Observations of Academic Instruction for Students with Significant Intellectual Disability: Three States, Thirty-Nine Classrooms, One View

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Restorff, Diane E.; Abery, Brian H.

2013-01-01

As part of the validation process for alternate assessments, 39 classroom observations were conducted to gather data about current practices in providing academic instruction to students with significant intellectual disability. Using a standardized protocol, data were gathered using direct instructional observation, an Individualized Education…

Significant inconsistency of vegetation carbon density in CMIP5 Earth system models against observational data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Xia; Hoffman, Forrest M.; Iversen, Colleen M.; Yin, Yunhe; Kumar, Jitendra; Ma, Chun; Xu, Xiaofeng

2017-09-01

Earth system models (ESMs) have been widely used for projecting global vegetation carbon dynamics, yet how well ESMs performed for simulating vegetation carbon density remains untested. We compiled observational data of vegetation carbon density from literature and existing data sets to evaluate nine ESMs at site, biome, latitude, and global scales. Three variables—root (including fine and coarse roots), total vegetation carbon density, and the root:total vegetation carbon ratios (R/T ratios), were chosen for ESM evaluation. ESM models performed well in simulating the spatial distribution of carbon densities in root (r = 0.71) and total vegetation (r = 0.62). However, ESM models had significant biases in simulating absolute carbon densities in root and total vegetation biomass across the majority of land ecosystems, especially in tropical and arctic ecosystems. Particularly, ESMs significantly overestimated carbon density in root (183%) and total vegetation biomass (167%) in climate zones of 10°S-10°N. Substantial discrepancies between modeled and observed R/T ratios were found: the R/T ratios from ESMs were relatively constant, approximately 0.2 across all ecosystems, along latitudinal gradients, and in tropic, temperate, and arctic climatic zones, which was significantly different from the observed large variations in the R/T ratios (0.1-0.8). There were substantial inconsistencies between ESM-derived carbon density in root and total vegetation biomass and the R/T ratio at multiple scales, indicating urgent needs for model improvements on carbon allocation algorithms and more intensive field campaigns targeting carbon density in all key vegetation components.

15 CFR 970.701 - Significant adverse environmental effects.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... REGULATIONS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL DATA SERVICE DEEP SEABED MINING REGULATIONS FOR EXPLORATION LICENSES... effects of deep seabed mining which cumulatively during commercial recovery have the potential for significant effect. These three effects also occur during mining system tests that may be conducted under a...

15 CFR 970.701 - Significant adverse environmental effects.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... REGULATIONS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL DATA SERVICE DEEP SEABED MINING REGULATIONS FOR EXPLORATION LICENSES... effects of deep seabed mining which cumulatively during commercial recovery have the potential for significant effect. These three effects also occur during mining system tests that may be conducted under a...

15 CFR 970.701 - Significant adverse environmental effects.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... REGULATIONS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL DATA SERVICE DEEP SEABED MINING REGULATIONS FOR EXPLORATION LICENSES... effects of deep seabed mining which cumulatively during commercial recovery have the potential for significant effect. These three effects also occur during mining system tests that may be conducted under a...

15 CFR 970.701 - Significant adverse environmental effects.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... REGULATIONS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL DATA SERVICE DEEP SEABED MINING REGULATIONS FOR EXPLORATION LICENSES... effects of deep seabed mining which cumulatively during commercial recovery have the potential for significant effect. These three effects also occur during mining system tests that may be conducted under a...

15 CFR 970.701 - Significant adverse environmental effects.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... REGULATIONS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL DATA SERVICE DEEP SEABED MINING REGULATIONS FOR EXPLORATION LICENSES... effects of deep seabed mining which cumulatively during commercial recovery have the potential for significant effect. These three effects also occur during mining system tests that may be conducted under a...

On the physical significance of the Effective Independence method for sensor placement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Yaoguang; Li, Dongsheng; Song, Gangbing

2017-05-01

Optimally deploy sparse sensors for better damage identification and structural health monitoring is always a challenging task. The Effective Independence(EI) is one of the most influential sensor placement method and to be discussed in the paper. Specifically, the effect of the different weighting coefficients on the maximization of the Fisher information matrix(FIM) and the physical significance of the re-orthogonalization of modal shapes through QR decomposition in the EI method are addressed. By analyzing the widely used EI method, we found that the absolute identification space put forward along with the EI method is preferable to ensuring the maximization of the FIM, instead of the original EI coefficient which was post-multiolied by a weighting matrix. That is, deleting the row with the minimum EI coefficient can’t achieve the objective of maximizing the trace of FIM as initially conceived. Furthermore, we observed that in the computation of EI method, the sum of each retained row in the absolute identification space is a constant in each iteration. This potential property can be revealed distinctively by the product of target mode and its transpose, and its form is similar to an alternative formula of the EI method through orthogonal-triangular(QR) decomposition previously proposed by the authors. With it, the physical significance of re-orthogonalization of modal shapes through QR decomposition in the computation of EI method can be obviously manifested from a new perspective. Finally, two simple examples are provided to demonstrate the above two observations.

The Effects of Commercial Airline Traffic on LSST Observing Efficiency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gibson, Rose; Claver, Charles; Stubbs, Christopher

2016-01-01

The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) is a ten-year survey that will map the southern sky in six different filters 800 times before the end of its run. In this paper, we explore the primary effect of airline traffic on scheduling the LSST observations in addition to the secondary effect of condensation trails, or contrails, created by the presence of the aircraft. The large national investment being made in LSST implies that small improvments observing efficiency through aircraft and contrail avoidance can result in a significant improvement in the quality of the survey and its science. We have used the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) signals received from commercial aircraft to monitor and record activity over the LSST site. We installed a ADS-B ground station on Cerro Pachón, Chile consiting of a1090Mhz antenna on the Andes Lidar Observatory feeding a RTL2832U software defined radio. We used dump1090 to convert the received ADS-B telementry into Basestation format, where we found that during the busiest time of the night there were only 4 signals being received each minute on average, which will have very small direct effect, if any, on the LSST observing scheduler. As part of future studies we will examin the effects of contrals on LSST observations. Gibson was supported by the NOAO/KPNO Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program which is funded by the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates Program (AST-1262829).

Observing the operational significance of discord consumption

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gu, Mile; Chrzanowski, Helen M.; Assad, Syed M.; Symul, Thomas; Modi, Kavan; Ralph, Timothy C.; Vedral, Vlatko; Lam, Ping Koy

2012-09-01

Coherent interactions that generate negligible entanglement can still exhibit unique quantum behaviour. This observation has motivated a search beyond entanglement for a complete description of all quantum correlations. Quantum discord is a promising candidate. Here, we demonstrate that under certain measurement constraints, discord between bipartite systems can be consumed to encode information that can only be accessed by coherent quantum interactions. The inability to access this information by any other means allows us to use discord to directly quantify this `quantum advantage'. We experimentally encode information within the discordant correlations of two separable Gaussian states. The amount of extra information recovered by coherent interaction is quantified and directly linked with the discord consumed during encoding. No entanglement exists at any point of this experiment. Thus we introduce and demonstrate an operational method to use discord as a physical resource.

Total solar eclipse effects on VLF signals: Observations and modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clilverd, Mark A.; Rodger, Craig J.; Thomson, Neil R.; Lichtenberger, János; Steinbach, Péter; Cannon, Paul; Angling, Matthew J.

During the total solar eclipse observed in Europe on August 11, 1999, measurements were made of the amplitude and phase of four VLF transmitters in the frequency range 16-24 kHz. Five receiver sites were set up, and significant variations in phase and amplitude are reported for 17 paths, more than any previously during an eclipse. Distances from transmitter to receiver ranged from 90 to 14,510 km, although the majority were <2000 km. Typically, positive amplitude changes were observed throughout the whole eclipse period on path lengths <2000 km, while negative amplitude changes were observed on paths >10,000 km. Negative phase changes were observed on most paths, independent of path length. Although there was significant variation from path to path, the typical changes observed were ~3 dB and ~50°. The changes observed were modeled using the Long Wave Propagation Capability waveguide code. Maximum eclipse effects occurred when the Wait inverse scale height parameter β was 0.5 km-1 and the effective ionospheric height parameter H' was 79 km, compared with β=0.43km-1 and H'=71km for normal daytime conditions. The resulting changes in modeled amplitude and phase show good agreement with the majority of the observations. The modeling undertaken provides an interpretation of why previous estimates of height change during eclipses have shown such a range of values. A D region gas-chemistry model was compared with electron concentration estimates inferred from the observations made during the solar eclipse. Quiet-day H' and β parameters were used to define the initial ionospheric profile. The gas-chemistry model was then driven only by eclipse-related solar radiation levels. The calculated electron concentration values at 77 km altitude throughout the period of the solar eclipse show good agreement with the values determined from observations at all times, which suggests that a linear variation in electron production rate with solar ionizing radiation is reasonable

Long-term administration of inulin-type fructans has no significant lipid-lowering effect in normolipidemic humans.

PubMed

Forcheron, Fabien; Beylot, Michel

2007-08-01

Short-term studies have shown that the addition to diet of inulin-type fructans, a nondigestible carbohydrate, may have a plasma lipid-lowering effect in humans. Whether this beneficial effect persists during long-term administration has not been determined. The study was aimed at determining whether a prolonged (6 months) administration of inulin-type fructans to healthy subjects has a lipid-lowering action. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, 17 healthy subjects were studied before and after 6 months of daily administration of placebo (8 subjects) or 10 g of a mix of inulin and oligofructose (9 subjects). During this 6-month period, they consumed their usual diet and did not modify their everyday way of life. We measured plasma lipid concentrations; cholesterol synthesis and hepatic lipogenesis; and adipose tissue and circulating mononuclear cell messenger RNA concentrations of key regulatory genes of cholesterol metabolism. Compared with the administration of placebo, the administration of inulin-type fructans had no effect on plasma triacylglycerol concentrations and hepatic lipogenesis and induced only a nonsignificant trend for decreased plasma total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration. Cholesterol synthesis was not significantly modified. Of all the messenger RNA concentrations measured, none was significantly modified by the administration of inulin-type fructans. In conclusion, contrary to what was observed in short-term studies, we observed no significant beneficial effect of a long-term (6-month) administration of inulin-type fructans on plasma lipids in healthy human subjects.

Effects of Faraday Rotation Observed in Filter Magnetograph Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hagyard, Mona J.; Adams, Mitzi L.; Smith, J. E.; West, Edward A.

1999-01-01

In this paper we analyze the effects of Faraday rotation on the azimuth of the transverse magnetic field from observations taken with the Marshall Space Flight Center's vector magnetograph for a simple sunspot observed on June 9, 1985. Vector magnetograms were obtained over the wavelength interval of 170 mA redward of line center of the Fe I 5250.22 A spectral line to 170 mA to the blue, in steps of 10 mA. These data were analyzed to produce the variation of the azimuth as a function of wavelength at each pixel over the field of vi ew of the sunspot. At selected locations in the sunspot, curves of the observed variation of azimuth with wavelength were compared with model calculations for the amount of Faraday rotation of the azimuth. From these comparisons we derived the amount of rotation as functions of bo th the magnitude and inclination of the sunspot's field and deduced the ranges of these field values for which Faraday rotation presents a significant problem in observations taken near the center of a spectral line.

Converting Soil Moisture Observations to Effective Values for Improved Validation of Remotely Sensed Soil Moisture

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Laymon, Charles A.; Crosson, William L.; Limaye, Ashutosh; Manu, Andrew; Archer, Frank

2005-01-01

We compare soil moisture retrieved with an inverse algorithm with observations of mean moisture in the 0-6 cm soil layer. A significant discrepancy is noted between the retrieved and observed moisture. Using emitting depth functions as weighting functions to convert the observed mean moisture to observed effective moisture removes nearly one-half of the discrepancy noted. This result has important implications in remote sensing validation studies.

Significance of Timing on Effect of Metaphylactic Toltrazuril Treatment against Eimeriosis in Calves.

PubMed

Enemark, Heidi Larsen; Dahl, Jan; Enemark, Jörg Matthias Dehn

2015-08-01

In this multicentric, randomised, blinded and placebo-controlled field study, the effect of treatment with toltrazuril (Baycox(®) Bovis, Bayer) on oocyst excretion, diarrhoea score and weight gain was studied in Danish dairy herds with confirmed history of eimeriosis (coccidiosis) and prevalence of Eimeria bovis and Eimeria zuernii. Three commercial herds and a total of 71 calves, aged 48 - 135 days, were included. Treatment with a single oral dose of toltrazuril (15 mg/kg) was given after relocation to common pens and one week before expected outbreak of eimeriosis. The effect of treatment was followed by weekly faecal sampling and weighing initially and at the end of a study period of 8 weeks. In Herd 2 and 3 toltrazuril treated calves gained on average 7.95 kg more than placebo treated calves (p = 0.007), and both oocyst excretion and prevalence of Eimeria spp. were significantly reduced the first weeks post treatment. In Herd 1, by contrast, the farmer made some unforeseen changes in the management which entailed relocation to large deep-litter pens 3 - 6 weeks post treatment. In addition, many calves were not treated metaphylactically while few calves excreted oocysts when the trial was initiated. Thus, no significant difference in weight gain was found between toltrazuril and placebo treated calves (p = 0.523), and the oocyst excretion of toltrazuril treated calves was significantly higher during week 7 and 8. Significant differences in faecal scores were observed between the herds (p<0.002) but not between treatment groups in any of the herds. In conclusion, timing of treatment is crucial for optimal effect of metaphylactic toltrazuril treatment on weight gain and oocyst excretion.

Does observability affect prosociality?

PubMed Central

Lawrence, Claire

2018-01-01

The observation of behaviour is a key theoretical parameter underlying a number of models of prosociality. However, the empirical findings showing the effect of observability on prosociality are mixed. In this meta-analysis, we explore the boundary conditions that may account for this variability, by exploring key theoretical and methodological moderators of this link. We identified 117 papers yielding 134 study level effects (total n = 788 164) and found a small but statistically significant, positive association between observability and prosociality (r = 0.141, 95% confidence interval = 0.106, 0.175). Moderator analysis showed that observability produced stronger effects on prosociality: (i) in the presence of passive observers (i.e. people whose role was to only observe participants) versus perceptions of being watched, (ii) when participants’ decisions were consequential (versus non-consequential), (iii) when the studies were performed in the laboratory (as opposed to in the field/online), (iv) when the studies used repeated measures (instead of single games), and (v) when the studies involved social dilemmas (instead of bargaining games). These effects show the conditions under which observability effects on prosociality will be maximally observed. We describe the theoretical and practical significance of these results. PMID:29593114

Does observability affect prosociality?

PubMed

Bradley, Alex; Lawrence, Claire; Ferguson, Eamonn

2018-03-28

The observation of behaviour is a key theoretical parameter underlying a number of models of prosociality. However, the empirical findings showing the effect of observability on prosociality are mixed. In this meta-analysis, we explore the boundary conditions that may account for this variability, by exploring key theoretical and methodological moderators of this link. We identified 117 papers yielding 134 study level effects (total n = 788 164) and found a small but statistically significant, positive association between observability and prosociality ( r = 0.141, 95% confidence interval = 0.106, 0.175). Moderator analysis showed that observability produced stronger effects on prosociality: (i) in the presence of passive observers (i.e. people whose role was to only observe participants) versus perceptions of being watched, (ii) when participants' decisions were consequential (versus non-consequential), (iii) when the studies were performed in the laboratory (as opposed to in the field/online), (iv) when the studies used repeated measures (instead of single games), and (v) when the studies involved social dilemmas (instead of bargaining games). These effects show the conditions under which observability effects on prosociality will be maximally observed. We describe the theoretical and practical significance of these results. © 2018 The Authors.

Positivity effect in healthy aging in observational but not active feedback-learning.

PubMed

Bellebaum, Christian; Rustemeier, Martina; Daum, Irene

2012-01-01

The present study investigated the impact of healthy aging on the bias to learn from positive or negative performance feedback in observational and active feedback learning. In active learning, a previous study had already shown a negative learning bias in healthy seniors older than 75 years, while no bias was found for younger seniors. However, healthy aging is accompanied by a 'positivity effect', a tendency to primarily attend to stimuli with positive valence. Based on recent findings of dissociable neural mechanisms in active and observational feedback learning, the positivity effect was hypothesized to influence older participants' observational feedback learning in particular. In two separate experiments, groups of young (mean age 27) and older participants (mean age 60 years) completed an observational or active learning task designed to differentially assess positive and negative learning. Older but not younger observational learners showed a significant bias to learn better from positive than negative feedback. In accordance with previous findings, no bias was found for active learning. This pattern of results is discussed in terms of differences in the neural underpinnings of active and observational learning from performance feedback.

The effect of sampling rate on observed statistics in a correlated random walk

PubMed Central

Rosser, G.; Fletcher, A. G.; Maini, P. K.; Baker, R. E.

2013-01-01

Tracking the movement of individual cells or animals can provide important information about their motile behaviour, with key examples including migrating birds, foraging mammals and bacterial chemotaxis. In many experimental protocols, observations are recorded with a fixed sampling interval and the continuous underlying motion is approximated as a series of discrete steps. The size of the sampling interval significantly affects the tracking measurements, the statistics computed from observed trajectories, and the inferences drawn. Despite the widespread use of tracking data to investigate motile behaviour, many open questions remain about these effects. We use a correlated random walk model to study the variation with sampling interval of two key quantities of interest: apparent speed and angle change. Two variants of the model are considered, in which reorientations occur instantaneously and with a stationary pause, respectively. We employ stochastic simulations to study the effect of sampling on the distributions of apparent speeds and angle changes, and present novel mathematical analysis in the case of rapid sampling. Our investigation elucidates the complex nature of sampling effects for sampling intervals ranging over many orders of magnitude. Results show that inclusion of a stationary phase significantly alters the observed distributions of both quantities. PMID:23740484

The significance of microwave observations for the planets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Pater, Imke

1991-01-01

A review of radio observations of the giant and terrestrial planets is presented, together with a discussion as to how our understanding of the planets' surfaces, atmospheres and magnetospheres has improved with help of these data. Giant planet atmospheres. The radio spectra and resolved images of the four giant planets are compared. Jupiter and Saturn are very much alike: NH3 gas is depleted compared to what would be expected for a solar nitrogen abundance by a factor of ~5 at P <= 1-2 bar, and enhanced by ~1.5 at P > 2 bar on Jupiter and by 3-4 at P > 4-5 bar on Saturn. Bright bands across the planetary disks imply a latitudinal variation in the precise ammonia abundance. Uranus and Neptune are very different from the former two planets, in that they exhibit a depletion of NH3 gas by about two orders of magnitude over a large altitude range in the atmosphere. Uranus shows a large pole-to-equator gradient in brightness temperature. The loss of NH3 gas in all four planetary atmospheres is most likely due to the formation of NH4SH. This requires the H,S abundance in Jupiter and Saturn to be enhanced by a factor of 6-7 and 10-15 respectively above the solar value, and in Uranus and Neptune by over two orders of magnitude. The NH3 and H2S abundances derived from radio data support the "core-instability" models on planetary formation by Pollack and Bodenheimer [1989]. The latitudinal variation in the NH3 abundance on the planets suggests differences in the location of the NH4SH cloud layers and hence the dynamics of the planets. Jupiter's synchrotron radiation. Radio observations of Jupiter's synchrotron radiation have led to a detailed model of Jupiter's inner magnetosphere with electron distributions. The satellites Thebe and Amalthea cause the electrons to be confined to the magnetic equatorial plane. Energy degradation of the electrons by dust in Jupiter's ring harden the electron spectrum considerably. A "hot spot" in Jupiter's radiation belts can partly be

Meta-analyses of Adverse Effects Data Derived from Randomised Controlled Trials as Compared to Observational Studies: Methodological Overview

PubMed Central

Golder, Su; Loke, Yoon K.; Bland, Martin

2011-01-01

Background There is considerable debate as to the relative merits of using randomised controlled trial (RCT) data as opposed to observational data in systematic reviews of adverse effects. This meta-analysis of meta-analyses aimed to assess the level of agreement or disagreement in the estimates of harm derived from meta-analysis of RCTs as compared to meta-analysis of observational studies. Methods and Findings Searches were carried out in ten databases in addition to reference checking, contacting experts, citation searches, and hand-searching key journals, conference proceedings, and Web sites. Studies were included where a pooled relative measure of an adverse effect (odds ratio or risk ratio) from RCTs could be directly compared, using the ratio of odds ratios, with the pooled estimate for the same adverse effect arising from observational studies. Nineteen studies, yielding 58 meta-analyses, were identified for inclusion. The pooled ratio of odds ratios of RCTs compared to observational studies was estimated to be 1.03 (95% confidence interval 0.93–1.15). There was less discrepancy with larger studies. The symmetric funnel plot suggests that there is no consistent difference between risk estimates from meta-analysis of RCT data and those from meta-analysis of observational studies. In almost all instances, the estimates of harm from meta-analyses of the different study designs had 95% confidence intervals that overlapped (54/58, 93%). In terms of statistical significance, in nearly two-thirds (37/58, 64%), the results agreed (both studies showing a significant increase or significant decrease or both showing no significant difference). In only one meta-analysis about one adverse effect was there opposing statistical significance. Conclusions Empirical evidence from this overview indicates that there is no difference on average in the risk estimate of adverse effects of an intervention derived from meta-analyses of RCTs and meta-analyses of observational

The Effect of the Type and Colour of Placebo Stimuli on Placebo Effects Induced by Observational Learning.

PubMed

Świder, Karolina; Bąbel, Przemysław

2016-01-01

Research shows that placebo analgesia and nocebo hyperalgesia can be induced through observational learning. Our aim was to replicate and extend these results by studying the influence of the type and colour of stimuli used as placebos on the placebo effects induced by observational learning. Three experimental and two control groups were tested. All participants received pain stimuli of the same intensity preceded by colour lights (green and red) or geometric shapes (circles and squares). Before receiving pain stimuli, participants in the experimental groups, but not in the control groups, observed a model who rated pain stimuli that were preceded by either green lights (green placebo group), red lights (red placebo group), or circles (circle placebo group) as being less painful than those preceded by either red lights (green placebo group), green lights (red placebo group), or squares (circle placebo group). As a result participants in the experimental groups rated pain stimuli preceded by either green lights (green placebo group), red lights (red placebo group), or circles (circle placebo group) as being less painful than the participants in the control groups did, indicating that placebo effect was induced. No statistically significant differences were found in the magnitudes of the placebo effects between the three experimental groups (green placebo, red placebo, and circle placebo groups), indicating that neither the type nor the colour of placebo stimuli affected the placebo effects induced by observational learning. The placebo effects induced by observational learning were found to be unrelated to the individual differences in pain anxiety, fear of pain, and empathy.

The Effect of the Type and Colour of Placebo Stimuli on Placebo Effects Induced by Observational Learning

PubMed Central

Świder, Karolina; Bąbel, Przemysław

2016-01-01

Research shows that placebo analgesia and nocebo hyperalgesia can be induced through observational learning. Our aim was to replicate and extend these results by studying the influence of the type and colour of stimuli used as placebos on the placebo effects induced by observational learning. Three experimental and two control groups were tested. All participants received pain stimuli of the same intensity preceded by colour lights (green and red) or geometric shapes (circles and squares). Before receiving pain stimuli, participants in the experimental groups, but not in the control groups, observed a model who rated pain stimuli that were preceded by either green lights (green placebo group), red lights (red placebo group), or circles (circle placebo group) as being less painful than those preceded by either red lights (green placebo group), green lights (red placebo group), or squares (circle placebo group). As a result participants in the experimental groups rated pain stimuli preceded by either green lights (green placebo group), red lights (red placebo group), or circles (circle placebo group) as being less painful than the participants in the control groups did, indicating that placebo effect was induced. No statistically significant differences were found in the magnitudes of the placebo effects between the three experimental groups (green placebo, red placebo, and circle placebo groups), indicating that neither the type nor the colour of placebo stimuli affected the placebo effects induced by observational learning. The placebo effects induced by observational learning were found to be unrelated to the individual differences in pain anxiety, fear of pain, and empathy. PMID:27362552

Image enhancement filters significantly improve reading performance for low vision observers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lawton, T. B.

1992-01-01

As people age, so do their photoreceptors; many photoreceptors in central vision stop functioning when a person reaches their late sixties or early seventies. Low vision observers with losses in central vision, those with age-related maculopathies, were studied. Low vision observers no longer see high spatial frequencies, being unable to resolve fine edge detail. We developed image enhancement filters to compensate for the low vision observer's losses in contrast sensitivity to intermediate and high spatial frequencies. The filters work by boosting the amplitude of the less visible intermediate spatial frequencies. The lower spatial frequencies. These image enhancement filters not only reduce the magnification needed for reading by up to 70 percent, but they also increase the observer's reading speed by 2-4 times. A summary of this research is presented.

On Orders of Observables on Effect Algebras

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dvurečenskij, Anatolij

2017-12-01

On the set of bounded observables on an effect algebra, the Olson order defined by spectral resolutions and the standard order defined by a system of σ-additive states are introduced. We show that sharp bounded observables form a Dedekind σ-complete sublattice of a Dedekind complete lattice under the Olson order. In addition, we compare both orders, and we illustrate them on different effect algebras.

The effect of minimalist footwear and instruction on running: an observational study

PubMed Central

Buckley, Linda; Palmer, Lisa J M; Ormond, Roisin M; Owen, Gwawr; Watson, Daniel J; Woledge, Roger; Newham, Di

2017-01-01

Background It is not known whether the effects on altered running style which are attributed to minimalist footwear can be achieved by verbal instructions in standard running shoes (SRS). Aim To explore the effect of Vibram FiveFingers (VFF) versus SRS plus running instruction on lower extremity spatiotemporal parameters and lower limb joint kinematics. Methods 35 healthy subjects (mean=30 years, 18 females) were assessed on two occasions with 3D motion analysis. At each session subjects ran on a treadmill (3.58 m/s) for 2 min in either VFF or SRS (randomised order); with and without running instruction. Differences between spatiotemporal parameters and lower limb joint kinematics between conditions were assessed using a 2x2 repeated-measures ANOVA. Results Wearing VFF significantly increased cadence (p<0.001) and reduced stride length (p<0.01). Prior to initial contact, both instruction and VFF significantly increased foot (p<0.001 and p=0.02, respectively) and ankle (p<0.001 and p=0.02, respectively) plantarflexion, while wearing VFF significantly increased knee extension (p=0.04). At initial contact, instruction significantly increased knee flexion (p=0.04), and foot (p=0.001) and ankle (p=0.03) plantarflexion. At mid-stance and toe-off, instruction significantly increased knee flexion (p=0.048 and p<0.001, respectively) and foot plantarflexion (p<0.001 and p=0.01, respectively). Instruction had a greater effect on increasing knee flexion (p=0.007) and plantarflexion angle (p<0.001) when subjects wore SRS and VFF, respectively. Conclusion Alterations in spatiotemporal parameters observed when running in VFF are likely to be attributable to the minimalist footwear. However, the kinematic adaptations observed following instruction suggests that changes in joint angles previously attributed to minimalist footwear alone may be similarly achieved with instruction. PMID:28761694

The effect of minimalist footwear and instruction on running: an observational study.

PubMed

Barcellona, Massimo Giuseppe; Buckley, Linda; Palmer, Lisa J M; Ormond, Roisin M; Owen, Gwawr; Watson, Daniel J; Woledge, Roger; Newham, Di

2017-01-01

It is not known whether the effects on altered running style which are attributed to minimalist footwear can be achieved by verbal instructions in standard running shoes (SRS). To explore the effect of Vibram FiveFingers (VFF) versus SRS plus running instruction on lower extremity spatiotemporal parameters and lower limb joint kinematics. 35 healthy subjects (mean=30 years, 18 females) were assessed on two occasions with 3D motion analysis. At each session subjects ran on a treadmill (3.58 m/s) for 2 min in either VFF or SRS (randomised order); with and without running instruction. Differences between spatiotemporal parameters and lower limb joint kinematics between conditions were assessed using a 2x2 repeated-measures ANOVA. Wearing VFF significantly increased cadence (p<0.001) and reduced stride length (p<0.01). Prior to initial contact, both instruction and VFF significantly increased foot (p<0.001 and p=0.02, respectively) and ankle (p<0.001 and p=0.02, respectively) plantarflexion, while wearing VFF significantly increased knee extension (p=0.04). At initial contact, instruction significantly increased knee flexion (p=0.04), and foot (p=0.001) and ankle (p=0.03) plantarflexion. At mid-stance and toe-off, instruction significantly increased knee flexion (p=0.048 and p<0.001, respectively) and foot plantarflexion (p<0.001 and p=0.01, respectively). Instruction had a greater effect on increasing knee flexion (p=0.007) and plantarflexion angle (p<0.001) when subjects wore SRS and VFF, respectively. Alterations in spatiotemporal parameters observed when running in VFF are likely to be attributable to the minimalist footwear. However, the kinematic adaptations observed following instruction suggests that changes in joint angles previously attributed to minimalist footwear alone may be similarly achieved with instruction.

Effects of room environment and nursing experience on clinical blood pressure measurement: an observational study.

PubMed

Zhang, Meng; Zhang, Xuemei; Chen, Fei; Dong, Birong; Chen, Aiqing; Zheng, Dingchang

2017-04-01

This study aimed to examine the effects of measurement room environment and nursing experience on the accuracy of manual auscultatory blood pressure (BP) measurement. A training database with 32 Korotkoff sounds recordings from the British Hypertension Society was played randomly to 20 observers who were divided into four groups according to the years of their nursing experience (i.e. ≥10 years, 1-9 years, nursing students with frequent training, and those without any medical background; five observers in each group). All the observers were asked to determine manual auscultatory systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) both in a quiet clinical assessment room and in a noisy nurse station area. This procedure was repeated on another day, yielding a total of four measurements from each observer (i.e. two room environments and two repeated determinations on 2 separate days) for each Korotkoff sound. The measurement error was then calculated against the reference answer, with the effects of room environment and nursing experience of the observer investigated. Our results showed that there was no statistically significant difference for BPs measured under both quiet and noisy environments (P>0.80 for both SBP and DBP). However, there was a significant effect on the measurement accuracy between the observer groups (P<0.001 for both SBP and DBP). The nursing students performed best with overall SBP and DBP errors of -0.8±2.4 and 0.1±1.8 mmHg, respectively. The SBP measurement error from the nursing students was significantly smaller than that for each of the other three groups (all P<0.001). Our results indicate that frequent nursing trainings are important for nurses to achieve accurate manual auscultatory BP measurement.

[Clinical and pathological significance of carotid siphon calcification observed on bone condition of brain CT].

PubMed

Matsumoto, Hideyuki; Hamaguchi, Hirotoshi; Nakayama, Takahiro; Oda, Tetsuya; Ikagawa, Takashi; Imafuku, Ichiro

2008-02-01

On plain brain computed tomography (CT), it is difficult to evaluate stenosis of internal carotid artery (ICA) because ICA is surrounded by structures, even though we can observe calcification of carotid siphon in some patients by using bone condition. However the pathologic significance has not been well known. We studied the pathologic significance of carotid siphon calcification observed on bone condition of brain CT. A total of 112 patients who were diagnosed or suspected as cerebrovascular diseases were registered. We classified the calcification into four levels (none, mild, moderate, severe) based on the degree of calcification. Then we compared it with the degree of stenosis of carotid siphon seen on brain magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and with max intima-medial thickness (IMT) from common carotid artery (CCA) to ICA on carotid ultrasonography. The mean +/- standard deviation of max IMT to none, mild, moderate and severe in the degree of calcification were 1.03 +/- 0.64 (0.4-2.8), 1.65 +/- 0.83 (0.5-4.1), 2.03 +/- 0.83 (0.8-4.1) and 2.81 +/- 1.15 (0.7-6.5) mm, respectively. The calcification on brain CT significantly correlated with the degree of stenosis on brain MRA and with max IMT on carotid ultrasonography. The calcification of carotid siphon on bone condition of brain CT correlated with stenosis of the same portion and atherosclerosis of CCA bifurcation. Recently, on DICOM viewer, clinicians can convert plain condition into bone condition on brain CT due to popularization of PACS. We should pay attention to calcification of carotid siphon in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular diseases because we can estimate the atherosclerosis of both carotid siphon and CCA bifurcation easily and immediately.

The Unruh effect for eccentric uniformly rotating observers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramezani-Aval, H.

It is common to use Galilean rotational transformation (GRT) to investigate the Unruh effect for uniformly rotating observers. However, the rotating observer in this subject is an eccentric observer while GRT is only valid for centrally rotating observers. Thus, the reliability of the results of applying GRT to the study of the Unruh effect might be considered as questionable. In this work, the rotational analog of the Unruh effect is investigated by employing two relativistic rotational transformations corresponding to the eccentric rotating observer, and it is shown that in both cases, the detector response function is nonzero. It is also shown that although consecutive Lorentz transformations cannot give a frame within which the canonical construction can be carried out, the expectation value of particle number operator in canonical approach will be zero if we use modified Franklin transformation. These conclusions reinforce the claim that correspondence between vacuum states defined via canonical field theory and a detector is broken for rotating observers. Some previous conclusions are commented on and some controversies are also discussed.

Evaluating significance in linear mixed-effects models in R.

PubMed

Luke, Steven G

2017-08-01

Mixed-effects models are being used ever more frequently in the analysis of experimental data. However, in the lme4 package in R the standards for evaluating significance of fixed effects in these models (i.e., obtaining p-values) are somewhat vague. There are good reasons for this, but as researchers who are using these models are required in many cases to report p-values, some method for evaluating the significance of the model output is needed. This paper reports the results of simulations showing that the two most common methods for evaluating significance, using likelihood ratio tests and applying the z distribution to the Wald t values from the model output (t-as-z), are somewhat anti-conservative, especially for smaller sample sizes. Other methods for evaluating significance, including parametric bootstrapping and the Kenward-Roger and Satterthwaite approximations for degrees of freedom, were also evaluated. The results of these simulations suggest that Type 1 error rates are closest to .05 when models are fitted using REML and p-values are derived using the Kenward-Roger or Satterthwaite approximations, as these approximations both produced acceptable Type 1 error rates even for smaller samples.

The effects of action observation training and mirror therapy on gait and balance in stroke patients.

PubMed

Lee, Ho Jeong; Kim, Young Mi; Lee, Dong Kyu

2017-03-01

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of action observation training and mirror therapy to improve on balance and gait function of stroke patients. [Subjects and Methods] The participants were randomly allocated to one of three groups: The action observation training with activity group practiced additional action observation training with activity for three 30-minute session for six weeks (n=12). The mirror therapy with activity group practiced additional mirror therapy with activity for three 30-minute sessions for six weeks (n=11). The only action observation training group practiced additional action observation training for three 30-minute sessions for weeks (n=12). All groups received conventional therapy for five 60-minute sessions over a six-week period. [Results] There were significant improvements in balance and gait function. The action observation training with activity group significantly improved subjects' static balance. The action observation training with activity group and the mirror therapy with activity group significantly improved subjects' gait ability. [Conclusion] The activation of mirror neurons combined with a conventional stroke physiotherapy program enhances lower-extremity motor recovery and motor functioning in stroke patients.

[An observation of the effect of sulfur dioxide on rat nasal mucosa].

PubMed

Lu, Z Q

1990-01-01

This paper reports the effect of SO2 on rat nasal mucosa. The rats were forced to inhale SO2 and the effect on the nasal mucosa observed. The rats were divided into four groups. The first group inhaled 10ppm SO2; the second group 20ppm; the third group 40 ppm and the fourth group served as control. The observation lasted for 6 months. It was found that the nasal mucosa in the control group remained columnar ciliated. In the experimental groups, during the early stage (groups I, II) of exposure, there was no significant morphological change in epithelium. Then (groups I, II) the epithelium changed into cuboidal with complete disappearance of cilia, only some short and slender microvilli remained. While in the late stage (group III), the epithelium had transformed into squamous stratified and the amount of mucosal glands reduced.

[Observation on imprints of the tongue caused by recurrent oropharyngeal ulcers and its clinical significance].

PubMed

Qiu, Z X; Feng, Z Y; Huang, H A

1989-03-01

In this article 36 cases of recurrent oropharyngeal ulcers were differentiated according to the local condition of the oropharyngeal ulcerations, tongue pictures, pulse feeling and other signs and symptoms. The authors considered this disease as the deficiency syndrome accompanied with the excess syndrome. The three steps for treatment were: Treating the Biao (secondary) aspect for emergency, then simultaneous treatment of Biao and Ben (primary), and lastly reinforcing the body resistance. The course of treatment lasted three months. The whole effective rate was 86.21%. The patients were divided into A and B groups according to the situation, the area, the amount and the deep degree of oropharyngeal ulcerations. The result of observation on exfoliated cells by imprints of tongue of two groups, The positive rates of six indices in the imprints of tongue of B group were higher than those of A group obviously (P less than 0.05-0.005). It conformed to the serious condition of the patients of B group, in which the number and area and deep degree of ulcers were more and larger and deeper, and their distributions were often involved in pharynx and larynx. Therefore the observation of the imprints of tongue may pre-indicate the conditions of the illness which will get better or worse. A comparison of before- and after-treatment showed that positive rates of all indices were reduced markedly (P less than 0.05-0.005). It proved that the observation of tongue picture by the imprint was more sensitive and exact than by the naked eye. It was proved beneficial to evaluating the therapeutic effect and prognosis.

Assessment and correction of turbidity effects on Raman observations of chemicals in aqueous solutions.

PubMed

Sinfield, Joseph V; Monwuba, Chike K

2014-01-01

Improvements in diode laser, fiber optic, and data acquisition technologies are enabling increased use of Raman spectroscopic techniques for both in lab and in situ water analysis. Aqueous media encountered in the natural environment often contain suspended solids that can interfere with spectroscopic measurements, yet removal of these solids, for example, via filtration, can have even greater adverse effects on the extent to which subsequent measurements are representative of actual field conditions. In this context, this study focuses on evaluation of turbidity effects on Raman spectroscopic measurements of two common environmental pollutants in aqueous solution: ammonium nitrate and trichloroethylene. The former is typically encountered in the runoff from agricultural operations and is a strong scatterer that has no significant influence on the Raman spectrum of water. The latter is a commonly encountered pollutant at contaminated sites associated with degreasing and cleaning operations and is a weak scatterer that has a significant influence on the Raman spectrum of water. Raman observations of each compound in aqueous solutions of varying turbidity created by doping samples with silica flour with grain sizes ranging from 1.6 to 5.0 μm were employed to develop relationships between observed Raman signal strength and turbidity level. Shared characteristics of these relationships were then employed to define generalized correction methods for the effect of turbidity on Raman observations of compounds in aqueous solution.

Observational studies using propensity score analysis underestimated the effect sizes in critical care medicine.

PubMed

Zhang, Zhongheng; Ni, Hongying; Xu, Xiao

2014-08-01

Propensity score (PS) analysis has been increasingly used in critical care medicine; however, its validation has not been systematically investigated. The present study aimed to compare effect sizes in PS-based observational studies vs. randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (or meta-analysis of RCTs). Critical care observational studies using PS were systematically searched in PubMed from inception to April 2013. Identified PS-based studies were matched to one or more RCTs in terms of population, intervention, comparison, and outcome. The effect sizes of experimental treatments were compared for PS-based studies vs. RCTs (or meta-analysis of RCTs) with sign test. Furthermore, ratio of odds ratio (ROR) was calculated from the interaction term of treatment × study type in a logistic regression model. A ROR < 1 indicates greater benefit for experimental treatment in RCTs compared with PS-based studies. RORs of each comparison were pooled by using meta-analytic approach with random-effects model. A total of 20 PS-based studies were identified and matched to RCTs. Twelve of the 20 comparisons showed greater beneficial effect for experimental treatment in RCTs than that in PS-based studies (sign test P = 0.503). The difference was statistically significant in four comparisons. ROR can be calculated from 13 comparisons, of which four showed significantly greater beneficial effect for experimental treatment in RCTs. The pooled ROR was 0.71 (95% CI: 0.63, 0.79; P = 0.002), suggesting that RCTs (or meta-analysis of RCTs) were more likely to report beneficial effect for the experimental treatment than PS-based studies. The result remained unchanged in sensitivity analysis and meta-regression. In critical care literature, PS-based observational study is likely to report less beneficial effect of experimental treatment compared with RCTs (or meta-analysis of RCTs). Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Observation of a photoinduced, resonant tunneling effect in a carbon nanotube–silicon heterojunction

PubMed Central

Ambrosio, Antonio; Boscardin, Maurizio; Castrucci, Paola; Crivellari, Michele; Cilmo, Marco; De Crescenzi, Maurizio; De Nicola, Francesco; Fiandrini, Emanuele; Grossi, Valentina; Maddalena, Pasqualino; Passacantando, Maurizio; Santucci, Sandro; Scarselli, Manuela; Valentini, Antonio

2015-01-01

Summary A significant resonant tunneling effect has been observed under the 2.4 V junction threshold in a large area, carbon nanotube–silicon (CNT–Si) heterojunction obtained by growing a continuous layer of multiwall carbon nanotubes on an n-doped silicon substrate. The multiwall carbon nanostructures were grown by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique on a 60 nm thick, silicon nitride layer, deposited on an n-type Si substrate. The heterojunction characteristics were intensively studied on different substrates, resulting in high photoresponsivity with a large reverse photocurrent plateau. In this paper, we report on the photoresponsivity characteristics of the device, the heterojunction threshold and the tunnel-like effect observed as a function of applied voltage and excitation wavelength. The experiments are performed in the near-ultraviolet to near-infrared wavelength range. The high conversion efficiency of light radiation into photoelectrons observed with the presented layout allows the device to be used as a large area photodetector with very low, intrinsic dark current and noise. PMID:25821710

Observation of a photoinduced, resonant tunneling effect in a carbon nanotube-silicon heterojunction.

PubMed

Aramo, Carla; Ambrosio, Antonio; Ambrosio, Michelangelo; Boscardin, Maurizio; Castrucci, Paola; Crivellari, Michele; Cilmo, Marco; De Crescenzi, Maurizio; De Nicola, Francesco; Fiandrini, Emanuele; Grossi, Valentina; Maddalena, Pasqualino; Passacantando, Maurizio; Santucci, Sandro; Scarselli, Manuela; Valentini, Antonio

2015-01-01

A significant resonant tunneling effect has been observed under the 2.4 V junction threshold in a large area, carbon nanotube-silicon (CNT-Si) heterojunction obtained by growing a continuous layer of multiwall carbon nanotubes on an n-doped silicon substrate. The multiwall carbon nanostructures were grown by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique on a 60 nm thick, silicon nitride layer, deposited on an n-type Si substrate. The heterojunction characteristics were intensively studied on different substrates, resulting in high photoresponsivity with a large reverse photocurrent plateau. In this paper, we report on the photoresponsivity characteristics of the device, the heterojunction threshold and the tunnel-like effect observed as a function of applied voltage and excitation wavelength. The experiments are performed in the near-ultraviolet to near-infrared wavelength range. The high conversion efficiency of light radiation into photoelectrons observed with the presented layout allows the device to be used as a large area photodetector with very low, intrinsic dark current and noise.

The antagonistic effect between STAT1 and Survivin and its clinical significance in gastric cancer.

PubMed

Deng, Hao; Zhen, Hongyan; Fu, Zhengqi; Huang, Xuan; Zhou, Hongyan; Liu, Lijiang

2012-01-01

In previous studies, we observed that STAT1 and Survivin correlated negatively with gastric cancer tissues, and that the functions of the IFN-γ-STAT1 pathway and Survivin in gastric cancer are the same as those reported for other types of cancer. In this study, the SGC7901 gastric cancer cell line and 83 gastric cancer specimens were used to confirm the relationship between STAT1 and Survivin, as well as the clinical significance of this relationship in gastric cancer. IFN-γ and STAT1 and Survivin antisense oligonucleotides (ASONs) were used to knock down the expression in SGC7901 cells. The protein expression of STAT1 and Survivin was tested by immunocytochemical and image analysis methods. A gastric cancer tissue microarray was prepared and tested by immunohistochemical methods. Data were analyzed by the Spearman's rank correlation analysis, the χ(2) test and Cox's multivariate regression analysis. Upon knockdown of IFN-γ, STAT1 and Survivin expression by ASON in the SGC7901 cell line, an antagonistic effect was observed between STAT1 and Survivin. In gastric cancer tissues, STAT1 showed a negative correlation with depth of invasion (p<0.05) in gastric cancer tissues exhibiting a negative Survivin protein expression. Furthermore, in tissues exhibiting a negative STAT1 protein expression, Survivin correlated negatively with N stage (p<0.05). Pathological and molecular markers were used to conduct Cox's multivariate regression analysis, and depth of invasion and N stage were found to be prognostic factors (p<0.05). On the other hand, in tissues exhibiting a negative Survivin protein expression, Cox's multivariate regression analysis revealed that the differentiation type and STAT1 protein expression were prognostic factors (p<0.05). There is an antagonistic effect between STAT1 and Survivin in gastric cancer, and this antagonistic effect is of clinical significance in gastric cancer.

Observational methods in comparative effectiveness research.

PubMed

Concato, John; Lawler, Elizabeth V; Lew, Robert A; Gaziano, J Michael; Aslan, Mihaela; Huang, Grant D

2010-12-01

Comparative effectiveness research (CER) may be defined informally as an assessment of available options for treating specific medical conditions in selected groups of patients. In this context, the most prominent features of CER are the various patient populations, medical ailments, and treatment options involved in any particular project. Yet, each research investigation also has a corresponding study design or "architecture," and in patient-oriented research a common distinction used to describe such designs are randomized controlled trials (RCTs) versus observational studies. The purposes of this overview, with regard to CER, are to (1) understand how observational studies can provide accurate results, comparable to RCTs; (2) recognize strategies used in selected newer methods for conducting observational studies; (3) review selected observational studies from the Veterans Health Administration; and (4) appreciate the importance of fundamental methodological principles when conducting or evaluating individual studies. Published by Elsevier Inc.

The effects of correlated noise in phased-array observations of radio sources

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dewey, Rachel J.

1994-01-01

Arrays of radio telescopes are now routinely used to provide increased signal-to-noise when observing faint point sources. However, calculation of the achievable sensitivity is complicated if there are sources in the field of view other than the target source. These additional sources not only increase the system temperatures of the individual antennas, but may also contribute significant 'correlated noise' to the effective system temperature of the array. This problem has been of particular interest in the context of tracking spacecraft in the vicinity of radio-bright planets (e.g., Galileo at Jupiter), but it has broader astronomical relevance as well. This paper presents a general formulation of the problem, for the case of a point-like target source in the presence of an additional radio source of arbitrary brightness distribution. We re-derive the well known result that, in the absence of any background sources, a phased array of N indentical antennas is a factor of N more sensitive than a single antenna. We also show that an unphased array of N identical antennas is, on average, no more sensitive than a single antenna if the signals from the individual antennas are combined prior to detection. In the case where a background source is present we show that the effects of correlated noise are highly geometry dependent, and for some astronomical observations may cause significant fluctuations in the array's effective system temperature.

Confined space ventilation by shipyard welders: observed use and effectiveness.

PubMed

Pouzou, Jane G; Warner, Chris; Neitzel, Richard L; Croteau, Gerry A; Yost, Michael G; Seixas, Noah S

2015-01-01

Shipbuilding involves intensive welding activities within enclosed and confined spaces, and although ventilation is commonly used in the industry, its use and effectiveness has not been adequately documented. Workers engaged in welding in enclosed or confined spaces in two shipyards were observed for their use of ventilation and monitored for their exposure to particulate matter. The type of ventilation in use, its placement and face velocity, the movement of air within the space, and other ventilation-related parameters were recorded, along with task characteristics such as the type of welding, the welder's position, and the configuration of the space. Mechanical ventilation was present in about two-thirds of the 65 welding scenarios observed, with exhaust ventilation used predominantly in one shipyard and supply blowers predominantly in the other. Welders were observed working in apparent dead-spaces within the room in 53% of the cases, even where ventilation was in use. Respiratory protection was common in the two shipyards, observed in use in 77 and 100% of the cases. Welding method, the proximity of the welder's head to the fume, and air mixing were found to be significantly associated with the welder's exposure, while other characteristics of dilution ventilation did not produce appreciable differences in exposure level. These parameters associated with exposure reduction can be assessed subjectively and are thus good candidates for training on effective ventilation use during hot work in confined spaces. Ventilation used in confined space welding is often inadequate for controlling exposure to welding fume. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Occupational Hygiene Society.

Observation of the seismic anisotropy effects on free oscillations below 4 mHz

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, X.; Liu, L.

2009-12-01

We present observations of significant fundamental spheroidal-toroidal mode coupling at frequencies below 4 mHz in the early part of vertical component records from seismic stations on near-equatorial source-receiver propagation paths and in Antarctica after the 26 December 2004 and 28 March 2005 great Sumatra earthquakes. When seismic surface waves propagate along the equator, the particle motion of Love waves runs parallels to the Earth’s rotation axis, and the particle motion of Rayleigh waves runs perpendicular to it, thus the Coriolis force has no vertical deflection effect on Love waves and no transverse deflection effect on the Rayleigh waves. Coriolis coupling can be naturally minimized at a station on a nearequatorial source-receiver propagation path. In Antarctica, especially near the South Pole, the vertical deflection of toroidial motion is very weak but there are lateral gradients in the anisotropic properties of upper mantle. Therefore, we can find a chance to directly observe seismic anisotropy coupling below 4 mHz without the disturbance of Coriolis coupling at Antarctic station, and at the seismic station locate close to the Earth’s equator when the epicenter also locates close to the equator. Our observations of strong anomalous toroidal-spheroidal coupling at these stations provide direct evidence to confirm the theory that the azimuthal anisotropy has pronounced effects on the quasi-toroidal mode excitations at the frequencies below 4 mHz, which can convince the skeptics that anisotropy really is visible in the low-frequency normal mode data. Strong anisotropic coupling is usually observed at stations having the geometric nodes for the spheroidal fundamentals, giving the association of quasi-toroidal excitation with the geometric effect. The presence of significant anisotropy coupling below 4 mHz depends not only on anisotropic depth, anisotropic identities and orientations but also on radiation nodes for Rayleigh waves and geometry nodes

Observation of a superfluid Hall effect

PubMed Central

Jiménez-García, Karina; Williams, Ross A.; Beeler, Matthew C.; Perry, Abigail R.; Phillips, William D.; Spielman, Ian B.

2012-01-01

Measurement techniques based upon the Hall effect are invaluable tools in condensed-matter physics. When an electric current flows perpendicular to a magnetic field, a Hall voltage develops in the direction transverse to both the current and the field. In semiconductors, this behavior is routinely used to measure the density and charge of the current carriers (electrons in conduction bands or holes in valence bands)—internal properties of the system that are not accessible from measurements of the conventional resistance. For strongly interacting electron systems, whose behavior can be very different from the free electron gas, the Hall effect’s sensitivity to internal properties makes it a powerful tool; indeed, the quantum Hall effects are named after the tool by which they are most distinctly measured instead of the physics from which the phenomena originate. Here we report the first observation of a Hall effect in an ultracold gas of neutral atoms, revealed by measuring a Bose–Einstein condensate’s transport properties perpendicular to a synthetic magnetic field. Our observations in this vortex-free superfluid are in good agreement with hydrodynamic predictions, demonstrating that the system’s global irrotationality influences this superfluid Hall signal. PMID:22699494

The Hawthorne effect in direct observation research with physicians and patients.

PubMed

Goodwin, Meredith A; Stange, Kurt C; Zyzanski, Stephen J; Crabtree, Benjamin F; Borawski, Elaine A; Flocke, Susan A

2017-12-01

This study examines the degree to which a "Hawthorne effect" alters outpatient-visit content. Trained research nurses directly observed 4454 visits to 138 family physicians. Multiple data sources were used to examine the Hawthorne effect including differences in medical record documentation for observed visits and the prior visit by the same patient, time use during visits on the first versus the second observation day of each physician, and report by the patient, physician, and observer of the effect of observation. Visits on the first versus the second observation day were longer by an average of 1 minute (P < .001); there were time-use differences for 4 of 20 behaviour categories evaluated. No effect of the observer on the interaction was reported by 74% of patients and 55% of physicians. Most of those that reported an affect indicated it was slight. Patients with non-White race, lower-educational level, and poorer health were more likely to report being affected by the observer. In a study that was designed to minimize the Hawthorne effect, the presence of an observer had little effect on most patient-physician visits but appeared to at least slightly effect a subgroup of vulnerable patients. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Comparative effectiveness research in cancer with observational data.

PubMed

Giordano, Sharon H

2015-01-01

Observational studies are increasingly being used for comparative effectiveness research. These studies can have the greatest impact when randomized trials are not feasible or when randomized studies have not included the population or outcomes of interest. However, careful attention must be paid to study design to minimize the likelihood of selection biases. Analytic techniques, such as multivariable regression modeling, propensity score analysis, and instrumental variable analysis, also can also be used to help address confounding. Oncology has many existing large and clinically rich observational databases that can be used for comparative effectiveness research. With careful study design, observational studies can produce valid results to assess the benefits and harms of a treatment or intervention in representative real-world populations.

Systematic effects in LOD from SLR observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bloßfeld, Mathis; Gerstl, Michael; Hugentobler, Urs; Angermann, Detlef; Müller, Horst

2014-09-01

Beside the estimation of station coordinates and the Earth’s gravity field, laser ranging observations to near-Earth satellites can be used to determine the rotation of the Earth. One parameter of this rotation is ΔLOD (excess Length Of Day) which describes the excess revolution time of the Earth w.r.t. 86,400 s. Due to correlations among the different parameter groups, it is difficult to obtain reliable estimates for all parameters. In the official ΔLOD products of the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS), the ΔLOD information determined from laser ranging observations is excluded from the processing. In this paper, we study the existing correlations between ΔLOD, the orbital node Ω, the even zonal gravity field coefficients, cross-track empirical accelerations and relativistic accelerations caused by the Lense-Thirring and deSitter effect in detail using first order Gaussian perturbation equations. We found discrepancies due to different a priories by using different gravity field models of up to 1.0 ms for polar orbits at an altitude of 500 km and up to 40.0 ms, if the gravity field coefficients are estimated using only observations to LAGEOS 1. If observations to LAGEOS 2 are included, reliable ΔLOD estimates can be achieved. Nevertheless, an impact of the a priori gravity field even on the multi-satellite ΔLOD estimates can be clearly identified. Furthermore, we investigate the effect of empirical cross-track accelerations and the effect of relativistic accelerations of near-Earth satellites on ΔLOD. A total effect of 0.0088 ms is caused by not modeled Lense-Thirring and deSitter terms. The partial derivatives of these accelerations w.r.t. the position and velocity of the satellite cause very small variations (0.1 μs) on ΔLOD.

Observational determination of the greenhouse effect

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Raval, A.; Ramanathan, V.

1989-01-01

Satellite measurements are used to quantify the atmospheric greenhouse effect, defined here as the infrared radiation energy trapped by atmospheric gases and clouds. The greenhouse effect is found to increase significantly with sea surface temperature. The rate of increase gives compelling evidence for the positive feedback between surface temperature, water vapor and the greenhouse effect; the magnitude of the feedback is consistent with that predicted by climate models. This study demonstrates an effective method for directly monitoring, from space, future changes in the greenhouse effect.

Direct radiative effects of aerosols over South Asia from observations and modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nair, Vijayakumar S.; Babu, S. Suresh; Manoj, M. R.; Moorthy, K. Krishna; Chin, Mian

2017-08-01

Quantitative assessment of the seasonal variations in the direct radiative effect (DRE) of composite aerosols as well as the constituent species over the Indian sub continent has been carried out using a synergy of observations from a dense network of ground based aerosol observatories and modeling based on chemical transport model simulations. Seasonal variation of aerosol constituents depict significant influence of anthropogenic aerosol sources in winter and the dominance of natural sources in spring, even though the aerosol optical depth doesn't change significantly between these two seasons. A significant increase in the surface cooling and atmospheric warming has been observed as season changes from winter (DRESUR = -28 ± 12 W m-2 and DREATM = +19.6 ± 9 W m-2) to spring (DRESUR = -33.7 ± 12 W m-2 and DREATM = +27 ± 9 W m-2). Interestingly, springtime aerosols are more absorptive in nature compared to winter and consequently the aerosol induced diabatic heating of the atmosphere goes as high as 1 K day-1 during spring, especially over eastern India. The atmospheric DRE due to dust aerosols (+14 ± 7 W m-2) during spring overwhelms that of black carbon DRE (+11.8 ± 6 W m-2) during winter. The DRE at the top of the atmosphere is mostly governed by the anthropogenic aerosols during all the seasons. The columnar aerosol loading, its anthropogenic fraction and radiative effects shows a steady increase with latitude across Indian mainland leading to a larger aerosol-induced atmospheric warming during spring than in winter.

Significance of preoperatively observed detrusor overactivity as a predictor of continence status early after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy

PubMed Central

Yanagiuchi, Akihiro; Miyake, Hideaki; Tanaka, Kazushi; Fujisawa, Masato

2014-01-01

Several recent studies have reported the involvement of bladder dysfunction in the delayed recovery of urinary continence following radical prostatectomy (RP). The objective of this study was to investigate the significance of detrusor overactivity (DO) as a predictor of the early continence status following robot-assisted RP (RARP). This study included 84 consecutive patients with prostate cancer undergoing RARP. Urodynamic studies, including filling cystometry, pressure flow study, electromyogram of the external urethral sphincter and urethral pressure profile, were performed in these patients before surgery. Urinary continence was defined as the use of either no or one pad per day as a precaution only. DO was preoperatively observed in 30 patients (35.7%), and 55 (65.5%) and 34 (40.5%) were judged to be incontinent 1 and 3 months after RARP, respectively. At both 1 and 3 months after RARP, the incidences of incontinence in patients with DO were significantly higher than in those without DO. Of several demographic and urodynamic parameters, univariate analyses identified DO and maximal urethral closure pressure (MUCP) as significant predictors of the continence status at both 1 and 3 months after RARP. Furthermore, DO and MUCP appeared to be independently associated with the continence at both 1 and 3 months after RARP on multivariate analysis. These findings suggest that preoperatively observed DO could be a significant predictor of urinary incontinence early after RARP; therefore, it is recommended to perform urodynamic studies for patients who are scheduled to undergo RARP in order to comprehensively evaluate their preoperative vesicourethral functions. PMID:25038181

A Puzzle Unsolved: Failure to Observe Different Effects of God and Religion Primes on Intergroup Attitudes

PubMed Central

Ramsay, Jonathan E.; Tong, Eddie M. W.; Pang, Joyce S.; Chowdhury, Avijit

2016-01-01

Religious priming has been found to have both positive and negative consequences, and recent research suggests that the activation of God-related and community-related religious cognitions may cause outgroup prosociality and outgroup derogation respectively. The present research sought to examine whether reminders of God and religion have different effects on attitudes towards ingroup and outgroup members. Over two studies, little evidence was found for different effects of these two types of religious primes. In study 1, individuals primed with the words “religion”, “God” and a neutral control word evaluated both ingroup and outgroup members similarly, although a marginal tendency towards more negative evaluations of outgroup members by females exposed to religion primes was observed. In study 2, no significant differences in attitudes towards an outgroup member were observed between the God, religion, and neutral priming conditions. Furthermore, the gender effect observed in study 1 did not replicate in this second study. Possible explanations for these null effects are discussed. PMID:26812526

A Puzzle Unsolved: Failure to Observe Different Effects of God and Religion Primes on Intergroup Attitudes.

