattering environments.

Eustachian Tube Opening Measured by Sonotubometry is Poorer in Adults with a History of Past Middle Ear Disease

PubMed Central

Teixeira, Miriam S.; Banks, Juliane; Swarts, J. Douglas; Alper, Cuneyt M.; Doyle, William J.

2014-01-01

Objective Test the hypothesis that active Eustachian tube opening efficiency as measured by sonotubometry is higher in adults with no extant middle-ear disease and no history of previous otitis media (Group-1) when compared to adults with no middle-ear disease but a positive history for otitis media (Group-2). Methods Eustachian tube function for 1 ear of 33 otherwise healthy adult subjects, 16 assigned to Group-1 and 17 to Group-2, was tested by sonotubometry using a standard protocol. For each test, the sound envelopes for 3 swallows were abstracted independently by 2 observers from the data stream and 7 descriptive parameters related to sound envelope “shape” were calculated. Interrelatedness among the values for the parameters was explored using correlation analysis. The contributions of swallow, observer and group to the variance in each parameter were evaluated for significance using a General Linear Model. Results The shape parameters reflecting envelope height, area and rise and fall rates were highly inter-correlated, but those reflecting envelope widths were not. There was no effect of “swallow” on any of the parameters; but there was a significant “observer” effect on all measures of envelope width, greater for observer-2, and a significant “group” effect for 5 of the 7 shape parameters, all greater in Group-1. Conclusions Quantifiable measures of the sound signal “shape” recorded by sonotubometry during swallowing were significantly different between the 2 groups of subjects. This is interpretable as evidencing a more efficient Eustachian tube opening-function in adults with healthy middle ears who do not have a previous history of otitis media when compared to similar adults with a history of prior otitis media. Inefficient Eustachian tube function as children may not be completely resolved by adulthood increasing adult otitis media risk when Eustachian tube function is down-graded by extant upper respiratory diseases that provoke nasopharyngeal inflammation. PMID:24491807

Hybrid information privacy system: integration of chaotic neural network and RSA coding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hsu, Ming-Kai; Willey, Jeff; Lee, Ting N.; Szu, Harold H.

2005-03-01

Electronic mails are adopted worldwide; most are easily hacked by hackers. In this paper, we purposed a free, fast and convenient hybrid privacy system to protect email communication. The privacy system is implemented by combining private security RSA algorithm with specific chaos neural network encryption process. The receiver can decrypt received email as long as it can reproduce the specified chaos neural network series, so called spatial-temporal keys. The chaotic typing and initial seed value of chaos neural network series, encrypted by the RSA algorithm, can reproduce spatial-temporal keys. The encrypted chaotic typing and initial seed value are hidden in watermark mixed nonlinearly with message media, wrapped with convolution error correction codes for wireless 3rd generation cellular phones. The message media can be an arbitrary image. The pattern noise has to be considered during transmission and it could affect/change the spatial-temporal keys. Since any change/modification on chaotic typing or initial seed value of chaos neural network series is not acceptable, the RSA codec system must be robust and fault-tolerant via wireless channel. The robust and fault-tolerant properties of chaos neural networks (CNN) were proved by a field theory of Associative Memory by Szu in 1997. The 1-D chaos generating nodes from the logistic map having arbitrarily negative slope a = p/q generating the N-shaped sigmoid was given first by Szu in 1992. In this paper, we simulated the robust and fault-tolerance properties of CNN under additive noise and pattern noise. We also implement a private version of RSA coding and chaos encryption process on messages.

Colloidal domain lithography for regularly arranged artificial magnetic out-of-plane monodomains in Au/Co/Au layers.

PubMed

Kuświk, Piotr; Ehresmann, Arno; Tekielak, Maria; Szymański, Bogdan; Sveklo, Iosif; Mazalski, Piotr; Engel, Dieter; Kisielewski, Jan; Lengemann, Daniel; Urbaniak, Maciej; Schmidt, Christoph; Maziewski, Andrzej; Stobiecki, Feliks

2011-03-04

Regularly arranged magnetic out-of-plane patterns in continuous and flat films are promising for applications in data storage technology (bit patterned media) or transport of individual magnetic particles. Whereas topographic magnetic structures are fabricated by standard lithographical techniques, the fabrication of regularly arranged artificial domains in topographically flat films is difficult, since the free energy minimization determines the existence, shape, and regularity of domains. Here we show that keV He(+) ion bombardment of Au/Co/Au layer systems through a colloidal mask of hexagonally arranged spherical polystyrene beads enables magnetic patterning of regularly arranged cylindrical magnetic monodomains with out-of-plane magnetization embedded in a ferromagnetic matrix with easy-plane anisotropy. This colloidal domain lithography creates artificial domains via periodic lateral anisotropy variations induced by periodic defect density modulations. Magnetization reversal of the layer system observed by magnetic force microscopy shows individual disc switching indicating monodomain states.

Resisting Magic Waves: Ideologies of "English Language Teaching" in Iranian Newspaper Advertisements

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mirhosseini, Seyyed-Abdolhamid

2015-01-01

Discourse practices play crucial roles in shaping the cultural environment of social events and, therefore, influence how they actually take place. Promotional materials and media advertisements are significant instances of such discourses through which understandings of social practices, including language education, are both reflected and…

Educational Expertise, Advocacy, and Media Influence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Malin, Joel R.; Lubienski, Christopher

2015-01-01

The efforts of many advocacy organizations to advance their preferred policies despite conflicting evidence of the effectiveness of these policies raise questions about factors that shape successful policy promotion. While many may like to think that expertise on an issue in question is an essential prerequisite for influence in public policy…

Learner-Generated Designs in Participatory Culture: What They Are and How They Are Shaping Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kim, Beaumie; Tan, Lynde; Bielaczyc, Katerine

2015-01-01

In this special issue, the authors purport to interrogate and further their understanding of the commonly cited term, "design," specifically "learner-generated designs." This issue brings together scholars from multiple disciplines, including learning sciences, literacy studies, science education, digital media, and pedagogy,…

Kindergarten 2.0

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sevans

2006-01-01

The Media Lab of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is featured. The 21-year-old center is an ongoing experiment in how electronics can shape the future, and it helped pioneer digital videography and computer multimedia capabilities, among other innovations. So it's no surprise that it is home to Lifelong Kindergarten, a high-tech…

Race, Class, Conflict and Empowerment: On Ice Cube's "Black Korea."

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chang, Jeff

1993-01-01

Reviews the rap song "Black Korea" by Ice Cube as a summation of interracial conflict in an environment of deteriorating opportunities and as an artifact of popular culture. How the hierarchy of racial power in the media and the marketplace shaped the dynamics of the conflicts is reviewed. (SLD)

Factors That Influence Adoption and Use of Location-Sharing Social Media

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Page, Xinru Woo

2014-01-01

This work aims to understand real-world factors shaping behaviors and attitudes towards location-sharing social networks (LSSN), especially as to why people avoid or abandon this technology, or limit their usage. Based on interview-based qualitative research and survey-based exploratory quantitative research, I hypothesize conceptual models…

Locating the Subject: Teens Online @ ninemsn

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Atkinson, Stephen; Nixon, Helen

2005-01-01

In this paper we examine how the figure of the teenager is positioned within the discourses and practices of commercial online media. In particular, we explore how the popular, Australia-based web portal "ninemsn" works discursively to shape the identities of young people. Ninemsn not only constructs and circulates selected…

Prediction of Breakthrough Curves for Conservative and Reactive Transport from the Structural Parameters of Highly Heterogeneous Media

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hansen, Scott; Haslauer, Claus P.; Cirpka, Olaf A.

2017-01-05

The key points of this presentation were to approach the problem of linking breakthrough curve shape (RP-CTRW transition distribution) to structural parameters from a Monte Carlo approach and to use the Monte Carlo analysis to determine any empirical error

Display Tactics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tetlow, Linda

2009-01-01

Display took a wide variety of forms ranging from students presenting their initial planning and thought processes, to displays of their finished work, and their suggestions for extending the task should they, or others, have time to return to it in the future. A variety of different media were used from traditional posters in many shapes and…

Intersecting Scapes and New Millennium Identities in Language Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Higgins, Christina

2015-01-01

This paper examines how flows of people, media, money, technology, and ideologies move through the world, with attention to how these scapes (Appadurai 1990, 1996, 2013) shape identity construction among language learners, both in and out of classrooms. After illustrating intersecting scapes in sociolinguistic terms, I explore the relevance of…

Tearing the Fabric of Canada: The Broadcast Media and Canadian Identity.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weiss, Elaine F.

This paper explores the perceived threat of American cultural "imperialism" in Canada, the effect of constant exposure to American broadcasting on the Canadian national identity, the role broadcasting plays in shaping Canadian identity, and the efforts by the Canadian government to "Canadianize" its broadcasting. A brief…

Physics of neutrino flavor transformation through matter–neutrino resonances

DOE PAGES

Wu, Meng -Ru; Duan, Huaiyu; Qian, Yong -Zhong

2015-11-17

In astrophysical environments such as core-collapse supernovae and neutron star–neutron star or neutron star–black hole mergers where dense neutrino media are present, matter–neutrino resonances (MNRs) can occur when the neutrino propagation potentials due to neutrino–electron and neutrino–neutrino for-ward scattering nearly cancel each other. We show that neutrino flavor transformation through MNRs can be explained by multiple adiabatic solutions similar to the Mikheyev–Smirnov–Wolfenstein mecha-nism. As a result, we find that for the normal neutrino mass hierarchy, neutrino flavor evolution through MNRs can be sensitive to the shape of neutrino spectra and the adiabaticity of the system, but such sensitivity is absentmore » for the inverted hierarchy.« less

Association Among Internet Usage, Body Image and Eating Behaviors of Secondary School Students

PubMed Central

KAEWPRADUB, Natthakarn; KIATRUNGRIT, Komsan; HONGSANGUANSRI, Sirichai; PAVASUTHIPAISIT, Chosita

2017-01-01

Background Presently, the internet plays a big role in daily life, especially for adolescents. In this age group, they are more concerned about their face and body shape. Despite the numerous studies on the effect traditional media has on body image, very few have focused on the effect of newer forms of media (e.g. online media). And almost none have looked at the relationship between time spent online and body image. Aim To study the associations between time spent on the internet, body image satisfaction and eating behaviors of students grades 7 to 12 in the Thai educational system. Methods The sample group included 620 students, who were selected using simple random sampling from 6 secondary schools in Bangkok. Data were collected using the Media and Internet use behavior questionnaires, The Body-Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults: Thai version (BESAA), Drive for Muscularity Scale (DMS: males only), The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale: Thai version, Eating Attitude Test-26: Thai version (EAT-26) and the eating behaviors at risk of obesity questionnaire. Results Mean (sd) age of the sample was 15.7 (1.9) years, 246 participants (39.7%) were male and 374 (60.3%) were female. Using the internet and social networks for content related to body image and eating behaviors, was negatively associated with body image satisfaction but positively associated with inappropriate eating attitudes/behaviors, binging, purging, use of laxatives/diuretics and drive for muscularity with respect to behaviors and attitudes, and was associated with eating behaviors that carried a risk for obesity. Conclusions Time spent on internet, especially engaged in activities related to self-image, and eating attitudes and behaviors, were associated with a decrease in body image satisfaction and problematic eating behaviors. PMID:28955140

Association Among Internet Usage, Body Image and Eating Behaviors of Secondary School Students.

PubMed

Kaewpradub, Natthakarn; Kiatrungrit, Komsan; Hongsanguansri, Sirichai; Pavasuthipaisit, Chosita

2017-08-25

Presently, the internet plays a big role in daily life, especially for adolescents. In this age group, they are more concerned about their face and body shape. Despite the numerous studies on the effect traditional media has on body image, very few have focused on the effect of newer forms of media (e.g. online media). And almost none have looked at the relationship between time spent online and body image. To study the associations between time spent on the internet, body image satisfaction and eating behaviors of students grades 7 to 12 in the Thai educational system. The sample group included 620 students, who were selected using simple random sampling from 6 secondary schools in Bangkok. Data were collected using the Media and Internet use behavior questionnaires, The Body-Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults: Thai version (BESAA), Drive for Muscularity Scale (DMS: males only), The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale: Thai version, Eating Attitude Test-26: Thai version (EAT-26) and the eating behaviors at risk of obesity questionnaire. Mean (sd) age of the sample was 15.7 (1.9) years, 246 participants (39.7%) were male and 374 (60.3%) were female. Using the internet and social networks for content related to body image and eating behaviors, was negatively associated with body image satisfaction but positively associated with inappropriate eating attitudes/behaviors, binging, purging, use of laxatives/diuretics and drive for muscularity with respect to behaviors and attitudes, and was associated with eating behaviors that carried a risk for obesity. Time spent on internet, especially engaged in activities related to self-image, and eating attitudes and behaviors, were associated with a decrease in body image satisfaction and problematic eating behaviors.

