pitt-led study debunks: Topics by Science.gov

Sample records for pitt-led study debunks

Debunking Technical Competency as the Sole Source of Innovation

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-01-01

51 Sustaining vs. Disruptive Technologies Advocates for increasing the number of STEM-credentialed graduates often link U.S. innovation to economic...successful companies are led by talented managers who focus on developing sustaining technologies rather than on what he calls disruptive technologies . Sustaining...simpler, smaller, and frequently more convenient to use.53 Disruptive technologies will eventually overtake or match the performance of the
Urban-rural differences in excess mortality among high-poverty populations: evidence from the Harlem Household Survey and the Pitt County, North Carolina Study of African American Health.

PubMed

Geronimus, Arline T; Colen, Cynthia G; Shochet, Tara; Ingber, Lori Barer; James, Sherman A

2006-08-01

Black youth residing in high-poverty areas have dramatically lower probabilities of surviving to age 65 if they are urban than if they are rural. Chronic disease deaths contribute heavily. We begin to probe the reasons using the Harlem Household Survey (HHS) and the Pitt County, North Carolina Study of African American Health (PCS). We compare HHS and PCS respondents on chronic disease rates, health behaviors, social support, employment, indicators of health care access, and health insurance. Chronic disease profiles do not favor Pitt County. Smoking uptake is similar across samples, but PCS respondents are more likely to quit. Indicators of access to health care and private health insurance are more favorable in Pitt County. Findings suggest rural mortality is averted through secondary or tertiary prevention, not primary. Macroeconomic and health system changes of the past 20 years may have left poor urban Blacks as medically underserved as poor rural Blacks.
Debunking in a world of tribes

PubMed Central

Bessi, Alessandro; Del Vicario, Michela; Scala, Antonio; Caldarelli, Guido; Shekhtman, Louis; Havlin, Shlomo; Quattrociocchi, Walter

2017-01-01

Social media aggregate people around common interests eliciting collective framing of narratives and worldviews. However, in such a disintermediated environment misinformation is pervasive and attempts to debunk are often undertaken to contrast this trend. In this work, we examine the effectiveness of debunking on Facebook through a quantitative analysis of 54 million users over a time span of five years (Jan 2010, Dec 2014). In particular, we compare how users usually consuming proven (scientific) and unsubstantiated (conspiracy-like) information on Facebook US interact with specific debunking posts. Our findings confirm the existence of echo chambers where users interact primarily with either conspiracy-like or scientific pages. However, both groups interact similarly with the information within their echo chamber. Then, we measure how users from both echo chambers interacted with 50,220 debunking posts accounting for both users consumption patterns and the sentiment expressed in their comments. Sentiment analysis reveals a dominant negativity in the comments to debunking posts. Furthermore, such posts remain mainly confined to the scientific echo chamber. Only few conspiracy users engage with corrections and their liking and commenting rates on conspiracy posts increases after the interaction. PMID:28742163
Designing a Campaign: Forbes’ March to the Ohio

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-03-14

detachment of Virginia militia and Ohio Indians at a group of French soldiers led by Ensign Jumonville on a wooded hillside about sixty miles southeast...British operational commander. William Pitt personally selected Brigadier General John Forbes for the task.45 Forbes, a Scot by birth, had served...Indians early in the campaign. They already possessed experience in frontier warfare and had trained specifically for small- unit combat in a wooded
Costs, Trends, and Related Factors in Treating Lung Cancer Patients in 67 Hospitals in Guangxi, China.

PubMed

Zhou, Li-Fang; Zhang, Mao-Xin; Kong, Ling-Qian; Lyman, Gary H; Wang, Ke; Lu, Wei; Feng, Qi-Ming; Wei, Bo; Zhao, Lue Ping

2017-05-28

Lung cancer is a common disease with high mortality in China. Recent economic advances have led to improved medical capabilities, while costs associated with treating this disease have increased. Such change contributes to a commonly held belief that healthcare costs are out of control. However, few studies have examined this issue. Here, we use 34,678 hospitalization summary reports from 67 Guangxi hospitals (period 2013-2016) to document costs, temporal trends, and associated factors. Findings from this study are surprising in that they debunk the myth of uncontrolled healthcare costs. In addition, results and experiences from Guangxi are informative for other comparable regions.
A case of Pitt-Hopkins syndrome with absence of hyperventilation.

PubMed

Inati, Adlette; Abbas, Hussein A; Korjian, Serge; Daaboul, Yazan; Harajeily, Mohamad; Saab, Raya

2013-12-01

Pitt-Hopkins syndrome is characterized by mental retardation, hyperventilation, and dysmorphic features due to TCF4 mutations. We report a case of Pitt-Hopkins syndrome in a 2½-year-old boy presenting with psychomotor retardation, recurrent respiratory tract infections, and dysmorphic features with absence of hyperventilation or other breathing abnormalities. Comparative genomic hybridization and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to confirm TCF4 haploinsufficiency. Pitt-Hopkins syndrome is a rare debilitating disease that should be in the differential diagnosis of other neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by mental retardation and hypotonicity despite the absence of hyperapnea and seizures. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction is another method to identify TCF4 and to confirm Pitt-Hopkins syndrome diagnosis.
A Merger Feasibility Study: Greenville City and Pitt County (North Carolina) Schools. Final Report, 22N-2572.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pyecha, John N.; And Others

This report contains findings and recommendations based on a study conducted to determine the feasibility of merging the Pitt County and Greenville County (North Carolina) school systems. Each school system is described in terms of pupil population patterns, building use, and educational and administrative services; issues related to these…
Meeting Report: Breath Biomarkers Networking Sessions at PittCon 2010, Orlando, Florida

EPA Science Inventory

The Pittsburgh Conference and Exposition, or "PittCon" (www.pittcon.org/), is one of the largest international conferences for analytical chemistry and instrumentation typically attracting about 25,000 attendees and 1,000 commercial exhibitors. PittCon began in 1950 as a small sp...
Breath Analysis Science at PittCon 2012, Orlando, Florida

EPA Science Inventory

Breath analysis science was featured in three organized sessions at this year’s Pittsburgh Conference and Exposition, or ‘PittCon 2012’ (http://www.pittcon.org/). As described in previous meeting reports, PittCon is one of the largest international conferences for analytical chem...
Debunking the Computer Science Digital Library: Lessons Learned in Collection Development at Seneca College of Applied Arts & Technology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Buczynski, James Andrew

2005-01-01

Developing a library collection to support the curriculum of Canada's largest computer studies school has debunked many myths about collecting computer science and technology information resources. Computer science students are among the heaviest print book and e-book users in the library. Circulation statistics indicate that the demand for print…
Fluorescent transgenic mice suitable for multi-color aggregation chimera studies.

PubMed

Ohtsuka, Masato; Miura, Hiromi; Gurumurthy, Channabasavaiah B; Kimura, Minoru; Inoko, Hidetoshi; Yoshimura, Shinichi; Sato, Masahiro

2012-11-01

We recently reported a novel method of mouse transgenesis called Pronuclear Injection-based Targeted Transgenisis (PITT) using which a series of fluorescent transgenic (Tg) mice lines were generated. These lines, unlike those generated using conventional random integration methods, express the transgenes faithfully and reproducibly generation after generation. Because of this superior nature, these lines are ideal for the generation of multi-colored aggregation chimeras that can be used to study cell-cell interactions and lineage analyses in living embryos/organs, where the transgenes can be detected and the clonal origin of a given cell population easily traced by its distinct fluorescence. In this study, to verify if Tg fluorescent mice generated through PITT were suitable for such applications, we sought to generate chimeric blastocysts and chimeric-Tg mice by aggregating two- or three-colored 8-cell embryos. Our analyses using these models led to the following observations. First, we noticed that cell mixing was infrequent during the stages of morula to early blastocyst. Second, chimeric fetuses obtained after aggregation of the two-colored 8-cell embryos exhibited uniform cell mixing. And third, in the organs of adult chimeric mice, the mode of cell distribution could be either clonal or polyclonal, as previously pointed out by others. Implications of our novel and improved Tg-chimeric mice approach for clonal cell lineage and developmental studies are discussed.
The Journal of Public Inquiry. Spring/Summer 2011

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-01-01

Debunking Myths and Suggesting Practices for Offices of Inspectors General Written by Inspectors General Allison Lerner and Steve Linick National...IPS+2008+Jobs+Study+Final_Report1.pdf 3) Christensen, C. “The Innovator’s Dilemma,” Harvard Business Press. 1997. 4) Jarvis , J. What Would Google Do...Suspension and Debarment Debunking Myths and Suggesting Practices for Offices of Inspectors General By Inspectors General Allison Lerner and Steve
Impairment of different protein domains causes variable clinical presentation within Pitt-Hopkins syndrome and suggests intragenic molecular syndromology of TCF4.

PubMed

Bedeschi, Maria Francesca; Marangi, Giuseppe; Calvello, Maria Rosaria; Ricciardi, Stefania; Leone, Francesca Pia Chiara; Baccarin, Marco; Guerneri, Silvana; Orteschi, Daniela; Murdolo, Marina; Lattante, Serena; Frangella, Silvia; Keena, Beth; Harr, Margaret H; Zackai, Elaine; Zollino, Marcella

2017-11-01

Pitt-Hopkins syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by severe intellectual disability and a distinctive facial gestalt. It is caused by haploinsufficiency of the TCF4 gene. The TCF4 protein has different functional domains, with the NLS (nuclear localization signal) domain coded by exons 7-8 and the bHLH (basic Helix-Loop-Helix) domain coded by exon 18. Several alternatively spliced TCF4 variants have been described, allowing for translation of variable protein isoforms. Typical PTHS patients have impairment of at least the bHLH domain. To which extent impairment of the remaining domains contributes to the final phenotype is not clear. There is recent evidence that certain loss-of-function variants disrupting TCF4 are associated with mild ID, but not with typical PTHS. We describe a frameshift-causing partial gene deletion encompassing exons 4-6 of TCF4 in an adult patient with mild ID and nonspecific facial dysmorphisms but without the typical features of PTHS, and a c.520C > T nonsense variant within exon 8 in a child presenting with a severe phenotype largely mimicking PTHS, but lacking the typical facial dysmorphism. Investigation on mRNA, along with literature review, led us to suggest a preliminary phenotypic map of loss-of-function variants affecting TCF4. An intragenic phenotypic map of loss-of-function variants in TCF4 is suggested here for the first time: variants within exons 1-4 and exons 4-6 give rise to a recurrent phenotype with mild ID not in the spectrum of Pitt-Hopkins syndrome (biallelic preservation of both the NLS and bHLH domains); variants within exons 7-8 cause a severe phenotype resembling PTHS but in absence of the typical facial dysmorphism (impairment limited to the NLS domain); variants within exons 9-19 cause typical Pitt-Hopkins syndrome (impairment of at least the bHLH domain). Understanding the TCF4 molecular syndromology can allow for proper nosology in the current era of whole genomic investigations. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.
Evolutionary Debunking Arguments

PubMed Central

Kahane, Guy

2011-01-01

Evolutionary debunking arguments (EDAs) are arguments that appeal to the evolutionary origins of evaluative beliefs to undermine their justification. This paper aims to clarify the premises and presuppositions of EDAs—a form of argument that is increasingly put to use in normative ethics. I argue that such arguments face serious obstacles. It is often overlooked, for example, that they presuppose the truth of metaethical objectivism. More importantly, even if objectivism is assumed, the use of EDAs in normative ethics is incompatible with a parallel and more sweeping global evolutionary debunking argument that has been discussed in recent metaethics. After examining several ways of responding to this global debunking argument, I end by arguing that even if we could resist it, this would still not rehabilitate the current targeted use of EDAs in normative ethics given that, if EDAs work at all, they will in any case lead to a truly radical revision of our evaluative outlook. PMID:21949447
VLSI (Very Large Scale Integrated Circuits) Design with the MacPitts Silicon Compiler.

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-09-01

the background. If the algorithm is not fully debugged, then issue instead macpitts basename herald so MacPitts diagnostics and Liszt diagnostics both...command interpreter. Upon compilation, however, the following LI!F compiler ( Liszt ) diagnostic results, Error: Non-number to minus nil where the first...language used in the MacPitts source code. The more instructive solution is to write the Franz LISP code to decide if a jumper wire is needed, and if so, to
Physical activity and hypertension in black adults: the Pitt County Study.

PubMed Central

Ainsworth, B E; Keenan, N L; Strogatz, D S; Garrett, J M; James, S A

1991-01-01

The relation of physical activity to hypertension was examined in 1751 Black adults in Pitt County, NC. More women (65%) than men (44%) were classified as sedentary. Sedentary behavior was not associated with the prevalence of hypertension in men, but was associated with a 31% increase in prevalence for women (sedentary-26.2%; active-20.0%; P less than .01). The association in women was independent of other risk factors for hypertension. PMID:1951807
Genetics Home Reference: Pitt-Hopkins syndrome

MedlinePlus

... Hollander NS, Jongmans M, Kant SG, King MD, Lynch SA, McKee S, Midro AT, Park SM, Ricotti V, Tarantino E, Wessels M, Peippo M, Rauch A. Further delineation of Pitt-Hopkins syndrome: phenotypic and genotypic description of 16 novel patients. ...
Two Birds with One Myth-Debunking Campaign

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

LaCaille, Rick A.

2015-01-01

Misconceptions of psychological phenomena are widespread and often not easily eliminated--even among students completing college-level psychology courses. As part of a research methods psychology course, students developed public-service-announcement-style posters as part of a psychology myth-debunking campaign and presented these to students…
Human altruism, evolution and moral philosophy

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

This paper has two central aims. The first is to explore philosophical complications that arise when we move from (i) explaining the evolutionary origins of genetically influenced traits associated with human cooperation and altruism, to (ii) explaining present manifestations of human thought, feeling and behaviour involving cooperation and altruism. While the former need only appeal to causal factors accessible to scientific inquiry, the latter must engage also with a distinctive form of explanation, i.e. reason-giving explanation, which in turn raises important philosophical questions, the answers to which will affect the nature of the ultimate explanations of our moral beliefs and related actions. On one possibility I will explore, this explanatory project cannot avoid engaging with first-order ethical theory. The second aim is to apply lessons from these explanatory complications to the critique of ‘evolutionary debunking arguments’, which seek to debunk morality, or at least objective construals of it (i.e. moral realism), by appeal to allegedly scientific debunking explanations of our moral beliefs that would defeat our justification for them. The explanatory complications brought out in the first half raise difficulties for such debunking arguments. If we avoid begging central philosophical questions then such debunking arguments pose little threat of saddling us with moral scepticism or subjectivism, though they do pose an important challenge for those developing a moral realist view. PMID:28878990
ANALYTICAL METHOD DEVELOPMENTS TO SUPPORT PARTITIONING INTERWELL TRACER TESTING

EPA Science Inventory

Partitioning Interwell Tracer Testing (PITT) uses alcohol tracer compounds in estimating subsurface contamination from non-polar pollutants. PITT uses the analysis of water samples for various alcohols as part of the overall measurement process. The water samples may contain many...

PARTITIONING INTERWELL TRACER TEST FOR NAPL SOURCE CHARACTERIZATION: A GENERAL OVERVIEW

EPA Science Inventory

Innovative and nondestructive characterization techniques have been developed to locate and quantify nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) in the vadose and saturated zones in the subsurface environment. One such technique is the partitioning interwell tracer test (PITT). The PITT i...
The evolution of trophic transmission

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lafferty, Kevin D.

1999-01-01

Parasite increased trophic transmission (PITT) is one of the more fascinating tales of parasite evolution. The implications of this go beyond cocktail party anecdotes and science fiction plots as the phenomenon is pervasive and likely to be ecologically and evolutionarily important. Although the subject has already received substantial review, Kevin Lafferty here focuses on evolutionary aspects that have not been fully explored, specifically: (1) How strong should PITT be? (2) How might sexual selection and limb autotomy facilitate PITT? (3) How might infrapopulation regulation in final hosts be important in determining avoidance of infected prey? And (4) what happens when more than one species of parasite is in the same intermediate host?
[Candidemias: multicentre analysis in 16 hospitals in Andalusia (Spain)].

PubMed

Rodríguez-Hernández, M Jesús; Ruiz-Pérez de Pipaon, Maite; Márquez-Solero, Manuel; Martín-Rico, Patricia; Castón-Osorio, Juan José; Guerrero-Sánchez, Francisca M; Vidal-Verdú, Elisa; García-Figueras, Carolina; Del Arco-Jiménez, Alfonso; Rodríguez-Baño, Jesús; Martín-Mazuelos, Estrella; Cisneros-Herreros, José Miguel

2011-05-01

Candidemia is a nosocomial infection with high associated mortality. There have been changes in microbiology, epidemiology and treatment over the last few years, which has led us to analyse our own situation. Prospective, multicentre and observational study. All episodes of candidemia in adult patients seen in 17 Andalusian hospitals from 1 October 2005 to 30 September 2006 were included. Were detected 220 cases, the incidence was 0.58 cases/1,000 hospital discharges. Candida albicans was the most frecuent species (53% of cases). The majority of isolates (89%) was susceptibility to fluconazole. Sepsis was the most frequent clinical manifestation (65.7%). The treatment was inadequate in 38.7% of cases. Overall mortality was 40%. On univarite analysis death was found to be significantly associated with: aged > 60 years, unknown candidemia focus, Pitt score ≥ 2, APACHE II, shock at onset, persistents positive second blood cultures, non-removal of the central venous catheter and Candida species different of C. parasilopsis, among others. In the multivariate analysis death was found to be significantly associated with: aged > 60 years, Pitt score ≥ 2, Candida species different of C.parasilopsis and inadequate treatment. The candidemia clinical epidemiology in our region is similar to other areas and receiving inadequate treatment is the only modifiable risk factor associated with higher odds of mortality. Therefore, this modifiable factor needs to be improved to reduce the mortality. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.
Debunking the Myths. Research Offers Ammunition to Fight Misperceptions of Voc Ed.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stone, Jim

1993-01-01

Debunks seven myths: vocational students are low achievers, they do not pursue higher education, voc ed does not help academic competence, it does not make a difference in the labor market, vocational students are economically rich and psychologically poor, student employment engenders poor work attitudes, and voc ed is a poor investment. (SK)
Previous Attempts to Debunk the Mythical Retention Chart and Corrupted Dale's Cone

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Subramony, Deepak Prem; Molenda, Michael; Betrus, Anthony K.; Thalheimer, Will

2014-01-01

Critics have been attempting to debunk the mythical retention chart at least since 1971. The earliest critics, David Curl and Frank Dwyer, were addressing just the retention data. Beginning around 2002, a new generation of critics has taken on the illegitimate combination of the retention chart and Edgar Dale's Cone of Experience--the corrupted…
Non Invasive Biomedical Analysis - Breath Networking Session at PittCon 2011, Atlanta, Georgia

EPA Science Inventory

This was the second year that our breath colleagues organized a networking session at the Pittsburgh Conference and Exposition or ''PittCon'' (http://www.pincon.org/).This time it was called "Non-invasive Biomedical Analysis" to broaden the scope a bit, but the primary focus rema...
Center for Subsurface Sensing & Imaging Systems (CenSSIS)

Science.gov Websites

Contact Us Home Wavelets ALERT Center PROTECT Program Gordon Engineering Leadership Program Center Members Simon Pitts awarded 2015 Gordon Prize ALERT Center Director, Michael B. Silevitch and Gordon Engineering Leadership Director, Simon Pitts have been awarded the 2015 Bernard M. Gordon Prize for Engineering Education
On Having One's Chance: Autonomy as Education's Limit

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pitt, Alice

2010-01-01

When hopelessness and helplessness become recurring themes in teacher education scholarship, this signals a conceptual problem with the question of autonomy in the profession. In this essay, Alice Pitt argues that breakdowns of professional life belong to what is most subjective in the profession. Pitt opens her analysis of this conundrum by…
Cross-sectional association between perceived discrimination and hypertension in African-American men and women: the Pitt County Study.