PubMed

Ramsay, Jonathan E; Tong, Eddie M W; Pang, Joyce S; Chowdhury, Avijit

2016-01-01

Religious priming has been found to have both positive and negative consequences, and recent research suggests that the activation of God-related and community-related religious cognitions may cause outgroup prosociality and outgroup derogation respectively. The present research sought to examine whether reminders of God and religion have different effects on attitudes towards ingroup and outgroup members. Over two studies, little evidence was found for different effects of these two types of religious primes. In study 1, individuals primed with the words "religion", "God" and a neutral control word evaluated both ingroup and outgroup members similarly, although a marginal tendency towards more negative evaluations of outgroup members by females exposed to religion primes was observed. In study 2, no significant differences in attitudes towards an outgroup member were observed between the God, religion, and neutral priming conditions. Furthermore, the gender effect observed in study 1 did not replicate in this second study. Possible explanations for these null effects are discussed.

Subjective Significance Shapes Arousal Effects on Modified Stroop Task Performance: A Duality of Activation Mechanisms Account.

PubMed

Imbir, Kamil K

2016-01-01

Activation mechanisms such as arousal are known to be responsible for slowdown observed in the Emotional Stroop and modified Stroop tasks. Using the duality of mind perspective, we may conclude that both ways of processing information (automatic or controlled) should have their own mechanisms of activation, namely, arousal for an experiential mind, and subjective significance for a rational mind. To investigate the consequences of both, factorial manipulation was prepared. Other factors that influence Stroop task processing such as valence, concreteness, frequency, and word length were controlled. Subjective significance was expected to influence arousal effects. In the first study, the task was to name the color of font for activation charged words. In the second study, activation charged words were, at the same time, combined with an incongruent condition of the classical Stroop task around a fixation point. The task was to indicate the font color for color-meaning words. In both studies, subjective significance was found to shape the arousal impact on performance in terms of the slowdown reduction for words charged with subjective significance.

Can the Yarkovsky effect significantly influence the main-belt size distribution?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

O'Brien, D. P.; Greenberg, R.

2001-11-01

It has been proposed that the size distribution of main-belt asteroids may be significantly modified by the Yarkovsky effect---a size-dependent radiation force which can sweep asteroids into resonances and out of the main belt. Bell [1] suggested that this effect could deplete the population of asteroids smaller than ~10 m by at least an order of magnitude, resulting in the lack of small craters observed on Eros. Others have hypothesized that the same effect could explain the steepness of the crater distribution on Gaspra [2]. We have explicitly included Yarkovsky removal in a numerical collisional evolution model. The algorithm uses recent calculations of the expected removal rates of different sized bodies from the main belt (David Vokrouhlicky, personal communication). We find that the rate of removal of bodies from the main belt by the Yarkovsky effect may be within an order of magnitude of the rate of collisional destruction for asteroids ~10 m in diameter, and negligible for larger or smaller asteroids. When Yarkovsky removal is incorporated into our numerical collisional evolution model, the numbers of bodies ~10 m in diameter is reduced by ~10-20%, and a wave propagates up the size distribution increasing the number of bodies ~300 m by ~10%. This `waviness' could conceivably be detected in the cratering records on asteroids. However, the uncertainties in crater counts on Ida, Gaspra, Malthide, and Eros are >10% for diameters >100 m (i. e. the craters made by impactors >10 m in diameter). Contrary to the earlier hypothesis, Yarkovsky removal of small asteroids cannot have substantially affected the overall slopes of the crater populations on these asteroids. Moreover, Yarkovsky removal cannot explain the lack of small (<10 m) craters on Eros, because the corresponding impactors (<1 m) are unaffected by the Yarkovsky effect. [1] Bell, J. F. (2001). LPSC XXXII abstract no. 1964. [2] Hartmann, W. K. and E. V. Ryan (1996). DPS 28, abstract no. 10.35.

Analysis of mirror neuron system activation during action observation alone and action observation with motor imagery tasks.

PubMed

Cengiz, Bülent; Vurallı, Doğa; Zinnuroğlu, Murat; Bayer, Gözde; Golmohammadzadeh, Hassan; Günendi, Zafer; Turgut, Ali Emre; İrfanoğlu, Bülent; Arıkan, Kutluk Bilge

2018-02-01

This study aimed to explore the relationship between action observation (AO)-related corticomotor excitability changes and phases of observed action and to explore the effects of pure AO and concurrent AO and motor imagery (MI) state on corticomotor excitability using TMS. It was also investigated whether the mirror neuron system activity is muscle-specific. Fourteen healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study. EMG recordings were taken from the right first dorsal interosseous and the abductor digiti minimi muscles. There was a significant main effect of TMS timing (after the beginning of the movement, at the beginning of motor output state, and during black screen) on the mean motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude. Mean MEP amplitudes for AO combined with MI were significantly higher than pure AO session. There was a significant interaction between session and TMS timing. There was no significant main effect of muscle on MEP amplitude. The results indicate that corticomotor excitability is modulated by different phases of the observed motor movement and this modulation is not muscle-specific. Simultaneous MI and AO enhance corticomotor excitability significantly compared to pure AO.

The tilt effect in DOAS observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lampel, Johannes; Wang, Yang; Hilboll, Andreas; Beirle, Steffen; Sihler, Holger; Puķīte, Janis; Platt, Ulrich; Wagner, Thomas

2017-12-01

Experience of differential atmospheric absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) shows that a spectral shift between measurement spectra and reference spectra is frequently required in order to achieve optimal fit results, while the straightforward calculation of the optical density proves inferior. The shift is often attributed to temporal instabilities of the instrument but implicitly solved the problem of the tilt effect discussed/explained in this paper. Spectral positions of Fraunhofer and molecular absorption lines are systematically shifted for different measurement geometries due to an overall slope - or tilt - of the intensity spectrum. The phenomenon has become known as the tilt effect for limb satellite observations, where it is corrected for in a first-order approximation, whereas the remaining community is less aware of its cause and consequences. It is caused by the measurement process, because atmospheric absorption and convolution in the spectrometer do not commute. Highly resolved spectral structures in the spectrum will first be modified by absorption and scattering processes in the atmosphere before they are recorded with a spectrometer, which convolves them with a specific instrument function. In the DOAS spectral evaluation process, however, the polynomial (or other function used for this purpose) accounting for broadband absorption is applied after the convolution is performed. In this paper, we derive that changing the order of the two modifications of the spectra leads to different results. Assuming typical geometries for the observations of scattered sunlight and a spectral resolution of 0.6 nm, this effect can be interpreted as a spectral shift of up to 1.5 pm, which is confirmed in the actual analysis of the ground-based measurements of scattered sunlight as well as in numerical radiative transfer simulations. If no spectral shift is allowed by the fitting routine, residual structures of up to 2.5 × 10-3 peak-to-peak are observed. Thus, this effect

Direct observation of the skyrmion Hall effect

DOE PAGES

Jiang, Wanjun; Zhang, Xichao; Yu, Guoqiang; ...

2016-09-19

The well-known Hall effect describes the transverse deflection of charged particles (electrons/holes) as a result of the Lorentz force. Similarly, it is intriguing to examine if quasi-particles without an electric charge, but with a topological charge, show related transverse motion. Magnetic skyrmions with a well-defined spin texture with a unit topological charge serve as good candidates to test this hypothesis. In spite of the recent progress made on investigating magnetic skyrmions, direct observation of the skyrmion Hall effect has remained elusive. Here, by using a current-induced spin Hall spin torque, we experimentally demonstrate the skyrmion Hall effect, and the resultantmore » skyrmion accumulation, by driving skyrmions from the creep-motion regime (where their dynamics are influenced by pinning defects) into the steady-flow-motion regime. Lastly, the experimental observation of transverse transport of skyrmions due to topological charge may potentially create many exciting opportunities, such as topological selection.« less

Direct observation of the skyrmion Hall effect

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

Jiang, Wanjun; Zhang, Xichao; Yu, Guoqiang

The well-known Hall effect describes the transverse deflection of charged particles (electrons/holes) as a result of the Lorentz force. Similarly, it is intriguing to examine if quasi-particles without an electric charge, but with a topological charge, show related transverse motion. Magnetic skyrmions with a well-defined spin texture with a unit topological charge serve as good candidates to test this hypothesis. In spite of the recent progress made on investigating magnetic skyrmions, direct observation of the skyrmion Hall effect has remained elusive. Here, by using a current-induced spin Hall spin torque, we experimentally demonstrate the skyrmion Hall effect, and the resultantmore » skyrmion accumulation, by driving skyrmions from the creep-motion regime (where their dynamics are influenced by pinning defects) into the steady-flow-motion regime. Lastly, the experimental observation of transverse transport of skyrmions due to topological charge may potentially create many exciting opportunities, such as topological selection.« less

[Observation on therapeutic effect of moxibustion with thunder-fire herbal moxa stick on xerophthalmia of oligodacrya].

PubMed

Chen, Lu-Quan

2008-08-01

To observe clinical therapeutic effect of moxibustion with thunder-fire herbal moxa stick on xerophthalmia of oligodacrya. Seventy cases were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group. The observation group (n=36) were treated with moxibustion with thunder-fire herbal moxa stick at Cuanzhu (BL 2), Yuyao (EX-HN 4), Tongziliao (GB 1), Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Sibai (ST 2), Jingming (BL 1), etc. and massage of acupoints and lacrimal gland around the eye. The control group (n=34) were treated with local dripping Leiran Diyanye. Changes of the main symptoms, tears secretion test, lacrimal membrane breaking time and corneal fluorescent staining before and after treatment were observed in the two groups. After treatment, sensation of dryness and foreign body sensation in the eye, asthenopia and gross symptoms significantly improved (P<0.01) in the two groups, and the observation group in the improvement of the sensation of dryness and foreign body sensation in the eye and the gross symptoms was better than the control group (P<0.05); tears secretion test significantly improved and was better in the observation group than that in the control group (P<0.05); lacrimal membrane breaking time and corneal fluorescent staining were improved in the two groups (P<0.05), and the improvement of lacrimal membrane breaking time in the observation group was more obvious than that in the control group (P<0.05). Moxibustion with thunder-fire herbal moxa stick has good therapeutic effect on xerophthalmia of oligodacrya.

Utilizing dimensional analysis with observed data to determine the significance of hydrodynamic solutions in coastal hydrology

USGS Publications Warehouse

Swain, Eric D.; Decker, Jeremy D.; Hughes, Joseph D.

2014-01-01

In this paper, the authors present an analysis of the magnitude of the temporal and spatial acceleration (inertial) terms in the surface-water flow equations and determine the conditions under which these inertial terms have sufficient magnitude to be required in the computations. Data from two South Florida field sites are examined and the relative magnitudes of temporal acceleration, spatial acceleration, and the gravity and friction terms are compared. Parameters are derived by using dimensionless numbers and applied to quantify the significance of the hydrodynamic effects. The time series of the ratio of the inertial and gravity terms from field sites are presented and compared with both a simplified indicator parameter and a more complex parameter called the Hydrodynamic Significance Number (HSN). Two test-case models were developed by using the SWIFT2D hydrodynamic simulator to examine flow behavior with and without the inertial terms and compute the HSN. The first model represented one of the previously-mentioned field sites during gate operations of a structure-managed coastal canal. The second model was a synthetic test case illustrating the drainage of water down a sloped surface from an initial stage while under constant flow. The analyses indicate that the times of substantial hydrodynamic effects are sporadic but significant. The simplified indicator parameter correlates much better with the hydrodynamic effect magnitude for a constant width channel such as Miami Canal than at the non-uniform North River. Higher HSN values indicate flow situations where the inertial terms are large and need to be taken into account.

Zeeman Effect observations toward 36 GHz methanol masers in the Galactic Center

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Potvin, Justin A.; Momjian, Emmanuel; Pratim Sarma, Anuj

2017-01-01

We present observations of 36 GHz Class I methanol masers taken with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) in the B configuration with the aim of detecting the Zeeman Effect. We targeted several 36 GHz Class I methanol masers associated with supernova remnants (SNRs) toward the Galactic Center. Each source was observed in dual circular polarizations for three hours. The observed spectral profiles of the masers are complex, with several components blended in velocity. In only one case was the Stokes V maser profile prominent enough to reveal a 2-sigma hint of a magnetic field of zBlos = 14.56 +/- 5.60 Hz; we have chosen to express our results in terms of zBlos since the Zeeman splitting factor (z) for 36 GHz methanol masers has not been measured. There are several hints that these spectra would reveal significant magnetic fields if they could be spatially and spectrally resolved.

Direct Radiative Effects of Aerosols Over South Asia From Observations and Modeling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nair, Vijayakumar S.; Babu, S. Suresh; Manoj, M. R.; Moorthy, Krishna K.; Chin, Mian

2016-01-01

Quantitative assessment of the seasonal variations in the direct radiative effect (DRE) of composite aerosols as well as the constituent species over the Indian sub continent has been carried out using a synergy of observations from a dense network of ground based aerosol observatories and modeling based on chemical transport model simulations. Seasonal variation of aerosol constituents depict significant influence of anthropogenic aerosol sources in winter and the dominance of natural sources in spring, even though the aerosol optical depth doesn't change significantly between these two seasons. A significant increase in the surface cooling and atmospheric warming has been observed as season changes from winter DRE(sub SUR) = -28 +/- 12 W m(exp -2) and DRE(sub ATM) = +19.6 +/- 9 W m(exp -2) to spring DRE(sub SUR) = -33.7 +/- 12 W m(exp -2) and DRE(sub ATM) = +27 +/- 9 W m(exp-2). Interestingly, springtime aerosols are more absorptive in nature compared to winter and consequently the aerosol induced diabatic heating of the atmosphere goes as high as approximately 1 K day(exp -1) during spring, especially over eastern India. The atmospheric DRE due to dust aerosols (+14 +/- 7 W m(exp 2) during spring overwhelms that of black carbon DRE (+11.8 +/- 6 W m(exp -2) during winter. The DRE at the top of the atmosphere is mostly governed by the anthropogenic aerosols during all the seasons. The columnar aerosol loading, its anthropogenic fraction and radiative effects shows a steady increase with latitude across Indian mainland leading to a larger aerosol-induced atmospheric warming during spring than in winter.

Significant Effect of Valproate Augmentation Therapy in Patients With Schizophrenia

PubMed Central

Tseng, Ping-Tao; Chen, Yen-Wen; Chung, Weilun; Tu, Kun-Yu; Wang, Hung-Yu; Wu, Ching-Kuan; Lin, Pao-Yen

2016-01-01

Abstract Valproate is an anticonvulsant, which is also widely used for treating psychiatric disorders. Some clinical trials have demonstrated benefits of valproate augmentation therapy in schizophrenia. Previous meta-analysis showed inconsistent findings because of limited literature at that time. The aim of this study is to update the newer published data by conducting a meta-analysis of clinical efficacy of valproate augmentation therapy in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Data sources include electronic research through platform of PubMed. Study eligibility criteria, participants, and interventions were as follows: the inclusion criteria included articles discussing comparisons of the treatment effect in schizophrenic patients treated with antipsychotic augmented with valproate and antipsychotics with/without placebo; articles on clinical trials in humans. The exclusion criteria were case reports or series and nonclinical trials. We compared the effect between antipsychotic treatment with valproate augmentation and antipsychotic monotherapy. Data from clinical trials were pooled by random-effects model, and possible confounding variables were examined through meta-regression and subgroup analysis. Data from 11 articles including 889 patients were included into current meta-analysis. We found patients treated with antipsychotics with valproate augmentation showed significantly more improvement in total psychopathology than those treated with antipsychotics only (P = 0.02). Results from open trials, but not from randomized controlled trials (P = 0.20), showed significant improvement (P = 0.01). In addition, the significance only persisted in the studies conducted with a shorter treatment duration (P < 0.001) rather than longer treatment duration (P = 0.23). There is no difference in the dropout rate between valproate augmentation and antipsychotic treatment only (P = 0.14). We could not perform a detailed meta

Advances in Testing the Statistical Significance of Mediation Effects

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mallinckrodt, Brent; Abraham, W. Todd; Wei, Meifen; Russell, Daniel W.

2006-01-01

P. A. Frazier, A. P. Tix, and K. E. Barron (2004) highlighted a normal theory method popularized by R. M. Baron and D. A. Kenny (1986) for testing the statistical significance of indirect effects (i.e., mediator variables) in multiple regression contexts. However, simulation studies suggest that this method lacks statistical power relative to some…

Effective Thermodynamics for a Marginal Observer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Polettini, Matteo; Esposito, Massimiliano

2017-12-01

Thermodynamics is usually formulated on the presumption that the observer has complete information about the system he or she deals with: no parasitic current, exact evaluation of the forces that drive the system. For example, the acclaimed fluctuation relation (FR), relating the probability of time-forward and time-reversed trajectories, assumes that the measurable transitions suffice to characterize the process as Markovian (in our case, a continuous-time jump process). However, most often the observer only measures a marginal current. We show that he or she will nonetheless produce an effective description that does not dispense with the fundamentals of thermodynamics, including the FR and the 2nd law. Our results stand on the mathematical construction of a hidden time reversal of the dynamics, and on the physical requirement that the observed current only accounts for a single transition in the configuration space of the system. We employ a simple abstract example to illustrate our results and to discuss the feasibility of generalizations.

Quantum tunneling observed without its characteristic large kinetic isotope effects.

PubMed

Hama, Tetsuya; Ueta, Hirokazu; Kouchi, Akira; Watanabe, Naoki

2015-06-16

Classical transition-state theory is fundamental to describing chemical kinetics; however, quantum tunneling is also important in explaining the unexpectedly large reaction efficiencies observed in many chemical systems. Tunneling is often indicated by anomalously large kinetic isotope effects (KIEs), because a particle's ability to tunnel decreases significantly with its increasing mass. Here we experimentally demonstrate that cold hydrogen (H) and deuterium (D) atoms can add to solid benzene by tunneling; however, the observed H/D KIE was very small (1-1.5) despite the large intrinsic H/D KIE of tunneling (≳ 100). This strong reduction is due to the chemical kinetics being controlled not by tunneling but by the surface diffusion of the H/D atoms, a process not greatly affected by the isotope type. Because tunneling need not be accompanied by a large KIE in surface and interfacial chemical systems, it might be overlooked in other systems such as aerosols or enzymes. Our results suggest that surface tunneling reactions on interstellar dust may contribute to the deuteration of interstellar aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, which could represent a major source of the deuterium enrichment observed in carbonaceous meteorites and interplanetary dust particles. These findings could improve our understanding of interstellar physicochemical processes, including those during the formation of the solar system.

The effects of stereotypes and observer pressure on athletic performance.

PubMed

Krendl, Anne; Gainsburg, Izzy; Ambady, Nalini

2012-02-01

Although the effects of negative stereotypes and observer pressure on athletic performance have been well researched, the effects of positive stereotypes on performance, particularly in the presence of observers, is not known. In the current study, White males watched a video either depicting Whites basketball players as the best free throwers in the NBA (positive stereotype), Black basketball players as the best free throwers in the NBA (negative stereotype), or a neutral sports video (control). Participants then shot a set of free throws, during which half the participants were also videotaped (observer condition), whereas the other half were not (no observer condition). Results demonstrated that positive stereotypes improved free throw performance, but only in the no observer condition. Interestingly, observer pressure interacted with the positive stereotype to lead to performance decrements. In the negative stereotype condition, performance decrements were observed both in the observer and no observer conditions.

Significance of the double-layer capacitor effect in polar rubbery dielectrics and exceptionally stable low-voltage high transconductance organic transistors.

PubMed

Wang, Chao; Lee, Wen-Ya; Kong, Desheng; Pfattner, Raphael; Schweicher, Guillaume; Nakajima, Reina; Lu, Chien; Mei, Jianguo; Lee, Tae Hoon; Wu, Hung-Chin; Lopez, Jeffery; Diao, Ying; Gu, Xiaodan; Himmelberger, Scott; Niu, Weijun; Matthews, James R; He, Mingqian; Salleo, Alberto; Nishi, Yoshio; Bao, Zhenan

2015-12-14

Both high gain and transconductance at low operating voltages are essential for practical applications of organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). Here, we describe the significance of the double-layer capacitance effect in polar rubbery dielectrics, even when present in a very low ion concentration and conductivity. We observed that this effect can greatly enhance the OFET transconductance when driven at low voltages. Specifically, when the polar elastomer poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (e-PVDF-HFP) was used as the dielectric layer, despite a thickness of several micrometers, we obtained a transconductance per channel width 30 times higher than that measured for the same organic semiconductors fabricated on a semicrystalline PVDF-HFP with a similar thickness. After a series of detailed experimental investigations, we attribute the above observation to the double-layer capacitance effect, even though the ionic conductivity is as low as 10(-10) S/cm. Different from previously reported OFETs with double-layer capacitance effects, our devices showed unprecedented high bias-stress stability in air and even in water.

Significance of the double-layer capacitor effect in polar rubbery dielectrics and exceptionally stable low-voltage high transconductance organic transistors

PubMed Central

Wang, Chao; Lee, Wen-Ya; Kong, Desheng; Pfattner, Raphael; Schweicher, Guillaume; Nakajima, Reina; Lu, Chien; Mei, Jianguo; Lee, Tae Hoon; Wu, Hung-Chin; Lopez, Jeffery; Diao, Ying; Gu, Xiaodan; Himmelberger, Scott; Niu, Weijun; Matthews, James R.; He, Mingqian; Salleo, Alberto; Nishi, Yoshio; Bao, Zhenan

2015-01-01

Both high gain and transconductance at low operating voltages are essential for practical applications of organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). Here, we describe the significance of the double-layer capacitance effect in polar rubbery dielectrics, even when present in a very low ion concentration and conductivity. We observed that this effect can greatly enhance the OFET transconductance when driven at low voltages. Specifically, when the polar elastomer poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (e-PVDF-HFP) was used as the dielectric layer, despite a thickness of several micrometers, we obtained a transconductance per channel width 30 times higher than that measured for the same organic semiconductors fabricated on a semicrystalline PVDF-HFP with a similar thickness. After a series of detailed experimental investigations, we attribute the above observation to the double-layer capacitance effect, even though the ionic conductivity is as low as 10–10 S/cm. Different from previously reported OFETs with double-layer capacitance effects, our devices showed unprecedented high bias-stress stability in air and even in water. PMID:26658331

Econometric analysis of the changing effects in wind strength and significant wave height on the probability of casualty in shipping.

PubMed

Knapp, Sabine; Kumar, Shashi; Sakurada, Yuri; Shen, Jiajun

2011-05-01

This study uses econometric models to measure the effect of significant wave height and wind strength on the probability of casualty and tests whether these effects changed. While both effects are in particular relevant for stability and strength calculations of vessels, it is also helpful for the development of ship construction standards in general to counteract increased risk resulting from changing oceanographic conditions. The authors analyzed a unique dataset of 3.2 million observations from 20,729 individual vessels in the North Atlantic and Arctic regions gathered during the period 1979-2007. The results show that although there is a seasonal pattern in the probability of casualty especially during the winter months, the effect of wind strength and significant wave height do not follow the same seasonal pattern. Additionally, over time, significant wave height shows an increasing effect in January, March, May and October while wind strength shows a decreasing effect, especially in January, March and May. The models can be used to simulate relationships and help understand the relationships. This is of particular interest to naval architects and ship designers as well as multilateral agencies such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) that establish global standards in ship design and construction. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Why publishing everything is more effective than selective publishing of statistically significant results.

PubMed

van Assen, Marcel A L M; van Aert, Robbie C M; Nuijten, Michèle B; Wicherts, Jelte M

2014-01-01

De Winter and Happee examined whether science based on selective publishing of significant results may be effective in accurate estimation of population effects, and whether this is even more effective than a science in which all results are published (i.e., a science without publication bias). Based on their simulation study they concluded that "selective publishing yields a more accurate meta-analytic estimation of the true effect than publishing everything, (and that) publishing nonreplicable results while placing null results in the file drawer can be beneficial for the scientific collective" (p.4). Using their scenario with a small to medium population effect size, we show that publishing everything is more effective for the scientific collective than selective publishing of significant results. Additionally, we examined a scenario with a null effect, which provides a more dramatic illustration of the superiority of publishing everything over selective publishing. Publishing everything is more effective than only reporting significant outcomes.

Why Publishing Everything Is More Effective than Selective Publishing of Statistically Significant Results

PubMed Central

van Assen, Marcel A. L. M.; van Aert, Robbie C. M.; Nuijten, Michèle B.; Wicherts, Jelte M.

2014-01-01

Background De Winter and Happee [1] examined whether science based on selective publishing of significant results may be effective in accurate estimation of population effects, and whether this is even more effective than a science in which all results are published (i.e., a science without publication bias). Based on their simulation study they concluded that “selective publishing yields a more accurate meta-analytic estimation of the true effect than publishing everything, (and that) publishing nonreplicable results while placing null results in the file drawer can be beneficial for the scientific collective” (p.4). Methods and Findings Using their scenario with a small to medium population effect size, we show that publishing everything is more effective for the scientific collective than selective publishing of significant results. Additionally, we examined a scenario with a null effect, which provides a more dramatic illustration of the superiority of publishing everything over selective publishing. Conclusion Publishing everything is more effective than only reporting significant outcomes. PMID:24465448

[Observation on the therapeutic effect of Lamivudin on chronic hepatitis B].

PubMed

Wen, Xiaofeng; Li, Xuemei; Xie, Houyu; Chen, Nian; Zeng, Wenfeng; Ru, Haiyun; Cui, Xaioping; Tang, Zhongmin

2002-12-01

To observe the therapeutic effect of Lamivudine on controlling hepatitis B virus DNA replication. The liver disease patients were divided into two groups, the treated group (n=64) was given Lamivudine 100 mg once a day for one year and was additionally given liver protection drugs according to their liver function, while the control group (n=30) was given common liver protection drugs. The blood routine test, liver function and the viral markers were detected at defined times. The results showed that after one year treatment of chronic hepatitis B with Lamivudine, the recovery rate of ALT was 90.7%, the negative conversion rate of HBV DNA was 73.1% showing a significant difference as compared with the control group (P<0.05). The negative seroconversion rate of HBeAg was 50%, HBeAg/anti HBe changing rate was 38.2%, that had no significant different as compared with the control group (P<0.05). The percentage for disease relapse and second elevation of ALT was 3.1% in therapeutic group that was significantly different from that of the control group (P<0.05). Two cases with severe hepatitis in the treated group were all alive. Lamivudine could effectively control HBV DNA replication, making ALT normal, it also could decrease the relapse rate of chronic hepatitis B and raise the survival rate of the patients with liver disease.

The Gaia spectrophotometric standard stars survey: II. Instrumental effects of six ground-based observing campaigns

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Altavilla, G.; Marinoni, S.; Pancino, E.; Galleti, S.; Ragaini, S.; Bellazzini, M.; Cocozza, G.; Bragaglia, A.; Carrasco, J. M.; Castro, A.; Di Fabrizio, L.; Federici, L.; Figueras, F.; Gebran, M.; Jordi, C.; Masana, E.; Schuster, W.; Valentini, G.; Voss, H.

2015-08-01

The Gaia SpectroPhotometric Standard Stars (SPSS) survey started in 2006, was awarded almost 450 observing nights and accumulated almost 100 000 raw data frames with both photometric and spectroscopic observations. Such large observational effort requires careful, homogeneous, and automatic data reduction and quality control procedures. In this paper, we quantitatively evaluate instrumental effects that might have a significant (i.e., ≥ 1 %) impact on the Gaia SPSS flux calibration. The measurements involve six different instruments, monitored over the eight years of observations dedicated to the Gaia flux standards campaigns: DOLORES@TNG in La Palma, EFOSC2@NTT and ROSS@REM in La Silla, CAFOS@2.2 m in Calar Alto, BFOSC@Cassini in Loiano, and LaRuca@1.5 m in San Pedro Mártir. We examine and quantitatively evaluate the following effects: CCD linearity and shutter times, calibration frames stability, lamp flexures, second order contamination, light polarization, and fringing. We present methods to correct for the relevant effects which can be applied to a wide range of observational projects at similar instruments. Based on data obtained with BFOSC@Cassini in Loiano, Italy; EFOSC2@NTT in La Silla, Chile; DOLORES@TNG in La Palma, Spain; CAFOS@2.2 m in Calar Alto, Spain; LaRuca@1.5 m in San Pedro Mártir, Mexico (see acknowledgements for more details).

Air temperature exposure and outdoor occupational injuries: a significant cold effect in Central Italy.

PubMed

Morabito, Marco; Iannuccilli, Maurizio; Crisci, Alfonso; Capecchi, Valerio; Baldasseroni, Alberto; Orlandini, Simone; Gensini, Gian Franco

2014-10-01

To investigate the short-term effect of air temperature on outdoor occupational injuries (out_OI) in Central Italy, also by taking different geographical factors and employment sectors of workers into account. Out_OI for all of Tuscany (Central Italy), from 2003 to 2010 (n=162,399), were provided by the National Institute of Insurance for Occupational Illness and Injury. Representative daily meteorological data of the geographical area under study were obtained from the European Reanalysis-interim climatological reanalysis archive. Relationships between short-term changes in air temperature and out_OI were studied through Generalised Additive Models. The exposure-response curves of out_OI and short-term changes in air temperature generally showed significant out_OI increases when cold conditions occurred. The air temperature breakpoint corresponded to the 10th centile (-0.8°C) of the air temperature time series used in this study: a 1°C decrease in temperature below the 10th centile corresponded to a 2.3% (CI 1.3% to 3.3%) increase of out_OI throughout all of Tuscany. The cold effect was strongest in plain areas, especially when out_OI occurred in vehicles other than cars. No relationships of injuries with temperature extremes were observed in workers who generally spend half or most of their time outdoors, such as construction, land and forestry workers. However, these latter outdoor workers showed significant linear associations of injuries with typical (far-from-extreme) temperatures. This large population-based study highlights the significant and independent effects of short-term air temperature changes (especially cold) in triggering out_OI. These findings represent the first step towards developing a geographically differentiated, operative outdoor-temperature-occupational-health warning system aimed at preventing outdoor work injuries. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please

Validating an Observation Protocol to Measure Special Education Teacher Effectiveness

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Evelyn S.; Semmelroth, Carrie L.

2015-01-01

This study used Kane's (2013) Interpretation/Use Argument (IUA) to measure validity on the Recognizing Effective Special Education Teachers (RESET) observation tool. The RESET observation tool is designed to evaluate special education teacher effectiveness using evidence-based instructional practices as the basis for evaluation. In alignment with…

Observational studies in systematic [corrected] reviews of comparative effectiveness: AHRQ and the Effective Health Care Program.

PubMed

Norris, Susan L; Atkins, David; Bruening, Wendy; Fox, Steven; Johnson, Eric; Kane, Robert; Morton, Sally C; Oremus, Mark; Ospina, Maria; Randhawa, Gurvaneet; Schoelles, Karen; Shekelle, Paul; Viswanathan, Meera

2011-11-01

Systematic reviewers disagree about the ability of observational studies to answer questions about the benefits or intended effects of pharmacotherapeutic, device, or procedural interventions. This study provides a framework for decision making on the inclusion of observational studies to assess benefits and intended effects in comparative effectiveness reviews (CERs). The conceptual model and recommendations were developed using a consensus process by members of the methods workgroup of the Effective Health Care Program of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. In considering whether to use observational studies in CERs for addressing beneficial effects, reviewers should answer two questions: (1) Are there gaps in the evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs)? (2) Will observational studies provide valid and useful information? The latter question involves the following: (a) refocusing the study questions on gaps in the evidence from RCTs, (b) assessing the risk of bias of the body of evidence of observational studies, and (c) assessing whether available observational studies address the gap review questions. Because it is unusual to find sufficient evidence from RCTs to answer all key questions concerning benefit or the balance of benefits and harms, comparative effectiveness reviewers should routinely assess the appropriateness of inclusion of observational studies for questions of benefit. Furthermore, reviewers should explicitly state the rationale for inclusion or exclusion of observational studies when conducting CERs. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Observation of the Spin Nernst Effect in Platinum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goennenwein, Sebastian

Thermoelectric effects - arising from the interplay between thermal and charge transport phenomena - have been extensively studied and are considered well established. Upon taking into account the spin degree of freedom, however, qualitatively new phenomena arise. A prototype example for these so-called magneto-thermoelectric or spin-caloritronic effects is the spin Seebeck effect, in which a thermal gradient drives a pure spin current. In contrast to their thermoelectric counterparts, not all the spin-caloritronic effects predicted from theory have yet been observed in experiment. One of these `missing' phenomena is the spin Nernst effect, in which a thermal gradient gives rise to a transverse pure spin current. We have observed the spin Nernst effect in yttrium iron garnet/platinum (YIG/Pt) thin film bilayers. Upon applying a thermal gradient within the YIG/Pt bilayer plane, a pure spin current flows in the direction orthogonal to the thermal drive. We detect this spin current as a thermopower voltage, generated via magnetization-orientation dependent spin transfer into the adjacent YIG layer. Our data shows that the spin Nernst and the spin Hall effect in in Pt have different sign, but comparable magnitude, in agreement with first-principles calculations. Financial support via Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Priority Programme SPP 1538 Spin-Caloric Transport is gratefully acknowledged.

Relation between therapeutic response and side effects induced by methylphenidate as observed by parents and teachers of children with ADHD.

PubMed

Lee, James; Grizenko, Natalie; Bhat, Venkataramana; Sengupta, Sarojini; Polotskaia, Anna; Joober, Ridha

2011-04-21

The desired (therapeutic) and undesired (side) effects of methylphenidate might have underlying correlations. The aim of this study was to explore the strength and the possible sources of these correlations. One hundred and fifty-seven children with ADHD (6-12 years) were administered placebo and methylphenidate (0.5 mg/kg in a divided b.i.d. dose), each for a one-week period, in a double-blind, crossover trial. Therapeutic response was assessed using the Conners' Global Index for parents (CGI-Parents) and teachers (CGI-Teachers), while side effects were assessed using the Barkley Side Effects Rating Scale (SERS). The side effect profile as assessed by the SERS was similar to that of previous studies with insomnia, decreased appetite, and headaches showing significant treatment effects (p < 0.005). These "somatic/physical" side effects did not correlate with CGI-Parents or CGI-Teachers. However, the side effects of "irritability", "proneness to crying", and "anxiousness" showed significant relationships with CGI-Parents. These "mood/anxiety" side effects showed no significant correlations with the CGI-Teachers. The greater "mood/anxiety" side effects on methylphenidate and placebo, the less the parents observe improvement of their children while treated with methylphenidate. This suggests that the correlations between "mood/anxiety" side effects and poor response to treatment may be driven by observer effects rather than biological commonalities between therapeutic and side effects of methylphenidate.

Quantum tunneling observed without its characteristic large kinetic isotope effects

PubMed Central

Hama, Tetsuya; Ueta, Hirokazu; Kouchi, Akira; Watanabe, Naoki

2015-01-01

Classical transition-state theory is fundamental to describing chemical kinetics; however, quantum tunneling is also important in explaining the unexpectedly large reaction efficiencies observed in many chemical systems. Tunneling is often indicated by anomalously large kinetic isotope effects (KIEs), because a particle’s ability to tunnel decreases significantly with its increasing mass. Here we experimentally demonstrate that cold hydrogen (H) and deuterium (D) atoms can add to solid benzene by tunneling; however, the observed H/D KIE was very small (1–1.5) despite the large intrinsic H/D KIE of tunneling (≳100). This strong reduction is due to the chemical kinetics being controlled not by tunneling but by the surface diffusion of the H/D atoms, a process not greatly affected by the isotope type. Because tunneling need not be accompanied by a large KIE in surface and interfacial chemical systems, it might be overlooked in other systems such as aerosols or enzymes. Our results suggest that surface tunneling reactions on interstellar dust may contribute to the deuteration of interstellar aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, which could represent a major source of the deuterium enrichment observed in carbonaceous meteorites and interplanetary dust particles. These findings could improve our understanding of interstellar physicochemical processes, including those during the formation of the solar system. PMID:26034285

Effectiveness of Vildagliptin in Clinical Practice: Pooled Analysis of Three Korean Observational Studies (the VICTORY Study).

PubMed

Suh, Sunghwan; Song, Sun Ok; Kim, Jae Hyeon; Cho, Hyungjin; Lee, Woo Je; Lee, Byung-Wan

2017-01-01

The present observational study aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of vildagliptin with metformin in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Data were pooled from the vildagliptin postmarketing survey (PMS), the vildagliptin/metformin fixed drug combination (DC) PMS, and a retrospective observational study of vildagliptin/metformin (fixed DC or free DC). The effectiveness endpoint was the proportion of patients who achieved a glycemic target (HbA1c) of ≤7.0% at 24 weeks. In total, 4303 patients were included in the analysis; of these, 2087 patients were eligible. The mean patient age was 56.99 ± 11.25 years. Overall, 58.94% patients achieved an HbA1c target of ≤7.0% at 24 weeks. The glycemic target achievement rate was significantly greater in patients with baseline HbA1c < 7.5% versus ≥7.5% (84.64% versus 43.97%), receiving care at the hospital versus clinic (67.95% versus 52.33%), and receiving vildagliptin/metformin fixed DC versus free DC (70.69% versus 55.42%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that disease duration ( P < 0.0001), baseline HbA1c ( P < 0.0001), and DC type ( P = 0.0103) had significant effects on drug effectiveness. Vildagliptin plus metformin appeared as an effective treatment option for patients with T2DM in clinical practice settings in Korea.

"Lies, damned lies ..." and observational studies in comparative effectiveness research.

PubMed

Albert, Richard K

2013-06-01

A new federal initiative has allocated $1.1 billion to comparative effectiveness research, and many have emphasized the importance of including observational studies in this effort. The rationale for using observational studies to assess comparative effectiveness is based on concerns that randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are not "real world" because they enroll homogeneous patient populations, measure study outcomes that are not important to patients, use protocols that are overly complex, are conducted in specialized centers, and use study treatments that are not consistent with usual care, and that RCTs are not always feasible because of a lack of equipoise, the need to assess delayed endpoints, and concerns that they take years to complete and are expensive. This essay questions the validity of each of these proposed limitations, summarizes concerns raised about the accuracy of results generated by observational studies, provides some examples of discrepancies between results of observational studies and RCTs that pertain to pulmonary and critical care, and suggests that using observational studies for comparative effectiveness research may increase rather than decrease the cost of health care and may harm patients.

[Observation of curative effect of herpes zoster treated with acupuncture based on syndrome differentiation combined with pricking and cupping].

PubMed

Pan, Hua

2011-10-01

To compare the differences of curative effects of herpes zoster treated with acupuncture based on syndrome differentiation combined with pricking and cupping and simple pricking and cupping. Eighty-six cases were randomly divided into an observation group (43 cases) and a control group (43 cases). In observation group, acupoints selection based on syndrome differentiation i.e. Quchi (LI 11), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), etc. were selected and pricking and cupping at affected parts were applied, and the cases were classified into damp heat in liver and gallbladder, damp retention and spleen deficiency, and qi deficiency and blood stasis. In control group, all the cases were simplely treated with pricking and cupping at affected parts. The treatment was given once a day, and seven days were made one session. The curative effect was evaluated after 2 courses, and the follow-up was carried on after 1 month. The cured and markedly effective rate was 93.0% (40/43) in observation group, superior to that of 67.4% (29/43) in control group (P < 0.01). Postherpetic neuralgia: there was 2.3% (1/43) in observation group, inferior to that of 14.0% (6/43) in control group. Comparison in 3 types: the cured and markedly effective rate of damp heat in liver and gallbladder: 94.7% (18/19) in observation group, and 85.7% (18/21) in control group, showing no significant difference between groups (P > 0.05). The cured and markedly effective rate of damp retention and spleen deficiency: 93.8% (15/16) in observation group, superior to that of 60.0% (9/15) in control group (P < 0. 05). The cured and markedly effective rate of qi deficiency and blood stasis: 87.5% (7/8) in observation group, superior to that of 28.6% (2/7) in control group (P < 0.05). For herpes zoster, acupoints selection based on syndrome differentiation combined with pricking and cupping therapy is high pertinent and effective, the postherpetic neuralgia can be reduced significantly and the curative effect is

42 CFR 422.521 - Effective date of new significant regulatory requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICARE PROGRAM MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PROGRAM Application Procedures and Contracts for Medicare Advantage Organizations § 422.521 Effective date of new significant...

Significant inconsistency of vegetation carbon density in CMIP5 Earth system models against observational data: Vegetation Carbon Density in ESMs

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

Song, Xia; Hoffman, Forrest M.; Iversen, Colleen M.

Earth system models (ESMs) have been widely used for projecting global vegetation carbon dynamics, yet how well ESMs performed for simulating vegetation carbon density remains untested. Here we have compiled observational data of vegetation carbon density from literature and existing data sets to evaluate nine ESMs at site, biome, latitude, and global scales. Three variables—root (including fine and coarse roots), total vegetation carbon density, and the root:total vegetation carbon ratios (R/T ratios), were chosen for ESM evaluation. ESM models performed well in simulating the spatial distribution of carbon densities in root (r = 0.71) and total vegetation (r = 0.62).more » However, ESM models had significant biases in simulating absolute carbon densities in root and total vegetation biomass across the majority of land ecosystems, especially in tropical and arctic ecosystems. Particularly, ESMs significantly overestimated carbon density in root (183%) and total vegetation biomass (167%) in climate zones of 10°S–10°N. Substantial discrepancies between modeled and observed R/T ratios were found: the R/T ratios from ESMs were relatively constant, approximately 0.2 across all ecosystems, along latitudinal gradients, and in tropic, temperate, and arctic climatic zones, which was significantly different from the observed large variations in the R/T ratios (0.1–0.8). There were substantial inconsistencies between ESM-derived carbon density in root and total vegetation biomass and the R/T ratio at multiple scales, indicating urgent needs for model improvements on carbon allocation algorithms and more intensive field campaigns targeting carbon density in all key vegetation components.« less

Significant inconsistency of vegetation carbon density in CMIP5 Earth system models against observational data: Vegetation Carbon Density in ESMs

DOE PAGES

Song, Xia; Hoffman, Forrest M.; Iversen, Colleen M.; ...

2017-09-09

Earth system models (ESMs) have been widely used for projecting global vegetation carbon dynamics, yet how well ESMs performed for simulating vegetation carbon density remains untested. Here we have compiled observational data of vegetation carbon density from literature and existing data sets to evaluate nine ESMs at site, biome, latitude, and global scales. Three variables—root (including fine and coarse roots), total vegetation carbon density, and the root:total vegetation carbon ratios (R/T ratios), were chosen for ESM evaluation. ESM models performed well in simulating the spatial distribution of carbon densities in root (r = 0.71) and total vegetation (r = 0.62).more » However, ESM models had significant biases in simulating absolute carbon densities in root and total vegetation biomass across the majority of land ecosystems, especially in tropical and arctic ecosystems. Particularly, ESMs significantly overestimated carbon density in root (183%) and total vegetation biomass (167%) in climate zones of 10°S–10°N. Substantial discrepancies between modeled and observed R/T ratios were found: the R/T ratios from ESMs were relatively constant, approximately 0.2 across all ecosystems, along latitudinal gradients, and in tropic, temperate, and arctic climatic zones, which was significantly different from the observed large variations in the R/T ratios (0.1–0.8). There were substantial inconsistencies between ESM-derived carbon density in root and total vegetation biomass and the R/T ratio at multiple scales, indicating urgent needs for model improvements on carbon allocation algorithms and more intensive field campaigns targeting carbon density in all key vegetation components.« less

Observation of the chiral magnetic effect in ZrTe₅

DOE PAGES

Li, Qiang; Kharzeev, Dmitri E.; Zhang, Cheng; ...

2015-02-08

The chiral magnetic effect is the generation of electric current induced by chirality imbalance in the presence of magnetic field. It is a macroscopic manifestation of the quantum anomaly in relativistic field theory of chiral fermions (massless spin 1/2 particles with a definite projection of spin on momentum) – a dramatic phenomenon arising from a collective motion of particles and antiparticles in the Dirac sea. The recent discovery of Dirac semimetals with chiral quasi-particles opens a fascinating possibility to study this phenomenon in condensed matter experiments. Here we report on the first observation of chiral magnetic effect through the measurementmore » of magneto-transport in zirconium pentatelluride, ZrTe₅. Our angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy experiments show that this material’s electronic structure is consistent with a 3D Dirac semimetal. We observe a large negative magnetoresistance when magnetic field is parallel with the current. The measured quadratic field dependence of the magnetoconductance is a clear indication of the chiral magnetic effect. Furthermore, the observed phenomenon stems from the effective transmutation of Dirac semimetal into a Weyl semimetal induced by the parallel electric and magnetic fields that represent a topologically nontrivial gauge field background.« less

Using propensity scores to estimate the effects of insecticides on stream invertebrates from observational data

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lester L. Yuan,; Amina I. Pollard,; Carlisle, Daren M.

2009-01-01

Analyses of observational data can provide insights into relationships between environmental conditions and biological responses across a broader range of natural conditions than experimental studies, potentially complementing insights gained from experiments. However, observational data must be analyzed carefully to minimize the likelihood that confounding variables bias observed relationships. Propensity scores provide a robust approach for controlling for the effects of measured confounding variables when analyzing observational data. Here, we use propensity scores to estimate changes in mean invertebrate taxon richness in streams that have experienced insecticide concentrations that exceed aquatic life use benchmark concentrations. A simple comparison of richness in sites exposed to elevated insecticides with those that were not exposed suggests that exposed sites had on average 6.8 fewer taxa compared to unexposed sites. The presence of potential confounding variables makes it difficult to assert a causal relationship from this simple comparison. After controlling for confounding factors using propensity scores, the difference in richness between exposed and unexposed sites was reduced to 4.1 taxa, a difference that was still statistically significant. Because the propensity score analysis controlled for the effects of a wide variety of possible confounding variables, we infer that the change in richness observed in the propensity score analysis was likely caused by insecticide exposure.

Using propensity scores to estimate the effects of insecticides on stream invertebrates from observational data

USGS Publications Warehouse

Yuan, L.L.; Pollard, A.I.; Carlisle, D.M.

2009-01-01

Analyses of observational data can provide insights into relationships between environmental conditions and biological responses across a broader range of natural conditions than experimental studies, potentially complementing insights gained from experiments. However, observational data must be analyzed carefully to minimize the likelihood that confounding variables bias observed relationships. Propensity scores provide a robust approach for controlling for the effects of measured confounding variables when analyzing observational data. Here, we use propensity scores to estimate changes in mean invertebrate taxon richness in streams that have experienced insecticide concentrations that exceed aquatic life use benchmark concentrations. A simple comparison of richness in sites exposed to elevated insecticides with those that were not exposed suggests that exposed sites had on average 6.8 fewer taxa compared to unexposed sites. The presence of potential confounding variables makes it difficult to assert a causal relationship from this simple comparison. After controlling for confounding factors using propensity scores, the difference in richness between exposed and unexposed sites was reduced to 4.1 taxa, a difference that was still statistically significant. Because the propensity score analysis controlled for the effects of a wide variety of possible confounding variables, we infer that the change in richness observed in the propensity score analysis was likely caused by insecticide exposure. ?? 2009 SETAC.

Atmospheric Effects on Cosmic Ray Air Showers Observed with HAWC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Young, Steven

2014-01-01

The High Altitude Water Cherenkov Gamma Ray detector (HAWC), currently under construction on the Sierra Negra volcano near Puebla, Mexico, can be used to study solar physics with its scaler data acquisition system. Increases in the scaler rates are used to observe GeV cosmic rays from solar flares while decreases in the rates show the heliospheric disturbances associated with coronal mass ejections. However, weather conditions and height-dependent state variables such as pressure and temperature affect the production of extensive particle air showers that can be detected by the scaler system. To see if these atmospheric effects can be removed, we obtained local weather data from the Global Data Assimilation System (GDAS) and the local weather station at HAWC. The scaler pulse rates were then correlated to the pressure and temperature. We present data from a Forbush decrease observed by HAWC following a significant coronal mass ejection in April 2013, and describe our efforts to remove atmospheric variations from the scaler counts. This work was partially supported by the National Science Foundation’s REU program through NSF Award AST-1004881 to the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The role of observational investigations in comparative effectiveness research.

PubMed

Marko, Nicholas F; Weil, Robert J

2010-12-01

Comparative effectiveness research (CER) seeks to inform clinical decisions between alternate treatment strategies using data that reflects real patient populations and real-world clinical scenarios for the purpose of improving patient outcomes. There are multiple clinical situations where the unique characteristics of observational investigations can inform medical decision-making within the CER paradigm. Accordingly, it is critical for clinicians to appreciate the strengths and limitations of observational research, particularly as they apply to CER. This review focuses on the role of observational research in CER. We discuss the concept of evidence hierarchies as they relate to observational research and CER, review the scope and nature of observational research, present the rationale for its inclusion in CER investigations, discuss potential sources of bias in observational investigations as well as strategies used to compensate for these biases, and discuss a framework to implement observational research in CER. The CER paradigm recognizes the limitations of hierarchical models of evidence and favors application of a strength-of-evidence model. In this model, observational research fills gaps in randomized clinical trial data and is particularly valuable to investigate effectiveness, harms, prognosis, and infrequent outcomes as well as in circumstances where randomization is not possible and in studies of many surgical populations. Observational investigations must be designed with careful consideration of potential sources of bias and must incorporate strategies to control such bias prospectively, and their results must be reported in a uniform and transparent fashion. When these conditions can be achieved, observational research represents a valuable and critical component of modern CER. © 2010, International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR).

Effects of increasing aerosol on regional climate change in China: Observation and modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qian, Y.; Leung, L.; Ghan, S. J.

2002-12-01

We present regional simulations of climate, aerosol properties, and direct radiative forcing and climatic effects of aerosol and analyze the pollutant emissions and observed climatic data during the latter decades of last century in China. The regional model generally captures the spatial distributions and seasonal pattern of temperature and precipitation. Aerosol extinction coefficient and aerosol optical depth are generally well simulated in both magnitude and spatial distribution, which provides a reliable foundation for estimating the radiative forcing and climatic effects of aerosol. The radiative forcing of aerosol is in the range of -1 to -14 W m-2 in autumn and summer and -1 to -9 W m-2 in spring and winter, with substantial spatial variability at the sub-regional scale. A strong maximum in negative radiative forcing corresponding to the maximum optical depth is found over the Sichuan Basin, where emission as well as relative humidity are high, and stagnant atmospheric conditions inhibit pollutants dispersion. Negative radiative forcing of aerosol induces a surface cooling, which is stronger in the range of -0.6 to -1.2oC in autumn and winter than in spring (-0.3 to -0.6oC) and summer (0.0 to -0.9oC) over the Sichuan Basin and East China due to more significant effects of cloud and precipitation in the summer and spring. Aerosol-induced cooling is mainly contributed by cooling in the daytime temperature. The cooling reaches a maximum and is statistically significant in the Sichuan Basin. The effect of aerosol on precipitation is not evident in our simulations. The temporal and spatial patterns of temperature trends observed in the second half of the twentieth century, including the asymmetric daily maximum and minimum temperature trends, are at least qualitatively consistent with the simulated aerosol-induced cooling over the Sichuan Basin and East China. It supports the hypothesis that the observed temperature trends during the latter decades of the

Adjusting for geographic variation in observational comparative effectiveness studies: a case study of antipsychotics using state Medicaid data.

PubMed

Root, Elisabeth Dowling; Thomas, Deborah S K; Campagna, Elizabeth J; Morrato, Elaine H

2014-08-27

Area-level variation in treatment and outcomes may be a potential source of confounding bias in observational comparative effectiveness studies. This paper demonstrates how to use exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) and spatial statistical methods to investigate and control for these potential biases. The case presented compares the effectiveness of two antipsychotic treatment strategies: oral second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) vs. long-acting paliperiodone palmitate (PP). A new-start cohort study was conducted analyzing patient-level administrative claims data (8/1/2008-4/30/2011) from Missouri Medicaid. ESDA techniques were used to examine spatial patterns of antipsychotic prescriptions and outcomes (hospitalization and emergency department (ED) visits). Likelihood of mental health-related outcomes were compared between patients starting PP (N = 295) and oral SGAs (N = 8,626) using multilevel logistic regression models adjusting for patient composition (demographic and clinical factors) and geographic region. ESDA indicated significant spatial variation in antipsychotic prescription patterns and moderate variation in hospitalization and ED visits thereby indicating possible confounding by geography. In the multilevel models for this antipsychotic case example, patient composition represented a stronger source of confounding than geographic context. Because geographic variation in health care delivery is ubiquitous, it could be a comparative effectiveness research (CER) best practice to test for possible geographic confounding in observational data. Though the magnitude of the area-level geography effects were small in this case, they were still statistically significant and should therefore be examined as part of this observational CER study. More research is needed to better estimate the range of confounding due to geography across different types of observational comparative effectiveness studies and healthcare utilization outcomes.

Light cone effect on the reionization 21-cm signal - II. Evolution, anisotropies and observational implications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Datta, Kanan K.; Jensen, Hannes; Majumdar, Suman; Mellema, Garrelt; Iliev, Ilian T.; Mao, Yi; Shapiro, Paul R.; Ahn, Kyungjin

2014-08-01

Measurements of the H I 21-cm power spectra from the reionization epoch will be influenced by the evolution of the signal along the line-of-sight direction of any observed volume. We use numerical as well as seminumerical simulations of reionization in a cubic volume of 607 Mpc across to study this so-called light-cone effect on the H I 21-cm power spectrum. We find that the light-cone effect has the largest impact at two different stages of reionization: one when reionization is ˜20 per cent and other when it is ˜80 per cent completed. We find a factor of ˜4 amplification of the power spectrum at the largest scale available in our simulations. We do not find any significant anisotropy in the 21-cm power spectrum due to the light-cone effect. We argue that for the power spectrum to become anisotropic, the light-cone effect would have to make the ionized bubbles significantly elongated or compressed along the line of sight, which would require extreme reionization scenarios. We also calculate the two-point correlation functions parallel and perpendicular to the line of sight and find them to differ. Finally, we calculate an optimum frequency bandwidth below which the light-cone effect can be neglected when extracting power spectra from observations. We find that if one is willing to accept a 10 per cent error due to the light-cone effect, the optimum frequency bandwidth for k = 0.056 Mpc-1 is ˜7.5 MHz. For k = 0.15 and 0.41 Mpc-1, the optimum bandwidth is ˜11 and ˜16 MHz, respectively.

Observation and Recording Effects on Group Therapy Client Behaviors.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berman, Alan L.; Decker, Robert E.

This study assesses the effect of visual versus audio observation/recording on both client and therapist verbal and non-verbal behavior in ongoing therapy. Three co-led, therapy groups were studied over six weekly sessions under counterbalanced observation conditions. Measures of verbal behavior, verbal productivity, and non-verbal behavior were…

Observing tutorial dialogues collaboratively: insights about human tutoring effectiveness from vicarious learning.

PubMed

Chi, Michelene T H; Roy, Marguerite; Hausmann, Robert G M

2008-03-01

The goals of this study are to evaluate a relatively novel learning environment, as well as to seek greater understanding of why human tutoring is so effective. This alternative learning environment consists of pairs of students collaboratively observing a videotape of another student being tutored. Comparing this collaboratively observing environment to four other instructional methods-one-on-one human tutoring, observing tutoring individually, collaborating without observing, and studying alone-the results showed that students learned to solve physics problems just as effectively from observing tutoring collaboratively as the tutees who were being tutored individually. We explain the effectiveness of this learning environment by postulating that such a situation encourages learners to become active and constructive observers through interactions with a peer. In essence, collaboratively observing combines the benefit of tutoring with the benefit of collaborating. The learning outcomes of the tutees and the collaborative observers, along with the tutoring dialogues, were used to further evaluate three hypotheses explaining why human tutoring is an effective learning method. Detailed analyses of the protocols at several grain sizes suggest that tutoring is effective when tutees are independently or jointly constructing knowledge: with the tutor, but not when the tutor independently conveys knowledge. 2008 Cognitive Science Society, Inc.

Significant effect of NSP-ase enzyme supplementation in sunflower meal-based diet on the growth and nutrient digestibility in broilers.

PubMed

Bilal, M; Mirza, M A; Kaleem, M; Saeed, M; Reyad-Ul-Ferdous, Md; Abd El-Hack, M E

2017-04-01

The response of broiler chickens to 3 levels of sunflower meal and 2 levels of NSP-ase enzyme combination (with and without) was investigated in 3 × 2 factorial arrangement under complete randomized design (CRD). A total of 240 Hubbard broiler chicks were fed on practical mash diets having 2950 kcal of ME and 21% CP from 1 to 42 days of age. The BW gain was not significantly reduced when 25% SFM was added in the diets during 1 to 42 days of age. Supplementation of NSP-ase in broiler diets (day 1-42 overall) demonstrated non-significant differences (p < 0.05) across the treatments in terms of FI and BWG. The difference in feed:gain at 15% or 20% SFM was observed to be non-significant. Replacement of SBM with SFM or inclusion of SFM at higher level (25%) increased/deteriorated FCR. The addition of exogenous NSP-ase showed a significant improvement (p < 0.01) in feed:gain. The improvement was clearly demonstrated when SFM was added to the experimental diet at 15% or even 20%. Supplementation of NSP-ase at the 25% inclusion level could not, however, sustain the beneficial effect, which was possibly due to excessively high dietary CF. No difference was noted across the treatments regarding carcass response. Relative gizzard weight and intestinal weight were observed to be improved in birds consuming higher levels of SFM (p = 0.00). The digestibility of CF was observed to improve when SFM was used at 20% and 25% in the diets. No improvement in the digestibility of CF was observed with NSP-ase supplementation, which meant other factors were clearly involved. Supplementation of NSP-ase improved FCR up to 20% SFM. At 25% SFM, no improvement in the digestibility of CF was observed with NSP-ase supplementation. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition © 2016 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

The combined effects of action observation and passive proprioceptive training on adaptive motor learning.

PubMed

Lei, Yuming; Bao, Shancheng; Wang, Jinsung

2016-09-07

Sensorimotor adaptation can be induced by action observation, and also by passive training. Here, we investigated the effect of a protocol that combined action observation and passive training on visuomotor adaptation, by comparing it with the effect of action observation or passive training alone. Subjects were divided into five conditions during the training session: (1) action observation, in which the subjects watched a video of a model who adapted to a novel visuomotor rotation; (2) proprioceptive training, in which the subject's arm was moved passively to target locations that were associated with desired trajectories; (3) combined training, in which the subjects watched the video of a model during a half of the session and experienced passive movements during the other half; (4) active training, in which the subjects adapted actively to the rotation; and (5) a control condition, in which the subjects did not perform any task. Following that session, all subjects adapted to the same visuomotor rotation. Results showed that the subjects in the combined training condition adapted to the rotation significantly better than those in the observation or proprioceptive training condition, although their performance was not as good as that of those who adapted actively. These findings suggest that although a protocol that combines action observation and passive training consists of all the processes involved in active training (error detection and correction, effector-specific and proprioceptively based reaching movements), these processes in that protocol may work differently as compared to a protocol in which the same processes are engaged actively. Copyright © 2016 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Statistical Significance and Effect Size: Two Sides of a Coin.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fan, Xitao

This paper suggests that statistical significance testing and effect size are two sides of the same coin; they complement each other, but do not substitute for one another. Good research practice requires that both should be taken into consideration to make sound quantitative decisions. A Monte Carlo simulation experiment was conducted, and a…

Effect of investigator observation on gait parameters in individuals with and without chronic low back pain.