Multi-objective inverse design of sub-wavelength optical focusing structures for heat assisted magnetic recording

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhargava, Samarth; Yablonovitch, Eli

2014-09-01

We report using Inverse Electromagnetic Design to computationally optimize the geometric shapes of metallic optical antennas or near-field transducers (NFTs) and dielectric waveguide structures that comprise a sub-wavelength optical focusing system for practical use in Heat Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR). This magnetic data-recording scheme relies on focusing optical energy to locally heat the area of a single bit, several hundred square nanometers on a hard disk, to the Curie temperature of the magnetic storage layer. There are three specifications of the optical system that must be met to enable HAMR as a commercial technology. First, to heat the media at scan rates upward of 10 m/s, ~1mW of light (<1% of typical laser diode output power) must be focused to a 30nm×30nm spot on the media. Second, the required lifetime of many years necessitates that the nano-scale NFT must not over-heat from optical absorption. Third, to avoid undesired erasing or interference of adjacent tracks on the media, there must be minimal stray optical radiation away from the hotspot on the hard disk. One cannot design the light delivery system by tackling each of these challenges independently, because they are governed by coupled electromagnetic phenomena. Instead, we propose multiobjective optimization using Inverse Electromagnetic Design in conjunction with a commercial 3D FDTD Maxwell's equations solver. We computationally generated designs of a metallic NFT and a high-index waveguide grating that meet the HAMR specifications simultaneously. Compared to a mock industry design, our proposed design has a similar optical coupling efficiency, ~3x improved suppression of stray optical radiation, and a 60% (280°C) reduction in NFT temperature rise. We also distributed the Inverse Electromagnetic Design software online so that industry partners can use it as a repeatable design process.

Adaptive wavefront shaping for controlling nonlinear multimode interactions in optical fibres

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tzang, Omer; Caravaca-Aguirre, Antonio M.; Wagner, Kelvin; Piestun, Rafael

2018-06-01

Recent progress in wavefront shaping has enabled control of light propagation inside linear media to focus and image through scattering objects. In particular, light propagation in multimode fibres comprises complex intermodal interactions and rich spatiotemporal dynamics. Control of physical phenomena in multimode fibres and its applications are in their infancy, opening opportunities to take advantage of complex nonlinear modal dynamics. Here, we demonstrate a wavefront shaping approach for controlling nonlinear phenomena in multimode fibres. Using a spatial light modulator at the fibre input, real-time spectral feedback and a genetic algorithm optimization, we control a highly nonlinear multimode stimulated Raman scattering cascade and its interplay with four-wave mixing via a flexible implicit control on the superposition of modes coupled into the fibre. We show versatile spectrum manipulations including shifts, suppression, and enhancement of Stokes and anti-Stokes peaks. These demonstrations illustrate the power of wavefront shaping to control and optimize nonlinear wave propagation.

Presuming the influence of the media: teenagers' constructions of gender identity through sexual/romantic relationships and alcohol consumption.

PubMed

Hartley, Jane E K; Wight, Daniel; Hunt, Kate

2014-06-01

Using empirical data from group discussions and in-depth interviews with 13 to 15-year olds in Scotland, this study explores how teenagers' alcohol drinking and sexual/romantic relationships were shaped by their quest for appropriate gendered identities. In this, they acknowledged the influence of the media, but primarily in relation to others, not to themselves, thereby supporting Milkie's 'presumed media influence' theory. Media portrayals of romantic/sexual relationships appeared to influence teenagers' constructions of gender-appropriate sexual behaviour more than did media portrayals of drinking behaviour, perhaps because the teenagers had more firsthand experience of observing drinking than of observing sexual relationships. Presumed media influence may be less influential if one has experience of the behaviour portrayed. Drinking and sexual behaviour were highly interrelated: sexual negotiation and activities were reportedly often accompanied by drinking. For teenagers, being drunk or, importantly, pretending to be drunk, may be a useful way to try out what they perceived to be gender-appropriate identities. In sum, teenagers' drinking and sexual/romantic relationships are primary ways in which they do gender and the media's influence on their perceptions of appropriate gendered behaviour is mediated through peer relationships. © 2014 The Authors. Sociology of Health & Illness published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Foundation for SHIL (SHIL).

Measles, social media and surveillance in Baltimore City.

PubMed

Warren, Katherine E; Wen, Leana S

2017-09-01

Baltimore City was faced with two potential measles outbreaks in 2015. Both cases occurred in the wake of national media attention paid to the Disneyland outbreaks of the same year. A comparative case study approach was used applying qualitative data to elicit best practices in infectious disease protocols in the age of social media. The research also used search engine data from Google Trends to track constituent engagement over time. Across the two case studies, the Baltimore City Health Department identified a number of best practices to inform the public via social media and minimize levels of misinformation and panic. These practices included clarity in messaging across platforms and public health jurisdictions; pre-emptor alerts of potential measles cases to control and shape the media messaging; and targeted, in-person outreach to engage groups in a culturally competent manner. The Baltimore City Health Department's response drew out a critical need for re-examining infectious disease protocols in the age of social media (e.g. contact notification, quarantine, media sensitivity) and anti-vaccination movements that pose new obstacles to government intervention. The benefits and challenges of greater connectivity between providers, patients, and public health officers are discussed. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Faculty of Public Health. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

But We're Not Like the People on TV: A Qualitative Examination of How Media Messages are Perceived by Pregnant and Parenting Youth.

PubMed

Harrison, Megan E; Clarkin, Chantalle; Worth, Kerry; Norris, Mark L; Rohde, Kristina

2016-03-01

The media has long been established as influential in the formation of youth attitudes. It remains unknown, however, whether popular media depictions of teenage pregnancy and motherhood shape the meanings pregnant and parenting youth (PPY) construct. This study explored PPY's perceptions of media messages portraying PPY. Five focus groups were conducted at three urban centres that service pregnant youth and young parents. Convenience sample of 26 participants was recruited across sites. Focus groups were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically. Participants were a mean age of 18.7 years. Participants felt that the storylines in television reality programs featuring PPY were highly incongruent with their lived experiences and that these representations glamorized teenage pregnancy while failing to capture other realities, such as financial hardship. Further, it was felt that such representations informed public opinion and created a double standard for teen parents. Participants felt that healthcare providers were not immune to media messaging; some participants reported withdrawing socially and others delayed accessing health services because of what they perceived as negative media-fuelled public views. This study highlights the need for heightened awareness of the influence of popular media on the portrayal of PPY. Acknowledging and challenging stereotypes of teen pregnancy, as well as initiating dialogue with youth about the impact media has on their lives should be encouraged as a means of facilitating ongoing engagement with health care services.

Preliminary design of land displacement-optical fiber sensor and analysis of observation during laboratory and field test

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bayuwati, Dwi; Waluyo, Tomi B.; Widiyatmoko, Bambang

2015-01-01

An optical fiber optic sensor for detecting land displacement is discussed in this paper. The sensor system consists of a laser at wavelength 1.3 um, optical fiber coupler, optical fiber as sensor and light transmitting media, PIN photodiodedetector system, data logger and personal computer. Sensor was made from a curved optical fiber with diameter 35 mm, which will be changed into a heart-shape fiber if it is pulled. The heart-shape fiber sensor is the modification of the earlier displacement fiber sensor model which was in an ellipse form. Light to and from the optical fiber sensor was transmitted into a length of a multi core, single mode optical fiber cable. The scheme of the optical displacement sensor system has been described here. Characterization in the laboratory has been done by applying a series of pulling mechanism, on the heart-shape fiber sensor; which represents the land displacement process. Characterization in the field was carried out by mounting the sensor system on a scaled-down model of a land slope and artificially reproducing the landslide process using a steady-flow of artificial rainfall as the trigger. The voltage sensor output was recorded during the artificial landslide process. The displacement occurence can be indicated from the declining of the sensor signal received by the detector while the reference signal is steady. Characterization in the laboratory resulted in the performance of the optical fiber land displacement, namely, sensitivity 0.027(mV/mV)/mm, resolution 0.37 mm and measurement range 30 mm; compared with earlier optical fiber sensor performance with similar sensitivity and resolution which works only in 8 mm displacement range. Based on the experiment of landslides simulation in the field, we can define a critical condition in the real situation before landslides occurence to take any measures to prevent more casualties and losses.

Hybrid Mixed Media Nonwovens: An Investigation of Structure-Property Relationships

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hollowell, Kendall Birckhead

There have been myriad studies on utilizing bicomponent splittables produced through spunbond/spunlace processes. These production methods have proven to yield microfibers which increase the surface area of the nonwoven structures. There has been recent focus on studying the microfibers within these nonwoven structures as well as using a multiplicity of deniers of fibers within the nonwoven. There have also been studies on producing nonwovens with fibers of differing cross-sectional shapes and diameters. The purpose of this study is to examine the properties of a nonwoven structure, marrying the concepts of multi-denier fibers with multi-shaped fibers in two configurations: three-layer and alternating. The basis for this study will be US Patent 6,964,931 B2 "Method of making Continuous Filament Web with Statistical Filament Distribution" as well as US Patent 7,981,336 B2 "Process of Making Mixed Fibers and Nonwoven Fabrics". This study addresses the melt-spinning and hydroentanglement of nonwoven webs made from bicomponent fibers in three-layer and alternating configurations. The bicomponent cross-sections that will be used include 16-segmented pie and 7-islands-in-the-sea. In this study the establishment of the utility of mixed media nonwovens will take place through property and structure analysis in order to determine the inherent properties of the mixed media structures as well as the structure-property relationships of the nonwoven fabric. Property and structure analysis will also take place on mixed media structures containing poly(lactic acid) as a sacrificial component in the bicomponent fiber after optimizing the removal conditions of the poly(lactic acid) in a sodium hydroxide (NaOH) bath.

Mechanism behind Erosive Bursts In Porous Media.

PubMed

Jäger, R; Mendoza, M; Herrmann, H J

2017-09-22

Erosion and deposition during flow through porous media can lead to large erosive bursts that manifest as jumps in permeability and pressure loss. Here we reveal that the cause of these bursts is the reopening of clogged pores when the pressure difference between two opposite sites of the pore surpasses a certain threshold. We perform numerical simulations of flow through porous media and compare our predictions to experimental results, recovering with excellent agreement shape and power-law distribution of pressure loss jumps, and the behavior of the permeability jumps as a function of particle concentration. Furthermore, we find that erosive bursts only occur for pressure gradient thresholds within the range of two critical values, independent of how the flow is driven. Our findings provide a better understanding of sudden sand production in oil wells and breakthrough in filtration.

Exposure to mass media health information, skin cancer beliefs, and sun protection behaviors in a United States probability sample.

PubMed

Hay, Jennifer; Coups, Elliot J; Ford, Jennifer; DiBonaventura, Marco

2009-11-01

The mass media is increasingly important in shaping a range of health beliefs and behaviors. We examined the association among mass media health information exposure (general health, cancer, sun protection information), skin cancer beliefs, and sun protection behaviors. We used a general population national probability sample comprised of 1633 individuals with no skin cancer history (Health Information National Trends Survey, 2005, National Cancer Institute) and examined univariate and multivariate associations among family history of skin cancer, mass media exposure, skin cancer beliefs, and sun protection (use of sunscreen, shade seeking, and use of sun-protective clothing). Mass media exposure was higher in younger individuals, and among those who were white and more highly educated. More accurate skin cancer beliefs and more adherent sun protection practices were reported by older individuals, and among those who were white and more highly educated. Recent Internet searches for health or sun protection information were associated with sunscreen use. Study limitations include the self-report nature of sun protection behaviors and cross-sectional study design. We identify demographic differences in mass media health exposure, skin cancer beliefs, and sun protection behaviors that will contribute to planning skin cancer awareness and prevention messaging across diverse population subgroups.

Application of carbon nanotube technology for removal of contaminants in drinking water: a review.

PubMed

Upadhyayula, Venkata K K; Deng, Shuguang; Mitchell, Martha C; Smith, Geoffrey B

2009-12-15

Carbon nanotube (CNT) adsorption technology has the potential to support point of use (POU) based treatment approach for removal of bacterial pathogens, natural organic matter (NOM), and cyanobacterial toxins from water systems. Unlike many microporous adsorbents, CNTs possess fibrous shape with high aspect ratio, large accessible external surface area, and well developed mesopores, all contribute to the superior removal capacities of these macromolecular biomolecules and microorganisms. This article provides a comprehensive review on application of CNTs as adsorbent media to concentrate and remove pathogens, NOM, and cyanobacterial (microcystin derivatives) toxins from water systems. The paper also surveys on consideration of CNT based adsorption filters for removal of these contaminants from cost, operational and safety standpoint. Based on the studied literature it appears that POU based CNT technology looks promising, that can possibly avoid difficulties of treating biological contaminants in conventional water treatment plants, and thereby remove the burden of maintaining the biostability of treated water in the distribution systems.

Above-ground Antineutrino Detection for Nuclear Reactor Monitoring

DOE PAGES

Sweany, Melinda; Brennan, James S.; Cabrera-Palmer, Belkis; ...