PubMed

Roberts, Calpurnyia B; Vines, Anissa I; Kaufman, Jay S; James, Sherman A

2008-03-01

Few studies have examined the impact of the frequency of discrimination on hypertension risk. The authors assessed the cross-sectional associations between frequency of perceived racial and nonracial discrimination and hypertension among 1,110 middle-aged African-American men (n = 393) and women (n = 717) participating in the 2001 follow-up of the Pitt County Study (Pitt County, North Carolina). Odds ratios were estimated using gender-specific unconditional weighted logistic regression with adjustment for relevant confounders and the frequency of discrimination. More than half of the men (57%) and women (55%) were hypertensive. The prevalences of perceived racial discrimination, nonracial discrimination, and no discrimination were 57%, 29%, and 13%, respectively, in men and 42%, 43%, and 15%, respectively, in women. Women recounting frequent nonracial discrimination versus those reporting no exposure to discrimination had the highest odds of hypertension (adjusted odds ratio = 2.34, 95% confidence interval: 1.09, 5.02). A nonsignificant inverse odds ratio was evident in men who perceived frequent exposure to racial or nonracial discrimination in comparison with no exposure. A similar association was observed for women reporting perceived racial discrimination. These results indicate that the type and frequency of discrimination perceived by African-American men and women may differentially affect their risk of hypertension.
SOVA: Design of a stakeholder informed social media website for depressed adolescents and their parents.

PubMed

Radovic, Ana; DeMand, Alexandra L; Gmelin, Theresa; Stein, Bradley D; Miller, Elizabeth

2018-01-01

Two moderated social media websites were designed for increasing likelihood for mental health treatment engagement for depressed adolescents (sova.pitt.edu) and for parents (wisesova.pitt.edu). This paper describes iterative stakeholder interviews conducted with adolescents, young adults, parents, advocates, and clinicians and use of human computer interaction techniques to inform major design changes which: (1) underscored the role of online interaction to provide emotional support and information; (2) importance of anonymity; (3) desire to share positive media; and (4) need for frequent moderation. Future studies will examine acceptability and effectiveness of revised websites in helping depressed adolescents and their parents engage with treatment.
SOVA: Design of a stakeholder informed social media website for depressed adolescents and their parents

PubMed Central

Radovic, Ana; DeMand, Alexandra L.; Gmelin, Theresa; Stein, Bradley D.; Miller, Elizabeth

2018-01-01

Two moderated social media websites were designed for increasing likelihood for mental health treatment engagement for depressed adolescents (sova.pitt.edu) and for parents (wisesova.pitt.edu). This paper describes iterative stakeholder interviews conducted with adolescents, young adults, parents, advocates, and clinicians and use of human computer interaction techniques to inform major design changes which: (1) underscored the role of online interaction to provide emotional support and information; (2) importance of anonymity; (3) desire to share positive media; and (4) need for frequent moderation. Future studies will examine acceptability and effectiveness of revised websites in helping depressed adolescents and their parents engage with treatment. PMID:29743822
Quantifying Sulfate, Organics, and Lubrication Oil in Particles Emitted from Military Aircraft Engines

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-10-01

Measurements. Part 1: Theory. Aerosol Sci. Tech., 38, 1185-1205 Finlayson-Pitts, B. J. and Pitts, J. N. 1997. Tropospheric air pollution: Ozone ...2004). Wetting and Hydration of Insoluble Soot Particles in the Upper Troposphere . J. Environ. Monitoring, 6:939-945. Petzold, A., Gysel, M...nanoparticles: role of ambient ionization in tropospheric aerosol formation. Journal of Geophysical Research, 106(5): 4797–4814. Yu, F. (2005). Quasi
Making the Case for School-to-Careers and Vocational Education. A Practical Guide to Demonstrating the Value of School-to-Careers Preparation for All Students and Debunking Outdated Stereotypes and False Assumptions...Plus Step-by-Step Instructions for Planning Promotional Campaigns and Events To Create Public Support in Your Community.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Vocational Association, Alexandria, VA.

This document is a practical guide to demonstrating the value of school-to-careers preparation for all students and to debunking outdated stereotypes and false assumptions surrounding school-to-careers and vocational education programs. Part 1 explains the importance of political and policy advocacy in public education and outlines strategies for…
Debunking Health IT Usability Myths

PubMed Central

Staggers, N.; Xiao, Y.; Chapman, L.

2013-01-01

Poor usability is a threat to patient safety and linked to productivity loss, workflow disruption, user frustration, sub-optimal product use and system de-installations. Although usability is receiving more attention nationally and internationally, myths about usability persist. This editorial debunks five common myths about usability (1) usability only concerns the look and feel of a product and is, therefore, only a minor concern, (2) usability is not measurable, (3) usability stifles innovation, (4) vendors are solely responsible for product usability, and (5) usability methods are not practical for use in healthcare. PMID:23874361
4-Drug Nerve Block versus Plain Local Anesthetic for Knee and Hip Arthroplasty Analgesia in Veterans

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-10-01

level and for a use found to be safe, or agricultural chemical or environmental contaminant at or below the level found to be safe, by the Food and...research period, all team efforts entailed the management of regulatory requirements. These included: (i) Food and Drug Administration Investigational...events and severe adverse events will be reported to the IRBs (VA and Pitt), DSMB (Pitt), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA, related to this
Surface microstructure of dental implants before and after insertion: an in vitro study by means of scanning probe microscopy.

PubMed

Salerno, Marco; Itri, Angelo; Frezzato, Marco; Rebaudi, Alberto

2015-06-01

The surface microstructure of dental implants affects osseointegration, which makes their accurate topographic characterization important. We defined a procedure for evaluation of implant topography before (pre-) and after (post-) in vitro implantation test in bovine bone. The apical morphology of ten implants was analyzed in pre- and post-conditions using atomic force microscopy or 3D profilometry. We extracted four topographical parameters (two amplitude, 1 spatial, and 1 hybrid) and assessed the differences by analysis of variance. The implant with coating (Spline Twist MP-1 HA) was damaged. The two implants with highest pre-amplitude parameters (Pitt Easy VTPS, TLR3815) maintained their character on testing. Pitt Easy PURETEX and OT-F1 were the only nondamaged implants whose amplitude parameters increased. The surface area underwent minor changes even when the texture changed (Tri-Vent, Pitt Easy PURETEX, Exp #1). The implants that ranked the lowest in all parameters before implantation were DT4013TI, Tri-Vent, OT-F1, and Exp #2. On testing, DT4013TI showed the highest decrease in values, whereas Tri-Vent showed the highest increase in surface area. All the experimental implants showed similar topographic properties both pre- and post-test. For most implants, no major changes occurred in surface topography on implantation. The procedure applied seems promising to evaluate the degradation of implant surface on insertion.
Evolution and Impartiality*

PubMed Central

Kahane, Guy

2014-01-01

Lazari-Radek and Singer argue that evolutionary considerations can resolve Sidgwick’s dualism of practical reason, because such considerations debunk moral views that give weight to self-interested or partial considerations, but cannot threaten the principle Universal Benevolence. I argue that even if we grant these claims, this appeal to evolution is ultimately self-defeating. Lazari-Radek and Singer face a dilemma. Either their evolutionary argument against partial morality succeeds, but then we need to also give up our conviction that suffering is bad; or there is a way to defend this conviction, but then their argument against partiality fails. Utilitarians, I suggest, should resist the temptation to appeal to evolutionary debunking arguments. PMID:24711673
3Dmol.js: molecular visualization with WebGL.

PubMed

Rego, Nicholas; Koes, David

2015-04-15

3Dmol.js is a modern, object-oriented JavaScript library that uses the latest web technologies to provide interactive, hardware-accelerated three-dimensional representations of molecular data without the need to install browser plugins or Java. 3Dmol.js provides a full featured API for developers as well as a straightforward declarative interface that lets users easily share and embed molecular data in websites. 3Dmol.js is distributed under the permissive BSD open source license. Source code and documentation can be found at http://3Dmol.csb.pitt.edu dkoes@pitt.edu. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press.
Debunking the Myths of Dyslexia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thorwarth, Christine

2014-01-01

Dyslexia is a specific learning disability, which affects reading in as many as one in five people. Many children go without proper interventions because of ineffective teaching strategies, and common myths associated with this disability. The purpose of this study was to test how deeply ingrained some myths might be, and decipher where educators…
Achieving Faculty Diversity. Debunking the Myths.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Daryl G.

This study examined the reality of the experience of the labor market for new college faculty, especially faculty of color, and identified common myths in the academic labor market. Recipients (n=298) of prestigious graduate fellowships who had received their Ph.D.s since 1989 participated in telephone interviews about their job market…

Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment Limits Chronic Constipation in a Child with Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome.

PubMed

Aquino, Alessandro; Perini, Mattia; Cosmai, Silvia; Zanon, Silvia; Pisa, Viviana; Castagna, Carmine; Uberti, Stefano

2017-01-01

Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome (PTHS) is a rare genetic disorder caused by insufficient expression of the TCF4 gene. Children with PTHS typically present with gastrointestinal disorders and early severe chronic constipation is frequently found (75%). Here we describe the case of a PTHS male 10-year-old patient with chronic constipation in whom Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) resulted in improved bowel functions, as assessed by the diary, the QPGS-Form A Section C questionnaire, and the Paediatric Bristol Stool Form Scale. The authors suggested that OMT may be a valid tool to improve the defecation frequency and reduce enema administration in PTHS patients.
Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment Limits Chronic Constipation in a Child with Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome

PubMed Central

Perini, Mattia; Pisa, Viviana

2017-01-01

Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome (PTHS) is a rare genetic disorder caused by insufficient expression of the TCF4 gene. Children with PTHS typically present with gastrointestinal disorders and early severe chronic constipation is frequently found (75%). Here we describe the case of a PTHS male 10-year-old patient with chronic constipation in whom Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) resulted in improved bowel functions, as assessed by the diary, the QPGS-Form A Section C questionnaire, and the Paediatric Bristol Stool Form Scale. The authors suggested that OMT may be a valid tool to improve the defecation frequency and reduce enema administration in PTHS patients. PMID:28251008
Evol and ProDy for bridging protein sequence evolution and structural dynamics

PubMed Central

Mao, Wenzhi; Liu, Ying; Chennubhotla, Chakra; Lezon, Timothy R.; Bahar, Ivet

2014-01-01

Correlations between sequence evolution and structural dynamics are of utmost importance in understanding the molecular mechanisms of function and their evolution. We have integrated Evol, a new package for fast and efficient comparative analysis of evolutionary patterns and conformational dynamics, into ProDy, a computational toolbox designed for inferring protein dynamics from experimental and theoretical data. Using information-theoretic approaches, Evol coanalyzes conservation and coevolution profiles extracted from multiple sequence alignments of protein families with their inferred dynamics. Availability and implementation: ProDy and Evol are open-source and freely available under MIT License from http://prody.csb.pitt.edu/. Contact: bahar@pitt.edu PMID:24849577
Debunking the Librarian "Gene": Designing Online Information Literacy Instruction for Incoming Library Science Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lamb, Annette

2017-01-01

Information workers are not born information fluent. Like other students, incoming library science students enter graduate programs with a broad range of information and technology skills. The aim of this study was to determine if systematically designed online tutorials would be effective in preparing university students with information literacy…
Debunking Anti-Intellectualism: An Examination of African American College Students' Intellectual Self-Concepts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cole, Darnell

2011-01-01

Framed within the debate on African American "anti-intellectualism," this study examined a longitudinal sample of 460 African American students' intellectual self-concept and college grades (GPA) through regression analyses resulting from their college experiences. The findings showed that the college environment had a modest influence on African…
Superintelligence, Humans, and War

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-04-13

Recent studies of the human mind debunk the myth that humans only use 10-20 percent of the human mind. A healthy human mind uses up to 90 percent...way. They will eat what is in front of them to satiate their appetite not knowing if there is anymore food for the future. Humans can predict
Socioeconomic and behavioral correlates of body mass index in black adults: the Pitt County Study.

PubMed Central

Croft, J B; Strogatz, D S; James, S A; Keenan, N L; Ammerman, A S; Malarcher, A M; Haines, P S

1992-01-01

BACKGROUND. Obesity is more prevalent among Black women than Black men, but there is little information on the correlates of obesity in Blacks. This study describes the relations of sociodemographic factors and health behaviors to body mass index in a southern, Black population. METHODS. In 1988, a community probability sample of 1784 Black adults, aged 25 to 50, was examined in Pitt County, NC. RESULTS. More women than men were at least 20% overweight (57% vs 36%). The relation of socioeconomic status (a composite of education and occupation) to age-adjusted body mass index level was inverse in women but not in men. Body mass index did not differ with either current energy intake or energy expenditure. Smokers and drinkers had lower age-adjusted levels than non-smokers and abstainers. CONCLUSIONS. Since the excess body mass index levels associated with low socioeconomic status in women could not be explained after controlling for adverse health behaviors, further epidemiologic study of risk factors for obesity in Black women is recommended. PMID:1585962
Combining mutualistic yeast and pathogenic virus - a novel method for control for codling moth control

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Studies evaluated the lethal effectiveness of combining yeasts isolated from larvae of codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) with the codling moth granulosis virus (CpGV). Apples were treated with CpGV and three yeast species, including Metschnikowia pulcherrima Pitt and Miller, Cryptococcus tephrensis...
Using the Socioscientific Context of Climate Change to Teach Chemical Content and the Nature of Science

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Flener-Lovitt, Charity

2014-01-01

A thematic course called "Climate Change: Chemistry and Controversy" was developed for upper-level non-STEM students. This course used the socioscientific context of climate change to teach chemical principles and the nature of science. Students used principles of agnotology (direct study of misinformation) to debunk climate change…
Teaching the Heroes of American History: Debunking the Myths, Keeping the Heroes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dunn, Larry

1991-01-01

Examines the role of the hero in U.S. culture and how the social studies have treated heroes. Urges teachers to explore the ethical dimensions of superheroes. Indicates how Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King, Jr., for example, need to be understood in their own cultural context and in the fullness of their humanity. (CH)
Particle Physics at the University of Pittsburgh Summary Report for Proposal Period FY'09-11

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

Boudreau, Joe; Dytman, Steven; Mueller, James

Presented is the final summary report for grant DOE-FG02-91ER40646. The HEP group at the University consists of three tasks: B,D and L. Task B supports Pitt's CDF group at the energy frontier which includes Joe Boudreau and Paul Shepard. Work of the group includes Hao Song's thesis on the measurement of the B_c lifetime using exclusive J/psi+pion decays, and an update of the previous B_c semi-leptonic analyses under the supervision of Paul Shepard. Task D supports Pitt's neutrino group at the intensity frontier which includes PIs Dytman, Naples and Paolone. The group also includes postdoctoral research associate Danko, and thesismore » students Isvan (MINOS), Eberly (Minerva ), Ren (Minerva )and Hansen (T2K). This report summarizes their progress on ongoing experiments which are designed to make significant contributions to a detailed understanding of the neutrino mixing matrix. Task L supports Pitt's ATLAS group at the energy frontier and includes investigators Vladimir Savinov, James Mueller and Joe Boudreau. This group contributed both to hardware (calorimeter electronics, Savinov) and to software (Simulation, Detector Description, and Visualization: Boudreau and Mueller; MC generators: Savinov) and a summary of their progress is presented.« less
Beyond the Traditional Retention Data: A Qualitative Study of the Social Benefits of Living Learning Communities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arensdorf, Jill; Naylor-Tincknell, Janett

2016-01-01

Living Learning Communities (LLCs) have been shown to increase student retention rates and academic performance (Hotchkiss, Moore, & Pitts, 2006), as well as increase overall satisfaction with college (Baker & Pomerantz, 2000) and increase cognitive skills (Walker, 2003). These benefits have been demonstrated in a variety of institutions…
STABLE ISOTOPE STUDIES ON THE USE OF MARINE-DERIVED NUTRIENTS BY COHO SALMON JUVENILES IN AN OREGON COAST RANGE STREAM

EPA Science Inventory

We are using stable isotopes (13C, 15N, 34S) to study the use of salmon carcasses, eggs and fry by over-wintering coho juveniles in two streams of the Oregon Coast Range. Our work is paired with detailed data gathering on stream habitat condition, temperature, chemistry and PIT-t...
Military Review: The Professional Journal of the U.S. Army, September-October 2008

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-10-01

Lovell, “Pittsburgh Innovates: Pitt concussion study shows fMRI and ImPACT improves safe-to-play decisions,” University of Pittsburgh Medical Center...Director, School of Advanced Military Studies Gregory Fontenot, Director, University of Foreign Military and Cultural Studies Lester W. Grau Foreign...Military Studies Office COL Eric Nelson, Director, Battle Command Integration Directorate William G. Robertson Director, Combat Studies Institute COL
Successful Massive Open Online Climate Course on Climate Science and Psychology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nuccitelli, D. A.; Cook, J.