PubMed

Vickers, Joshua; Reed, Austin; Decker, Robert; Conrad, Bryan P; Olegario-Nebel, Marissa; Vincent, Heather K

2017-03-01

Despite the ubiquity of gait assessment in clinic and research, it is unclear how observation impacts gait, particularly in persons with chronic pain and psychological stress. We compared temporal spatial gait patterns in people with and without chronic low back pain (CLBP) when they were aware and unaware of being observed. This was a repeated-measures, deception study in 55 healthy persons (32.0±12.4 yr, 24.2±2.7kg/m 2 ) and persons with CLBP (51.9±17.9 yr, 27.8±4.4kg/m 2 ). Participants performed one condition in which they were unaware of observation (UNW), and three conditions under investigator observation: (1) aware of observation (AWA), (2) investigators watching cadence, (3) investigators watching step length. Participants walked across an 8.4m gait mat, while temporal spatial parameters of gait were collected. The Medical Outcomes Short Form (SF-12), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were completed. Significant condition by group interactions were found for velocity and step length (p<0.05). Main effects of study condition existed for all gait variables except for step width. Main effects of group (healthy, LBP) were significant for all variables except for step width (p<0.05). Regression analyses revealed that after accounting for age, sex, and SF-12 mental component score, BDI scores predict velocity changes during walking from the UNW to AWA conditions. These findings show that people change their gait patterns when being observed. Gait analyses may require additional trials before data can reliably be interpreted and used for clinical decision-making. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Clinical observation on effect of scalp electroacupuncture for mild cognitive impairment.

PubMed

Zhang, Hong; Zhao, Ling; Yang, Sha; Chen, Zhigang; Li, Yingkun; Peng, Xiaohong; Yang, Yulong; Zhu, Manjia

2013-02-01

To evaluate the therapeutic effect of scalp electroacupuncture for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in the early stage. Two hundred and thirty three MCI patients were randomly divided into three groups: the drug group, the scalp electroacupuncture group, and the syndrome differentiation group. For the scalp electroacupuncture group, the points of Baihui (DU 20), Sishecong (EX-HN1), Fengchi (GB 20), and Shenting (DU 24) were selected. For the syndrome differentiation group, specific acupoints were added on the basis of syndrome differentiation and according to the scale for the differentiation of syndromes in vascular dementia (SDSVD) beside the acupoints used in the scalp electroacupuncture group. For the drug group, nimodipine was orally administered. Each patient was treated for two courses, eight weeks. The score differences in mini-mental state examination (MMSE), picture recognition, and clock drawing test were observed before and after the treatment. After treatment, the score differences in MMSE and clock drawing test were of obvious statistical significance among three groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The score differences in picture recognition were of extremely statistical significance between the scalp electroacupuncture group and the syndrome differentiation group (P < 0.01), while the difference was not found in the drug group (P > 0.05). There were statistical significant differences in therapeutic effects between the scalp electroacupuncture group and the drug group, and between the syndrome differentiation group and the drug group (P < 0.05), while no statistical difference was found between scalp electroacupuncture group and the syndrome differentiation group (P > 0.05). All the three therapies may improve the cognitive function of MCI patients. The therapeutic effects in the scalp electroacupuncture and syndrome differentiation groups were basically the same, but superior to nimodipine.

Effectiveness of Vildagliptin in Clinical Practice: Pooled Analysis of Three Korean Observational Studies (the VICTORY Study)

PubMed Central

Suh, Sunghwan; Song, Sun Ok; Kim, Jae Hyeon; Cho, Hyungjin

2017-01-01

The present observational study aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of vildagliptin with metformin in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Data were pooled from the vildagliptin postmarketing survey (PMS), the vildagliptin/metformin fixed drug combination (DC) PMS, and a retrospective observational study of vildagliptin/metformin (fixed DC or free DC). The effectiveness endpoint was the proportion of patients who achieved a glycemic target (HbA1c) of ≤7.0% at 24 weeks. In total, 4303 patients were included in the analysis; of these, 2087 patients were eligible. The mean patient age was 56.99 ± 11.25 years. Overall, 58.94% patients achieved an HbA1c target of ≤7.0% at 24 weeks. The glycemic target achievement rate was significantly greater in patients with baseline HbA1c < 7.5% versus ≥7.5% (84.64% versus 43.97%), receiving care at the hospital versus clinic (67.95% versus 52.33%), and receiving vildagliptin/metformin fixed DC versus free DC (70.69% versus 55.42%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that disease duration (P < 0.0001), baseline HbA1c (P < 0.0001), and DC type (P = 0.0103) had significant effects on drug effectiveness. Vildagliptin plus metformin appeared as an effective treatment option for patients with T2DM in clinical practice settings in Korea. PMID:29057274

Observed Workplace Incivility toward Women, Perceptions of Interpersonal Injustice, and Observer Occupational Well-Being: Differential Effects for Gender of the Observer

PubMed Central

Miner, Kathi N.; Cortina, Lilia M.

2016-01-01

The present study examined perceptions of interpersonal injustice as a mediator of the relationship between observed incivility toward women at work and employees' occupational well-being. We also examined gender of the observer as a moderator of these mediational relationships. Using online survey data from 1702 (51% women; 92% White) employees, results showed that perceptions of injustice partially mediated the relationship between observed incivility toward women and job satisfaction, turnover intentions, and organizational trust. Men reported greater perceptions of injustice than did women the more they observed the uncivil treatment of women at work, and the indirect effects of observed incivility toward women on well-being were stronger for men compared to women. Observed incivility toward women also had direct relationships with the occupational well-being outcomes over and above the impact mediated through injustice, particularly for women. Specifically, observing incivility toward female coworkers directly related to lowered job satisfaction and perceptions of safety for female bystanders. In addition, although both male and female bystanders reported heightened turnover intentions and lowered trust in the organization with higher levels of observed incivility toward women, these relationships were stronger for female than male observers. Our findings both replicate and extend past research on vicarious workplace incivility toward women. PMID:27242558

Observed Workplace Incivility toward Women, Perceptions of Interpersonal Injustice, and Observer Occupational Well-Being: Differential Effects for Gender of the Observer.

PubMed

Miner, Kathi N; Cortina, Lilia M

2016-01-01

The present study examined perceptions of interpersonal injustice as a mediator of the relationship between observed incivility toward women at work and employees' occupational well-being. We also examined gender of the observer as a moderator of these mediational relationships. Using online survey data from 1702 (51% women; 92% White) employees, results showed that perceptions of injustice partially mediated the relationship between observed incivility toward women and job satisfaction, turnover intentions, and organizational trust. Men reported greater perceptions of injustice than did women the more they observed the uncivil treatment of women at work, and the indirect effects of observed incivility toward women on well-being were stronger for men compared to women. Observed incivility toward women also had direct relationships with the occupational well-being outcomes over and above the impact mediated through injustice, particularly for women. Specifically, observing incivility toward female coworkers directly related to lowered job satisfaction and perceptions of safety for female bystanders. In addition, although both male and female bystanders reported heightened turnover intentions and lowered trust in the organization with higher levels of observed incivility toward women, these relationships were stronger for female than male observers. Our findings both replicate and extend past research on vicarious workplace incivility toward women.

The earth's radiation budget and its relation to atmospheric hydrology. I - Observations of the clear sky greenhouse effect. II - Observations of cloud effects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stephens, Graeme L.; Greenwald, Thomas J.

1991-01-01

The clear-sky components of the earth's radiation budget (ERB), the relationship of these components to the sea surface temperature (SST), and microwave-derived water-vapor amount are analyzed in an observational study along with the relationship between the cloudy-sky components of ERB and space/time coincident observations of SST, microwave-derived cloud liquid water, and cloud cover. The purpose of the study is to use these observations for establishing an understanding of the couplings between radiation and the atmosphere that are important to understanding climate feedback. A strategy for studying the greenhouse effect of earth by analyzing the emitted clear-sky longwave flux over the ocean is proposed. It is concluded that the largest observed influence of clouds on ERB is more consistent with macrophysical properties of clouds as opposed to microphysical properties. The analysis for clouds and the greenhouse effect of clouds is compared quantitatively with the clear sky results. Land-ocean differences and tropical-midlatitude differences are shown and explained in terms of the cloud macrostructure.

Previous exposure in a high-risk area for travellers' diarrhoea within the past year is associated with a significant protective effect for travellers' diarrhoea: a prospective observational cohort study in travellers to South Asia.

PubMed

Kuenzli, Esther; Juergensen, David; Kling, Kerstin; Jaeger, Veronika K; DeCrom, Susan; Steffen, Robert; Widmer, Andreas F; Battegay, Manuel; Hatz, Christoph; Neumayr, Andreas

2017-09-01

Travellers' diarrhoea is the most common health problem in travellers. Depending on the region visited, up to 40% of travellers develop diarrhoea during a 2-week trip. The aim of this study was to assess risk factors for TD among travellers to the Indian subcontinent. An observational prospective multicentre cohort study investigated travellers to the Indian subcontinent. Participants completed questionnaires assessing the incidence of travellers' diarrhoea and identifying potential risk factors. Covariates were assessed univariately, followed by a multivariate regression. Two-hundred and twenty-six travellers were enrolled into the study, 178 filled in both pre- and post-travel questionnaires. Overall, the attack rate of travellers' diarrhoea was 38.2%. Travel destination is a key risk factor for the occurrence of TD. Travelling to India or Nepal vs Bhutan is associated with an increased risk for TD (OR 6.68 and 6.62, respectively). A length of stay of more than 3 weeks compared to less than 2 weeks is also associated with a significantly increased risk (OR 5.45). Having stayed in a high-risk area for travellers' diarrhoea within the past year before the current trip is associated with a significantly decreased risk (OR 0.19). No association was found between consumption of high risk food (i.e. tap water, ice cream, raw meat and hamburgers) and travellers' diarrhoea. Travellers' diarrhoea is a frequent problem in travellers to the Indian subcontinent. Previous exposure in a high-risk area for travellers' diarrhoea within the past year appears to have a significant protective effect. Furthermore, an association between the occurrence of travellers' diarrhoea and travel destination and length of stay, respectively, was observed. Consumption of risk food did not confer a TD risk in our study. © International Society of Travel Medicine, 2017. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com

Use of a vision model to quantify the significance of factors effecting target conspicuity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gilmore, M. A.; Jones, C. K.; Haynes, A. W.; Tolhurst, D. J.; To, M.; Troscianko, T.; Lovell, P. G.; Parraga, C. A.; Pickavance, K.

2006-05-01

When designing camouflage it is important to understand how the human visual system processes the information to discriminate the target from the background scene. A vision model has been developed to compare two images and detect differences in local contrast in each spatial frequency channel. Observer experiments are being undertaken to validate this vision model so that the model can be used to quantify the relative significance of different factors affecting target conspicuity. Synthetic imagery can be used to design improved camouflage systems. The vision model is being used to compare different synthetic images to understand what features in the image are important to reproduce accurately and to identify the optimum way to render synthetic imagery for camouflage effectiveness assessment. This paper will describe the vision model and summarise the results obtained from the initial validation tests. The paper will also show how the model is being used to compare different synthetic images and discuss future work plans.

Influence of Observed Diurnal Cycles of Aerosol Optical Depth on Aerosol Direct Radiative Effect

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Arola, A.; Eck, T. F.; Huttunen, J.; Lehtinen, K. E. J.; Lindfors, A. V.; Myhre, G.; Smirinov, A.; Tripathi, S. N.; Yu, H.

2013-01-01

The diurnal variability of aerosol optical depth (AOD) can be significant, depending on location and dominant aerosol type. However, these diurnal cycles have rarely been taken into account in measurement-based estimates of aerosol direct radiative forcing (ADRF) or aerosol direct radiative effect (ADRE). The objective of our study was to estimate the influence of diurnal aerosol variability at the top of the atmosphere ADRE estimates. By including all the possible AERONET sites, we wanted to assess the influence on global ADRE estimates. While focusing also in more detail on some selected sites of strongest impact, our goal was to also see the possible impact regionally.We calculated ADRE with different assumptions about the daily AOD variability: taking the observed daily AOD cycle into account and assuming diurnally constant AOD. Moreover, we estimated the corresponding differences in ADREs, if the single AOD value for the daily mean was taken from the the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Terra or Aqua overpass times, instead of accounting for the true observed daily variability. The mean impact of diurnal AOD variability on 24 h ADRE estimates, averaged over all AERONET sites, was rather small and it was relatively small even for the cases when AOD was chosen to correspond to the Terra or Aqua overpass time. This was true on average over all AERONET sites, while clearly there can be much stronger impact in individual sites. Examples of some selected sites demonstrated that the strongest observed AOD variability (the strongest morning afternoon contrast) does not typically result in a significant impact on 24 h ADRE. In those cases, the morning and afternoon AOD patterns are opposite and thus the impact on 24 h ADRE, when integrated over all solar zenith angles, is reduced. The most significant effect on daily ADRE was induced by AOD cycles with either maximum or minimum AOD close to local noon. In these cases, the impact on 24 h ADRE was

How to most effectively expand the global surface ozone observing network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sofen, E. D.; Bowdalo, D.; Evans, M. J.

2016-02-01

Surface ozone observations with modern instrumentation have been made around the world for more than 40 years. Some of these observations have been made as one-off activities with short-term, specific science objectives and some have been made as part of wider networks which have provided a foundational infrastructure of data collection, calibration, quality control, and dissemination. These observations provide a fundamental underpinning to our understanding of tropospheric chemistry, air quality policy, atmosphere-biosphere interactions, etc. brought together eight of these networks to provide a single data set of surface ozone observations. We investigate how representative this combined data set is of global surface ozone using the output from a global atmospheric chemistry model. We estimate that on an area basis, 25 % of the globe is observed (34 % land, 21 % ocean). Whereas Europe and North America have almost complete coverage, other continents, Africa, South America, Australia, and Asia (12-17 %) show significant gaps. Antarctica is surprisingly well observed (78 %). Little monitoring occurs over the oceans, with the tropical and southern oceans particularly poorly represented. The surface ozone over key biomes such as tropical forests and savanna is almost completely unmonitored. A chemical cluster analysis suggests that a significant number of observations are made of polluted air masses, but cleaner air masses whether over the land or ocean (especially again in the tropics) are significantly under-observed. The current network is unlikely to see the impact of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) but may be capable of detecting other planetary-scale signals. Model assessment and validation activities are hampered by a lack of observations in regions where the models differ substantially, as is the ability to monitor likely changes in surface ozone over the next century. Using our methodology we are able to suggest new sites which

Satellite observation analysis of aerosols loading effect over Monrovia-Liberia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Emetere, M. E.; Esisio, F.; Oladapo, F.

2017-05-01

The effect of aerosols loading most often results in aerosols retention in the atmosphere. Aside the health hazards of aerosol retention, its effect on climate change are visible. In this research, it was proposed that the effect of aerosol retention also affects rain pattern. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) layer 3 observations and the multi-imaging spectro-reflectometer (MISR) was used for the study. The aerosols loading over were investigated using sixteen years satellite observation in Monrovia-Liberia. Its effect on the rain rate over the region was documented. The results show that aerosol loading over the region is high and may have effect on farming in the nearest future. It was affirmed that the scanty AOD data was as a result of the rain rate that is higher within May and October.

Significantly enhanced memory effect in metallic glass by multistep training

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, M. X.; Luo, P.; Sun, Y. T.; Wen, P.; Bai, H. Y.; Liu, Y. H.; Wang, W. H.

2017-11-01

The state of metastable equilibrium glass can carry an imprint of the past and exhibit memory effect. As a hallmark of glassy dynamics, memory effect can affect glassy behavior as it evolves further upon time. Even though the physical picture of the memory effect has been well studied, it is unclear whether a glass can recall as many pieces of information as possible, and if so, how the glass will accordingly behave. We report that by fractionizing temperature interval, inserting multistep aging protocols, and optimizing the time of each temperature step, i.e., by imposing a multistep "training" on a prototypical P d40N i10C u30P20 metallic glass, the memory of the trained glass can be significantly strengthened, marked by a pronounced augment in potential energy. These findings provide a new guide for regulating the energy state of glass by enhancing the nonequilibrium behaviors of the memory effect and offer an opportunity to develop a clearer physical picture of glassy dynamics.

Prospective Observational Post-Marketing Study of Tafluprost for Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension: Effectiveness and Treatment Persistence.

PubMed

Kuwayama, Yasuaki; Hashimoto, Masako; Kakegawa, Reiko; Nomura, Akio; Shimada, Fumiki

2017-06-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering effect and safety of tafluprost, a prostaglandin analogue, in actual clinical practice and to determine persistency of tafluprost as an indicator of its benefit-risk balance. This was a large-scale, post-marketing, multicenter, non-interventional, open-label, long-term study. Patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension who initiated tafluprost treatment were registered and prospectively observed over a 2-year period in the real-world setting in Japan. Long-term IOP and safety data were collected. Of the 4502 patients registered from 553 medical institutions, 4265 patients were analyzed. The majority of patients had normal-tension glaucoma (44.4%) and primary open-angle glaucoma (37.8%), and patients with ocular hypertension constituted 7.0%. Treatment patterns with tafluprost during the study period were as follows: naïve monotherapy (48.1%), switching monotherapy (18.4%), and concomitant therapy (33.5%). In all patients analyzed, mean IOP was significantly reduced from 18.6 ± 5.9 mmHg (month 0) to 15 mmHg or below throughout the 2-year observation period after initiation of tafluprost. Significant IOP-lowering effects were shown in various treatment patterns and disease types. Adverse reactions were observed in 795 patients (18.64%). Major adverse reactions included eyelid pigmentation, ocular hyperemia, eyelash changes, eyelid hypertrichosis, and iris hyperpigmentation. Kaplan-Meier curves showed that 84.6% and 76.1% of patients were persistent on tafluprost for 1 and 2 years, respectively, when discontinuation due to insufficient efficacy or adverse events was defined as a treatment failure event. Furthermore, among treatment-naïve patients (n = 2304), the persistency rates on tafluprost monotherapy were 77.0% for 1 year and 67.0% for 2 years. Tafluprost showed significant long-term IOP-lowering effects regardless of treatment patterns or diagnosis, with

Ecological significance of residual exposures and effects from the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

PubMed

Harwell, Mark A; Gentile, John H

2006-07-01

An ecological significance framework is used to assess the ecological condition of Prince William Sound (PWS), Alaska, USA, in order to address the current management question: 17 y following the Exxon Valdez oil spill (EVOS), are there any remaining and continuing ecologically significant exposures or effects on the PWS ecosystem caused by EVOS? We examined the extensive scientific literature funded by the Exxon Valdez Trustees or by ExxonMobil to assess exposures and effects from EVOS. Criteria to assess ecological significance include whether a change in a valued ecosystem component (VEC) is sufficient to affect the structure, function, and/or health of the system and whether such a change exceeds natural variability. The EVOS occurred on 24 March 1989, releasing over 250,000 barrels of crude oil into PWS. Because PWS is highly dynamic, the residual oil was largely eliminated in the first few years, and now only widely dispersed, highly weathered, or isolated small pockets of residual contamination remain. Many other sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exist in PWS from past or present human activities or natural oil seeps. Multiple-lines-of-evidence analyses indicate that residual PAHs from EVOS no longer represent an ecologically significant exposure risk to PWS. To assess the ecological significance of any residual effects from EVOS, we examined the literature on more than 20 VECs, including primary producers, filter feeders, fish and bird primary consumers, fish and bird top predators, a bird scavenger, mammalian primary consumers and top predators, biotic communities, ecosystem-level properties of trophodynamics and biogeochemical processes, and landscape-level properties of habitat mosaic and wilderness quality. None of these has any ecologically significant effects that are detectable at present, with the exception of 1 pod of orcas and possibly 1 subpopulation of sea otters; however, in both those cases, PWS-wide populations appear to have

[Observations and significance of extrasystole in very young athletes].

PubMed

Rossini, G; Mazzoli, M; Dalmastri, G; Crescimbeni, L; Berti, P; Arata, G; Losi, G; Martines, G

1982-01-01

80 very young football players (from 8 to 12) have been examined for three months by some clinical and instrumental cardiologic tests (starting E.C.G. and after graduated stresses on a football court). The starting E.C.G. showed variable extresystolic arrhythmias in 8 subjects, without any sure signs of a cardiopathy, to point out by deeper tests (such as polygraphic, echocardiographic test and rx heart teleradiography). The above-mentioned arrhythmias felt the effects of training variably, since they regressed in 6 cases, however two subjects needed a pharmacological intervention. They are still talking over the meaning to give to extrasystolic arrhythmias in very young people in evaluation of attitude to agonism and in programming training.

A Bayesian observer replicates convexity context effects in figure-ground perception.

PubMed

Goldreich, Daniel; Peterson, Mary A

2012-01-01

Peterson and Salvagio (2008) demonstrated convexity context effects in figure-ground perception. Subjects shown displays consisting of unfamiliar alternating convex and concave regions identified the convex regions as foreground objects progressively more frequently as the number of regions increased; this occurred only when the concave regions were homogeneously colored. The origins of these effects have been unclear. Here, we present a two-free-parameter Bayesian observer that replicates convexity context effects. The Bayesian observer incorporates two plausible expectations regarding three-dimensional scenes: (1) objects tend to be convex rather than concave, and (2) backgrounds tend (more than foreground objects) to be homogeneously colored. The Bayesian observer estimates the probability that a depicted scene is three-dimensional, and that the convex regions are figures. It responds stochastically by sampling from its posterior distributions. Like human observers, the Bayesian observer shows convexity context effects only for images with homogeneously colored concave regions. With optimal parameter settings, it performs similarly to the average human subject on the four display types tested. We propose that object convexity and background color homogeneity are environmental regularities exploited by human visual perception; vision achieves figure-ground perception by interpreting ambiguous images in light of these and other expected regularities in natural scenes.

Global significance of a sub-Moho boundary layer (SMBL) deduced from high-resolution seismic observations

USGS Publications Warehouse

Fuchs, K.; Tittgemeyer, M.; Ryberg, T.; Wenzel, F.; Mooney, W.

2002-01-01

We infer the fine structure of a sub-Moho boundary layer (SMBL) at the top of the lithospheric mantle from high-resolution seismic observations of Peaceful Nuclear Explosions (PNE) on superlong-range profiles in Russia. Densely recorded seismograms permit recognition of previously unknown features of teleseismic propagation of the well known Pn and Sn phases, such as a band of incoherent, scattered, high-frequency seismic energy, developing consistently from station to station, apparent velocities of sub-Moho material, and high-frequency energy to distances of more than 3000 km with a coda band, incoherent at 10 km spacing and yet consistently observed to the end of the profiles. Estimates of the other key elements of the SMBL were obtained by finite difference calculations of wave propagation in elastic 2D models from a systematic grid search through parameter space. The SMBL consists of randomly distributed, mild velocity fluctuations of 2% or schlieren of high aspect ratios (???40) with long horizontal extent (???20 km) and therefore as thin as 0.5 km only; SMBL thickness is 60-100 km. It is suggested that the SMBL is of global significance as the physical base of the platewide observed high-frequency phases Pn and Sn. It is shown that wave propagation in the SMBL waveguide is insensitive to the background velocity distribution on which its schlieren are superimposed. This explains why the Pn and Sn phases traverse geological provinces of various age, heat flow, crustal thickness, and tectonic regimes. Their propagation appears to be independent of age. temperature, pressure, and stress. Dynamic stretching of mantle material during subduction or flow, possibly combined with chemical differentiation have to be considered as scale-forming processes in the upper mantle. However, it is difficult to distinguish with the present sets of Pn/Sn array data whether (and also where) the boundary layer is a frozen-in feature of paleo-processes or whether it is a response to

Observational evidence for turbulent effects on total suspended matter within the Pearl River plume

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chunhua, Qiu; Danyi, Su; Huabin, Mao; Jiaxue, Wu; Yongsheng, Cui; Dongxiao, Wang

2017-12-01

We observed the structure of the Pearl River plume and its turbulent characteristics, and investigated the turbulent effect on total suspended matter (TSM) within its ;far-field; region, based on in situ and satellite data collected in June 2015. A significant northeastward plume was created under southern monsoonal conditions. The in situ data provided the width, depth, and velocity of the plume, as inferred by salinity. Weaker turbulence occurred at the front surface position than in the plume zone. Stronger turbulence induced greater turbidity in the bottom boundary layer; however, the surface mixed layer differed. By estimating the turbidity budget, we found the lateral fluxes term was the largest term in the plume, turbulent fluxes comprised the second largest term, and the settling terms comprised the smallest term. We quantified the turbulent mechanisms and found that stronger river discharge induced greater TSM turbidity. Tidal and buoyancy fluxes had minor regulatory effects on TSM. Our observations suggest that TSM in the ;far field; region originated from the Pearl River and the coastal region.

Ship track observations of a reduced shortwave aerosol indirect effect in mixed-phase clouds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Christensen, M. W.; Suzuki, K.; Zambri, B.; Stephens, G. L.

2014-10-01

Aerosol influences on clouds are a major source of uncertainty to our understanding of forced climate change. Increased aerosol can enhance solar reflection from clouds countering greenhouse gas warming. Recently, this indirect effect has been extended from water droplet clouds to other types including mixed-phase clouds. Aerosol effects on mixed-phase clouds are important because of their fundamental role on sea ice loss and polar climate change, but very little is known about aerosol effects on these clouds. Here we provide the first analysis of the effects of aerosol emitted from ship stacks into mixed-phase clouds. Satellite observations of solar reflection in numerous ship tracks reveal that cloud albedo increases 5 times more in liquid clouds when polluted and persist 2 h longer than in mixed-phase clouds. These results suggest that seeding mixed-phase clouds via shipping aerosol is unlikely to provide any significant counterbalancing solar radiative cooling effects in warming polar regions.

Teacher Effectiveness and Causal Inference in Observational Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rose, Roderick A.

2013-01-01

An important target of education policy is to improve overall teacher effectiveness using evidence-based policies. Randomized control trials (RCTs), which randomly assign study participants or groups of participants to treatment and control conditions, are not always practical or possible and observational studies using rigorous quasi-experimental…

Aerosol Direct Radiative Effects and Heating in the New Era of Active Satellite Observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matus, Alexander V.

Atmospheric aerosols impact the global energy budget by scattering and absorbing solar radiation. Despite their impacts, aerosols remain a significant source of uncertainty in our ability to predict future climate. Multi-sensor observations from the A-Train satellite constellation provide valuable observational constraints necessary to reduce uncertainties in model simulations of aerosol direct effects. This study will discuss recent efforts to quantify aerosol direct effects globally and regionally using CloudSat's radiative fluxes and heating rates product. Improving upon previous techniques, this approach leverages the capability of CloudSat and CALIPSO to retrieve vertically resolved estimates of cloud and aerosol properties critical for accurately evaluating the radiative impacts of aerosols. We estimate the global annual mean aerosol direct effect to be -1.9 +/- 0.6 W/m2, which is in better agreement with previously published estimates from global models than previous satellite-based estimates. Detailed comparisons against a fully coupled simulation of the Community Earth System Model, however, reveal that this agreement on the global annual mean masks large regional discrepancies between modeled and observed estimates of aerosol direct effects related to model biases in cloud cover. A low bias in stratocumulus cloud cover over the southeastern Pacific Ocean, for example, leads to an overestimate of the radiative effects of marine aerosols. Stratocumulus clouds over the southeastern Atlantic Ocean can enhance aerosol absorption by 50% allowing aerosol layers to remain self-lofted in an area of subsidence. Aerosol heating is found to peak at 0.6 +/- 0.3 K/day an altitude of 4 km in September when biomass burning reaches a maximum. Finally, the contributions of observed aerosols components are evaluated to estimate the direct radiative forcing of anthropogenic aerosols. Aerosol forcing is computed using satellite-based radiative kernels that describe the

Herd effect from influenza vaccination in non-healthcare settings: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials and observational studies

PubMed Central

Mertz, Dominik; Fadel, Shaza A.; Lam, Po-Po; Tran, Dat; Srigley, Jocelyn A; Asner, Sandra A; Science, Michelle; Kuster, Stefan P; Nemeth, Johannes; Johnstone, Jennie; Ortiz, Justin R; Loeb, Mark

2016-01-01

Influenza vaccination programmes are assumed to have a herd effect and protect contacts of vaccinated persons from influenza virus infection. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Global Health and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) from inception to March 2014 for studies assessing the protective effect of influenza vaccination vs no vaccination on influenza virus infections in contacts. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using a random-effects model. Of 43,082 screened articles, nine randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and four observational studies were eligible. Among the RCTs, no statistically significant herd effect on the occurrence of influenza in contacts could be found (OR: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.34–1.12). The one RCT conducted in a community setting, however, showed a significant effect (OR: 0.39; 95% CI: 0.26–0.57), as did the observational studies (OR: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.43–0.77). We found only a few studies that quantified the herd effect of vaccination, all studies except one were conducted in children, and the overall evidence was graded as low. The evidence is too limited to conclude in what setting(s) a herd effect may or may not be achieved. PMID:27784531

Significant Differences in Pediatric Psychotropic Side Effects: Implications for School Performance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kubiszyn, Thomas; Mire, Sarah; Dutt, Sonia; Papathopoulos, Katina; Burridge, Andrea Backsheider

2012-01-01

Some side effects (SEs) of increasingly prescribed psychotropic medications can impact student performance in school. SE risk varies, even among drugs from the same class (e.g., antidepressants). Knowing which SEs occur significantly more often than others may enable school psychologists to enhance collaborative risk-benefit analysis, medication…

Latitudinally dependent Trimpi effects: Modeling and observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clilverd, Mark A.; Yeo, Richard F.; Nunn, David; Smith, Andy J.

1999-09-01

Modeling studies show that the exclusion of the propagating VLF wave from the ionospheric region results in the decline of Trimpi magnitude with patch altitude. In large models such as Long Wave Propagation Capability (LWPC) this exclusion does not occur inherently in the code, and high-altitude precipitation modeling can produce results that are not consistent with observations from ground-based experiments. The introduction to LWPC of realistic wave attenuation of the height gain functions in the ionosphere solves these computational problems. This work presents the first modeling of (Born) Trimpi scattering at long ranges, taking into account global inhomogeneities and continuous mode conversion along all paths, by employing the full conductivity perturbation matrix. The application of the more realistic height gain functions allows the prediction of decreasing Trimpi activity with increasing latitude, primarily through the mechanism of excluding the VLF wave from regions of high conductivity and scattering efficiency. Ground-based observations from Faraday and Rothera, Antarctica, in September and October 1995 of Trimpi occurring on the NPM (Hawaii) path provide data that are consistent with these predictions. Latitudinal variations in Trimpi occurrence near L=2.5, with a significant decrease of about 70% occurrence between L=2.4 and L=2.8, have been observed at higher L shell resolution than in previous studies (i.e., 2

Dutch courage? Effects of acute alcohol consumption on self-ratings and observer ratings of foreign language skills.

PubMed

Renner, Fritz; Kersbergen, Inge; Field, Matt; Werthmann, Jessica

2018-01-01

A popular belief is that alcohol improves the ability to speak in a foreign language. The effect of acute alcohol consumption on perceived foreign language performance and actual foreign language performance in foreign language learners has not been investigated. The aim of the current study was to test the effects of acute alcohol consumption on self-rated and observer-rated verbal foreign language performance in participants who have recently learned this language. Fifty native German speakers who had recently learned Dutch were randomized to receive either a low dose of alcohol or a control beverage that contained no alcohol. Following the experimental manipulation, participants took part in a standardized discussion in Dutch with a blinded experimenter. The discussion was audio-recorded and foreign language skills were subsequently rated by two native Dutch speakers who were blind to the experimental condition (observer-rating). Participants also rated their own individual Dutch language skills during the discussion (self-rating). Participants who consumed alcohol had significantly better observer-ratings for their Dutch language, specifically better pronunciation, compared with those who did not consume alcohol. However, alcohol had no effect on self-ratings of Dutch language skills. Acute alcohol consumption may have beneficial effects on the pronunciation of a foreign language in people who have recently learned that language.

Immunological Effects of Probiotics and their Significance to Human Health

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gill, Harsharn S.; Grover, Sunita; Batish, Virender K.; Gill, Preet

Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit upon the host (FAO/WHO, 2001). Lactic acid bacteria, particularly Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species are commonly used as probiotics. Other less commonly used probiotics include the yeast Sacchromyces cerevisiae and some non-pathogenic Escherichia coli and Bacillus species. Studies over the past 20 years have demonstrated that probiotic intake is able to confer a range of health benefits including modulation of the immune system, protection against gastrointestinal and respiratory tract infections, lowering of blood cholesterol levels, attenuation of overt immuno-inflammatory disorders (such as inflammatory bowel disease, allergies) and anti-cancer effects. However, the strongest clinical evidence for probiotics relates to their effectiveness in improving gut health and modulating (via stimulation or regulation) the host immune system. This chapter provides an overview of the current status of our knowledge regarding the immunostimulatory and immunoregulatory effects of probiotics on the immune system and their significance to human health.

The Effect of Observation Length and Presentation Order on the Reliability and Validity of an Observational Measure of Teaching Quality

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mashburn, Andrew J.; Meyer, J. Patrick; Allen, Joseph P.; Pianta, Robert C.

2014-01-01

Observational methods are increasingly being used in classrooms to evaluate the quality of teaching. Operational procedures for observing teachers are somewhat arbitrary in existing measures and vary across different instruments. To study the effect of different observation procedures on score reliability and validity, we conducted an experimental…

Bayesian data analysis in observational comparative effectiveness research: rationale and examples.

PubMed

Olson, William H; Crivera, Concetta; Ma, Yi-Wen; Panish, Jessica; Mao, Lian; Lynch, Scott M

2013-11-01

Many comparative effectiveness research and patient-centered outcomes research studies will need to be observational for one or both of two reasons: first, randomized trials are expensive and time-consuming; and second, only observational studies can answer some research questions. It is generally recognized that there is a need to increase the scientific validity and efficiency of observational studies. Bayesian methods for the design and analysis of observational studies are scientifically valid and offer many advantages over frequentist methods, including, importantly, the ability to conduct comparative effectiveness research/patient-centered outcomes research more efficiently. Bayesian data analysis is being introduced into outcomes studies that we are conducting. Our purpose here is to describe our view of some of the advantages of Bayesian methods for observational studies and to illustrate both realized and potential advantages by describing studies we are conducting in which various Bayesian methods have been or could be implemented.

Barnacle geese achieve significant energetic savings by changing posture.

PubMed

Tickle, Peter G; Nudds, Robert L; Codd, Jonathan R

2012-01-01

Here we report the resting metabolic rate in barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis) and provide evidence for the significant energetic effect of posture. Under laboratory conditions flow-through respirometry together with synchronous recording of behaviour enabled a calculation of how metabolic rate varies with posture. Our principal finding is that standing bipedally incurs a 25% increase in metabolic rate compared to birds sitting on the ground. In addition to the expected decrease in energy consumption of hindlimb postural muscles when sitting, we hypothesise that a change in breathing mechanics represents one potential mechanism for at least part of the observed difference in energetic cost. Due to the significant effect of posture, future studies of resting metabolic rates need to take into account and/or report differences in posture.

Observation of a "holiday effect": a case of Chinese New Year in Taipei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tan, P.-H.; Chou, C.; Chen, P.-Y.; Liang, J.-Y.

2009-04-01

Our study was an attempt to conduct a comprehensive and systematical examination of the holiday effect, defined as the difference in air pollutant concentrations between holiday and non-holiday periods. This holiday effect can be applied to other countries with similar national or cultural holidays. Hourly and daily surface measurements of six major air pollutants from thirteen air quality monitoring stations of the Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration during the Chinese New Year (CNY) and non-Chinese New Year (NCNY) periods were used. We documented evidence of a "holiday effect", where air pollutant concentrations were significantly different between holidays (CNY) and non-holidays (NCNY), in the Taipei metropolitan area over the past thirteen years (1994-2006). The concentrations of NOx, CO, NMHC, SO2 and PM10 were lower in the CNY than in the NCNY period, while the variation of O3 was reversed, which was mainly due to the NO titration effect. Similar differences in these six air pollutants between the CNY and NCNY periods were also found in the diurnal cycle and in the interannual variation. For the diurnal cycle, a common traffic-related double-peak variation was observed in the NCNY period, but not in the CNY period. Impacts of dust storms were also observed, especially on SO2 and PM10 in the CNY period. In the 13-year period of 1994-2006, decreasing trends of NOx and CO in the NCNY period implied a possible reduction of local emissions. Increasing trends of SO2 and PM10 in the CNY period, on the other hand, indicated a possible enhancement of long-range transport. These two mechanisms weakened the holiday effect.

Effects of sports participation on psychiatric symptoms and brain activations during sports observation in schizophrenia.

PubMed

Takahashi, H; Sassa, T; Shibuya, T; Kato, M; Koeda, M; Murai, T; Matsuura, M; Asai, K; Suhara, T; Okubo, Y

2012-03-20

Weight gain has been identified as being responsible for increased morbidity and mortality rates of schizophrenia patients. For the management of weight gain, exercise is one of the most acknowledged interventions. At the same time, exercise and sports have been recognized for their positive impact on psychiatric symptoms of schizophrenia. However, the neurobiological basis for this remains poorly understood. We aimed to examine the effect of sports participation on weight gain, psychiatric symptoms and brain activation during sports observation in schizophrenia patients. Thirteen schizophrenia patients who participated in a 3-month program, including sports participation and 10 control schizophrenia patients were studied. In both groups, body mass index (BMI), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and brain activation during observation of sports-related actions measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging were accessed before and after a 3-month interval. BMI and general psychopathology scale of PANSS were significantly reduced in the program group but not in the control group after a 3-month interval. Compared with baseline, activation of the body-selective extrastriate body area (EBA) in the posterior temporal-occipital cortex during observation of sports-related actions was increased in the program group. In this group, increase in EBA activation was associated with improvement in the general psychopathology scale of PANSS. Sports participation had a positive effect not only on weight gain but also on psychiatric symptoms in schizophrenia. EBA might mediate these beneficial effects of sports participation. Our findings merit further investigation of neurobiological mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effect of sports for schizophrenia.

How to get statistically significant effects in any ERP experiment (and why you shouldn't).

PubMed

Luck, Steven J; Gaspelin, Nicholas

2017-01-01

ERP experiments generate massive datasets, often containing thousands of values for each participant, even after averaging. The richness of these datasets can be very useful in testing sophisticated hypotheses, but this richness also creates many opportunities to obtain effects that are statistically significant but do not reflect true differences among groups or conditions (bogus effects). The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how common and seemingly innocuous methods for quantifying and analyzing ERP effects can lead to very high rates of significant but bogus effects, with the likelihood of obtaining at least one such bogus effect exceeding 50% in many experiments. We focus on two specific problems: using the grand-averaged data to select the time windows and electrode sites for quantifying component amplitudes and latencies, and using one or more multifactor statistical analyses. Reanalyses of prior data and simulations of typical experimental designs are used to show how these problems can greatly increase the likelihood of significant but bogus results. Several strategies are described for avoiding these problems and for increasing the likelihood that significant effects actually reflect true differences among groups or conditions. © 2016 Society for Psychophysiological Research.

How to Get Statistically Significant Effects in Any ERP Experiment (and Why You Shouldn’t)

PubMed Central

Luck, Steven J.; Gaspelin, Nicholas

2016-01-01

Event-related potential (ERP) experiments generate massive data sets, often containing thousands of values for each participant, even after averaging. The richness of these data sets can be very useful in testing sophisticated hypotheses, but this richness also creates many opportunities to obtain effects that are statistically significant but do not reflect true differences among groups or conditions (bogus effects). The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how common and seemingly innocuous methods for quantifying and analyzing ERP effects can lead to very high rates of significant-but-bogus effects, with the likelihood of obtaining at least one such bogus effect exceeding 50% in many experiments. We focus on two specific problems: using the grand average data to select the time windows and electrode sites for quantifying component amplitudes and latencies, and using one or more multi-factor statistical analyses. Re-analyses of prior data and simulations of typical experimental designs are used to show how these problems can greatly increase the likelihood of significant-but-bogus results. Several strategies are described for avoiding these problems and for increasing the likelihood that significant effects actually reflect true differences among groups or conditions. PMID:28000253

FURTHER OBSERVATIONS ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF A/EQUINE-2/63 ANTIBODIES IN MAN

PubMed Central

Davenport, F. M.; Hennessy, A. V.; Minuse, Elva

1967-01-01

The antibody pattern of equine-2/63 viruses has been more sharply defined using a large number of human sera collected in 1964. The birth dates of persons exhibiting the richest experience with equine-2/63-like viruses delineate a period of past prevalence in man of equine-2/63-like viruses. The period is believed to have begun in the mid-1870's and to have terminated in 1889–1890 at the time of the first Asian pandemic. The equine-2/63 antibodies found in human sera react specifically in the photometric test of Drescher. The equine-2/63 antibody pattern advances along the age scale in exact concordance with the passage of time. The homologous antibody response of the older subjects to equine-2/63 vaccine is more vigorous, reflecting the conditioning effects of prior exposures to equine-2/63 antigens. A "one-way cross" between equine-2/63 virus and A2 and A1 strains has been demonstrated. The antigenic ties between strains of influenza A isolated from humans, swine, horses, and birds is recognized and discussed. It is apparent that horses do not constitute an active reservoir for strains of human involvement. The epidemiologic significance of the antigenic linkages between strains isolated from different species remains obscure. PMID:6069928

OBSERVATIONAL SELECTION EFFECTS WITH GROUND-BASED GRAVITATIONAL WAVE DETECTORS

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

Chen, Hsin-Yu; Holz, Daniel E.; Essick, Reed

Ground-based interferometers are not perfect all-sky instruments, and it is important to account for their behavior when considering the distribution of detected events. In particular, the LIGO detectors are most sensitive to sources above North America and the Indian Ocean, and as the Earth rotates, the sensitive regions are swept across the sky. However, because the detectors do not acquire data uniformly over time, there is a net bias on detectable sources’ right ascensions. Both LIGO detectors preferentially collect data during their local night; it is more than twice as likely to be local midnight than noon when both detectorsmore » are operating. We discuss these selection effects and how they impact LIGO’s observations and electromagnetic (EM) follow-up. Beyond galactic foregrounds associated with seasonal variations, we find that equatorial observatories can access over 80% of the localization probability, while mid-latitudes will access closer to 70%. Facilities located near the two LIGO sites can observe sources closer to their zenith than their analogs in the south, but the average observation will still be no closer than 44° from zenith. We also find that observatories in Africa or the South Atlantic will wait systematically longer before they can begin observing compared to the rest of the world; though, there is a preference for longitudes near the LIGOs. These effects, along with knowledge of the LIGO antenna pattern, can inform EM follow-up activities and optimization, including the possibility of directing observations even before gravitational-wave events occur.« less

Comparison between treatment effects in a randomised controlled trial and an observational study using propensity scores in primary care.

PubMed

Stuart, Beth L; Grebel, Louise En; Butler, Christopher C; Hood, Kerenza; Verheij, Theo J M; Little, Paul

2017-09-01

Although randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are considered 'gold standard' evidence, they are not always feasible or appropriate, and may represent a select population. Observational studies provide a useful alternative to enhance applicability, but results can be biased due to confounding. To explore the utility of propensity scores for causal inference in an observational study. Comparison of the effect of amoxicillin on key outcomes in an international RCT and observational study of lower respiratory tract infections. Propensity scores were calculated and applied as probability weights in the analyses. The adjusted results were compared with the effects reported in the RCT. Groups were well balanced in the RCT but significantly imbalanced in the observational study, with evidence of confounding by indication: patients receiving antibiotics tended to be older and more unwell at baseline consultation. In the trial duration of symptoms (hazard ratio 1.06, 95% CI = 0.96 to 1.18) and symptom severity (-0.07, 95% CI = -0.15 to 0.007) did not differ between groups. Weighting by propensity score in the observational study resulted in very similar estimates of effect: duration of symptoms (hazard ratio 1.06, 95% CI = 0.80 to 1.40) and difference for symptom severity (-0.07, 95% CI = -0.34 to 0.20). The observational study, after conditioning on propensity score, echoed the trial results. Provided that detailed information is available on potential sources of confounding, effects of interventions can probably be assessed reasonably well in observational datasets, allowing them to be more directly compared with the results of RCTs. © British Journal of General Practice 2017.

Sensitivity Observing System Experiment (SOSE)-a new effective NWP-based tool in designing the global observing system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marseille, Gert-Jan; Stoffelen, Ad; Barkmeijer, Jan

2008-03-01

Lacking an established methodology to test the potential impact of prospective extensions to the global observing system (GOS) in real atmospheric cases we developed such a method, called Sensitivity Observing System Experiment (SOSE). For example, since the GOS is non uniform it is of interest to investigate the benefit of complementary observing systems filling its gaps. In a SOSE adjoint sensitivity structures are used to define a pseudo true atmospheric state for the simulation of the prospective observing system. Next, the synthetic observations are used together with real observations from the existing GOS in a state-of-the-art Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) model to assess the potential added value of the new observing system. Unlike full observing system simulation experiments (OSSE), SOSE can be applied to real extreme events that were badly forecast operationally and only requires the simulation of the new instrument. As such SOSE is an effective tool, for example, to define observation requirements for extensions to the GOS. These observation requirements may serve as input for the design of an operational network of prospective observing systems. In a companion paper we use SOSE to simulate potential future space borne Doppler Wind Lidar (DWL) scenarios and assess their capability to sample meteorologically sensitive areas not well captured by the current GOS, in particular over the Northern Hemisphere oceans.

Massage has no observable effect on distress in children with burns: A randomized, observer-blinded trial.

PubMed

van Dijk, Monique; O'Flaherty, Linda Anne; Hoedemaker, Tessa; van Rosmalen, Joost; Rode, Heinz

2018-02-01

In a previous observational study we found that massage therapy reduced anxiety and stress in pediatric burn patients. We aimed to test this effect in a randomized controlled trial. To determine whether (1) aromatherapy massage can provide relaxation to hospitalized children with burns; (2) massage with aromatherapy oil is more effective than without; and (3) massage sessions are more effective when repeated. Randomized controlled clinical trial with 3 arms conducted in a burns unit from April 2013 to December 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. Massage with carrier oil, massage with aromatherapy oil, and standard nursing care only. Scores on the Muscle Tension Inventory (MTI) and Behavioral Relaxation Scale (BRS) to assess level of relaxation. Scores on the COMFORT behaviour scale and Numeric Rating Scale Distress to assess level of distress. Secondary outcomes were heart rate and oxygen saturation levels. Linear mixed models were used to determine the effect of condition and session number (1 to a maximum of 5 sessions per child) correcting for baseline outcomes of COMFORT behaviour scores and heart rates after sessions. Secondary analyses included the addition of sex, age, and total body surface area (TBSA) burned as covariates. We included 284 children aged 5 weeks to 13 years with TBSA burned between 10 and 45%. Two-thirds (65.5%) were under the age of 3 years. Mixed model analyses revealed no significant difference in reduction of COMFORT behavior scores (p=0.18), or heart rates (p=0.18) between the three study arms. These outcomes were also not associated with the session number (p=0.92 and p=0.13, respectively). Level of relaxation could not be reliably assessed with the MTI and BRS because 119 patients (41.9%) had bandages covering the larger part of the face, and in 40.1% of cases the child was not in the required position. Massage therapy with or without essential oil was not effective in reducing distress behavior or heart rate in hospitalized children

[Language observation protocol for teachers in pre-school education. Effectiveness in the detection of semantic and morphosyntactic difficulties].

PubMed

Ygual-Fernández, Amparo; Cervera-Merida, José F; Baixauli-Fortea, Inmaculada; Meliá-De Alba, Amanda

2011-03-01

A number of studies have shown that teachers are capable of recognising pupils with language difficulties if they have suitable guidelines or guidance. To determine the effectiveness of an observation-based protocol for pre-school education teachers in the detection of phonetic-phonological, semantic and morphosyntactic difficulties. The sample consisted of 175 children from public and state-subsidised schools in Valencia and its surrounding province, together with their teachers. The children were aged between 3 years and 6 months and 5 years and 11 months. The protocol that was used asks for information about pronunciation skills (intelligibility, articulation), conversational skills (with adults, with peers), literal understanding of sentences, grammatical precision, expression through discourse, lexical knowledge and semantics. There was a significant correlation between the teachers' observations and the criterion scores on intelligibility, literal understanding of sentences, grammatical expression and lexical richness, but not in the observations concerning articulation and verbal reasoning, which were more difficult for the teachers to judge. In general, the observation protocol proved to be effective, it guided the teachers in their observations and it asked them suitable questions about linguistic data that were relevant to the determination of difficulties in language development. The use of this protocol can be an effective strategy for collecting information for use by speech therapists and school psychologists in the early detection of children with language development problems.

Trampoline Effect: Observations and Modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guyer, R.; Larmat, C. S.; Ulrich, T. J.

2009-12-01

The Iwate-Miyagi earthquake at site IWTH25 (14 June 2008) had large, asymmetric at surface vertical accelerations prompting the sobriquet trampoline effect (Aoi et. al. 2008). In addition the surface acceleration record showed long-short waiting time correlations and vertical-horizontal acceleration correlations. A lumped element model, deduced from the equations of continuum elasticity, is employed to describe the behavior at this site in terms of a surface layer and substrate. Important ingredients in the model are the nonlinear vertical coupling between the surface layer and the substrate and the nonlinear horizontal frictional coupling between the surface layer and the substrate. The model produces results in qualitative accord with observations: acceleration asymmetry, Fourier spectrum, waiting time correlations and vertical acceleration-horizontal acceleration correlations. [We gratefully acknowledge the support of the U. S. Department of Energy through the LANL/LDRD Program for this work].

Novel submicronized rebamipide liquid with moderate viscosity: significant effects on oral mucositis in animal models.

PubMed

Nakashima, Takako; Sako, Nobutomo; Matsuda, Takakuni; Uematsu, Naoya; Sakurai, Kazushi; Ishida, Tatsuhiro

2014-01-01

This study aimed at developing a novel rebamipide liquid for an effective treatment of oral mucositis. The healing effects of a variety of liquids comprising submicronized rebamipide crystals were investigated using a rat cauterization-induced oral ulcer model. Whereas 2% rebamipide liquid comprising micro-crystals did not exhibit significant curative effect, 2% rebamipide liquids comprising submicronized crystals with moderate viscosities exhibited healing effects following intra-oral administration. The 2% and 4% optimized rebamipide liquids showed significant healing effects in the rat oral ulcer model (p<0.01). In addition, in the rat radiation-induced glossitis model, whereby the injury was caused to the tongue by exposing only around the rat's snout to a 15 Gy of X-irradiation, the 2% optimized rebamipide liquid significantly reduced the percent area of ulcerated injury (p<0.05). In conclusion, the submicronized rebamipide liquid with moderate viscosity following intra-oral administration showed better both healing effect in the rat oral ulcer model and preventive effect in the rat irradiation-induced glossitis model.

Direct observation of the orbital spin Kondo effect in gallium arsenide quantum dots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shang, Ru-Nan; Zhang, Ting; Cao, Gang; Li, Hai-Ou; Xiao, Ming; Guo, Guang-Can; Guo, Guo-Ping

2018-02-01

Besides the spin Kondo effect, other degrees of freedom can give rise to the pseudospin Kondo effect. We report a direct observation of the orbital spin Kondo effect in a series-coupled gallium arsenide (GaAs) double quantum dot device where orbital degrees act as pseudospin. Electron occupation in both dots induces a pseudospin Kondo effect. In a region of one net spin impurity, complete spectra with three resonance peaks are observed. Furthermore, we observe a pseudo-Zeeman effect and demonstrate its electrical controllability for the artificial pseudospin in this orbital spin Kondo process via gate voltage control. The fourfold degeneracy point is realized at a specific value supplemented by spin degeneracy, indicating a transition from the SU(2) to the SU(4) Kondo effect.

Effects of action observation therapy on upper extremity function, daily activities and motion evoked potential in cerebral infarction patients.

PubMed

Fu, Jianming; Zeng, Ming; Shen, Fang; Cui, Yao; Zhu, Meihong; Gu, Xudong; Sun, Ya

2017-10-01

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of action observation therapy on motor function of upper extremity, activities of daily living, and motion evoked potential in cerebral infarction patients. Cerebral infarction survivors were randomly assigned to an experimental group (28 patients) or a control group (25 patients). The conventional rehabilitation treatments were applied in both groups, but the experimental group received an additional action observation therapy for 8 weeks (6 times per week, 20 minutes per time). Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA), Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), and motor evoked potential (MEP) were used to evaluate the upper limb movement function and daily life activity. There were no significant differences between experiment and control group in the indexes, including FMA, WMFT, and MBI scores, before the intervention. However, after 8 weeks treatments, these indexes were improved significantly. MEP latency and center-motion conduction time (CMCT) decreased from 23.82 ± 2.16 and 11.15 ± 1.68 to 22.69 ± 2.11 and 10.12 ± 1.46 ms. MEP amplitude increased from 0.61 ± 0.22 to 1.25 ± 0.38 mV. A remarkable relationship between the evaluations indexes of MEP and FMA was found. Combination of motion observation and traditional upper limb rehabilitation treatment technology can significantly elevate the movement function of cerebral infarction patients in subacute seizure phase with upper limb dysfunction, which expanded the application range of motion observation therapy and provided an effective therapy strategy for upper extremities hemiplegia in stroke patients.

Barnacle Geese Achieve Significant Energetic Savings by Changing Posture

PubMed Central

Tickle, Peter G.; Nudds, Robert L.; Codd, Jonathan R.

2012-01-01

Here we report the resting metabolic rate in barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis) and provide evidence for the significant energetic effect of posture. Under laboratory conditions flow-through respirometry together with synchronous recording of behaviour enabled a calculation of how metabolic rate varies with posture. Our principal finding is that standing bipedally incurs a 25% increase in metabolic rate compared to birds sitting on the ground. In addition to the expected decrease in energy consumption of hindlimb postural muscles when sitting, we hypothesise that a change in breathing mechanics represents one potential mechanism for at least part of the observed difference in energetic cost. Due to the significant effect of posture, future studies of resting metabolic rates need to take into account and/or report differences in posture. PMID:23071672

Predictors and Diagnostic Significance of the Adenosine Related Side Effects on Myocardial Perfusion SPECT/CT Imaging

PubMed Central

Yıldırım Poyraz, Nilüfer; Özdemir, Elif; Poyraz, Barış Mustafa; Kandemir, Zuhal; Keskin, Mutlay; Türkölmez, Şeyda

2014-01-01

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between patient characteristics and adenosine-related side-effects during stress myocard perfusion imaging (MPI). The effect of presence of adenosine-related side-effects on the diagnostic value of MPI with integrated SPECT/CT system for coronary artery disease (CAD), was also assessed in this study. Methods: Total of 281 patients (109 M, 172 F; mean age:62.6±10) who underwent standard adenosine stress protocol for MPI, were included in this study. All symptoms during adenosine infusion were scored according to the severity and duration. For the estimation of diagnostic value of adenosine MPI with integrated SPECT/CT system, coronary angiography (CAG) or clinical follow-up were used as gold standard. Results: Total of 173 patients (61.6%) experienced adenosine-related side-effects (group 1); flushing, dyspnea, and chest pain were the most common. Other 108 patients completed pharmacologic stress (PS) test without any side-effects (group 2). Test tolerability were similar in the patients with cardiovascular or airway disease to others, however dyspnea were observed significantly more common in patients with mild airway disease. Body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2 and age ≤45 years were independent predictors of side-effects. The diagnostic value of MPI was similar in both groups. Sensitivity of adenosine MPI SPECT/CT was calculated to be 86%, specificity was 94% and diagnostic accuracy was 92% for diagnosis of CAD. Conclusion: Adenosine MPI is a feasible and well tolerated method in patients who are not suitable for exercise stress test as well as patients with cardiopulmonary disease. However age ≤45 years and BMI ≥30 kg/m2 are the positive predictors of adenosine-related side-effects, the diagnostic value of adenosine MPI SPECT/CT is not affected by the presence of adenosine related side-effects. PMID:25541932

Significant Variation of Post-critical SsPmp Amplitude as a Result of Variation in Near-surface Velocity: Observations from the Yellowknife Array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferragut, G.; Liu, T.; Klemperer, S. L.

2017-12-01

In recent years Virtual Deep Seismic Sounding (VDSS) emerged as a novel method to image the Moho, which uses the post-critical reflection P waves at the Moho generated by teleseismic S waves at the free surface near the receivers (SsPmp). However, observed SsPmp sometimes have significantly lower amplitude than predicted, raising doubts among the seismic community on the theoretical basis of the method. With over two decades of continuous digital broadband records and major subduction zones in the range of 30-50 degrees, the Yellowknife Array in northern Canada provides a rich opportunity for observation of post-critical SsPmp. We analyze S wave coda of events with epicenter distances of 30-50°, and pay special attention to earthquakes in a narrow azimuth range that ­­­encompasses the Kamchatka Peninsula. Among 21 events with strong direct S energy on the radial components, we observe significant variation of SsPmp energy. After associating the SsPmp energy with the virtual source location of each event, we observe a general trend of decreasing SsPmp energy from NE to SW. As the trend coincides with the transition from exposed basement of the Slave Craton to Paleozoic platform covered by Phanerozoic sediment, we interpret the decreasing SsPmp energy as a result of lower S velocity at the virtual sources, which reduces S-to-P reflection coefficients. We plan to include more events from the Aleutian Islands, the virtual sources of which are primarily located in the Paleozoic platform. This will allow us to further investigate the relationship between SsPmp amplitude and near-surface velocity.

Using channelized Hotelling observers to quantify temporal effects of medical liquid crystal displays on detection performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Platiša, Ljiljana; Goossens, Bart; Vansteenkiste, Ewout; Badano, Aldo; Philips, Wilfried

2010-02-01

Clinical practice is rapidly moving in the direction of volumetric imaging. Often, radiologists interpret these images in liquid crystal displays at browsing rates of 30 frames per second or higher. However, recent studies suggest that the slow response of the display can compromise image quality. In order to quantify the temporal effect of medical displays on detection performance, we investigate two designs of a multi-slice channelized Hotelling observer (msCHO) model in the task of detecting a single-slice signal in multi-slice simulated images. The design of msCHO models is inspired by simplifying assumptions about how humans observe while viewing in the stack-browsing mode. For comparison, we consider a standard CHO applied only on the slice where the signal is located, recently used in a similar study. We refer to it as a single-slice CHO (ssCHO). Overall, our results confirm previous findings that the slow response of displays degrades the detection performance of the observers. More specifically, the observed performance range of msCHO designs is higher compared to the ssCHO suggesting that the extent and rate of degradation, though significant, may be less drastic than previously estimated by the ssCHO. Especially, the difference between msCHO and ssCHO is more significant for higher browsing speeds than for slow image sequences or static images. This, together with their design criteria driven by the assumptions about humans, makes the msCHO models promising candidates for further studies aimed at building anthropomorphic observer models for the stack-mode image presentation.