2014-08-01

Antineutrino monitoring of nuclear reactors has been demonstrated many times, however the technique has not as of yet been developed into a useful capability for treaty verification purposes. The most notable drawback is the current requirement that detectors be deployed underground, with at least several meters-water-equivalent of shielding from cosmic radiation. In addition, the deployment of liquid-based detector media presents a challenge in reactor facilities. We are currently developing a detector system that has the potential to operate above ground and circumvent deployment problems associated with a liquid detection media: the system is composed of segments of plastic scintillator surroundedmore » by 6LiF/ZnS:Ag. ZnS:Ag is a radio-luminescent phosphor used to detect the neutron capture products of lithium-6. Because of its long decay time compared to standard plastic scintillators, pulse-shape discrimination can be used to distinguish positron and neutron interactions resulting from the inverse beta decay (IBD) of antineutrinos within the detector volume, reducing both accidental and correlated backgrounds. Segmentation further reduces backgrounds by identifying the positron’s annihilation gammas, which are absent for most correlated and uncorrelated backgrounds. This work explores different configurations in order to maximize the size of the detector segments without reducing the intrinsic neutron detection efficiency. We believe this technology will ultimately be applicable to potential safeguards scenarios such as those recently described.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sweany, Melinda; Brennan, James S.; Cabrera-Palmer, Belkis

Antineutrino monitoring of nuclear reactors has been demonstrated many times, however the technique has not as of yet been developed into a useful capability for treaty verification purposes. The most notable drawback is the current requirement that detectors be deployed underground, with at least several meters-water-equivalent of shielding from cosmic radiation. In addition, the deployment of liquid-based detector media presents a challenge in reactor facilities. We are currently developing a detector system that has the potential to operate above ground and circumvent deployment problems associated with a liquid detection media: the system is composed of segments of plastic scintillator surroundedmore » by 6LiF/ZnS:Ag. ZnS:Ag is a radio-luminescent phosphor used to detect the neutron capture products of lithium-6. Because of its long decay time compared to standard plastic scintillators, pulse-shape discrimination can be used to distinguish positron and neutron interactions resulting from the inverse beta decay (IBD) of antineutrinos within the detector volume, reducing both accidental and correlated backgrounds. Segmentation further reduces backgrounds by identifying the positron’s annihilation gammas, which are absent for most correlated and uncorrelated backgrounds. This work explores different configurations in order to maximize the size of the detector segments without reducing the intrinsic neutron detection efficiency. We believe this technology will ultimately be applicable to potential safeguards scenarios such as those recently described.« less

3D Geological Model for "LUSI" - a Deep Geothermal System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sohrabi, Reza; Jansen, Gunnar; Mazzini, Adriano; Galvan, Boris; Miller, Stephen A.

2016-04-01

Geothermal applications require the correct simulation of flow and heat transport processes in porous media, and many of these media, like deep volcanic hydrothermal systems, host a certain degree of fracturing. This work aims to understand the heat and fluid transport within a new-born sedimentary hosted geothermal system, termed Lusi, that began erupting in 2006 in East Java, Indonesia. Our goal is to develop conceptual and numerical models capable of simulating multiphase flow within large-scale fractured reservoirs such as the Lusi region, with fractures of arbitrary size, orientation and shape. Additionally, these models can also address a number of other applications, including Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), CO2 sequestration (Carbon Capture and Storage CCS), and nuclear waste isolation. Fractured systems are ubiquitous, with a wide-range of lengths and scales, making difficult the development of a general model that can easily handle this complexity. We are developing a flexible continuum approach with an efficient, accurate numerical simulator based on an appropriate 3D geological model representing the structure of the deep geothermal reservoir. Using previous studies, borehole information and seismic data obtained in the framework of the Lusi Lab project (ERC grant n°308126), we present here the first 3D geological model of Lusi. This model is calculated using implicit 3D potential field or multi-potential fields, depending on the geological context and complexity. This method is based on geological pile containing the geological history of the area and relationship between geological bodies allowing automatic computation of intersections and volume reconstruction. Based on the 3D geological model, we developed a new mesh algorithm to create hexahedral octree meshes to transfer the structural geological information for 3D numerical simulations to quantify Thermal-Hydraulic-Mechanical-Chemical (THMC) physical processes.

Transformation and composition evolution of nanoscale zero valent iron (nZVI) synthesized by borohydride reduction in static water.

PubMed

Liu, Airong; Liu, Jing; Zhang, Wei-Xian

2015-01-01

The reactivity of nanoscale zero valent iron (nZVI) toward targeted contaminants is affected by the initial nZVI composition and the iron oxides formed during the aging process in aquatic systems. In this paper, the aging effects of nZVI, prepared using a borohydride reduction method in static water over a period of 90 days (d), are investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy are used to characterize the corrosion products of nZVI. Results show that both the structures and the compositions of the corrosion products change with the process of aging. The products of nZVI aged for 5 d in static water media are mainly magnetite (Fe3O4) and maghemite (γ-Fe2O3), accompanied by lepidocrocite (γ-FeOOH). For products aged 10 d, XRD data show the formation of ferrihydrite and lepidocrocite. When aged up to 90 d, the products are mainly γ-FeOOH mixed with small amounts of Fe3O4 and γ-Fe2O3. Transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) images show that the core-shell structure forms into a hollow spherical shape after 30 d of aging in aquatic media. The results indicate first that iron ions in the Fe(0) core diffuse outwardly toward the shell, and hollowed-out iron oxide shells emerge. Then, the iron oxide shell collapses and becomes a flaky, acicular-shaped structure. The type and the crystal phase of second iron oxide minerals are vastly different at various aging times. This study helps to explain the patterns of occurrence of specific iron oxides in different natural conditions. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

7 CFR 1755.901 - Incorporation by Reference.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

..., Digital Systems and Networks, Transmission media characteristics—Optical fibre cables, Characteristics of... Systems and Media, Digital Systems and Networks, Transmission media characteristics—Optical fibre cables... National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of these materials...

Primary care nurses’ experiences of how the mass media influence frontline healthcare in the UK

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Mass media plays an important role in communicating about health research and services to patients, and in shaping public perceptions and decisions about health. Healthcare professionals also play an important role in providing patients with credible, evidence-based and up-to-date information on a wide range of health issues. This study aims to explore primary care nurses’ experiences of how mass media influences frontline healthcare. Methods In-depth telephone interviews were carried out with 18 primary care nurses (nine health visitors and nine practice nurses) working in the United Kingdom (UK). Interviews were recorded and transcribed. The data was analysed using thematic analysis, with a focus on constant comparative analysis. Results Three themes emerged from the data. First, participants reported that their patients were frequently influenced by controversial health stories reported in the media, which affected their perceptions of, and decisions about, care. This, in turn, impinged upon participants’ workloads as they had to spend additional time discussing information and reassuring patients. Second, participants also recalled times in their own careers when media reports had contributed to a decline in their confidence in current healthcare practices and treatments. Third, the participants in this study suggested a real need for additional resources to support and expand their own media literacy skills, which could be shared with patients. Conclusion In an ever expanding media landscape with greater reporting on health, nurses working in the primary care setting face increasing pressure to effectively manage media stories that dispute current health policies and practices. These primary care nurses were keen to expand their media literacy skills to develop critical autonomy in relation to all media, and to facilitate more meaningful conversations with their patients about their health concerns and choices. PMID:24267614

Primary care nurses' experiences of how the mass media influence frontline healthcare in the UK.

PubMed

van Bekkum, Jennifer E; Hilton, Shona

2013-11-24

Mass media plays an important role in communicating about health research and services to patients, and in shaping public perceptions and decisions about health. Healthcare professionals also play an important role in providing patients with credible, evidence-based and up-to-date information on a wide range of health issues. This study aims to explore primary care nurses' experiences of how mass media influences frontline healthcare. In-depth telephone interviews were carried out with 18 primary care nurses (nine health visitors and nine practice nurses) working in the United Kingdom (UK). Interviews were recorded and transcribed. The data was analysed using thematic analysis, with a focus on constant comparative analysis. Three themes emerged from the data. First, participants reported that their patients were frequently influenced by controversial health stories reported in the media, which affected their perceptions of, and decisions about, care. This, in turn, impinged upon participants' workloads as they had to spend additional time discussing information and reassuring patients. Second, participants also recalled times in their own careers when media reports had contributed to a decline in their confidence in current healthcare practices and treatments. Third, the participants in this study suggested a real need for additional resources to support and expand their own media literacy skills, which could be shared with patients. In an ever expanding media landscape with greater reporting on health, nurses working in the primary care setting face increasing pressure to effectively manage media stories that dispute current health policies and practices. These primary care nurses were keen to expand their media literacy skills to develop critical autonomy in relation to all media, and to facilitate more meaningful conversations with their patients about their health concerns and choices.

Bioelectronic Learning: The Effects of Electronic Media on a Developing Brain.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sylwester, Robert

1997-01-01

Considers the effects of electronic media on the developing brains of children. Topics include the attentional demands of electronic media; commercial sponsorship; brain development, including memory systems and response systems; and what a developing mind can bring to the electronic media. (LRW)

Research and implementation on improving I/O performance of streaming media storage system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Zheng-wu; Wang, Yu-de; Jiang, Guo-song

2008-12-01

In this paper, we study the special requirements of a special storage system: streaming media server, and propose a solution to improve I/O performance of RAID storage system. The solution is suitable for streaming media applications. A streaming media storage subsystem includes the I/O interfaces, RAID arrays, I/O scheduling and device drivers. The solution is implemented on the top of the storage subsystem I/O Interface. Storage subsystem is the performance bottlenecks of a streaming media system, and I/O interface directly affect the performance of the storage subsystem. According to theoretical analysis, 64 KB block-size is most appropriate for streaming media applications. We carry out experiment in detail, and verified that the proper block-size really is 64KB. It is in accordance with our analysis. The experiment results also show that by using DMA controller, efficient memory management technology and mailbox interface design mechanism, streaming media storage system achieves a high-speed data throughput.

Experimental and AI-based numerical modeling of contaminant transport in porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nourani, Vahid; Mousavi, Shahram; Sadikoglu, Fahreddin; Singh, Vijay P.

2017-10-01

This study developed a new hybrid artificial intelligence (AI)-meshless approach for modeling contaminant transport in porous media. The key innovation of the proposed approach is that both black box and physically-based models are combined for modeling contaminant transport. The effectiveness of the approach was evaluated using experimental and real world data. Artificial neural network (ANN) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) were calibrated to predict temporal contaminant concentrations (CCs), and the effect of noisy and de-noised data on the model performance was evaluated. Then, considering the predicted CCs at test points (TPs, in experimental study) and piezometers (in Myandoab plain) as interior conditions, the multiquadric radial basis function (MQ-RBF), as a meshless approach which solves partial differential equation (PDE) of contaminant transport in porous media, was employed to estimate the CC values at any point within the study area where there was no TP or piezometer. Optimal values of the dispersion coefficient in the advection-dispersion PDE and shape coefficient of MQ-RBF were determined using the imperialist competitive algorithm. In temporal contaminant transport modeling, de-noised data enhanced the performance of ANN and ANFIS methods in terms of the determination coefficient, up to 6 and 5%, respectively, in the experimental study and up to 39 and 18%, respectively, in the field study. Results showed that the efficiency of ANFIS-meshless model was more than ANN-meshless model up to 2 and 13% in the experimental and field studies, respectively.

Impact of mineral precipitation on flow and mixing in porous media determined by microcomputed tomography and MRI

DOE PAGES

Bray, Joshua M.; Lauchnor, Ellen G.; Redden, George D.; ...

2016-12-21

Here, precipitation reactions in porous media influence transport properties of the environment and can control advective and dispersive transport. In subsurface environments, mixing of saline groundwater or injected solutions for remediation with fresh groundwater can induce supersaturation of constituents and drive precipitation reactions. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and micro-computed tomography (µ-CT) were employed as complimentary techniques to evaluate advection, dispersion and formation of precipitate in a 3D porous media flow cell. Two parallel fluids were flowed concentrically through the porous media under two flow rate conditions with Na 2CO 3 and CaCl 2 in the inner and outer fluids, respectively.more » Upon mixing, calcium carbonate became supersaturated and formed a precipitate at the interface of the two fluids. Spatial maps of changing local velocity fields and dispersion in the flow cell were generated from MRI, while high resolution imaging of the precipitate formed in the porous media was achieved via µ-CT imaging. Formation of a precipitate layer minimized dispersive and advective transport between the two fluids and the shape of the precipitation was influenced by the flow rate condition.« less

Outgrowth of fibroblast cells from goat skin explants in three different culture media and the establishment of cell lines.

PubMed

Singh, Mahipal; Sharma, Anil K

2011-02-01

Three different commercially available media, known to support human and porcine-specific fibroblast cultures, were tested for their growth potential on goat skin explants. Although outgrowth of fibroblasts was observed in all media tested, irrespective of breed, porcine-specific media exhibited higher rate of growth. Using this media, three fibroblast cell lines (GSF289, GSF737, and GSF2010) from ear skin explants of normal healthy dairy goats of Kiko and Saanen breed were successfully established in culture. Liquid nitrogen stocks of these frozen cells had a viability rate of 96.2% in in vitro cultures. These cells were morphologically indistinguishable from the cell stocks prior to freezing. Analysis of the growth of a fifth passage culture revealed an 'S' shaped growth curve with a population doubling time of 25 h. The cell lines were found negative for microbial, fungal, and mycoplasma contaminations. These goat skin fibroblast lines and the simple method of their isolation and freezing with high rate of viability will provide additional tools to study molecular mechanisms that regulate fibroblast function and for genetic manipulation of small ruminants.

Impact of mineral precipitation on flow and mixing in porous media determined by microcomputed tomography and MRI

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bray, Joshua M.; Lauchnor, Ellen G.; Redden, George D.

Here, precipitation reactions in porous media influence transport properties of the environment and can control advective and dispersive transport. In subsurface environments, mixing of saline groundwater or injected solutions for remediation with fresh groundwater can induce supersaturation of constituents and drive precipitation reactions. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and micro-computed tomography (µ-CT) were employed as complimentary techniques to evaluate advection, dispersion and formation of precipitate in a 3D porous media flow cell. Two parallel fluids were flowed concentrically through the porous media under two flow rate conditions with Na 2CO 3 and CaCl 2 in the inner and outer fluids, respectively.more » Upon mixing, calcium carbonate became supersaturated and formed a precipitate at the interface of the two fluids. Spatial maps of changing local velocity fields and dispersion in the flow cell were generated from MRI, while high resolution imaging of the precipitate formed in the porous media was achieved via µ-CT imaging. Formation of a precipitate layer minimized dispersive and advective transport between the two fluids and the shape of the precipitation was influenced by the flow rate condition.« less

Tweet success? Scientific communication correlates with increased citations in Ecology and Conservation

PubMed Central

Gilbert, Sophie L.; Ford, Adam T.