2015-12-01

In 2015, the University of Queensland and edX launched a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), 'Making Sense of Climate Science Denial.' The MOOC debunked approximately 50 common climate myths using elements of both physical science and psychology. Students learned how to recognise the social and psychological drivers of climate science denial, how to better understand climate change, how to identify the techniques and fallacies that climate myths employ to distort climate science, and how to effectively debunk climate misinformation. Contributors to the website Skeptical Science delivered the lectures, which were reinforced via interviews with climate science and psychology experts. Over 15,000 students from 167 countries enrolled in the course, and student feedback was overwhelmingly positive. This MOOC provides a model for effective climate science education.
An algebraic interpretation of PSP composition.

PubMed

Vaucher, G

1998-01-01

The introduction of time in artificial neurons is a delicate problem on which many groups are working. Our approach combines some properties of biological models and the algebraic properties of McCulloch and Pitts artificial neuron (AN) (McCulloch and Pitts, 1943) to produce a new model which links both characteristics. In this extended artificial neuron, postsynaptic potentials (PSPs) are considered as numerical elements, having two degrees of freedom, on which the neuron computes operations. Modelled in this manner, a group of neurons can be seen as a computer with an asynchronous architecture. To formalize the functioning of this computer, we propose an algebra of impulses. This approach might also be interesting in the modelling of the passive electrical properties in some biological neurons.
CINRG: Infrastructure for Clinical Trials in Duchenne Dystrophy

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-09-01

Cardiac Outcome Measures in Children with Muscular Dystrophy o Cardiac MRI Protocol: PITT0110 - Cardiac Magnetic Resonance: A Parallel Protocol...permitted during the study. Study drug. The study drug was PTX (Trental; Sanofi- Aventis U.S. LLC, Bridgewater, NJ) tablets , an FDA-approved pharmaceutical...that is available for oral administration as 400-mg oblong tablets . Both the study drug PTX and placebo were overencapsulated by Capsugel (Pfizer Inc
The Truth about Wolves.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mannesto, Jean

2002-01-01

Reports on a project by a reading teacher that combines reading and science while debunking the myth of the big, bad wolf. Related activities include making animal tracks, writing, and measurement activities. (DDR)
Sensitivity models and design protocol for partitioning tracer tests in alluvial aquifers

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

Jin, M.; Butler, G.W.; Jackson, R.E.

1997-11-01

Zones of dense, nonaqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) are difficult to characterize as to their volume, composition, and spatial distribution using conventional ground-water extraction and soil-sampling methods. Such incompletely characterized sites have negative consequences for those responsible for their remedial design, e.g., the uncertainties in the optimal placement of ground-water extraction wells and in the duration of remediation. However, the recent use of the partitioning interwell tracer test (PITT) to characterize DNAPL zones at sites in New Mexico [unsaturated alluvium] and in Ohio, Texas, and Utah [saturated alluvium] demonstrates that the volume and spatial distribution of residual DNAPL can be determinedmore » with accuracy. The PITT involves injection of a suite of tracers which reversibly partition to different degrees between the DNAPL and the ground water or soil air resulting in the chromatographic separation of the tracer signals observed at the extraction well(s). The design of a PITT requires careful consideration of the hydrostratigraphic, hydraulic, and certain geochemical properties of the alluvium being tested. A three-dimensional, numerical model of a heterogeneous alluvial aquifer containing DNAPL has been developed for use with the UTCHEM simulator to demonstrate partitioning tracer testing and to address questions that are frequently raised in its application. The simulations include (1) the estimation of DNAPL volume for the simple case where only residual DNAPL is present in heterogeneous alluvium, (2) sensitivity studies to demonstrate the effect of increasingly low residual DNAPL saturation on the tracer signal, and (3) the effect of free-phase DNAPL on the estimation of the volume of DNAPL present. Furthermore, the potential interference of sedimentary organic carbon as a DNAPL surrogate on the tracer signal is considered and shown to be readily resolved by the careful choice of tracers.« less
Does High-Level Intellectual Performance Depend on Practice Alone? Debunking the Polgar Sisters Case

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Howard, Robert W.

2011-01-01

The famous Polgar sisters started chess very young, undertook extensive study, and two became grandmasters. This case often is cited as decisive evidence that practice alone is key in development of expertise, that innate talent is unimportant or non-existent, and that almost anyone can become a grandmaster. But on close examination these claims…

Effects of Grading Leniency and Low Workload on Students' Evaluations of Teaching: Popular Myth, Bias, Validity, or Innocent Bystanders?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marsh, Herbert W.; Roche, Lawrence A.

2000-01-01

Discusses two studies that debunk the popular myths that student evaluations of teaching (SETs) are substantially biased by low workload and grading leniency. Results imply teaching effects were related to SETs. Contrary to predictions workload, expected grades, and their relations to SETs were stable over 12 years. (Author/MKA)
Debunking the Myth-tery: How the New AASL Standards Unplugged Mythology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hubbard, Erin E.

2009-01-01

Though few students realize it, many things in today's culture exist because of mythology. This article argues that library media specialists and teachers can teach mythology but it must be applied to the 21st century and shown its relevance in today's world. The article demonstrates that mythology studies are alive and well when the new AASL…
Common pitfalls in statistical analysis: “P” values, statistical significance and confidence intervals

PubMed Central

Ranganathan, Priya; Pramesh, C. S.; Buyse, Marc

2015-01-01

In the second part of a series on pitfalls in statistical analysis, we look at various ways in which a statistically significant study result can be expressed. We debunk some of the myths regarding the ‘P’ value, explain the importance of ‘confidence intervals’ and clarify the importance of including both values in a paper PMID:25878958
Life-course socioeconomic position and hypertension in African American men: the Pitt County Study.

PubMed

James, Sherman A; Van Hoewyk, John; Belli, Robert F; Strogatz, David S; Williams, David R; Raghunathan, Trevillore E

2006-05-01

We investigated the odds of hypertension for Black men in relationship to their socioeconomic position (SEP) in both childhood and adulthood. On the basis of their parents' occupation, we classified 379 men in the Pitt County (North Carolina) Study into low and high childhood SEP. The men's own education, occupation, employment status, and home ownership status were used to classify them into low and high adulthood SEP. Four life-course SEP categories resulted: low childhood/low adulthood, low childhood/high adulthood, high childhood/low adulthood, and high childhood/high adulthood. Low childhood SEP was associated with a 60% greater odds of hypertension, and low adulthood SEP was associated with a 2-fold greater odds of hypertension. Compared with men of high SEP in both childhood and adulthood, the odds of hypertension were 7 times greater for low/low SEP men, 4 times greater for low/high SEP men, and 6 times greater for high/low SEP men. Greater access to material resources in both childhood and adulthood was protective against premature hypertension in this cohort of Black men. Though some parameter estimates were imprecise, study findings are consistent with both pathway and cumulative burden models of hypertension.
Intertextuality in Read-Alouds of Integrated Science-Literacy Units in Urban Primary Classrooms: Opportunities for the Development of Thought and Language

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Varelas, Maria; Pappas, Christine C.

2006-01-01

The nature and evolution of intertextuality was studied in 2 urban primary-grade classrooms, focusing on read-alouds of an integrated science-literacy unit. The study provides evidence that both debunks deficit theories for urban children by highlighting funds of knowledge that these children bring to the classroom and the sense they make of them…
Beyond Babies and Orgasm.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weg, Ruth B.

1982-01-01

Debunks the mythology that the older woman is sexually neuter. Describes the older woman's physical and emotional characteristics and needs and encourages the recognition of qualities of affection, sensuality, and sexuality in later life. (SK)
Psychosocial stress and 13-year BMI change among blacks: the Pitt County Study.

PubMed

Fowler-Brown, Angela G; Bennett, Gary G; Goodman, Melody S; Wee, Christina C; Corbie-Smith, Giselle M; James, Sherman A

2009-11-01

Adverse psychosocial exposures may partially drive the high rates of obesity among blacks. The objective of this study was to prospectively examine the relationship between perceived psychosocial stress and percent change in BMI among adult black men and women. We used data from 756 women and 416 men who were participants in the Pitt County Study, a community-based, prospective cohort study of blacks in eastern North Carolina. Participants were aged 25-50 years of age on entry into the study in 1988 and follow-up was obtained in 2001. Using multivariable linear regression, we calculated the adjusted mean percentage change in BMI over the follow-up period for each tertile of baseline measures of the Perceived Stress Scale (low, medium, and high), adjusted for potential confounders. For black women, higher levels of psychosocial stress at baseline predicted higher adjusted percentage increase in BMI over the 13-year follow-up: low stress 12.0% (95% CI 9.6-14.4), medium stress 16.3% (95% CI 13.7-18.9), and high stress 15.5% (95% CI 13.1-17.8). For black men, perceived stress was not associated with percent BMI change. These data suggest that interventions targeting obesity in black women should consider the potential impact of emotional stress on weight change.
Neuroscience and Ethics.

PubMed

Liao, S Matthew

2017-03-01

A number of people believe that results from neuroscience have the potential to settle seemingly intractable debates concerning the nature, practice, and reliability of moral judgments. In particular, Joshua Greene has argued that evidence from neuroscience can be used to advance the long-standing debate between consequentialism and deontology. This paper first argues that charitably interpreted, Greene's neuroscientific evidence can contribute to substantive ethical discussions by being part of an epistemic debunking argument. It then argues that taken as an epistemic debunking argument, Greene's argument falls short in undermining deontological judgments. Lastly, it proposes that accepting Greene's methodology at face value, neuroimaging results may in fact call into question the reliability of consequentialist judgments. The upshot is that Greene's empirical results do not undermine deontology and that Greene's project points toward a way by which empirical evidence such as neuroscientific evidence can play a role in normative debates.
Implications of Debunking the “Critical Positivity Ratio” for Humanistic Psychology: Introduction to Special Issue

PubMed Central

Friedman, Harris L.

2018-01-01

An extraordinary claim was made by one of the leading researchers within positive psychology, namely, there is a universal–invariant ratio between positive to negative emotions that serves as a unique tipping point between flourishing and languishing in individuals, marriages, organizations, and other human systems across all cultures and times. Known as the “critical positivity ratio,” this finding was supposedly derived from the famous Lorenz equation in physics by using the mathematics of nonlinear dynamic systems, and was defined precisely as “2.9013.” This exact number was widely touted as a great discovery by many leaders of positive psychology, had tremendous impact in various applied areas of psychology, and, more broadly, and was extensively cited in both the scientific literature and in the global popular media. However, this finding has been demonstrated to be bogus. Since its advent as a relatively new subdiscipline, positive psychology has claimed superiority to its precursor, the subdiscipline of humanistic psychology, in terms of supposedly both using more rigorous science and avoiding popularizing nonsense. The debunking of the critical positivity ratio demonstrates that positive psychology did not live up to these claims, and this has important implications, which are discussed in terms of “romantic scientism” and “voodoo science.” In addition, articles in the special issue on the “Implications of Debunking the ‘Critical Positivity Ratio’ for Humanistic Psychology” are introduced, as they also delve into these concerns. PMID:29706664
Development, cognition, and behaviour in Pitt-Hopkins syndrome.

PubMed

Van Balkom, Ingrid D C; Vuijk, Pieter Jelle; Franssens, Marijke; Hoek, Hans W; Hennekam, Raoul C M

2012-10-01

The aim of the study was to collect detailed data on behavioural, adaptive, and psychological functioning in 10 individuals with Pitt-Hopkins syndrome (PTHS), with specific attention to manifestations of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The participants (four females, six males), residing in the Netherlands and Belgium, were ascertained through the Dutch national PTHS support group. Median age of participants was 10 years, the age range was between 32 and 289 months. They underwent psychiatric examinations and neuropsychological measurements using a comprehensive assessment battery. Additionally, parental information was gathered through standardized interviews and questionnaires. Findings were compared with those from the literature. All participants showed profound intellectual disability, amiable demeanour with minimal maladaptive behaviours, severe impairments of communication and language, and intense, frequent motor stereotypies. Impairments in all participants were beyond what would be expected for cognitive abilities, fitting a classification of ASD. Patients with PTHS are characterized not only by specific physical and genetic manifestations but also by specific behavioural and cognitive characteristics. Studying behaviour and cognition may improve diagnosis and prognosis, allows recognition of comorbidities, and contributes to adequate counselling of families. © The Authors. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology © 2012 Mac Keith Press.
Quiet Supersonic Technology (QueSST)

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-03-02

Mechanical technician Dan Pitts prepares a scale model of Lockheed Martin's Quiet Supersonic Technology (QueSST) X-plane preliminary design for its first high-speed wind tunnel tests at NASA's Glenn Research Center.
Life-Course Socioeconomic Position and Hypertension in African American Men: The Pitt County Study

PubMed Central

James, Sherman A.; Van Hoewyk, John; Belli, Robert F.; Strogatz, David S.; Williams, David R.; Raghunathan, Trevillore E.

2006-01-01

Objectives. We investigated the odds of hypertension for Black men in relationship to their socioeconomic position (SEP) in both childhood and adulthood. Methods. On the basis of their parents’ occupation, we classified 379 men in the Pitt County (North Carolina) Study into low and high childhood SEP. The men’s own education, occupation, employment status, and home ownership status were used to classify them into low and high adulthood SEP. Four life-course SEP categories resulted: low childhood/low adulthood, low childhood/high adulthood, high childhood/low adulthood, and high childhood/high adulthood. Results. Low childhood SEP was associated with a 60% greater odds of hypertension, and low adulthood SEP was associated with a 2-fold greater odds of hypertension. Compared with men of high SEP in both childhood and adulthood, the odds of hypertension were 7 times greater for low/low SEP men, 4 times greater for low/high SEP men, and 6 times greater for high/low SEP men. Conclusions. Greater access to material resources in both childhood and adulthood was protective against premature hypertension in this cohort of Black men. Though some parameter estimates were imprecise, study findings are consistent with both pathway and cumulative burden models of hypertension. PMID:16571689
Forgotten Memories of a Social Justice Education: Difficult Knowledge and the Impossibilities of School and Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sonu, Debbie

2016-01-01

This paper is about memory, the elusive process of remembering and of an encounter between a researcher and a participant who after five years reunited to remember. The object under study is a high school social justice curriculum with a central focus on the development of social action projects. Grounded in Pitt and Britzman's work on difficult…
From the Bronx to Bengifunda (and Other Lines of Flight): Deterritorializing Purposes and Methods in Science Education Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gough, Noel

2011-01-01

In this essay I explore a number of questions about purposes and methods in science education research prompted by my reading of Wesley Pitts' ethnographic study of interactions among four students and their teacher in a chemistry classroom in the Bronx, New York City. I commence three "lines of flight" (small acts of Deleuzo-Guattarian…
Pittsburgh-Tuskegee Prostate Training Program

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-07-01

Student trainees and mentors Student Project Title Pitt Mentor Datiri, Yeipyeng Exploring the Role of PSMA and Folate in Prostate Cancer and the...Novel Localization of PSMA to the Mitochondria Denise O’Keefe Myers, Kimberly ERK MAPK Activity Coincides With Prostate Cancer Cell PC3 Mesenchymal...Membrane Antigen ( Psma ) and Folate Levels on Gene Expression and Proliferation in Prostatic Cancer Cells Denise O’Keefe Fields, Kristen A Study of the
Precision Targeting: Filling the Gap

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-05-20

using drones were often sensitive and controversial, they were used relentlessly in many key provinces (like Kandahar and Helmand) and because they...War. Westport, CT: Praeger Security International, 2006. Curry , Peter. “Small Wars are Local: Debunking Current Assumptions about Countering Small
Unlocking Creativity.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Antonietti, Alessandro

1997-01-01

Debunks five misconceptions about improving creative thinking. To encourage students to think creatively, instructional techniques should reflect an integrated set of mental skills, use materials mimicking real-life situations, consider students' beliefs and tendencies toward creative thinking, show metacognitive sensibility, and foster a creative…
Propensity score-matched analysis comparing the therapeutic efficacies of cefazolin and extended-spectrum cephalosporins as appropriate empirical therapy in adults with community-onset Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp. and Proteus mirabilis bacteraemia.

PubMed

Hsieh, Chih-Chia; Lee, Chung-Hsun; Hong, Ming-Yuan; Hung, Yuan-Pin; Lee, Nan-Yao; Ko, Wen-Chien; Lee, Ching-Chi

2016-12-01

In this study, the therapeutic efficacy of cefazolin was compared with that of extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESCs) (cefotaxime, ceftriaxone and ceftazidime) as appropriate empirical therapy in adults with community-onset monomicrobial bacteraemia caused by Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp. or Proteus mirabilis (EKP). Compared with cefazolin-treated patients (n = 135), significantly higher proportions of patients in the ESC treatment group (n = 456) had critical illness at bacteraemia onset (Pitt bacteraemia score ≥4) and fatal co-morbidities (McCabe classification). Of the 591 patients, 121 from each group were matched using propensity score matching (PSM) based on the following independent predictors of 28-day mortality: fatal co-morbidities (McCabe classification); Pitt bacteraemia score ≥4 at bacteraemia onset; initial syndrome of septic shock; and bacteraemia due to pneumonia. After appropriate PSM, no significant differences were observed in the early clinical failure rate (10.7% vs. 7.4%; P = 0.37), the proportion of critical illness (Pitt bacteraemia score ≥4) (0% vs. 0%; P = 1.00) and defervescence (52.6% vs. 42.6%; P = 0.13) on Day 3 between the cefazolin and ESC treatment groups. Similarly, no significant differences were observed in the mean of time to defervescence (4.1 days vs. 4.9 days; P = 0.15), late clinical failure rate (18.2% vs. 10.7%; P = 0.10) and 28-day crude mortality rate (0.8% vs. 3.3%; P = 0.37) between the two groups. These data suggest that the efficacy of cefazolin is similar to that of ESCs when used as appropriate empirical antimicrobial treatment for community-onset EKP bacteraemia. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. and International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.
77 FR 74273 - Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-13

... (SD) Terry L. Anderson (PA) Sammy J. Barada (NE) Timothy Bradford (TN) Cody W. Cook (OK) Marvin R...) Thomas L. Oglesby (GA) Garrick Pitts (AR) Jonathan C. Rollings (IA) Preston S. Salisbury (MT) Victor M...
Influence of dynamic inflow on the helicopter vertical response

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chen, Robert T. N.; Hindson, William S.