Multi-instrument observation on co-seismic ionospheric effects after great Tohoku earthquake

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hao, Y. Q.; Xiao, Z.; Zhang, D. H.

2012-02-01

In this paper, evidence of quake-excited infrasonic waves is provided first by a multi-instrument observation of Japan's Tohoku earthquake. The observations of co-seismic infrasonic waves are as follows: 1, effects of surface oscillations are observed by local infrasonic detector, and it seems these effects are due to surface oscillation-excited infrasonic waves instead of direct influence of seismic vibration on the detector; 2, these local excited infrasonic waves propagate upwards and correspond to ionospheric disturbances observed by Doppler shift measurements and GPS/TEC; 3, interactions between electron density variation and currents in the ionosphere caused by infrasonic waves manifest as disturbances in the geomagnetic field observed via surface magnetogram; 4, within 4 hours after this strong earthquake, disturbances in the ionosphere related to arrivals of Rayleigh waves were observed by Doppler shift sounding three times over. Two of the arrivals were from epicenter along the minor arc of the great circle (with the second arrival due to a Rayleigh wave propagating completely around the planet) and the other one from the opposite direction. All of these seismo-ionospheric effects observed by HF Doppler shift appear after local arrivals of surface Rayleigh waves, with a time delay of 8-10 min. This is the time required for infrasonic wave to propagate upwards to the ionosphere.

Effect of observation on lower limb prosthesis gait biomechanics: Preliminary results.

PubMed

Malchow, Connor; Fiedler, Goeran

2016-12-01

The Hawthorne effect, a subcategory of reactivity, causes human behavior to change when under observation. Such an effect may apply to gait variation of persons with prosthetics or orthotics devices. This study investigated whether the presence of observers directly affects the gait pattern of users of lower limb prostheses. Within-subject intervention study. Primary outcome measures were gait parameters of initial double support time and upper body lateral tilt angle, which were collected with a mobile sensor attached to the subjects' back. To make subjects feel unwatched, a certain amount of deception was necessary, and two different conditions were created and statistically compared against each other: one in which the subjects were initially unaware of the attention of observers and another one in which the same subjects were aware of a group of observers. Data from two subjects using trans-femoral prosthesis are reported. Findings included a change in step initial double support percentage by up to 14.2% (p = 0.019). Considerable changes were also noted in secondary outcome measures including speed, stride length, and stride symmetry. A reactivity effect of observation exists in prosthetics gait analysis. More comprehensive studies may be motivated by these preliminary findings. Results of this study suggest that users of lower limb prostheses walk differently when their gait is being assessed (e.g. in the prosthetist's office) than in situations without observers. This may in part explain the clinical experience that modifications of prosthetic fit or alignment provide only short-term betterment. © The International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics 2015.

The Effect of DNA Extraction Methods on Observed Microbial Communities from Fibrous and Liquid Rumen Fractions of Dairy Cows

PubMed Central

Vaidya, Jueeli D.; van den Bogert, Bartholomeus; Edwards, Joan E.; Boekhorst, Jos; van Gastelen, Sanne; Saccenti, Edoardo; Plugge, Caroline M.; Smidt, Hauke

2018-01-01

DNA based methods have been widely used to study the complexity of the rumen microbiota, and it is well known that the method of DNA extraction is a critical step in enabling accurate assessment of this complexity. Rumen fluid (RF) and fibrous content (FC) fractions differ substantially in terms of their physical nature and associated microorganisms. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the effect of four DNA extraction methods (RBB, PBB, FDSS, PQIAmini) differing in cell lysis and/or DNA recovery methods on the observed microbial diversity in RF and FC fractions using samples from four rumen cannulated dairy cows fed 100% grass silage (GS100), 67% GS and 33% maize silage (GS67MS33), 33% GS and 67% MS (GS33MS67), or 100% MS (MS100). An ANOVA statistical test was applied on DNA quality and yield measurements, and it was found that the DNA yield was significantly affected by extraction method (p < 0.001) and fraction (p < 0.001). The 260/280 ratio was not affected by extraction (p = 0.08) but was affected by fraction (p = 0.03). On the other hand, the 260/230 ratio was affected by extraction method (p < 0.001) but not affected by fraction (p = 0.8). However, all four extraction procedures yielded DNA suitable for further analysis of bacterial, archaeal and anaerobic fungal communities using quantitative PCR and pyrosequencing of relevant taxonomic markers. Redundancy analysis (RDA) of bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequence data at the family level showed that there was a significant effect of rumen fraction (p = 0.012), and that PBB (p = 0.012) and FDSS (p = 0.024) also significantly contributed to explaining the observed variation in bacterial community composition. Whilst the DNA extraction method affected the apparent bacterial community composition, no single extraction method could be concluded to be ineffective. No obvious effect of DNA extraction method on the anaerobic fungi or archaea was observed, although fraction effects were evident for both. In

The Effect of DNA Extraction Methods on Observed Microbial Communities from Fibrous and Liquid Rumen Fractions of Dairy Cows.

PubMed

Vaidya, Jueeli D; van den Bogert, Bartholomeus; Edwards, Joan E; Boekhorst, Jos; van Gastelen, Sanne; Saccenti, Edoardo; Plugge, Caroline M; Smidt, Hauke

2018-01-01

DNA based methods have been widely used to study the complexity of the rumen microbiota, and it is well known that the method of DNA extraction is a critical step in enabling accurate assessment of this complexity. Rumen fluid (RF) and fibrous content (FC) fractions differ substantially in terms of their physical nature and associated microorganisms. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the effect of four DNA extraction methods (RBB, PBB, FDSS, PQIAmini) differing in cell lysis and/or DNA recovery methods on the observed microbial diversity in RF and FC fractions using samples from four rumen cannulated dairy cows fed 100% grass silage (GS100), 67% GS and 33% maize silage (GS67MS33), 33% GS and 67% MS (GS33MS67), or 100% MS (MS100). An ANOVA statistical test was applied on DNA quality and yield measurements, and it was found that the DNA yield was significantly affected by extraction method ( p < 0.001) and fraction ( p < 0.001). The 260/280 ratio was not affected by extraction ( p = 0.08) but was affected by fraction ( p = 0.03). On the other hand, the 260/230 ratio was affected by extraction method ( p < 0.001) but not affected by fraction ( p = 0.8). However, all four extraction procedures yielded DNA suitable for further analysis of bacterial, archaeal and anaerobic fungal communities using quantitative PCR and pyrosequencing of relevant taxonomic markers. Redundancy analysis (RDA) of bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequence data at the family level showed that there was a significant effect of rumen fraction ( p = 0.012), and that PBB ( p = 0.012) and FDSS ( p = 0.024) also significantly contributed to explaining the observed variation in bacterial community composition. Whilst the DNA extraction method affected the apparent bacterial community composition, no single extraction method could be concluded to be ineffective. No obvious effect of DNA extraction method on the anaerobic fungi or archaea was observed, although fraction effects were evident for both

[Observation on therapeutic effect of acupuncture at Yanglingquan (GB 34) on sprain of external ankle joint].

PubMed

He, Xin-fang; Xu, Hai-bin

2006-08-01

To observe the increasing effect of Yanglingquan (GB 34) on sprain of external ankle joint. Seventy-nine cases of sprain of external ankle joint were semi-randomly divided into a treatment group (n = 46) and a control group (n = 33). The treatment group were treated with acupuncture at Yanglingquan (GB 34) and electro-magnetic therapy at local acupoints, and the control group with electro-magnetic therapy. The cured rate and the total effective rate were 67.4% and 91.3% in the treatment group, and 36.4% and 69.7% in the control group, respectively, with a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.01, P<0.05). Acupuncture at Yanglingquan (GB 34) has a better therapeutic effect on sprain of the external ankle joint.

Significant Quantum Effects in Hydrogen Activation

DOE PAGES

Kyriakou, Georgios; Davidson, Erlend R. M.; Peng, Guowen; ...

2014-03-31

Dissociation of molecular hydrogen is an important step in a wide variety of chemical, biological, and physical processes. Due to the light mass of hydrogen, it is recognized that quantum effects are often important to its reactivity. However, understanding how quantum effects impact the reactivity of hydrogen is still in its infancy. Here, we examine this issue using a well-defined Pd/Cu(111) alloy that allows the activation of hydrogen and deuterium molecules to be examined at individual Pd atom surface sites over a wide range of temperatures. Experiments comparing the uptake of hydrogen and deuterium as a function of temperature revealmore » completely different behavior of the two species. The rate of hydrogen activation increases at lower sample temperature, whereas deuterium activation slows as the temperature is lowered. Density functional theory simulations in which quantum nuclear effects are accounted for reveal that tunneling through the dissociation barrier is prevalent for H 2 up to ~190 K and for D 2 up to ~140 K. Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations indicate that the effective barrier to H 2 dissociation is so low that hydrogen uptake on the surface is limited merely by thermodynamics, whereas the D 2 dissociation process is controlled by kinetics. These data illustrate the complexity and inherent quantum nature of this ubiquitous and seemingly simple chemical process. Here, examining these effects in other systems with a similar range of approaches may uncover temperature regimes where quantum effects can be harnessed, yielding greater control of bond-breaking processes at surfaces and uncovering useful chemistries such as selective bond activation or isotope separation.« less

[Observation on the transient analgesic effect of abdominal acupuncture TENS on pain of neck, shoulder, loin and legs].

PubMed

Wang, Zhang-lian; Chen, Li-fang; Zhu, Wei-ming

2007-09-01

To observe on the transient analgesic effect of abdominal points transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) combined with abdominal acupuncture according to the holographic theory on pain of neck, shoulder, loin and legs. One hundred and twenty cases of pain of neck, shoulder, loin and legs were randomly divided into 4 groups: abdominal acupuncture TENS group, acupoints TENS group, electroacupuneture (EA) group, non-abdominal acupuncture TENS group, 30 cases in each group. All the cases were treated by the same stimulation parameters, but different stimulation points. The VAS scores were recorded before and after treatment. The VAS scores were significantly different before and after treatment in abdominal acupuncture TENS group (P < 0.01); the total effective rate of the transient analgesic effec t was 96.7% in the abdominal acupuncture TENS group, 93.3% in the acupoints TENS group, 96.7% in the EA group with no significant difference among the 3 groups, but with a very significant difference between the abdominal acupuncture TENS group and the non-abdominal acupunctureTENS group (10.0%), P < 0.01. Abdominal acupuncture TENS has a better transient analgesic effect and can use less stimulation points to increase the analgesic effect.

Multilevel biological characterization of exomic variants at the protein level significantly improves the identification of their deleterious effects.

PubMed

Raimondi, Daniele; Gazzo, Andrea M; Rooman, Marianne; Lenaerts, Tom; Vranken, Wim F

2016-06-15

There are now many predictors capable of identifying the likely phenotypic effects of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) or short in-frame Insertions or Deletions (INDELs) on the increasing amount of genome sequence data. Most of these predictors focus on SNVs and use a combination of features related to sequence conservation, biophysical, and/or structural properties to link the observed variant to either neutral or disease phenotype. Despite notable successes, the mapping between genetic variants and their phenotypic effects is riddled with levels of complexity that are not yet fully understood and that are often not taken into account in the predictions, despite their promise of significantly improving the prediction of deleterious mutants. We present DEOGEN, a novel variant effect predictor that can handle both missense SNVs and in-frame INDELs. By integrating information from different biological scales and mimicking the complex mixture of effects that lead from the variant to the phenotype, we obtain significant improvements in the variant-effect prediction results. Next to the typical variant-oriented features based on the evolutionary conservation of the mutated positions, we added a collection of protein-oriented features that are based on functional aspects of the gene affected. We cross-validated DEOGEN on 36 825 polymorphisms, 20 821 deleterious SNVs, and 1038 INDELs from SwissProt. The multilevel contextualization of each (variant, protein) pair in DEOGEN provides a 10% improvement of MCC with respect to current state-of-the-art tools. The software and the data presented here is publicly available at http://ibsquare.be/deogen : wvranken@vub.ac.be Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Effects of the turbulent ISM on radio observations of quasars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gabányi, Krisztina; Britzen, S.; Krichbaum, T. P.; Bach, U.; Fuhrmann, L.; Kraus, A.; Witzel, A.; Zensus, J. A.

In radio bands, the study of compact radio sources can be affected by propagation effects introduced by the interstellar medium, usually attributed to the presence of turbulent intervening plasma along the line of sight. Here, two of such effects are presented. The line of sight of B 2005+403 passes through the heavily scattered region of Cygnus causing substantial angular broadening of the source images obtained at frequencies between 0.6 GHz and 8 GHz. At higher frequencies, however, the intrinsic source structure shines through. Therefore, multi-frequency VLBI observations allow to study the characteristics of the intervening material, the source morphology and the interplay between them in forming the observed image.

Priming of reach trajectory when observing actions: Hand-centred effects

PubMed Central

Griffiths, Debra; Tipper, Steven P.

2009-01-01

When another person's actions are observed it appears that these actions are simulated, such that similar motor processes are triggered in the observer. Much evidence suggests that such simulation concerns the achievement of behavioural goals, such as grasping a particular object, and is less concerned with the specific nature of the action, such as the path the hand takes to reach the goal object. We demonstrate that when observing another person reach around an obstacle, an observer's subsequent reach has an increased curved trajectory, reflecting motor priming of reach path. This priming of reach trajectory via action observation can take place under a variety of circumstances: with or without a shared goal, and when the action is seen from a variety of perspectives. However, of most importance, the reach path priming effect is only evoked if the obstacle avoided by another person is within the action (peripersonal) space of the observer. PMID:19731190

Land Cover and Seasonality Effects on Biomass Burning Emissions and Air Quality Impacts Observed from Satellites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zoogman, P.; Hoffman, A.; Gonzalez Abad, G.; Miller, C. E.; Nowlan, C. R.; Huang, G.; Liu, X.; Chance, K.

2016-12-01

Trace gas emissions from biomass burning can vary greatly both regionally and from event to event, but our current scientific understanding is unable to fully explain this variability. The large uncertainty in ozone formation resulting from fire emissions has posed a great challenge for assessing fire impacts on air quality and atmospheric composition. Satellite observations from OMI offer a powerful tool to observe biomass burning events by providing observations globally over a range of environmental conditions that effect emissions of NOx, formaldehyde, and glyoxal. We have investigated the seasonal relationship of biomass burning enhancements of these trace gases derived from OMI observations over tropical South America, Africa, and Indonesia. Land cover type (also derived from satellite observations) has a significant impact on formaldehyde and glyoxal enhancements from fire activity. We have found that the chemical ratio between formaldehyde and glyoxal is dependent on the burned land type and will present our current hypotheses for the spatial variation of this ratio in the tropics. Furthermore, in individual case studies we will investigate how these chemical ratios can inform our knowledge of the secondary formation of ozone, particularly during exceptional pollution events.

Effect of correlated observation error on parameters, predictions, and uncertainty

USGS Publications Warehouse

Tiedeman, Claire; Green, Christopher T.

2013-01-01

Correlations among observation errors are typically omitted when calculating observation weights for model calibration by inverse methods. We explore the effects of omitting these correlations on estimates of parameters, predictions, and uncertainties. First, we develop a new analytical expression for the difference in parameter variance estimated with and without error correlations for a simple one-parameter two-observation inverse model. Results indicate that omitting error correlations from both the weight matrix and the variance calculation can either increase or decrease the parameter variance, depending on the values of error correlation (ρ) and the ratio of dimensionless scaled sensitivities (rdss). For small ρ, the difference in variance is always small, but for large ρ, the difference varies widely depending on the sign and magnitude of rdss. Next, we consider a groundwater reactive transport model of denitrification with four parameters and correlated geochemical observation errors that are computed by an error-propagation approach that is new for hydrogeologic studies. We compare parameter estimates, predictions, and uncertainties obtained with and without the error correlations. Omitting the correlations modestly to substantially changes parameter estimates, and causes both increases and decreases of parameter variances, consistent with the analytical expression. Differences in predictions for the models calibrated with and without error correlations can be greater than parameter differences when both are considered relative to their respective confidence intervals. These results indicate that including observation error correlations in weighting for nonlinear regression can have important effects on parameter estimates, predictions, and their respective uncertainties.

Effects of antihypertensive drugs on central blood pressure in humans: a preliminary observation.

PubMed

Agnoletti, Davide; Zhang, Yi; Borghi, Claudio; Blacher, Jacques; Safar, Michel E

2013-08-01

Central blood pressure (BP) is considered a better predictor of cardiovascular events than brachial BP. Modifications of central, beyond brachial BP, can be assessed by pressure amplification, a potential new cardiovascular risk factor. Comparison between drugs' effect on central hemodynamics has been poorly studied. Our aim was to assess the hemodynamic effect of a 12-week treatment with amlodipine 5mg, or candesartan 8mg, or indapamide sustained-release 1.5mg, in comparison with placebo. We analyzed 145 out-patients with essential hypertension in primary prevention enrolled in the Natrilix SR Versus Candesartan and Amlodipine in the Reduction of Systolic Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Patients (X-CELLENT) study, a multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Arterial stiffness, central BP, pressure amplification, and wave reflection were measured by applanation tonometry. Baseline characteristics of patients were homogeneous between groups. After treatment, we found that active drugs produced similar reduction of both central and peripheral BPs, with no significant interdrug differences (all P < 0.05; excluded peripheral pulse pressure, compared with placebo). Second, amlodipine (1.9% ± 15.3%), candesartan (3.0% ± 14.6%) and indapamide (4.1% ± 14.4%) all increased pulse pressure amplification, but only indapamide was statistically different from placebo (P = 0.02). Finally, no significant changes were observed on pulse wave velocity, heart rate, and augmentation index. The 3 antihypertensive drugs similarly reduced peripheral and central BP, as compared with placebo, but a significant increase in pulse pressure amplification was obtained only with indapamide, independently of arterial stiffness modifications. 3283161 by BIOPHARMA.

Effects of Ramadan fasting on cardiovascular risk factors: a prospective observational study.

PubMed

Nematy, Mohsen; Alinezhad-Namaghi, Maryam; Rashed, Masoud Mahdavi; Mozhdehifard, Mostafa; Sajjadi, Seyedeh Sania; Akhlaghi, Saeed; Sabery, Maryam; Mohajeri, Seyed Amir R; Shalaey, Neda; Moohebati, Mohsen; Norouzy, Abdolreza

2012-09-10

Previous research has shown that Ramadan fasting has beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk factors, however there are controversies. In the present study, the effect of Ramadan fasting on cardiovascular risk factors has been investigated. This is a prospective observational study that was carried out in a group of patients with at least one cardiovascular risk factor (including history of documented previous history of either coronary artery disease (CAD), metabolic syndrome or cerebro-vascular disease in past 10 y). Eighty two volunteers including 38 male and 44 female, aged 29-70 y, mean 54.0 ± 10 y, with a previous history of either coronary artery disease, metabolic syndrome or cerebro-vascular disease were recruited. Subjects attended the metabolic unit after at least 10 h fasting, before and after Ramadan who were been fasting for at least 10 days. A fasting blood sample was obtained, blood pressure was measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Lipids profile, fasting blood sugar (FBS) and insulin, homocysteine (hcy), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and complete blood count (CBC) were analyzed on all blood samples. A significant improvement in 10 years coronary heart disease risk (based on Framingham risk score) was found (13.0 ± 8 before Ramadan and 10.8 ±7 after Ramadan, P <0.001, t test).There was a significant higher HDL-c, WBC, RBC and platelet count (PLT), and lower plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-c, VLDL-c, systolic blood pressure, body mass index and waist circumference after Ramadan (P <0.05, t test). The changes in FBS, insulin, Homeostasis Model Assessment Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), hcy, hs-CRP and diastolic blood pressure before and after Ramadan were not significant (P >0.05, t test). This study shows a significant improvement in 10 years coronary heart disease risk score and other cardiovascular risk factors such as lipids profile, systolic blood pressure, weight, BMI and waist circumference

The significance of HIV 'blips' in resource-limited settings: is it the same? analysis of the treat Asia HIV Observational Database (TAHOD) and the Australian HIV Observational Database (AHOD).

PubMed

Kanapathipillai, Rupa; McManus, Hamish; Kamarulzaman, Adeeba; Lim, Poh Lian; Templeton, David J; Law, Matthew; Woolley, Ian

2014-01-01

Magnitude and frequency of HIV viral load blips in resource-limited settings, has not previously been assessed. This study was undertaken in a cohort from a high income country (Australia) known as AHOD (Australian HIV Observational Database) and another cohort from a mixture of Asian countries of varying national income per capita, TAHOD (TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database). Blips were defined as detectable VL (≥ 50 copies/mL) preceded and followed by undetectable VL (<50 copies/mL). Virological failure (VF) was defined as two consecutive VL ≥50 copies/ml. Cox proportional hazard models of time to first VF after entry, were developed. 5040 patients (AHOD n = 2597 and TAHOD n = 2521) were included; 910 (18%) of patients experienced blips. 744 (21%) and 166 (11%) of high- and middle/low-income participants, respectively, experienced blips ever. 711 (14%) experienced blips prior to virological failure. 559 (16%) and 152 (10%) of high- and middle/low-income participants, respectively, experienced blips prior to virological failure. VL testing occurred at a median frequency of 175 and 91 days in middle/low- and high-income sites, respectively. Longer time to VF occurred in middle/low income sites, compared with high-income sites (adjusted hazards ratio (AHR) 0.41; p<0.001), adjusted for year of first cART, Hepatitis C co-infection, cART regimen, and prior blips. Prior blips were not a significant predictor of VF in univariate analysis (AHR 0.97, p = 0.82). Differing magnitudes of blips were not significant in univariate analyses as predictors of virological failure (p = 0.360 for blip 50-≤1000, p = 0.309 for blip 50-≤400 and p = 0.300 for blip 50-≤200). 209 of 866 (24%) patients were switched to an alternate regimen in the setting of a blip. Despite a lower proportion of blips occurring in low/middle-income settings, no significant difference was found between settings. Nonetheless, a substantial number of participants were switched

Are non-linearity effects of absorption important for MAX-DOAS observations?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pukite, Janis; Wang, Yang; Wagner, Thomas

2017-04-01

For scattered light observations the absorption optical depth depends non-linearly on the trace gas concentrations if their absorption is strong. This is the case because the Beer-Lambert law is generally not applicable for scattered light measurements due to many (i.e. more than one) light paths contributing to the measurement. While in many cases a linear approximation can be made, for scenarios with strong absorption non-linear effects cannot always be neglected. This is especially the case for observation geometries with spatially extended and diffuse light paths, especially in satellite limb geometry but also for nadir measurements as well. Fortunately the effects of non-linear effects can be quantified by means of expanding the radiative transfer equation in a Taylor series with respect to the trace gas absorption coefficients. Herewith if necessary (1) the higher order absorption structures can be described as separate fit parameters in the DOAS fit and (2) the algorithm constraints of retrievals of VCDs and profiles can be improved by considering higher order sensitivity parameters. In this study we investigate the contribution of the higher order absorption structures for MAX-DOAS observation geometry for different atmospheric and ground properties (cloud and aerosol effects, trace gas amount, albedo) and geometry (different Sun and viewing angles).

Observation of aftershocks of the 2003 Tokachi-Oki earthquake for estimation of local site effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamanaka, Hiroaki; Motoki, Kentaro; Etoh, Kiminobu; Murayama, Masanari; Komaba, Nobuhiko

2004-03-01

Observation of aftershocks of the 2003 Tokachi-Oki earthquake was conducted in the southern part of the Tokachi basin in Hokkaido, Japan for estimation of local site effects. We installed accelerographs at 12 sites in Chokubetsu, Toyokoro, and Taiki areas, where large strong motion records were obtained during the main shock at stations of the K-NET and KiK-net. The stations of the aftershock observation are situated with different geological conditions and some of the sites were installed on Pleistocene layers as reference sites. The site amplifications are investigated using spectral ratio of S-waves from the aftershocks. The S-wave amplification factor is dominant at a period of about 1 second at the site near the KiK-net site in Toyokoro. This amplification fits well with calculated 1D amplification of S-wave in alluvial layers with a thickness of 50 meters. In addition to the site effects, we detected nonlinear amplification of the soft soils only during the main shock. The site effects at the strong motion site of the K-NET at Chokubetsu have a dominate peak at a period of 0.4 seconds. This amplification is due to soft soils having a thickness of about 13 meters. Contrary to the results at the two areas, site effects are not significantly different at the stations in the Taiki area, because of similarity on surface geological conditions.

Giant aerosol observations with cloud radar: methodology and effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guma Claramunt, Pilar; Madonna, Fabio; Amodeo, Aldo; Bauer-Pfundstein, Matthias; Papagiannopoulos, Nikolaos; Pappalardo, Gelsomina

2017-04-01

Giant aerosol particles can act as Giant Cloud Condensation Nuclei (GCCN), and determine the droplet concentration at the cloud formation, the clouds albedo and lifetime, and the precipitation formation. In addition, depending on their composition, they can also act as IN. It is not yet clear if they can also expedite rain processes. The main techniques used nowadays in measuring aerosols, which are lidar and sun photometer, cannot retrieve aerosol microphysical properties for particles bigger than a few microns, which means that they do not account for giant aerosols. Therefore, the distribution and impact in the atmosphere and climate of these particles is not well known and the aerosol transport models largely underestimate them. Recent studies have demonstrated that cloud radars are able to detect ultragiant volcanic aerosols also at a large distance from the source. In this study, an innovative methodology for the observation of giant aerosols using the millimeter wavelength radar has been developed and applied to 6 years of measurements carried out at CNR-IMAA Atmospheric Observatory (CIAO), in Potenza, South Italy, finding more than 40 giant aerosol events per year and a good agreement with the aerosol climatologic data. Besides, the effects of giant aerosols in the local and regional meteorology have been studied by correlating several atmospheric variables in the time period following the observation of giant particles. The meteorological situation has been assessed through the data classification into cases characterized by different pressure vertical velocities at the upper atmosphere (400 hPa), Giant aerosols are correlated to lower values of the Cloud Optical Depth (COD) in presence of stable or unstable atmospheric conditions while higher values are found for an intermediate stability. The giant aerosols effects on the Liquid Water Path (LWP) are closely linked to those in the Aerosol Optical Thickness (AOD). The highest increases in the LWP occurs

[Observation on therapeutic effect of catgut implantation at acupoints on exercise fatigue and study on the mechanism].

PubMed

Chen, Yong-Zhen; Xu, Yi; Yang, Wei-Bin; Lü, Yi-Hao; Fang, Hai-Bo

2008-09-01

To probe into the therapeutic effect of catgut implantation at acupoint on exercise fatigue and to study on the mechanism. Catgut implantation was given at main points Guanyuan (CV 4), Shen shu (BL 23), Mingmen (GV 4), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) in 41 players during training for 2 courses. Training-related condition and changes of blood testosterone (T) and hemoglobin (Hb) before and after training were observed. After treatment, sleeping quality, the mental state at the time of getting out of bed in the morning, appetite, training wish, training stamina, training quality, training attention, etc. in the player significantly improved, and blood T and Hb levels significantly increased. Catgut implantation at acupoints can significantly improve exercise fatigue in the player and the mechanism is possibly related with increase of testosterone and hemoglobin levels.

Effects of the observed J2 variations on the Earth's precession and nutation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferrándiz, José M.; Baenas, Tomás; Belda, Santiago

2016-04-01

The Earth's oblateness parameter J2 is closely related to the dynamical ellipticity H, which factorizes the main components of the precession and the different nutation terms. In most theoretical approaches to the Earth's rotation, with IAU2000 nutation theory among them, H is assumed to be constant. The precession model IAU2006 supposes H to have a conventional linear variation, based on the J2 time series derived mainly from satellite laser ranging (SLR) data for decades, which gives rise to an additional quadratic term of the precession in longitude and some corrections of the nutation terms. The time evolution of J2 is, however, too complex to be well approximated by a simple linear model. The effect of more general models including periodic terms and closer to the observed time series, although still unable to reproduce a significant part of the signal, has been seldom investigated. In this work we address the problem of deriving the effect of the observed J2 variations without resorting to such simplified models. The Hamiltonian approach to the Earth rotation is extended to allow the McCullagh's term of the potential to depend on a time-varying oblateness. An analytical solution is derived by means of a suitable perturbation method in the case of the time series provided by the Center for Space Research (CSR) of the University of Texas, which results in non-negligible contributions to the precession-nutation angles. The presentation focuses on the main effects on the longitude of the equator; a noticeable non-linear trend is superimposed to the linear main precession term, along with some periodic and decadal variations.

The National Emissions Inventory Significantly Overestimates NOx Emissions: Analysis of CMAQ and in situ observations from DISCOVER-AQ

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anderson, D. C.; Dickerson, R. R.; Loughner, C.

2013-12-01

NOx and CO not only adversely impact human health, but they, along with associated VOCs, are also important precursors for O3 formation. While ambient NOx and CO concentrations have decreased dramatically over the past 10-20 years, O3 has remained a more recalcitrant problem, particularly in the Baltimore/Washington region. Reduction of O3 production requires that emissions inventories, such as the National Emissions Inventory (NEI), accurately capture total emissions of CO and NOx while also correctly apportioning them among different sectors. Previous evaluations of the NEI paint different pictures of its accuracy, with assertions that it overestimates either one or both of CO and NOx from anywhere between 25 percent to a factor of 2. These conflicting claims warrant further investigation. In this study, measurements of NOx and CO taken aboard the NOAA P3B airplane during the 2011 DISCOVER-AQ field campaign were used to determine the NOx/CO emissions ratio at 6 locations in the Washington/Baltimore region. An average molar emissions ratio of 12.8 × 1.2 CO/NOx was found by calculating the change in CO over the change in NOx from vertical concentration profiles in the planetary boundary layer. Ratios showed little variation with location. Observed values were approximately a factor of 1.35 - 1.75 times greater than that predicted by the annual, countywide emissions ratio from the 2008 NEI. When compared to a temporalized, gridded version of the inventory processed by SMOKE, ratio observations were greater than that predicted by inventories by up to a factor of 2. Comparison of the in situ measurements and remotely sensed observations from MOPITT of CO to the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model agree within 10-35 percent, with the model higher on average. Measurements of NOy by two separate analytical techniques, on the other hand, show that CMAQ consistently and significantly overestimates NOy concentrations. Combined with the CO observations, this

The effect of observational learning on students' performance, processes, and motivation in two creative domains.

PubMed

Groenendijk, Talita; Janssen, Tanja; Rijlaarsdam, Gert; van den Bergh, Huub

2013-03-01

Previous research has shown that observation can be effective for learning in various domains, for example, argumentative writing and mathematics. The question in this paper is whether observational learning can also be beneficial when learning to perform creative tasks in visual and verbal arts. We hypothesized that observation has a positive effect on performance, process, and motivation. We expected similarity in competence between the model and the observer to influence the effectiveness of observation. Sample.  A total of 131 Dutch students (10(th) grade, 15 years old) participated. Two experiments were carried out (one for visual and one for verbal arts). Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions; two observational learning conditions and a control condition (learning by practising). The observational learning conditions differed in instructional focus (on the weaker or the more competent model of a pair to be observed). We found positive effects of observation on creative products, creative processes, and motivation in the visual domain. In the verbal domain, observation seemed to affect the creative process, but not the other variables. The model similarity hypothesis was not confirmed. Results suggest that observation may foster learning in creative domains, especially in the visual arts. © 2011 The British Psychological Society.

An Observational Study of Antibiotic Prescribing Behavior and the Hawthorne Effect

PubMed Central

Mangione-Smith, Rita; Elliott, Marc N; McDonald, Laurie; McGlynn, Elizabeth A

2002-01-01

Objectives To assess whether prospective, observational study procedures, including questionnaires and audio recording, are associated with different patterns of physician diagnostic decision making and antibiotic prescribing. Data Sources/Setting (1) Survey data from a prospective observational study of treatment patterns for children with acute upper respiratory illnesses (10/96–3/97) and (2) retrospective medical record abstraction data of nonobserved encounters for the same problems occurring during (10/96–3/97) and one year after (10/97–3/98) the observational study period. Ten pediatricians in two community practices were studied. Study Design Patterns of diagnoses recorded in the medical record and antibiotics ordered for visits occurring outside of the observational study (same time period and one year later) were compared with the pattern of diagnoses and antibiotics ordered during the observational study. Data Collection/Extraction Methods For the observational study (10/96–2/97), diagnosis and treatment choices were obtained from questionnaires completed by physicians immediately following the visit. For the nonstudy encounters (10/96–3/97 and 10/97–3/98), data were abstracted from medical records one year after the observational study was completed. Principal Findings The proportion of viral cases in which an antibiotic was prescribed was 29 percentage points lower for the observational study compared to the retrospective analysis (p <.05). In one of two study sites, the proportion of cases assigned a bacterial diagnosis was 29 percentage points lower in the observational study period compared to the retrospective study (p <.05). Conclusions Observational study procedures including questionnaires and audio recording can affect antibiotic prescribing behavior. Future observational studies aimed at examining the frequency of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing should measure and adjust for the Hawthorne effect; without such adjustments, the

Where Are the Baryons? III. Nonequilibrium Effects and Observables

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cen, Renyue; Fang, Taotao

2006-10-01

A significant fraction (40%-50%) of baryons at the present epoch are predicted to be shock-heated to the warm-hot intergalactic medium (WHIM) by our previous numerical simulations. Here we recompute the evolution of the WHIM with several major improvements: (1) galactic superwind feedback processes from galaxy and star formation are explicitly included; (2) major metal species (O V to O IX) are computed explicitly in a nonequilibrium way; and (3) mass and spatial dynamic ranges are larger by factors of 8 and 2, respectively, than in our previous simulations. We find the following: (1) Nonequilibrium calculations produce significantly different results than do ionization equilibrium calculations. (2) The abundance of O VI absorption lines based on nonequilibrium simulations with galactic superwinds is in remarkably good agreement with the latest observations, strongly validating our model, while the predicted abundances for O VII and O VIII absorption lines appear to be lower than the still very uncertain observations. The expected abundances for O VI (as well as Lyα), O VII, and O VIII absorption systems are in the range 50-100 per unit redshift at equivalent width EW=1 km s-1, decreasing to 10-20 per unit redshift at EW=10 km s-1, to one to three lines for O VII and O VIII and negligible for O VI at EW>100 km s-1. (3) Emission lines, primarily O VI and Lyα in the UV and O VII and O VIII in soft X-rays, are potentially observable by future missions, and different lines provide complementary probes of the WHIM in the temperature-density-metallicity phase space. The number of emission lines per unit redshift that may be detectable by planned UV and soft X-ray missions are of order 0.1-1.

Observer aging and long-term avian survey data quality

PubMed Central

Farmer, Robert G; Leonard, Marty L; Mills Flemming, Joanna E; Anderson, Sean C

2014-01-01

Long-term wildlife monitoring involves collecting time series data, often using the same observers over multiple years. Aging-related changes to these observers may be an important, under-recognized source of error that can bias management decisions. In this study, we used data from two large, independent bird surveys, the Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario (“OBBA”) and the North American Breeding Bird Survey (“BBS”), to test for age-related observer effects in long-term time series of avian presence and abundance. We then considered the effect of such aging phenomena on current population trend estimates. We found significantly fewer detections among older versus younger observers for 13 of 43 OBBA species, and declines in detection as an observer ages for 4 of 6 vocalization groups comprising 59 of 64 BBS species. Consistent with hearing loss influencing this pattern, we also found evidence for increasingly severe detection declines with increasing call frequency among nine high-pitched bird species (OBBA); however, there were also detection declines at other frequencies, suggesting important additional effects of aging, independent of hearing loss. We lastly found subtle, significant relationships between some species' published population trend estimates and (1) their corresponding vocalization frequency (n ≥ 22 species) and (2) their estimated declines in detectability among older observers (n = 9 high-frequency, monotone species), suggesting that observer aging can negatively bias long-term monitoring data for some species in part through hearing loss effects. We recommend that survey designers and modelers account for observer age where possible. PMID:25360286

High School Teachers with Significant Teaching Experience Support the Effectiveness of Direct Instructional Strategies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nikolaros, John

2014-01-01

This research study was conducted to examine the effectiveness of direct instructional strategies regarding the achievement of students with ED. High school teachers with significant years of teaching experience in an urban setting support the effectiveness of direct instructional strategies. Teachers with 11-20 and 21-30 years of teaching…

Testing Mediation in Structural Equation Modeling: The Effectiveness of the Test of Joint Significance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leth-Steensen, Craig; Gallitto, Elena

2016-01-01

A large number of approaches have been proposed for estimating and testing the significance of indirect effects in mediation models. In this study, four sets of Monte Carlo simulations involving full latent variable structural equation models were run in order to contrast the effectiveness of the currently popular bias-corrected bootstrapping…

Observations and impressions from lunar orbit

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mattingly, T. K.; El-Baz, F.; Laidley, R. A.

1972-01-01

On Apollo 16, the command module pilot made observations of particular surface features and processes to complement photographic and other remotely sensed data. Emphasis was placed on geological problems that required the extreme dynamic range and color sensitivities of the human eye; repetitive observations of varying sun angles and viewing directions; and, in some cases, on-the-scene interpretations. Visual observations and impressions recorded during the mission verified the effectiveness of the hardware and techniques used. The orbiting observer functioned both as a sensor, in otherwise inaccessible areas such as earthshine and shadows, and as a designator of potentially significant data that were acquired on the photographic record.

Systematic review of the clinical and cost effectiveness of cholecystectomy versus observation/conservative management for uncomplicated symptomatic gallstones or cholecystitis.

PubMed

Brazzelli, Miriam; Cruickshank, Moira; Kilonzo, Mary; Ahmed, Irfan; Stewart, Fiona; McNamee, Paul; Elders, Andy; Fraser, Cynthia; Avenell, Alison; Ramsay, Craig

2015-03-01

Gallstone disease is a common gastrointestinal disorder in industrialised countries. Although symptoms can be severe, some people can be symptom free for many years after the original attack. Surgery is the current treatment of choice, but evidence suggests that observation is also feasible and safe. We reviewed the evidence on cholecystectomy versus observation for uncomplicated symptomatic gallstones and conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis. We searched six electronic databases (last search April 2014). We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or non-randomised comparative studies where adults received either cholecystectomy or observation/conservative management for the first episode of symptomatic gallstone disease (biliary pain or cholecystitis) being considered for surgery in secondary care. Meta-analysis was used to combine results. A de novo Markov model was developed to assess the cost effectiveness of the interventions. Two RCTs (201 participants) were included. Eighty-eight percent of people randomised to surgery and 45 % of people randomised to observation underwent cholecystectomy during the 14-year follow-up period. Participants randomised to observation were significantly more likely to experience gallstone-related complications (RR = 6.69, 95 % CI = 1.57-28.51, p = 0.01), in particular acute cholecystitis (RR = 9.55, 95 % CI = 1.25-73.27, p = 0.03), and less likely to undergo surgery (RR = 0.50, 95 % CI = 0.34-0.73, p = 0.0004) or experience surgery-related complications (RR = 0.36, 95 % CI = 0.16-0.81, p = 0.01) than those randomised to surgery. Fifty-five percent of people randomised to observation did not require surgery, and 12 % of people randomised to cholecystectomy did not undergo surgery. On average, surgery costs £1,236 more per patient than conservative management, but was more effective. Cholecystectomy is the preferred treatment for symptomatic gallstones. However, approximately half the observation group did not require

Costs and cost-effectiveness of different DOT strategies for the treatment of tuberculosis in Pakistan. Directly Observed Treatment.

PubMed

Khan, M A; Walley, J D; Witter, S N; Imran, A; Safdar, N

2002-06-01

An economic study was conducted alongside a clinical trial at three sites in Pakistan to establish the costs and effectiveness of different strategies for implementing directly observed treatment (DOT) for tuberculosis. Patients were randomly allocated to one of three arms: DOTS with direct observation by health workers (at health centres or by community health workers); DOTS with direct observation by family members; and DOTS without direct observation. The clinical trial found no statistically significant difference in cure rate for the different arms. The economic study collected data on the full range of health service costs and patient costs of the different treatment arms. Data were also disaggregated by gender, rural and urban patients, by treatment site and by economic categories, to investigate the costs of the different strategies, their cost-effectiveness and the impact that they might have on patient compliance with treatment. The study found that direct observation by health centre-based health workers was the least cost-effective of the strategies tested (US dollars 310 per case cured). This is an interesting result, as this is the model recommended by the World Health Organization and International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease. Attending health centres daily during the first 2 months generated high patient costs (direct and in terms of time lost), yet cure rates for this group fell below those of the non-observed group (58%, compared with 62%). One factor suggested by this study is that the high costs of attending may be deterring patients, and in particular, economically active patients who have most to lose from the time taken by direct observation. Without stronger evidence of benefits, it is hard to justify the costs to health services and patients that this type of direct observation imposes. The self-administered group came out as most cost-effective (164 dollars per case cured). The community health worker sub-group achieved the

The rotation of the Sun: Observations at Stanford. [using the Doppler effect

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Scherrer, J. M.; Wilcox, J. M.; Svalgaard, L.

1980-01-01

Daily observations of the photospheric rotation rate using the Doppler effect made at the Stanford Solar Observatory since May 1976 are analyzed. Results show that these observations show no daily or long period variations in the rotation rate that exceed the observational error of about one percent. The average rotation rate is the same as that of the sunspot and the large-scale magnetic field structures.

Observational Study of Human Electrical Muscle Incapacitation and Cardiac Effects

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-05-01

the American College of Cardiology Foundation. Circulation. 2010 Mar 2; 121(8):1047-1060. 12. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and...AFRL-RH-FS-TR-2016-0010 Observational Study of Human Electrical Muscle Incapacitation and Cardiac Effects John A. Gibbons Brian B. Lupfer Alan...Ashworth Human Effectiveness Directorate Bioeffects Division Andrew J. Mojica KBRwyle Inc. Mark E. Peele USARMY MEDCOM Brooke Army Medical Center

The Taxonomic Significance of Species That Have Only Been Observed Once: The Genus Gymnodinium (Dinoflagellata) as an Example

PubMed Central

Thessen, Anne E.; Patterson, David J.; Murray, Shauna A.

2012-01-01

Taxonomists have been tasked with cataloguing and quantifying the Earth’s biodiversity. Their progress is measured in code-compliant species descriptions that include text, images, type material and molecular sequences. It is from this material that other researchers are to identify individuals of the same species in future observations. It has been estimated that 13% to 22% (depending on taxonomic group) of described species have only ever been observed once. Species that have only been observed at the time and place of their original description are referred to as oncers. Oncers are important to our current understanding of biodiversity. They may be validly described species that are members of a rare biosphere, or they may indicate endemism, or that these species are limited to very constrained niches. Alternatively, they may reflect that taxonomic practices are too poor to allow the organism to be re-identified or that the descriptions are unknown to other researchers. If the latter are true, our current tally of species will not be an accurate indication of what we know. In order to investigate this phenomenon and its potential causes, we examined the microbial eukaryote genus Gymnodinium. This genus contains 268 extant species, 103 (38%) of which have not been observed since their original description. We report traits of the original descriptions and interpret them in respect to the status of the species. We conclude that the majority of oncers were poorly described and their identity is ambiguous. As a result, we argue that the genus Gymnodinium contains only 234 identifiable species. Species that have been observed multiple times tend to have longer descriptions, written in English. The styles of individual authors have a major effect, with a few authors describing a disproportionate number of oncers. The information about the taxonomy of Gymnodinium that is available via the internet is incomplete, and reliance on it will not give access to all

On measuring bird habitat: influence of observer variability and sample size

Treesearch

William M. Block; Kimberly A. With; Michael L. Morrison

1987-01-01

We studied the effects of observer variability when estimating vegetation characteristics at 75 0.04-ha bird plots. Observer estimates were significantly different for 31 of 49 variables. Multivariate analyses showed significant interobserver differences for five of the seven classes of variables studied. Variable classes included the height, number, and diameter of...

A general circulation model study of the climatic effect of observed stratospheric ozone depletion between 1980 and 1990

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dudek, Michael P.; Wang, Wei-Chyung; Liang, Xin-Zhong; Li, Zhu

1994-01-01

The total ozone mapping spectrometer (TOMS) and stratospheric aerosol and gas experiment (SAGE) measurements show a significant reduction in the stratospheric ozone over the middle and high latitudes of both hemispheres between the years 1979 and 1991 (WMO, 1992). This change in ozone will effect both the solar and longwave radiation with climate implications. However, recent studies (Ramaswamy et al., 1992; WMO, 1992) indicate that the net effect depends not only on latitudes and seasons, but also on the response of the lower stratospheric temperature. In this study we use a general circulation model (GCM) to calculate the climatic effect due to stratospheric ozone depletion and compare the effect with that due to observed increases of trace gases CO2, CH4, N2O, and CFC's for the period 1980-1990. In the simulations, we use the observed changes in ozone derived from the TOMS data. The GCM used is a version of the NCAR community climate model referenced in Wang et al. (1991). For the present study we run the model in perpetual January and perpetual July modes in which the incoming solar radiation and climatological sea surface temperatures are held constant.

Agreement among Classroom Observers of Children's Stylistic Learning Behaviors.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Buchanan, Helen Hamlet; McDermott, Paul A.; Schaefer, Barbara A.

1998-01-01

Investigates the interobserver agreement of the Learning Behavior Scale (LBS) by educators (n=16) observing students in special-education classes (n=72). No significant observer effect was found. Moreover, the LBS produced comparable levels of differential learning styles for assessments of individual children. (Author/MKA)

Effect of an observer's presence on facial behavior during dyadic communication.

PubMed

Yamamoto, K; Suzuki, N

2012-06-01

In everyday life, people communicate not only with another person but also in front of other people. How do people behave during communication when observed by others? Effects of an observer (presence vs absence) and interpersonal relationship (friends vs strangers vs alone) on facial behavior were examined. Participants viewed film clips that elicited positive affect (film presentation) and discussed their impressions about the clips (conversation). Participants rated their subjective emotions and social motives. Durations of smiles, gazes, and utterances of each participant were coded. The presence of an observer did not affect facial behavior during the film presentation, but did affect gazes during conversation. Whereas the presence of an observer seemed to facilitate affiliation in pairs of strangers, communication between friends was exclusive and not affected by an observer.

Cost-effectiveness of motivational intervention with significant others for patients with alcohol misuse.

PubMed

Shepard, Donald S; Lwin, Aung K; Barnett, Nancy P; Mastroleo, Nadine; Colby, Suzanne M; Gwaltney, Chad; Monti, Peter M

2016-05-01

To estimate the incremental cost, cost-effectiveness and benefit-cost ratio of incorporating a significant other (SO) into motivational intervention for alcohol misuse. We obtained economic data from the one year with the intervention in full operation for patients in a recent randomized trial. The underlying trial took place at a major urban hospital in the United States. The trial randomized 406 (68.7% male) eligible hazardous drinkers (196 during the economic study) admitted to the emergency department or trauma unit. The motivational interview condition consisted of one in-person session featuring personalized normative feedback. The significant other motivational interview condition comprised one joint session with the participant and SO in which the SO's perspective and support were elicited. We ascertained activities across 445 representative time segments through work sampling (including staff idle time), calculated the incremental cost in per patient of incorporating an SO, expressed the results in 2014 US$, incorporated quality and mortality effects from a closely related trial and derived the cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained. From a health system perspective, the incremental cost per patient of adding an SO was $341.09 [95% confidence interval (CI) = $244.44-437.74]. The incremental cost per year per hazardous drinker averted was $3623 (CI = $1777-22,709), the cost per QALY gained $32,200 (CI = $15,800-201,700), and the benefit-cost ratio was 4.73 (95% CI = 0.7-9.66). If adding an SO into the intervention strategy were concentrated during the hours with highest risk or in a trauma unit, it would become even more cost-beneficial. Using criteria established by the World Health Organization (cost-effectiveness below the country's gross domestic product per capita), incorporating a significant other into a patient's motivational intervention for alcohol misuse is highly cost-effective. © 2015 Society for the Study of Addiction.

Effects of motor imagery and action observation on hand grip strength, electromyographic activity and intramuscular oxygenation in the hand gripping gesture: A randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Losana-Ferrer, Alejandro; Manzanas-López, Sergio; Cuenca-Martínez, Ferran; Paris-Alemany, Alba; La Touche, Roy

2018-04-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of motor imagery and action observation combined with a hand grip strength program on the forearm muscles. Sixty subjects were selected and randomized into three groups: motor imagery (n = 20), action observation (n = 20), or a control group (n = 20). Outcome measures included hand grip strength, electromyographical activity and intramuscular oxygenation. The hand grip strength significantly increased in the motor imagery (p < .001) and action observation (p < .001) groups compared with the control group, although there were no differences between the both groups (p = .30). In the electromyographical activity, intra-group significant differences were found in motor imagery (p = .002) and action observation (p = .003) groups, although there were no differences between the both groups (p = 1.00) Intramuscular oxygenation results did not show any statistically significant differences between any of the study groups (p > .05). Our results suggest that both motor imagery and action observation training, combined with a hand grip strength program, present a significant strength gain and significant change in the strength and electromyographical activity of the forearm muscles, however no change was found in intramuscular oxygenation. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Observation of the X-Ray Magneto-Optical Voigt Effect

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

Mertins, H.-Ch.; Oppeneer, P. M.; Kunes, J.

2001-07-23

The existence of the x-ray magneto-optical Voigt effect is demonstrated. By means of polarization analysis the Voigt rotation and ellipticity of linearly polarized synchrotron radiation are measured at the Co L{sub 3} edge upon transmission through an amorphous Co film. The observed x-ray Voigt rotation is about 7.5{sup o}/{mu}m . On the basis of ab initio calculations it is shown that the x-ray Voigt effect follows sensitively the amount of spin polarization of the 2p core states. Therefore it provides a unique measure of the spin splitting of the core states.

Modelling dust polarization observations of molecular clouds through MHD simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

King, Patrick K.; Fissel, Laura M.; Chen, Che-Yu; Li, Zhi-Yun

2018-03-01

The BLASTPol observations of Vela C have provided the most detailed characterization of the polarization fraction p and dispersion in polarization angles S for a molecular cloud. We compare the observed distributions of p and S with those obtained in synthetic observations of simulations of molecular clouds, assuming homogeneous grain alignment. We find that the orientation of the mean magnetic field relative to the observer has a significant effect on the p and S distributions. These distributions for Vela C are most consistent with synthetic observations where the mean magnetic field is close to the line of sight. Our results point to apparent magnetic disorder in the Vela C molecular cloud, although it can be due to either an inclination effect (i.e. observing close to the mean field direction) or significant field tangling from strong turbulence/low magnetization. The joint correlations of p with column density and of S with column density for the synthetic observations generally agree poorly with the Vela C joint correlations, suggesting that understanding these correlations requires a more sophisticated treatment of grain alignment physics.

Effect of Race and Marital Status on Mothers’ Observed Parenting and Adolescent Adjustment in Youth With Type 1 Diabetes

PubMed Central

Young, Mackenzie T.; Gruhn, Meredith A.; Grey, Margaret; Delamater, Alan M.; Jaser, Sarah S.

2015-01-01

Objective To examine demographic differences in parenting behaviors and adjustment in youth with type 1 diabetes. Methods Adolescents’ psychosocial adjustment was assessed via self-reports and parent reports, and clinical data were obtained from adolescents’ medical records. Mother–adolescent dyads (N = 93) engaged in a videotaped discussion task, which was coded for observed parenting behaviors. Results Single and non-White mothers exhibited significantly more overinvolved and less collaborative parenting behaviors. Higher levels of overinvolved parenting and lower levels of collaborative parenting were associated with poorer adolescent adjustment (i.e., higher levels of externalizing problems). Observed parenting was not significantly associated with glycemic control. There was an indirect effect of marital status and race/ethnicity on externalizing behaviors through parenting. Conclusions The current study highlights parenting as a potential target for interventions, especially in single and minority mothers, to improve adjustment in this population. PMID:25248850

Cautionary tales in the interpretation of observational studies of effects of clinical interventions.

PubMed

Scott, I A; Attia, J

2017-02-01

Observational studies of the effectiveness of clinical interventions are proliferating as more 'real-world' clinical data (so called 'big data') are gathered from clinical registries, administrative datasets and electronic health records. While well-conducted randomised controlled trials (RCT) remain the scientific standard in assessing the efficacy of clinical interventions, well-designed observational studies may add to the evidence base of effectiveness in situations where RCT are of limited value or very difficult to perform. Rather than dismissing observational studies, we need to determine what circumstances may justify doing an observational study and when the study is sufficiently rigorous to be considered reasonably trustworthy. This article proposes criteria by which users of the literature might make such determinations. © 2016 Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

The effects of thermal gradients on the Mars Observer Camera primary mirror

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Applewhite, Roger W.; Telkamp, Arthur R.

1992-01-01

The paper discusses the effect of thermal gradients on the optical performance of the primary mirror of Mars Observer Camera (MOC), which will be launched on the Mars Observer spacecraft in September 1992. It was found that mild temperature gradients can have a large effect on the mirror surface figure, even for relatively low coefficient-of-thermal-expansion materials. However, in the case of the MOC primary mirror, it was found that the radius of curvature (ROC) of the reflective surface of the mirror changed in a nearly linear fashion with the radial temperature gradient, with little additional aberration. A solid-state ROC controller using the thermal gradient effect was implemented and verified.

Non-Targeted Effects Models Predict Significantly Higher Mars Mission Cancer Risk than Targeted Effects Models

DOE PAGES

Cucinotta, Francis A.; Cacao, Eliedonna

2017-05-12

Cancer risk is an important concern for galactic cosmic ray (GCR) exposures, which consist of a wide-energy range of protons, heavy ions and secondary radiation produced in shielding and tissues. Relative biological effectiveness (RBE) factors for surrogate cancer endpoints in cell culture models and tumor induction in mice vary considerable, including significant variations for different tissues and mouse strains. Many studies suggest non-targeted effects (NTE) occur for low doses of high linear energy transfer (LET) radiation, leading to deviation from the linear dose response model used in radiation protection. Using the mouse Harderian gland tumor experiment, the only extensive data-setmore » for dose response modelling with a variety of particle types (>4), for the first-time a particle track structure model of tumor prevalence is used to investigate the effects of NTEs in predictions of chronic GCR exposure risk. The NTE model led to a predicted risk 2-fold higher compared to a targeted effects model. The scarcity of data with animal models for tissues that dominate human radiation cancer risk, including lung, colon, breast, liver, and stomach, suggest that studies of NTEs in other tissues are urgently needed prior to long-term space missions outside the protection of the Earth’s geomagnetic sphere.« less

Non-Targeted Effects Models Predict Significantly Higher Mars Mission Cancer Risk than Targeted Effects Models

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

Cucinotta, Francis A.; Cacao, Eliedonna

Cancer risk is an important concern for galactic cosmic ray (GCR) exposures, which consist of a wide-energy range of protons, heavy ions and secondary radiation produced in shielding and tissues. Relative biological effectiveness (RBE) factors for surrogate cancer endpoints in cell culture models and tumor induction in mice vary considerable, including significant variations for different tissues and mouse strains. Many studies suggest non-targeted effects (NTE) occur for low doses of high linear energy transfer (LET) radiation, leading to deviation from the linear dose response model used in radiation protection. Using the mouse Harderian gland tumor experiment, the only extensive data-setmore » for dose response modelling with a variety of particle types (>4), for the first-time a particle track structure model of tumor prevalence is used to investigate the effects of NTEs in predictions of chronic GCR exposure risk. The NTE model led to a predicted risk 2-fold higher compared to a targeted effects model. The scarcity of data with animal models for tissues that dominate human radiation cancer risk, including lung, colon, breast, liver, and stomach, suggest that studies of NTEs in other tissues are urgently needed prior to long-term space missions outside the protection of the Earth’s geomagnetic sphere.« less

Pinatubo eruption winter climate effects: Model versus observations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Graf, HANS-F.; Kirchner, Ingo; Schult, Ingrid; Robock, Alan

1992-01-01

Large volcanic eruptions, in addition to the well-known effect of producing global cooling for a year or two, have been observed to produce shorter-term responses in the climate system involving non-linear dynamical processes. In this paper, we use the ECHAM2 general circulation model forced with stratospheric aerosols to test some of these ideas. Run in a perpetual-January mode, with tropical stratospheric heating from the volcanic aerosols typical of the 1982 El Chichon eruption or the 1991 Pinatubo eruption, we find a dynamical response with an increased polar night jet in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) and stronger zonal winds which extended down into the troposphere. The Azores High shifts northward with increased tropospheric westerlies at 60N and increased easterlies at 30N. Surface temperatures are higher both in northern Eurasia and North America, in agreement with observations for the NH winters or 1982-83 and 1991-92 as well as the winters following the other 10 largest volcanic eruptions since 1883.

Analysis of Hanle-effect signals observed in Si-channel spin accumulation devices

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

Takamura, Yota, E-mail: takamura@spin.pe.titech.ac.jp; Department of Physical Electronics, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1, Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8552; Akushichi, Taiju

2014-05-07

We reexamined curve-fitting analysis for spin-accumulation signals observed in Si-channel spin-accumulation devices, employing widely-used Lorentz functions and a new formula developed from the spin diffusion equation. A Si-channel spin-accumulation device with a high quality ferromagnetic spin injector was fabricated, and its observed spin-accumulation signals were verified. Experimentally obtained Hanle-effect signals for spin accumulation were not able to be fitted by a single Lorentz function and were reproduced by the newly developed formula. Our developed formula can represent spin-accumulation signals and thus analyze Hanle-effect signals.

Chronic administration of ethanol leaf extract of Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) may compromise glycaemic efficacy of Sitagliptin with no significant effect in retinopathy in a diabetic rat model.

PubMed

Olurishe, Comfort; Kwanashie, Helen; Zezi, Abdulkadiri; Danjuma, Nuhu; Mohammed, Bisalla

2016-12-24

Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) has gained awareness for its antidiabetic effect, and is used as alternative therapy or concurrently with orthodox medicines such as sitagliptin in diabetes mellitus. This is without ascertaining the possibility of drug-herb interactions, which could either lead to enhanced antidiabetic efficacy, increased toxicity, or compromised glycaemic control with negative consequence in diabetic retinopathy. To investigate the effect, of sitagliptin (50mg/kg), Moringa oleifera (300mg/kg) leaf extract, and a combination of both on glycaemic control parameters, lenticular opacity and changes in retinal microvasculature in alloxan (150mg/kg i.p) induced diabetic rat model. Seven groups of eight rats per group were used, with groups I, II and VII as normal (NC), diabetic (DC) and post-prandial controls (PPC). Groups III to VI were diabetic rats on sitagliptin (III), M. oleifera (IV), sitagliptin and M. oleifera (SM) (V), for 42 days with 2 weeks delayed treatment in a post-prandial hyperglycaemic group (PPSM) (VI). Glycaemic control parameters, insulin levels, body weights, and effects of retinal microvasculature on lenticular opacity/morphology were investigated. A significant decrease in fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels was displayed in SM group from day 14(60%) (p<0.01) to day 28 (38%) (p<0.01) of treatment, compared to day 1. Thereafter, a steady increase of up to 57% on day 42 compared to day 28 was observed. A significant decrease in random blood glucose (RBG) levels, were demonstrated on day 42 (24%) (p<0.001), compared to day 1. No significant difference was seen in mean serum levels of insulin across groups. No significant changes in body weights. Evidence of mild lenticular opacity was observed, with no significant effect in pathologic lesions in the retina. The chronic co-administration of sitagliptin and M. oleifera showed a progressive decrease in anti-hyperglycaemic effect of sitagliptin, and although it delayed the onset of

The occurrence of Simpson's paradox if site-level effect was ignored in the TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database.