2018-01-01

Science communication is seen as critical for the disciplines of ecology and conservation, where research products are often used to shape policy and decision making. Scientists are increasing their online media communication, via social media and news. Such media engagement has been thought to influence or predict traditional metrics of scholarship, such as citation rates. Here, we measure the association between citation rates and the Altmetric Attention Score—an indicator of the amount and reach of the attention an article has received—along with other forms of bibliometric performance (year published, journal impact factor, and article type). We found that Attention Score was positively correlated with citation rates. However, in recent years, we detected increasing media exposure did not relate to the equivalent citations as in earlier years; signalling a diminishing return on investment. Citations correlated with journal impact factors up to ∼13, but then plateaued, demonstrating that maximizing citations does not require publishing in the highest-impact journals. We conclude that ecology and conservation researchers can increase exposure of their research through social media engagement and, simultaneously, enhance their performance under traditional measures of scholarly activity. PMID:29666750

Tweet success? Scientific communication correlates with increased citations in Ecology and Conservation.

PubMed

Lamb, Clayton T; Gilbert, Sophie L; Ford, Adam T

2018-01-01

Science communication is seen as critical for the disciplines of ecology and conservation, where research products are often used to shape policy and decision making. Scientists are increasing their online media communication, via social media and news. Such media engagement has been thought to influence or predict traditional metrics of scholarship, such as citation rates. Here, we measure the association between citation rates and the Altmetric Attention Score-an indicator of the amount and reach of the attention an article has received-along with other forms of bibliometric performance (year published, journal impact factor, and article type). We found that Attention Score was positively correlated with citation rates. However, in recent years, we detected increasing media exposure did not relate to the equivalent citations as in earlier years; signalling a diminishing return on investment. Citations correlated with journal impact factors up to ∼13, but then plateaued, demonstrating that maximizing citations does not require publishing in the highest-impact journals. We conclude that ecology and conservation researchers can increase exposure of their research through social media engagement and, simultaneously, enhance their performance under traditional measures of scholarly activity.

Regenerating an Arsenic Removal Iron-Based Adsorptive ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The replacement of exhausted, adsorptive media used to remove arsenic from drinking water accounts for approximately 80% of the total operational and maintenance (O/M) costs of this commonly used small system technology. The results of three, full scale system studies of an on-site media regeneration process (Part 1) showed it to be effective in stripping arsenic and other contaminants from the exhausted media. Part 2, of this two part paper, presents information on the performance of the regenerated media to remove arsenic through multiple regeneration cycles (3) and the approximate cost savings of regeneration over media replacement. The results of the studies indicate that regenerated media is very effective in removing arsenic and the regeneration cost is substantially less than the media replacement cost. On site regeneration, therefore, provides small systems with alternative to media replacement when removing arsenic from drinking water using adsorptive media technology. Part 2 of a two part paper on the performance of the regenerated media to remove arsenic through multiple regeneration cycles (3) and the approximate cost savings of regeneration over media replacement.

Multimedia architectures: from desktop systems to portable appliances

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhaskaran, Vasudev; Konstantinides, Konstantinos; Natarajan, Balas R.

1997-01-01

Future desktop and portable computing systems will have as their core an integrated multimedia system. Such a system will seamlessly combine digital video, digital audio, computer animation, text, and graphics. Furthermore, such a system will allow for mixed-media creation, dissemination, and interactive access in real time. Multimedia architectures that need to support these functions have traditionally required special display and processing units for the different media types. This approach tends to be expensive and is inefficient in its use of silicon. Furthermore, such media-specific processing units are unable to cope with the fluid nature of the multimedia market wherein the needs and standards are changing and system manufacturers may demand a single component media engine across a range of products. This constraint has led to a shift towards providing a single-component multimedia specific computing engine that can be integrated easily within desktop systems, tethered consumer appliances, or portable appliances. In this paper, we review some of the recent architectural efforts in developing integrated media systems. We primarily focus on two efforts, namely the evolution of multimedia-capable general purpose processors and a more recent effort in developing single component mixed media co-processors. Design considerations that could facilitate the migration of these technologies to a portable integrated media system also are presented.

A novel algorithm for fast and efficient multifocus wavefront shaping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fayyaz, Zahra; Nasiriavanaki, Mohammadreza

2018-02-01

Wavefront shaping using spatial light modulator (SLM) is a popular method for focusing light through a turbid media, such as biological tissues. Usually, in iterative optimization methods, due to the very large number of pixels in SLM, larger pixels are formed, bins, and the phase value of the bins are changed to obtain an optimum phase map, hence a focus. In this study an efficient optimization algorithm is proposed to obtain an arbitrary map of focus utilizing all the SLM pixels or small bin sizes. The application of such methodology in dermatology, hair removal in particular, is explored and discussed

Accurate bulk density determination of irregularly shaped translucent and opaque aerogels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petkov, M. P.; Jones, S. M.

2016-05-01

We present a volumetric method for accurate determination of bulk density of aerogels, calculated from extrapolated weight of the dry pure solid and volume estimates based on the Archimedes' principle of volume displacement, using packed 100 μm-sized monodispersed glass spheres as a "quasi-fluid" media. Hard particle packing theory is invoked to demonstrate the reproducibility of the apparent density of the quasi-fluid. Accuracy rivaling that of the refractive index method is demonstrated for both translucent and opaque aerogels with different absorptive properties, as well as for aerogels with regular and irregular shapes.

Nanoparticles in Mesostructured Polymers: Stabilizations and Morphology Selection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Jaeup; O'Shaughnessy, Ben

2002-03-01

A major challenge in the rapidly developing field of nano-materials is finding ways to create delicate spatial arrangements of nano-sized particles. Nanostructured polymer phases and ultrathin polymer films offer potential templates to spontaneously generate this spatial organization. Here we present theory of such systems. Our conclusions are as follows. (1) Nanoparticles tending to aggregate into clusters under van der Waals attractions may be stabilized in a stretched polymer environment as offered by tethered thin film brushes or lamellar diblock phases. By extending the hydrodynamic analogy of Williams and Pincus to the real case of the end-annealed Semenov brush, we show cluster formation is strongly influenced: disc-shaped clusters are suppressed in favor of extended cylindrical forms. (2) The final morphology of extended nanoparticle aggregates depends on the polymer environment. If the nanoparticle/air/polymer surface tensions and the degree of chain stretching satisfy certain conditions, the polymer media selects the length scale of nanoparticle clusters. This offers the possibility of tuning nanoparticle aggregate morphology by suitable choice of polymeric media. Our predictions are consistent with experiments at Columbia by Levicky, Durning, Cerise and Liu demonstrating nanoparticle stabilization and morphology selection in ultrathin end-tethered polymer films.

Correlated displacement-T2 MRI by means of a Pulsed Field Gradient-Multi Spin Echo Method.

PubMed

Windt, Carel W; Vergeldt, Frank J; Van As, Henk

2007-04-01

A method for correlated displacement-T2 imaging is presented. A Pulsed Field Gradient-Multi Spin Echo (PFG-MSE) sequence is used to record T2 resolved propagators on a voxel-by-voxel basis, making it possible to perform single voxel correlated displacement-T2 analyses. In spatially heterogeneous media the method thus gives access to sub-voxel information about displacement and T2 relaxation. The sequence is demonstrated using a number of flow conducting model systems: a tube with flowing water of variable intrinsic T2's, mixing fluids of different T2's in an "X"-shaped connector, and an intact living plant. PFG-MSE can be applied to yield information about the relation between flow, pore size and exchange behavior, and can aid volume flow quantification by making it possible to correct for T2 relaxation during the displacement labeling period Delta in PFG displacement imaging methods. Correlated displacement-T2 imaging can be of special interest for a number of research subjects, such as the flow of liquids and mixtures of liquids or liquids and solids moving through microscopic conduits of different sizes (e.g., plants, porous media, bioreactors, biomats).

The magnetotelluric response over 2D media with resistivity frequency dispersion

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mauriello, P.; Patella, D.; Siniscalchi, A.

1996-09-01

The authors investigate the magnetotelluric response of two-dimensional bodies, characterized by the presence of low-frequency dispersion phenomena of the electrical parameters. The Cole-Cole dispersion model is assumed to represent the frequency dependence of the impedivity complex function, defined as the inverse of Stoyer`s admittivity complex parameter. To simulate real geological situations, they consider three structural models, representing a sedimentary basin, a geothermal system and a magma chamber, assumed to be partially or totally dispersive. From a detailed study of the frequency and space behaviors of the magnetotelluric parameters, taking known non-dispersive results as reference, they outline the main peculiarities ofmore » the local distortion effects, caused by the presence of dispersion in the target media. Finally, they discuss the interpretive errors which can be made by neglecting the dispersion phenomena. The apparent dispersion function, which was defined in a previous paper to describe similar effects in the one-dimensional case, is again used as a reliable indicator of location, shape and spatial extent of the dispersive bodies. The general result of this study is a marked improvement in the resolution power of the magnetotelluric method.« less

Eye investigation with optical microradar techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Molebny, Vasyl V.; Pallikaris, Ioannis G.; Naoumidis, Leonidas P.; Kurashov, Vitalij N.; Chyzh, Igor H.

1997-08-01

Many problems exist in ophthalmology, where accurate measurements of eye structure and its parameters can be provided using optical radar concept is of remote sensing. Coherent and non-coherent approaches are reviewed aiming cornea shape measurement and measurement of aberration distribution in the elements and media of an eye. Coherent radar techniques are analyzed taking into account non- reciprocity of eye media and anisoplanatism of the fovea, that results in an exiting image being not an auto- correlation of the point-spread function of a single pass, even in the approximation of spatial invariance of the system. It is found, that aberrations of the cornea and lens are not additive, and may not be brought to summary aberrations on the entrance aperture of the lens. Anisoplanatism of the fovea and its roughness lead to low degree of coherence in scattered light. To estimate the result of measurements, methodology has been developed using Zernike polynomials expansions. Aberration distributions were gotten from measurements in 16 points of an eye situated on two concentric circles. Wave aberration functions have been approximated using least-square criterion. Thus, all data were provided necessary for cornea ablation with PRK procedure.

Pressure drop for inertial flows in elastic porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pauthenet, Martin; Bottaro, Alessandro; Davit, Yohan; Quintard, Michel; porous media Team

2017-11-01

The effect of the porosity and of the elastic properties of anisotropic solid skeletons saturated by a fluid is studied for flows displaying unsteady inertial effects. Insight is achieved by direct numerical simulations of the Navier-Stokes equations for model porous media, with inclusions which can oscillate with respect to their reference positions because of the presence of a restoring elastic force modeled by a spring. The numerical technique is based on the immersed boundary method, to easily allow for the displacement of pores of arbitrary shapes and dimensions. Solid contacts are anelastic. The parameters examined include the local Reynolds number, Red , based on the mean velocity through the reference unit cell and the characteristic size of the inclusions, the direction of the macroscopic forcing pressure gradient, the reduced frequency, f*, ratio of the flow frequency to the natural frequency of the spring-mass system, and the reduced mass, m*, ratio of the solid to the fluid density. Results demonstrate the effect of these parameters, and permit to determine the filtration laws useful for the subsequent macroscopic modeling of these flows through the volume averaged Navier-Stokes equations. IDEX Foundation of the University of Toulouse and HPC resources of the CALMIP supercomputing center.

Wettability control on fluid-fluid displacements in patterned microfluidics and porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Juanes, Ruben; Trojer, Mathias; Zhao, Benzhong

2014-11-01

While it is well known that the wetting properties are critical in two-phase flows in porous media, the effect of wettability on fluid displacement continues to challenge our microscopic and macroscopic descriptions. Here we study this problem experimentally, starting with the classic experiment of two-phase flow in a capillary tube. We image the shape of the meniscus and measure the associated capillary pressure for a wide range of capillary numbers. We synthesize new observations on the dependence of the dynamic capillary pressure on wetting properties (contact angle) and flow conditions (viscosity contrast and capillary number). We then conduct experiments on a planar microfluidic device patterned with vertical posts. We track the evolution of the fluid-fluid interface and elucidate the impact of wetting on the cooperative nature of fluid displacement during pore invasion events. We use the insights gained from the capillary tube and patterned microfluidics experiments to elucidate the effect of wetting properties on viscous fingering and capillary fingering in a Hele-Shaw cell filled with glass beads, where we observe a contact-angle-dependent stabilizing behavior for the emerging flow instabilities, as the system transitions from drainage to imbibition.

Spatial Variability of Organic Carbon in a Fractured Mudstone and Its Effect on the Retention and Release of Trichloroethene (TCE)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sole-Mari, G.; Fernandez-Garcia, D.

2016-12-01

Random Walk Particle Tracking (RWPT) coupled with Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) has been recently proposed to simulate reactive transport in porous media. KDE provides an optimal estimation of the area of influence of particles which is a key element to simulate nonlinear chemical reactions. However, several important drawbacks can be identified: (1) the optimal KDE method is computationally intensive and thereby cannot be used at each time step of the simulation; (2) it does not take advantage of the prior information about the physical system and the previous history of the solute plume; (3) even if the kernel is optimal, the relative error in RWPT simulations typically increases over time as the particle density diminishes by dilution. To overcome these problems, we propose an adaptive branching random walk methodology that incorporates the physics, the particle history and maintains accuracy with time. The method allows particles to efficiently split and merge when necessary as well as to optimally adapt their local kernel shape without having to recalculate the kernel size. We illustrate the advantage of the method by simulating complex reactive transport problems in randomly heterogeneous porous media.

A Particle Model for Prediction of Cement Infiltration of Cancellous Bone in Osteoporotic Bone Augmentation.