1986-01-01

A study was conducted to investigate the effects of dynamic inflow on rotor-blade flapping and vertical motion of the helicopter in hover. Linearized versions of two dynamic inflow models, one developed by Carpenter and Fridovich and the other by Pitt and Peters, were incorporated in simplified rotor-body models and were compared for variations in thrust coefficient and the blade Lock number. In addition, a comparison was made between the results of the linear analysis, and the transient and frequency responses measured in flight on the CH-47B variable-stability helicopter. Results indicate that the correlations are good, considering the simplified model used. The linear analysis also shows that dynamic inflow plays a key role in destabilizing the flapping mode. The destabilized flapping mode, along with the inflow mode that the dynamic inflow introduces, results in a large initial overshoot in the vertical acceleration response to an abrupt input in the collective pitch. This overshoot becomes more pronounced as either the thrust coefficient or the blade Lock number is reduced. Compared with Carpenter's inflow model, Pitt's model tends to produce more oscillatory responses because of the less stable flapping mode predicted by it.

Teaching Hypothesis Testing by Debunking a Demonstration of Telepathy.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bates, John A.

1991-01-01

Discusses a lesson designed to demonstrate hypothesis testing to introductory college psychology students. Explains that a psychology instructor demonstrated apparent psychic abilities to students. Reports that students attempted to explain the instructor's demonstrations through hypothesis testing and revision. Provides instructions on performing…
Instructing the Online Catalog User.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miller, William

1986-01-01

This essay offers suggestions to make online public access catalogs (OPACs) less idiosyncratic and more usable. Discussion covers qualitative difference between online catalog and predecessors, challenge of debunking assumptions, skills for success, maintaining an instructional perspective, catalog development for the people by the people, and the…
The Ice Nucleation Activity of Surface Modified Soot

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Häusler, Thomas; Witek, Lorenz; Felgitsch, Laura; Hitzenberger, Regina; Grothe, Hinrich

2017-04-01

The ice nucleation efficiency of many important atmospheric particles remains poorly understood. Since soot is ubiquitous in the Earth's troposphere, they might have the potential to significantly impact the Earth's climate (Finlayson-Pitts and Pitts, 2000; Seinfeld and Pandis, 1998). Here we present the ice nucleation activity (INA) in immersion freezing mode of different types of soot. Therefor a CAST (combustion aerosol standard) generator was used to produce different kinds of soot samples. The CAST generator combusts a propane-air-mixture and deposits thereby produced soot on a polyvinyl fluoride filter. By varying the propane to air ratio, the amount of organic portion of the soot can be varied from black carbon (BC) with no organic content to brown carbon (BrC) with high organic content. To investigate the impact of functional sites of ice nuclei (IN), the soot samples were exposed to NO2 gas for a certain amount of time (30 to 360 minutes) to chemically modify the surface. Immersion freezing experiments were carried out in a unique reaction gadget. In this device a water-in-oil suspension (with the soot suspended in the aqueous phase) was cooled till the freezing point and was observed through a microscope (Pummer et al., 2012; Zolles et al., 2015) It was found that neither modified nor unmodified BC shows INA. On the contrary, unmodified BrC shows an INA at -32˚ C, which can be increased up to -20˚ C. The INA of BrC depends on the duration of NO2- exposure. To clarify the characteristics of the surface modifications, surface sensitive analysis like infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were carried out. Finlayson-Pitts, B. J. and Pitts, J. N. J.: Chemistry of the Upper and Lower Atmosphere, Elsevier, New York, 2000. Pummer, B. G., Bauer, H., Bernardi, J., Bleicher, S., and Grothe, H.: Suspendable macromolecules are responsible for ice nucleation activity of birch and conifer pollen, Atmos Chem Phys, 12, 2541-2550, 2012. Seinfeld, J. H. and Pandis, S. N.: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics: From Air Pollution to Climate Change, Wiley-Interscience, N. J., 1998. Zolles, T., Burkart, J., Hausler, T., Pummer, B., Hitzenberger, R., and Grothe, H.: Identification of Ice Nucleation Active Sites on Feldspar Dust Particles, Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 119, 2692-2700, 2015.
Women Ph.D.'s Careers lag men's

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Numerous studies of male and female Ph.D.'s have found wide differences in academic rank and pay. Now a study by a National Research Council committee debunks the traditional reasons given to explain the disparity. This study, which analyzed matched triads of Ph.D.'s, concluded that neither the perceived greater restraints on the career mobility of women nor the greater likelihood that women will interrupt their careers for child rearing explains adequately the differences between male and female Ph.D.'s. Discrimination appears to be the most likely root.
Debunking the Fire Sprinkler Myth.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

O'Connell, Thomas

1996-01-01

Sprinklers can protect school buildings, save lives, and actually reduce construction costs. Sprinkler-system costs can be easily offset by insurance savings, as well as by specific alternatives or design options permitted by nationally recognized building codes in view of the superior protection that sprinklers provide. (MLF)
Objective and Social Factors as Determinants of Task Perceptions and Responses: An Integrative Framework and Empirical Investigation.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-11-01

1976p Sims & Szilagyi , 1976), and field experiments (of., Orpen, 1979). Most studies have found results generally supportive of the theory, although...179-198. . .. . . . . 34 Sims, Henry P., Jr., and Andrew D. Szilagyi 1976 "Job characteristic relationshipsi Individual and structural moderators...Maryland College Park, MD 20742 Dr. H. Wallace Sinaiko Program Director, Manpower Research and Advisory Services Smithsonian Institution 801 N. Pitt
Retrospective Study: Sleep, Mental Disorders, and TBI in Deployed Military Members

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-12-06

177(11), 1254-1260. Elnitsky, C. A., Chapman, P. L., Thurman, R. M., Pitts, B. L., Figley, C., & Unwin, B. (2013). Gender differences in combat... Gender differences in depression and PTSD symptoms following combat exposure. Depression and Anxiety, 27(11), 1027-1033. Macera, C. A., Aralis, H...MCAS Telephone 252-466-0500 Mobile Telephone 267-243-0801 E-mail Address Pamela.wall@med.navy.mil PI Home Contact Information Address 112
Phylogeny and nomenclature of the genus Talaromyces and taxa accommodated in Penicillium subgenus Biverticillium

PubMed Central

Samson, R.A.; Yilmaz, N.; Houbraken, J.; Spierenburg, H.; Seifert, K.A.; Peterson, S.W.; Varga, J.; Frisvad, J.C.

2011-01-01

The taxonomic history of anamorphic species attributed to Penicillium subgenus Biverticillium is reviewed, along with evidence supporting their relationship with teleomorphic species classified in Talaromyces. To supplement previous conclusions based on ITS, SSU and/or LSU sequencing that Talaromyces and subgenus Biverticillium comprise a monophyletic group that is distinct from Penicillium at the generic level, the phylogenetic relationships of these two groups with other genera of Trichocomaceae was further studied by sequencing a part of the RPB1 (RNA polymerase II largest subunit) gene. Talaromyces species and most species of Penicillium subgenus Biverticillium sensu Pitt reside in a monophyletic clade distant from species of other subgenera of Penicillium. For detailed phylogenetic analysis of species relationships, the ITS region (incl. 5.8S nrDNA) was sequenced for the available type strains and/or representative isolates of Talaromyces and related biverticillate anamorphic species. Extrolite profiles were compiled for all type strains and many supplementary cultures. All evidence supports our conclusions that Penicillium subgenus Biverticillium is distinct from other subgenera in Penicillium and should be taxonomically unified with the Talaromyces species that reside in the same clade. Following the concepts of nomenclatural priority and single name nomenclature, we transfer all accepted species of Penicillium subgenus Biverticillium to Talaromyces. A holomorphic generic diagnosis for the expanded concept of Talaromyces, including teleomorph and anamorph characters, is provided. A list of accepted Talaromyces names and newly combined Penicillium names is given. Species of biotechnological and medical importance, such as P. funiculosum and P. marneffei, are now combined in Talaromyces. Excluded species and taxa that need further taxonomic study are discussed. An appendix lists other generic names, usually considered synonyms of Penicillium sensu lato that were considered prior to our adoption of the name Talaromyces. Taxonomic novelties: Taxonomic novelties: New species – Talaromyces apiculatus Samson, Yilmaz & Frisvad, sp. nov. New combinations and names – Talaromyces aculeatus (Raper & Fennell) Samson, Yilmaz, Frisvad & Seifert, T. albobiverticillius (H.-M. Hsieh, Y.-M. Ju & S.-Y. Hsieh) Samson, Yilmaz, Frisvad & Seifert, T. allahabadensis (B.S. Mehrotra & D. Kumar) Samson, Yilmaz & Frisvad, T. aurantiacus (J.H. Mill., Giddens & A.A. Foster) Samson, Yilmaz, & Frisvad, T. boninensis (Yaguchi & Udagawa) Samson, Yilmaz, & Frisvad, T. brunneus (Udagawa) Samson, Yilmaz & Frisvad, T. calidicanius (J.L. Chen) Samson, Yilmaz & Frisvad, T. cecidicola (Seifert, Hoekstra & Frisvad) Samson, Yilmaz, Frisvad & Seifert, T. coalescens (Quintan.) Samson, Yilmaz & Frisvad, T. dendriticus (Pitt) Samson, Yilmaz, Frisvad & Seifert, T. diversus (Raper & Fennell) Samson, Yilmaz & Frisvad, T. duclauxii (Delacr.) Samson, Yilmaz, Frisvad & Seifert, T. echinosporus (Nehira) Samson, Yilmaz & Frisvad, comb. nov. T. erythromellis (A.D. Hocking) Samson, Yilmaz, Frisvad & Seifert, T. funiculosus (Thom) Samson, Yilmaz, Frisvad & Seifert, T. islandicus (Sopp) Samson, Yilmaz, Frisvad & Seifert, T. loliensis (Pitt) Samson, Yilmaz & Frisvad, T. marneffei (Segretain, Capponi & Sureau) Samson, Yilmaz, Frisvad & Seifert, T. minioluteus (Dierckx) Samson, Yilmaz, Frisvad & Seifert, T. palmae (Samson, Stolk & Frisvad) Samson, Yilmaz, Frisvad & Seifert, T. panamensis (Samson, Stolk & Frisvad) Samson, Yilmaz, Frisvad & Seifert, T. paucisporus (Yaguchi, Someya & Udagawa) Samson & Houbraken T. phialosporus (Udagawa) Samson, Yilmaz & Frisvad, T. piceus (Raper & Fennell) Samson, Yilmaz, Frisvad & Seifert, T. pinophilus (Hedgcock) Samson, Yilmaz, Frisvad & Seifert, T. pittii (Quintan.) Samson, Yilmaz, Frisvad & Seifert, T. primulinus (Pitt) Samson, Yilmaz & Frisvad, T. proteolyticus (Kamyschko) Samson, Yilmaz & Frisvad, T. pseudostromaticus (Hodges, G.M. Warner, Rogerson) Samson, Yilmaz, Frisvad & Seifert, T. purpurogenus (Stoll) Samson, Yilmaz, Frisvad & Seifert, T. rademirici (Quintan.) Samson, Yilmaz & Frisvad, T. radicus (A.D. Hocking & Whitelaw) Samson, Yilmaz, Frisvad & Seifert, T. ramulosus (Visagie & K. Jacobs) Samson, Yilmaz, Frisvad & Seifert, T. rubicundus (J.H. Mill., Giddens & A.A. Foster) Samson, Yilmaz, Frisvad & Seifert, T. rugulosus (Thom) Samson, Yilmaz, Frisvad & Seifert, T. sabulosus (Pitt & A.D. Hocking) Samson, Yilmaz & Frisvad, T. siamensis (Manoch & C. Ramírez) Samson, Yilmaz & Frisvad, T. sublevisporus (Yaguchi & Udagawa) Samson, Yilmaz & Frisvad, T. variabilis (Sopp) Samson, Yilmaz, Frisvad & Seifert, T. varians (G. Sm.) Samson, Yilmaz & Frisvad, T. verruculosus (Peyronel) Samson, Yilmaz, Frisvad & Seifert, T. viridulus Samson, Yilmaz & Frisvad. PMID:22308048
Becoming a Spider Scientist

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Patrick, Patricia; Getz, Angela

2008-01-01

In this integrated unit, third grade students become spider scientists as they observe spiders in their classroom to debunk some common misconceptions about these intimidating creatures. "Charlotte's Web" is used to capture students' interest. In addition to addressing philosophical topics such as growing-up, death, and friendship; E.B. White's…
Expanding the Universe of Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Parsons, Elizabeth

1996-01-01

Definitions of "education" and "rural" are debunked and expanded. The three major tasks of rural education are educating people to understand their own needs, the unavoidable changes that will transform rural Australia within their lifetimes, and the range of technologies that can enhance their well-being. Presents a strategy…
78 FR 45282 - Oklahoma Disaster Number OK-00071

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-26

... SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION [Disaster Declaration 13586 and 13587] Oklahoma Disaster Number OK-00071 AGENCY: U.S. Small Business Administration. ACTION: Amendment 5. SUMMARY: This is an amendment of... Federal Domestic Assistance Numbers 59002 and 59008) Cynthia G. Pitts, Acting Associate Administrator for...
Learning and evolution in bacterial taxis: an operational amplifier circuit modeling the computational dynamics of the prokaryotic 'two component system' protein network.

PubMed

Di Paola, Vieri; Marijuán, Pedro C; Lahoz-Beltra, Rafael

2004-01-01

Adaptive behavior in unicellular organisms (i.e., bacteria) depends on highly organized networks of proteins governing purposefully the myriad of molecular processes occurring within the cellular system. For instance, bacteria are able to explore the environment within which they develop by utilizing the motility of their flagellar system as well as a sophisticated biochemical navigation system that samples the environmental conditions surrounding the cell, searching for nutrients or moving away from toxic substances or dangerous physical conditions. In this paper we discuss how proteins of the intervening signal transduction network could be modeled as artificial neurons, simulating the dynamical aspects of the bacterial taxis. The model is based on the assumption that, in some important aspects, proteins can be considered as processing elements or McCulloch-Pitts artificial neurons that transfer and process information from the bacterium's membrane surface to the flagellar motor. This simulation of bacterial taxis has been carried out on a hardware realization of a McCulloch-Pitts artificial neuron using an operational amplifier. Based on the behavior of the operational amplifier we produce a model of the interaction between CheY and FliM, elements of the prokaryotic two component system controlling chemotaxis, as well as a simulation of learning and evolution processes in bacterial taxis. On the one side, our simulation results indicate that, computationally, these protein 'switches' are similar to McCulloch-Pitts artificial neurons, suggesting a bridge between evolution and learning in dynamical systems at cellular and molecular levels and the evolutive hardware approach. On the other side, important protein 'tactilizing' properties are not tapped by the model, and this suggests further complexity steps to explore in the approach to biological molecular computing.
On Deming and School Quality: A Conversation with Enid Brown.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brandt, Ron

1992-01-01

A Deming expert explains that his 14 principles are no recipe but must be combined with the theory of profound knowledge, which poses essential questions and recognizes the importance of human variation, intrinsic motivation, and external rewards. She also debunks grading, formal teacher evaluation, tracking, and decentralized management. (MLH)
Scientific Responses to Pseudoscience Related to Astronomy. An Annotated Bibliography.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fraknoi, Andrew

1990-01-01

Provided is a list of 92 references. Categories include general references, debunking astrology, identifying U.F.O.s, ancient astronauts, Velikovsky and worlds in collision, lunacy and the moon, Sirius B and the Dogon tribe, the face and pyramids on mars, the Tunguska Event, and the Bermuda Triangle. (CW)
In Search of...Brain-Based Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bruer, John T.

1999-01-01

Debunks two ideas appearing in brain-based education articles: the educational significance of brain laterality (right brain versus left brain) and claims for a sensitive period of brain development in young children. Brain-based education literature provides a popular but misleading mix of fact, misinterpretation, and fantasy. (47 references (MLH)
Debunking Myths: Reading Development in Children with Down Syndrome

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cologon, Kathy

2013-01-01

There is a considerable and growing body of research investigating reading development in children with Down syndrome. However, there appears to be a common gap between the research evidence and instructional practices. It has been argued that teachers have insufficient information to enable them to implement effective literacy instruction with…
Spontaneous Biliteracy: Examining Latino Students' Untapped Potential

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

de la Luz Reyes, Maria

2012-01-01

Cultural deficit theories have long been debunked, yet Spanish continues to be treated as an impediment to Latinos' school success. With over 5 million emerging bilinguals, of which approximately 75% are Spanish speakers, Latinos' biliteracy potential should be examined as a means to support their learning. This article focuses on the spontaneous…
Fatherless America: Confronting Our Most Urgent Social Problem.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blankenhorn, David

The United States is rapidly becoming a fatherless society. Fatherlessness is the leading cause of declining child well-being, providing the impetus behind social problems such as crime, domestic violence, and adolescent pregnancy. Challenging the basic assumptions of opinion leaders in academia and in the media, this book debunks the prevailing…
Debunking the "Digital Native": Beyond Digital Apartheid, towards Digital Democracy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, C.; Czerniewicz, L.