PubMed

Jiamsakul, Awachana; Kerr, Stephen J; Chandrasekaran, Ezhilarasi; Huelgas, Aizobelle; Taecharoenkul, Sineenart; Teeraananchai, Sirinya; Wan, Gang; Ly, Penh Sun; Kiertiburanakul, Sasisopin; Law, Matthew

2016-08-01

In multisite human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) observational cohorts, clustering of observations often occurs within sites. Ignoring clustering may lead to "Simpson's paradox" (SP) where the trend observed in the aggregated data is reversed when the groups are separated. This study aimed to investigate the SP in an Asian HIV cohort and the effects of site-level adjustment through various Cox regression models. Survival time from combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) initiation was analyzed using four Cox models: (1) no site adjustment; (2) site as a fixed effect; (3) stratification through site; and (4) shared frailty on site. A total of 6,454 patients were included from 23 sites in Asia. SP was evident in the year of cART initiation variable. Model (1) shows the hazard ratio (HR) for years 2010-2014 was higher than the HR for 2006-2009, compared to 2003-2005 (HR = 0.68 vs. 0.61). Models (2)-(4) consistently implied greater improvement in survival for those who initiated in 2010-2014 than 2006-2009 contrasting findings from model (1). The effects of other significant covariates on survival were similar across four models. Ignoring site can lead to SP causing reversal of treatment effects. Greater emphasis should be made to include site in survival models when possible. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The effect of parents' conversational style and disciplinary knowledge on children's observation of biological phenomena

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eberbach, Catherine

This study was designed to better understand how children begin to make the transition from seeing the natural world to scientifically observing the natural world during shared family activity in an informal learning environment. Specifically, this study addressed research questions: (1) What is the effect of differences in parent conversational style and disciplinary knowledge on children's observations of biological phenomena? (2) What is the relationship between parent disciplinary knowledge and conversational style to children's observations of biological phenomena? and (3) Can parents, regardless of knowledge, be trained to use a teaching strategy with their children that can be implemented in informal learning contexts? To address these questions, 79 parent-child dyads with children 6-10 years old participated in a controlled study in which half of the parents used their natural conversational style and the other half were trained to use particular conversational strategies during family observations of pollination in a botanical garden. Parents were also assigned to high and low knowledge groups according to their disciplinary knowledge of pollination. Data sources included video recordings of parent-child observations in a garden, pre-post child tasks, and parent surveys. Findings revealed that parents who received training used the conversational strategies more than parents who used their natural conversational style. Parents and children who knew more about pollination at the start of the study exhibited higher levels of disciplinary talk in the garden, which is to be expected. However, the use of the conversational strategies also increased the amount of disciplinary talk in the garden, independent of what families knew about pollination. The extent to which families engaged in disciplinary talk in the garden predicted significant variance in children's post-test scores. In addition to these findings, an Observation Framework (Eberbach & Crowley, 2009

Effect of formative evaluation using direct observation of procedural skills in assessment of postgraduate students of obstetrics and gynecology: Prospective study.

PubMed

Kumar, Naina; Singh, Namit Kant; Rudra, Samar; Pathak, Swanand

2017-01-01

Direct Observation of Procedural Skills (DOPS) is a way of evaluating procedural skills through observation in the workplace. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of DOPS in teaching and assessment of postgraduate students and to know the effect of repeated DOPS on improvement of the skills and confidence of the students. In both phases, significant difference was observed between the two groups on first DOPS comparison (1st phase: p=0.000; 2nd phase: p=0.002), with simulation group performing better. Comparison of sixth DOPS in the two groups revealed no difference in both phases, but significant difference on first and sixth DOPS comparison in each group (p=0.000). Repeated DOPS results in improved skills and confidence of students in managing real life obstetric emergencies irrespective of the teaching modality. Repeated DOPS results in improved skills and confidence of students in managing real life obstetric emergencies irrespective of the teaching modality.

Eating under observation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect that heightened awareness of observation has on laboratory measured energy intake.

PubMed

Robinson, Eric; Hardman, Charlotte A; Halford, Jason C G; Jones, Andrew

2015-08-01

Laboratory paradigms are commonly used to study human energy intake. However, the extent to which participants believe their eating behavior is being measured may affect energy intake and is a methodologic factor that has received little consideration. Our main objective was to examine available evidence for the effect that heightened awareness of observation has on energy intake in a laboratory setting. We systematically reviewed laboratory studies that allowed for experimental examination of the effect that heightened awareness of observation has on energy intake. From these experimental studies we combined effect estimates using inverse variance meta-analysis, calculating the standardized mean difference (SMD) in energy intake between heightened-awareness and control conditions and qualitatively synthesized potential moderators of this effect. Nine studies, providing 22 comparisons, were eligible for inclusion. These studies largely sampled young women and examined the energy intake of energy-dense snack foods. Evidence indicated that heightened awareness of observation was associated with reduced energy intake when compared with the control condition (random-effects SMD: 0.45; 95% CI: 0.25, 0.66; P < 0.0001). We found little evidence that the type of experimental manipulation used to heighten awareness moderated the overall effect. The available evidence to date suggests that heightened awareness of observation reduces energy intake in a laboratory setting. These findings suggest that laboratory studies should attempt to minimize the degree to which participants are aware that their eating behavior is being measured. © 2015 American Society for Nutrition.

Effects of chlorhexidine gluconate oral care on hospital mortality: a hospital-wide, observational cohort study.

PubMed

Deschepper, Mieke; Waegeman, Willem; Eeckloo, Kristof; Vogelaers, Dirk; Blot, Stijn

2018-05-09

Chlorhexidine oral care is widely used in critically and non-critically ill hospitalized patients to maintain oral health. We investigated the effect of chlorhexidine oral care on mortality in a general hospitalized population. In this single-center, retrospective, hospital-wide, observational cohort study we included adult hospitalized patients (2012-2014). Mortality associated with chlorhexidine oral care was assessed by logistic regression analysis. A threshold cumulative dose of 300 mg served as a dichotomic proxy for chlorhexidine exposure. We adjusted for demographics, diagnostic category, and risk of mortality expressed in four categories (minor, moderate, major, and extreme). The study cohort included 82,274 patients of which 11,133 (14%) received chlorhexidine oral care. Low-level exposure to chlorhexidine oral care (≤ 300 mg) was associated with increased risk of death [odds ratio (OR) 2.61; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.32-2.92]. This association was stronger among patients with a lower risk of death: OR 5.50 (95% CI 4.51-6.71) with minor/moderate risk, OR 2.33 (95% CI 1.96-2.78) with a major risk, and a not significant OR 1.13 (95% CI 0.90-1.41) with an extreme risk of mortality. Similar observations were made for high-level exposure (> 300 mg). No harmful effect was observed in ventilated and non-ventilated ICU patients. Increased risk of death was observed in patients who did not receive mechanical ventilation and were not admitted to ICUs. The adjusted number of patients needed to be exposed to result in one additional fatality case was 47.1 (95% CI 45.2-49.1). These data argue against the indiscriminate widespread use of chlorhexidine oral care in hospitalized patients, in the absence of proven benefit in specific populations.

Predictors of treatment with dialysis modalities in observational studies for comparative effectiveness research*

PubMed Central

Kuttykrishnan, Sooraj; Kalantar-Zadeh, Kamyar; Arah, Onyebuchi A.; Cheung, Alfred K.; Brunelli, Steve; Heagerty, Patrick J.; Katz, Ronit; Molnar, Miklos Z.; Nissenson, Allen; Ravel, Vanessa; Streja, Elani; Himmelfarb, Jonathan; Mehrotra, Rajnish

2015-01-01

Background The Institute of Medicine has identified the comparative effectiveness of renal replacement therapies as a kidney-related topic among the top 100 national priorities. Given the importance of ensuring internal and external validity, the goal of this study was to identify potential sources of bias in observational studies that compare outcomes with different dialysis modalities. Methods This observational cohort study used data from the electronic medical records of all patients that started maintenance dialysis in the calendar years 2007–2011 and underwent treatment for at least 60 days in any of the 2217 facilities operated by DaVita Inc. Each patient was assigned one of six dialysis modalities for each 91-day period from the date of first dialysis (thrice weekly in-center hemodialysis (HD), peritoneal dialysis (PD), less-frequent HD, home HD, frequent HD and nocturnal in-center HD). Results Of the 162 644 patients, 18% underwent treatment with a modality other than HD for at least one 91-day period. Except for PD, patients started treatment with alternative modalities after variable lengths of treatment with HD; the time until a change in modality was shortest for less-frequent HD (median time = 6 months) and longest for frequent HD (median time = 15 months). Between 30 and 78% of patients transferred to another dialysis facility prior to change in modality. Finally, there were significant differences in baseline and time-varying clinical characteristics associated with dialysis modality. Conclusions This analysis identified numerous potential sources of bias in studies of the comparative effectiveness of dialysis modalities. PMID:25883196

Significant differences in pediatric psychotropic side effects: Implications for school performance.

PubMed

Kubiszyn, Thomas; Mire, Sarah; Dutt, Sonia; Papathopoulos, Katina; Burridge, Andrea Backsheider

2012-03-01

Some side effects (SEs) of increasingly prescribed psychotropic medications can impact student performance in school. SE risk varies, even among drugs from the same class (e.g., antidepressants). Knowing which SEs occur significantly more often than others may enable school psychologists to enhance collaborative risk-benefit analysis, medication monitoring, data-based decision-making, and inform mitigation efforts. SE data from Full Prescribing Information (PI) on the FDA website for ADHD drugs, atypical antipsychotics, and antidepressants with pediatric indications were analyzed. Risk ratios (RR) are reported for each drug within a category compared with placebo. RR tables and graphs inform the reader about SE incidence differences for each drug and provide clear evidence of the wide variability in SE incidence in the FDA data. Breslow-Day and Cochran Mantel-Haenszel methods were used to test for drug-placebo SE differences and to test for significance across drugs within each category based on odds ratios (ORs). Significant drug-placebo differences were found for each drug compared with placebo, when odds were pooled across all drugs in a category compared with placebo, and between some drugs within categories. Unexpectedly, many large RR differences did not reach significance. Potential explanations are offered, including limitations of the FDA data sets and statistical and methodological issues. Future research directions are offered. The potential impact of certain SEs on school performance, mitigation strategies, and the potential role of the school psychologist is discussed, with consideration for ethical and legal limitations. (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved.

The effect of viewing distance on observer performance in skeletal radiographs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Butler, M. L.; Lowe, J.; Toomey, R. J.; Maher, M.; Evanoff, M. E.; Rainford, L.

2013-03-01

A number of different viewing distances are recommended by international agencies, however none with specific reference to radiologist performance. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the extent to which radiologists performance is affected by viewing distance on softcopy skeletal reporting. Eighty dorsi-palmar (DP) wrist radiographs, of which half feature 1 or more fractures, were viewed by seven observers at 2 viewing distances, 30cm and 70cm. Observers rated the images as normal or not on a scale of 1 to 5 and could mark multiple locations on the images when they visualised a fracture. Viewing distance was measured from the centre of the face plate to the outer canthus of the eye. The DBM MRM analysis showed no statistically significant differences between the area under the curve for the two distances (p = 0.482). The JAFROC analysis, however, demonstrated a statistically significantly higher area under the curve with the 30cm viewing distance than with the 70 cm distance (p = 0.035). This suggests that while observers were able to make decisions about whether an image contained a fracture or not equally well at both viewing distances, they may have been less reliable in terms of fracture localisation or detection of multiple fractures. The impact of viewing distance warrants further attention from both clinical and scientific perspectives.

Effect of rural practice observation on the anxiety of medical students.

PubMed

Aydin, Se; Yaris, F; Dikici, M F; Artiran Igde, F

2015-01-01

The aim of this study is to identify the level and causes of anxiety of sixth year medical students related to working in a rural area and the effect of a 1-day mobile rural health service observation on their anxiety. In the Ondokuz Mayis University Medical School in Samsun, Turkey, 212 students participated in a 1-day mobile rural health service led by a family physician. Between June 2011 and June 2013, during their family medicine internship, each student completed a structured questionnaire and a State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) before and after the observation. A total of 85.8% of the students preferred to work in an urban area compared to 14.2%, who preferred a rural area. Currently, 89.6% of the students live in an urban area while 84.4% had lived in an urban area during most of their childhood. A total of 18.5% had no opinion about living conditions in a rural area, 71.7% thought they would be able to deal with the challenges, and 52.4% said the idea of working in a rural area made them anxious. Those students who had lived in a rural area as a child were found to be less anxious about working in a rural area. The association between the preferred work area and the student's anxiety about working in a rural area was statistically significant (p<0.001). Of the students, 76.8% thought that rural areas are more difficult places to work; a major reason for this as stated by 76.4% was the desire to have access to easy transportation. Difficult living conditions was noted by the students as their main reason for not wanting to work in a rural areas. Of the students, 77.8% answered that the 1-day rural health service observation positively affected their perspective on working in a rural area. There were 102 (48.1%) anxious students before the observation and the total decreased to 87 (41%) after the observation. Difficult living conditions were the main reason for students' anxiety about working in a rural area. Most of the students answered that the

Effectiveness of influenza vaccination for children in Japan: Four-year observational study using a large-scale claims database.

PubMed

Shibata, Natsumi; Kimura, Shinya; Hoshino, Takahiro; Takeuchi, Masato; Urushihara, Hisashi

2018-05-11

To date, few large-scale comparative effectiveness studies of influenza vaccination have been conducted in Japan, since marketing authorization for influenza vaccines in Japan has been granted based only on the results of seroconversion and safety in small-sized populations in clinical trial phases not on the vaccine effectiveness. We evaluated the clinical effectiveness of influenza vaccination for children aged 1-15 years in Japan throughout four influenza seasons from 2010 to 2014 in the real world setting. We conducted a cohort study using a large-scale claims database for employee health care insurance plans covering more than 3 million people, including enrollees and their dependents. Vaccination status was identified using plan records for the influenza vaccination subsidies. The effectiveness of influenza vaccination in preventing influenza and its complications was evaluated. To control confounding related to influenza vaccination, odds ratios (OR) were calculated by applying a doubly robust method using the propensity score for vaccination. Total study population throughout the four consecutive influenza seasons was over 116,000. Vaccination rate was higher in younger children and in the recent influenza seasons. Throughout the four seasons, the estimated ORs for influenza onset were statistically significant and ranged from 0.797 to 0.894 after doubly robust adjustment. On age stratification, significant ORs were observed in younger children. Additionally, ORs for influenza complication outcomes, such as pneumonia, hospitalization with influenza and respiratory tract diseases, were significantly reduced, except for hospitalization with influenza in the 2010/2011 and 2012/2013 seasons. We confirmed the clinical effectiveness of influenza vaccination in children aged 1-15 years from the 2010/2011 to 2013/2014 influenza seasons. Influenza vaccine significantly prevented the onset of influenza and was effective in reducing its secondary complications

Fluorescence and photodynamic effects of bacteriochlorin a observed in vivo in 'sandwich' observation chambers.

PubMed Central

van Leengoed, H. L.; Schuitmaker, J. J.; van der Veen, N.; Dubbelman, T. M.; Star, W. M.

1993-01-01

Bacteriochlorin a (BCA), a derivative of bacteriochlorphyll a, is an effective photosensitiser in vitro and in vivo. BCA has a major absorption peak at 760 nm where tissue penetration is optimal. This property, together with rapid tissue clearance promises minor skin photosensitivity. The tissue localising and photodynamic properties of BCA were studied using isogeneic RMA mammary tumours, transplanted into subcutaneous tissue in transparent 'sandwich' observation chambers on the back of WAG/Rij rats. The fluorescence kinetics following an i.v. administration of 20 mg kg-1 BCA was assessed in blood vessels, tumour and normal tissue. Subsequently, the development of vascular- and tissue damage after a therapeutic light dose (760 nm, 600 J cm-2) was observed. Fifteen minutes post injection (p.i.), the fluorescence of BCA in the tumour reached a plateau value of 2.5 times the fluorescence in the normal tissue. From 1 h post injection the tumour fluorescence diminished gradually; after 24 h, the tumour fluorescence signal did not exceed that of the normal tissue. Following photodynamic therapy (PDT), 24 h p.i., complete vascular stasis was observed 2 h post treatment in the tumour only, with subsequent recovery. The presence of viable tumour cells following PDT was assessed by histology and re-transplantation of treated tumour tissue from the chamber into the flank immediately or 7 days after treatment. In both cases tumour regrowth was observed. BCA-PDT (20 mg kg-1, 760 nm, 100 J cm-2) 1 h after BCA administration, an interval which gives the optimal differential between tumour and normal tissue, was sufficient to prevent tumour regrowth. However, this only occurred when re-transplantation was performed 7 days after PDT. During PDT, 1 h p.i., vascular damage in tumour and normal tissue was considerable. Complete vascular shut-down was observed in the tumour 2 h after therapy and in the surrounding tissues at 24 h. Circulation damage was associated with vascular spasm

Benchmarking Controlled Trial--a novel concept covering all observational effectiveness studies.

PubMed

Malmivaara, Antti

2015-06-01

The Benchmarking Controlled Trial (BCT) is a novel concept which covers all observational studies aiming to assess effectiveness. BCTs provide evidence of the comparative effectiveness between health service providers, and of effectiveness due to particular features of the health and social care systems. BCTs complement randomized controlled trials (RCTs) as the sources of evidence on effectiveness. This paper presents a definition of the BCT; compares the position of BCTs in assessing effectiveness with that of RCTs; presents a checklist for assessing methodological validity of a BCT; and pilot-tests the checklist with BCTs published recently in the leading medical journals.

Benchmarking Controlled Trial—a novel concept covering all observational effectiveness studies

PubMed Central

Malmivaara, Antti

2015-01-01

Abstract The Benchmarking Controlled Trial (BCT) is a novel concept which covers all observational studies aiming to assess effectiveness. BCTs provide evidence of the comparative effectiveness between health service providers, and of effectiveness due to particular features of the health and social care systems. BCTs complement randomized controlled trials (RCTs) as the sources of evidence on effectiveness. This paper presents a definition of the BCT; compares the position of BCTs in assessing effectiveness with that of RCTs; presents a checklist for assessing methodological validity of a BCT; and pilot-tests the checklist with BCTs published recently in the leading medical journals. PMID:25965700

Computerized X-ray Microtomography Observations and Fluid Flow Measurements of the Effect of Effective Stress on Fractured Reservoir Seal Shale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Welch, N.; Crawshaw, J.; Boek, E.

2014-12-01

The successful storage of carbon dioxide in geologic formations requires an in-depth understanding of all reservoir characteristics and morphologies. An intact and substantial seal formation above a storage reservoir is required for a significant portion of the initial sealing mechanisms believed to occur during carbon dioxide storage operations. Shales are a common seal formation rock types found above numerous hydrocarbon reservoirs, as well as potential saline aquifer storage locations. Shales commonly have very low permeability, however they also have the tendency to be quite fissile, and the formation of fractures within these seals can have a significant detrimental effect on the sealing potential of a reservoir and amount to large areas of high permeability and low capillary pressures compared to the surrounding intact rock. Fractured shales also have an increased current interest due to the increasing development of shale gas reservoirs using hydraulic fracturing techniques. This work shows the observed changes that occur within fractured pieces of reservoir seal shale samples, along with quarry analogues, using an in-situ micro-CT fluid flow imaging apparatus with a Hassler type core holder. Changes within the preferential flow path under different stress regimes as well as physical changes to the fracture geometry are reported. Lattice Boltzmann flow simulations were then performed on the extracted flow paths and compared to experiment permeability measurements. The preferential flow path of carbon dioxide through the fracture network is also observed and compared to the results two-phase Lattice Boltzmann fluid flow simulations.

Observation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Patell, Hilla

2016-01-01

In order to achieve the goal of observation, preparation of the adult, the observer, is necessary. This preparation, says Hilla Patell, requires us to "have an appreciation of the significance of the child's spontaneous activities and a more thorough understanding of the child's needs." She discusses the growth of both the desire to…

Specialized inpatient treatment of adult anorexia nervosa: effectiveness and clinical significance of changes.

PubMed

Schlegl, Sandra; Quadflieg, Norbert; Löwe, Bernd; Cuntz, Ulrich; Voderholzer, Ulrich

2014-09-06

Previous studies have predominantly evaluated the effectiveness of inpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa at the group level. The aim of this study was to evaluate treatment outcomes at an individual level based on the clinical significance of improvement. Patients' treatment outcomes were classified into four groups: deteriorated, unchanged, reliably improved and clinically significantly improved. Furthermore, the study set out to explore predictors of clinically significant changes in eating disorder psychopathology. A total of 435 inpatients were assessed at admission and at discharge on the following measures: body-mass-index, eating disorder symptoms, general psychopathology, depression and motivation for change. 20.0-32.0% of patients showed reliable changes and 34.1-55.3% showed clinically significant changes in the various outcome measures. Between 23.0% and 34.5% remained unchanged and between 1.7% and 3.0% deteriorated. Motivation for change and depressive symptoms were identified as positive predictors of clinically significant changes in eating disorder psychopathology, whereas body dissatisfaction, impulse regulation, social insecurity and education were negative predictors. Despite high rates of reliable and clinically significant changes following intensive inpatient treatment, about one third of anorexia nervosa patients showed no significant response to treatment. Future studies should focus on the identification of non-responders as well as on the development of treatment strategies for these patients.

The effect of domain length and parameter estimation on observation impact in data assimilation for flood inundation forecasting.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cooper, Elizabeth; Dance, Sarah; Garcia-Pintado, Javier; Nichols, Nancy; Smith, Polly

2017-04-01

Timely and accurate inundation forecasting provides vital information about the behaviour of fluvial flood water, enabling mitigating actions to be taken by residents and emergency services. Data assimilation is a powerful mathematical technique for combining forecasts from hydrodynamic models with observations to produce a more accurate forecast. We discuss the effect of both domain size and channel friction parameter estimation on observation impact in data assimilation for inundation forecasting. Numerical shallow water simulations are carried out in a simple, idealized river channel topography. Data assimilation is performed using an Ensemble Transform Kalman Filter (ETKF) and synthetic observations of water depth in identical twin experiments. We show that reinitialising the numerical inundation model with corrected water levels after an assimilation can cause an initialisation shock if a hydrostatic assumption is made, leading to significant degradation of the forecast for several hours immediately following an assimilation. We demonstrate an effective and novel method for dealing with this. We find that using data assimilation to combine observations of water depth with forecasts from a hydrodynamic model corrects the forecast very effectively at time of the observations. In agreement with other authors we find that the corrected forecast then moves quickly back to the open loop forecast which does not take the observations into account. Our investigations show that the time taken for the forecast to decay back to the open loop case depends on the length of the domain of interest when only water levels are corrected. This is because the assimilation corrects water depths in all parts of the domain, even when observations are only available in one area. Error growth in the forecast step then starts at the upstream part of the domain and propagates downstream. The impact of the observations is therefore longer-lived in a longer domain. We have found that the

[Clinical observation on the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture combined with cupping on post-stroke fatigue].

PubMed

Zhou, Yuan; Zhou, Guo-Ying; Li, Shao-Kun; Jin, Jian-Hong

2010-10-01

To observe the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) combined with cupping at the lumbo-back on post-stroke fatigue. A total of 128 cases of post-stroke fatigue patients were randomly divided into EA + cupping group and medication group, with 64 cases in each group. EA (20 Hz, 2 mA) was applied to Baihui (GV 20), Yintang (EX-HN 3), Shuigou (GV 26), Hegu (LI 4), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), and Taichong (LR 3) for 30 min, once daily for 30 times, and cupping was applied at the patient's lumbo-back region once every two days, and continuously for 5 weeks. Patients of medication group were ordered to take compound aminobutyric acid vitamin E capsule (20 mg, t. i.d, po), magnesium gluconate solution (10 mL, t. i. d, po), sertraline hydrochloridetablet (50 mg, qd, po) for 5 weeks. The Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale (SS-QOL) was used to evaluate the patients' energy state. After the treatment, the energy scores of SS-QOL of both EA + cupping and medication groups were increased significantly in comparison with the pre-treatment in each group (P < 0.05), and that of the EA+ cupping group was significantly higher than the score of the medication group (P < 0.05). Of the two 64 cases in EA + cupping group and medication group, 42 and 23 were recovered basically, 13 and 13 experienced marked improvement, 7 and 18 were effective, 2 and 10 failed in the treatment, with the effective rates being 96.87% and 84.37% respectively. The effective rate of EA + cupping group was obviously higher than that of medication group (P < 0.01). EA+ cupping at the lumbo-back can effectively relieve fatigue of post-stroke patients, and its therapeutic effect is superior to medication.

Observation of anomalous Hall effect in a non-magnetic two-dimensional electron system

PubMed Central

Maryenko, D.; Mishchenko, A. S.; Bahramy, M. S.; Ernst, A.; Falson, J.; Kozuka, Y.; Tsukazaki, A.; Nagaosa, N.; Kawasaki, M.

2017-01-01

Anomalous Hall effect, a manifestation of Hall effect occurring in systems without time-reversal symmetry, has been mostly observed in ferromagnetically ordered materials. However, its realization in high-mobility two-dimensional electron system remains elusive, as the incorporation of magnetic moments deteriorates the device performance compared to non-doped structure. Here we observe systematic emergence of anomalous Hall effect in various MgZnO/ZnO heterostructures that exhibit quantum Hall effect. At low temperatures, our nominally non-magnetic heterostructures display an anomalous Hall effect response similar to that of a clean ferromagnetic metal, while keeping a large anomalous Hall effect angle θAHE≈20°. Such a behaviour is consistent with Giovannini–Kondo model in which the anomalous Hall effect arises from the skew scattering of electrons by localized paramagnetic centres. Our study unveils a new aspect of many-body interactions in two-dimensional electron systems and shows how the anomalous Hall effect can emerge in a non-magnetic system. PMID:28300133

Effects of Solar Irradiance on Ion Fluxes at Mars. MARS EXPRESS and MAVEN Observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dubinin, E.; Fraenz, M.; McFadden, J. P.; Eparvier, F. G.; Brain, D. A.; Jakosky, B. M.; Andrews, D. J.; Barbash, S.

2016-12-01

Recent observations by Mars Express and MAVEN spacecraft have shown that the Martian atmosphere/ionosphere is exposed to the impact of solar wind which results in losses of volatiles from Mars. This erosion is an important factor for the evolution of the Martian atmosphere and its water inventory. To estimate the escape forced by the solar wind during the early Solar system conditions we need to know how the ionosphere of Mars and escape fluxes depend on variations in the strength of the external drivers, in particularly, of solar wind and solar EUV flux. We present multi-instrument observations of the influence of the solar irradiance on the Martian ionosphere and escape fluxes. We use data obtained by the ASPERA-3 and MARSIS experiments on Mars Express and by the STATIC instrument and EUV monitor on MAVEN. Observations by Mars Express supplemented by the EUV monitoring at Earth orbit and translated to Mars orbit provide us information about this dependence over more than 10 years whereas the measurements made by MAVEN provide us for the first time the opportunity to study these processes with simultaneous monitoring of the ionospheric variations, planetary ion fluxes and solar irradiance. We can show that fluxes of planetary ions through different escape channels (trans-terminator fluxes, ion plume, plasma sheet) respond differently on the EUV variations. The most significant effect on the ion scavenging with increase of the solar irradiance is observed for low energy ions extracted from the ionosphere while the ion fluxes in the plume are almost insensitive to the EUV variations.

Observational Consequences of an Interacting Multiverse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Robles-Pérez, Salvador

2017-05-01

The observability of the multiverse is at the very root of its physical significance as a scientific proposal. In this conference we present, within the third quantization formalism, an interacting scheme between the wave functions of different universes and analyze the effects of some particular values of the coupling function. One of the main consequences of the interaction between universes can be the appearance of a pre-inflationary stage in the evolution of the universes that might leave observable consequences in the properties of the CMB.

Effects of Observing Eye Contact on Gaze Following in High-Functioning Autism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Böckler, Anne; Timmermans, Bert; Sebanz, Natalie; Vogeley, Kai; Schilbach, Leonhard

2014-01-01

Observing eye contact between others enhances the tendency to subsequently follow their gaze and has been suggested to function as a social signal that adds meaning to an upcoming action or event. The present study investigated effects of observed eye contact in high-functioning autism (HFA). Two faces on a screen either looked at or away from…

The Spherical Brazil Nut Effect and its Significance to Asteroids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perera, Viranga; Jackson, Alan P.; Asphaug, Erik; Ballouz, Ronald-Louis

2015-11-01

Asteroids are intriguing remnant objects from the early solar system. They can inform us on how planets formed, they could possibly impact the earth in the future, and they likely contain precious metals; for those reasons, there will be future exploration and mining space missions to them. Telescopic observations and spacecraft data have helped us understand basic properties such as their size, mass, spin rate, orbital elements, and their surface properties. However, their interior structures have remained elusive. In order to fully characterize the interiors of these bodies, seismic data will be necessary. However, we can infer their interior structures by combining several key factors that we know about them: 1). Past work has shown that asteroids between 150 m to 10 km in size are rubble-piles that are a collection of particles held together by gravity and possibly cohesion. 2). Asteroid surfaces show cratering that suggests that past impacts would have seismically shaken these bodies. 3). Spacecraft images show that some asteroids have large protruding boulders on their surfaces. A rubble-pile object made of particles of different sizes and that undergoes seismic shaking will experience granular flow. Specifically, a size sorting effect known as the Brazil Nut Effect will lead larger particles to move towards the surface while smaller particles will move downwards. Previous work has suggested that this effect could possibly explain not only why there are large boulders on the surfaces of some asteroids but also might suggest that the interior particles of these bodies would be organized by size. Previous works have conducted computer simulations and lab experiments; however, all the particle configurations used have been either cylindrical or rectangular boxes. In this work we present a spherical configuration of self-gravitating particles that is a better representation of asteroids. Our results indicate that while friction is not necessary for the Brazil Nut

[Observation of the dysphonia severity index in evaluating curative effect of vocal cord polyp surgery].

PubMed

Zhou, Zhou; Ge, Pingjiang; Liu, Qian; Liu, Ming; Zhang, Wei

2015-08-01

To investigate the applicability of the eysphonia severity index (DSI) in evaluating effects of surgery between before and after groups of vocal polyp patients. Analyses of measurement data pre and pro-surgery of 70 vocal polyp patients and 35 no voice disorders volunteers (control group). The voice quality was measured subjectively with the voice handicap index (VHI), the GRBAS and fiber electronic laryngoscopy. Measures of maximum phonation time (MPT), shimmer and jitter were obtained for each subject by using DiVAS 2.30 (XION, Germany). The DiVAS 2.30 had spotanenously calculate the scores of DSI. Using SPSS 17.0 to find the differences of DSI scores among the three groups by one-way ANOVA variance analysis. And finding out of the correlation with DSI scores and VHI scores, GRBAS, MPT, jitter and shimmer. DSI improved significantly after surgery in the vocal polyps group (mean difference DSI -2.92 and 1.87, respectively) and also in the control group (mean difference DSI -2.92 and 2.30, respectively). However, no significant difference between the control group and the after surgery group. By using Pearson correlation analysis, this study observed a strong correlation between the DSI scores and the VHI scores, the values of GRBAS, shimmer (P < 0.01). DSI is an effective and high accuracy multi-parameter system for evaluation of vocal cord polyp patients as an independent assessment of dysphonia. DSI also can be used in evaluation of the effects of the vocal polyps surgery.

The Significance of HIV ‘Blips’ in Resource-Limited Settings: Is It the Same? Analysis of the Treat Asia HIV Observational Database (TAHOD) and the Australian HIV Observational Database (AHOD)

PubMed Central

Kanapathipillai, Rupa; McManus, Hamish; Kamarulzaman, Adeeba; Lim, Poh Lian; Templeton, David J.; Law, Matthew; Woolley, Ian

2014-01-01

Introduction Magnitude and frequency of HIV viral load blips in resource-limited settings, has not previously been assessed. This study was undertaken in a cohort from a high income country (Australia) known as AHOD (Australian HIV Observational Database) and another cohort from a mixture of Asian countries of varying national income per capita, TAHOD (TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database). Methods Blips were defined as detectable VL (≥ 50 copies/mL) preceded and followed by undetectable VL (<50 copies/mL). Virological failure (VF) was defined as two consecutive VL ≥50 copies/ml. Cox proportional hazard models of time to first VF after entry, were developed. Results 5040 patients (AHOD n = 2597 and TAHOD n = 2521) were included; 910 (18%) of patients experienced blips. 744 (21%) and 166 (11%) of high- and middle/low-income participants, respectively, experienced blips ever. 711 (14%) experienced blips prior to virological failure. 559 (16%) and 152 (10%) of high- and middle/low-income participants, respectively, experienced blips prior to virological failure. VL testing occurred at a median frequency of 175 and 91 days in middle/low- and high-income sites, respectively. Longer time to VF occurred in middle/low income sites, compared with high-income sites (adjusted hazards ratio (AHR) 0.41; p<0.001), adjusted for year of first cART, Hepatitis C co-infection, cART regimen, and prior blips. Prior blips were not a significant predictor of VF in univariate analysis (AHR 0.97, p = 0.82). Differing magnitudes of blips were not significant in univariate analyses as predictors of virological failure (p = 0.360 for blip 50–≤1000, p = 0.309 for blip 50–≤400 and p = 0.300 for blip 50–≤200). 209 of 866 (24%) patients were switched to an alternate regimen in the setting of a blip. Conclusion Despite a lower proportion of blips occurring in low/middle-income settings, no significant difference was found between settings. Nonetheless, a

Photoelectric effect from observer's mathematics point of view

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khots, Boris; Khots, Dmitriy

2014-12-01

When we consider and analyze physical events with the purpose of creating corresponding models we often assume that the mathematical apparatus used in modeling is infallible. In particular, this relates to the use of infinity in various aspects and the use of Newton's definition of a limit in analysis. We believe that is where the main problem lies in contemporary study of nature. This work considers Physical aspects in a setting of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, analysis, topology provided by Observer's Mathematics (see www.mathrelativity.com). Certain results and communications pertaining to solution of these problems are provided. In particular, we prove the following Theorems, which give Observer's Mathematics point of view on Einstein photoelectric effect theory and Lamb-Scully and Hanbury-Brown-Twiss experiments: Theorem 1. There are some values of light intensity where anticorrelation parameter A ∈ [0,1). Theorem 2. There are some values of light intensity where anticorrelation parameter A = 1. Theorem 3. There are some values of light intensity where anticorrelation parameter A > 1.

Ice Cloud Properties And Their Radiative Effects: Global Observations And Modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hong, Yulan

Ice clouds are crucial to the Earth's radiation balance. They cool the Earth-atmosphere system by reflecting solar radiation back to space and warm it by blocking outgoing thermal radiation. However, there is a lack of an observation-based climatology of ice cloud properties and their radiative effects. Two active sensors, the CloudSat radar and the CALIPSO lidar, for the first time provide vertically resolved ice cloud data on a global scale. Using synergistic signals of these two sensors, it is possible to obtain both optically thin and thick ice clouds as the radar excels in probing thick clouds while the lidar is better to detect the thin ones. First, based on the CloudSat radar and CALIPSO lidar measurements, we have derived a climatology of ice cloud properties. Ice clouds cover around 50% of the Earth surface, and their global-mean optical depth, ice water path, and effective radius are approximately 2 (unitless), 109 g m. {-2} and 48 \\mum, respectively. Ice cloud occurrence frequency not only depends on regions and seasons, but also on the types of ice clouds as defined by optical depth (tau) values. Optically thin ice clouds (tau < 3) are most frequently observed in the tropics around 15 km and in the midlatitudes below 5 km, while the thicker clouds (tau > 3) occur frequently in the tropical convective areas and along the midlatitude storm tracks. Using ice retrievals derived from combined radar-lidar measurements, we conducted radiative transfer modeling to study ice cloud radiative effects. The combined effects of ice clouds warm the earth-atmosphere system by approximately 5 W m-2, contributed by a longwave warming effect of about 21.8 W m-2 and a shortwave cooling effect of approximately -16.7 W m-2. Seasonal variations of ice cloud radiative effects are evident in the midlatitudes where the net effect changes from warming during winter to cooling during summer, and the net warming effect occurs year-round in the tropics (˜ 10 W m-2). Ice cloud

Seeing Your Error Alters My Pointing: Observing Systematic Pointing Errors Induces Sensori-Motor After-Effects

PubMed Central

Ronchi, Roberta; Revol, Patrice; Katayama, Masahiro; Rossetti, Yves; Farnè, Alessandro

2011-01-01

During the procedure of prism adaptation, subjects execute pointing movements to visual targets under a lateral optical displacement: As consequence of the discrepancy between visual and proprioceptive inputs, their visuo-motor activity is characterized by pointing errors. The perception of such final errors triggers error-correction processes that eventually result into sensori-motor compensation, opposite to the prismatic displacement (i.e., after-effects). Here we tested whether the mere observation of erroneous pointing movements, similar to those executed during prism adaptation, is sufficient to produce adaptation-like after-effects. Neurotypical participants observed, from a first-person perspective, the examiner's arm making incorrect pointing movements that systematically overshot visual targets location to the right, thus simulating a rightward optical deviation. Three classical after-effect measures (proprioceptive, visual and visual-proprioceptive shift) were recorded before and after first-person's perspective observation of pointing errors. Results showed that mere visual exposure to an arm that systematically points on the right-side of a target (i.e., without error correction) produces a leftward after-effect, which mostly affects the observer's proprioceptive estimation of her body midline. In addition, being exposed to such a constant visual error induced in the observer the illusion “to feel” the seen movement. These findings indicate that it is possible to elicit sensori-motor after-effects by mere observation of movement errors. PMID:21731649

Predicting Kindergarteners' Achievement and Motivation from Observational Measures of Teaching Effectiveness

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mantzicopoulos, Panayota; Patrick, Helen; Strati, Anna; Watson, Jesse S.

2018-01-01

We investigated the premise that observation measures of instruction are indicators of effective teaching, using the definition of effectiveness articulated by departments of education: teaching that boosts student achievement. We argued that student motivation is equally as important as achievement in the evaluation of teaching effectiveness…

Multivariate dynamic Tobit models with lagged observed dependent variables: An effectiveness analysis of highway safety laws.

PubMed

Dong, Chunjiao; Xie, Kun; Zeng, Jin; Li, Xia

2018-04-01

Highway safety laws aim to influence driver behaviors so as to reduce the frequency and severity of crashes, and their outcomes. For one specific highway safety law, it would have different effects on the crashes across severities. Understanding such effects can help policy makers upgrade current laws and hence improve traffic safety. To investigate the effects of highway safety laws on crashes across severities, multivariate models are needed to account for the interdependency issues in crash counts across severities. Based on the characteristics of the dependent variables, multivariate dynamic Tobit (MVDT) models are proposed to analyze crash counts that are aggregated at the state level. Lagged observed dependent variables are incorporated into the MVDT models to account for potential temporal correlation issues in crash data. The state highway safety law related factors are used as the explanatory variables and socio-demographic and traffic factors are used as the control variables. Three models, a MVDT model with lagged observed dependent variables, a MVDT model with unobserved random variables, and a multivariate static Tobit (MVST) model are developed and compared. The results show that among the investigated models, the MVDT models with lagged observed dependent variables have the best goodness-of-fit. The findings indicate that, compared to the MVST, the MVDT models have better explanatory power and prediction accuracy. The MVDT model with lagged observed variables can better handle the stochasticity and dependency in the temporal evolution of the crash counts and the estimated values from the model are closer to the observed values. The results show that more lives could be saved if law enforcement agencies can make a sustained effort to educate the public about the importance of motorcyclists wearing helmets. Motor vehicle crash-related deaths, injuries, and property damages could be reduced if states enact laws for stricter text messaging rules, higher

Enhancement of photovoltaic effects and photoconductivity observed in Co-doped amorphous carbon/silicon heterostructures

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

Jiang, Y. C.; Gao, J., E-mail: jugao@hku.hk

2016-08-22

Co-doped amorphous carbon (Co-C)/silicon heterostructures were fabricated by growing Co-C films on n-type Si substrates using pulsed laser deposition. A photovoltaic effect (PVE) has been observed at room temperature. Open-circuit voltage V{sub oc} = 320 mV and short-circuit current density J{sub sc }= 5.62 mA/cm{sup 2} were measured under illumination of 532-nm light with the power of 100 mW/cm{sup 2}. In contrast, undoped amorphous carbon/Si heterostructures revealed no significant PVE. Based on the PVE and photoconductivity (PC) investigated at different temperatures, it was found that the energy conversion efficiency increased with increasing the temperature and reached the maximum at room temperature, while the photoconductivity showed amore » reverse temperature dependence. The observed competition between PVE and PC was correlated with the way to distribute absorbed photons. The possible mechanism, explaining the enhanced PVE and PC in the Co-C/Si heterostructures, might be attributed to light absorption enhanced by localized surface plasmons in Co nanoparticles embedded in the carbon matrix.« less

Effects of exposure to a mobile phone on sexual behavior in adult male rabbit: an observational study.

PubMed

Salama, N; Kishimoto, T; Kanayama, H-o; Kagawa, S

2010-01-01

The accumulating effects of exposure to electromagnetic radiation emitted by a conventional mobile phone (MP) on male sexual behaviour have not yet been analyzed. Therefore, we studied these effects in 18 male rabbits that were randomly divided into phone and control groups. Six female teasers were taken successively to the male's cage and the copulatory behavior was recorded. Serum total testosterone, dopamine and cortisol were evaluated. The animals of the phone group were exposed to MPs (800 MHz) in a standby position for 8 h daily for 12 weeks. At the end of the study, the copulatory behavior and hormonal assays were re-evaluated. Mounts without ejaculation were the main mounts in the phone group and its duration and frequency increased significantly compared with the controls, whereas the reverse was observed in its mounts with ejaculation. Ejaculation frequency dropped significantly, biting/grasping against teasers increased notably and mounting latency in accumulated means from the first to the fourth teasers were noted in the phone group. The hormonal assays did not show any significant differences between the study groups. Therefore, the pulsed radiofrequency emitted by a conventional MP, which was kept on a standby position, could affect the sexual behavior in the rabbit.

Propensity Score Estimation With Boosted Regression for Evaluating Causal Effects in Observational Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McCaffrey, Daniel F.; Ridgeway, Greg; Morral, Andrew R.

2004-01-01

Causal effect modeling with naturalistic rather than experimental data is challenging. In observational studies participants in different treatment conditions may also differ on pretreatment characteristics that influence outcomes. Propensity score methods can theoretically eliminate these confounds for all observed covariates, but accurate…

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Drugs and Growth: An Italian Prospective Observational Study

PubMed Central

Germinario, Elena A.P.; Arcieri, Romano; Bonati, Maurizio; Zuddas, Alessandro; Masi, Gabriele; Vella, Stefano; Chiarotti, Flavia

2013-01-01

Abstract Objective This study was conducted to assess the long-term effect of methylphenidate (MPH) or atomoxetine (ATX) on growth in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drug-naïve children. Design The study was an observational, post-marketing, fourth phase study. Methods Data on height and weight were collected at baseline and every 6 months up to 24 months. Results Both ATX and MPH lead to decreased height gain (assessed by means of z-scores); the effect was significantly higher for ATX than for MPH. At any time, height z-score decrease in the ATX group was higher than the corresponding decrease observed in the MPH group, but the difference was significantly relevant only during the first year of treatment. An increment of average weight was observed both in patients treated with MPH and in those treated with ATX. However, using Tanner's percentile, a subset of patients showed a degree of growth lower than expected. This negative effect was significantly higher for ATX than for MPH. Conclusions We conclude that ADHD drugs show a negative effect on linear growth in children in middle term. Such effect appears more evident for ATX than for MPH. PMID:24024538

Does the decision in a validation process of a surrogate endpoint change with level of significance of treatment effect? A proposal on validation of surrogate endpoints.

PubMed

Sertdemir, Y; Burgut, R

2009-01-01

In recent years the use of surrogate end points (S) has become an interesting issue. In clinical trials, it is important to get treatment outcomes as early as possible. For this reason there is a need for surrogate endpoints (S) which are measured earlier than the true endpoint (T). However, before a surrogate endpoint can be used it must be validated. For a candidate surrogate endpoint, for example time to recurrence, the validation result may change dramatically between clinical trials. The aim of this study is to show how the validation criterion (R(2)(trial)) proposed by Buyse et al. are influenced by the magnitude of treatment effect with an application using real data. The criterion R(2)(trial) proposed by Buyse et al. (2000) is applied to the four data sets from colon cancer clinical trials (C-01, C-02, C-03 and C-04). Each clinical trial is analyzed separately for treatment effect on survival (true endpoint) and recurrence free survival (surrogate endpoint) and this analysis is done also for each center in each trial. Results are used for standard validation analysis. The centers were grouped by the Wald statistic in 3 equal groups. Validation criteria R(2)(trial) were 0.641 95% CI (0.432-0.782), 0.223 95% CI (0.008-0.503), 0.761 95% CI (0.550-0.872) and 0.560 95% CI (0.404-0.687) for C-01, C-02, C-03 and C-04 respectively. The R(2)(trial) criteria changed by the Wald statistics observed for the centers used in the validation process. Higher the Wald statistic groups are higher the R(2)(trial) values observed. The recurrence free survival is not a good surrogate for overall survival in clinical trials with non significant treatment effects and moderate for significant treatment effects. This shows that the level of significance of treatment effect should be taken into account in validation process of surrogate endpoints.

Predictors of treatment with dialysis modalities in observational studies for comparative effectiveness research.

PubMed

Kuttykrishnan, Sooraj; Kalantar-Zadeh, Kamyar; Arah, Onyebuchi A; Cheung, Alfred K; Brunelli, Steve; Heagerty, Patrick J; Katz, Ronit; Molnar, Miklos Z; Nissenson, Allen; Ravel, Vanessa; Streja, Elani; Himmelfarb, Jonathan; Mehrotra, Rajnish

2015-07-01

The Institute of Medicine has identified the comparative effectiveness of renal replacement therapies as a kidney-related topic among the top 100 national priorities. Given the importance of ensuring internal and external validity, the goal of this study was to identify potential sources of bias in observational studies that compare outcomes with different dialysis modalities. This observational cohort study used data from the electronic medical records of all patients that started maintenance dialysis in the calendar years 2007-2011 and underwent treatment for at least 60 days in any of the 2217 facilities operated by DaVita Inc. Each patient was assigned one of six dialysis modalities for each 91-day period from the date of first dialysis (thrice weekly in-center hemodialysis (HD), peritoneal dialysis (PD), less-frequent HD, home HD, frequent HD and nocturnal in-center HD). Of the 162 644 patients, 18% underwent treatment with a modality other than HD for at least one 91-day period. Except for PD, patients started treatment with alternative modalities after variable lengths of treatment with HD; the time until a change in modality was shortest for less-frequent HD (median time = 6 months) and longest for frequent HD (median time = 15 months). Between 30 and 78% of patients transferred to another dialysis facility prior to change in modality. Finally, there were significant differences in baseline and time-varying clinical characteristics associated with dialysis modality. This analysis identified numerous potential sources of bias in studies of the comparative effectiveness of dialysis modalities. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of ERA-EDTA. All rights reserved.

The effects of circumstellar gas on terrestrial planet formation: Theory and observation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mandell, Avram M.

Our understanding of the evolution of circumstellar material from dust and gas to fully-formed planets has taken dramatic steps forward in the last decade, driven by rapid improvements in our ability to study gas- and dust-rich disks around young stars and the discovery of more than 200 extra-solar planetary systems around other stars. In addition, our ability to model the formation of both terrestrial and giant planets has improved significantly due to new computing techniques and the continued exponential increase in computing power. In this dissertation I expand on existing theories of terrestrial planet formation to include systems similar to those currently being detected around nearby stars, and I develop new observational techniques to probe the chemistry of gas-rich circumstellar disks where such planetary systems may be forming. One of the most significant characteristics of observed extrasolar planetary systems is the presence of giant planets located much closer to their parent star than was thought to be possible. The presence of "Hot Jupiters", Jovian-mass planets with very short orbital periods detected around nearby main sequence stars, has been proposed to be primarily due to the inward migration of planets formed in orbits initially much further from the parent star. Close-in giant planets are thought to have formed in the cold outer regions of planetary systems and migrated inward, passing through the orbital parameter space occupied by the terrestrial planets in our own Solar System; the migration of these planets would have profound effects on the evolution of inner terrestrial planets in these systems. I first explore this scenario with numerical simulations showing that a significant fraction of terrestrial planets could survive the migration process; damping forces could then eventually re-circularize the orbits at distances relatively close to their original positions. Calculations suggest that the final orbits of a significant fraction of

No observed effect of ocean acidification on nitrogen biogeochemistry in a summer Baltic Sea plankton community

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paul, A. J.; Achterberg, E. P.; Bach, L. T.; Boxhammer, T.; Czerny, J.; Haunost, M.; Schulz, K.-G.; Stuhr, A.; Riebesell, U.

2015-10-01

Nitrogen fixation by filamentous cyanobacteria supplies significant amounts of new nitrogen (N) to the Baltic Sea. This balances N loss processes such as denitrification and anammox and forms an important N source supporting primary and secondary production in N-limited post-spring bloom plankton communities. Laboratory studies suggest that filamentous diazotrophic cyanobacteria growth and N2-fixation rates are sensitive to ocean acidification with potential implications for new N supply to the Baltic Sea. In this study, our aim was to assess the effect of ocean acidification on diazotroph growth and activity as well as the contribution of diazotrophically-fixed N to N supply in a natural plankton assemblage. We enclosed a natural plankton community in a summer season in the Baltic Sea near the entrance to the Gulf of Finland in six large-scale mesocosms (volume ~ 55 m3) and manipulated fCO2 over a range relevant for projected ocean acidification by the end of this century (average treatment fCO2: 365-1231 μatm). The direct response of diazotroph growth and activity was followed in the mesocosms over a 47 day study period during N-limited growth in the summer plankton community. Diazotrophic filamentous cyanobacteria abundance throughout the study period and N2-fixation rates (determined only until day 21 due to subsequent use of contaminated commercial 15N-N2 gas stocks) remained low. Thus estimated new N inputs from diazotrophy were too low to relieve N limitation and stimulate a summer phytoplankton bloom. Instead regeneration of organic N sources likely sustained growth in the plankton community. We could not detect significant CO2-related differences in inorganic or organic N pools sizes, or particulate matter N : P stoichiometry. Additionally, no significant effect of elevated CO2 on diazotroph activity was observed. Therefore, ocean acidification had no observable impact on N cycling or biogeochemistry in this N-limited, post-spring bloom plankton

No observed effect of ocean acidification on nitrogen biogeochemistry in a summer Baltic Sea plankton community

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paul, Allanah J.; Achterberg, Eric P.; Bach, Lennart T.; Boxhammer, Tim; Czerny, Jan; Haunost, Mathias; Schulz, Kai-Georg; Stuhr, Annegret; Riebesell, Ulf

2016-07-01

Nitrogen fixation by filamentous cyanobacteria supplies significant amounts of new nitrogen (N) to the Baltic Sea. This balances N loss processes such as denitrification and anammox, and forms an important N source supporting primary and secondary production in N-limited post-spring bloom plankton communities. Laboratory studies suggest that filamentous diazotrophic cyanobacteria growth and N2-fixation rates are sensitive to ocean acidification, with potential implications for new N supply to the Baltic Sea. In this study, our aim was to assess the effect of ocean acidification on diazotroph growth and activity as well as the contribution of diazotrophically fixed N to N supply in a natural plankton assemblage. We enclosed a natural plankton community in a summer season in the Baltic Sea near the entrance to the Gulf of Finland in six large-scale mesocosms (volume ˜ 55 m3) and manipulated fCO2 over a range relevant for projected ocean acidification by the end of this century (average treatment fCO2: 365-1231 µatm). The direct response of diazotroph growth and activity was followed in the mesocosms over a 47 day study period during N-limited growth in the summer plankton community. Diazotrophic filamentous cyanobacteria abundance throughout the study period and N2-fixation rates (determined only until day 21 due to subsequent use of contaminated commercial 15N-N2 gas stocks) remained low. Thus estimated new N inputs from diazotrophy were too low to relieve N limitation and stimulate a summer phytoplankton bloom. Instead, regeneration of organic N sources likely sustained growth in the plankton community. We could not detect significant CO2-related differences in neither inorganic nor organic N pool sizes, or particulate matter N : P stoichiometry. Additionally, no significant effect of elevated CO2 on diazotroph activity was observed. Therefore, ocean acidification had no observable impact on N cycling or biogeochemistry in this N-limited, post-spring bloom

Effect of wind gusts on the motion of a balloon-borne observation platform

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nigro, N. J.; Johanek, F. M.

1982-01-01

The effect of wind gusts on the magnitude of the pendulation angles of a balloon-borne observation platform is determined. A system mathematical model is developed and the solution of this model is used to determine the magnitude of the observation platforms pendulation angles.

Statistical Significance vs. Practical Significance: An Exploration through Health Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rosen, Brittany L.; DeMaria, Andrea L.

2012-01-01

The purpose of this paper is to examine the differences between statistical and practical significance, including strengths and criticisms of both methods, as well as provide information surrounding the application of various effect sizes and confidence intervals within health education research. Provided are recommendations, explanations and…

Effects of racing games on risky driving behaviour, and the significance of personality and physiological data.

PubMed

Deng, Mingming; Chan, Alan H S; Wu, Feng; Wang, Jun

2015-08-01

Racing games have emerged as top-selling products in the video and computer game industry. The effect of playing racing games on the inclination of gamers to take risks has been investigated. Two experiments were conducted. In experiment 1, the impact of personality traits on the effects of playing racing games on risk-taking inclination was examined. The Vienna Test System, which includes the Eysenck Personality Profile Test and the Vienna Risk-Taking Test, was used to measure risk-taking inclination and risk-taking while driving. Experiment 2 was designed and conducted to analyse the effects of different intensity levels of car racing games on risk-taking inclination, and to study the relationship between physiological data and risk-taking inclination. Physiological data on skin conductance, heart rate and blood pressure were measured with the NeuroDyne System. Participants playing a racing game were more inclined to take risks in critical road traffic situations than those playing a neutral game. The adventurousness dimension of the Eysenck Personality Profile Test correlated significantly positively with risk-taking inclination. More importantly, the effect of the intensity level of a racing game on risk-taking inclination was significant. The higher the intensity level of the racing game, the higher the risk-taking inclination while driving. The effect of intensity level of the racing game on skin conductance was significantly positive. Skin conductance correlated significantly positively with risk-taking inclination. The effect of playing racing games on risk-taking inclination is linked to personality and physiological data. Some recommendations are proposed as a result of this study for racing game management. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

p-Curve and p-Hacking in Observational Research.

PubMed

Bruns, Stephan B; Ioannidis, John P A

2016-01-01

The p-curve, the distribution of statistically significant p-values of published studies, has been used to make inferences on the proportion of true effects and on the presence of p-hacking in the published literature. We analyze the p-curve for observational research in the presence of p-hacking. We show by means of simulations that even with minimal omitted-variable bias (e.g., unaccounted confounding) p-curves based on true effects and p-curves based on null-effects with p-hacking cannot be reliably distinguished. We also demonstrate this problem using as practical example the evaluation of the effect of malaria prevalence on economic growth between 1960 and 1996. These findings call recent studies into question that use the p-curve to infer that most published research findings are based on true effects in the medical literature and in a wide range of disciplines. p-values in observational research may need to be empirically calibrated to be interpretable with respect to the commonly used significance threshold of 0.05. Violations of randomization in experimental studies may also result in situations where the use of p-curves is similarly unreliable.

p-Curve and p-Hacking in Observational Research

PubMed Central

Bruns, Stephan B.; Ioannidis, John P. A.

2016-01-01

The p-curve, the distribution of statistically significant p-values of published studies, has been used to make inferences on the proportion of true effects and on the presence of p-hacking in the published literature. We analyze the p-curve for observational research in the presence of p-hacking. We show by means of simulations that even with minimal omitted-variable bias (e.g., unaccounted confounding) p-curves based on true effects and p-curves based on null-effects with p-hacking cannot be reliably distinguished. We also demonstrate this problem using as practical example the evaluation of the effect of malaria prevalence on economic growth between 1960 and 1996. These findings call recent studies into question that use the p-curve to infer that most published research findings are based on true effects in the medical literature and in a wide range of disciplines. p-values in observational research may need to be empirically calibrated to be interpretable with respect to the commonly used significance threshold of 0.05. Violations of randomization in experimental studies may also result in situations where the use of p-curves is similarly unreliable. PMID:26886098

The Quantum Cheshire Cat effect: Theoretical basis and observational implications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duprey, Q.; Kanjilal, S.; Sinha, U.; Home, D.; Matzkin, A.

2018-04-01

The Quantum Cheshire Cat (QCC) is an effect introduced recently within the Weak Measurements framework. The main feature of the QCC effect is that a property of a quantum particle appears to be spatially separated from its position. The status of this effect has however remained unclear, as claims of experimental observation of the QCC have been disputed by strong criticism of the experimental as well as the theoretical aspects of the effect. In this paper we clarify in what precise sense the QCC can be regarded as an unambiguous consequence of the standard quantum mechanical formalism applied to describe quantum pointers weakly coupled to a system. In light of this clarification, the raised criticisms of the QCC effect are rebutted. We further point out that the limitations of the experiments performed to date imply that a loophole-free experimental demonstration of the QCC has not yet been achieved.

Significant event auditing.

PubMed

Pringle, M

2000-12-01

Significant event auditing has been described for 5 years and it is slowly gaining credibility as an effective method of quality assurance in British general practice. This paper describes what it is, what its background is, how it is done and whether it is effective. While it needs a positive team culture - and therefore may not suit every practice - where it is used it appears to be a useful adjunct to a clinical audit programme.