PubMed

Basafa, Ehsan; Murphy, Ryan J; Kutzer, Michael D; Otake, Yoshito; Armand, Mehran

2013-01-01

Femoroplasty is a potential preventive treatment for osteoporotic hip fractures. It involves augmenting mechanical properties of the femur by injecting Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement. To reduce the risks involved and maximize the outcome, however, the procedure needs to be carefully planned and executed. An important part of the planning system is predicting infiltration of cement into the porous medium of cancellous bone. We used the method of Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) to model the flow of PMMA inside porous media. We modified the standard formulation of SPH to incorporate the extreme viscosities associated with bone cement. Darcy creeping flow of fluids through isotropic porous media was simulated and the results were compared with those reported in the literature. Further validation involved injecting PMMA cement inside porous foam blocks - osteoporotic cancellous bone surrogates - and simulating the injections using our proposed SPH model. Millimeter accuracy was obtained in comparing the simulated and actual cement shapes. Also, strong correlations were found between the simulated and the experimental data of spreading distance (R(2) = 0.86) and normalized pressure (R(2) = 0.90). Results suggest that the proposed model is suitable for use in an osteoporotic femoral augmentation planning framework.

Chemotaxis and flow disorder shape microbial dispersion in porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Anna, Pietro; Yawata, Yutaka; Stocker, Roman; Juanes, Ruben

2017-04-01

Bacteria drive a plethora of natural processes in the subsurface, consuming organic matter and catalysing chemical reactions that are key to global elemental cycles. These macro-scale consequences result from the collective action of individual bacteria at the micro-scale, which are modulated by the highly heterogeneous subsurface environment, dominated by flow disorder and strong chemical gradients. Yet, despite the generally recognized importance of these microscale processes, microbe-host medium interaction at the pore scale remain poorly characterized and understood. Here, we introduce a microfluidic model system to directly image and quantify the role of cell motility on bacterial dispersion and residence time in confined, porous, media. Using the soil-dwelling bacterium Bacillus subtilis and the common amino acid serine as a resource, we observe that chemotaxis in highly disordered and confined physico-chemical environment affords bacteria an increase in their ability to persistently occupy the host medium. Our findings illustrate that the interplay between bacterial behaviour and pore-scale disorder in fluid velocity and nutrient concentration directly impacts the residence time, transport and bio-geo-chemical transformation rates of biota in the subsurface, and thus likely the processes they mediate.

Optimal bipedal interactions with dynamic terrain: synthesis and analysis via nonlinear programming

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hubicki, Christian; Goldman, Daniel; Ames, Aaron

In terrestrial locomotion, gait dynamics and motor control behaviors are tuned to interact efficiently and stably with the dynamics of the terrain (i.e. terradynamics). This controlled interaction must be particularly thoughtful in bipeds, as their reduced contact points render them highly susceptible to falls. While bipedalism under rigid terrain assumptions is well-studied, insights for two-legged locomotion on soft terrain, such as sand and dirt, are comparatively sparse. We seek an understanding of how biological bipeds stably and economically negotiate granular media, with an eye toward imbuing those abilities in bipedal robots. We present a trajectory optimization method for controlled systems subject to granular intrusion. By formulating a large-scale nonlinear program (NLP) with reduced-order resistive force theory (RFT) models and jamming cone dynamics, the optimized motions are informed and shaped by the dynamics of the terrain. Using a variant of direct collocation methods, we can express all optimization objectives and constraints in closed-form, resulting in rapid solving by standard NLP solvers, such as IPOPT. We employ this tool to analyze emergent features of bipedal locomotion in granular media, with an eye toward robotic implementation.

Elliptic-type soliton combs in optical ring microresonators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dikandé Bitha, Rodrigues D.; Dikandé, Alain M.

2018-03-01

Soliton crystals are periodic patterns of multispot optical fields formed from either time or space entanglements of equally separated identical high-intensity pulses. These specific nonlinear optical structures have gained interest in recent years with the advent and progress in nonlinear optical fibers and fiber lasers, photonic crystals, wave-guided wave systems, and most recently optical ring microresonator devices. In this work an extensive analysis of characteristic features of soliton crystals is carried out, with an emphasis on their one-to-one correspondence with elliptic solitons. With this purpose in mind, we examine their formation, their stability, and their dynamics in ring-shaped nonlinear optical media within the framework of the Lugiato-Lefever equation. The stability analysis deals with internal modes of the system via a 2 ×2 -matrix Lamé-type eigenvalue problem, the spectrum of which is shown to possess a rich set of bound states consisting of stable zero-fequency modes and unstable decaying as well as growing modes. Turning towards the dynamics of elliptic solitons in ring-shaped fiber resonators with Kerr nonlinearity, we first propose a collective-coordinate approach, based on a Lagrangian formalism suitable for elliptic-soliton solutions to the nonlinear Schrödinger equation with an arbitrary perturbation. Next we derive time evolutions of elliptic-soliton parameters in the specific context of ring-shaped optical fiber resonators, where the optical field evolution is thought to be governed by the Lugiato-Lefever equation. By solving numerically the collective-coordinate equations an analysis of the amplitude, the position, the phase of internal oscillations, the phase velocity, the energy, and phase portraits of the amplitude is carried out and reveals a complex dynamics of the elliptic soliton in ring-shaped optical microresonators. Direct numerical simulations of the Lugiato-Lefever equation are also carried out seeking for stationary-wave solutions, and the numerical results are in very good agreement with the collective-coordinate approach.

Perspective: Evolutionary design of granular media and block copolymer patterns

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jaeger, Heinrich M.; de Pablo, Juan J.

2016-05-01

The creation of new materials "by design" is a process that starts from desired materials properties and proceeds to identify requirements for the constituent components. Such process is challenging because it inverts the typical modeling approach, which starts from given micro-level components to predict macro-level properties. We describe how to tackle this inverse problem using concepts from evolutionary computation. These concepts have widespread applicability and open up new opportunities for design as well as discovery. Here we apply them to design tasks involving two very different classes of soft materials, shape-optimized granular media and nanopatterned block copolymer thin films.

New image of psychiatry, mass media impact and public relations.

PubMed

Jakovljević, Miro; Tomić, Zoran; Maslov, Boris; Skoko, Iko

2010-06-01

The mass media has a powerful impact on public attitudes about mental health and psychiatry. The question of identity of psychiatry as a medical profession as well as of the future of psychiatry has been the subject of much controversial discussion. Psychiatry today has the historical opportunity to shape the future of mental health care, medicine and society. It has gained in scientific and professional status by the tremendous increase of knowledge and treatment skills. Psychiatry should build up new transdisciplinary and integrative image of a specialized profession, promote it and make it public. Good public relations are very important for the future of psychiatry.

Geodermatophilus, a New Genus of the Dermatophilaceae (Actinomycetales)

PubMed Central

Luedemann, George M.

1968-01-01

Organisms having a complex life cycle similar to the animal pathogen Dermatophilus congolensis have been isolated from soils of the United States. The soil isolates grow readily on agar media producing a black, friable, or sooty colony; in broth, the isolates produce a thick sediment with a clear supernatant fluid and occasionally a black surface pellicle. The generic taxon Geodermatophilus is proposed for these soil isolates. Geodermatophilus differs morphologically from Dermatophilus in thallus shape, ensheathment, and branching, and physiologically in respect to blood hemolysis, casein hydrolysis, carbohydrate utilization, acid production, and media requirements. The type species proposed is G. obscurus. Three subspecies are recognized. Images PMID:5726312

Focusing light through random scattering media by four-element division algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fang, Longjie; Zhang, Xicheng; Zuo, Haoyi; Pang, Lin

2018-01-01

The focusing of light through random scattering materials using wavefront shaping is studied in detail. We propose a newfangled approach namely four-element division algorithm to improve the average convergence rate and signal-to-noise ratio of focusing. Using 4096 independently controlled segments of light, the intensity at the target is 72 times enhanced over the original intensity at the same position. The four-element division algorithm and existing phase control algorithms of focusing through scattering media are compared by both of the numerical simulation and the experiment. It is found that four-element division algorithm is particularly advantageous to improve the average convergence rate of focusing.

A new approach to modeling the effective thermal conductivity of ceramics porous media using a generalized self-consistent method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Edrisi, Siroos; Bidhendi, Norollah Kasiri; Haghighi, Maryam

2017-01-01

Effective thermal conductivity of the porous media was modeled based on a self-consistent method. This model estimates the heat transfer between insulator surface and air cavities accurately. In this method, the pore size and shape, the temperature gradient and other thermodynamic properties of the fluid was taken into consideration. The results are validated by experimental data for fire bricks used in cracking furnaces at the olefin plant of Maroon petrochemical complexes well as data published for polyurethane foam (synthetic polymers) IPTM and IPM. The model predictions present a good agreement against experimental data with thermal conductivity deviating <1 %.

Making sense of global warming: Norwegians appropriating knowledge of anthropogenic climate change.

PubMed

Ryghaug, Marianne; Sørensen, Knut Holtan; Naess, Robert

2011-11-01

This paper studies how people reason about and make sense of human-made global warming, based on ten focus group interviews with Norwegian citizens. It shows that the domestication of climate science knowledge was shaped through five sense-making devices: news media coverage of changes in nature, particularly the weather, the coverage of presumed experts' disagreement about global warming, critical attitudes towards media, observations of political inaction, and considerations with respect to everyday life. These sense-making devices allowed for ambiguous outcomes, and the paper argues four main outcomes with respect to the domestication processes: the acceptors, the tempered acceptors, the uncertain and the sceptics.

The Emerging Neuroscience of Social Media.

PubMed

Meshi, Dar; Tamir, Diana I; Heekeren, Hauke R

2015-12-01

Social media use is a global phenomenon, with almost two billion people worldwide regularly using these websites. As Internet access around the world increases, so will the number of social media users. Neuroscientists can capitalize on the ubiquity of social media use to gain novel insights about social cognitive processes and the neural systems that support them. This review outlines social motives that drive people to use social media, proposes neural systems supporting social media use, and describes approaches neuroscientists can use to conduct research with social media. We close by noting important directions and ethical considerations of future research with social media. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Transnational Migration, Social Capital and Lifelong Learning in the USA

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alfred, Mary V.

2010-01-01

At the beginning of the twenty-first century, immigration continues to be a powerful force that shapes the US demographic landscape and hence influences all aspects of US lifeways. Unlike past waves of immigration, communication, media and transportation technologies enable today's immigrants to maintain strong ties and relationships with their…

"...And Now A Story about Today's News."

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hornstein, Harvey A.

The news media plays an important role in shaping opinions about the character of American society. Through the news, people learn about the prevalence of human benevolence or malevolence. The author conducted several tests to evaluate the effects of news on individuals of various ages and backgrounds. Experimental groups were told that they would…

The Ideology of Free Culture and the Grammar of Sabotage

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pasquinelli, Matteo

2010-01-01

Bringing post-Operaismo into network culture, this text tries to introduce the notion of surplus in a contemporary media debate dominated by a simple symmetry between immaterial and material domain, between digital economy and bioeconomy. Therefore a new asymmetry is first shaped through Serres' conceptual figure of the parasite and Bataille's…

Language, Identity, and Social Divides: Medium of Instruction Debates in Bangladeshi Print Media

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hamid, M. Obaidul; Jahan, Iffat

2015-01-01

This article critically examines the role of language as medium of instruction (MOI) in shaping students' self-perceptions, worldviews, and identities in a globalizing world. We draw on identity and social positioning theories and on Bourdieu's concepts of capital and symbolic struggle to frame our investigation. Using an analytical framework…

Impact of Single-Case Pupil Descriptions on Student Teacher Attitudes towards Inclusive Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Röhm, Alexander; Schnöring, Annika; Hastall, Matthias R.

2018-01-01

Institutional and individual stigmatization are still major barriers for children with disabilities to access education. Teacher attitudes towards inclusive education play a crucial role in this regard, and are shaped by single-case descriptions from mass media or other sources. Building on exemplification theory and priming, two experiments with…

In the Zone

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Valentino, Carla

2012-01-01

This article describes a project that was inspired by the Chinese Festival of Lanterns. In this project, students had the opportunity and challenge of using a variety of media to represent a range of values to create form from shape. The lanterns proved to be an interesting subject for the drawings, as well as a way to increase students' knowledge…

Physical Education and Health in Singapore Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McNeill, Michael C.; Fry, Joan M.

2010-01-01

As a school subject, physical education (PE) in Singapore took on its own shape with the introduction of a conceptual games teaching approach in response to the national government's "Thinking Schools, Learning Nation" policy of the late 1990s. With the recent media attention on hosting two main international events (Asian Youth Games…

Assessing the Landscape: Body Image Values and Attitudes among Middle School Boys and Girls

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grosick, Tracy L.; Talbert-Johnson, Carolyn; Myers, Melissa J.; Angelo, Renee

2013-01-01

Background: Body image refers to an individual's thoughts and feelings about his or her body and physical appearance. To date, several qualitative and quantitative findings implicate sociocultural influences, such as the media or parental pressure, in shaping female adolescents' body image perceptions. Overall, there is not much quantitative…

Like a Rock: Far Rockaway High School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Whelan, Debra Lau

2007-01-01

Students from Far Rockaway High School are just back from spring break, and media specialist Geri Ellner is busy getting ready for her first class. She's already pulled out a copy of Anthony Browne's award-winning picture book "The Shape Game" (Farrar, 2003), and now she's patiently cuing up a Disney video of "Pocahontas" on…

CSAMT method for determining depth and shape of a sub-surface conductive object

DOEpatents

Lee, David O.; Montoya, Paul C.; Wayland, Jr., J. Robert

1986-01-01

The depth to and size of an underground object may be determined by sweeping a CSAMT signal and locating a peak response when the receiver spans the edge of the object. The depth of the object is one quarter wavelength in the subsurface media of the frequency of the peak.