2010-01-01

This paper interrogates the currently pervasive discourse of the "net generation" finding the concept of the "digital native" especially problematic, both empirically and conceptually. We draw on a research project of South African higher education students' access to and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)…
Supporting the Information-Centric 2001 Quadrennial Defense Review: The Case for an Information Service

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-04-01

Northeast Asia and the Persian Gulf region, leaving those areas temporarily uncovered. Pitts added that “The simple truth is that America’s air ...quently grounded, again the Air Force was struck with the impact of its own narrow- minded policies . With no launch vehicle to launch the DSCS III...Realist Tradition in the United States Foreign Policy .” Lecture. Dept of International Security and Military Studies. Air Command and Staff College

Trans-species learning of cellular signaling systems with bimodal deep belief networks

PubMed Central

Chen, Lujia; Cai, Chunhui; Chen, Vicky; Lu, Xinghua

2015-01-01

Motivation: Model organisms play critical roles in biomedical research of human diseases and drug development. An imperative task is to translate information/knowledge acquired from model organisms to humans. In this study, we address a trans-species learning problem: predicting human cell responses to diverse stimuli, based on the responses of rat cells treated with the same stimuli. Results: We hypothesized that rat and human cells share a common signal-encoding mechanism but employ different proteins to transmit signals, and we developed a bimodal deep belief network and a semi-restricted bimodal deep belief network to represent the common encoding mechanism and perform trans-species learning. These ‘deep learning’ models include hierarchically organized latent variables capable of capturing the statistical structures in the observed proteomic data in a distributed fashion. The results show that the models significantly outperform two current state-of-the-art classification algorithms. Our study demonstrated the potential of using deep hierarchical models to simulate cellular signaling systems. Availability and implementation: The software is available at the following URL: http://pubreview.dbmi.pitt.edu/TransSpeciesDeepLearning/. The data are available through SBV IMPROVER website, https://www.sbvimprover.com/challenge-2/overview, upon publication of the report by the organizers. Contact: xinghua@pitt.edu Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. PMID:25995230
Trans-species learning of cellular signaling systems with bimodal deep belief networks.

PubMed

Chen, Lujia; Cai, Chunhui; Chen, Vicky; Lu, Xinghua

2015-09-15

Model organisms play critical roles in biomedical research of human diseases and drug development. An imperative task is to translate information/knowledge acquired from model organisms to humans. In this study, we address a trans-species learning problem: predicting human cell responses to diverse stimuli, based on the responses of rat cells treated with the same stimuli. We hypothesized that rat and human cells share a common signal-encoding mechanism but employ different proteins to transmit signals, and we developed a bimodal deep belief network and a semi-restricted bimodal deep belief network to represent the common encoding mechanism and perform trans-species learning. These 'deep learning' models include hierarchically organized latent variables capable of capturing the statistical structures in the observed proteomic data in a distributed fashion. The results show that the models significantly outperform two current state-of-the-art classification algorithms. Our study demonstrated the potential of using deep hierarchical models to simulate cellular signaling systems. The software is available at the following URL: http://pubreview.dbmi.pitt.edu/TransSpeciesDeepLearning/. The data are available through SBV IMPROVER website, https://www.sbvimprover.com/challenge-2/overview, upon publication of the report by the organizers. xinghua@pitt.edu Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.
Epidemiology and prognosis of candidaemia in elderly patients.

PubMed

Ramos-Martínez, Antonio; Vicente-López, Natalia; Sánchez-Romero, Isabel; Padilla, Belén; Merino-Amador, Paloma; Garnacho-Montero, José; Ruiz-Camps, Isabel; Montejo, Miguel; Salavert, Miguel; Mensa, José; Cuenca-Estrella, Manuel

2017-12-01

The aim of the study was to analyse the epidemiology and prognosis of candidaemia in elderly patients. We performed a comparison of clinical presentation of candidaemia according to age and a study of hazard factors within a prospective programme performed in 29 hospitals. One hundred and seventy-six episodes occurred in elderly patients (>75 years), 227 episodes in middle-aged patients (61-75 years) and 232 episodes in younger patients (16-60 years). Central venous catheter, parenteral nutrition, neutropenia, immunosuppressive therapy and candidaemia caused by Candida parapsilosis were less frequent in elderly patients. These patients received inadequate antifungal therapy (57.3%) more frequently than middle-aged and younger patients (40.5% P < .001). Mortality during the first week (20%) and 30 days (42%) was higher in elderly patients. The variables independently associated with mortality in elderly patients during the first 7 days were acute renal failure (OR: 2.64), Pitt score (OR: 1.57) and appropriate antifungal therapy (OR: 0.132). Primary candidaemia (OR: 2.93), acute renal failure (OR: 3.68), Pitt score (OR: 1.38), appropriate antifungal therapy (OR: 0.3) and early removal of the central catheter (OR: 0.47) were independently associated with 30-day mortality.In conclussion, inadequate antifungal treatment is frequently prescribed to elderly patients with candidaemia and is related with early and late mortality. © 2017 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome: A Review of Current Literature, Clinical Approach, and 23-Patient Case Series.

PubMed

Goodspeed, Kimberly; Newsom, Cassandra; Morris, Mary Ann; Powell, Craig; Evans, Patricia; Golla, Sailaja

2018-03-01

Pitt-Hopkins syndrome (PTHS) is a rare, genetic disorder caused by a molecular variant of TCF4 which is involved in embryologic neuronal differentiation. PTHS is characterized by syndromic facies, psychomotor delay, and intellectual disability. Other associated features include early-onset myopia, seizures, constipation, and hyperventilation-apneic spells. Many also meet criteria for autism spectrum disorder. Here the authors present a series of 23 PTHS patients with molecularly confirmed TCF4 variants and describe 3 unique individuals. The first carries a small deletion but does not exhibit the typical facial features nor the typical pattern of developmental delay. The second exhibits typical facial features, but has attained more advanced motor and verbal skills than other reported cases to date. The third displays typical features of PTHS, however inherited a large chromosomal duplication involving TCF4 from his unaffected father with somatic mosaicism. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first chromosomal duplication case reported to date.
Debunking the recurring myth of a magic wavelength for free-space optics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korevaar, Eric J.; Kim, Isaac I.; McArthur, Bruce

2002-12-01

Free-Space Optics (FSO) is a proven, reliable technology for last mile telecommunications applications, used worldwide for both enterprise network building-to-building connections and for wireless access to more traditional land line communications networks. In most mid-latitude coastal cities, link availability at distances above a few hundred meters is primarily affected by fog and low clouds. At longer distances, heavy rain and snow can also affect the link. The most mature technology used in FSO equipment relies on low cost semiconductor lasers or LED"s operating in the near infrared at wavelengths of 785 nm or 850 nm. In the past few years, systems operating at 1550 nm have also been developed. At first the vendors of these systems claimed that the 1550 nm wavelength had better propagation characteristics in severe weather than the 785 nm wavelength. With further analysis and research, those claims were withdrawn. Now there are claims that even longer wavelengths near 10 microns will solve the FSO link availability issues associated with severe weather. Hype about such magic wavelengths for FSO is both a disservice to the investors who will lose the money they are investing based on exaggerated claims, and to the rest of the FSO industry which should be creating realistic expectations for the capability of its equipment. In the weather conditions which normally cause the highest attenuation for FSO systems, namely coastal fog and low clouds, 10 microns offers no propagation advantage over shorter wavelengths.
Epidemiology and microbiology of nosocomial bloodstream infections: analysis of 482 cases from a retrospective surveillance study*

PubMed Central

Wu, Jian-nong; Gan, Tie-er; Zhu, Yue-xian; Cao, Jun-min; Ji, Cong-hua; Wu, Yi-hua; Lv, Bin

2015-01-01

In many traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) hospitals, most patients are elderly with chronic diseases. Nosocomial bloodstream infections (nBSIs) are an important cause of morbidity and mortality. A retrospective surveillance study was performed to examine the epidemiology and microbiology of nBSIs in a TCM hospital from 2009 to 2011. A total of 482 patients with nBSIs were included in the study period. The incidence rate was 5.7/1000 admissions. Escherichia coli (25.5%) was the most common Gram-negative and coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CoNS) (14.1%) was the most common Gram-positive organism isolated. One-third of the E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from the nBSIs were the third-generation cephalosporin-resistant. Half of the Acinetobacter species isolates were resistant to imipenem. Of all the CoNS isolates, 90.7% were resistant to methicillin. Carbapenems and glycopeptide were the most frequently used for nBSI therapy. Only about one-third of patients (157/482) received appropriate empirical therapy. Septic shock, hemodialysis, Pitt bacteremia score >4, urinary tract infection, and appropriate empirical therapy were most strongly associated with 28-d mortality. The incidence of nBSIs was low in the TCM hospital but the proportion of nBSIs due to antibiotic-resistant organisms was high. A high Pitt bacteremia score was one of the most important risk factors for mortality in nBSIs. Therefore, the implementation of appropriate empirical therapy is crucial to improve the clinical outcome of nBSIs. PMID:25559958
76 FR 55720 - Data Collection Available for Public Comments and Recommendations

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-09-08

..., Disaster Administrative Service, Small Business Administration, 409 3rd Street, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20416. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia Pitts, Disaster Administrative Service, 202-205-7570... . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Before disaster loan assistance can be provided, the Governor of the affected State...
Characterization of Near Wall Surface Chemistry and Fluid Interaction in Hypersonic Boundary Layers

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-03-01

Vol. 41, No. 4, 2004, pp. 576-581. l8Marschall, J., Copeland, R.A., Hwang, H.H., and Wright, M.J., "Surface Catalysis Experiments on Metal ...measured separately allow us to assign the observed l4Nl60 transitions unambiguously and, by exclusion, those transitions that belong to neither...Finlayson-Pitts, B.J., Huie, R.E., and Orkin, V.L., "Chemical Kinetics and Photochemical Data for Use in Atmospheric Studies: Evaluation Number 15," JPL
Debunking the Myth of the Nintendo Generation: How Doctoral Students Introduce New Electronic Communication Practices into University Research.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Covi, Lisa M.

2000-01-01

Provides empirical evidence of how doctoral students and their faculty advisors use electronic communication technologies. Examines work patterns of doctoral students and data on recent introduction of new electronic communication practices, offering an alternative explanation to the Nintendo Generation Myth that claims electronic communication…
Obtaining and Investigating Unconventional Sources of Radioactivity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lapp, David R.

2010-01-01

This paper provides examples of naturally radioactive items that are likely to be found in most communities. Additionally, there is information provided on how to acquire many of these items inexpensively. I have found that the presence of these materials in the classroom is not only useful for teaching about nuclear radiation and debunking the…
Social Competence and Young Children with Special Needs: Debunking "Mythconceptions"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Joseph, Jaclyn D.; Rausch, Alissa; Strain, Phillip S.

2018-01-01

In the authors' experience, most early childhood and early childhood special educators are quick to endorse the importance of young children's social interactions with each other, particularly in inclusive settings. In this context, it is both ironic and deeply troubling that while giving lip service to peer social skill development, the data…
Debunking the Pocahontas Paradox: The Need for a Humanistic Perspective.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Portman, Tarrell Awe Agahe; Herring, Roger D.

2001-01-01

Historical and contemporary stereotypes of Native American Indian women have resulted in inaccurate and insensitive images. Mass media, movies, and printed materials continue to portray Native American Indian women as either princesses or savages. The purpose of this article is to provide a more humanistic perspective of this population. (Contains…
Debunking Coriolis Force Myths

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shakur, Asif

2014-01-01

Much has been written and debated about the Coriolis force. Unfortunately, this has done little to demystify the paradoxes surrounding this fictitious force invoked by an observer in a rotating frame of reference. It is the purpose of this article to make another valiant attempt to slay the dragon of the Coriolis force! This will be done without…
English L2 Reading: Getting to the Bottom. 2nd Edition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Birch, Barbara M.

2007-01-01

This book remains a comprehensive, myth-debunking examination of how L1 features (orthographic system, phonology, morphology) can influence English L2 reading at the "bottom" of the reading process. It provides a thorough but very accessible linguistic/psycholinguistic examination of the lowest levels of the reading process. It is both theoretical…
It's Never Too Late! What Neuroscience Has to Offer High Schools.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Greenleaf, Robert K.

1999-01-01

Debunks brain/education myths. The term "brain-based education" is redundant; learning is the brain's function. More brain cell connections do not equal more learning. There is no "critical period" for developing human brain capacity. All learning is emotional, and learning never ends. Tips for high-school teachers are…
Seven Bacteriophages Isolated from the Female Urinary Microbiota

PubMed Central

Malki, Kema; Sible, Emily; Cooper, Alexandria; Garretto, Andrea; Bruder, Katherine; Watkins, Siobhan C.

2016-01-01

Recent research has debunked the myth that urine is sterile, having uncovered bacteria within the bladders of healthy individuals. However, the identity, diversity, and putative roles of bacteriophages in the bladder are unknown. We report the draft genome sequences of seven bacteriophages isolated from microbial communities from adult female bladders. PMID:27881533
Altruism and the Flourishing Teacher: Exploring a Christian Theology of Love

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Matthias, Laurie R.

2016-01-01

This article responds to Chris Higgins' (2010) claim that perpetuating the myth of altruism is a factor that leads to teacher burnout, thus making "flourishing teacher" an oxymoron. It does so by exploring various views of the Christian concepts of agape, kenosis, and desire, debunking some persistent definitions that linger in Christian…
Debunking EHEA Myths: Common ECTS Misconceptions and Why They Are Wrong

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pérez Cañado, María Luisa

2009-01-01

The present article seeks to overcome some of the most common misconceptions which are currently proliferating in the application of the "European Credit Transfer System" (ECTS) at tertiary level. It presents and unpacks seven false myths affecting all the main curricular and organizational levels of the implementation of the new credit…
Debunking a Special Education Myth: Don't Blame Private Options for Rising Costs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Greene, Jay P.; Winters, Marcus A.

2007-01-01

Can spiraling special education costs explain why educational achievement remained stagnant over the past three decades while real education spending more than doubled? Policy makers, education researchers, and school district officials often make this claim. Special education students--goes the argument--are draining resources away from regular…
Debunking Myths: The B.C. Student Transitions Project

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gaber, Devron; Heslop, Joanne

2009-01-01

British Colombia's Student Transitions Project (STP) is challenging long-held myths about the movement of students through the education system in that province and may become a catalyst for re-examining commonly held ideas about students' transition to post-secondary education across the country. The STP is a collaborative effort among B.C.'s…

Modeling Manhood: Reimagining Black Male Identities in School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Givens, Jarvis R.; Nasir, Na'ilah; ross, kihana; de Royston, Maxine McKinney

2016-01-01

This paper examines the process by which stereotypical mainstream representations of black males (as hard, as anti-school, and as disconnected from the domestic sphere) were reimagined in all-black, all-male manhood development classes for 9th graders in urban public high schools. Findings show that instructors debunked stereotypes and created new…
The Role of Principals in Reducing Teacher Turnover and the Shortage of Teachers. Policy Brief 2018-2

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fuller, Edward J.; Pendola, Andrew; Young, Michelle D.

2018-01-01

New research has identified teacher working conditions as having a greater effect on teacher turnover than most other factors, including student achievement and student characteristics. Importantly, research has debunked the conventional wisdom that teachers often leave schools because of student characteristics. This brief discusses how teacher…
Debunking a Video on Youtube as an Authentic Research Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Davidowsky, Philip; Rogers, Michael

2015-01-01

Students are exposed to a variety of unrealistic physical experiences seen in movies, video games, and short online videos. A popular classroom activity has students examine footage to identify what aspects of physics are correctly and incorrectly represented. Some of the physical phenomena pictured might be tricks or illusions made easier to…
Setting the Record Straight. The Truth About Fad Diets.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wheat Foods Council, Parker, CO.

The Setting the Record Straight information packet presents facts to set the record straight about nutrition and debunk fad diets. The kit features materials designed to communicate the importance of balanced eating. Materials include: a time line of fad diets; four reproducible fad diet book review handouts that show the misleading claims rampant…
Multilingual Education in Kenya: Debunking the Myths

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Orwenjo, Daniel Ochieng

2012-01-01

Arguments that have been advanced against multilingual education in Kenya and Africa in general are not new. Most post-colonial African governments have stuck to the pre-colonial education policies which have no relevance to the present day Africa and were, at best, guided by the interests of the colonial power. Unfortunately, most of the claims…
Darwinism in metaethics: What if the universal acid cannot be contained?

PubMed

Severini, Eleonora; Sterpetti, Fabio

2017-09-12

The aim of this article is to explore the impact of Darwinism in metaethics and dispel some of the confusion surrounding it. While the prospects for a Darwinian metaethics appear to be improving, some underlying epistemological issues remain unclear. We will focus on the so-called Evolutionary Debunking Arguments (EDAs) which, when applied in metaethics, are defined as arguments that appeal to the evolutionary origins of moral beliefs so as to undermine their epistemic justification. The point is that an epistemic disanalogy can be identified in the debate on EDAs between moral beliefs and other kinds of beliefs, insofar as only the former are regarded as vulnerable to EDAs. First, we will analyze some significant debunking positions in metaethics in order to show that they do not provide adequate justification for such an epistemic disanalogy. Then, we will assess whether they can avoid the accusation of being epistemically incoherent by adopting the same evolutionary account for all kinds of beliefs. In other words, once it is argued that Darwinism has a corrosive impact on metaethics, what if its universal acid cannot be contained?
Does a Weekly Didactic Conference Improve Resident Performance on the Pediatric Domain of the Orthopaedic In-Training Examination?