Effects of the Non-Nutritive Sweeteners on Glucose Metabolism and Appetite Regulating Hormones: Systematic Review of Observational Prospective Studies and Clinical Trials

PubMed Central

Romo-Romo, Alonso; Aguilar-Salinas, Carlos A.; Brito-Córdova, Griselda X.; Gómez Díaz, Rita A.; Vilchis Valentín, David

2016-01-01

Background The effects of non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) on glucose metabolism and appetite regulating hormones are not clear. There is an ongoing debate concerning NNS use and deleterious changes in metabolism. Objectives The aim of this review is to analyze the scientific available evidence regarding the effects of NNS on glucose metabolism and appetite regulating hormones. Data Sources and Study Eligibility Criteria We identified human observational studies evaluating the relation between NNS consumption and obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, in addition to clinical trials evaluating the effects of NNS in glucose metabolism and appetite regulating hormones. Results Fourteen observational studies evaluating the association between NNS consumption and the development of metabolic diseases and twenty-eight clinical trials studying the effects of NNS on metabolism were included. Finally, two meta-analyses evaluating the association between the consumption of NNS-containing beverages and the development of type 2 diabetes were identified. Conclusions Some observational studies suggest an association between NNS consumption and development of metabolic diseases; however, adiposity is a confounder frequently found in observational studies. The effects of the NNS on glucose metabolism are not clear. The results of the identified clinical trials are contradictory and are not comparable because of the major existing differences between them. Studies evaluating specific NNS, with an adequate sample size, including a homogeneous study group, identifying significant comorbidities, with an appropriate control group, with an appropriate exposure time, and considering adjustment for confounder variables such as adiposity are needed. PMID:27537496

Empirically Driven Variable Selection for the Estimation of Causal Effects with Observational Data

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Keller, Bryan; Chen, Jianshen

2016-01-01

Observational studies are common in educational research, where subjects self-select or are otherwise non-randomly assigned to different interventions (e.g., educational programs, grade retention, special education). Unbiased estimation of a causal effect with observational data depends crucially on the assumption of ignorability, which specifies…

Finite Gyroradius Effects Observed in Pickup Oxygen Ions at Venus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hartle, Richard E.; Intriligator, Devrie; Grebowsky, Joseph M.; Einaudi, Franco (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

On the dayside of Venus, the hot oxygen corona extending above the ionopause is the principal source of pickup oxygen ions. The ions are born here and picked up by the ionosheath plasma as it is deflected around the planet. These pickup ions have been observed by the Orbiter Plasma Analyzer (OPA) throughout the Pioneer Venus Orbiter (PVO) mission. They were observed over a region extending from their dayside source to great distances downstream (about 10 Venus radii), in the solar wind wake, as PVO passed through apoapsis. Finite gyroradius effects in the velocity distribution of the oxygen pickup ions are expected in the source region because the gyroradius is several times larger than the scale height of the hot oxygen source. Such effects are also expected in those regions of the ionosheath where the scale lengths of the magnetic field and the ambient plasma velocity field are less than the pickup ion gyroradius. While explicitly accounting for the spatial distribution of the hot oxygen source, an analytic expression for the pickup oxygen ion velocity distribution is developed to study how it is affected by finite gyroradii. The analysis demonstrates that as the gyroradius increases by factors of three to six above the hot oxygen scale height, the peak of the pickup oxygen ion flux distribution decreases 25 to 50% below the maximum allowed speed, which is twice the speed of the ambient plasma times the sine of the angle between the magnetic field and the flow velocity. The pickup oxygen ion flux distribution observed by OPA is shown to follow this behavior in the source region. It is also shown that this result is consistent with the pickup ion distributions observed in the wake, downstream of the source, where the flux peaks are usually well below the maximum allowed speed.

The Effect of Observing Parental Violence on Gender-Role Attitudes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ulbrich, Patricia; Huber, Joan

Results of a study to determine the effect of observing parental violence on attitudes about women's roles and the use of violence against women are reported. A national random sample of 1,092 women and 910 men were interviewed by telephone. Participants responded to questions such as: Did your father ever hit your mother? Did your mother ever hit…

Does design matter? Systematic evaluation of the impact of analytical choices on effect estimates in observational studies

PubMed Central

Ryan, Patrick B.; Schuemie, Martijn

2013-01-01

Background: Clinical studies that use observational databases, such as administrative claims and electronic health records, to evaluate the effects of medical products have become commonplace. These studies begin by selecting a particular study design, such as a case control, cohort, or self-controlled design, and different authors can and do choose different designs for the same clinical question. Furthermore, published papers invariably report the study design but do not discuss the rationale for the specific choice. Studies of the same clinical question with different designs, however, can generate different results, sometimes with strikingly different implications. Even within a specific study design, authors make many different analytic choices and these too can profoundly impact results. In this paper, we systematically study heterogeneity due to the type of study design and due to analytic choices within study design. Methods and findings: We conducted our analysis in 10 observational healthcare databases but mostly present our results in the context of the GE Centricity EMR database, an electronic health record database containing data for 11.2 million lives. We considered the impact of three different study design choices on estimates of associations between bisphosphonates and four particular health outcomes for which there is no evidence of an association. We show that applying alternative study designs can yield discrepant results, in terms of direction and significance of association. We also highlight that while traditional univariate sensitivity analysis may not show substantial variation, systematic assessment of all analytical choices within a study design can yield inconsistent results ranging from statistically significant decreased risk to statistically significant increased risk. Our findings show that clinical studies using observational databases can be sensitive both to study design choices and to specific analytic choices within study

Effects of inter- and intra-observer variability on echocardiographic measurements in awake cats.

PubMed

Chetboul, V; Concordet, D; Pouchelon, J L; Athanassiadis, N; Muller, C; Benigni, L; Munari, A C; Lefebvre, H P

2003-08-01

The objective of this study was to determine intra- and inter-observer variability of echocardiographic measurements in awake cats. Four observers with different levels of experience in echocardiography performed 96 echocardiographic examinations in four cats on four different days over a 3-week period. The examinations were randomized and blinded. The maximum within-day and between-day CV values were 17.4 and 18.5% for inter-ventricular septal thickness in diastole, 18.7 and 22.6% for left ventricular free-wall thickness in diastole, 9.8 and 14.9% for left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, 20.8 and 15.2% for left ventricular end-systolic diameter, and 21.2 and 18.4% for left ventricular shortening fraction. The maximum within-day CV values were most often associated with the least competent observer (i.e. the graduate student) and, the minimum CV values with the most competent observer (i.e. the associate professor in cardiology). A significant interaction between cat and observer was also evidenced. Thus, the most competent observer could not be replaced by any of the other observers.

Functional Significance of VEGFR-2 on Ovarian Cancer Cells

PubMed Central

Spannuth, Whitney A.; Nick, Alpa M.; Jennings, Nicholas B.; Armaiz-Pena, Guillermo N.; Mangala, Lingegowda S.; Danes, Christopher G.; Lin, Yvonne G.; Merritt, William M.; Thaker, Premal H.; Kamat, Aparna A.; Han, Liz Y.; Tonra, James R.; Coleman, Robert L.; Ellis, Lee M.; Sood, Anil K.

2009-01-01

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) has recently been discovered on ovarian cancer cells, but its functional significance is unknown and is the focus of the current study. By protein analysis, A2780-par and HeyA8 ovarian cancer cell lines expressed VEGFR-1 and HeyA8 and SKOV3ip1 expressed VEGFR-2. By in situ hybridization (ISH), 85% of human ovarian cancer specimens showed moderate to high VEGFR-2 expression while only 15% showed moderate to high VEGFR-1 expression. By immunofluorescence, little or no VEGFR-2 was detected in normal ovarian surface epithelial cells, whereas expression was detected in 75% of invasive ovarian cancer specimens. To differentiate between the effects of tumor versus host expression of VEGFR, nude mice were injected with SKOV3ip1 cells and treated with either human VEGFR-2 specific antibody (1121B), murine VEGFR-2 specific antibody (DC101), or the combination. Treatment with 1121B reduced SKOV3ip1 cell migration by 68% (p < 0.01) and invasion by 72% (p < 0.01), but exposure to VEGFR-1 antibody had no effect. Treatment with 1121B effectively blocked VEGF-induced phosphorylation of p130Cas. In vivo, treatment with either DC101 or 1121B significantly reduced tumor growth alone and in combination in the SKOV3ip1 and A2774 models. Decreased tumor burden after treatment with DC101 or 1121B correlated with increased tumor cell apoptosis, decreased proliferative index, and decreased microvessel density. These effects were significantly greater in the combination group (p<0.001). We show functionally active VEGFR-2 is present on most ovarian cancer cells. The observed anti-tumor activity of VEGF-targeted therapies may be mediated by both anti-angiogenic and direct anti-tumor effects. PMID:19058181

Significant decreases in blood propofol concentrations during adrenalectomy for phaeochromocytoma.

PubMed

Watanabe, Tatsunori; Hiraoka, Haruhiko; Araki, Takuya; Nagano, Daisuke; Aomori, Tohru; Nakamura, Tomonori; Yamamoto, Koujirou; Baba, Hiroshi

2017-10-01

The kinetics of propofol are influenced by cardiac output. The aim of this study was to examine changes in blood propofol concentrations during phaeochromocytoma surgery using target-controlled infusion (TCI) anaesthesia with propofol. This is a prospective observational study. Ten patients with phaeochromocytoma who underwent unilateral adrenalectomy were included. Cardiac output was measured using an arterial pressure-based cardiac output analysis method. The target blood propofol concentrations were adjusted to maintain an approximate bispectral index (BIS) value of 40 before initiating surgery. The settings remained constant during surgery. Blood samples for propofol concentrations were collected from the radial artery at seven time points: two before tumour manipulation (T1, 2), two during tumour manipulation (T3, 4), and three after tumour vein ligation (T4-7). BIS values, the arterial pressure cardiac index (APCI) and haemodynamic parameters were measured at the same time points as the blood samples. The prop-ratio was calculated by dividing blood propofol concentrations by target concentrations of TCI. APCI increased during tumour manipulation and after tumour vein ligation. The prop-ratio was reduced significantly by approximately 40% and showed a significant negative correlation with APCI. BIS values increased significantly and showed a significant negative correlation with the prop-ratio. The increased APCI during tumour manipulation and after tumour vein ligation was associated with markedly reduced blood propofol concentrations. These results reveal that significant decreases in the anaesthetic effect may be observed in patients undergoing phaeochromocytoma surgery even if TCI anaesthesia is used with propofol. © 2017 The British Pharmacological Society.

Hydrologic effects of large southwestern USA wildfires significantly increase regional water supply: fact or fiction?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wine, M. L.; Cadol, D.

2016-08-01

In recent years climate change and historic fire suppression have increased the frequency of large wildfires in the southwestern USA, motivating study of the hydrological consequences of these wildfires at point and watershed scales, typically over short periods of time. These studies have revealed that reduced soil infiltration capacity and reduced transpiration due to tree canopy combustion increase streamflow at the watershed scale. However, the degree to which these local increases in runoff propagate to larger scales—relevant to urban and agricultural water supply—remains largely unknown, particularly in semi-arid mountainous watersheds co-dominated by winter snowmelt and the North American monsoon. To address this question, we selected three New Mexico watersheds—the Jemez (1223 km2), Mogollon (191 km2), and Gila (4807 km2)—that together have been affected by over 100 wildfires since 1982. We then applied climate-driven linear models to test for effects of fire on streamflow metrics after controlling for climatic variability. Here we show that, after controlling for climatic and snowpack variability, significantly more streamflow discharged from the Gila watershed for three to five years following wildfires, consistent with increased regional water yield due to enhanced infiltration-excess overland flow and groundwater recharge at the large watershed scale. In contrast, we observed no such increase in discharge from the Jemez watershed following wildfires. Fire regimes represent a key difference between the contrasting responses of the Jemez and Gila watersheds with the latter experiencing more frequent wildfires, many caused by lightning strikes. While hydrologic dynamics at the scale of large watersheds were previously thought to be climatically dominated, these results suggest that if one fifth or more of a large watershed has been burned in the previous three to five years, significant increases in water yield can be expected.

In Situ STM Observation of Nonmagnetic Impurity Effect in MBE-grown CeCoIn5 Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haze, Masahiro; Torii, Yohei; Peters, Robert; Kasahara, Shigeru; Kasahara, Yuichi; Shibauchi, Takasada; Terashima, Takahito; Matsuda, Yuji

2018-03-01

Local electronic effects in the vicinity of an impurity provide pivotal insight into the origin of unconventional superconductivity, especially when the materials are located on the edge of magnetic instability. In high-temperature cuprate superconductors, a strong suppression of superconductivity and appearance of low-energy bound states are clearly observed near nonmagnetic impurities. However, whether these features are common to other strongly correlated superconductors has not been established experimentally. Here, we report the in situ scanning tunneling microscopy observation of electronic structure around a nonmagnetic Zn impurity in heavy-fermion CeCo(In1-xZnx)5 films, which are epitaxially grown by the state-of-the-art molecular beam epitaxy technique. The films have very wide atomically flat terraces and Zn atoms residing on two different In sites are clearly resolved. Remarkably, no discernible change is observed for the superconducting gap at and around the Zn atoms. Moreover, the local density of states around Zn atoms shows little change inside the c-f hybridization gap, which is consistent with calculations for a periodic Anderson model without local magnetic order. These results indicate that no nonsuperconducting region is induced around a Zn impurity and do not support the scenario of antiferromagnetic droplet formation suggested by indirect measurements in Cd-doped CeCoIn5. These results also highlight a significant difference of the impurity effect between cuprates and CeCoIn5, in both of which d-wave superconductivity arises from the non-Fermi liquid normal state near antiferromagnetic instabilities.

The Effect of Quantum Fluctuations in Compact Star Observables

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pósfay, P.; Barnaföldi, G. G.; Jakovác, A.

2018-05-01

Astrophysical measurements regarding compact stars are just ahead of a big evolution jump, since the NICER experiment deployed on ISS on 2017 June 14. This will provide soon data that would enable the determination of compact star radius with less than 10% error. This can be further constrained by the new observation of gravitational waves originated from merging neutron stars, GW170817. This poses new challenges to nuclear models aiming to explain the structure of super dense nuclear matter found in neutron stars. Detailed studies of the QCD phase diagram show the importance of bosonic quantum fluctuations in the cold dense matter equation of state. Here we used a demonstrative model with one bosonic and one fermionic degree of freedom coupled by Yukawa coupling, we show the effect of bosonic quantum fluctuations on compact star observables such as mass, radius, and compactness. We have also calculated the difference in the value of compressibility which is caused by quantum fluctuations. The above-mentioned quantities are calculated in the mean field, one-loop, and in high order many loop approximation. The results show that the magnitude of these effects is in the range of 4-5%, which place it into the region where modern measurements may detect it. This forms a base for further investigations that how these results carry over to more complicated models.

Copernicus ultraviolet observations of mass-loss effects in O and B stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Snow, T. P., Jr.; Morton, D. C.

1976-01-01

Far-UV spectra of 47 O, B, and A stars obtained with the Copernicus satellite are examined for P Cygni profiles. For all 40 stars with displaced absorption lines, values are given for the velocities of the short-wavelength edge, the line center, and the emission peak (if present). Parts of the spectra of 42 stars are reproduced, evidence for mass motions in ground-based spectra is discussed, and the best available data are summarized on the wavelengths and oscillator strengths of most lines likely to show mass-loss effects in either visual or UV spectra. The main conclusions are that: (1) the far-UV transitions, especially resonance lines, show that mass flow is present over a much wider group of stars than revealed by visible data on subordinate lines; (2) most of the line shifts imply mass motion away from the stars; (3) mass flow occurs in all but one star brighter than a bolometric magnitude of -6.0; and (4) the observed terminal velocities generally exhibit no significant correlation with temperature, luminosity, gravity, rotational velocity, or line strength.

A Few Observations and Remarks on Time Effectiveness of Interactive Electronic Testing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Magdin, Martin; Turcáni, Milan

2015-01-01

In the paper, we point out several observations and remarks on time effectiveness of electronic testing, in particular of its new form (interactive tests). A test is often used as an effective didactic tool for evaluating the extent of gained cognitive capabilities. According to authors Rudman (1989) and Wang (2003) it is provable that the…

Effects of Playing versus Observing Violent versus Nonviolent Video Games on Children's Aggression.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Graybill, Daniel; And Others

1987-01-01

Examined short-term effects of playing versus observing violent versus nonviolent video games on the aggression of elementary school children. Children (N=146) played or observed games for 14 minutes, then completed three measures of aggression. Found no differences between violent and nonviolent conditions on measures of aggression. (Author/NB)

Effect of automated ultraviolet C-emitting device on decontamination of hospital rooms with and without real-time observation of terminal room disinfection.

PubMed

Penno, Katie; Jandarov, Roman A; Sopirala, Madhuri M

2017-11-01

We studied the effectiveness of an ultraviolet C (UV-C) emitter in clinical settings and compared it with observed terminal disinfection. We cultured 22 hospital discharge rooms at a tertiary care academic medical center. Phase 1 (unobserved terminal disinfection) included cultures of 11 high-touch environmental surfaces (HTSs) after terminal room disinfection (AD) and after the use of a UV-C-emitting device (AUV). Phase 2 (observed terminal disinfection) included cultures before terminal room disinfection (BD), AD, and AUV. Zero-inflated Poisson regression compared mean colony forming units (CFU) between the groups. Two-sample proportion tests identified significance of the observed differences in proportions of thoroughly cleaned HTSs (CFU < 5). Significant P value was determined using the Bonferroni corrected threshold of α = .05/12 = .004. We obtained 594 samples. Risk of overall contamination was 0.48 times lower in the AUV group than in the AD group (P < .001), with 1.04 log 10 reduction. During phase 1, overall proportion of HTSs with <5 CFUs increased in AUV versus AD by 0.12 (P = .001). During phase 2, it increased in AD versus BD by 0.45 (P < .001), with no significant difference between AD and AUV (P = .02). Use of UV-C with standard cleaning significantly reduced microbial burden and improved the thoroughness of terminal disinfection. We found no further benefit to UV-C use if standard terminal disinfection was observed. Copyright © 2017 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Space environmental effects observed on the Hubble Space Telescope

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Edelman, Joel E.; Mason, James B.

1995-01-01

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Repair Mission of December, 1993, was first and foremost a mission to improve the performance of the observatory. But for a specialized segment of the aerospace industry, the primary interest is in the return to Earth of numerous pieces of the HST hardware, pieces which have been replaced, repaired, improved, or superseded. The returned hardware is of interest because of the information it potentially carries about the effects of exposure to the space environment for three and a half years. Like the LDEF retrieval mission four years ago, the HST repair mission is of interest to many engineering disciplines, including all of the disciplines represented by the LDEF Special Investigation Groups (SIG's). There is particular interest in the evaluation of specific materials and systems in the returned components. Some coated surfaces have been processed with materials which are newer and still in use by, or under consideration for, other spacecraft in a variety of stages of development. Several of the systems are being returned because a specific failure or anomaly has been observed and thus there is, at the outset, a specific investigative trail that needs to be followed. These systems are much more complex than those flown on LDEF and, in two instances, comprised state-of-the-art science instruments. Further, the parts used in these systems generally were characterized more rigorously prior to flight than were those in the LDEF systems, and thus post flight testing may yield more significant results.

Space environmental effects observed on the Hubble Space Telescope

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

Edelman, J.E.; Mason, J.B.

1995-02-01

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Repair Mission of December, 1993, was first and foremost a mission to improve the performance of the observatory. But for a specialized segment of the aerospace industry, the primary interest is in the return to Earth of numerous pieces of the HST hardware, pieces which have been replaced, repaired, improved, or superseded. The returned hardware is of interest because of the information it potentially carries about the effects of exposure to the space environment for three and a half years. Like the LDEF retrieval mission four years ago, the HST repair mission is of interestmore » to many engineering disciplines, including all of the disciplines represented by the LDEF Special Investigation Groups (SIG`s). There is particular interest in the evaluation of specific materials and systems in the returned components. Some coated surfaces have been processed with materials which are newer and still in use by, or under consideration for, other spacecraft in a variety of stages of development. Several of the systems are being returned because a specific failure or anomaly has been observed and thus there is, at the outset, a specific investigative trail that needs to be followed. These systems are much more complex than those flown on LDEF and, in two instances, comprised state-of-the-art science instruments. Further, the parts used in these systems generally were characterized more rigorously prior to flight than were those in the LDEF systems, and thus post flight testing may yield more significant results.« less

Effect of Using 2 mm Voxels on Observer Performance for PET Lesion Detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morey, A. M.; Noo, Frédéric; Kadrmas, Dan J.

2016-06-01

Positron emission tomography (PET) images are typically reconstructed with an in-plane pixel size of approximately 4 mm for cancer imaging. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of using smaller pixels on general oncologic lesion-detection. A series of observer studies was performed using experimental phantom data from the Utah PET Lesion Detection Database, which modeled whole-body FDG PET cancer imaging of a 92 kg patient. The data comprised 24 scans over 4 days on a Biograph mCT time-of-flight (TOF) PET/CT scanner, with up to 23 lesions (diam. 6-16 mm) distributed throughout the phantom each day. Images were reconstructed with 2.036 mm and 4.073 mm pixels using ordered-subsets expectation-maximization (OSEM) both with and without point spread function (PSF) modeling and TOF. Detection performance was assessed using the channelized non-prewhitened numerical observer with localization receiver operating characteristic (LROC) analysis. Tumor localization performance and the area under the LROC curve were then analyzed as functions of the pixel size. In all cases, the images with 2 mm pixels provided higher detection performance than those with 4 mm pixels. The degree of improvement from the smaller pixels was larger than that offered by PSF modeling for these data, and provided roughly half the benefit of using TOF. Key results were confirmed by two human observers, who read subsets of the test data. This study suggests that a significant improvement in tumor detection performance for PET can be attained by using smaller voxel sizes than commonly used at many centers. The primary drawback is a 4-fold increase in reconstruction time and data storage requirements.

Behavioral and TMS Markers of Action Observation Might Reflect Distinct Neuronal Processes.

PubMed

Hétu, Sébastien; Taschereau-Dumouchel, Vincent; Meziane, Hadj Boumediene; Jackson, Philip L; Mercier, Catherine

2016-01-01

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) studies have shown that observing an action induces muscle-specific changes in corticospinal excitability. From a signal detection theory standpoint, this pattern can be related to sensitivity, which here would measure the capacity to distinguish between two action observation conditions. In parallel to these TMS studies, action observation has also been linked to behavioral effects such as motor priming and interference. It has been hypothesized that behavioral markers of action observation could be related to TMS markers and thus represent a potentially cost-effective mean of assessing the functioning of the action-perception system. However, very few studies have looked at possible relationships between these two measures. The aim of this study was to investigate if individual differences in sensitivity to action observation could be related to the behavioral motor priming and interference effects produced by action observation. To this end, 14 healthy participants observed index and little finger movements during a TMS task and a stimulus-response compatibility task. Index muscle displayed sensitivity to action observation, and action observation resulted in significant motor priming+interference, while no significant effect was observed for the little finger in both task. Nevertheless, our results indicate that the sensitivity measured in TMS was not related to the behavioral changes measured in the stimulus-response compatibility task. Contrary to a widespread assumption, the current results indicate that individual differences in physiological and behavioral markers of action observation may be unrelated. This could have important impacts on the potential use of behavioral markers in place of more costly physiological markers of action observation in clinical settings.

On the Bias-Amplifying Effect of Near Instruments in Observational Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Steiner, Peter M.; Kim, Yongnam

2014-01-01

In contrast to randomized experiments, the estimation of unbiased treatment effects from observational data requires an analysis that conditions on all confounding covariates. Conditioning on covariates can be done via standard parametric regression techniques or nonparametric matching like propensity score (PS) matching. The regression or…

Waveguides for performing spectroscopy with confined effective observation volumes

DOEpatents

Levene, Michael J.; Korlach, Jonas; Turner, Stephen W.; Craighead, Harold G.; Webb, Watt W.

2006-03-14

The present invention is directed to a method and an apparatus for analysis of an analyte. The method involves providing a zero-mode waveguide which includes a cladding surrounding a core where the cladding is configured to preclude propagation of electromagnetic energy of a frequency less than a cutoff frequency longitudinally through the core of the zero-mode waveguide. The analyte is positioned in the core of the zero-mode waveguide and is then subjected, in the core of the zero-mode waveguide, to activating electromagnetic radiation of a frequency less than the cut-off frequency under conditions effective to permit analysis of the analyte in an effective observation volume which is more compact than if the analysis were carried out in the absence of the zero-mode waveguide.

Does Observation of Postural Imbalance Induce a Postural Reaction?

PubMed Central

Tia, Banty; Saimpont, Arnaud; Paizis, Christos; Mourey, France; Fadiga, Luciano; Pozzo, Thierry

2011-01-01

Background Several studies bring evidence that action observation elicits contagious responses during social interactions. However automatic imitative tendencies are generally inhibited and it remains unclear in which conditions mere action observation triggers motor behaviours. In this study, we addressed the question of contagious postural responses when observing human imbalance. Methodology/Principal Findings We recorded participants' body sway while they observed a fixation cross (control condition), an upright point-light display of a gymnast balancing on a rope, and the same point-light display presented upside down. Our results showed that, when the upright stimulus was displayed prior to the inverted one, centre of pressure area and antero-posterior path length were significantly greater in the upright condition compared to the control and upside down conditions. Conclusions/Significance These results demonstrate a contagious postural reaction suggesting a partial inefficiency of inhibitory processes. Further, kinematic information was sufficient to trigger this reaction. The difference recorded between the upright and upside down conditions indicates that the contagion effect was dependent on the integration of gravity constraints by body kinematics. Interestingly, the postural response was sensitive to habituation, and seemed to disappear when the observer was previously shown an inverted display. The motor contagion recorded here is consistent with previous work showing vegetative output during observation of an effortful movement and could indicate that lower level control facilitates contagion effects. PMID:21423622

Relativistic effects of spacecraft with circumnavigating observer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shanklin, Nathaniel; West, Joseph

A variation of the recently introduced Trolley Paradox, itself is a variation of the Ehrenfest Paradox is presented. In the Trolley Paradox, a ``stationary'' set of observers tracking a wheel rolling with a constant velocity find that the wheel travels further than its rest length circumference during one revolution of the wheel, despite the fact that the Lorentz contracted circumference is less than its rest value. In the variation presented, a rectangular spacecraft with onboard observers moves with constant velocity and is circumnavigated by several small ``sloops'' forming teams of inertial observers. This whole precession moves relative to a set of ``stationary'' Earth observers. Two cases are presented, one in which the sloops are evenly spaced according to the spacecraft observers, and one in which the sloops are evenly spaced according to the Earth observes. These two cases, combined with the rectangular geometry and an emphasis on what is seen by, and what is measured by, each set of observers is very helpful in sorting out the apparent contradictions. To aid in the visualizations stationary representations in excel along with animation in Visual Python and Unity are presented. The analysis presented is suitable for undergraduate physics majors.

The significant effects of puberty on the genetic diathesis of binge eating in girls.

PubMed

Klump, Kelly L; Culbert, Kristen M; O'Connor, Shannon; Fowler, Natasha; Burt, S Alexandra

2017-08-01

Recent data show significant phenotypic and genetic associations between ovarian hormones and binge eating in adulthood. Theories of hormonal risk focus on puberty and the possibility that hormone activation induces changes in genetic effects that then lead to differential risk for binge eating in postpuberty and adulthood. Although this theory is difficult to test in humans, an indirect test is to examine whether genetic influences on binge eating increase during the pubertal period in girls. Prior work has shown pubertal increases in genetic influences on overall disordered eating symptoms, but no study to date has examined binge eating. The present study was the first to examine these increases for binge eating. Participants included 1,568 female twins (aged 8-25 years) from the Michigan State University Twin Registry. Binge eating and pubertal development were assessed with self-report questionnaires. Twin moderation models showed significant linear increases in genetic effects from prepuberty (5%) to postpuberty (42%), even after controlling for the effects of age and body mass index. Results provide critical support for increased genetic influences on binge eating during puberty. Additional studies are needed to identify hormonal mechanisms and fully test contemporary models of ovarian hormone risk. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Modelling and mitigating refractive propagation effects in precision pulsar timing observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shannon, R. M.; Cordes, J. M.

2017-01-01

To obtain the most accurate pulse arrival times from radio pulsars, it is necessary to correct or mitigate the effects of the propagation of radio waves through the warm and ionized interstellar medium. We examine both the strength of propagation effects associated with large-scale electron-density variations and the methodology used to estimate infinite frequency arrival times. Using simulations of two-dimensional phase-varying screens, we assess the strength and non-stationarity of timing perturbations associated with large-scale density variations. We identify additional contributions to arrival times that are stochastic in both radio frequency and time and therefore not amenable to correction solely using times of arrival. We attribute this to the frequency dependence of the trajectories of the propagating radio waves. We find that this limits the efficacy of low-frequency (metre-wavelength) observations. Incorporating low-frequency pulsar observations into precision timing campaigns is increasingly problematic for pulsars with larger dispersion measures.

Assessing treatment effects in older breast cancer patients: systematic review of observational research methods.

PubMed

de Glas, N A; Kiderlen, M; de Craen, A J M; Hamaker, M E; Portielje, J E A; van de Velde, C J H; Liefers, G J; Bastiaannet, E

2015-03-01

Solid evidence of treatment effects in older women with breast cancer is lacking, as they are generally underrepresented in randomized clinical trials on which guideline recommendations are based. An alternative way to study treatment effects in older patients could be to use data from observational studies. However, using appropriate methods in analyzing observational data is a key condition in order to draw valid conclusions, as directly comparing treatments generally results in biased estimates due to confounding by indication. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the methods that have been used in observational studies that assessed the effects of breast cancer treatment on survival, breast cancer survival and recurrence in older patients (aged 65 years and older). Studies were identified through systematic review of the literature published between January 1st 2009 and December 13th 2013 in the PubMed database and EMBASe. Finally, 31 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Of these, 22 studies directly compared two treatments. Fifteen out of these 22 studies addressed the problem of confounding by indication, while seven studies did not. Nine studies used some form of instrumental variable analysis. In conclusion, the vast majority of observational studies that investigate treatment effects in older breast cancer patients compared treatments directly. These studies are therefore likely to be biased. Observational research will be essential to improve treatment and outcome of older breast cancer patients, but the use of accurate methods is essential to draw valid conclusions from this type of data. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Therapeutic Touch Has Significant Effects on Mouse Breast Cancer Metastasis and Immune Responses but Not Primary Tumor Size

PubMed Central

Gronowicz, Gloria; Secor, Eric R.; Flynn, John R.; Jellison, Evan R.; Kuhn, Liisa T.

2015-01-01

Evidence-based integrative medicine therapies have been introduced to promote wellness and offset side-effects from cancer treatment. Energy medicine is an integrative medicine technique using the human biofield to promote well-being. The biofield therapy chosen for study was Therapeutic Touch (TT). Breast cancer tumors were initiated in mice by injection of metastatic 66cl4 mammary carcinoma cells. The control group received only vehicle. TT or mock treatments were performed twice a week for 10 minutes. Two experienced TT practitioners alternated treatments. At 26 days, metastasis to popliteal lymph nodes was determined by clonogenic assay. Changes in immune function were measured by analysis of serum cytokines and by fluorescent activated cells sorting (FACS) of immune cells from the spleen and lymph nodes. No significant differences were found in body weight gain or tumor size. Metastasis was significantly reduced in the TT-treated mice compared to mock-treated mice. Cancer significantly elevated eleven cytokines. TT significantly reduced IL-1-a, MIG, IL-1b, and MIP-2 to control/vehicle levels. FACS demonstrated that TT significantly reduced specific splenic lymphocyte subsets and macrophages were significantly elevated with cancer. Human biofield therapy had no significant effect on primary tumor but produced significant effects on metastasis and immune responses in a mouse breast cancer model. PMID:26113869

Power, effects, confidence, and significance: an investigation of statistical practices in nursing research.

PubMed

Gaskin, Cadeyrn J; Happell, Brenda

2014-05-01

improvement. Most importantly, researchers should abandon the misleading practice of interpreting the results from inferential tests based solely on whether they are statistically significant (or not) and, instead, focus on reporting and interpreting effect sizes, confidence intervals, and significance levels. Nursing researchers also need to conduct and report a priori power analyses, and to address the issue of Type I experiment-wise error inflation in their studies. Crown Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chronic Trichuris muris Infection in C57BL/6 Mice Causes Significant Changes in Host Microbiota and Metabolome: Effects Reversed by Pathogen Clearance.

PubMed

Houlden, Ashley; Hayes, Kelly S; Bancroft, Allison J; Worthington, John J; Wang, Ping; Grencis, Richard K; Roberts, Ian S

2015-01-01

Trichuris species are a globally important and prevalent group of intestinal helminth parasites, in which Trichuris muris (mouse whipworm) is an ideal model for this disease. This paper describes the first ever highly controlled and comprehensive investigation into the effects of T. muris infection on the faecal microbiota of mice and the effects on the microbiota following successful clearance of the infection. Communities were profiled using DGGE, 454 pyrosequencing, and metabolomics. Changes in microbial composition occurred between 14 and 28 days post infection, resulting in significant changes in α and β- diversity. This impact was dominated by a reduction in the diversity and abundance of Bacteroidetes, specifically Prevotella and Parabacteroides. Metabolomic analysis of stool samples of infected mice at day 41 showed significant differences to uninfected controls with a significant increase in the levels of a number of essential amino acids and a reduction in breakdown of dietary plant derived carbohydrates. The significant reduction in weight gain by infected mice probably reflects these metabolic changes and the incomplete digestion of dietary polysaccharides. Following clearance of infection the intestinal microbiota underwent additional changes gradually transitioning by day 91 towards a microbiota of an uninfected animal. These data indicate that the changes in microbiota as a consequence of infection were transitory requiring the presence of the pathogen for maintenance. Interestingly this was not observed for all of the key immune cell populations associated with chronic T. muris infection. This reflects the highly regulated chronic response and potential lasting immunological consequences of dysbiosis in the microbiota. Thus infection of T. muris causes a significant and substantial impact on intestinal microbiota and digestive function of mice with affects in long term immune regulation.

Dose-rate effect was observed in T98G glioma cells following BNCT.

PubMed

Kinashi, Yuko; Okumura, Kakuji; Kubota, Yoshihisa; Kitajima, Erika; Okayasu, Ryuichi; Ono, Koji; Takahashi, Sentaro

2014-06-01

It is generally said that low LET radiation produce high dose-rate effect, on the other hand, no significant dose rate effect is observed in high LET radiation. Although high LET radiations are produced in BNCT, little is known about dose-rate effect of BNCT. T98G cells, which were tumor cells, were irradiated by neutron mixed beam with BPA. As normal tissue derived cells, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cells and DNA double strand breaks (DNA-DSBs) repair deficient cells, xrs5 cells were irradiated by the neutrons (not including BPA). To DNA-DSBs analysis, T98G cells were stained immunochemically with 53BP1 antibody. The number of DNA-DSBs was determined by counting 53BP1 foci. There was no dose-rate effect in xrs5 cells. D0 difference between 4cGy/min and 20cGy/min irradiation were 0.5 and 5.9 at the neutron and gamma-ray irradiation for CHO-K1, and 0.3 at the neutron for T98G cells. D0 difference between 20cGy/min and 80cGy/min irradiation for T98G cells were 1.2 and 0.6 at neutron irradiation plus BPA and gamma-ray. The differences between neutron irradiations at the dose rate in T98G cells were supported by not only the cell viability but also 53BP1 foci assay at 24h following irradiation to monitor DNA-DSBs. Dose-rate effect of BNCT when T98G cells include 20ppm BPA was greater than that of gamma-ray irradiation. Moreover, Dose-rate effect of the neutron beam when CHO-K1 cells did not include BPA was less than that of gamma-ray irradiation These present results may suggest the importance of dose-rate effect for more efficient BNCT and the side effect reduction. © 2013 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Inference of effective river properties from remotely sensed observations of water surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garambois, Pierre-André; Monnier, Jérôme

2015-05-01

The future SWOT mission (Surface Water and Ocean Topography) will provide cartographic measurements of inland water surfaces (elevation, widths and slope) at an unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution. Given synthetic SWOT like data, forward flow models of hierarchical-complexity are revisited and few inverse formulations are derived and assessed for retrieving the river low flow bathymetry, roughness and discharge (A0, K, Q) . The concept of an effective low flow bathymetry A0 (the real one being never observed) and roughness K , hence an effective river dynamics description, is introduced. The few inverse models elaborated for inferring (A0, K, Q) are analyzed in two contexts: (1) only remotely sensed observations of the water surface (surface elevation, width and slope) are available; (2) one additional water depth measurement (or estimate) is available. The inverse models elaborated are independent of data acquisition dynamics; they are assessed on 91 synthetic test cases sampling a wide range of steady-state river flows (the Froude number varying between 0.05 and 0.5 for 1 km reaches) and in the case of a flood on the Garonne River (France) characterized by large spatio-temporal variabilities. It is demonstrated that the most complete shallow-water like model allowing to separate the roughness and bathymetry terms is the so-called low Froude model. In Case (1), the resulting RMSE on infered discharges are on the order of 15% for first guess errors larger than 50%. An important feature of the present inverse methods is the fairly good accuracy of the discharge Q obtained, while the identified roughness coefficient K includes the measurement errors and the misfit of physics between the real flow and the hypothesis on which the inverse models rely; the later neglecting the unobserved temporal variations of the flow and the inertia effects. A compensation phenomena between the indentifiedvalues of K and the unobserved bathymetry A0 is highlighted, while the

Enamel remineralization effect of a dentifrice containing calcium sodium phosphosilicate: an optical coherence tomography observation.

PubMed

Matsuyoshi, Saki; Murayama, Ryosuke; Akiba, Shunsuke; Yabuki, Chiaki; Takamizawa, Toshiki; Kurokawa, Hiroyasu; Miyazaki, Masashi

2017-04-01

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a dentifrice containing 5% calcium sodium phosphosilicate (CSP) on the remineralization of the enamel using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Bovine incisors were sliced and shaped in a rectangular form. One group of five specimens was treated with undersaturated 0.1 M lactic acid buffer solution (pH 4.75) for 10 min and then placed in artificial saliva (pH 7.0) (De group). Other specimens were stored in solutions of toothpaste containing CSP for 10 min, followed by 10-min immersion in the lactic acid buffer solution twice a day before storage in artificial saliva (CSP group). An additional group was stored in only artificial saliva (control group). OCT imaging on the selected location of the enamel surface was performed. The peak intensity and width at 1/e 2 were recorded in each of the six areas on the sample and averaged, and the sample size of each group was six. The integrated value in units (dB × μm) was calculated in the area of peak intensity. The data for each group was subjected to one-way repeated-measures ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests (α = 0.05). The changes in integrated values of each group were different. A slight but significant increase in the integrated value was observed in the control group, whereas a slight but significant decrease in the value was observed the De group. Integrated values increased in the CSP group. Remineralization occurred upon immersion in the toothpaste containing CSP.

Effect of geomagnetic storms on VHF scintillations observed at low latitude

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, S. B.; Patel, Kalpana; Singh, A. K.

2018-06-01

A geomagnetic storm affects the dynamics and composition of the ionosphere and also offers an excellent opportunity to study the plasma dynamics. In the present study, we have used the VHF scintillations data recorded at low latitude Indian station Varanasi (Geomag. latitude = 14^{°}55^' }N, long. = 154^{°}E) which is radiated at 250 MHz from geostationary satellite UFO-02 during the period 2011-2012 to investigate the effects of geomagnetic storms on VHF scintillation. Various geomagnetic and solar indices such as Dst index, Kp index, IMF Bz and solar wind velocity (Vx) are used to describe the geomagnetic field variation observed during geomagnetic storm periods. These indices are very helpful to find out the proper investigation and possible interrelation between geomagnetic storms and observed VHF scintillation. The pre-midnight scintillation is sometimes observed when the main phase of geomagnetic storm corresponds to the pre-midnight period. It is observed that for geomagnetic storms for which the recovery phase starts post-midnight, the probability of occurrence of irregularities is enhanced during this time and extends to early morning hours.

Significant treatment effect of add-on ketamine anesthesia in electroconvulsive therapy in depressive patients: A meta-analysis.

PubMed

Li, Dian-Jeng; Wang, Fu-Chiang; Chu, Che-Sheng; Chen, Tien-Yu; Tang, Chia-Hung; Yang, Wei-Cheng; Chow, Philip Chik-Keung; Wu, Ching-Kuan; Tseng, Ping-Tao; Lin, Pao-Yen

2017-01-01

Add-on ketamine anesthesia in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been studied in depressive patients in several clinical trials with inconclusive findings. Two most recent meta-analyses reported insignificant findings with regards to the treatment effect of add-on ketamine anesthesia in ECT in depressive patients. The aim of this study is to update the current evidence and investigate the role of add-on ketamine anesthesia in ECT in depressive patients via a systematic review and meta-analysis. We performed a thorough literature search of the PubMed and ScienceDirect databases, and extracted all relevant clinical variables to compare the antidepressive outcomes between add-on ketamine anesthesia and other anesthetics in ECT. Total 16 articles with 346 patients receiving add-on ketamine anesthesia in ECT and 329 controls were recruited. We found that the antidepressive treatment effect of add-on ketamine anesthesia in ECT in depressive patients was significantly higher than that of other anesthetics (p<0.001). This significance persisted in both short-term (1-2 weeks) and moderate-term (3-4 weeks) treatment courses (all p<0.05). However, the side effect profiles and recovery time profiles were significantly worse in add-on ketamine anesthesia group than in control group. Our meta-analysis highlights the significantly higher antidepressive treatment effect of add-on ketamine in depressive patients receiving ECT compared to other anesthetics. However, clinicians need to take undesirable side effects into consideration when using add-on ketamine anesthesia in ECT in depressive patients. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. and ECNP. All rights reserved.

Post-marketing observational program of the effectiveness of fluvoxamine for the treatment of depression in patients with neurological disorders: the FRIENDS study.

PubMed

Yahno, Nikolay N; Fedotova, Anastasia V

2017-01-01

In a prospective, non-blinded, uncontrolled, multicenter, post-marketing, observational study (FRIENDS; NCT02043197), fluvoxamine (50-300 mg/day for 90 days) was effective for the treatment of depression in 299 adult patients (age ≥18 years) with neurological disorders at baseline. The therapeutic effect of fluvoxamine was measured by means of changes in the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale depression and anxiety scores (HADS-D and HADS-A, respectively), global severity of illness, and clinical condition (measured using the Clinical Global Improvement [CGI] scale). The mean HADS-D subscale score at baseline in the per-protocol cohort (n=296) was 11.7±3.1 points and the corresponding mean HADS-A score was 12.6±3.2. Significant ( P <0.0001) improvements in both scores were recorded during fluvoxamine treatment and later follow-up. Most patients (>85%) recorded reductions versus baseline in both indices. In the CGI-based assessment, most evaluated patients (>200) experienced moderate to very substantial clinical improvement, with no or limited side effects. Significant improvements were also recorded in the exploratory outcomes of sleep quality, assessed using the Insomnia Severity Index, and cognitive function, assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment ( P <0.0001 vs baseline for both). No death or serious adverse drug reactions were reported during the study. The results of this observational study affirm that fluvoxamine is effective and well tolerated for the treatment of depression in the context of neurological disorders. The effects on the exploratory endpoints of this research merit evaluation in controlled trials.

Boosting the Motor Outcome of the Untrained Hand by Action Observation: Mirror Visual Feedback, Video Therapy, or Both Combined-What Is More Effective?

PubMed

Bähr, Florian; Ritter, Alexander; Seidel, Gundula; Puta, Christian; Gabriel, Holger H W; Hamzei, Farsin

2018-01-01

Action observation (AO) allows access to a network that processes visuomotor and sensorimotor inputs and is believed to be involved in observational learning of motor skills. We conducted three consecutive experiments to examine the boosting effect of AO on the motor outcome of the untrained hand by either mirror visual feedback (MVF), video therapy (VT), or a combination of both. In the first experiment, healthy participants trained either with MVF or without mirror feedback while in the second experiment, participants either trained with VT or observed animal videos. In the third experiment, participants first observed video clips that were followed by either training with MVF or training without mirror feedback. The outcomes for the untrained hand were quantified by scores from five motor tasks. The results demonstrated that MVF and VT significantly increase the motor performance of the untrained hand by the use of AO. We found that MVF was the most effective approach to increase the performance of the target effector. On the contrary, the combination of MVF and VT turns out to be less effective looking from clinical perspective. The gathered results suggest that action-related motor competence with the untrained hand is acquired by both mirror-based and video-based AO.

Boosting the Motor Outcome of the Untrained Hand by Action Observation: Mirror Visual Feedback, Video Therapy, or Both Combined—What Is More Effective?

PubMed Central

Ritter, Alexander; Seidel, Gundula; Puta, Christian; Gabriel, Holger H. W.; Hamzei, Farsin

2018-01-01

Action observation (AO) allows access to a network that processes visuomotor and sensorimotor inputs and is believed to be involved in observational learning of motor skills. We conducted three consecutive experiments to examine the boosting effect of AO on the motor outcome of the untrained hand by either mirror visual feedback (MVF), video therapy (VT), or a combination of both. In the first experiment, healthy participants trained either with MVF or without mirror feedback while in the second experiment, participants either trained with VT or observed animal videos. In the third experiment, participants first observed video clips that were followed by either training with MVF or training without mirror feedback. The outcomes for the untrained hand were quantified by scores from five motor tasks. The results demonstrated that MVF and VT significantly increase the motor performance of the untrained hand by the use of AO. We found that MVF was the most effective approach to increase the performance of the target effector. On the contrary, the combination of MVF and VT turns out to be less effective looking from clinical perspective. The gathered results suggest that action-related motor competence with the untrained hand is acquired by both mirror-based and video-based AO. PMID:29849570

Consomic mouse strain selection based on effect size measurement, statistical significance testing and integrated behavioral z-scoring: focus on anxiety-related behavior and locomotion.

PubMed

Labots, M; Laarakker, M C; Ohl, F; van Lith, H A

2016-06-29

Selecting chromosome substitution strains (CSSs, also called consomic strains/lines) used in the search for quantitative trait loci (QTLs) consistently requires the identification of the respective phenotypic trait of interest and is simply based on a significant difference between a consomic and host strain. However, statistical significance as represented by P values does not necessarily predicate practical importance. We therefore propose a method that pays attention to both the statistical significance and the actual size of the observed effect. The present paper extends on this approach and describes in more detail the use of effect size measures (Cohen's d, partial eta squared - η p (2) ) together with the P value as statistical selection parameters for the chromosomal assignment of QTLs influencing anxiety-related behavior and locomotion in laboratory mice. The effect size measures were based on integrated behavioral z-scoring and were calculated in three experiments: (A) a complete consomic male mouse panel with A/J as the donor strain and C57BL/6J as the host strain. This panel, including host and donor strains, was analyzed in the modified Hole Board (mHB). The consomic line with chromosome 19 from A/J (CSS-19A) was selected since it showed increased anxiety-related behavior, but similar locomotion compared to its host. (B) Following experiment A, female CSS-19A mice were compared with their C57BL/6J counterparts; however no significant differences and effect sizes close to zero were found. (C) A different consomic mouse strain (CSS-19PWD), with chromosome 19 from PWD/PhJ transferred on the genetic background of C57BL/6J, was compared with its host strain. Here, in contrast with CSS-19A, there was a decreased overall anxiety in CSS-19PWD compared to C57BL/6J males, but not locomotion. This new method shows an improved way to identify CSSs for QTL analysis for anxiety-related behavior using a combination of statistical significance testing and effect

Local cooling and warming effects of forests based on satellite observations.

PubMed

Li, Yan; Zhao, Maosheng; Motesharrei, Safa; Mu, Qiaozhen; Kalnay, Eugenia; Li, Shuangcheng

2015-03-31

The biophysical effects of forests on climate have been extensively studied with climate models. However, models cannot accurately reproduce local climate effects due to their coarse spatial resolution and uncertainties, and field observations are valuable but often insufficient due to their limited coverage. Here we present new evidence acquired from global satellite data to analyse the biophysical effects of forests on local climate. Results show that tropical forests have a strong cooling effect throughout the year; temperate forests show moderate cooling in summer and moderate warming in winter with net cooling annually; and boreal forests have strong warming in winter and moderate cooling in summer with net warming annually. The spatiotemporal cooling or warming effects are mainly driven by the two competing biophysical effects, evapotranspiration and albedo, which in turn are strongly influenced by rainfall and snow. Implications of our satellite-based study could be useful for informing local forestry policies.

Effect of Southern Hemisphere Sudden Stratospheric Warmings on Antarctica Mesospheric Tides: First Observational Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eswaraiah, S.; Kim, Yong Ha; Lee, Jaewook; Ratnam, M. Vankat; Rao, S. V. B.

2018-03-01

We analyzed the structure and variability of observed winds and tides in the Antarctica mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) during the 2002 major sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) and the 2010 minor SSWs. We noted the effect of SSW on the variability of MLT tides for the first time in the Southern Hemisphere, although it has been well recognized in the Northern Hemisphere. We utilized the winds measured by Rothera (68°S, 68°W) medium frequency radar and King Sejong Station (62.22°S, 58.78°W) meteor radar for estimating the tidal components (diurnal, semi-diurnal, and ter-diurnal) in the MLT region. The unusual behavior of diurnal tide (DT) and semidiurnal tide (SDT) was observed in 2002. Zonal SDT amplitudes were enhanced up to 27 m/s after 18 days from the associated SSW day. However, the meridional tidal amplitudes of both DT and SDT suddenly decreased during the peak SSW, and SDT amplitudes slightly increased to 18 m/s afterward. In the normal years, SDT amplitude stays below 15 m/s. During the 2010 SSW, SDT zonal amplitudes increased up to 40 m/s and 50 m/s at altitudes of 80 km and 90 km, respectively, 30 days after the associated SSW. Similar but weaker effect is noticed in the meridional components. The ter-diurnal tide does not show any significant variation during the SSW. The two SSWs offered a challenging issue to answer: why tidal amplitudes are enhanced with a delay after the SSW. The reasons for the delay are discussed in accordance with theoretical predictions.

Heavy Atom Effect of Bromine Significantly Enhances Exciton Utilization of Delayed Fluorescence Luminogens.

PubMed

Gan, Shifeng; Hu, Shimin; Li, Xiang-Long; Zeng, Jiajie; Zhang, Dongdong; Huang, Tianyu; Luo, Wenwen; Zhao, Zujin; Duan, Lian; Su, Shi-Jian; Tang, Ben Zhong

2018-05-23

Raising triplet exciton utilization of pure organic luminescent materials is of significant importance for efficiency advancement of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Herein, by introducing bromine atom(s) onto a typical molecule (bis(carbazol-9-yl)-4,5-dicyanobenzene) with thermally activated delayed fluorescence, we demonstrate that the heavy atom effect of bromine can increase spin-orbit coupling and promote the reverse intersystem crossing, which endow the molecules with more distinct delayed fluorescence. In consequence, the triplet exciton utilization is improved greatly with the increase of bromine atoms, affording apparently advanced external quantum efficiencies of OLEDs. Utilizing the enhancement effect of bromine atoms on delayed fluorescence should be a simple and promising design concept for efficient organic luminogens with high exciton utilization.

Observational Research Rigor Alone Does Not Justify Causal Inference

PubMed Central

Ejima, Keisuke; Li, Peng; Smith, Daniel L.; Nagy, Tim R.; Kadish, Inga; van Groen, Thomas; Dawson, John A.; Yang, Yongbin; Patki, Amit; Allison, David B.

2016-01-01

Background Differing opinions exist on whether associations obtained in observational studies can be reliable indicators of a causal effect if the observational study is sufficiently well controlled and executed. Materials and methods To test this, we conducted two animal observational studies that were rigorously controlled and executed beyond what is achieved in studies of humans. In study 1, we randomized 332 genetically identical C57BL/6J mice into three diet groups with differing food energy allotments and recorded individual self-selected daily energy intake and lifespan. In study 2, 60 male mice (CD1) were paired and divided into two groups for a 2-week feeding regimen. We evaluated the association between weight gain and food consumption. Within each pair, one animal was randomly assigned to an S group in which the animals had free access to food. The second paired animal (R group) was provided exactly the same diet that their S partner ate the day before. Results In study 1, across all three groups, we found a significant negative effect of energy intake on lifespan. However, we found a positive association between food intake and lifespan among the ad libitum feeding group: 29.99 (95% CI: 8.2 to 51.7) days per daily kcal. In study 2, we found a significant (P=0.003) group (randomized vs self-selected)-by-food consumption interaction effect on weight gain. Conclusions At least in nutrition research, associations derived from observational studies may not be reliable indicators of causal effects, even with the most rigorous study designs achievable. PMID:27711975

Effects of walker gender and observer gender on biological motion walking direction discrimination.

PubMed

Yang, Xiaoying; Cai, Peng; Jiang, Yi

2014-09-01

The ability to recognize the movements of other biological entities, such as whether a person is walking toward you, is essential for survival and social interaction. Previous studies have shown that the visual system is particularly sensitive to approaching biological motion. In this study, we examined whether the gender of walkers and observers influenced the walking direction discrimination of approaching point-light walkers in fine granularity. The observers were presented a walker who walked in different directions and were asked to quickly judge the walking direction (left or right). The results showed that the observers demonstrated worse direction discrimination when the walker was depicted as male than when the walker was depicted as female, probably because the observers tended to perceive the male walkers as walking straight ahead. Intriguingly, male observers performed better than female observers at judging the walking directions of female walkers but not those of male walkers, a result indicating perceptual advantage with evolutionary significance. These findings provide strong evidence that the gender of walkers and observers modulates biological motion perception and that an adaptive perceptual mechanism exists in the visual system to facilitate the survival of social organisms. © 2014 The Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Teaching Statistical Inference for Causal Effects in Experiments and Observational Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rubin, Donald B.

2004-01-01

Inference for causal effects is a critical activity in many branches of science and public policy. The field of statistics is the one field most suited to address such problems, whether from designed experiments or observational studies. Consequently, it is arguably essential that departments of statistics teach courses in causal inference to both…

77 FR 24722 - Draft Guidance for Industry: Assessing the Effects of Significant Manufacturing Process Changes...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-04-25

...] Draft Guidance for Industry: Assessing the Effects of Significant Manufacturing Process Changes... Substances, Including Food Ingredients That Are Color Additives; Availability AGENCY: Food and Drug... Manufacturing Process Changes, Including Emerging Technologies, on the Safety and Regulatory Status of Food...

Exploring cosmic origins with CORE: Effects of observer peculiar motion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burigana, C.; Carvalho, C. S.; Trombetti, T.; Notari, A.; Quartin, M.; Gasperis, G. D.; Buzzelli, A.; Vittorio, N.; De Zotti, G.; de Bernardis, P.; Chluba, J.; Bilicki, M.; Danese, L.; Delabrouille, J.; Toffolatti, L.; Lapi, A.; Negrello, M.; Mazzotta, P.; Scott, D.; Contreras, D.; Achúcarro, A.; Ade, P.; Allison, R.; Ashdown, M.; Ballardini, M.; Banday, A. J.; Banerji, R.; Bartlett, J.; Bartolo, N.; Basak, S.; Bersanelli, M.; Bonaldi, A.; Bonato, M.; Borrill, J.; Bouchet, F.; Boulanger, F.; Brinckmann, T.; Bucher, M.; Cabella, P.; Cai, Z.-Y.; Calvo, M.; Castellano, M. G.; Challinor, A.; Clesse, S.; Colantoni, I.; Coppolecchia, A.; Crook, M.; D'Alessandro, G.; Diego, J.-M.; Di Marco, A.; Di Valentino, E.; Errard, J.; Feeney, S.; Fernández-Cobos, R.; Ferraro, S.; Finelli, F.; Forastieri, F.; Galli, S.; Génova-Santos, R.; Gerbino, M.; González-Nuevo, J.; Grandis, S.; Greenslade, J.; Hagstotz, S.; Hanany, S.; Handley, W.; Hernández-Monteagudo, C.; Hervias-Caimapo, C.; Hills, M.; Hivon, E.; Kiiveri, K.; Kisner, T.; Kitching, T.; Kunz, M.; Kurki-Suonio, H.; Lamagna, L.; Lasenby, A.; Lattanzi, M.; Lesgourgues, J.; Liguori, M.; Lindholm, V.; Lopez-Caniego, M.; Luzzi, G.; Maffei, B.; Mandolesi, N.; Martinez-Gonzalez, E.; Martins, C. J. A. P.; Masi, S.; Matarrese, S.; McCarthy, D.; Melchiorri, A.; Melin, J.-B.; Molinari, D.; Monfardini, A.; Natoli, P.; Paiella, A.; Paoletti, D.; Patanchon, G.; Piat, M.; Pisano, G.; Polastri, L.; Polenta, G.; Pollo, A.; Poulin, V.; Remazeilles, M.; Roman, M.; Rubiño-Martín, J.-A.; Salvati, L.; Tartari, A.; Tomasi, M.; Tramonte, D.; Trappe, N.; Tucker, C.; Väliviita, J.; Van de Weijgaert, R.; van Tent, B.; Vennin, V.; Vielva, P.; Young, K.; Zannoni, M.

2018-04-01

We discuss the effects on the cosmic microwave background (CMB), cosmic infrared background (CIB), and thermal Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect due to the peculiar motion of an observer with respect to the CMB rest frame, which induces boosting effects. After a brief review of the current observational and theoretical status, we investigate the scientific perspectives opened by future CMB space missions, focussing on the Cosmic Origins Explorer (CORE) proposal. The improvements in sensitivity offered by a mission like CORE, together with its high resolution over a wide frequency range, will provide a more accurate estimate of the CMB dipole. The extension of boosting effects to polarization and cross-correlations will enable a more robust determination of purely velocity-driven effects that are not degenerate with the intrinsic CMB dipole, allowing us to achieve an overall signal-to-noise ratio of 13; this improves on the Planck detection and essentially equals that of an ideal cosmic-variance-limited experiment up to a multipole lsimeq2000. Precise inter-frequency calibration will offer the opportunity to constrain or even detect CMB spectral distortions, particularly from the cosmological reionization epoch, because of the frequency dependence of the dipole spectrum, without resorting to precise absolute calibration. The expected improvement with respect to COBE-FIRAS in the recovery of distortion parameters (which could in principle be a factor of several hundred for an ideal experiment with the CORE configuration) ranges from a factor of several up to about 50, depending on the quality of foreground removal and relative calibration. Even in the case of simeq1 % accuracy in both foreground removal and relative calibration at an angular scale of 1o, we find that dipole analyses for a mission like CORE will be able to improve the recovery of the CIB spectrum amplitude by a factor simeq 17 in comparison with current results based on COBE-FIRAS. In addition to the

Optimal Observations for Variational Data Assimilation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Koehl, Armin; Stammer, Detlef

2003-01-01

An important aspect of Ocean state estimation is the design of an observing system that allows the efficient study of climate aspects in the ocean. A solution of the design problem is presented here in terms of optimal observations that emerge as nondimensionalized singular vectors of the modified data resolution matrix. The actual computation is feasible only for scalar quantities in the limit of large observational errors. In the framework of a lo resolution North Atlantic primitive equation model it is demonstrated that such optimal observations when applied to determining the strength of the volume and heat transport across the Greenland-Scotland ridge, perform significantly better than traditional section data. On seasonal to inter-annual time-scales optimal observations are located primarily along the continental shelf and information about heat-transport, wind stress and stratification is being communicated via boundary waves and advective processes. On time-scales of about a month, sea surface height observations appear to be more efficient in reconstructing the cross-ridge heat transport than hydrographic observations. Optimal observations also provide a tool for understanding how the ocean state is effected by anomalies of integral quantities such as meridional heat transport.

An overview of butanol-induced developmental neurotoxicity and the potential mechanisms related to these observed effects.