The Search for a Value Consensus. Working Papers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rockefeller Foundation, New York, NY.

These papers by four social scientists were prepared for a conference to analyze the current absence of a value consensus in American life and to examine grounds for a consensus. Further, the contribution of education and the media to the shaping and dissemination of values is explored. Kenneth Boulding contends that underlying moral diversity is…

Enabling Science Integration through the Marine Geoscience Data System Media Bank

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leung, A.; Ferrini, V.; Arko, R.; Carbotte, S. M.; Goehring, L.; Simms, E.

2008-12-01

The Marine Geoscience Data System Media Bank (http://media.marine-geo.org) was constructed to enable the sharing of high quality images, illustrations and animations among members of the science community and to provide a new forum for education and public outreach (EPO). The initial focus of Media Bank was to serve Ridge 2000 research and EPO efforts, but it was constructed as a flexible system that could accommodate media from other multidisciplinary marine geoscience research initiatives. Media Bank currently contains digital photographs, maps, 3-D visualizations, and video clips from the Ridge 2000 and MARGINS focus sites as well as the Antarctic and Southern Ocean. We actively seek contributions of other high quality marine geoscience media for inclusion in Media Bank. Media Bank is driven by a relational database backend, enabling image browsing, sorting by category, keyword search functionality, and the creation of media galleries. All media are accompanied by a descriptive figure caption that provides easy access to expert knowledge to help foster data integration across disciplines as well as EPO efforts. In addition to access to high quality media, Media Bank also provides basic metadata including geographic position, investigator name and affiliation, as well as copyright information, and links to references and relevant data sets. Since media are tied to geospatial coordinates, a map-based interface is also provided for access to media.

Enhanced second-harmonic-generation detection of collagen by means of optical wavefront shaping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thompson, Jonathan V.; Throckmorton, Graham A.; Hokr, Brett H.; Yakovlev, Vladislav V.

2016-03-01

Second-harmonic generation (SHG) has proven to be an effective method to both image and detect structural variations in fibrillar collagen. The ability to detect these differences is especially useful in studying diseases like cancer and fibrosis.1 SHG techniques have historically been limited by their ability to penetrate and image through strongly scattering tissues. Recently, optical wavefront shaping has enabled light to be focused through highly scattering media such as biological tissue.2-4 This technology also enables us to examine the dependence of second harmonic generation on the spatial phase of the pump laser. Here, we demonstrate that wavefront shaping can be used to enhance the generation of second harmonic light from collagen fibrils even when scattering is low or non-existent.

Contour fractal analysis of grains

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guida, Giulia; Casini, Francesca; Viggiani, Giulia MB

2017-06-01

Fractal analysis has been shown to be useful in image processing to characterise the shape and the grey-scale complexity in different applications spanning from electronic to medical engineering (e.g. [1]). Fractal analysis consists of several methods to assign a dimension and other fractal characteristics to a dataset describing geometric objects. Limited studies have been conducted on the application of fractal analysis to the classification of the shape characteristics of soil grains. The main objective of the work described in this paper is to obtain, from the results of systematic fractal analysis of artificial simple shapes, the characterization of the particle morphology at different scales. The long term objective of the research is to link the microscopic features of granular media with the mechanical behaviour observed in the laboratory and in situ.

Studies in perpendicular magnetic recording

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Valcu, Bogdan F.

This dissertation uses both micromagnetic simulation and analytical methods to analyze several aspects of a perpendicular recording system. To increase the head field amplitude, the recording layer is grown on top of a soft magnetic layer (keeper). There is concern about the ability of the keeper to conduct the magnetic flux from the head at high data rates. We compute numerically the magnetization motion of the soft underlayer during the reversal process. Generation of non-linear spin waves characterizes the magnetization dynamics in the keeper, the spins are oscillating with a frequency higher than that of the reversal current. However, the recording field applied to the data layer follows the time dependence of the input wave form. The written transition shape is determined by the competition between the head field gradient and the demagnetizing field gradient. An analytical slope model that takes into consideration the angular orientation of the applied field is used to estimate the transition parameter; agreement is shown with the micromagnetic results. On the playback side, the reciprocity principle is applied to calculate the read out signal from a single magnetic transition in the perpendicular medium. The pulse shape is close to an error-function, going through zero when the sensor is above the transition center and decaying from the peak to an asymptotic value when the transition center is far away. Analytical closed forms for both the slope in the origin and the asymptotic value show the dependence on the recording geometry parameters. The Signal-to-Noise Ratio is calculated assuming that the noise is dominated by the medium jitter. To keep the SNR at a readable level while increasing the areal density, the average magnetic grain diameter must decrease; consequently grain size fluctuations will affect the thermal decay. We performed Transmission Electron Microscopy measurements and observed differences in the grain size distribution between various types of media. Perpendicular media has more non-uniform grains than typical longitudinal media; the difference might appear due to the higher symmetry (related to the crystallographic orientation). The SNR is affected in great measure by the amount of exchange interaction between the grains. The intergranular coupling in CoCr alloys---typical for recording media---is reduced by Cr diffusion at the grain boundary. Micromagnetic modeling with an elementary discrete cell of atomic dimensions is used to calculate the magnetization variations through the grain boundary. An effective exchange interaction parameter is determined in terms of details of the chemical composition.

Regenerating an Arsenic Removal Iron-Based Adsorptive ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Adsorptive media technology is a frequently used method of removing arsenic by small water systems because of its simplicity and efficiency. Current practice is to replace the media when it no longer reduces arsenic below the USEPA drinking water maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 µg/L. Media replacement typically accounts for approximately 80% of the total operational and maintenance (O/M) costs. This cost can be substantial and cost prohibitive for many small systems. One potential option to reduce the cost is on-site regeneration and reuse of the media. To evaluate the regeneration option, three consecutive regeneration studies were conducted on a full scale 295 gpm arsenic removal adsorptive media system. This paper, of a two part series, describes the regeneration process and its effectiveness to strip the arsenic and other contaminants from an exhausted media. The results of the regeneration studies found that a three step regeneration process of media backwash, caustic regeneration and acid neutralization/conditioning is very effective for stripping arsenic and other contaminants from the exhaustive media of a full scale arsenic removal system This paper, of a two part series, describes the regeneration process and its effectiveness to strip the arsenic and other contaminants from an exhausted media

Wave-front propagation in a discrete model of excitable media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feldman, A. B.; Chernyak, Y. B.; Cohen, R. J.

1998-06-01

We generalize our recent discrete cellular automata (CA) model of excitable media [Y. B. Chernyak, A. B. Feldman, and R. J. Cohen, Phys. Rev. E 55, 3215 (1997)] to incorporate the effects of inhibitory processes on the propagation of the excitation wave front. In the common two variable reaction-diffusion (RD) models of excitable media, the inhibitory process is described by the v ``controller'' variable responsible for the restoration of the equilibrium state following excitation. In myocardial tissue, the inhibitory effects are mainly due to the inactivation of the fast sodium current. We represent inhibition using a physical model in which the ``source'' contribution of excited elements to the excitation of their neighbors decreases with time as a simple function with a single adjustable parameter (a rate constant). We sought specific solutions of the CA state transition equations and obtained (both analytically and numerically) the dependence of the wave-front speed c on the four model parameters and the wave-front curvature κ. By requiring that the major characteristics of c(κ) in our CA model coincide with those obtained from solutions of a specific RD model, we find a unique set of CA parameter values for a given excitable medium. The basic structure of our CA solutions is remarkably similar to that found in typical RD systems (similar behavior is observed when the analogous model parameters are varied). Most notably, the ``turn-on'' of the inhibitory process is accompanied by the appearance of a solution branch of slow speed, unstable waves. Additionally, when κ is small, we obtain a family of ``eikonal'' relations c(κ) that are suitable for the kinematic analysis of traveling waves in the CA medium. We compared the solutions of the CA equations to CA simulations for the case of plane waves and circular (target) waves and found excellent agreement. We then studied a spiral wave using the CA model adjusted to a specific RD system and found good correspondence between the shapes of the RD and CA spiral arms in the region away from the tip where kinematic theory applies. Our analysis suggests that only four physical parameters control the behavior of wave fronts in excitable media.

Use of PRD1 bacteriophage in groundwater viral transport, inactivation, and attachment studies

USGS Publications Warehouse

Harvey, Ronald W.; Ryan, Joseph N.

2004-01-01

PRD1, an icosahedra-shaped, 62 nm (diameter), double-stranded DNA bacteriophage with an internal membrane, has emerged as an important model virus for studying the manner in which microorganisms are transported through a variety of groundwater environments. The popularity of this phage for use in transport studies involving geologic media is due, in part, to its relative stability over a range of temperatures and low degree of attachment in aquifer sediments. Laboratory and field investigations employing PRD1 are leading to a better understanding of viral attachment and transport behaviors in saturated geologic media and to improved methods for describing mathematically subsurface microbial transport at environmentally significant field scales. Radioisotopic labeling of PRD1 is facilitating additional information about the nature of viral interactions with solid surfaces in geologic media, the importance of iron oxide surfaces, and allowing differentiation between inactivation and attachment in field-scale tracer tests.

The future of meat: a qualitative analysis of cultured meat media coverage.

PubMed

Goodwin, J N; Shoulders, C W

2013-11-01

This study sought to explore the informational themes and information sources cited by the media to cover stories of cultured meat in both the United States and the European Union. The results indicated that cultured meat news articles in both the United States and the European Union commonly discuss cultured meat in terms of benefits, history, process, time, livestock production problems, and skepticism. Additionally, the information sources commonly cited in the articles included cultured meat researchers, sources from academia, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), New Harvest, Winston Churchill, restaurant owners/chefs, and sources from the opposing countries (e.g. US use some EU sources and vice versa). The implications of this study will allow meat scientists to understand how the media is influencing consumers' perceptions about the topic, and also allow them to strategize how to shape future communication about cultured meat. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Media influence on drive for thinness, body satisfaction, and eating attitudes among young women in Hong Kong and China.

PubMed

Rochelle, Tina L; Hu, W Y

2017-03-01

The present study examined the impact of thin-ideal media exposure on Chinese women's drive for thinness, attitudes towards body shape, and eating attitude. Women were assigned to one of two video conditions, which portrayed the thin-ideal (experimental) or was neutral (control group), in terms of content. A total of 83 young women from Hong Kong (N = 38) and Shanghai (N = 45), aged between 18 and 25 years (M age  = 22.7) participated in the study. A significant interaction was observed between the experimental video condition and location. Hong Kong women in the experimental group experienced greater levels of body dissatisfaction than Shanghai women exposed to the same condition. Exposure to thin-ideal media produced an increase in drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction and problematic eating attitudes regardless of location, with a greater immediate impact shown in Hong Kong women.

Entanglements of instruments and media in investigating organic life.

PubMed

Steigerwald, Joan

2016-06-01

The question what constitutes organic life might be answered variously. This special issue explores how the rendering of life throughout the history of biology has been shaped by various instruments and media. While acknowledging the significance of the theoretical and social scenes of inquiry in which specific tools and techniques develop, and which delimit epistemic possibilities for making sense of life, the issue draws attention to material practices and instrumental mediations in experimental studies of life. Although it might seem self-evident that biology takes as its object of inquiry living organisms, it is productive to regard its subject matter as organic media rather than discrete organisms. The papers gathered in this issue show the rich potential for the critical study of how organic life has been constituted through the tools used to mediate its study. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Frames, claims and audiences: Construction of food allergies in the Canadian media.

PubMed

Harrington, Daniel W; Elliott, Susan J; Clarke, Ann E

2012-08-01

Food allergies are newly emerging health risks, and some evidence indicates that their prevalence is increasing. Public perception, however, is that the prevalence of food allergies is much greater than systematic estimates suggest. As food allergies increasingly permeate everyday life, this paper explores how associated risks are constructed through the mass media. In particular, nine years of media coverage of food allergies are analysed through the lens of issue framing and claims-making. Results show that advocates and affected individuals dominate discussions around policy action, while researchers and health professionals are diagnosing the causes of food allergy. Results also suggest that there is competition over the definition of food allergies, which may, in turn, be shaping public understanding of the related risks. There is also an indication that the framing of food allergies is evolving over time, and that the discussion is becoming increasingly one-sided with affected individuals leading the charge.

Debating LGBT Workplace Protections in the Bible Belt: Social Identities in Legislative and Media Discourse.

PubMed

Rhodes, Claire D; Stewart, Craig O

2016-07-01

This article reports a case study of the legislative and media discourse surrounding the addition of sexual orientation and gender identity language to the employment nondiscrimination ordinance of a city in the heart of the Bible Belt. The purpose of the study is to uncover how different identities were constructed and contested at city council meetings and in the news media on the way to passing legal protection for LGBT city employees in a region that is often characterized by anti-gay prejudice. This debate over the nondiscrimination ordinance centered on the question of whether LGBT identities are equivalent to identity categories based on race, gender, or religious belief, and it was shaped by various intergroup communication dynamics, specifically between members of the LGBT minority and the straight majority, between LGBT and Christian identities, and between "true" and "false" Christian identities.

A Selection System and Catalog for Instructional Media and Devices.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Boucher, Brian G.; And Others

A system is presented which facilitates the selection of training media and devices based on the requirements of specific learning objectives. The system consists of the use of a set of descriptive parameters which are common to both learning objectives and media. The system allows the essential intent of learning objectives to be analyzed in…

Footprints of Fascination: Digital Traces of Public Engagement with Particle Physics on CERN's Social Media Platforms.