PubMed

Franklin, Corinna C; Bosch, Patrick P; Grudziak, Jan S; Dede, Ozgur; Ramirez, Rey N; Mendelson, Steven A; Ward, W Timothy; Brooks, Maria; Kenkre, Tanya; Lubahn, John D; Deeney, Vincent F; Roach, James W

2017-03-01

Performance on the Orthopaedic In-training Examination (OITE) has been correlated with performance on the written portion of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery examination. Herein we sought to discover whether adding a regular pediatric didactic lecture improved residents' performance on the OITE's pediatric domain. In 2012, a didactic lecture series was started in the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Hamot Orthopaedic Residency Program (Hamot). This includes all topics in pediatric orthopaedic surgery and has teaching faculty present, and occurs weekly with all residents attending. A neighboring program [UMPC Pittsburgh (Pitt)] shares in these conferences, but only during their pediatric rotation. We sought to determine the effectiveness of the conference by comparing the historic scores from each program on the pediatric domain of the OITE examination to scores after the institution of the conference, and by comparing the 2 programs' scores. Both programs demonstrated improvement in OITE scores. In 2008, the mean examination score was 19.6±4.3 (11.0 to 30.0), and the mean percentile was 57.7±12.6 (32.0 to 88.0); in 2014, the mean examination score was 23.5±4.2 (14.0 to 33.0) and the mean percentile was 67.1±12.1 (40.0 to 94.0). OITE scores and percentiles improved with post graduate year (P<0.0001). Compared with the preconference years, Hamot residents answered 3.99 more questions correctly (P<0.0001) and Pitt residents answered 2.93 more questions correctly (P<0.0001). Before the conference, site was not a predictor of OITE score (P=0.06) or percentile (P=0.08); there was no significant difference found between the mean scores per program. However, in the postconference years, site did predict OITE scores. Controlling for year in training, Hamot residents scored higher on the OITE (2.3 points higher, P=0.003) and had higher percentiles (0.07 higher, P=0.004) than Pitt residents during the postconference years. This study suggests that adding a didactic pediatric lecture improved residents' scores on the OITE and indirectly suggests that more frequent attendance is associated with better scores. Level III-retrospective case-control study.
Community Post-Tornado Support Groups: Intervention and Evaluation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McCammon, Susan; And Others

Post-tornado support groups were organized by the Greene County, North Carolina disaster coordinators and the Pitt County outreach workers from the Community Mental Health Center sponsored tornado follow-up project. The most significant intervention used was the emphasis on creating a climate of group support by establishing a forum for…
Why Will Students Take You to Court?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Delon, Floyd G.

Directed at school officials, this paper describes selected civil cases filed against schools since 1976. Cases concerning handicapped students constitute most of such cases; those cited deal with discipline (S-1 v. Turlington) and appropriate residential placement (Hine v. Pitt County Board of Education) of a handicapped child. Discipline cases…
Minding the Knowledge Gap: The Importance of Content in Student Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Christodoulou, Daisy

2013-01-01

In this article, author Daisy Christodoulou, a former teacher in the United Kingdom, debunks the myth that teaching facts prevents understanding, and she explains why teaching content knowledge is part of the primary mission of education. Throughout this article, she tries to stress that she shares the aims of many of the people whose methods she…
Change Forces: Probing the Depths of Educational Reform. School Development and the Management of Change Series: 10.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fullan, Michael

Debunking popular reform efforts, this book argues that education reformers are fighting a fruitless uphill battle. Neither top-down regulation nor locally based reforms will transform schooling. The insurmountable problem is juxtaposing a continuous change theme with a continuous, conservative system that defies change. In partnership with all…
No More Nice Girls: Feminist Art as Revision

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mullarkey, Maureen

2009-01-01

Nothing says "the sixties" like the word "revision," and, in keeping with those times, the fledgling feminist art movement dismissed hard-won mastery as "mere skill" and snubbed the canon of Western art as evidence of male dominion over the criteria for legitimacy and achievement. In debunking the myth of the Great (male) Artist, the women's…
Addiction as a Systems Failure: Focus on Adolescence and Smoking

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baler, Ruben D.; Volkow, Nora D.

2011-01-01

Objective: Scientific advances in the field of addiction have forever debunked the notion that addiction reflects a character flaw under voluntary control, demonstrating instead that it is a bona fide disease of the brain. The aim of this review is to go beyond this consensus understanding and explore the most current evidence regarding the vast…
Teaching the Class with "The Class": Debunking the Need for Heroes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miretzky, Debra

2017-01-01

The French film "Entre Les Murs" ("The Class") is a somewhat unusual film in its portrayal of a Parisian working class school and its protagonist, Mr. Marin, who attempts to teach an unruly class of young and very diverse teenagers. This article explores the ways the author used the film "The Class" as a culminating…
Applying Hypnosis to Treat Problems in School-Age Children: Reviewing Science and Debunking Myths

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Perfect, Michelle M.; McClung, Ashley A.; Bressette, Keri A.

2013-01-01

Clinical hypnosis, defined as a "therapeutic technique in which clinicians make suggestions to individuals who have undergone a procedure designed to relax them and focus their minds" (American Psychological Association, n.d.), is a relaxation-based tool that has uses in the treatment of anxiety, pain, and a range of stress-related…
The Challenge of the Social Sciences: The Impact of Sociology among First Year Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Graaff, J. F.

2007-01-01

Sociology invites transformations among first year students which go through at least three distinct levels. At the conceptual level, three basic concepts, debunking, relativizing and system-relating, challenge public opinion modes of thinking. But students in this course go beyond explicit course examples and perform these notions in a more…
Reading Repression: Textualizing the Linguistic Marginalization of Nonnative English-Speaking Teachers in Arizona

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blum, Avram; Johnson, Eric J.

2012-01-01

This discussion draws attention to the discriminatory efforts of policymakers in Arizona to professionally marginalize public school teachers deemed to have an accent. In addition to debunking the linguistic and pedagogic validity of this policy, we emphasize the role of the media in the (re)construction and justification of language ideologies…
The Mythical Retention Chart and the Corruption of Dale's Cone of Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Subramony, Deepak Prem; Molenda, Michael; Betrus, Anthony K.; Thalheimer, Will

2014-01-01

In response to the wide-scale proliferation of "the cone of learning"--a fanciful retention chart confounded with Dale's Cone of Experience--the authors make four major claims debunking this fantasy and provide documentary evidence to support these claims. The first claim is that the data in the mythical retention chart do not make…
The Academic Achievement of Elite Athletes at an Australian University: Debunking the Dumb Jock Syndrome

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Georgakis, Steve; Wilson, Rachel; Ferguson, Jamaya

2014-01-01

Elite athletes and their academic achievement in higher education have long been subject to considerable debate within North American scholarship. This interest proliferated especially after the release of the Knight Report (2001), which, amongst other findings, revealed a clear negative link between elite athletes and their academic achievement.…
Who You Callin' White?! A Critical Counter-Story on Colouring White Identity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Matias, Cheryl E.

2013-01-01

This action research, which utilizes critical race theory's counter-storytelling, analyses a process of debunking White students' epistemology of ignorance in a history course at an urban public high school. After piloting a raced curriculum that deliberately re-centers marginalized counter-stories of students of colour, I document its…

"It's Going to Kill Us!" and Other Myths about the Future of Artificial Intelligence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Atkinson, Robert D.

2016-01-01

Given the promise that artificial intelligence (AI) holds for economic growth and societal advancement, it is critical that policymakers not only avoid retarding the progress of AI innovation, but also actively support its further development and use. This report provides a primer on artificial intelligence and debunks five prevailing myths that,…
Dispelling Purity Myths and Debunking Hygienic Discourse in Roberto Arlt's "El jorobadito"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garrett, Victoria Lynn

2010-01-01

This article reads Roberto Arlt's short story "El jorobadito" as a direct and critical response to hygienic discourse in the first decades of the twentieth century in Argentina. Hygienic discourse served as a basis for an exclusionary social model that profoundly affected politics and the organization of the social body. It sought to…
STEM and the Arts and Humanities: Debunking a False Dichotomy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hartzell, Richard

2017-01-01

The false dichotomy that suggests schools must choose between STEM (or STEAM) and the humanities would not merit the time it takes to write an article if not for a dangerous crescendo of backlash clouding the senses of boards and administrations around the independent school world. In this article, the author, an upper school principal of Taipei…
Improving Comprehension of Capital Sentencing Instructions: Debunking Juror Misconceptions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Otto, Charles W.; Applegate, Brandon K.; Davis, Robin King

2007-01-01

Previous research has demonstrated that judicial instructions on the law are not well understood by jurors tasked with applying the law to the facts of a case. The past research has also shown that jurors are often confused by the instructions used in the sentencing phase of a capital trial. The current research tested the effectiveness of a…
The "Good Faith" Requirement in School Desegregation Cases.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Patin, Charles L., Jr.; Gordon, William M.

The good-faith requirement in school desegregation was initially discussed by the United States Supreme Court in "Brown II." However, it was not until recently, in "Freeman v. Pitts," that the Court was to provide a definitive statement as to the meaning of the requirement, indicate the need for specific findings with respect…
Ideas, Facts, and Choices: Three Lectures on Philosophy and Applied Economics.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wunderlich, Gene, Ed.

Four philosophers, familiar with the work of economists, comment on the foundations and substance of applied economics. Joseph Pitt, in "Philosophy in Applied Economics," focuses on rationality and rational choice as a foundation for economics and stresses the idea of relevance in relating data to applied economics. He believes rational…
Cellular respiration, metabolomics and the search for illicit drug biomarkers in breath: report from PittCon 2017

EPA Science Inventory

The annual Pittcon meeting is a convenient venue for gathering together a wide range of researchers and analytical equipment manufacturers that may both provide and gain benefit from the more focused topics of breath research. Members of IABR have regularly participated in Pittco...
A Bright Promise but a Dim Future. Researchers Examine Potential of Educational Technology.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pitts, Marcella R., Ed.

Concerns about the current educational technology movement are discussed in these four papers which were presented during a seminar of 20 representatives from 10 Council for Educational Development and Research (CEDaR) member institutions. The first by Marcella Pitts and E. Joseph Schneider provides an overview of the educational technology…
Formative Evaluation for a Healthy Corner Store Initiative in Pitt County, North Carolina: Assessing the Rural Food Environment, Part 1

PubMed Central

Bringolf, Karamie R.; Lawton, Katherine K.; McGuirt, Jared T.; Wall-Bassett, Elizabeth; Morgan, Jo; Laska, Melissa Nelson; Sharkey, Joseph R.

2013-01-01

Introduction Obesity prevalence in the rural United States is higher than in urban or suburban areas, perhaps as a result of the food environment. Because rural residents live farther from supermarkets than their urban- and suburban-dwelling counterparts, they may be more reliant on smaller corner stores that offer fewer healthful food items. Methods As part of a Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) healthy corner store initiative, we reviewed audit tools in the fall of 2010 to measure the consumer food environment in eastern North Carolina and chose the NEMS-S-Rev (Nutrition Environment Measures Survey-Stores-Revised) to assess 42 food stores. During the spring and summer of 2011, 2 trained graduate assistants audited stores, achieving interrater reliability of at least 80%. NEMS-S-Rev scores of stores in rural versus urban areas were compared. Results Overall, healthful foods were less available and of lower quality in rural areas than in urban areas. NEMS-S-Rev scores indicated that healthful foods were more likely to be available and had similar pricing and quality in rural corner stores than in urban corner stores. Conclusion Food store audit data provided a baseline to implement and evaluate a CPPW healthy corner store initiative in Pitt County. This work serves as a case study, providing lessons learned for engaging community partners when conducting rural food store audits. PMID:23866165
Debunking the Myths of Non-Native English Speaker Teachers: An Interview with Professor Masaki Oda

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Floris, Flora Debora

2013-01-01

Masaki Oda is a Professor of Applied Linguistics at Tamagawa University in Tokyo, Japan, specializing in Sociopolitical Aspects of Language Use. Prof. Oda got his PhD program from Georgetown University, where he also taught Japanese for several years. He returned to Japan in 1990 and began teaching EFL and training EFL teachers at Tamagawa…
Revisiting the moist heat sterilization myths.

PubMed

Agalloco, James; Akers, James; Madsen, Russell

2009-01-01

This paper reviews the prevailing myths regarding steam sterilization currently prevalent in the pharmaceutical industry. It updates an earlier article by the same authors on the that subject that was originally published in 1998. The text addresses the current situation with respect to the beliefs debunked in the original effort, as well as several new mistruths that have emerged in the intervening years.
The Civilian Putsch of 2018: Debunking the Myth of a Civil-Military Leadership Rift

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-04-01

25 Reflect the Moral of the Society ...threat to the republic and requires a martial culture that differs from the civil society at large. There is no reason why we should regret this...forefront in 1993, was the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), General Colin Powell, who resisted President Clinton‘s Balkan plans and
There Still Be Dragons: Racial Disparity in School Funding Is No Myth

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miller, Raegen; Epstein, Diana

2011-01-01

It's hard to debunk a myth that's not a myth, but Jason Richwine of the Heritage Foundation has given it a try in his recent backgrounder, "The Myth of Racial Disparities in Public School Financing." The report suggests that public education spending is broadly similar across racial and ethnic groups, and it has found a predictably receptive…
Debunking Olympic Sized Myths: Government Investment in Olympism in the Context of Terror and the Risk Society

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pringle, Richard

2012-01-01

The significant cost of hosting the London 2012 Olympics is justified, in part, by claims that the games will inspire greater social cohesion, promote peace and encourage the public adoption of active healthy lifestyles. This critical review paper examines these justifications and finds them wanting. The first section provides a socio-historic…
On Following Commands: A Philosophical Inquiry into the Governing Values of Swedish Early Childhood Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dahlbeck, Johan

2014-01-01

In this article I will investigate a perceived tension in Swedish early childhood education (ECE) policy between reevaluating certain foundational claims on the one hand and following universal moral commands on the other. I ask the question; how is it that certain commonly held assumptions are being debunked and others left undisturbed in this…
Debunking "You Want Fries with That?": Designing Courses to Bridge the Gap between Degree and Career

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Luebke, Monica; Rhodes, Althea E.

2010-01-01

Liberal arts majors are teased that they will have to learn to say, "Do you want fries with that?" after college, but as professionals and former liberal arts majors ourselves, the authors know the workplace holds much more promise than a future in fast food. However, with today's economic crisis and stagnant job market, educational…
Predicting armed conflict: Time to adjust our expectations?

PubMed

Cederman, Lars-Erik; Weidmann, Nils B

2017-02-03

This Essay provides an introduction to the general challenges of predicting political violence, particularly compared with predicting other types of events (such as earthquakes). What is possible? What is less realistic? We aim to debunk myths about predicting violence, as well as to illustrate the substantial progress in this field. Copyright © 2017, American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Debunking Common Sense and the Taken for Granted: A Pedagogical Strategy for Teaching Social Problems

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

LeMoyne, Terri; Davis, Jean Marie

2011-01-01

In this article, the authors argue that one approach to teaching Introduction to Social Problems is to structure the course content around taken-for-granted beliefs that many students have about the social world. In doing so, the authors discuss the social construction of social problems, how sociology differs from common sense, and the importance…
Confronting the Digital Divide: Debunking Brave New World Discourses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rowsell, Jennifer; Morrell, Ernest; Alvermann, Donna E.

2017-01-01

There is far more to the digital divide than meets the eye. In this article, the authors consolidate existing research on the digital divide to offer some tangible ways for educators to bridge the gap between the haves and have-nots, or the cans and cannots. Drawing on Aldous Huxley's notion of a "brave new world," some digital divide…
Funding Survival Toolkit: 3 Fiscal Cliff Myths, Debunked

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

House, Jenny

2013-01-01

In the face of annual budget deficits, sequestration means automatic, across-the-board spending cuts to all federal agencies. This drastic step allows Congress to limit the size of the budget and gives it the right to make mandatory cuts if the cost of running the government exceeds the cap. On March 1, we all watched as Congress was unable to…

Franklin, Lavoisier, and Mesmer: origin of the controlled clinical trial.

PubMed

Herr, Harry W

2005-01-01

In 1784, a Royal Commission headed by Benjamin Franklin and Antoine Lavoisier designed a series of ingenious experiments to debunk France's greatest medical rogue, Anton Mesmer, and his bizarre healing of illnesses based on his bogus theory of animal magnetism. Using intentional subject ignorance and sham interventions to investigate mesmerism, Franklin's commission provided a model for the controlled clinical trial.
Gauge invariant spectral Cauchy characteristic extraction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Handmer, Casey J.; Szilágyi, Béla; Winicour, Jeffrey

2015-12-01

We present gauge invariant spectral Cauchy characteristic extraction. We compare gravitational waveforms extracted from a head-on black hole merger simulated in two different gauges by two different codes. We show rapid convergence, demonstrating both gauge invariance of the extraction algorithm and consistency between the legacy Pitt null code and the much faster spectral Einstein code (SpEC).
Software Intensive Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-07-01

Architect, Developer and Platform Evangelism • Microsoft Dynamic Systems Initiative-- John Wilson, Architect Windows Management • Windows Lifecycle...Presentations • Aegis--Reuben Pitts & CDR John Ailes, Program Executive Office, Integrated Warfare Systems • Long Term Mine Reconnaissance (LMRS)--CAPT...Paul Imes • Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS)--Richard North, JPEO JTRS & Leonard Schiavone , MITRE • Single Integrated Air Picture (SIAP)--CAPT
EXPRESSION OF AHR AND ARNT MRNA IN CULTURED HUMAN ENDOMETRIAL EXPLANTS EXPOSED TO TCDD

EPA Science Inventory

Expression of AhR and ARNT mRNA in cultured human endometrial explants exposed to TCDD.

Pitt JA, Feng L, Abbott BD, Schmid J, Batt RE, Costich TG, Koury ST, Bofinger DP.

Curriculum in Toxicology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.

Endom...
Development of a Formal Theory of Agent-Based Computing for System Evaluation and System-Design Guidance

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-06-01

Department of EE and Computer Science University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA pollackm@eecs.umich.edu Sujata Banerjeez Info. Sci. & Telecom. Dept...University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA sujata @tele.pitt.edu Abstract An important aspect of Business to Business E- Commerce is the agile
Response to Pitt and Taylor 2016: Conservation of Aspergillus with A. niger as the conserved type is unnecessary and potentially disruptive

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Aspergillus is a diverse fungal genus containing many species of great agricultural, biotechnological and medical relevance. Because of the broad use of the genus name in diverse disciplines, and the importance of individual species names in these areas, the taxonomy and nomenclature of Aspergillus ...
Beyond the Sensible World: A Discussion of Mark Zuss' The Practice of Theoretical Curiosity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fellner, Gene; Pitts, Wesley; Zuss, Mark

2012-01-01

In this article, Gene Fellner reviews Mark Zuss's recently published "The practice of theoretical curiosity" (2012) and provides a synopsis of the book's structure. These two sections are followed by a metalogue in which Mark Zuss, Welsey Pitts, and Fellner discuss curiosity and the conundrum of establishing limits beyond which curiosity should…
Meta-analytic framework for liquid association.