PubMed

Bale, Ambuja S; Lee, Janice S

2016-01-01

The purpose of this article is to briefly review the published literature on the developmental neurotoxic effects, including potential mechanisms, of four butanols: n-butanol, sec-butanol, tert-butanol, isobutanol, and identify data gaps and research needs for evaluation of human health risks in this area. Exposure potential to these four butanols is considerable given the high production volume (>1 billion lb) of n- and tert-butanol and moderate production volumes (100-500 million lb) of sec- and isobutanol. With the impetus to derive cleaner gasoline blends, butanols are being considered for use as fuel oxygenates. Notable signs of neurotoxicity and developmental neurotoxicity have been observed in some studies where laboratory animals (rodents) were gestationally exposed to n- or tert-butanol. Mechanistic data relevant to the observed developmental neurotoxicity endpoints were also reviewed to hypothesize potential mechanisms associated with the developmental neurotoxicity outcome. Data from the related and highly characterized alcohol, ethanol, were included to examine consistencies between this compound and the four butanols. It is widely known that alcohols, including butanols, interact with several ion channels and modulate the function of these targets following both acute and chronic exposures. In addition, n- and sec-butanol have been demonstrated to inhibit fetal rat brain astroglial cell proliferation. Further, rat pups exposed to n-butanol in utero were also reported to have significant increases in brain levels of dopamine and serotonin, but decreases in serotonin levels were noted with gestational exposure to tert-butanol. tert-Butanol was reported to inhibit muscarinic receptor-stimulated phosphoinositide metabolism which has been hypothesized to be a possible target for the neurotoxic effects of ethanol during brain development. The mechanistic data for the butanols support developmental neurotoxicity that has been observed in some of the rodent

Commentary on two classroom observation systems: moving toward a shared understanding of effective teaching.

PubMed

Connor, Carol McDonald

2013-12-01

In this commentary, I make five points: that designing observation systems that actually predict students' outcomes is challenging; second that systems that capture the complex and dynamic nature of the classroom learning environment are more likely to be able to meet this challenge; three, that observation tools are most useful when developed to serve a particular purpose and are put to that purpose; four that technology can help; and five, there are policy implications for valid and reliable classroom observation tools. The two observation systems presented in this special issue represent an important step forward and a move toward policy that promises to make a true difference in what is defined as high quality and effective teaching, what it looks like in the classroom, and how these practices can be more widely disseminated so that all children, including those attending under-resourced schools, can experience effective instruction, academic success and the lifelong accomplishment that follows. PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved.

Commentary on Two Classroom Observation Systems: Moving Toward a Shared Understanding of Effective Teaching

PubMed Central

Connor, Carol McDonald

2016-01-01

In this commentary, I make five points: that designing observation systems that actually predict students’ outcomes is challenging; second that systems that capture the complex and dynamic nature of the classroom learning environment are more likely to be able to meet this challenge; three, that observation tools are most useful when developed to serve a particular purpose and are put to that purpose; four that technology can help; and five, there are policy implications for valid and reliable classroom observation tools. The two observation systems presented in this special issue represent an important step forward and a move toward policy that promises to make a true difference in what is defined as high quality and effective teaching, what it looks like in the classroom, and how these practices can be more widely disseminated so that all children, including those attending under-resourced schools, can experience effective instruction, academic success and the lifelong accomplishment that follows. PMID:24341927

Effect of virtual reality in Parkinson's disease: a prospective observational study.

PubMed

Severiano, Maria Izabel Rodrigues; Zeigelboim, Bianca Simone; Teive, Hélio Afonso Ghizoni; Santos, Geslaine Janaína Barbosa; Fonseca, Vinícius Ribas

2018-02-01

To assess the effectiveness of balance exercises by means of virtual reality games in Parkinson's disease. Sixteen patients were submitted to anamnesis, otorhinolaryngological and vestibular examinations, as well as the Dizziness Handicap Inventory, Berg Balance Scale, SF-36 questionnaire, and the SRT, applied before and after rehabilitation with virtual reality games. Final scoring for the Dizziness Handicap Inventory and Berg Balance Scale was better after rehabilitation. The SRT showed a significant result after rehabilitation. The SF-36 showed a significant change in the functional capacity for the Tightrope Walk and Ski Slalom virtual reality games (p < 0.05), as well as in the mental health aspect of the Ski Slalom game (p < 0.05). The Dizziness Handicap Inventory and Berg Balance Scale showed significant changes in the Ski Slalom game (p < 0.05). There was evidence of clinical improvement in patients in the final assessment after virtual rehabilitation. The Tightrope Walk and Ski Slalom virtual games were shown to be the most effective for this population.

Kalman filter data assimilation: targeting observations and parameter estimation.

PubMed

Bellsky, Thomas; Kostelich, Eric J; Mahalov, Alex

2014-06-01

This paper studies the effect of targeted observations on state and parameter estimates determined with Kalman filter data assimilation (DA) techniques. We first provide an analytical result demonstrating that targeting observations within the Kalman filter for a linear model can significantly reduce state estimation error as opposed to fixed or randomly located observations. We next conduct observing system simulation experiments for a chaotic model of meteorological interest, where we demonstrate that the local ensemble transform Kalman filter (LETKF) with targeted observations based on largest ensemble variance is skillful in providing more accurate state estimates than the LETKF with randomly located observations. Additionally, we find that a hybrid ensemble Kalman filter parameter estimation method accurately updates model parameters within the targeted observation context to further improve state estimation.

Experimental observation of negative effective gravity in water waves.

PubMed

Hu, Xinhua; Yang, Jiong; Zi, Jian; Chan, C T; Ho, Kai-Ming

2013-01-01

The gravity of Earth is responsible for the formation of water waves and usually difficult to change. Although negative effective gravity was recently predicted theoretically in water waves, it has not yet been observed in experiments and remains a mathematical curiosity which is difficult to understand. Here we experimentally demonstrate that close to the resonant frequency of purposely-designed resonating units, negative effective gravity can occur for water waves passing through an array of resonators composing of bottom-mounted split tubes, resulting in the prohibition of water wave propagation. It is found that when negative gravity occurs, the averaged displacement of water surface in a unit cell of the array has a phase difference of π to that along the boundary of the unit cell, consistent with theoretical predictions. Our results provide a mechanism to block water waves and may find applications in wave energy conversion and coastal protection.

Experimental Observation of Negative Effective Gravity in Water Waves

PubMed Central

Hu, Xinhua; Yang, Jiong; Zi, Jian; Chan, C. T.; Ho, Kai-Ming

2013-01-01

The gravity of Earth is responsible for the formation of water waves and usually difficult to change. Although negative effective gravity was recently predicted theoretically in water waves, it has not yet been observed in experiments and remains a mathematical curiosity which is difficult to understand. Here we experimentally demonstrate that close to the resonant frequency of purposely-designed resonating units, negative effective gravity can occur for water waves passing through an array of resonators composing of bottom-mounted split tubes, resulting in the prohibition of water wave propagation. It is found that when negative gravity occurs, the averaged displacement of water surface in a unit cell of the array has a phase difference of π to that along the boundary of the unit cell, consistent with theoretical predictions. Our results provide a mechanism to block water waves and may find applications in wave energy conversion and coastal protection. PMID:23715132

Local cooling and warming effects of forests based on satellite observations

PubMed Central

Li, Yan; Zhao, Maosheng; Motesharrei, Safa; Mu, Qiaozhen; Kalnay, Eugenia; Li, Shuangcheng

2015-01-01

The biophysical effects of forests on climate have been extensively studied with climate models. However, models cannot accurately reproduce local climate effects due to their coarse spatial resolution and uncertainties, and field observations are valuable but often insufficient due to their limited coverage. Here we present new evidence acquired from global satellite data to analyse the biophysical effects of forests on local climate. Results show that tropical forests have a strong cooling effect throughout the year; temperate forests show moderate cooling in summer and moderate warming in winter with net cooling annually; and boreal forests have strong warming in winter and moderate cooling in summer with net warming annually. The spatiotemporal cooling or warming effects are mainly driven by the two competing biophysical effects, evapotranspiration and albedo, which in turn are strongly influenced by rainfall and snow. Implications of our satellite-based study could be useful for informing local forestry policies. PMID:25824529

Quantifying the effect of riming on snowfall using ground-based observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moisseev, Dmitri; von Lerber, Annakaisa; Tiira, Jussi

2017-04-01

Ground-based observations of ice particle size distribution and ensemble mean density are used to quantify the effect of riming on snowfall. The rime mass fraction is derived from these measurements by following the approach that is used in a single ice-phase category microphysical scheme proposed for the use in numerical weather prediction models. One of the characteristics of the proposed scheme is that the prefactor of a power law relation that links mass and size of ice particles is determined by the rime mass fraction, while the exponent does not change. To derive the rime mass fraction, a mass-dimensional relation representative of unrimed snow is also determined. To check the validity of the proposed retrieval method, the derived rime mass fraction is converted to the effective liquid water path that is compared to microwave radiometer observations. Since dual-polarization radar observations are often used to detect riming, the impact of riming on dual-polarization radar variables is studied for differential reflectivity measurements. It is shown that the relation between rime mass fraction and differential reflectivity is ambiguous, other factors such as change in median volume diameter need also be considered. Given the current interest on sensitivity of precipitation to aerosol pollution, which could inhibit riming, the importance of riming for surface snow accumulation is investigated. It is found that riming is responsible for 5% to 40% of snowfall mass. The study is based on data collected at the University of Helsinki field station in Hyytiälä during U.S. Department of Energy Biogenic Aerosols Effects on Clouds and Climate (BAECC) field campaign and the winter 2014/2015. In total 22 winter storms were analyzed, and detailed analysis of two events is presented to illustrate the study.

Chandra Observations of the Brightest Sunyaev-Zeldovich Effect Cluster

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hughes, John

2011-10-01

We propose deep Chandra observations of ACT-CL J0102-4915, the brightest Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect cluster discovered by the Atacama Cosmology Telescope and South Pole Telescope surveys. These surveys covered approximately 3000 square degrees and are essentially complete to high redshift. Our recent Chandra and VLT optical data reveal ACL-CL J0102-4915 to be undergoing a major merger. It is likely a high redshift {z=0.870} counterpart to the famous A?A?bulletA?A? cluster. New Chandra data will determine the properties of the merger shock and the HST/ACS data will provide a weak lensing mass map.

Chandra Observations of the Brightest Sunyaev-Zeldovich Effect Cluster

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hughes, John

2011-09-01

We propose deep Chandra observations of ACT-CL J0102-4915, the brightest Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect cluster discovered by the Atacama Cosmology Telescope and South Pole Telescope surveys. These surveys covered approximately 3000 square degrees and are essentially complete to high redshift. Our recent Chandra and VLT optical data reveal ACL-CL J0102-4915 to be undergoing a major merger. It is likely a high redshift (z=0.870) counterpart to the famous ``bullet'' cluster. New Chandra data will determine the properties of the merger shock and the HST/ACS data will provide a weak lensing mass map.

Observation of Significant enhancement in the efficiency of a DSSC by InN nanoparticles over TiO 2-nanoparticle films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Tsai-Te; Raghunath, P.; Lu, Yun-Fang; Liu, Yu-Chang; Chiou, Chwei-Huawn; Lin, M. C.

2011-06-01

We have studied the effect of InN deposited over TiO2 nanoparticle (NP) films on the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) using N3 dye with I/I3- electrolyte. A 10-20% increase in efficiency was observed for InN deposited, N3 sensitized 5-8.5 μm thick TiO2 films as compared to similar non-treated films. The deposition of InN was carried out in the temperature range of 573-723 K organometallic chemical vapor deposition (OMCVD). Spectral shifts and DFT calculations with a model anchoring group (R‧COOH) both suggest binding of the N3 dye directly to both InN and the InN/TiO2 sites.

Observational studies and the difficult quest for causality: lessons from vaccine effectiveness and impact studies.

PubMed

Lipsitch, Marc; Jha, Ayan; Simonsen, Lone

2016-12-01

Although randomized placebo-controlled trials (RCT) are critical to establish efficacy of vaccines at the time of licensure, important remaining questions about vaccine effectiveness (VE)-used here to include individual-level measures and population-wide impact of vaccine programmes-can only be answered once the vaccine is in use, from observational studies. However, such studies are inherently at risk for bias. Using a causal framework and illustrating with examples, we review newer approaches to detecting and avoiding confounding and selection bias in three major classes of observational study design: cohort, case-control and ecological studies. Studies of influenza VE, especially in seniors, are an excellent demonstration of the challenges of detecting and reducing such bias, and so we use influenza VE as a running example. We take a fresh look at the time-trend studies often dismissed as 'ecological'. Such designs are the only observational study design that can measure the overall effect of a vaccination programme [indirect (herd) as well as direct effects], and are in fact already an important part of the evidence base for several vaccines currently in use. Despite the great strides towards more robust observational study designs, challenges lie ahead for evaluating best practices for achieving robust unbiased results from observational studies. This is critical for evaluation of national and global vaccine programme effectiveness. © The Author 2016; all rights reserved. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Epidemiological Association.

Chronic Trichuris muris Infection in C57BL/6 Mice Causes Significant Changes in Host Microbiota and Metabolome: Effects Reversed by Pathogen Clearance

PubMed Central

Houlden, Ashley; Hayes, Kelly S.; Bancroft, Allison J.; Worthington, John J.; Wang, Ping; Grencis, Richard K.; Roberts, Ian S.

2015-01-01

Trichuris species are a globally important and prevalent group of intestinal helminth parasites, in which Trichuris muris (mouse whipworm) is an ideal model for this disease. This paper describes the first ever highly controlled and comprehensive investigation into the effects of T. muris infection on the faecal microbiota of mice and the effects on the microbiota following successful clearance of the infection. Communities were profiled using DGGE, 454 pyrosequencing, and metabolomics. Changes in microbial composition occurred between 14 and 28 days post infection, resulting in significant changes in α and β- diversity. This impact was dominated by a reduction in the diversity and abundance of Bacteroidetes, specifically Prevotella and Parabacteroides. Metabolomic analysis of stool samples of infected mice at day 41 showed significant differences to uninfected controls with a significant increase in the levels of a number of essential amino acids and a reduction in breakdown of dietary plant derived carbohydrates. The significant reduction in weight gain by infected mice probably reflects these metabolic changes and the incomplete digestion of dietary polysaccharides. Following clearance of infection the intestinal microbiota underwent additional changes gradually transitioning by day 91 towards a microbiota of an uninfected animal. These data indicate that the changes in microbiota as a consequence of infection were transitory requiring the presence of the pathogen for maintenance. Interestingly this was not observed for all of the key immune cell populations associated with chronic T. muris infection. This reflects the highly regulated chronic response and potential lasting immunological consequences of dysbiosis in the microbiota. Thus infection of T. muris causes a significant and substantial impact on intestinal microbiota and digestive function of mice with affects in long term immune regulation. PMID:25938477

Significant parent-of-origin effects in cucumber

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Cucumber is a useful plant to study organellar effects because chloroplasts are maternally and mitochondria paternally transmitted. We produced doubled haploids (DH) from divergent cucumber populations, generated reciprocal crosses in a diallel mating scheme, measured weights of plants approximately...

Effect of citizen engagement levels in flood forecasting by assimilating crowdsourced observations in hydrological models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mazzoleni, Maurizio; Cortes Arevalo, Juliette; Alfonso, Leonardo; Wehn, Uta; Norbiato, Daniele; Monego, Martina; Ferri, Michele; Solomatine, Dimitri

2017-04-01

In the past years, a number of methods have been proposed to reduce uncertainty in flood prediction by means of model updating techniques. Traditional physical observations are usually integrated into hydrological and hydraulic models to improve model performances and consequent flood predictions. Nowadays, low-cost sensors can be used for crowdsourced observations. Different type of social sensors can measure, in a more distributed way, physical variables such as precipitation and water level. However, these crowdsourced observations are not integrated into a real-time fashion into water-system models due to their varying accuracy and random spatial-temporal coverage. We assess the effect in model performance due to the assimilation of crowdsourced observations of water level. Our method consists in (1) implementing a Kalman filter into a cascade of hydrological and hydraulic models. (2) defining observation errors depending on the type of sensor either physical or social. Randomly distributed errors are based on accuracy ranges that slightly improve according to the citizens' expertise level. (3) Using a simplified social model to realistically represent citizen engagement levels based on population density and citizens' motivation scenarios. To test our method, we synthetically derive crowdsourced observations for different citizen engagement levels from a distributed network of physical and social sensors. The observations are assimilated during a particular flood event occurred in the Bacchiglione catchment, Italy. The results of this study demonstrate that sharing crowdsourced water level observations (often motivated by a feeling of belonging to a community of friends) can help in improving flood prediction. On the other hand, a growing participation of individual citizens or weather enthusiasts sharing hydrological observations in cities can help to improve model performance. This study is a first step to assess the effects of crowdsourced observations in

Learning by observing: the effect of multiple sessions of action-observation training on the spontaneous movement tempo and motor resonance.

PubMed

Lagravinese, Giovanna; Bisio, Ambra; Ruggeri, Piero; Bove, Marco; Avanzino, Laura

2017-02-01

The present study was designed to explore the changes in motor performance and motor resonance after multiple sessions of action observation (AO) training. Subjects were exposed to the observation of a video showing finger tapping movements executed at 3Hz, a frequency higher than the spontaneous one (2Hz) for four consecutive days. Motor performance and motor resonance were tested before the AO training on the first day, and on the last day. Results showed that multiple sessions of AO training induced a shift of the speed of execution of finger tapping movements toward the observed one and a change in motor resonance. Before the 3Hz-AO training cortical excitability was highest during the observation of the 2Hz video. This motor resonance effect was lost after one single session of 3Hz-AO training whereas after multiple sessions of 3Hz-AO training cortical excitability was highest during the observation of the 3Hz video. Our study shows for the first time that multiple sessions of AO training are able not only to induce performance gains but also to change the way by which the observer's motor system recognizes a certain movement as belonging to the individual motor repertoire. These results may encourage the development of novel rehabilitative protocols based on multiple sessions of action observation aimed to regain a correct movement when its spontaneous speed is modified by pathologies or to modify the innate temporal properties of certain movements. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Recommended observational skills training for IAEA safeguards inspections. Final report: Recommended observational skills training for IAEA safeguards inspections

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

Toquam, J.L.; Morris, F.A.

This is the second of two reports prepared to assist the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA or Agency) in enhancing the effectiveness of its international safeguards inspections through inspector training in {open_quotes}Observational Skills{close_quotes}. The first (Phase 1) report was essentially exploratory. It defined Observational Skills broadly to include all appropriate cognitive, communications, and interpersonal techniques that have the potential to help IAEA safeguards inspectors function more effectively. It identified 10 specific Observational Skills components, analyzed their relevance to IAEA safeguards inspections, and reviewed a variety of inspection programs in the public and private sectors that provide training in one ormore » more of these components. The report concluded that while it should be possible to draw upon these other programs in developing Observational Skills training for IAEA inspectors, the approaches utilized in these programs will likely require significant adaption to support the specific job requirements, policies, and practices that define the IAEA inspector`s job. The overall objective of this second (Phase 2) report is to provide a basis for the actual design and delivery of Observational Skills training to IAEA inspectors. The more specific purposes of this report are to convey a fuller understanding of the potential application of Observational Skills to the inspector`s job, describe inspector perspectives on the relevance and importance of particular Observational Skills, identify the specific Observational Skill components that are most important and relevant to enhancing safeguards inspections, and make recommendations as to Observational Skills training for the IAEA`s consideration in further developing its Safeguards training program.« less

Underground physics and the barometric pumping effect observed for thermal neutron flux underground

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stenkin, Yu. V.; Alekseenko, V. V.; Gromushkin, D. M.; Sulakov, V. P.; Shchegolev, O. B.

2017-05-01

It is known that neutron background is a major problem for low-background experiments carrying out underground, such as dark matter search, double-beta decay searches and other experiments known as Underground Physics. We present here some results obtained with the en-detector of 0.75 m2, which is running for more than 4 years underground at a depth of 25 m water equivalent in Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics, Moscow State University. Some spontaneous increases in thermal neutron flux up to a factor of 3 were observed in delayed anti-correlation with barometric pressure. The phenomenon can be explained by the radon barometric pumping effect resulting in similar effect in neutron flux being produced in (α, n)-reactions by alpha-decays of radon and its daughters in surrounding rock. This is the first demonstration of the barometric pumping effect observed in thermal neutron flux underground.

Rheumatoid arthritis significantly increased recurrence risk after ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack.

PubMed

Chen, Yih-Ru; Hsieh, Fang-I; Lien, Li-Ming; Hu, Chaur-Jong; Jeng, Jiann-Shing; Peng, Giia-Sheun; Tang, Sung-Chun; Chi, Nai-Fang; Sung, Yueh-Feng; Chiou, Hung-Yi

2018-06-02

The effect of RA on recurrent stroke is unknown. Therefore, we examined effects of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on risk of stroke recurrence and investigated the interaction between RA and traditional cardiovascular risk factors on recurrence risk after ischemic stroke (IS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA). Of 3190 patients with IS or TIA recruited in this cohort study, 638 were comorbid with RA and 2552 without RA. Stroke recurrence, RA, lifestyle, lipid variables and other comorbidities were identified through linkage between a nationwide stroke database in Taiwan and the National Health Insurance claims database. Cox proportional hazard models with competing risk adjustment were used to evaluate the relationship between RA and recurrent stroke. Patients with RA showed a significantly increased risk of recurrent stroke, particular in recurrent IS/TIA. The increased risk of recurrent IS/TIA in RA patients may through the changes of triglycerides (TG)/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio. A positive additive interaction was observed between RA and current smoking on the risk of recurrent IS/TIA. Significantly increased risks for recurrent IS/TIA were observed among RA patients who smoked > 40 years or those who smoked > 20 cigarettes/day. This study provides the first evidence that RA significantly increased recurrence IS/TIA risk. The changes of TG/HDL-C ratio may play some roles in the recurrence IS/TIA risk in RA patients. In addition, our results suggest that smoking increases the risk of recurrent IS/TIA in RA patients and reinforces the need for aggressive smoking cessation efforts in RA patients.

Association between carbohydrate quality and inflammatory markers: systematic review of observational and interventional studies.

PubMed

Buyken, Anette E; Goletzke, Janina; Joslowski, Gesa; Felbick, Anna; Cheng, Guo; Herder, Christian; Brand-Miller, Jennie C

2014-04-01

Chronic low-grade inflammation is a likely intermediary between quality of carbohydrate and chronic disease risk. We conducted a systematic literature search to evaluate the relevance of carbohydrate quality on inflammatory markers in observational and intervention studies. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were searched for studies on associations between glycemic index (GI), glycemic load (GL), dietary fiber or fiber supplements or whole grain intake, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) or interleukin 6 (IL-6). Included studies had to be conducted on adults (healthy, overweight, with type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome features, but without inflammatory disease) with ≥20 participants and a 3-wk duration. In total, 22 of the 60 studies that met our inclusion criteria examined GI/GL: 5 of 9 observational studies reported lower concentrations of hsCRP or IL-6 among persons with a lower dietary GI/GL; 3 of 13 intervention studies showed significant antiinflammatory effects of a low-GI/GL diet, and 4 further studies suggested beneficial effects (trends or effects in a subgroup). For fiber intake, 13 of 16 observational studies reported an inverse relation with hsCRP or IL-6, but only 1 of 11 intervention studies showed a significant antiinflammatory effect of fiber intake, and a further trial reported a beneficial trend. For whole-grain intake, 6 of 7 observational studies observed an inverse association with inflammatory markers, but only 1 of 7 intervention studies reported significant antiinflammatory effects, 1 further study was suggestive (in a subgroup) of such, and another study found an adverse effect (trend only). Evidence from intervention studies for antiinflammatory benefits is less consistent for higher-fiber or whole-grain diets than for low-GI/GL diets. Benefits of higher fiber and whole-grain intakes suggested by observational studies may reflect confounding.

The effect of crustal anisotropy on SKS splitting analysis—synthetic models and real-data observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Latifi, Koorosh; Kaviani, Ayoub; Rümpker, Georg; Mahmoodabadi, Meysam; Ghassemi, Mohammad R.; Sadidkhouy, Ahmad

2018-05-01

The contribution of crustal anisotropy to the observation of SKS splitting parameters is often assumed to be negligible. Based on synthetic models, we show that the impact of crustal anisotropy on the SKS splitting parameters can be significant even in the case of moderate to weak anisotropy within the crust. In addition, real-data examples reveal that significant azimuthal variations in SKS splitting parameters can be caused by crustal anisotropy. Ps-splitting analysis of receiver functions (RF) can be used to infer the anisotropic parameters of the crust. These crustal splitting parameters may then be used to constrain the inversion of SKS apparent splitting parameters to infer the anisotropy of the mantle. The observation of SKS splitting for different azimuths is indispensable to verify the presence or absence of multiple layers of anisotropy beneath a seismic station. By combining SKS and RF observations in different azimuths at a station, we are able to uniquely decipher the anisotropic parameters of crust and upper mantle.

Significant-Loophole-Free Test of Bell's Theorem with Entangled Photons.

PubMed

Giustina, Marissa; Versteegh, Marijn A M; Wengerowsky, Sören; Handsteiner, Johannes; Hochrainer, Armin; Phelan, Kevin; Steinlechner, Fabian; Kofler, Johannes; Larsson, Jan-Åke; Abellán, Carlos; Amaya, Waldimar; Pruneri, Valerio; Mitchell, Morgan W; Beyer, Jörn; Gerrits, Thomas; Lita, Adriana E; Shalm, Lynden K; Nam, Sae Woo; Scheidl, Thomas; Ursin, Rupert; Wittmann, Bernhard; Zeilinger, Anton

2015-12-18

Local realism is the worldview in which physical properties of objects exist independently of measurement and where physical influences cannot travel faster than the speed of light. Bell's theorem states that this worldview is incompatible with the predictions of quantum mechanics, as is expressed in Bell's inequalities. Previous experiments convincingly supported the quantum predictions. Yet, every experiment requires assumptions that provide loopholes for a local realist explanation. Here, we report a Bell test that closes the most significant of these loopholes simultaneously. Using a well-optimized source of entangled photons, rapid setting generation, and highly efficient superconducting detectors, we observe a violation of a Bell inequality with high statistical significance. The purely statistical probability of our results to occur under local realism does not exceed 3.74×10^{-31}, corresponding to an 11.5 standard deviation effect.

The effect of observing session duration on OPUS-RS results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dincer Dogru, A.; Ugur Sanli, D.; Hayal, Adem G.; Berber, Mustafa

2016-04-01

Online GPS positioning software has now a widespread interest among practitioners and researchers. Researchers rescently use online software to monitor natural hazards such as landslides. The fact that this software usually employs continuously operating GPS stations of the International GNSS Service (IGS) as reference stations in the processing, the community of world-wide users is growing day by day. In the monitoring of landslides, rapid static mode of a GPS surveying is usually preferred because it is possible to have wider field coverage with only a few minutes of data and low cost ground markers. Results comparable to static positioning can be obtained with careful network design and processing strategies. Some online software such as OPUS-RS developed by the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) of the USA provides rapid static positioning engine that processes GPS data from sessions of only a few minutes. 15-minute is the recommended/standard observing session duration for OPUS-RS processing. In this study, using the CORS data operating in the US, we carried out some tests in which the observing session duration is changed from 8 through 118 minutes, and observed the accuracy change on the OPUS-RS solutions. Then we compared the results with the accuracy levels given for 15-min solutions by the NGS. We determined that there is the effect of changing observing session duration on the obtained results, and we report them in this study.

Lunar Electric Fields: Observations and Implications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halekas, J. S.; Delory, G. T.; Stubbs, T. J.; Farrell, W. M.; Vondrak, R. R.

2006-12-01

Alhough the Moon is typically thought of as having a relatively dormant environment, it is in fact very electrically active. The lunar surface, not protected by any substantial atmosphere, is directly exposed to solar UV and X-rays as well as solar wind plasma and energetic particles. This creates a complex electrodynamic environment, with the surface typically charging positive in sunlight and negative in shadow, and surface potentials varying over orders of magnitude in response to changing solar illumination and plasma conditions. Observations from the Apollo era and theoretical considerations strongly suggest that surface charging also drives dust electrification and horizontal and vertical dust transport. We present a survey of the lunar electric field environment, utilizing both newly interpreted Lunar Prospector (LP) orbital observations and older Apollo surface observations, and comparing to theoretical predictions. We focus in particular on time periods when the most significant surface charging was observed by LP - namely plasmasheet crossings (when the Moon is in the Earth's magnetosphere) and space weather events. During these time periods, kV-scale potentials are observed, and enhanced surface electric fields can be expected to drive significant horizontal and vertical dust transport. Both dust and electric fields can have serious effects on habitability and operation of machinery, so understanding the coupled dust-plasma-electric field system around the Moon is critically important for planning exploration efforts, in situ resource utilization, and scientific observations on the lunar surface. Furthermore, from a pure science perspective, this represents an excellent opportunity to study fundamental surface-plasma interactions.

Quantifying the Hawthorne Effect in Hand Hygiene Compliance Through Comparing Direct Observation With Automated Hand Hygiene Monitoring.

PubMed

Hagel, Stefan; Reischke, Jana; Kesselmeier, Miriam; Winning, Johannes; Gastmeier, Petra; Brunkhorst, Frank M; Scherag, André; Pletz, Mathias W

2015-08-01

To quantify the Hawthorne effect of hand hygiene performance among healthcare workers using direct observation. Prospective observational study. Intensive care unit, university hospital. Direct observation of hand hygiene compliance over 48 audits of 2 hours each. Simultaneously, hand hygiene events (HHEs) were recorded using electronic alcohol-based handrub dispensers. Directly observed and electronically recorded HHEs during the 2 hours of direct observation were compared using Spearman correlations and Bland-Altman plots. To quantify the Hawthorne effect, we compared the number of electronically recorded HHEs during the direct observation periods with the re-scaled electronically recorded HHEs in the 6 remaining hours of the 8-hour working shift. A total of 3,978 opportunities for hand hygiene were observed during the 96 hours of direct observation. Hand hygiene compliance was 51% (95% CI, 49%-53%). There was a strong positive correlation between directly observed compliance and electronically recorded HHEs (ρ=0.68 [95% CI, 0.49-0.81], P<.0001). In the 384 hours under surveillance, 4,180 HHEs were recorded by the electronic dispensers. Of those, 2,029 HHEs were recorded during the 96 hours in which direct observation was also performed, and 2,151 HHEs were performed in the remaining 288 hours of the same working shift that were not under direct observation. Healthcare workers performed 8 HHEs per hour when not under observation compared with 21 HHEs per hour during observation. Directly and electronically observed HHEs were in agreement. We observed a marked influence of the Hawthorne effect on hand hygiene performance.

Detection of significant variation in acoustic output of an electromagnetic lithotriptor.

PubMed

Pishchalnikov, Yuri A; McAteer, James A; Vonderhaar, R Jason; Pishchalnikova, Irina V; Williams, James C; Evan, Andrew P

2006-11-01

We describe the observation of significant instability in the output of an electromagnetic lithotriptor. This instability had a form that was not detected by routine assessment, but rather was observed only by collecting many consecutive shock waves in nonstop regimen. A Dornier DoLi-50 lithotriptor used exclusively for basic research was tested and approved by the regional technician. This assessment included hydrophone measures at select power levels with the collection of about 25 shock waves per setting. Subsequent laboratory characterization used a fiberoptic hydrophone and storage oscilloscope for data acquisition. Waveforms were collected nonstop for hundreds of pulses. Output was typically stable for greater than 1,000 shock waves but substantial fluctuations in acoustic pressures were also observed. For example, output at power level 3 (mean peak positive acoustic pressure +/- SD normally 44 +/- 2 MPa) increased dramatically to greater than 50 MPa or decreased significantly to approximately 30 MPa for hundreds of shock waves. The cause of instability was eventually traced to a faulty lithotriptor power supply. Instability in lithotriptor acoustic output can occur and it may not be detected by routine assessment. Collecting waveforms in a nonstop regimen dramatically increases sampling size, improving the detection of instability. Had the instability that we observed occurred during patient treatment, the energy delivered may well have exceeded the planned dose. Since the potential for adverse effects in lithotripsy increases as the dose is increased, it would be valuable to develop ways to better monitor the acoustic output of lithotriptors.

Observation Versus Initial Treatment for Men With Localized, Low-Risk Prostate Cancer A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

PubMed Central

Hayes, Julia H.; Ollendorf, Daniel A.; Pearson, Steven D.; Barry, Michael J.; Kantoff, Philip W.; Lee, Pablo A.; McMahon, Pamela M.

2015-01-01

Background Observation is underused among men with localized, low-risk prostate cancer. Objective To assess the costs and benefits of observation versus initial treatment. Design Decision analysis simulating treatment or observation. Data Sources Medicare schedules, published literature. Target Population Men ages 65 and 75 years with newly diagnosed low-risk prostate cancer (prostate-specific antigen level <10 μg/L, stage ≤T2a, Gleason score ≤3+3). Time Horizon Lifetime. Perspective Societal. Intervention Treatment (brachytherapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy, or radical prostatectomy) or observation (active surveillance [AS] or watchful waiting [WW]). Outcome Measures Quality-adjusted life expectancy, costs. Results of Base-Case Analysis Observation was more effective and less costly than initial treatment. Compared with AS, WW provided 2 additional months of quality-adjusted life expectancy (9.02 vs. 8.85 years) at a savings of $15 374 ($24 520 vs. $39 894) in men aged 65 years and 2 additional months (6.14 vs. 5.98 years) at a savings of $11 746 ($18 302 vs. $30 048) in men aged 75 years. Brachytherapy was the most effective and least expensive initial treatment. Results of Sensitivity Analysis Treatment became more effective than observation when it led to more dramatic reductions in prostate cancer death (hazard ratio, 0.47 vs. WW and 0.64 vs. AS). Active surveillance became as effective as WW in men aged 65 years when the probability of progressing to treatment on AS decreased below 63% or when the quality of life with AS versus WW was 4% higher in men aged 65 years or 1% higher in men aged 75 years. Watchful waiting remained least expensive in all analyses. Limitation Results depend on outcomes reported in the published literature, which is limited. Conclusion Among these men, observation is more effective and costs less than initial treatment, and WW is most effective and least expensive under a wide range of clinical scenarios. Primary

Chandra observations of GW170817 260 days since merger: first statistically significant evidence for an X-ray decay

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hajela, A.; Alexander, K. D.; Eftekhari, T.; Margutti, R.; Fong, W.; Berger, E.

2018-05-01

The Chandra X-ray Observatory started another round of follow-up observations of GW170817. The first observation (ID 21080) was taken on May 03, 2018 at 10:41:26 UT (t 259 d after merger) for a total exposure time of 50.8 ks (PI Wilkes; program 19408644).

APOE effect on Alzheimer's disease biomarkers in older adults with significant memory concern

DOE PAGES

Risacher, Shannon L.; Kim, Sungeun; Nho, Kwangsik; ...

2015-05-07

This study assessed apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 carrier status effects on Alzheimer's disease imaging and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers in cognitively normal older adults with significant memory concerns (SMC). Cognitively normal, SMC, and early mild cognitive impairment participants from Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative were divided by APOE ε4 carrier status. Diagnostic and APOE effects were evaluated with emphasis on SMC. Additional analyses in SMC evaluated the effect of the interaction between APOE and [ 18F]Florbetapir amyloid positivity on CSF biomarkers. SMC ε4+ showed greater amyloid deposition than SMC ε4-, but no hypometabolism or medial temporal lobe (MTL) atrophy. SMC ε4+more » showed lower amyloid beta 1-42 and higher tau/p-tau than ε4-, which was most abnormal in APOE ε4+ and cerebral amyloid positive SMC. Lastly, SMC APOE ε4+ show abnormal changes in amyloid and tau biomarkers, but no hypometabolism or MTL neurodegeneration, reflecting the at-risk nature of the SMC group and the importance of APOE in mediating this risk.« less

Optical Observations of Space Debris

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Seitzer, Patrick; Abercromby, Kira; Rodriquez, Heather; Barker, Edwin S.; Kelecy, Thomas

2008-01-01

This viewgraph presentation reviews the use of optical telescopes to observe space debris. .It will present a brief review of how the survey is conducted, and what some of the significant results encompass. The goal is to characterize the population of debris objects at GEO, with emphasis on the faint object population. Because the survey observations extend over a very short arc (5 minutes), a full six parameter orbit can not be determined. Recently we have begun to use a second telescope, the 0.9-m at CTIO, as a chase telescope to do follow-up observations of potential GEO debris candidates found by MODEST. With a long enough sequence of observations, a full six-parameter orbit including eccentricity can be determined. The project has used STK since inception for planning observing sessions based on the distribution of bright cataloged objects and the anti-solar point (to avoid eclipse). Recently, AGI's Orbit Determination Tool Kit (ODTK) has been used to determine orbits, including the effects of solar radiation pressure. Since an unknown fraction of the faint debris at GEO has a high area-to-mass ratio (A/M), the orbits are perturbed significantly by solar radiation. The ODTK analysis results indicate that temporal variations in the solar perturbations, possibly due to debris orientation dynamics, can be estimated in the OD process. Additionally, the best results appear to be achieved when solar forces orthogonal to the object-Sun line are considered. Determining the A/M of individual objects and the distribution of A/M values of a large sample of debris is important to understanding the total population of debris at GEO

Low-Energy Electron Effects on the Polar Wind Observed by the POLAR Spacecraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Horwitz, J. L.; Su, Y.-J.; Dors, E. E.; Moore, Thomas E.; Giles, Barbara L.; Chandler, Michael O.; Craven, Paul D.; Chang, S.-W.; Scudder, J.

1998-01-01

Large ion outflow velocity variation at POLAR apogee have been observed. The observed H+ flow velocities were in the range of 23-110 km/s and 0+ flow velocities were in the range of 5-25 km/s. These velocity ranges lie between those predicted by simulations of the photoelectron-driven polar wind and "baseline" polar wind. The electric current contributions of the photoelectrons and polar rain are expected to control the size and altitude of an electric potential drop which accelerates the polar wind at relatively high altitudes. In this presentation, we compare polar wind characteristics observed near 5000 km and 8 RE altitudes by the Thermal Ion Dynamics Experiment (TIDE) with measurements of low-energy electrons sampled by HYDRA, both from the POLAR spacecraft, to examine possible effects of the polar rain and photoelectrons on the polar wind. Both correlations and anti-correlations are found between the polar wind velocities and the polar rain fluxes at POLAR apogee during different polar cap crossings. Also, the low-altitude upward/downward photoelectron spectra are used to estimates the potential drops above the spacecraft. We interpret these observations in terms of the effects that both photoelectrons and polar rain may have on the electric potential and polar wind acceleration along polar cap magnetic field lines.

Comparison of the Renoprotective Effect of Febuxostat for the Treatment of Hyperuricemia between Patients with and without Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Retrospective Observational Study.

PubMed

Ito, Hiroyuki; Antoku, Shinichi; Abe, Mariko; Omoto, Takashi; Shinozaki, Masahiro; Nishio, Shinya; Mifune, Mizuo; Togane, Michiko; Nakata, Masaya; Yamashita, Tatsuya

Objective The effects of febuxostat therapy on hyperuricemia in patients with and without type 2 diabetes were compared in this retrospective observational study after pair-matching using the propensity scores. Methods In total, 160 patients with hyperuricemia were studied as the treated set, and the 155 subjects in whom the administration of febuxostat was not discontinued during the observation period were investigated in the full analysis. The study subjects were divided into two groups based on the style of initiation of febuxostat: initial and switching therapy from allopurinol administration. Results The reduction in the serum uric acid (sUA) levels at six months after the initiation of febuxostat administration did not significantly differ between the patients with and without diabetes in both the initial (206±114 and 226±113 μmol/L in patients with and without diabetes, respectively) and switching (154±91 and 129±90 μmol/L in patients with and without diabetes, respectively) therapy groups. The eGFR values were significantly increased compared to the baseline levels only in the patients without diabetes. The changes in the eGFR values were significantly associated with the presence of diabetes and sUA at baseline in a multivariate analysis. The frequency of adverse events was not significantly different between the patients with and without diabetes. Conclusion Although febuxostat exerted a similar sUA-lowering effect against hyperuricemia in patients with type 2 diabetes compared to those without, the renoprotective effect was attenuated in those with diabetes compared to nondiabetic subjects.

Comparison of the Renoprotective Effect of Febuxostat for the Treatment of Hyperuricemia between Patients with and without Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Retrospective Observational Study

PubMed Central

Ito, Hiroyuki; Antoku, Shinichi; Abe, Mariko; Omoto, Takashi; Shinozaki, Masahiro; Nishio, Shinya; Mifune, Mizuo; Togane, Michiko; Nakata, Masaya; Yamashita, Tatsuya

2016-01-01

Objective The effects of febuxostat therapy on hyperuricemia in patients with and without type 2 diabetes were compared in this retrospective observational study after pair-matching using the propensity scores. Methods In total, 160 patients with hyperuricemia were studied as the treated set, and the 155 subjects in whom the administration of febuxostat was not discontinued during the observation period were investigated in the full analysis. The study subjects were divided into two groups based on the style of initiation of febuxostat: initial and switching therapy from allopurinol administration. Results The reduction in the serum uric acid (sUA) levels at six months after the initiation of febuxostat administration did not significantly differ between the patients with and without diabetes in both the initial (206±114 and 226±113 μmol/L in patients with and without diabetes, respectively) and switching (154±91 and 129±90 μmol/L in patients with and without diabetes, respectively) therapy groups. The eGFR values were significantly increased compared to the baseline levels only in the patients without diabetes. The changes in the eGFR values were significantly associated with the presence of diabetes and sUA at baseline in a multivariate analysis. The frequency of adverse events was not significantly different between the patients with and without diabetes. Conclusion Although febuxostat exerted a similar sUA-lowering effect against hyperuricemia in patients with type 2 diabetes compared to those without, the renoprotective effect was attenuated in those with diabetes compared to nondiabetic subjects. PMID:27853065

Observational research rigour alone does not justify causal inference.

PubMed

Ejima, Keisuke; Li, Peng; Smith, Daniel L; Nagy, Tim R; Kadish, Inga; van Groen, Thomas; Dawson, John A; Yang, Yongbin; Patki, Amit; Allison, David B

2016-12-01

Differing opinions exist on whether associations obtained in observational studies can be reliable indicators of a causal effect if the observational study is sufficiently well controlled and executed. To test this, we conducted two animal observational studies that were rigorously controlled and executed beyond what is achieved in studies of humans. In study 1, we randomized 332 genetically identical C57BL/6J mice into three diet groups with differing food energy allotments and recorded individual self-selected daily energy intake and lifespan. In study 2, 60 male mice (CD1) were paired and divided into two groups for a 2-week feeding regimen. We evaluated the association between weight gain and food consumption. Within each pair, one animal was randomly assigned to an S group in which the animals had free access to food. The second paired animal (R group) was provided exactly the same diet that their S partner ate the day before. In study 1, across all three groups, we found a significant negative effect of energy intake on lifespan. However, we found a positive association between food intake and lifespan among the ad libitum feeding group: 29·99 (95% CI: 8·2-51·7) days per daily kcal. In study 2, we found a significant (P = 0·003) group (randomized vs. self-selected)-by-food consumption interaction effect on weight gain. At least in nutrition research, associations derived from observational studies may not be reliable indicators of causal effects, even with the most rigorous study designs achievable. © 2016 Stichting European Society for Clinical Investigation Journal Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Using non-specialist observers in 4AFC human observer studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elangovan, Premkumar; Mackenzie, Alistair; Dance, David R.; Young, Kenneth C.; Wells, Kevin

2017-03-01

Virtual clinical trials (VCTs) are an emergent approach for rapid evaluation and comparison of various breast imaging technologies and techniques using computer-based modeling tools. Increasingly 4AFC (Four alternative forced choice) virtual clinical trials are used to compare detection performances of different breast imaging modalities. Most prior studies have used physicists and/or radiologists and physicists interchangeably. However, large scale use of statistically significant 4AFC observer studies is challenged by the individual time commitment and cost of such observers, often drawn from a limited local pool of specialists. This work aims to investigate whether non-specialist observers can be used to supplement such studies. A team of five specialist observers (medical physicists) and five non-specialists participated in a 4AFC study containing simulated 2D-mammography and DBT (digital breast tomosynthesis) images, produced using the OPTIMAM toolbox for VCTs. The images contained 4mm irregular solid masses and 4mm spherical targets at a range of contrast levels embedded in a realistic breast phantom background. There was no statistically significant difference between the detection performance of medical physicists and non-specialists (p>0.05). However, non-specialists took longer to complete the study than their physicist counterparts, which was statistically significant (p<0.05). Overall, the results from both observer groups indicate that DBT has a lower detectable threshold contrast than 2D-mammography for both masses and spheres, and both groups found spheres easier to detect than irregular solid masses.

Oscillations in solar jets observed with the SOT of Hinode: viscous effects during reconnection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tavabi, E.; Koutchmy, S.

2014-07-01

Transverse oscillatory motions and recurrence behavior in the chromospheric jets observed by Hinode/SOT are studied. A comparison is considered with the behavior that was noticed in coronal X-ray jets observed by Hinode/XRT. A jet like bundle observed at the limb in Ca II H line appears to show a magnetic topology that is similar to X-ray jets (i.e., the Eiffel tower shape). The appearance of such magnetic topology is usually assumed to be caused by magnetic reconnection near a null point. Transverse motions of the jet axis are recorded but no clear evidence of twist is appearing from the highly processed movie. The aim is to investigate the dynamical behavior of an incompressible magnetic X-point occurring during the magnetic reconnection in the jet formation region. The viscous effect is specially considered in the closed line-tied magnetic X-shape nulls. We perform the MHD numerical simulation in 2-D by solving the visco-resistive MHD equations with the tracing of velocity and magnetic field. A qualitative agreement with Hinode observations is found for the oscillatory and non-oscillatory behaviors of the observed solar jets in both the chromosphere and the corona. Our results suggest that the viscous effect contributes to the excitation of the magnetic reconnection by generating oscillations that we observed at least inside this Ca II H line cool solar jet bundle.

Kalman filter data assimilation: Targeting observations and parameter estimation

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

Bellsky, Thomas, E-mail: bellskyt@asu.edu; Kostelich, Eric J.; Mahalov, Alex

2014-06-15

This paper studies the effect of targeted observations on state and parameter estimates determined with Kalman filter data assimilation (DA) techniques. We first provide an analytical result demonstrating that targeting observations within the Kalman filter for a linear model can significantly reduce state estimation error as opposed to fixed or randomly located observations. We next conduct observing system simulation experiments for a chaotic model of meteorological interest, where we demonstrate that the local ensemble transform Kalman filter (LETKF) with targeted observations based on largest ensemble variance is skillful in providing more accurate state estimates than the LETKF with randomly locatedmore » observations. Additionally, we find that a hybrid ensemble Kalman filter parameter estimation method accurately updates model parameters within the targeted observation context to further improve state estimation.« less

Direct observation of salt effects on molecular interactions through explicit-solvent molecular dynamics simulations: differential effects on electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions and comparisons to Poisson-Boltzmann theory.

PubMed

Thomas, Andrew S; Elcock, Adrian H

2006-06-21

Proteins and other biomolecules function in cellular environments that contain significant concentrations of dissolved salts and even simple salts such as NaCl can significantly affect both the kinetics and thermodynamics of macromolecular interactions. As one approach to directly observing the effects of salt on molecular associations, explicit-solvent molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been used here to model the association of pairs of the amino acid analogues acetate and methylammonium in aqueous NaCl solutions of concentrations 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 1, and 2 M. By performing simulations of 500 ns duration for each salt concentration properly converged estimates of the free energy of interaction of the two molecules have been obtained for all intermolecular separation distances and geometries. The resulting free energy surfaces are shown to give significant new insights into the way salt modulates interactions between molecules containing both charged and hydrophobic groups and are shown to provide valuable new benchmarks for testing the description of salt effects provided by the simpler but faster Poisson-Boltzmann method. In addition, the complex many-dimensional free energy surfaces are shown to be decomposable into a number of one-dimensional effective energy functions. This decomposition (a) allows an unambiguous view of the qualitative differences between the salt dependence of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions, (b) gives a clear rationalization for why salt exerts different effects on protein-protein association and dissociation rates, and (c) produces simplified energy functions that can be readily used in much faster Brownian dynamics simulations.

Looking is not seeing: using art to improve observational skills.

PubMed

Pellico, Linda Honan; Friedlaender, Linda; Fennie, Kristopher P

2009-11-01

This project evaluated the effects of an art museum experience on the observational skills of nursing students. Half of a class of non-nurse college graduates entering an accelerated master's degree program (n = 34) were assigned to a museum experience, whereas the other half (n = 32) received traditional teaching methods. Using original works of art, students participated in focused observational experiences to visually itemize everything noted in the art piece, discriminate visual qualities, recognize patterns, and cluster observations. After organizing observed information, they drew conclusions to construct the object's meaning. Participants visiting the museum subsequently wrote more about what they saw, resulting in significantly more objective clinical findings when viewing patient photographs. In addition, participants demonstrated significantly more fluidity in their differential diagnosis by offering more alternative diagnoses than did the control group. The study supports the notion that focused viewing of works of art enhances observational skills. Copyright 2009, SLACK Incorporated.

Evaluating the effectiveness of wildlife detection and observation technologies at a solar power tower facility

USGS Publications Warehouse

Diehl, Robert H.; Valdez, Ernest W.; Preston, Todd M.; Wellik, Mike J.; Cryan, Paul

2016-01-01

Solar power towers produce electrical energy from sunlight at an industrial scale. Little is known about the effects of this technology on flying animals and few methods exist for automatically detecting or observing wildlife at solar towers and other tall anthropogenic structures. Smoking objects are sometimes observed co-occurring with reflected, concentrated light (“solar flux”) in the airspace around solar towers, but the identity and origins of such objects can be difficult to determine. In this observational pilot study at the world’s largest solar tower facility, we assessed the efficacy of using radar, surveillance video, and insect trapping to detect and observe animals flying near the towers. During site visits in May and September 2014, we monitored the airspace surrounding towers and observed insects, birds, and bats under a variety of environmental and operational conditions. We detected and broadly differentiated animals or objects moving through the airspace generally using radar and near solar towers using several video imaging methods. Video revealed what appeared to be mostly small insects burning in the solar flux. Also, we occasionally detected birds flying in the solar flux but could not accurately identify birds to species or the types of insects and small objects composing the vast majority of smoking targets. Insect trapping on the ground was somewhat effective at sampling smaller insects around the tower, and presence and abundance of insects in the traps generally trended with radar and video observations. Traps did not tend to sample the larger insects we sometimes observed flying in the solar flux or found dead on the ground beneath the towers. Some of the methods we tested (e.g., video surveillance) could be further assessed and potentially used to automatically detect and observe flying animals in the vicinity of solar towers to advance understanding about their effects on wildlife.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Wildlife Detection and Observation Technologies at a Solar Power Tower Facility.

PubMed

Diehl, Robert H; Valdez, Ernest W; Preston, Todd M; Wellik, Michael J; Cryan, Paul M

2016-01-01

Solar power towers produce electrical energy from sunlight at an industrial scale. Little is known about the effects of this technology on flying animals and few methods exist for automatically detecting or observing wildlife at solar towers and other tall anthropogenic structures. Smoking objects are sometimes observed co-occurring with reflected, concentrated light ("solar flux") in the airspace around solar towers, but the identity and origins of such objects can be difficult to determine. In this observational pilot study at the world's largest solar tower facility, we assessed the efficacy of using radar, surveillance video, and insect trapping to detect and observe animals flying near the towers. During site visits in May and September 2014, we monitored the airspace surrounding towers and observed insects, birds, and bats under a variety of environmental and operational conditions. We detected and broadly differentiated animals or objects moving through the airspace generally using radar and near solar towers using several video imaging methods. Video revealed what appeared to be mostly small insects burning in the solar flux. Also, we occasionally detected birds flying in the solar flux but could not accurately identify birds to species or the types of insects and small objects composing the vast majority of smoking targets. Insect trapping on the ground was somewhat effective at sampling smaller insects around the tower, and presence and abundance of insects in the traps generally trended with radar and video observations. Traps did not tend to sample the larger insects we sometimes observed flying in the solar flux or found dead on the ground beneath the towers. Some of the methods we tested (e.g., video surveillance) could be further assessed and potentially used to automatically detect and observe flying animals in the vicinity of solar towers to advance understanding about their effects on wildlife.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Wildlife Detection and Observation Technologies at a Solar Power Tower Facility

PubMed Central

Diehl, Robert H.; Valdez, Ernest W.; Preston, Todd M.; Wellik, Michael J.; Cryan, Paul M.

2016-01-01

Solar power towers produce electrical energy from sunlight at an industrial scale. Little is known about the effects of this technology on flying animals and few methods exist for automatically detecting or observing wildlife at solar towers and other tall anthropogenic structures. Smoking objects are sometimes observed co-occurring with reflected, concentrated light (“solar flux”) in the airspace around solar towers, but the identity and origins of such objects can be difficult to determine. In this observational pilot study at the world’s largest solar tower facility, we assessed the efficacy of using radar, surveillance video, and insect trapping to detect and observe animals flying near the towers. During site visits in May and September 2014, we monitored the airspace surrounding towers and observed insects, birds, and bats under a variety of environmental and operational conditions. We detected and broadly differentiated animals or objects moving through the airspace generally using radar and near solar towers using several video imaging methods. Video revealed what appeared to be mostly small insects burning in the solar flux. Also, we occasionally detected birds flying in the solar flux but could not accurately identify birds to species or the types of insects and small objects composing the vast majority of smoking targets. Insect trapping on the ground was somewhat effective at sampling smaller insects around the tower, and presence and abundance of insects in the traps generally trended with radar and video observations. Traps did not tend to sample the larger insects we sometimes observed flying in the solar flux or found dead on the ground beneath the towers. Some of the methods we tested (e.g., video surveillance) could be further assessed and potentially used to automatically detect and observe flying animals in the vicinity of solar towers to advance understanding about their effects on wildlife. PMID:27462989

Observations of the Global Characteristics and Regional Radiative Effects of Marine Cloud Liquid Water

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Greenwald, Thomas J.; Stephens, Graeme L.; Christopher, Sundar A.; Vonder Harr, Thomas H.

1995-01-01

The large-scale spatial distribution and temporal variability of cloud liquid water path (LWP) over the world's oceans and the relationship of cloud LWP to temperature and the radiation budget are investigated using recent satellite measurements from the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I), the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE), and the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP). Observations of cloud liquid water on a 2.5 deg x 2.5 deg and are used over a 53-month period beginning July 1987 and ending in December 1991. The highest values of cloud liquid water (greater than 0.13 kg/sq m) occur largely along principal routes of northern midlatitude storms and in areas dominated by tropical convection. The zonally averaged structure is distinctly trimodal, where maxima appear in the midlatitudes and near the equator. The average marine cloud LWP over the globe is estimated to be about 0.113 kg/sq m. Its highest seasonal variability is typically between 15% and 25% of the annual mean but in certain locations can exceed 30%. Comparisons of cloud LWP to temperature for low clouds during JJA and DJF of 1990 show significant positive correlations at colder temperatures and negative correlations at warmer temperatures. The correlations also exhibit strong seasonal and regional variation. Coincident and collocated observations of cloud LWP from the SSM/I and albedo measurements from the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS) and the NOAA-10 satellite are compared for low clouds in the North Pacific and North Atlantic. The observed albedo-LWP relationships correspond reasonably well with theory, where the average cloud effective radius (r(sub e)) is 11.1 microns and the standard deviation is 5.2 microns. The large variability in the inferred values of r(sub e) suggests that other factors may be important in the albedo-LWP relationships. In terms of the effect of the LWP on the net cloud forcing, the authors find that a 0.05 kg/sq m increase in LWP

Collaborative Observation and Research (CORE) Watersheds: new strategies for tracking the regional effects of climate change on complex systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murdoch, P. S.

2007-12-01

The past 30 years of environmental research have shown that our world is not made up of discrete components acting independently, but rather of a mosaic of complex relations among air, land, water, living resources, and human activities. Recent warming of the climate is having a significant effect on the functioning of those systems. A national imperative is developing to quickly establish local, regional, and national systems for anticipating environmental degradation from a changing climate and developing cost-effective adaptation or mitigation strategies. In these circumstances, the debate over research versus monitoring becomes moot--there is a clear need for the integrated application of both across a range of temporal and spatial scales. A national framework that effectively addresses the multiple scales and complex multi-disciplinary processes of climate change is being assembled largely from existing programs through collaboration among Federal, State, local, and NGO organizations. The result will be an observation and research network capable of interpreting complex environmental changes at a range of spatial and temporal scales, but at less cost than if the network were funded as an independent initiative. A pilot implementation of the collaborative framework in the Delaware River Basin yielded multi-scale assessments of carbon storage and flux, and the effects of forest fragmentation and soil calcium depletion on ecosystem function. A prototype of a national climate-effects observation and research network linking research watersheds, regional surveys, remote sensing, and ecosystem modeling is being initiated in the Yukon River Basin where carbon flux associated with permafrost thaw could accelerate global warming.

Application of Absorbable Hemostatic Materials Observed in Thyroid Operation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yan-Ming; Liang, Zhen-Zhen; Song, Yan

2016-05-01

To observe the application effects of the absorbable hemostatic materials in thyroid operation. Methods: From May 2014 to January 2015, 100 patients with thyroid surgery in our university affiliated hospital were selected as the research object. Randomly divided into experimental group and control group, 50 cases in each group. Application of absorbable hemostatic hemostatic materials in the experimental group during the operation, the control group using the traditional mechanical methods of hemostasis hemostasis to observe the operation time, bleeding volume, postoperative drainage volume, complications and hospital stay of the two groups. Results: The operation time, bleeding volume, postoperative drainage and hospital stay in the experimental group were significantly lower in the study group than in the control group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P< 0.05); The satisfaction of patients in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group, the difference was statistically significant in the two groups (P < 0.05); There was no significant difference in the incidence of wound bleeding complications between the study group and the control group (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Absorbable hemostatic materials can effectively shorten the operation time, reduce intraoperative blood loss and postoperative drainage, reduce the length of hospital stay and improve the success rate of surgery and patient satisfaction, which is worthy to be popularized in clinical thyroid surgery.

Upper limit on NUT charge from the observed terrestrial Sagnac effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kulbakova, A.; Karimov, R. Kh; Izmailov, R. N.; Nandi, K. K.

2018-06-01

The exact Sagnac delay in the Kerr–Taub–NUT (Newman–Unti–Tamburino) spacetime is derived in the equatorial plane for non-geodesic as well as geodesic circular orbits. The resulting formula, being exact, can be directly applied to motion in the vicinity of any spinning object including black holes but here we are considering only the terrestrial case since observational data are available. The formula reveals that, in the limit of spin , the delay does not vanish. This fact is similar to the non-vanishing of Lense–Thirring precession under even though the two effects originate from different premises. Assuming a reasonable input that the Kerr–Taub–NUT corrections are subsumed in the average residual uncertainty in the measured Sagnac delay, we compute upper limits on the NUT charge n. It is found that the upper limits on n are far larger than the Earth’s gravitational mass, which has not been detected in observations, implying that the Sagnac effect cannot constrain n to smaller values near zero. We find a curious difference between the delays for non-geodesic and geodesic clock orbits and point out its implication for the well known ‘twin paradox’ of special relativity.