PubMed

Kahle, Kate; Sharon, Aviv J; Baram-Tsabari, Ayelet

2016-01-01

Although the scientific community increasingly recognizes that its communication with the public may shape civic engagement with science, few studies have characterized how this communication occurs online. Social media plays a growing role in this engagement, yet it is not known if or how different platforms support different types of engagement. This study sets out to explore how users engage with science communication items on different platforms of social media, and what are the characteristics of the items that tend to attract large numbers of user interactions. Here, user interactions with almost identical items on five of CERN's social media platforms were quantitatively compared over an eight-week period, including likes, comments, shares, click-throughs, and time spent on CERN's site. The most popular items were qualitatively analyzed for content features. Findings indicate that as audience size of a social media platform grows, the total rate of engagement with content tends to grow as well. However, per user, engagement tends to decline with audience size. Across all platforms, similar topics tend to consistently receive high engagement. In particular, awe-inspiring imagery tends to frequently attract high engagement across platforms, independent of newsworthiness. To our knowledge, this study provides the first cross-platform characterization of public engagement with science on social media. Findings, although focused on particle physics, have a multidisciplinary nature; they may serve to benchmark social media analytics for assessing science communication activities in various domains. Evidence-based suggestions for practitioners are also offered.

Shaping the light for the investigation of depth-extended scattering media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Osten, W.; Frenner, K.; Pedrini, G.; Singh, A. K.; Schindler, J.; Takeda, M.

2018-02-01

Scattering media are an ongoing challenge for all kind of imaging technologies including coherent and incoherent principles. Inspired by new approaches of computational imaging and supported by the availability of powerful computers, spatial light modulators, light sources and detectors, a variety of new methods ranging from holography to time-of-flight imaging, phase conjugation, phase recovery using iterative algorithms and correlation techniques have been introduced and applied to different types of objects. However, considering the obvious progress in this field, several problems are still matter of investigation and their solution could open new doors for the inspection and application of scattering media as well. In particular, these open questions include the possibility of extending the 2d-approach to the inspection of depth-extended objects, the direct use of a scattering media as a simple tool for imaging of complex objects and the improvement of coherent inspection techniques for the dimensional characterization of incoherently radiating spots embedded in scattering media. In this paper we show our recent findings in coping with these challenges. First we describe how to explore depth-extended objects by means of a scattering media. Afterwards, we extend this approach by implementing a new type of microscope making use of a simple scatter plate as a kind of flat and unconventional imaging lens. Finally, we introduce our shearing interferometer in combination with structured illumination for retrieving the axial position of fluorescent light emitting spots embedded in scattering media.

Footprints of Fascination: Digital Traces of Public Engagement with Particle Physics on CERN's Social Media Platforms

PubMed Central

Baram-Tsabari, Ayelet

2016-01-01

Although the scientific community increasingly recognizes that its communication with the public may shape civic engagement with science, few studies have characterized how this communication occurs online. Social media plays a growing role in this engagement, yet it is not known if or how different platforms support different types of engagement. This study sets out to explore how users engage with science communication items on different platforms of social media, and what are the characteristics of the items that tend to attract large numbers of user interactions. Here, user interactions with almost identical items on five of CERN's social media platforms were quantitatively compared over an eight-week period, including likes, comments, shares, click-throughs, and time spent on CERN's site. The most popular items were qualitatively analyzed for content features. Findings indicate that as audience size of a social media platform grows, the total rate of engagement with content tends to grow as well. However, per user, engagement tends to decline with audience size. Across all platforms, similar topics tend to consistently receive high engagement. In particular, awe-inspiring imagery tends to frequently attract high engagement across platforms, independent of newsworthiness. To our knowledge, this study provides the first cross-platform characterization of public engagement with science on social media. Findings, although focused on particle physics, have a multidisciplinary nature; they may serve to benchmark social media analytics for assessing science communication activities in various domains. Evidence-based suggestions for practitioners are also offered. PMID:27232498

Between Casual Commitment and Cross-Media Articulation: The Faith of the Napkin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bødker, Susanne; Petersen, Anja Bechmann

Since the mid-1990s, newspaper companies have faced dramatic challenges due to stagnation or decline in the consumption of traditional media (12), new types of production technology, and new types of products. At present, media companies worldwide struggle with a new challenge called cross-media production: the integrated production of news stories to multiple media platforms (paper, TV, radio, etc.) (13). Digital materials make it possible to produce content for several different media platforms, and the different strengths of the media further support new forms of news coverage that cross these platforms. The very recent explosion of blogs and video podcasting are new examples adding to the family of products and ideally, the reporters become storytellers who choose the most suitable media for their story. The reality, however, is far more complicated: The Danish media company Nordjyske Medier was a local newspaper that has now diversified and produces daily news for radio, TV, web, a daily newspaper, and several additional products. All production is gathered in one location, where reporters produce news stories to be distributed in the various media. The editorial staff of all media is placed literally in the middle of this location. We carried out an empirical study of cooperation and planning at the media company (1; 5). The company used a production planning system in place, called the Napkin. The Napkin was not used very much, it was heavily criticized by reporters and it was at the point of being replaced by a different planning system, which was better integrated with the production system (11). This system, too, was later abandoned. This has motivated us to understand better the processes of planning and articulating the cross-media production and how information technology supported such cross-media production.

Interfacial effect on physical properties of composite media: Interfacial volume fraction with non-spherical hard-core-soft-shell-structured particles.

PubMed

Xu, Wenxiang; Duan, Qinglin; Ma, Huaifa; Chen, Wen; Chen, Huisu

2015-11-02

Interfaces are known to be crucial in a variety of fields and the interfacial volume fraction dramatically affects physical properties of composite media. However, it is an open problem with great significance how to determine the interfacial property in composite media with inclusions of complex geometry. By the stereological theory and the nearest-surface distribution functions, we first propose a theoretical framework to symmetrically present the interfacial volume fraction. In order to verify the interesting generalization, we simulate three-phase composite media by employing hard-core-soft-shell structures composed of hard mono-/polydisperse non-spherical particles, soft interfaces, and matrix. We numerically derive the interfacial volume fraction by a Monte Carlo integration scheme. With the theoretical and numerical results, we find that the interfacial volume fraction is strongly dependent on the so-called geometric size factor and sphericity characterizing the geometric shape in spite of anisotropic particle types. As a significant interfacial property, the present theoretical contribution can be further drawn into predicting the effective transport properties of composite materials.

Interfacial effect on physical properties of composite media: Interfacial volume fraction with non-spherical hard-core-soft-shell-structured particles

PubMed Central

Xu, Wenxiang; Duan, Qinglin; Ma, Huaifa; Chen, Wen; Chen, Huisu

2015-01-01

Interfaces are known to be crucial in a variety of fields and the interfacial volume fraction dramatically affects physical properties of composite media. However, it is an open problem with great significance how to determine the interfacial property in composite media with inclusions of complex geometry. By the stereological theory and the nearest-surface distribution functions, we first propose a theoretical framework to symmetrically present the interfacial volume fraction. In order to verify the interesting generalization, we simulate three-phase composite media by employing hard-core-soft-shell structures composed of hard mono-/polydisperse non-spherical particles, soft interfaces, and matrix. We numerically derive the interfacial volume fraction by a Monte Carlo integration scheme. With the theoretical and numerical results, we find that the interfacial volume fraction is strongly dependent on the so-called geometric size factor and sphericity characterizing the geometric shape in spite of anisotropic particle types. As a significant interfacial property, the present theoretical contribution can be further drawn into predicting the effective transport properties of composite materials. PMID:26522701

Dominant frames in legacy and social media coverage of the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

O'Neill, Saffron; Williams, Hywel T. P.; Kurz, Tim; Wiersma, Bouke; Boykoff, Maxwell

2015-04-01

The media are powerful agents that translate information across the science-policy interface, framing it for audiences. Yet frames are never neutral: they define an issue, identify causes, make moral judgements and shape proposed solutions. Here, we show how the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) was framed in UK and US broadcast and print coverage, and on Twitter. Coverage of IPCC Working Group I (WGI) was contested and politicized, employing the `Settled Science, Uncertain Science, Political or Ideological Struggle and Role of Science’ frames. WGII coverage commonly used Disaster or Security. More diverse frames were employed for WGII and WGIII, including Economics and Morality and Ethics. Framing also varied by media institution: for example, the BBC used Uncertain Science, whereas Channel 4 did not. Coverage varied by working group, with WGIII gaining far less coverage than WGI or WGII. We suggest that media coverage and framing of AR5 was influenced by its sequential three-part structure and by the availability of accessible narratives and visuals. We recommend that these communication lessons be applied to future climate science reports.

A review of national television PSA campaigns for preventing alcohol-impaired driving, 1987-1992.

PubMed

DeJong, W; Atkin, C K

1995-01-01

We present a content analysis of 137 public service announcements (PSAs) focused on alcohol-impaired driving that aired nationally on U.S. television between 1987 and 1992. Our findings include the following: 1) Most PSAs were intended to reach an undifferentiated general audience, not necessarily those who are at greatest risk for driving after drinking. 2) Most PSAs were designed to create awareness of the problem of alcohol-impaired driving or to promote individual behavior change. 3) More PSAs were developed on the use of designated drivers than on any other subject. 4) About two-thirds of the PSAs included one or more celebrities who speak directly to the audience. Past media campaigns have tended to ignore the fact that people's behavior is profoundly shaped by their environment, which in turn is shaped by public policy. We recommend that future mass media campaigns against alcohol-impaired driving focus on building support for changes in institutional structures, public policy or law that will motivate, support, and sustain the efforts of individuals to alter their behavior. Television PSAs can play an important but somewhat limited role in support of this effort. Greater emphasis will need to be given instead to media advocacy strategies, including paid radio advertising. We further recommend that the principal organizations concerned about alcohol-impaired driving share their plans and develop a common communications strategy that will advance the public policy agenda proposed by the Surgeon General's Workshop on Drunk Driving.

Millimeter wave propagation modeling of inhomogeneous rain media for satellite communications systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Persinger, R. R.; Stutzman, W. L.

1978-01-01

A theoretical propagation model that represents the scattering properties of an inhomogeneous rain often found on a satellite communications link is presented. The model includes the scattering effects of an arbitrary distribution of particle type (rain or ice), particle shape, particle size, and particle orientation within a given rain cell. An associated rain propagation prediction program predicts attenuation, isolation and phase shift as a function of ground rain rate. A frequency independent synthetic storm algorithm is presented that models nonuniform rain rates present on a satellite link. Antenna effects are included along with a discussion of rain reciprocity. The model is verified using the latest available multiple frequency data from the CTS and COMSTAR satellites. The data covers a wide range of frequencies, elevation angles, and ground site locations.

Automatic design of magazine covers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jahanian, Ali; Liu, Jerry; Tretter, Daniel R.; Lin, Qian; Damera-Venkata, Niranjan; O'Brien-Strain, Eamonn; Lee, Seungyon; Fan, Jian; Allebach, Jan P.

2012-03-01

In this paper, we propose a system for automatic design of magazine covers that quantifies a number of concepts from art and aesthetics. Our solution to automatic design of this type of media has been shaped by input from professional designers, magazine art directors and editorial boards, and journalists. Consequently, a number of principles in design and rules in designing magazine covers are delineated. Several techniques are derived and employed in order to quantify and implement these principles and rules in the format of a software framework. At this stage, our framework divides the task of design into three main modules: layout of magazine cover elements, choice of color for masthead and cover lines, and typography of cover lines. Feedback from professional designers on our designs suggests that our results are congruent with their intuition.

Light field otoscope design for 3D in vivo imaging of the middle ear

PubMed Central

Bedard, Noah; Shope, Timothy; Hoberman, Alejandro; Haralam, Mary Ann; Shaikh, Nader; Kovačević, Jelena; Balram, Nikhil; Tošić, Ivana

2016-01-01

We present a light field digital otoscope designed to measure three-dimensional shape of the tympanic membrane. This paper describes the optical and anatomical considerations we used to develop the prototype, along with the simulation and experimental measurements of vignetting, field curvature, and lateral resolution. Using an experimental evaluation procedure, we have determined depth accuracy and depth precision of our system to be 0.05–0.07 mm and 0.21–0.44 mm, respectively. To demonstrate the application of our light field otoscope, we present the first three-dimensional reconstructions of tympanic membranes in normal and otitis media conditions, acquired from children who participated in a feasibility study at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. PMID:28101416

49 CFR 1544.231 - Airport-approved and exclusive area personnel identification systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... carry out a personnel identification system for identification media that are airport-approved, or identification media that are issued for use in an exclusive area. The system must include the following: (1) Personnel identification media that— (i) Convey a full face image, full name, employer, and identification...

CO2 (dry ice) cleaning system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barnett, Donald M.