PubMed

Wang, Lin; Liu, Silvia; Ding, Ying; Yuan, Shin-Sheng; Ho, Yen-Yi; Tseng, George C

2017-07-15

Although coexpression analysis via pair-wise expression correlation is popularly used to elucidate gene-gene interactions at the whole-genome scale, many complicated multi-gene regulations require more advanced detection methods. Liquid association (LA) is a powerful tool to detect the dynamic correlation of two gene variables depending on the expression level of a third variable (LA scouting gene). LA detection from single transcriptomic study, however, is often unstable and not generalizable due to cohort bias, biological variation and limited sample size. With the rapid development of microarray and NGS technology, LA analysis combining multiple gene expression studies can provide more accurate and stable results. In this article, we proposed two meta-analytic approaches for LA analysis (MetaLA and MetaMLA) to combine multiple transcriptomic studies. To compensate demanding computing, we also proposed a two-step fast screening algorithm for more efficient genome-wide screening: bootstrap filtering and sign filtering. We applied the methods to five Saccharomyces cerevisiae datasets related to environmental changes. The fast screening algorithm reduced 98% of running time. When compared with single study analysis, MetaLA and MetaMLA provided stronger detection signal and more consistent and stable results. The top triplets are highly enriched in fundamental biological processes related to environmental changes. Our method can help biologists understand underlying regulatory mechanisms under different environmental exposure or disease states. A MetaLA R package, data and code for this article are available at http://tsenglab.biostat.pitt.edu/software.htm. ctseng@pitt.edu. Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. © The Author (2017). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com
Knockdown of the schizophrenia susceptibility gene TCF4 alters gene expression and proliferation of progenitor cells from the developing human neocortex.

PubMed

Hill, Matthew J; Killick, Richard; Navarrete, Katherinne; Maruszak, Aleksandra; McLaughlin, Gemma M; Williams, Brenda P; Bray, Nicholas J

2017-05-01

Common variants in the TCF4 gene are among the most robustly supported genetic risk factors for schizophrenia. Rare TCF4 deletions and loss-of-function point mutations cause Pitt-Hopkins syndrome, a developmental disorder associated with severe intellectual disability. To explore molecular and cellular mechanisms by which TCF4 perturbation could interfere with human cortical development, we experimentally reduced the endogenous expression of TCF4 in a neural progenitor cell line derived from the developing human cerebral cortex using RNA interference. Effects on genome-wide gene expression were assessed by microarray, followed by Gene Ontology and pathway analysis of differentially expressed genes. We tested for genetic association between the set of differentially expressed genes and schizophrenia using genome-wide association study data from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium and competitive gene set analysis (MAGMA). Effects on cell proliferation were assessed using high content imaging. Genes that were differentially expressed following TCF4 knockdown were highly enriched for involvement in the cell cycle. There was a nonsignificant trend for genetic association between the differentially expressed gene set and schizophrenia. Consistent with the gene expression data, TCF4 knockdown was associated with reduced proliferation of cortical progenitor cells in vitro. A detailed mechanistic explanation of how TCF4 knockdown alters human neural progenitor cell proliferation is not provided by this study. Our data indicate effects of TCF4 perturbation on human cortical progenitor cell proliferation, a process that could contribute to cognitive deficits in individuals with Pitt-Hopkins syndrome and risk for schizophrenia.
I'll Tell You What You Think: An Exercise in Pseudoscience Debunking in an Introductory Astronomy Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Caton, Dan

2013-01-01

At Appalachian State University students have to take just two semesters of a physical or biological science to satisfy the general education requirements. Most non-science major students have little time in their crowded schedules to take additional science courses, whether they want to or not, and in fact face a surcharge when taking more…
Debunking the Myths: An Evaluation of Opposition to the Arming of Campus Law Enforcement Officers in Rhode Island

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilson, Charles P.; Wilson, Shirley A.

2011-01-01

In March 2010, a committee formed by the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education recommended the arming of police officers at the state's three institutions of higher learning. The issue of arming campus police personnel is one fraught with political, philosophical, social, perceptual, and personal tensions, yet it is crucial to the…
The Role of Pre-Service and In-Service Teacher Training (PITT) Programmes in Preparing Teachers for HIV Curriculum Integration

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mugimu, Christopher B.; Nabadda, Rosemary

2009-01-01

Despite significant global efforts to mitigate HIV and AIDS, the epidemic continues to be a serious problem to the human race. It has claimed many productive individuals, including teachers, administrators, and parents, and has left millions of traumatized and orphaned children. Unfortunately, few teachers are prepared to take on the extra tasks…
On the Image of Hate in Education: Desirable Emotions, Learning, and the Visibility of Bodies in Educational Relations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ryther, Cathrine

2016-01-01

In this article I explore how images of hate from the work of feminist, psychoanalytical educational thinkers Deborah Britzman and Alice Pitt, and from Sara Ahmed's investigation into the cultural politics of emotion, function to shift the ideal-image of pedagogically desired emotions and complicate the emotional landscape of educational…
[Vaccines and autism: a myth to debunk?].

PubMed

Battistella, Melania; Carlino, Cristiana; Dugo, Valentina; Ponzo, Patrizia; Franco, Elisabetta

2013-01-01

Thanks to vaccinations the incidence of many seriously debilitating or life threatening diseases and the resulting infant mortality or disability have been drastically reduced. In populations, who are no more aware of the risk of these infections, the attitude of suspicion and fear towards the vaccinations is expanding and in some cases reaches a worldwide media coverage as was the case for the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR). In 1998, a British doctor, Andrew Wakefield, and co-authors, published in "Lancet" a study in which he suggested the existence of "a new variant of autism" associated with intestinal inflammation. He proposed the administration of the MMR vaccine as a possible. cause of the inflammatory process. The hypothesis suggested by Wakefield led to a drastic drop in vaccination coverage in the UK and to the failure to achieve adequate levels of immunization in many countries, with a consequent increase in the incidence of measles and its complications. Wakefield work stimulated a broad discussion in the scientific community and many studies conducted over the next few years contradicted the research results of the English physician. In 2004, journalist Brian Deer conducted an accurate investigation that revealed how the Wakefield research presented many not regular aspects and was performed with predominantly economic objectives. In 2010, Wakefield was expelled from the General Medical Council, while the "Lancet" retracted the paper. The scientific research conducted in recent years confirm the inconsistency of the relationship between MMR vaccine and autism. The possible association with other factors, such as autoimmune processes, hyperactivation of mast cells in the hypothalamus, use of paracetamol in genetically predisposed children are currently investigated.
MetaKTSP: a meta-analytic top scoring pair method for robust cross-study validation of omics prediction analysis.

PubMed

Kim, SungHwan; Lin, Chien-Wei; Tseng, George C

2016-07-01

Supervised machine learning is widely applied to transcriptomic data to predict disease diagnosis, prognosis or survival. Robust and interpretable classifiers with high accuracy are usually favored for their clinical and translational potential. The top scoring pair (TSP) algorithm is an example that applies a simple rank-based algorithm to identify rank-altered gene pairs for classifier construction. Although many classification methods perform well in cross-validation of single expression profile, the performance usually greatly reduces in cross-study validation (i.e. the prediction model is established in the training study and applied to an independent test study) for all machine learning methods, including TSP. The failure of cross-study validation has largely diminished the potential translational and clinical values of the models. The purpose of this article is to develop a meta-analytic top scoring pair (MetaKTSP) framework that combines multiple transcriptomic studies and generates a robust prediction model applicable to independent test studies. We proposed two frameworks, by averaging TSP scores or by combining P-values from individual studies, to select the top gene pairs for model construction. We applied the proposed methods in simulated data sets and three large-scale real applications in breast cancer, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and pan-cancer methylation. The result showed superior performance of cross-study validation accuracy and biomarker selection for the new meta-analytic framework. In conclusion, combining multiple omics data sets in the public domain increases robustness and accuracy of the classification model that will ultimately improve disease understanding and clinical treatment decisions to benefit patients. An R package MetaKTSP is available online. (http://tsenglab.biostat.pitt.edu/software.htm). ctseng@pitt.edu 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.
An Ottoman response to Darwinism: İsmail Fennî on Islam and evolution.

PubMed

Bilgili, Alper

2015-12-01

The Scopes trial (1925) fuelled discussion in the United States on the social and political implications of Darwinism. For the defenders of the 1925 Tennessee law - which prohibited the teaching of Darwinism in schools - Darwinism was, amongst other things, responsible for the German militarism which eventually led to the First World War. This view was supported by İsmail Fennî, a late Ottoman intellectual, who authored a book immediately after the trial which aimed to debunk scientific materialism. In it, he claimed that Darwinism blurred the distinction between man and beast and thus destroyed the foundations of morality. However, despite his anti-Darwinist stance, İsmail Fennî argued against laws forbidding the teaching of Darwinism in schools, and emphasized that even false theories contributed to scientific improvement. Indeed, because of his belief in science he claimed that Muslims should not reject Darwinism if it were supported by future scientific evidence. If this turned out to be the case, then religious interpretations should be revised accordingly. This article contributes to the literature on early Muslim reactions to Darwinism by examining the views of İsmail Fennî, which were notably sophisticated when compared with those of the anti-religious Darwinist and anti-Darwinist religious camps that dominated late Ottoman intellectual life.
Teach Softly and Debunk with a Big Stick: A Response to "Evolution, Biology, and Society--A Conversation for the 21st-Century Sociology Classroom"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hanson, Chad

2010-01-01

This article presents the author's response to "Evolution, Biology, and Society: A Conversation for the 21st-Century Sociology Classroom" by Richard Machalek and Michael Martin. Their work serves as a reminder that the discipline is diverse and dynamic. The author appreciates the effort to urge sociology teachers to include genetic concepts in…
Debunking Climate Change Myths in the College Classroom

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bedford, D. P.

2012-12-01

Research in sociology (e.g. Hamilton, 2011) and social psychology (e.g. Kahan et al., 2012) suggests that there is no basis to an assumption common among educators that higher education levels lead to more rational decision making. Indeed, there is growing evidence that views on climate change, for just one significant example, become more polarized at higher education levels, rather than converging on the scientific consensus. Some research points to improved facility at filtering information according to preconceptions at higher education levels as a possible explanation for this phenomenon. Misinformation about subjects that are perceived to be contentious, such as anthropogenic climate change, is therefore potentially easily accepted despite-- or even because of-- higher levels of education. Thus, explicitly addressing misinformation about climate change may be an important strategy for use in the classroom. Fortunately, misinformation provides a valuable opportunity to turn a challenging situation to educational advantage and, in effect, make lemonade out of lemons. This presentation provides a case study of efforts explicitly to debunk climate change myths in the college classroom. The approach outlined here utilizes material on the psychology of the acceptance of misinformation for the popular audience, combined with examples of misinformation itself. Qualitative assessment of the effectiveness of these efforts is also presented. Hamilton, L. 2011. Education, political and opinions about climate change: evidence for interaction effects. Climatic Change vol. 104 no. 2, 231-242.. Kahan, D.M., E. Peters, M. Wittlin, P. Slovic, L. Larrimore Ouellette, D. Braman and G. Mandel. 2012. The polarizing impact of science literacy and numeracy on perceived climate change risks. Nature Climate Change. doi:10.1038/nclimate1547.
A brief history of autism, the autism/vaccine hypothesis and a review of the genetic basis of autism spectrum disorders.

PubMed

Blake, Jerome; Hoyme, H Eugene; Crotwell, Patricia L

2013-01-01

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) represent a common spectrum of developmental disabilities, sharing deficits in social interactions, communication and restricted interests or repetitive behaviors with difficult transitions. In this article, we review the history of the identification and classification of autism and the origin of the now widely-debunked autism/vaccine hypothesis. The differences between syndromal (complex) and non-syndromal (essential) autism are described and illustrated with case descriptions where appropriate. Finally, the evidence that autism is fundamentally a genetic disease is discussed, including family studies, the role of DNA copy number variation and known single gene mutations.
Debunking the Buzz Words Or Can Hermeneutic Analysis Be Used To Evaluate Pedagogically Based Learning Objects Designed from Constructivist Epistemological Ontologies Defined in XML Metadata?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stuckey, Bronwyn; Hensman, Jim; Hofmann, Tobias; Dewey, Barbara; Brown, Helen; Cameron, Sonja

Arguably the biggest "buzz word" of the current year has been "learning or knowledge object". To understand the learning object and why it should be such a highly desirable commodity, it is necessary to unpack not only this concept but more importantly revisit some contributing concepts and constructs (more buzz words) that support the building of…

dbVOR: a database system for importing pedigree, phenotype and genotype data and exporting selected subsets.

PubMed

Baron, Robert V; Conley, Yvette P; Gorin, Michael B; Weeks, Daniel E

2015-03-18

When studying the genetics of a human trait, we typically have to manage both genome-wide and targeted genotype data. There can be overlap of both people and markers from different genotyping experiments; the overlap can introduce several kinds of problems. Most times the overlapping genotypes are the same, but sometimes they are different. Occasionally, the lab will return genotypes using a different allele labeling scheme (for example 1/2 vs A/C). Sometimes, the genotype for a person/marker index is unreliable or missing. Further, over time some markers are merged and bad samples are re-run under a different sample name. We need a consistent picture of the subset of data we have chosen to work with even though there might possibly be conflicting measurements from multiple data sources. We have developed the dbVOR database, which is designed to hold data efficiently for both genome-wide and targeted experiments. The data are indexed for fast retrieval by person and marker. In addition, we store pedigree and phenotype data for our subjects. The dbVOR database allows us to select subsets of the data by several different criteria and to merge their results into a coherent and consistent whole. Data may be filtered by: family, person, trait value, markers, chromosomes, and chromosome ranges. The results can be presented in columnar, Mega2, or PLINK format. dbVOR serves our needs well. It is freely available from https://watson.hgen.pitt.edu/register . Documentation for dbVOR can be found at https://watson.hgen.pitt.edu/register/docs/dbvor.html .
Who was this Man, George Adams

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-03-30

Henry. Smith , John. Steel, Thomas. Strephan, William. Stubbs, Robert. Sutton, David. Tea, John. Terman, Henry. Ward, Matthias. Wilkinson, Will Williams...1778 - General Lachlan McIntosh succeeds Hand. May 19, 1791 - Major Isarc Craig reports Fort Pitt in a ruinous condition - built Fort Lafayette. 1...Quick Step. (Champlain) The Roast Beef. The Rogues March. The Scotch. Slow March. (General Brown’s March) Slow March. (General Scott’s March) Smiths
Evidence for Type Ia Supernova Diversity from Ultraviolet Observations with the Hubble Space Telescope

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-04-20

Observational Cosmology , NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 665, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA 31 Enrico Fermi Institute, Department of Physics, and Kavli...Institute for Cosmological Physics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA 32 Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers, the State University...Austin, TX 78712, USA 59 Pittsburgh Particle Physics, Astrophysics, and Cosmology Center (Pitt-PACC), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
Military Retention and Retirement. Reciprocal Family/Organization Effects,

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-06-30

the Chief of Naval Operations, 1978. Derr, C.B. Managing marriage/ family issues across career stages: the case of the U.S. Naval officers. Unpublished...Jeffers-, Davis Highway University of Maryland Arlingtcn VA , #02 College of Business and Management and Department of Psychology Dr. Larry Cummings...Institution 801 N. Pitt Street, Suite 120 Alexandria VA 22314 Dr. Richard Steers Graduate School of Management and Business University of Oregon Eugene
Geology and ground-water resources of northern Mercer County, Pennsylvania

USGS Publications Warehouse

Schiner, G.R.; Kimmel, G.E.

1976-01-01

The Shenango and Stoneboro 15-minute quadrangles are in northwestern Pennsylvania and are about 60 miles north of Pitts burgh. These two quadrangles comprise the following 7%-minute quadrangles: Greenville West, Greenville East, Sharpsville, Fredonia, Hadley, New Lebanon, Jackson Center, and Sandy Lake. The area covered by the two quadrangles includes the northern two thirds of Mercer County and a small amount of adjoining southern Crawford County.
Partitioning Tracer Test for Detection, Estimation, and Remediation Performance Assessment of Subsurface Nonaqueous Phase Liquids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, Minquan; Delshad, Mojdeh; Dwarakanath, Varadarajan; McKinney, Daene C.; Pope, Gary A.; Sepehrnoori, Kamy; Tilburg, Charles E.; Jackson, Richard E.

1995-05-01

In this paper we present a partitioning interwell tracer test (PITT) technique for the detection, estimation, and remediation performance assessment of the subsurface contaminated by nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPLs). We demonstrate the effectiveness of this technique by examples of experimental and simulation results. The experimental results are from partitioning tracer experiments in columns packed with Ottawa sand. Both the method of moments and inverse modeling techniques for estimating NAPL saturation in the sand packs are demonstrated. In the simulation examples we use UTCHEM, a comprehensive three-dimensional, chemical flood compositional simulator developed at the University of Texas, to simulate a hypothetical two-dimensional aquifer with properties similar to the Borden site contaminated by tetrachloroethylene (PCE), and we show how partitioning interwell tracer tests can be used to estimate the amount of PCE contaminant before remedial action and as the remediation process proceeds. Tracer tests results from different stages of remediation are compared to determine the quantity of PCE removed and the amount remaining. Both the experimental (small-scale) and simulation (large-scale) results demonstrate that PITT can be used as an innovative and effective technique to detect and estimate the amount of residual NAPL and for remediation performance assessment in subsurface formations.
Partitioning tracer test for detection, estimation, and remediation performance assessment of subsurface nonaqueous phase liquids

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

Jin, M.; Delshad, M.; Dwarakanath, V.