Significance of distinct electron-correlation effects in determining the (P ,T )-odd electric dipole moment of 171Yb

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sahoo, B. K.; Singh, Yashpal

2017-06-01

The parity and time-reversal violating electric dipole moment (EDM) of 171Yb is calculated accounting for the electron-correlation effects over the Dirac-Hartree-Fock method in the relativistic Rayleigh-Schrödinger many-body perturbation theory, with the second- [MBPT(2) method] and third-order [MBPT(3) method] approximations, and two variants of all-order relativistic many-body approaches, in the random phase approximation (RPA) and coupled-cluster (CC) method with singles and doubles (CCSD method) framework. We consider electron-nucleus tensor-pseudotensor (T-PT) and nuclear Schiff moment (NSM) interactions as the predominant sources that induce EDM in a diamagnetic atomic system. Our results from the CCSD method to EDM (da) of 171Yb due to the T-PT and NSM interactions are found to be da=4.85 (6 ) ×10-20<σ > CT|e | cm and da=2.89 (4 ) ×10-17S /(|e |fm3) , respectively, where CT is the T-PT coupling constant and S is the NSM. These values differ significantly from the earlier calculations. The reason for the same has been attributed to large correlation effects arising through non-RPA type of interactions among the electrons in this atom that are observed by analyzing the differences in the RPA and CCSD results. This has been further scrutinized from the MBPT(2) and MBPT(3) results and their roles have been demonstrated explicitly.

Effect of video self-observations vs. observations of others on insight in psychotic disorders.

PubMed

David, Anthony S; Chis Ster, Irina; Zavarei, Hooman

2012-04-01

Improving insight in patients with schizophrenia and related disorders is a worthwhile goal. Previous work has suggested that patients' insight may improve if they see videos of themselves taken when ill. Our aim was to test the hypothesis that schizophrenia patients improve their insight after viewing videos of themselves when unwell more so than after viewing an actor. Forty patients admitted with an acute psychotic disorder underwent a videotaped recording of a clinical interview. The patients were then randomized to viewing this or a "control" video of a same-sex actor displaying psychotic symptoms approximately 3 weeks later. Insight, psychopathology, and mood were assessed before and 24 to 48 hours after viewing the videos. All participants showed general improvement across all measures. There was a trend for scores on the Schedule for the Assessment of Insight to improve more in those who viewed themselves when ill, but there were no clear statistically significant differences between the "self" and "other" video groups. In conclusion, video self-confrontation seems to be a safe and potentially effective means of enhancing insight, but evidence for a specific effect is lacking.

Observation of Rayleigh-Taylor-instability evolution in a plasma with magnetic and viscous effects

DOE PAGES

Adams, Colin S.; Moser, Auna L.; Hsu, Scott C.

2015-11-06

We present time-resolved observations of Rayleigh-Taylor-instability (RTI) evolution at the interface between an unmagnetized plasma jet colliding with a stagnated, magnetized plasma. The observed instability growth time (~10μs) is consistent with the estimated linear RTI growth rate calculated using experimentally inferred values of density (~10 14cm–3) and deceleration (~10 9 m/s 2). The observed mode wavelength (≳1 cm) nearly doubles within a linear growth time. Furthermore, theoretical estimates of magnetic and viscous stabilization and idealized magnetohydrodynamic simulations including a physical viscosity model both suggest that the observed instability evolution is subject to magnetic and/or viscous effects.

Direct microscopic observation of forward osmosis membrane fouling.

PubMed

Wang, Yining; Wicaksana, Filicia; Tang, Chuyang Y; Fane, Anthony G

2010-09-15

This study describes the application of a noninvasive direct microscopic observation method for characterizing fouling of a forward osmosis (FO) membrane. The effect of the draw solution concentration, membrane orientation, and feed spacer on FO fouling was systematically investigated in a cross-flow setup using latex particles as model foulant in the feedwater. Higher draw solution (DS) concentrations (and thus increased flux levels) resulted in dramatic increase in the surface coverage by latex particles, suggesting that the critical flux concept might be applicable even for the osmotically driven FO process. Under identical draw solution concentrations, the active-layer-facing-the-feed-solution orientation (AL-FS) experienced significantly less fouling compared to the alternative orientation. This may be explained by the lower water flux in AL-FS, which is consistent with the critical flux concept. The use of a feed spacer not only dramatically enhanced the initial flux of the FO membrane, but also significantly improved the flux stability during FO fouling. Despite such beneficial effects of using the feed spacer, a significant amount of particle accumulation was found near the spacer filament, suggesting further opportunities for improved spacer design. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first direct microscopic observation study on FO fouling.

Punctal plugs versus artificial tears for treating dry eye: a comparative observation of their effects on contrast sensitivity.

PubMed

Qiu, Weiqiang; Liu, Ziyuan; Zhang, Zhihong; Ao, Mingxin; Li, Xuemin; Wang, Wei

2012-01-01

This study aimed to compare the effects of treatment with punctal plugs versus artificial tears on visual function and tear film stability for dry eye. A total of 56 consecutive eyes of 28 dry eye patients observed at our clinic from May to October in 2009 were divided into two groups. One group (32 eyes of 16 patients) was treated with artificial tears, and punctal plugs were used in the other group (24 eyes of 12 patients). A questionnaire was used in these patients before treatment and was repeated 2 weeks after treatment. Fluorescent staining for tear film break-up time (BUT), the Schirmer test I (STI), and contrast sensitivity was performed at the same time. The questionnaire indicated that all patients complained about the uncomfortable symptoms associated with dry eye. These symptoms were relieved after the application of artificial tears or punctal plugs, and there was no significant difference between these two groups. We found that the corneal fluorescent staining disappeared after treatment. The BUT was improved significantly after treatment in both groups, but the improvement was greater in patients who received punctal plugs than those that received artificial tears. There was no remarkable change in the STI in the artificial tears group, but a significant change was observed in the punctal plugs group. The contrast sensitivities were greatly improved in simulated daylight, night, and glare disability conditions after treatment with artificial tears and punctal plugs. However, the changes in contrast sensitivity did not significantly differ between groups. Both artificial tears and punctal plugs relieved dry eye symptoms, repaired corneal lesions, enhanced tear film stability, and improved contrast sensitivity. Punctal plugs could improve tear film stability and elongate the BUT better than artificial tears.

Observation of Spin Hall Effect in Photon Tunneling via Weak Measurements

PubMed Central

Zhou, Xinxing; Ling, Xiaohui; Zhang, Zhiyou; Luo, Hailu; Wen, Shuangchun

2014-01-01

Photonic spin Hall effect (SHE) manifesting itself as spin-dependent splitting escapes detection in previous photon tunneling experiments due to the fact that the induced beam centroid shift is restricted to a fraction of wavelength. In this work, we report on the first observation of this tiny effect in photon tunneling via weak measurements based on preselection and postselection technique on the spin states. We find that the spin-dependent splitting is even larger than the potential barrier thickness when spin-polarized photons tunneling through a potential barrier. This photonic SHE is attributed to spin-redirection Berry phase which can be described as a consequence of the spin-orbit coupling. These findings provide new insight into photon tunneling effect and thereby offer the possibility of developing spin-based nanophotonic applications. PMID:25487043

Factors affecting patient's perception of anticancer treatments side-effects: an observational study.

PubMed

Russo, Stefania; Cinausero, Marika; Gerratana, Lorenzo; Bozza, Claudia; Iacono, Donatella; Driol, Pamela; Deroma, Laura; Sottile, Roberta; Fasola, Gianpiero; Puglisi, Fabio

2014-02-01

Analysis of relative importance of side effects of anticancer therapy is extremely useful in the process of clinical decision making. There is evidence that patients' perception of the side effects of anticancer treatments changes over time. Aim of this study was to evaluate the cancer patients' perceptions of physical and non-physical side effects of contemporary anticancer therapy. Four hundred and sixty-four patients entered the study (153 men and 311 women). Participants were asked to rank their side effects in order of distress by using two sets of cards naming physical and non-physical effects, respectively. Influencing factors, including treatment and patient characteristics, were also analysed. Patients ranked the non-physical side effect 'Affects my family or partner' first. 'Constantly tired' and 'Loss of hair' were ranked second and third, respectively. Significant differences from previous studies on this topic emerged. In particular, 'Vomiting', a predominant concern in previous studies, almost disappeared, whereas 'Nausea' and 'Loss of hair' remained important side effects in the patients' perception. Interestingly, marital status was predominant in driving patients' perception, being associated with several side effects ('Constantly tired', 'Loss of appetite', 'Affects my work/Home duties', 'Affects my social activities', 'Infertility'). Other significant factors influencing patient's perception of side effects included age, disease characteristics and ongoing anticancer therapy. This study provided information on current status of patients' perceptions of side effects of anticancer treatment. These results could be used in pre-treatment patient education and counselling.

The effect of the action observation physical training on the upper extremity function in children with cerebral palsy

PubMed Central

Kim, Jin-young; Kim, Jong-man; Ko, Eun-young

2014-01-01

The purpose this study was to investigate the effect of action observation physical training (AOPT) on the functioning of the upper extremities in children with cerebral palsy (CP), using an evaluation framework based on that of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). The subjects were divided into an AOPT group and a physical training (PT) group. AOPT group practiced repeatedly the actions they observed on video clips, in which normal child performed an action with their upper extremities. PT group performed the same actions as the AOPT group did after observing landscape photographs. The subjects participated in twelve 30-min sessions, 3 days a week, for 4 weeks. Evaluation of upper extremity function using the following: the power of grasp and Modified Ashworth Scale for body functions and structures, a Box and Block test, an ABILHAND-Kids questionnaire, and the WeeFIM scale for activity and participation. Measurements were performed before and after the training, and 2 weeks after the end of training. The results of this study showed that, in comparison with the PT group, the functioning of the upper extremities in the AOPT group was significantly improved in body functions and activity and participation according to the ICF framework. This study demonstrates that AOPT has a positive influence on the functioning of the upper extremities in children with CP. It is suggested that this alternative approach for functioning of the upper extremities could be an effective method for rehabilitation in children with CP. PMID:25061598

Interpreting observational studies: why empirical calibration is needed to correct p-values

PubMed Central

Schuemie, Martijn J; Ryan, Patrick B; DuMouchel, William; Suchard, Marc A; Madigan, David

2014-01-01

Often the literature makes assertions of medical product effects on the basis of ‘ p < 0.05’. The underlying premise is that at this threshold, there is only a 5% probability that the observed effect would be seen by chance when in reality there is no effect. In observational studies, much more than in randomized trials, bias and confounding may undermine this premise. To test this premise, we selected three exemplar drug safety studies from literature, representing a case–control, a cohort, and a self-controlled case series design. We attempted to replicate these studies as best we could for the drugs studied in the original articles. Next, we applied the same three designs to sets of negative controls: drugs that are not believed to cause the outcome of interest. We observed how often p < 0.05 when the null hypothesis is true, and we fitted distributions to the effect estimates. Using these distributions, we compute calibrated p-values that reflect the probability of observing the effect estimate under the null hypothesis, taking both random and systematic error into account. An automated analysis of scientific literature was performed to evaluate the potential impact of such a calibration. Our experiment provides evidence that the majority of observational studies would declare statistical significance when no effect is present. Empirical calibration was found to reduce spurious results to the desired 5% level. Applying these adjustments to literature suggests that at least 54% of findings with p < 0.05 are not actually statistically significant and should be reevaluated. © 2013 The Authors. Statistics in Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. PMID:23900808

Analysis of Cyclic Variability of Heat Release for High-EGR GDI Engine Operation with Observations on Implications for Effective Control

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

Kaul, Brian C; Wagner, Robert M; Green Jr, Johney Boyd

2013-01-01

Operation of spark-ignition (SI) engines with high levels of charge dilution through exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) achieves significant engine efficiency gains while maintaining stoichiometric operation for compatibility with three-way catalysts. Dilution levels, however, are limited by cyclic variability-including significant numbers of misfires-that becomes more pronounced with increasing dilution. This variability has been shown to have both stochastic and deterministic components. Stochastic effects include turbulence, mixing variations, and the like, while the deterministic effect is primarily due to the nonlinear dependence of flame propagation rates and ignition characteristics on the charge composition, which is influenced by the composition of residual gasesmore » from prior cycles. The presence of determinism implies that an increased understanding the dynamics of such systems could lead to effective control approaches that allow operation near the edge of stability, effectively extending the dilution limit. This nonlinear dependence has been characterized previously for homogeneous charge, port fuel-injected (PFI) SI engines operating fuel-lean as well as with inert diluents such as bottled N2 gas. In this paper, cyclic dispersion in a modern boosted gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine using a cooled external EGR loop is examined, and the potential for improvement with effective control is evaluated through the use of symbol sequence statistics and other techniques from chaos theory. Observations related to the potential implications of these results for control approaches that could effectively enable engine operation at the edge of combustion stability are noted.« less

Effect of functionally significant deiodinase single nucleotide polymorphisms on drinking behavior in alcohol dependence: an exploratory investigation

PubMed Central

Lee, MR; Schwandt, ML; Bollinger, JW; Dias, AA; Oot, EN; Goldman, D; Hodgkinson, CA; Leggio, L

2016-01-01

Background Abnormalities of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis have been reported in alcoholism, however, there is no definitive agreement on the specific thyroid abnormalities and their underlying mechanisms in alcohol dependence (AD). The biological activity of thyroid hormones or the availability of T3 is regulated by the three deiodinase enzymes D1, D2 and D3. In the context of alcohol use, functionally significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP’s) of these deiodinase genes may play a role in HPT dysfunction. Methods The present study explored the effect of three functionally significant SNP’s (D1: rs2235544, D2: rs225014 and rs12885300) of deiodinase genes on drinking behavior and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in alcohol dependent (N=521) and control subjects (N=228). Results Rs225014 was associated with significant differences in the amount of naturalistic alcohol drinking assessed by the Timeline Follow-Back (TLFB). Alcohol-dependent subjects had significantly higher thyroid stimulating hormone levels compared to controls; however, there was no effect of genotype on TSH levels for either group. Conclusions These findings extend previous studies on thyroid dysfunction in alcoholism and provide novel, albeit preliminary, information by linking functionally significant genetic polymorphisms of the deiodinase enzymes with alcohol drinking behavior. PMID:26207529

Effect of individual shades on reliability and validity of observers in colour matching.

PubMed

Lagouvardos, P E; Diamanti, H; Polyzois, G

2004-06-01

The effect of individual shades in shade guides, on the reliability and validity of measurements in a colour matching process is very important. Observer's agreement on shades and sensitivity/specificity of shades, can give us an estimate of shade's effect on observer's reliability and validity. In the present study, a group of 16 students, matched 15 shades of a Kulzer's guide and 10 human incisors to Kulzer's and/or Vita's shade tabs, in 4 different tests. The results showed shades I, B10, C40, A35 and A10 were those with the highest reliability and validity values. In conclusion, a) the matching process with shades of different materials was not accurate enough, b) some shades produce a more reliable and valid match than others and c) teeth are matched with relative difficulty.

Twomey effect observed from collocated microphysical and remote sensing measurements over shallow cumulus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Werner, F.; Ditas, F.; Siebert, H.; Simmel, M.; Wehner, B.; Pilewskie, P.; Schmeissner, T.; Shaw, R. A.; Hartmann, S.; Wex, H.; Roberts, G. C.; Wendisch, M.

2014-02-01

Clear experimental evidence of the Twomey effect for shallow trade wind cumuli near Barbados is presented. Effective droplet radius (reff) and cloud optical thickness (τ), retrieved from helicopter-borne spectral cloud-reflected radiance measurements, and spectral cloud reflectivity (γλ) are correlated with collocated in situ observations of the number concentration of aerosol particles from the subcloud layer (N). N denotes the concentration of particles larger than 80 nm in diameter and represents particles in the activation mode. In situ cloud microphysical and aerosol parameters were sampled by the Airborne Cloud Turbulence Observation System (ACTOS). Spectral cloud-reflected radiance data were collected by the Spectral Modular Airborne Radiation measurement sysTem (SMART-HELIOS). With increasing N a shift in the probability density functions of τ and γλ toward larger values is observed, while the mean values and observed ranges of retrieved reff decrease. The relative susceptibilities (RS) of reff, τ, and γλ to N are derived for bins of constant liquid water path. The resulting values of RS are in the range of 0.35 for reff and τ, and 0.27 for γλ. These results are close to the maximum susceptibility possible from theory. Overall, the shallow cumuli sampled near Barbados show characteristics of homogeneous, plane-parallel clouds. Comparisons of RS derived from in situ measured reff and from a microphysical parcel model are in close agreement.

Observing the clustering properties of galaxy clusters in dynamical dark-energy cosmologies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fedeli, C.; Moscardini, L.; Bartelmann, M.

2009-06-01

We study the clustering properties of galaxy clusters expected to be observed by various forthcoming surveys both in the X-ray and sub-mm regimes by the thermal Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect. Several different background cosmological models are assumed, including the concordance ΛCDM and various cosmologies with dynamical evolution of the dark energy. Particular attention is paid to models with a significant contribution of dark energy at early times which affects the process of structure formation. Past light cone and selection effects in cluster catalogs are carefully modeled by realistic scaling relations between cluster mass and observables and by properly taking into account the selection functions of the different instruments. The results show that early dark-energy models are expected to produce significantly lower values of effective bias and both spatial and angular correlation amplitudes with respect to the standard ΛCDM model. Among the cluster catalogs studied in this work, it turns out that those based on eRosita, Planck, and South Pole Telescope observations are the most promising for distinguishing between various dark-energy models.

Psychiatric side effects and antiepileptic drugs: Observations from prospective audits.

PubMed

Stephen, Linda J; Wishart, Abbie; Brodie, Martin J

2017-06-01

Psychiatric comorbidities are common in people with epilepsy. A retrospective study of characteristics associated with withdrawal due to psychiatric side effects was undertaken in patients with treated epilepsy participating in prospective audits with new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). A total of 1058 treated patients with uncontrolled seizures (942 focal-onset seizures, 116 generalized genetic epilepsies [GGEs]) participated in eight prospective, observational audits from 1996 to 2014. These patients were prescribed adjunctive topiramate (n=170), levetiracetam (n=220), pregabalin (n=135), zonisamide (n=203), lacosamide (n=160), eslicarbazepine acetate (n=52), retigabine (n=64), or perampanel (n=54). Doses were titrated according to efficacy and tolerability to optimize zeizure outcomes and reduce side effects. Psychiatric comorbidities were recorded prior to and after the addition of each AED. At baseline, patients with focal-onset seizures (189 of 942; 20.1%) were statistically more likely to have psychiatric diagnoses compared to patients with GGEs (14 of 116, 12.1%; p=0.039). Following adjunctive AED treatment, neuropsychiatric adverse effects led to AED withdrawal in 1.9-16.7% of patients. Patients with a pre-treatment psychiatric history (22 of 209; 10.5%) were statistically more likely to discontinue their new AED due to psychiatric issues compared to patients with no previous psychiatric diagnosis (50 of 849; 5.9%; p=0.017). Patients receiving sodium channel blocking AEDs (4 of 212, 1.9%) were statistically less likely to develop intolerable psychiatric problems, compared to those on AEDs possessing other mechanisms of action (68 of 846, 8.0%; p=0.012). Depression was the commonest problem, leading to discontinuation of AEDs in 2.8% (n=30) patients. Aggression was statistically more common in men (11 of 527, 2.1%) compared to women (1 of 531, 0.2%; p=0.004). Patients with learning disability (12 of 122, 9.8%; p=0.0015) were statistically less likely to have

Influence of socioeconomic status on the effectiveness of bicycle helmet legislation for children: a prospective observational study.

PubMed

Parkin, Patricia C; Khambalia, Amina; Kmet, Leanne; Macarthur, Colin

2003-09-01

wearing a bicycle helmet was estimated by year (1990-1997, inclusive), sex (male, female), location (school, park, major intersection, residential street), and income area (low, mid, high). For estimating the effect of legislation on helmet use, data from the year immediately after legislation (1996) were compared with data from the year preceding legislation (1995). The relative risk (RR) of helmet use (after vs before legislation) was calculated along with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for potential confounding variables (sex and location). During the 8-year study period, 9768 observations were made (range: 914-1879 observations per year). The proportion of child cyclists who wore a bicycle helmet increased steadily during the first 4 years of the study period, from 4% in 1990 (34 of 914), to 16% in 1991 (303 of 1879), to 25% in 1992 (383 of 1563), and to 45% in 1993 (438 of 984). During 1994 (460 of 1083) and 1995 (568 of 1227), helmet use remained relatively stable at approximately 44%. Helmet use rose markedly in 1996 (the first year after helmet legislation was introduced) to 68% (818 of 1202) and remained stable at 66% (609 of 916) in 1997. Throughout the study period, girls were consistently more likely to wear helmets than were boys. In total, 47% (1420 of 3047) of girls wore helmets, compared with 33% (2193 of 6721) of boys (RR: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.36-1.50). In addition, children who were riding to school were more likely to use helmets, compared with children who were riding on residential streets, major intersections, and parks. Overall, 48% (1497 of 3129) of children who were riding to school wore bicycle helmets, compared with 32% (2116 of 6639) of children who were riding at other locations (RR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.43-1.58). Children in the high-income areas were consistently more likely to wear helmets, compared with children in the mid- and low-income areas. Helmet legislation was associated with a significant

Effectiveness and safety of fixed dose combination of acarbose/metformin in Indian Type 2 diabetes patients: Results from observational GLOBE Study

PubMed Central

Saboo, Banshi; Reddy, Gundam Chandrasekhara; Juneja, Subhashchander; Kedia, Ashok Kumar; Manjrekar, Pravin; Rathod, Rahul

2015-01-01

Primary objective - evaluate effectiveness and safety of acarbose/metformin fixed dose FDC on glycemic control in Indian T2DM patients in real life clinical setting. Secondary objective - evaluate safety and satisfaction of treatment. Materials and Methods: Open-label, prospective, multicentre, single-arm, non-interventional study. Patients included were aged ≥18 years with T2DM on Acarbose (25/50 mg) and Metformin (500 mg) FDC. Glycemic parameters were recorded during observation. Results: Total 9364 patients were enrolled in the study (mean age, 50.7 years and 60.1% were male). Mean (SD) FBG and PPG was significantly reduced by 42.4 (32.6) mg/dl (P < 0.0001) and 80.2 (49.7) mg/dl (P < 0.0001) respectively at the end of observation. Mean (SD) HbA1c reduced by -1.0% (0.8) to 7.3% (0.7) at the last follow-up visit (P <0.0001). Majority of patients (97.5%) and physicians (98.42%) were satisfied with acarbose/metformin FDC treatment. Also, significant reduction in body weight by -1.7 (2.2) kg was observed (P < 0.0001). Patients with known T2DM and newly diagnosed showed a similar glycemic control (P < 0.0001). Drug-related adverse events were reported by only 1.4% patients mostly gastrointestinal. Conclusions: Acarbose/metformin FDC was efficacious, safe well accepted in routine clinical practice. It was well-tolerated without significant risk of hypoglycemia and can be used in early T2DM management PMID:25593840

Evidence of Significant Energy Input in the Late Phase of a Solar Flare from NuSTAR X-Ray Observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuhar, Matej; Krucker, Säm; Hannah, Iain G.; Glesener, Lindsay; Saint-Hilaire, Pascal; Grefenstette, Brian W.; Hudson, Hugh S.; White, Stephen M.; Smith, David M.; Marsh, Andrew J.; Wright, Paul J.; Boggs, Steven E.; Christensen, Finn E.; Craig, William W.; Hailey, Charles J.; Harrison, Fiona A.; Stern, Daniel; Zhang, William W.

2017-01-01

We present observations of the occulted active region AR 12222 during the third Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope ARray (NuSTAR) solar campaign on 2014 December 11, with concurrent Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)/AIA and FOXSI-2 sounding rocket observations. The active region produced a medium-size solar flare 1 day before the observations, at ˜18 UT on 2014 December 10, with the post-flare loops still visible at the time of NuSTAR observations. The time evolution of the source emission in the SDO/AIA 335 Å channel reveals the characteristics of an extreme-ultraviolet late-phase event, caused by the continuous formation of new post-flare loops that arch higher and higher in the solar corona. The spectral fitting of NuSTAR observations yields an isothermal source, with temperature 3.8-4.6 MK, emission measure (0.3-1.8) × 1046 cm-3, and density estimated at (2.5-6.0) × 108 cm-3. The observed AIA fluxes are consistent with the derived NuSTAR temperature range, favoring temperature values in the range of 4.0-4.3 MK. By examining the post-flare loops’ cooling times and energy content, we estimate that at least 12 sets of post-flare loops were formed and subsequently cooled between the onset of the flare and NuSTAR observations, with their total thermal energy content an order of magnitude larger than the energy content at flare peak time. This indicates that the standard approach of using only the flare peak time to derive the total thermal energy content of a flare can lead to a large underestimation of its value.

Evidence of Significant Energy Input in the Late Phase of A Solar Flare from NuSTAR X-Ray Observations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kuhar, Matej; Krucker, Sam; Hannah, Iain G.; Glesener, Lindsay; Saint-Hilaire, Pascal; Grefenstette, Brian W.; Hudson, Hugh S.; White, Stephen M.; Smith, David M.; Marsh, Andrew J.;

"Clinical" Significance: "Clinical" Significance and "Practical" Significance are NOT the Same Things

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Peterson, Lisa S.

2008-01-01

Clinical significance is an important concept in research, particularly in education and the social sciences. The present article first compares clinical significance to other measures of "significance" in statistics. The major methods used to determine clinical significance are explained and the strengths and weaknesses of clinical significance…

A Systematic Investigation of the Effect of Action Observation Training and Motor Imagery Training on the Development of Mental Representation Structure and Skill Performance

PubMed Central

Kim, Taeho; Frank, Cornelia; Schack, Thomas

2017-01-01

Action observation training and motor imagery training have independently been studied and considered as an effective training strategy for improving motor skill learning. However, comparative studies of the two training strategies are relatively few. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of action observation training and motor imagery training on the development of mental representation structure and golf putting performance as well as the relation between the changes in mental representation structure and skill performance during the early learning stage. Forty novices were randomly assigned to one of four groups: action observation training, motor imagery training, physical practice and no practice. The mental representation structure and putting performance were measured before and after 3 days of training, then after a 2-day retention period. The results showed that mental representation structure and the accuracy of the putting performance were improved over time through the two types of cognitive training (i.e., action observation training and motor imagery training). In addition, we found a significant positive correlation between changes in mental representation structure and skill performance for the action observation training group only. Taken together, these results suggest that both cognitive adaptations and skill improvement occur through the training of the two simulation states of action, and that perceptual-cognitive changes are associated with the change of skill performance for action observation training. PMID:29089881

Effect of Stress and Saturation on Shear Wave Anisotropy: Laboratory Observations Using Laser Doppler Interferometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lebedev, M.; Collet, O.; Bona, A.; Gurevich, B.

2015-12-01

Estimations of hydrocarbon and water resources as well as reservoir management during production are the main challenges facing the resource recovery industry nowadays. The recently discovered reservoirs are not only deep but they are also located in complicated geological formations. Hence, the effect of anisotropy on reservoir imaging becomes significant. Shear wave (S-wave) splitting has been observed in the field and laboratory experiments for decades. Despite the fact that S-wave splitting is widely used for evaluation of subsurface anisotropy, the effects of stresses as well fluid saturation on anisotropy have not been understood in detail. In this paper we present the laboratory study of the effect of stress and saturation on S-wave splitting for a Bentheim sandstone sample. The cubic sample (50mm3), porosity 22%, density 1890kg/m3) was placed into a true-triaxial cell. The sample was subjected to several combinations of stresses varying from 0 to 10MPa and applied to the sample in two directions (X and Y), while no stress was applied to the sample in the Z-direction. The sample's bedding was nearly oriented parallel to Y-Z plane. The ultrasonic S-waves were exited at a frequency of 0.5MHz by a piezoelectric transducer and were propagating in the Z-direction. Upon wave arrival onto the free surface the displacement of the surface was monitored by a Laser Doppler interferometer. Hodograms of the central point of the dry sample (Fig. 1) demonstrate how S-wave polarizations for both "fast" and "slow" S-waves change when increasing the stress in the X direction, while the stress in direction Y is kept constant at 3 MPa. Polarization of the fast S wave is shifted towards the X-axis (axis of the maximum stress). While both S-wave velocities increase with stress, the anisotropy level remains the same. No shift of polarization of fast wave was observed when the stress along the Y-axis was kept at 3 MPa, while the stress along the X-axis was increasing. However, in

Measuring effectiveness of drugs in observational databanks: promises and perils

PubMed Central

Krishnan, Eswar; Fries, James F

2004-01-01

Observational databanks have inherent strengths and shortcomings. As in randomized controlled trials, poor design of these databanks can either exaggerate or reduce estimates of drug effectiveness and can limit generalizability. This commentary highlights selected aspects of study design, data collection and statistical analysis that can help overcome many of these inadequacies. An international metaRegister and a formal mechanism for standardizing and sharing drug data could help improve the utility of databanks. Medical journals have a vital role in enforcing a quality checklist that improves reporting. PMID:15059263

Significance of hyperechoic marks observed during high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation of benign thyroid nodules.

PubMed

Lang, Brian H H; Woo, Yu-Cho; Chiu, Keith Wan-Hang

2018-06-01

To examine the association between the appearance of hyperechoic marks (HEMs) during high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation of benign thyroid nodules and nodule shrinkage at 6 months. One hundred and thirty-six patients who underwent HIFU for benign thyroid nodule were analysed. An independent person carefully examined the B-mode ultrasonography screen for the appearance of HEMs after each pulse. The proportion of HEMs (%) was calculated by: [(Number of pulses that resulted in HEMs) / (Total number of pulses given per treatment) × 100] while the nodule shrinkage was measured by volume reduction ratio (VRR) = [Baseline volume-volume at 6 months]/[Baseline volume] * 100. Treatment success was defined as VRR ≥ 50 %. Patients with HEMs (n=91) had significantly greater 6-month VRR than those without HEMs (n=45) (65.76 % vs. 36.76 %, p<0.001). By regression analysis, after adjusting for age and energy per pulse, smaller nodule volume at baseline (OR 1.143, 95 % CI 1.038-1.256, p=0.006) and appearance of HEMs (OR 275.44, 95 % CI 26.63-2848.98, p<0.001) were independent predictors for treatment success. The appearance of HEMs during treatment was an independent determinant of treatment success following single-session HIFU ablation of benign thyroid nodule. • HIFU is a safe and effective treatment for benign thyroid nodules. • Lower BMI and greater applied power increase likelihood of hyperechoic marks. • The appearance of hyperechoic marks during HIFU affects subsequent treatment outcome.

Effects of live and video form action observation training on upper limb function in children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy.

PubMed

Kim, Do Hyun; An, Duk-Hyun; Yoo, Won-Gyu

2018-04-20

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of live and video form action observation training (AOT) on upper limb (UL) movement acceleration and function in children with cerebral palsy (CP). In total, 12 children (7 boys, 5 girls) with CP participated in this study. The children were allocated randomly to live (experimental) and video (control) AOT groups. All children completed 20 treatment sessions, each 30 minutes in duration, 5 days per week for a month. Mediolateral (ML) and vertical (VT) acceleration data, Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function (JTHF) scores, and Box and Block Test (BBT) scores were obtained at baseline and at 4 weeks after the intervention. ML and VT movement acceleration and JTHF scores were significantly lower in the live group (p< 0.05). The BBT score was significantly higher in the live than in the video group (p< 0.05). Our findings suggest that live AOT is more effective than video AOT for improving UL movement acceleration and function. Clinically, our findings offer important insights for clinicians when planning AOT interventions to reduce UL movement acceleration and improve UL function.

EVIDENCE OF SIGNIFICANT ENERGY INPUT IN THE LATE PHASE OF A SOLAR FLARE FROM NuSTAR X-RAY OBSERVATIONS

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

Kuhar, Matej; Krucker, Säm; Hannah, Iain G.

We present observations of the occulted active region AR 12222 during the third Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope ARray ( NuSTAR ) solar campaign on 2014 December 11, with concurrent Solar Dynamics Observatory ( SDO )/AIA and FOXSI-2 sounding rocket observations. The active region produced a medium-size solar flare 1 day before the observations, at ∼18 UT on 2014 December 10, with the post-flare loops still visible at the time of NuSTAR observations. The time evolution of the source emission in the SDO/ AIA 335 Å channel reveals the characteristics of an extreme-ultraviolet late-phase event, caused by the continuous formation of newmore » post-flare loops that arch higher and higher in the solar corona. The spectral fitting of NuSTAR observations yields an isothermal source, with temperature 3.8–4.6 MK, emission measure (0.3–1.8) × 10{sup 46} cm{sup −3}, and density estimated at (2.5–6.0) × 10{sup 8} cm{sup −3}. The observed AIA fluxes are consistent with the derived NuSTAR temperature range, favoring temperature values in the range of 4.0–4.3 MK. By examining the post-flare loops’ cooling times and energy content, we estimate that at least 12 sets of post-flare loops were formed and subsequently cooled between the onset of the flare and NuSTAR observations, with their total thermal energy content an order of magnitude larger than the energy content at flare peak time. This indicates that the standard approach of using only the flare peak time to derive the total thermal energy content of a flare can lead to a large underestimation of its value.« less

Observed increase in local cooling effect of deforestation at higher latitudes.

PubMed

Lee, Xuhui; Goulden, Michael L; Hollinger, David Y; Barr, Alan; Black, T Andrew; Bohrer, Gil; Bracho, Rosvel; Drake, Bert; Goldstein, Allen; Gu, Lianhong; Katul, Gabriel; Kolb, Thomas; Law, Beverly E; Margolis, Hank; Meyers, Tilden; Monson, Russell; Munger, William; Oren, Ram; Paw U, Kyaw Tha; Richardson, Andrew D; Schmid, Hans Peter; Staebler, Ralf; Wofsy, Steven; Zhao, Lei

2011-11-16

Deforestation in mid- to high latitudes is hypothesized to have the potential to cool the Earth's surface by altering biophysical processes. In climate models of continental-scale land clearing, the cooling is triggered by increases in surface albedo and is reinforced by a land albedo-sea ice feedback. This feedback is crucial in the model predictions; without it other biophysical processes may overwhelm the albedo effect to generate warming instead. Ongoing land-use activities, such as land management for climate mitigation, are occurring at local scales (hectares) presumably too small to generate the feedback, and it is not known whether the intrinsic biophysical mechanism on its own can change the surface temperature in a consistent manner. Nor has the effect of deforestation on climate been demonstrated over large areas from direct observations. Here we show that surface air temperature is lower in open land than in nearby forested land. The effect is 0.85 ± 0.44 K (mean ± one standard deviation) northwards of 45° N and 0.21 ± 0.53 K southwards. Below 35° N there is weak evidence that deforestation leads to warming. Results are based on comparisons of temperature at forested eddy covariance towers in the USA and Canada and, as a proxy for small areas of cleared land, nearby surface weather stations. Night-time temperature changes unrelated to changes in surface albedo are an important contributor to the overall cooling effect. The observed latitudinal dependence is consistent with theoretical expectation of changes in energy loss from convection and radiation across latitudes in both the daytime and night-time phase of the diurnal cycle, the latter of which remains uncertain in climate models. © 2011 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved

[Clinical observation on therapeutic effect of cupping combined with acupuncture stimulation at trigger points for lumbar myofascial pain syndrome].

PubMed

Zhao, Hong

2014-08-01

To observe the clinical effect of cupping combined with acupuncture stimulation of trigger points on lumbar myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). Sixty MPS patients were randomly divided into acupuncture + TDP group (n = 30), and cupping + acupuncture group (n = 30). Patients in the acupuncture + TDP group were treated by acupuncture stimulation of trigger points and local TDP irradiation, and patients of the cupping + acupuncture group treated by intensive cupping applied to the myofascial band and acupuncture stimulation of the locus according to the position of muscular tension band. The therapeutic effects were assessed according to the score of the McGill pain questionnaire composing of pain rating index (PRI), visual analogue scale (VAS) and present pain intensity (PPI) before, immediately and 1 month after the treatment. After the treatment, the total effective rates of the acupuncture+ TDP and cupping + acupuncture groups were 83.3% (25/30) and 96.6% (29/30), respectively, without significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). One month's follow-up showed that the total effective rates of the acupuncture + TDP and cupping + acupuncture groups were 40.0% and 90.0% respectively, and the latter group was significantly better than the acupuncture + TDP group in the therapeutic effect (P < 0.05). The scores of PRI, VAS, PPI after the treatment were markedly decreased in both groups (P < 0.05). One month later, the scores of PRI, VAS and PPI in the cupping + acupuncture group were obviously lower than those of the acupuncture group (P < 0.05). Both acupuncture stimulation of trigger points plus TDP and cupping plus acupuncture can effectively relieve pain in MPS patients, while the therapeutic effect of cupping plus acupuncture treatment lasts longer analgesic effect.

Significantly enhanced thermal conductivity of indium arsenide nanowires via sulfur passivation.

PubMed

Xiong, Yucheng; Tang, Hao; Wang, Xiaomeng; Zhao, Yang; Fu, Qiang; Yang, Juekuan; Xu, Dongyan

2017-10-16

In this work, we experimentally investigated the effect of sulfur passivation on thermal transport in indium arsenide (InAs) nanowires. Our measurement results show that thermal conductivity can be enhanced by a ratio up to 159% by sulfur passivation. Current-voltage (I-V) measurements were performed on both unpassivated and S-passivated InAs nanowires to understand the mechanism of thermal conductivity enhancement. We observed a remarkable improvement in electrical conductivity upon sulfur passivation and a significant contribution of electrons to thermal conductivity, which account for the enhanced thermal conductivity of the S-passivated InAs nanowires.

Evidence of significant covalent bonding in Au(CN)(2)(-).

PubMed

Wang, Xue-Bin; Wang, Yi-Lei; Yang, Jie; Xing, Xiao-Peng; Li, Jun; Wang, Lai-Sheng

2009-11-18

The Au(CN)(2)(-) ion is the most stable Au compound known for centuries, yet a detailed understanding of its chemical bonding is still lacking. Here we report direct experimental evidence of significant covalent bonding character in the Au-C bonds in Au(CN)(2)(-) using photoelectron spectroscopy and comparisons with its lighter congeners, Ag(CN)(2)(-) and Cu(CN)(2)(-). Vibrational progressions in the Au-C stretching mode were observed for all detachment transitions for Au(CN)(2)(-), in contrast to the atomic-like transitions for Cu(CN)(2)(-), revealing the Au-C covalent bonding character. In addition, rich electronic structural information was obtained for Au(CN)(2)(-) by employing 118 nm detachment photons. Density functional theory and high-level ab initio calculations were carried out to understand the photoelectron spectra and obtain insight into the nature of the chemical bonding in the M(CN)(2)(-) complexes. Significant covalent character in the Au-C bonding due to the strong relativistic effects was revealed in Au(CN)(2)(-), consistent with its high stability.

The Effect of Observational Learning on Students' Performance, Processes, and Motivation in Two Creative Domains

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Groenendijk, Talita; Janssen, Tanja; Rijlaarsdam, Gert; van den Bergh, Huub

2013-01-01

Background. Previous research has shown that observation can be effective for learning in various domains, for example, argumentative writing and mathematics. The question in this paper is whether observational learning can also be beneficial when learning to perform creative tasks in visual and verbal arts. Aims. We hypothesized that observation…

Gun shows across a multistate American gun market: observational evidence of the effects of regulatory policies.

PubMed

Wintemute, Garen J

2007-06-01

To describe gun shows and assess the impact of increased regulation on characteristics linked to their importance as sources of guns used in crime. Cross-sectional, observational. Data were collected at a structured sample of 28 gun shows in California, which regulates these events and prohibits undocumented private party gun sales; and in Arizona, Nevada, Texas and Florida-all leading sources of California's crime guns--where these restrictions do not exist. Size of shows, measured by numbers of gun vendors and people in attendance; number and nature of guns for sale by gun vendors; measures of private party gun sales and illegal surrogate ("straw") gun purchases. Shows in comparison states were larger, but the number of attendees per gun vendor was higher in California. None of these differences was statistically significant. Armed attendees were more common in other states (median 5.7%, interquartile range (IQR) 3.9-10.0%) than in California (median 1.1%, IQR 0.5-2.2%), p = 0.0007. Thirty percent of gun vendors both in California and elsewhere were identifiable as licensed firearm retailers. There were few differences in the types or numbers of guns offered for sale; vendors elsewhere were more likely to sell assault weapons (34.9% and 13.3%, respectively; p = 0.001). Straw purchases were more common in the comparison states (rate ratio 6.6 (95% CI 0.9 to 49.1), p = 0.06). California's regulatory policies were associated with a decreased incidence of anonymous, undocumented gun sales and illegal straw purchases at gun shows. No significant adverse effects of these policies were observed.

HVDC Transmission an Outlook and Significance for Pakistani Power Sector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmad, Muhammad; Wang, Zhixin; Wang, Jinjian; Baloach, Mazhar H.; Longxin, Bao; Hua, Qing

2018-04-01

Recently a paradigm shift in the power sector is observed, i.e., countries across the globe have deviated their attention to distributed generation rather than conventional centralized bulk generation. Owing to the above narrative, distributed energy resources e.g., wind and PV have gained the adequate attention of governments and researchers courtesy to their eco-friendly nature. On the contrary, the increased infiltration of distributed generation to the power system has introduced many technical and economical glitches such as long-distance transmission, transmission lines efficiency, control capability and cost etc. To mitigate these complications, the utility of high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission has emerged as a possible solution. In this context, this paper includes a brief discussion on the fundamentals HVDC and its significance in Pakistani power sector. Furthermore, the potential of distributed energy resources for Pakistan is also the subject matter of this paper, so that significance of HVDC transmission can effectively be deliberated.

Cultural significance of primary teeth for caregivers in Northeast Brazil.

PubMed

Nations, Marilyn K; Calvasina, Paola Gondim; Martin, Michele N; Dias, Hilma Fontenele

2008-04-01

This anthropological study critically evaluates Brazilian caregivers' symbolic production and significance of their malnourished offspring's primary teeth, as well as their own, and describes popular dental practices. From January to June 2004, ethnographic interviews of 27 poor, low-literacy mothers were conducted at a public Malnutrition Treatment Center in Fortaleza, Ceará State. Participant observation of clinical pathways and home environments supplemented the data. Content analysis was performed. Results confirm that primary teeth are imbued with cultural significance in Northeast Brazil. Mothers examine mouths, perceive signs of decay, associate primary with permanent tooth healthiness, identify ethnodental illnesses, seek assistance, and perform rituals with exfoliated teeth. The mother's motivation to care for primary teeth is sparked by her memories of past toothache and attempts to avoid stigma and discrimination. Social determinants, not mothers' beliefs or behaviors, are the most critical obstacles to effective dental care. Legitimizing lay knowledge and empowering caregivers and children can improve oral health in Northeast Brazil.

Safety and effectiveness of long-term growth hormone therapy in Japanese patients with adult growth hormone deficiency: a postmarketing, multicenter, observational study.

PubMed

Shimatsu, Akira; Ishii, Hitoshi; Nishinaga, Hiromi; Murai, Osamu; Chihara, Kazuo

2017-07-28

We aimed to evaluate the long-term safety and effectiveness of growth hormone (GH) therapy in Japanese patients with adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD). In this observational, multicenter study, Norditropin ® (Novo Nordisk A/S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark) was administered as injections of 0.021 mg/kg/week as a starting dose divided into 6-7 doses/week. The dose was increased according to clinical response. Patients' data were obtained from medical records. Measurements (lipids, glucose metabolism, and body composition) taken at baseline; 3, 6, and 12 months; and yearly until the end of the study were collected. Adverse drug reactions (ADRs), serious ADRs, and serious adverse events (SAEs) were evaluated. Of 387 registered patients, 334 were eligible for safety. After GH treatment initiation, a marked decrease in total cholesterol was observed earlier in the child-onset group than in the adult-onset group. LDL-cholesterol also decreased, but no significant differences in changes in LDL-cholesterol between adult-onset and child-onset groups were found. A significant increase in HDL-cholesterol starting 1 year after GH treatment initiation was found in the adult-onset group. There was no effect of GH treatment on glucose metabolism. Because of the small number of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry data, the overall assessment of changes of body composition was difficult. Fifty-six (16.8%), 12 (3.6%), and 35 (10.5%) patients experienced ADRs, serious ADRs, and SAEs, respectively. This study demonstrated a favorable long-term safety and effectiveness profile of GH therapy in AGHD patients in the real-life Japanese clinical practice setting.

Examination of Teacher Observation Dynamics: Role of Observer Effort on Teacher Growth

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bury, Michael Shaun

2017-01-01

This study examined the teacher observation cycle to understand the effect of observer knowledge, observer effort, observer power, and school culture on teachers' perceptions of whether the observation process helped them grow, implement strategies, or increase student learning. The concepts of power and expertise were defined by blending the…

Significantly Elevated C-Reactive Protein Levels After Epicardial Clipping of the Left Atrial Appendage.

PubMed

Verberkmoes, Niels J; Akca, Ferdi; Vandevenne, Ann-Sofie; Jacobs, Luuk; Soliman Hamad, Mohamed A; van Straten, Albert H M

Besides mechanical and anatomical changes of the left atrium, epicardial closure of the left atrial appendage has also possible homeostatic effects. The aim of this study was to assess whether epicardial clipping of the left atrial appendage has different biochemical effects compared with complete removal of the left atrial appendage. Eighty-two patients were included and underwent a totally thoracoscopic AF ablation procedure. As part of the procedure, the left atrial appendage was excluded with an epicardial clip (n = 57) or the left atrial appendage was fully amputated with an endoscopic vascular stapler (n = 25). From all patients' preprocedural and postprocedural blood pressure, electrolytes and inflammatory parameters were collected. The mean age and left atrial volume index were comparable between the epicardial clip and stapler group (64 ± 8 years vs. 60 ± 9 years, P = non-significant; 44 ± 15 mL/m vs. 40 ± 13 mL/m, P = non-significant). Patients receiving left atrial appendage clipping had significantly elevated C-reactive protein levels compared with patients who had left atrial appendage stapling at the second, third, and fourth postoperative day (225 ± 84 mg/L vs. 149 ± 76 mg/L, P = 0.002, 244 ± 78 vs. 167 ± 76, P = 0.004, 190 ± 74 vs. 105 ± 48, P < 0.001, respectively). Patients had a significant decrease in sodium levels, systolic, and diastolic blood pressure at 24 and 72 hours after left atrial appendage closure. However, this was comparable for both the left atrial appendage clipping and stapling group. Increased activation of the inflammatory response was observed after left atrial appendage clipping compared with left atrial appendage stapling. Furthermore, a significant decrease in blood pressure was observed after surgical removal of the left atrial appendage. Whether the inflammatory response affects the outcome of arrhythmia surgery needs to be further evaluated.

Satellite observations of the impact of weak volcanic activity on marine clouds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gassó, Santiago

2008-07-01

Because emissions from weak volcanic eruptions tend to remain in the low troposphere, they may have a significant radiative impact through the indirect effect on clouds. However, this type of volcanic activity is underreported and its global impact has been assessed only by model simulations constrained with very limited observations. First observations of the impact of high-latitude active volcanoes on marine boundary layer clouds are reported here. These observations were made using a combination of standard derived products and visible images from the MODIS, AMSR-E and GOES detectors. Two distinctive effects are identified. When there is an existing boundary layer cloud deck, an increase in cloud brightness and a decrease in both cloud effective radius and liquid water content were observed immediately downwind of the volcanoes. The visible appearance of these "volcano tracks" resembles the effect of man-made ship tracks. When synoptic conditions favor low cloudiness, the volcano plume (or volcano cloud) increases significantly the cloud cover downwind. The volcano cloud can extend for hundreds of kilometers until mixing with background clouds. Unlike violent eruptions, the volcano clouds reported here (the Aleutian Islands in the North Pacific and the South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic) have retrieved microphysical properties similar to those observed in ship tracks. However, when comparing the volcano clouds from these two regions, liquid water content can decrease, increase or remain unchanged with respect to nearby unperturbed clouds. These differences suggest that composition at the source, type of eruption and meteorological conditions influence the evolution of the cloud.

Treatment of paediatric hyperthyroidism but not hypothyroidism has a significant effect on weight.

PubMed

Crocker, Melissa K; Kaplowitz, Paul

2010-12-01

Thyroid hormones are involved in metabolic regulation, but the degree to which they affect body weight and body mass index (BMI) in children is unclear. We examined the effect of hypo- and hyperthyroidism on weight and BMI at the time of diagnosis and after appropriate treatment. Prospective and retrospective case series. Children referred for thyroid dysfunction were enrolled prospectively if their total or free T4 was elevated with TSH <0·05 mIU/ml (N = 57) or if they had a subnormal total or free T4 and TSH >20 (N = 29). Almost all patients had at least 2 classic signs or symptoms including goitre, but hyperthyroid patients had more symptoms. Mean BMI z scores at the time of diagnosis did not significantly differ between the two groups. Males with hyperthyroidism complained of weight loss more frequently and had a lower pretreatment BMI z score than hyperthyroid females. Hypothyroid patients lost a minimal amount of weight by the first follow-up (mean of 0·3 kg) and on average gained weight by the second follow-up visit. In contrast hyperthyroid patients gained a mean of 3·4 kg at the first follow-up visit and a mean of 7·1 kg by the second. Correction of hypothyroidism resulted in minimal weight loss, suggesting that hypothyroidism does not cause significant weight gain in children. In contrast, correction of the hyperthyroid state had a somewhat greater impact on weight status. These results are consistent with prior reports but surprising given the opposite metabolic effects of hypo- and hyperthyroidism. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Treatment of pediatric hyperthyroidism but not hypothyroidism has a significant effect on weight

PubMed Central

Crocker, Melissa K.; Kaplowitz, Paul

2010-01-01

Objective Thyroid hormones are involved in metabolic regulation, but the degree to which they affect body weight and body mass index (BMI) in children is unclear. We examined the effect of hypo- and hyperthyroidism on weight and BMI at the time of diagnosis and after appropriate treatment. Design Prospective and retrospective case series Patients Children referred for thyroid dysfunction were enrolled prospectively if their total or free T4 was elevated with TSH <0.05 mIU/mL (N=57) or if they had a subnormal total or free T4 and TSH >20 (N=29). Results Almost all patients had at least 2 classic signs or symptoms including goiter, but hyperthyroid patients had more symptoms. Mean BMI z scores at the time of diagnosis did not significantly differ between the two groups. Males with hyperthyroidism complained of weight loss more frequently and had a lower pretreatment BMI z score than hyperthyroid females. Hypothyroid patients lost a minimal amount of weight by the first follow-up (mean of 0.3 kilograms (kg)) and on average gained weight by the second follow-up visit. In contrast hyperthyroid patients gained a mean of 3.4 kg at the first follow-up visit and a mean of 7.1 kg by the second. Conclusions Correction of hypothyroidism resulted in minimal weight loss, suggesting that hypothyroidism does not cause significant weight gain in children. In contrast, correction of the hyperthyroid state had a somewhat greater impact on weight status. These results are consistent with prior reports but surprising given the opposite metabolic effects of hypo- and hyperthyroidism. PMID:20874768

Teenagers' Significant Experiences in Aesthetic Areas: Some Empirical Observations Regarding the Role of Dramatic Art

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Finnas, Leif

2008-01-01

Fifteen sixteen-year-old Fenno-Swedish compulsory school pupils' descriptions and evaluations of significant, i.e. more or less "strong", experiences relating to dramatic art (film, theatre) were analysed and compared with reported experiences in other aesthetic areas (music, nature etc.). The drama area was represented in many…

Chronic methamphetamine exposure significantly decreases microglia activation in the arcuate nucleus.

PubMed

Lloyd, Steven A; Corkill, Beau; Bruster, Matthew C; Roberts, Rick L; Shanks, Ryan A

2017-07-01

Methamphetamine is a powerful psychostimulant drug and its use and abuse necessitates a better understanding of its neurobiobehavioral effects. The acute effects of binge dosing of methamphetamine on the neurons in the CNS are well studied. However, the long-term effects of chronic, low-dose methamphetamine are less well characterized, especially in other cell types and areas outside of the major dopamine pathways. Mice were administered 5mg/kg/day methamphetamine for ten days and brain tissue was analyzed using histochemistry and image analysis. Increased microglia activity in the striatum confirmed toxic effects of methamphetamine in this brain region using this dosing paradigm. A significant decrease in microglia activity in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus was observed with no effect noted on dopamine neurons in the arcuate nucleus. Given the importance of this area in homeostatic and neuroendocrine regulation, the current study highlights the need to more fully understand the systemic effects of chronic, low-dose methamphetamine use. The novel finding of microglia downregulation after chronic methamphetamine could lead to advances in understanding neuroinflammatory responses towards addiction treatment and protection from psychostimulant-induced neurotoxicity. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The effect of Bangerter filters on binocular function in observers with amblyopia.

PubMed

Chen, Zidong; Li, Jinrong; Thompson, Benjamin; Deng, Daming; Yuan, Junpeng; Chan, Lily; Hess, Robert F; Yu, Minbin

2014-10-28

We assessed whether partial occlusion of the nonamblyopic eye with Bangerter filters can immediately reduce suppression and promote binocular summation of contrast in observers with amblyopia. In Experiment 1, suppression was measured for 22 observers (mean age, 20 years; range, 14-32 years; 10 females) with strabismic or anisometropic amblyopia and 10 controls using our previously established "balance point" protocol. Measurements were made at baseline and with 0.6-, 0.4-, and 0.2-strength Bangerter filters placed over the nonamblyopic/dominant eye. In Experiment 2, psychophysical measurements of contrast sensitivity were made under binocular and monocular viewing conditions for 25 observers with anisometropic amblyopia (mean age, 17 years; range, 11-28 years; 14 females) and 22 controls (mean age, 24 years; range, 22-27; 12 female). Measurements were made at baseline, and with 0.4- and 0.2-strength Bangerter filters placed over the nonamblyopic/dominant eye. Binocular summation ratios (BSRs) were calculated at baseline and with Bangerter filters in place. Experiment 1: Bangerter filters reduced suppression in observers with amblyopia and induced suppression in controls (P = 0.025). The 0.2-strength filter eliminated suppression in observers with amblyopia and this was not a visual acuity effect. Experiment 2: Bangerter filters were able to induce normal levels of binocular contrast summation in the group of observers with anisometropic amblyopia for a stimulus with a spatial frequency of 3 cycles per degree (cpd, P = 0.006). The filters reduced binocular summation in controls. Bangerter filters can immediately reduce suppression and promote binocular summation for mid/low spatial frequencies in observers with amblyopia. Copyright 2014 The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc.

[Observation on the clinical application effects of skin distractor on the treatment of scars].

PubMed

Gui, W L; Yang, E; Zhang, H S

2017-03-20

were close (with Z values from -1.651 to -0.035, t values from -1.549 to 0.219, P values above 0.05), significantly higher than those of one year post scar resection (with Z values from -2.992 to -2.555, t values from 8.739 to 19.076, P values below 0.01). (2) Scores of all scars of patients in 2 mm/d group of one year post scars resection were lower than those in 4 mm/d group (with t values from -2.583 to -2.018, P values below 0.05). PSAS scores of scars in face and neck and trunk in 2 mm/d group of one year post scars resection were lower than those in 4 mm/d group (with Z values respectively -2.385 and -2.198, P values below 0.05), other scores of scars in face and neck and trunk of patients in 2 groups of one year post scars resection were close (with Z values from -1.841 to -0.363, P values above 0.05). VSS scores, PSAS scores, OSAS scores, patients' overall scores, and observers' overall scores in 2 mm/d groups were (4.6±0.8), (28±4), (28±4), (4.7±0.7), (4.8±1.4) points, respectively, lower than those in 4 mm/d group[(5.2±0.8), (32±4), (31±6), (5.5±1.2), (5.5±1.0) points, respectively, with t values from -3.712 to -2.105, P <0.05 or P <0.01]. Conclusions: Skin distractor has better effects on the treatment of scars, and treatment effects of skin distractor in extremities pulled by 2 mm/d are better than those pulled by 4 mm/d.

Significant role of antiferromagnetic GdFeO3 on multiferroism of bilayer thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shah, Jyoti; Bhatt, Priyanka; Dayas, K. Diana Diana; Kotnala, R. K.

2018-02-01

Inversion of BaTiO3 and GdFeO3 thin films in bilayer configuration has been deposited by pulsed laser deposition technique. A significant effect of strain on thin film has been observed by X-ray diffraction analysis. Tensile strain of 1.04% and 0.23% has been calculated by X-ray diffraction results. Higher polarization value 70.4 μC cm-2 has been observed by strained BaTiO3 film in GdFeO3/BaTiO3 bilayer film. Strained GdFeO3 film in BaTiO3/GdFeO3 bilayer configuration exhibited ferromagnetic behaviour showed maximum magnetization value of 50 emu gm-1. Magnetoelectric coupling coefficient of bilayer films have been carried out by dynamic method. Room temperature magnetoelectric coupling 2500 mV cm-1-Oe has been obtained for BaTiO3/GdFeO3 bilayer film. The high ME coupling of the BaTiO3/GdFeO3 bilayer film reveals strong interfacial coupling between ferroelectric and ferromagnetic dipoles. On magnetoelectric coupling coefficient effect of ferromagnetic GdFeO3 layer has a significant role. Such high value of ME coupling may be useful in realization of magnetoelectric RAM (MeRAM) application.

Assessing the Impact of Observations on the Prediction of Effective Atmospheric Angular Momentum from NAVGEM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baker, N. L.; Langland, R.

2016-12-01

Variations in Earth rotation are measured by comparing a time based on Earth's variable rotation rate about its axis to a time standard based on an internationally coordinated ensemble of atomic clocks that provide a uniform time scale. The variability of Earth's rotation is partly due to the changes in angular momentum that occur in the atmosphere and ocean as weather patterns and ocean features develop, propagate, and dissipate. The NAVGEM Effective Atmospheric Angular Momentum Functions (EAAMF) and their predictions are computed following Barnes et al. (1983), and provided to the U.S. Naval Observatory daily. These along with similar data from the NOAA GFS model are used to calculate and predict the Earth orientation parameters (Stamatakos et al., 2016). The Navy's high-resolution global weather prediction system consists of the Navy Global Environmental Model (NAVGEM; Hogan et al., 2014) and a hybrid four-dimensional variational data assimilation system (4DVar) (Kuhl et al., 2013). An important component of NAVGEM is the Forecast Sensitivity Observation Impact (FSOI). FSOI is a mathematical method to quantify the contribution of individual observations or sets of observations to the reduction in the 24-hr forecast error (Langland and Baker, 2004). The FSOI allows for dynamic monitoring of the relative quality and value of the observations assimilated by NAVGEM, and the relative ability of the data assimilation system to effectively use the observation information to generate an improved forecast. For this study, along with the FSOI based on the global moist energy error norm, we computed the FSOI using an error norm based on the Effective Angular Momentum Functions. This modification allowed us to assess which observations were most beneficial in reducing the 24-hr forecast error for the atmospheric angular momentum.