1995-01-01

Tomco Equipment Company has participated in the dry ice (solid carbon dioxide, CO2) cleaning industry for over ten years as a pioneer in the manufacturer of high density, dry ice cleaning pellet production equipment. For over four years Tomco high density pelletizers have been available to the dry ice cleaning industry. Approximately one year ago Tomco introduced the DI-250, a new dry ice blast unit making Tomco a single source supplier for sublimable media, particle blast, cleaning systems. This new blast unit is an all pneumatic, single discharge hose device. It meters the insertion of 1/8 inch diameter (or smaller), high density, dry ice pellets into a high pressure, propellant gas stream. The dry ice and propellant streams are controlled and mixed from the blast cabinet. From there the mixture is transported to the nozzle where the pellets are accelerated to an appropriate blasting velocity. When directed to impact upon a target area, these dry ice pellets have sufficient energy to effectively remove most surface coatings through dry, abrasive contact. The meta-stable, dry ice pellets used for CO2 cleaning, while labeled 'high density,' are less dense than alternate, abrasive, particle blast media. In addition, after contacting the target surface, they return to their equilibrium condition: a superheated gas state. Most currently used grit blasting media are silicon dioxide based, which possess a sharp tetrahedral molecular structure. Silicon dioxide crystal structures will always produce smaller sharp-edged replicas of the original crystal upon fracture. Larger, softer dry ice pellets do not share the same sharp-edged crystalline structures as their non-sublimable counterparts when broken. In fact, upon contact with the target surface, dry ice pellets will plastically deform and break apart. As such, dry ice cleaning is less harmful to sensitive substrates, workers and the environment than chemical or abrasive cleaning systems. Dry ice cleaning system components include: a dry ice pellet supply, a non-reactive propellant gas source, a pellet and propellant metering device, and a media transport and acceleration hose and nozzle arrangement. Dry ice cleaning system operating parameters include: choice of propellant gas, its pressure and temperature, dry ice mass flow rate, dry ice pellet size and shape, and acceleration nozzle configuration. These parameters may be modified to fit different applications. The growth of the dry ice cleaning industry will depend upon timely data acquisition of the effects that independent changes in these parameters have on cleaning rates, with respect to different surface coating and substrate combinations. With this data, optimization of cleaning rates for particular applications will be possible. The analysis of the applicable range of modulation of these parameters, within system component mechanical constraints, has just begun.

Biofilms in chronic suppurative otitis media and cholesteatoma: scanning electron microscopy findings.

PubMed

Saunders, James; Murray, Michael; Alleman, Anthony

2011-01-01

Biofilms play a role in the pathogenesis of a variety of otorhinolaryngologic diseases, including otitis media and cholesteatoma. Despite this, relatively few studies have undertaken to demonstrate the presence of biofilms tissues from patients with chronic otitis media or infected cholesteatoma. Our objective is to detect evidence of biofilms human chronic ear infections with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We hypothesized that bacterial biofilms are present in patients with chronic otitis media. We performed prospective collection of tissue collected during middle ear surgery from 16 patients undergoing middle ear or mastoid surgery with chronic ear infections. A total of 31 middle and mastoid tissue samples were harvested at the time of surgery and processed with critical point drying for SEM analysis. Samples were then searched for evidence of biofilms. Bacterial-shaped objects were identified that displayed both surface binding and the presence of a glycocalyx in 4 patients, findings consistent with bacterial biofilms. Most of these (3 of 4) were in patients with infected cholesteatoma, and biofims were identified in 60% of cholesteatoma cases (3 of 5). On the other hand, only 1 of 7 cases with chronic suppurative otitis media had evidence of biofilms. SEM supports the hypothesis that bacterial biofilms are common in chronic infections associated with cholesteatoma and are present in some cases of chronic suppurative otitis media without cholesteatoma. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Future tense: call for a new generation of artists

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ohlmann, Dietmar

1995-02-01

Some people try hard to educate others about the beauty and technical benefits of holographic applications but another generation is already waiting to learn more about the media which talk to them about the future. Today the most common question is 'How can I do holograms with a computer?' 'Can I do it with an Amiga?' For the MIT specialists these are now very simple questions. We can expect to see the present shape of the holographic laboratory pass into history. I personally like to work with a VHS camera and mix it with CAD/CAM images, but computer and video are not the only media which will change the face of holography. The He.Ne. will be exchanged by diode laser. In a wavelength of 690 nm, some of them bring 40 mW in single mode and single line, not bigger than your little finger. Having such energy in so little a container, and the state of the art drifts rapidly into more flexibility. Using new media and introducing it in our societies give us a new responsibility. Would too much media kill the art? I do not think so, because I like the variety of media which give new possibility of expression. The game with new media is the power of creativity and it will find its meaning by itself.

Dual permeability flow behavior for modeling horizontal well production in fractured-vuggy carbonate reservoirs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Jian-Chun; Nie, Ren-Shi; Jia, Yong-Lu

2012-09-01

SummaryFractured-vuggy carbonate reservoirs are composed of by matrix, fracture, and vug systems. This paper is the first investigation into the dual permeability flow issue for horizontal well production in a fractured-vuggy carbonate reservoir. Considering dispersed vugs in carbonate reservoirs and treating media directly connected with horizontal wellbore as the matrix and fracture systems, a test analysis model of a horizontal well was created, and triple porosity and dual permeability flow behavior were modeled. Standard log-log type curves were drawn up by numerical simulation and flow behavior characteristics were thoroughly analyzed. Numerical simulations showed that type curves are dominated by external boundary conditions as well as the permeability ratio of the fracture system to the sum of fracture and matrix systems. The parameter κ is only relevant to the dual permeability model, and if κ is one, then the dual permeability model is equivalent to the single permeability model. There are seven main flow regimes with constant rate of horizontal well production and five flow regimes with constant wellbore pressure of horizontal well production; different flow regimes have different flow behavior characteristics. Early radial flow and linear flow regimes are typical characteristics of horizontal well production; duration of early radial flow regime is usually short because formation thickness is generally less than 100 m. Derivative curves are W-shaped, which is a reflection of inter-porosity flows between matrix, fracture, and vug systems. A distorted W-shape, which could be produced in certain situations, such as one involving an erroneously low time of inter-porosity flows, would handicap the recognition of a linear flow regime. A real case application was successfully implemented, and some useful reservoir parameters (e.g., permeability and inter-porosity flow factor) were obtained from well testing interpretation.

Cuban Mass Media: Organization, Control and Functions. Journalism Monographs Number Seventy-Eight.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nichols, John Spicer

The mass media as interdependent parts of a larger social system both control and are controlled by other subsystems. The various combinations of control, in turn, determine the functions the media system will serve. In the 1960's, the Cuban mass media underwent frequent change that reflected the volatility of the revolutionary process. Today,…

An Integrated Crustal Dynamics Simulator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xing, H. L.; Mora, P.

2007-12-01

Numerical modelling offers an outstanding opportunity to gain an understanding of the crustal dynamics and complex crustal system behaviour. This presentation provides our long-term and ongoing effort on finite element based computational model and software development to simulate the interacting fault system for earthquake forecasting. A R-minimum strategy based finite-element computational model and software tool, PANDAS, for modelling 3-dimensional nonlinear frictional contact behaviour between multiple deformable bodies with the arbitrarily-shaped contact element strategy has been developed by the authors, which builds up a virtual laboratory to simulate interacting fault systems including crustal boundary conditions and various nonlinearities (e.g. from frictional contact, materials, geometry and thermal coupling). It has been successfully applied to large scale computing of the complex nonlinear phenomena in the non-continuum media involving the nonlinear frictional instability, multiple material properties and complex geometries on supercomputers, such as the South Australia (SA) interacting fault system, South California fault model and Sumatra subduction model. It has been also extended and to simulate the hot fractured rock (HFR) geothermal reservoir system in collaboration of Geodynamics Ltd which is constructing the first geothermal reservoir system in Australia and to model the tsunami generation induced by earthquakes. Both are supported by Australian Research Council.

Muslim Pupils' Lives Changed after Sept. 11

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shah, Nirvi

2011-01-01

Since 9/11, the lives of some Muslim students, and those perceived to be Muslim, have changed across the country, shaped in part by the distrust and harassment Muslims have endured from fellow Americans. In the months immediately following the attacks, accounts of harassment of Muslim students mounted in the news media, as did efforts by Muslim…

The Politics of Naming Reform in the Gendered Spheres of Home and Work

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pauwels, Anne; Winter, Joanne

2007-01-01

Naming has been a central focus of feminist language planning. The initial emphasis was on reforming naming practices for women in public spheres (work, education, media). More recently public discourses about work/life balance have drawn together the public and private, shaping the naming practices for women and men in these domains. This paper…

Healthy Children, Healthy Minds: Creating a Brighter Future

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lebrun, Marcel

2015-01-01

Children struggle with life today. Being children in the 21st century is both taxing and exciting, and yet trying to cope with all of the technology and media that surrounds them. How do we as adults provide good models? Mindfulness, exercise, focus and attention, and healthy living strategies need to play a role in shaping healthy children.…

Educating Prisoners of Tradition: Visual Narratives of Afghan Women on Social Media

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jelodar, Esmaeil Zeiny; Hashim, Ruzy Suliza; Yusof, Noraini Md; Raihanah, M. M.; Hamdan, Shahizah Ismail; Zandi, Peivand

2014-01-01

More than a decade after the US-led intervention of Afghanistan, traditional and tribal customs still play a significant role in the everyday lives of people, especially women. History has proven that women have been playing a significant role in shaping the course of Afghanistan but unfortunately, they are always subjected to different degrees of…

Libraries without Borders: Shaping Learning through Interactive Media Centers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vardeman, Leesa; Davis, Chad; Manning, Niki

2012-01-01

Society's view of the library has changed with each passing generation. What was once a quiet building full of books intended for the studious researcher is now becoming a place that combines print and technology, to encourage both the interactive and visual learners. Today's kids have access to both hardbound books as well as online resources,…

Generating Scholarship from Public Service: Media Outreach, Nonprofit Foundation Service, and Legal Expert Consulting

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Daniel A.

2011-01-01

Most colleges and universities stipulate that public service is a requirement for tenure and promotion. Yet many political science faculty and their respective administrators pay only lip service to this "third leg" of a scholarly career, relying on teaching and research to shape most career decisions. This reality is particularly surprising in…

When People See News from a Non-Western Perspective: Cable News Network's "World Report."

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stewart, Robert K.

Much of what Americans "see" of the world is focused through the prism of the American news media. Broadcast journalists, in particular, provide the images that help shape viewers' ideas of the world. The recent introduction on U.S. television of Cable News Network's (CNN) "World Report" now provides the opportunity for…

W. E. B. Du Bois: A Dynamic Communicator and Cultural Iconoclast.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reppert, James E.

This paper presents a biographical sketch of the prolific African-American writer and sociologist W.E.B. Du Bois, designed as an instructional unit in an introduction to mass communication course which can help make students aware of the roles played by ethnic minorities in shaping American and world media. The paper provides numerous details of…

Method for determining depth and shape of a sub-surface conductive object

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, D. O.; Montoya, P. C.; Wayland, J. R., Jr.

1984-06-01

The depth to and size of an underground object may be determined by sweeping a controlled source audio magnetotelluric (CSAMT) signal and locating a peak response when the receiver spans the edge of the object. The depth of the object is one quarter wavelength in the subsurface media of the frequency of the peak.

Children and Terrorism. Social Policy Report. Volume 29, Number 2

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garbarino, James; Governale, Amy; Henry, Patrick; Nesi, Danielle

2015-01-01

Hardly a week goes by in the United States (and to varying degrees, in the rest of the world) that the word "terrorism" does not appear in the collective consciousness, as represented, channeled, and shaped by the mass media in its many print, broadcast, and internet manifestations. While relatively few children worldwide (and even fewer…

Combating Weight Bias among Adolescents in School Settings: A Sport and Exercise Psychology Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miyairi, Maya; Reel, Justine J.

2011-01-01

Weightism involves stigmatization of individuals based on size, shape, or weight. Weight bias represents a form of bullying and is psychologically damaging to children and adolescents. Although weightism is reinforced by the media, family, and in schools, educators can play an important role in changing their class climate. This article described…

Young Children Talk about Their Popular Cartoon and TV Heroes' Speech Styles: Media Reception and Language Attitudes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stamou, Anastasia G.; Maroniti, Katerina; Griva, Eleni

2015-01-01

Considering the role of popular cultural texts in shaping sociolinguistic reality, it makes sense to explore how children actually receive those texts and what conceptualisations of sociolinguistic diversity they form through those texts. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine Greek young children's views on sociolinguistic…

Exploring Representations of "Super" Women in Popular Culture: Shaping Critical Discussions with Female College Students with Learning Exceptionalities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Taber, Nancy; Woloshyn, Vera; Munn, Caitlin; Lane, Laura

2014-01-01

In this article, we discuss how our analysis of several popular culture artifacts featuring "super" women characters (superheroes and supernatural) provided the foundation for a media discussion group for female college students with learning exceptionalities. We explore the use of popular culture in discussion groups as well as discuss…

Staying above the Fray: Framing and Conflict in the Coverage of Education Policy Debates

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tamir, Eran; Davidson, Roei

2011-01-01

This article examines the mass media's role in shaping education policy debates in light of pluralist theory and Bourdieu's social fields theory. We content analyzed the coverage of New Jersey education policy debates during 1985, when the governor moved to consolidate his power in the education field. We used quantitative framing and conflict…

The Impact of Rich Media Presentations on a Distributed Learning Environment: Engagement and Satisfaction of Undergraduate Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Havice, Pamela A.; Davis, Taurean T.; Foxx, Kerry W.; Havice, William L.

2010-01-01

The digital revolution has ushered in a generation shaped by the integration of emerging communication technology into everyday life, including today's traditional-aged college students. While research on how this generation utilizes technology is prevalent, research and reflection on the effective integration of technology into the learning…

Media Images and Ideal Body Shapes: A Perspective on Women with Emphasis on Anorexics.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Linda Lazier

A study was conducted to determine whether the images of "standard" or "acceptable" thinness that women suffering from eating disorders strive to achieve come primarily from advertising. A questionnaire was administered to 19 college women in counseling for anorexia, a control group of 29 college women, and to 30 high school women. The…