1995-05-01

In this paper we present a partitioning interwell tracer test (PITT) technique for the detection, estimation, and remediation performance assessment of the subsurface contaminated by nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPLs). We demonstrate the effectiveness of this technique by examples of experimental and simulation results. The experimental results are from partitioning tracer experiments in columns packed with Ottawa sand. Both the method of moments and inverse modeling techniques for estimating NAPL saturation in the sand packs are demonstrated. In the simulation examples we use UTCHEM, a comprehensive three-dimensional, chemical flood compositional simulator developed at the University of Texas, to simulate a hypotheticalmore » two-dimensional aquifer with properties similar to the Borden site contaminated by tetrachloroethylene (PCE), and we show how partitioning interwell tracer tests can be used to estimate the amount of PCE contaminant before remedial action and as the remediation process proceeds. Tracer test results from different stages of remediation are compared to determine the quantity of PCE removed and the amount remaining. Both the experimental (small-scale) and simulation (large-scale) results demonstrate that PITT can be used as an innovative and effective technique to detect and estimate the amount of residual NAPL and for remediation performance assessment in subsurface formations. 43 refs., 10 figs., 1 tab.« less
Nosocomial extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia in hemodialysis patients and the implications for antibiotic therapy.

PubMed

Yang, Chih-Chao; Wu, Chien-Hsing; Lee, Chien-Te; Liu, Han-Tsung; Chen, Jin-Bor; Chiu, Chien-Hua; Chen, Chih-Hung; Chuang, Feng-Rong

2014-11-01

In the face of increasing treatment options for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-Kp) hemodialysis (HD) access-related bacteremia, the difference in clinical effectiveness between ertapenem and flomoxef remains unclear. We conducted this retrospective study to determine their efficacies and treatment outcomes. Patients on maintenance HD with fistula-, graft-, or catheter-related ESBL-Kp bacteremia were enrolled. Data related to clinical features and antibiotic treatments were collected. Outcome was determined by mortality resulting from bacteremia during the 14-day period after the collection of the first positive blood culture for flomoxef-susceptible ESBL-Kp. The 64 patients studied had severe septicemia as determined by the Pitt bacteremia score; 50% (32/64) were in the intensive care unit (ICU) at the time of bacteremia. Old age (>65 years; 57.8%), malnutrition (albumin<3.5g/dl; 92.2%), a history of severe illnesses (defined by shock, intubation, or ICU stay; 82.5%), and prolonged hospitalization prior to the onset of bacteremia (>30 days; 75%) were also highly prevalent. The study population comprised nine fistula-, 10 graft-, and 45 HD catheter-related bacteremia cases, and the mortality rate was high (38/64, 59.4%). The mortality rate was significantly higher in the flomoxef treatment group than in the ertapenem treatment group (22/30, 73% vs. 16/34, 47%, p<0.05). Among patients with catheter-related bacteremia, multivariate analyses revealed that flomoxef use (odds ratio (OR) 2.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.34-35.17) and Pitt bacteremia score (OR 4.37, 95% CI 1.28-5.26) were independently associated with mortality. In accordance with our previous study, our results have demonstrated the inferiority of flomoxef to carbapenems in the treatment of HD access-related ESBL-Kp bacteremia and provide an insight into the possibility of using ertapenem rather than flomoxef as an initial or de-escalating therapy for infections caused by ESBL-producing bacteria.
Debunking minimum information myths: one hat need not fit all.

PubMed

Orchard, Sandra; Taylor, Chris F

2009-04-01

A recent meeting report published in this journal suggests that the work of the various bodies attempting to improve the quality of articles describing the results of biomedical experimental work has been misunderstood or, at best, misinterpreted. This response is an attempt to set the record straight and ensure that other groups are not discouraged from using these standards or from joining in their further development in either existing or novel areas of research.
Hard truths and a new strategy for addressing childhood obesity.

PubMed

Finkelstein, Eric A; Bilger, Marcel

2012-04-01

We debunk three likely misperceptions about childhood obesity: (1) the epidemic thereof is caused by poverty, (2) information campaigns alone would be effective at reducing childhood obesity rates, and (3) obesity-reducing interventions would necessarily save money. We then discuss policies that could be effective at reducing childhood obesity rates and propose a tax/subsidy strategy that would provide the right incentives for governments, schools, and households to make appropriate investments in obesity prevention efforts.
Debunking the Myth of the Strategic Corporal

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-04-13

detainee abuse spiraled out of controL Detainees were stripped naked , forced to masturbate, were knocked out by closed hand punches to the temples, and...including Green and Barker, disguised themselves and headed on foot to a house where they previously observed a young Iraqi girl . The four soldiers...entered the family’s home and forced them all into a bedroom. One soldier grabbed the fourteen-year-old Iraqi girl and pulled her into the living
A gathering for Gardner

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crease, Robert P.

2008-07-01

Martin Gardner, who turns 94 this autumn, seems to have pulled off an astounding trick. Every other year hundreds of people gather to honour Gardner, who is the author of over 70 books and wrote the popular "Mathematical Games" column that appeared in Scientific American for a quarter of a century from 1956. What is astonishing is that the people come from a bewildering variety of professions and include jugglers, magicians, artists, puzzle-makers, logicians, computer scientists, pseudoscience debunkers and mathematicians.
Detailed Debunking of Denial

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Enting, I. G.; Abraham, J. P.

2012-12-01

The disinformation campaign against climate science has been compared to a guerilla war whose tactics undermine the traditional checks and balances of science. One comprehensive approach has to been produce archives of generic responses such as the websites of RealClimate and SkepticalScience. We review our experiences with an alternative approach of detailed responses to a small number of high profile cases. Our particular examples were Professor Ian Plimer and Christopher Monckton, the Third Viscount Monckton of Brenchley, each of whom has been taken seriously by political leaders in our respective countries. We relate our experiences to comparable examples such as John Mashey's analysis of the Wegman report and the formal complaints about Lomborg's "Skeptical Environmentalist" and Durkin's "Great Global Warming Swindle". Our two approaches used contrasting approaches: an on-line video of a lecture vs an evolving compendium of misrepresentations. Additionally our approaches differed in the emphasis. The analysis of Monckton concentrated on the misrepresentation of the science, while the analysis of Plimer concentrated on departures from accepted scientific practice: fabrication of data, misrepresentation of cited sources and unattributed use of the work of others. Benefits of an evolving compendium were the ability to incorporate contributions from members of the public who had identified additional errors and the scope for addressing new aspects as they came to public attention. `Detailed debunking' gives non-specialists a reference point for distinguishing non-science when engaging in public debate.
Operational Art in Pontiac’s War

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-05-23

and Fort Presque Isle lay along the supply route connecting Fort Pitt over land to Lake Erie further linking across the water to major forts through...expedition in early August. Traveling south along the coast of Lake Erie , Bradstreet first stopped at Presque Isle . Bradstreet was hesitant to initiate...destroyed Fort Presque Isle . The next stop was Sandusky Bay, where Dalyell took some men several miles inland to rout Huron warriors from the village of
Betting on change: Tenet deal with Vanguard shows it's primed to try ACO effort, new payment model.

PubMed

Kutscher, Beth

2013-07-01

Tenet Healthcare Corp.'s acquisition of Vanguard Health Systems is a sign the investor-owned chain is willing to take a chance on alternative payment models such as accountable care organizations. There's no certainty that ACOs will deliver the improvements on quality or cost savings, but Vanguard Vice Chairman Keith Pitts, left, says his system's Pioneer ACO in Detroit has already achieved some cost savings.
Modeling Tool to Quantify Metal Sources in Stormwater Discharges at Naval Facilities (NESDI Project 455)

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-06-01

TECHNICAL REPORT 2077 June 2014 Modeling Tool to Quantify Metal Sources in Stormwater Discharges at Naval Facilities (NESDI Project 455... Stormwater Discharges at Naval Facilities (NESDI Project 455) Final Report and Guidance C. Katz K. Sorensen E. Arias SSC Pacific R. Pitt L. Talebi...demonstration/validation project to assess the use of the urban stormwater model Windows Source Loading and Management Model (WinSLAMM) to characterize
Earlybird in South Staffordshire: Reflections on an Innovative Model of Interagency Working to Deliver an Intervention for Families of Preschool Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Halpin, Julia; Pitt, Sally; Dodd, Emma

2011-01-01

In this article three education and health services professionals, Julia Halpin, Sally Pitt and Emma Dodd, describe and reflect upon the way in which a small group of professionals from health and education services worked in collaboration to meet the need to inform and empower parents of preschool children with a diagnosis of autistic spectrum…
Debunking vaccination myths: strong risk negations can increase perceived vaccination risks.

PubMed

Betsch, Cornelia; Sachse, Katharina

2013-02-01

Information about risks is often contradictory, especially in the health domain. A vast amount of bizarre information on vaccine-adverse events (VAE) can be found on the Internet; most are posted by antivaccination activists. Several actors in the health sector struggle against these statements by negating claimed risks with scientific explanations. The goal of the present work is to find optimal ways of negating risk to decrease risk perceptions. In two online experiments, we varied the extremity of risk negations and their source. Perception of the probability of VAE, their expected severity (both variables serve as indicators of perceived risk), and vaccination intentions. Paradoxically, messages strongly indicating that there is "no risk" led to a higher perceived vaccination risk than weak negations. This finding extends previous work on the negativity bias, which has shown that information stating the presence of risk decreases risk perceptions, while information negating the existence of risk increases such perceptions. Several moderators were also tested; however, the effect occurred independently of the number of negations, recipient involvement, and attitude. Solely the credibility of the information source interacted with the extremity of risk negation: For credible sources (governmental institutions), strong and weak risk negations lead to similar perceived risk, while for less credible sources (pharmaceutical industries) weak negations lead to less perceived risk than strong negations. Optimal risk negation may profit from moderate rather than extreme formulations as a source's trustworthiness can vary.
Brain Knowledge and the Prevalence of Neuromyths among Prospective Teachers in Greece.

PubMed

Papadatou-Pastou, Marietta; Haliou, Eleni; Vlachos, Filippos

2017-01-01

Although very often teachers show a great interest in introducing findings from the field of neuroscience in their classrooms, there is growing concern about the lack of academic instruction on neuroscience on teachers' curricula because this has led to a proliferation of neuromyths. We surveyed 479 undergraduate (mean age = 19.60 years, SD = 2.29) and 94 postgraduate students (mean age = 28.52 years, SD = 7.16) enrolled in Departments of Education at the University of Thessaly and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. We used a 70-item questionnaire aiming to explore general knowledge on the brain, neuromyths, the participants' attitude toward neuroeducation as well as their reading habits. Prospective teachers were found to believe that neuroscience knowledge is useful for teachers (90.3% agreement), to be somewhat knowledgeable when it comes to the brain (47.33% of the assertions were answered correctly), but to be less well informed when it comes to neuroscientific issues related to special education (36.86% correct responses). Findings further indicate that general knowledge about the brain was found to be the best safeguard against believing in neuromyths. Based on our results we suggest that prospective teachers can benefit from academic instruction on neuroscience. We propose that such instruction takes place in undergraduate courses of Departments of Education and that emphasis is given in debunking neuromyths, enhancing critical reading skills, and dealing with topics relevant to special education.
The Scientific Method - Critical and Creative Thinking

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cotton, John; Scarlise, Randall

2011-10-01

The ``scientific method'' is not just for scientists! Combined with critical thinking, the scientific method can enable students to distinguish credible sources of information from nonsense and become intelligent consumers of information. Professors John Cotton and Randall Scalise illustrate these principles using a series of examples and demonstrations that is enlightening, educational, and entertaining. This lecture/demonstration features highlights from their course (whose unofficial title is ``debunking pseudoscience'' ) which enables students to detect pseudoscience in its many guises: paranormal phenomena, free-energy devices, alternative medicine, and many others.

Bias correction for selecting the minimal-error classifier from many machine learning models.

PubMed

Ding, Ying; Tang, Shaowu; Liao, Serena G; Jia, Jia; Oesterreich, Steffi; Lin, Yan; Tseng, George C

2014-11-15

Supervised machine learning is commonly applied in genomic research to construct a classifier from the training data that is generalizable to predict independent testing data. When test datasets are not available, cross-validation is commonly used to estimate the error rate. Many machine learning methods are available, and it is well known that no universally best method exists in general. It has been a common practice to apply many machine learning methods and report the method that produces the smallest cross-validation error rate. Theoretically, such a procedure produces a selection bias. Consequently, many clinical studies with moderate sample sizes (e.g. n = 30-60) risk reporting a falsely small cross-validation error rate that could not be validated later in independent cohorts. In this article, we illustrated the probabilistic framework of the problem and explored the statistical and asymptotic properties. We proposed a new bias correction method based on learning curve fitting by inverse power law (IPL) and compared it with three existing methods: nested cross-validation, weighted mean correction and Tibshirani-Tibshirani procedure. All methods were compared in simulation datasets, five moderate size real datasets and two large breast cancer datasets. The result showed that IPL outperforms the other methods in bias correction with smaller variance, and it has an additional advantage to extrapolate error estimates for larger sample sizes, a practical feature to recommend whether more samples should be recruited to improve the classifier and accuracy. An R package 'MLbias' and all source files are publicly available. tsenglab.biostat.pitt.edu/software.htm. ctseng@pitt.edu Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.
Comparing the therapeutic efficacies of third-generation cephalosporins and broader-spectrum β-lactams as appropriate empirical therapy in adults with community-onset monomicrobial Enterobacteriaceae bacteraemia: a propensity score matched analysis.

PubMed

Lee, Chung-Hsun; Hsieh, Chih-Chia; Hong, Ming-Yuan; Hung, Yuan-Pin; Ko, Wen-Chien; Lee, Ching-Chi

2017-05-01

In this study, the therapeutic efficacy of third-generation cephalosporins (3GCs) was compared with that of broader-spectrum β-lactams (BSBLs) [fourth-generation cephalosporins (4GCs) and carbapenems] as empirical therapy in adults with community-onset monomicrobial Enterobacteriaceae bacteraemia. Compared with those in the 3GC group (n = 477), a significantly higher proportion of patients in the BSBL group (n = 141) had initial presentation with severe sepsis or septic shock, critical illness (Pitt bacteraemia score ≥4) at bacteraemia onset and fatal co-morbidities (McCabe classification). For propensity score matching, 318 of the 477 patients in the 3GC group were matched with 106 patients in the BSBL group with the closest propensity scores on the basis of five independent predictors of 28-day mortality. After appropriate matching, no significant differences were observed in major baseline characteristics between the 3GC and BSBL groups in terms of causative micro-organism, bacteraemia severity, major source of bacteraemia, major co-morbidities and severity of co-morbidity. Consequently, the early clinical failure rate (12.9% vs. 12.3%; P = 0.87), bacteraemia severity (Pitt bacteraemia score ≥4; 4.6% vs. 8.2%; P = 0.17) at Day 3, and 3-day (3.8% vs. 7.5%; P = 0.11) and 28-day (13.2% vs. 17.0%; P = 0.33) crude mortality rates between the two groups were similar. These data suggest that the efficacy of 3GCs is similar to that of 4GCs or carbapenems when used as empirical antimicrobial therapy for community-onset Enterobacteriaceae bacteraemia. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. and International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.
Abrasion-Erosion Evaluation of Concrete Mixtures for Stilling Basin Repairs, Kinzua Dam, Pennsylvania.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-09-01

principal investigator. Mr. Steven A. Ragan prepared the concrete . mixtures; Mr. Dale Glass , Mr. Frank W. Dorsey, and Mr. Roger Buttner con- Vducted the...from the Buffalo Slag Co., Franklinville, New York. This fine aggregate is classified as a glacial sand and is composed primarily of limestone and...LAS SYMBOL NO.. PITT-8 S-1 TYPE OF MATERIAL Fine Aggregate LOCATION; Franklin, NY PRODUCER: Buffalo Slag Co. SAMPLED BY: Pittsburgh District Personnel
Mechanisms of Dopamine Release From Rat Striatum and Nucleus Accumbens Slices:The Role of Transporters, Receptors and Membrane Depolarization

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-07-21

hydroxylase could represent pan of the biochemical basis of cocaine addiction and craving (Beitner-Johnson and Nestler, 1991). Although cocaine...in reinforcement , the mechanisms underlying the stimulant and reinforcing effects of addictive drugs such as D-amphetamine and cocaine remain... baclofen on neurons in the tar substantia nigra slice. Brai n Res. 332:337-340, 1984 Pitts , D.K. and Marwah, J.: Cocaine and central monoaminergic
Modulation of Estrogen-Depurinating DNA Adducts by Sulforaphane for Breast Cancer

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-10-01

oup.com Subject: Carcinogenesis MS - CARCIN-2011-00715 Date: Tue, August 30, 2011 1:41 pm To: liyang@pitt.edu 30-Aug-2011 35 36 Dear...and its metabolites may play an important role in renal cell carcinogenesis. Catechol-<i>O</i>-methyltransferase ( COMT ) participates in the estrogen...metabolism pathway by neutralizing toxic substances. Although reduced COMT activity has been suggested to be a risk factor for estrogen-associated
Demonstration of Low Impact Development (LID) to Mitigate Stormwater Metal Contaminants in Navy Commercial Areas

DTIC Science & Technology

2018-04-01

Development Center along with Bob Pitt, Kathleen Harrison, Courtney Wilson, and Maggie McCormick for providing key technical assistance, design work...Southwest (NAVFACSW) staff to gain acceptance of the concepts and final design , and promote the technology demonstration up the chain of command. This effort...observations, with some metal loads over predicted and some under predicted. The results suggest that the modeling and design work can be used with
Water and Wastewater Characterization Survey, Williams AFB AZ

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-03-01

effluent discharges. Most industrial effluent originates from the flight line operations. The WWTP includes primary sedimentation , trickling filters...final sedimentation , plug-flow chlorine contact basin, and a stabilization pond. Samples were collected at the influent and effluent of the plant...Stispcndcd Solido ~ 60) 31 pit wvithll 6.0 to 90- *1 1*0 is Totil toxic 0, plan:*’ aq (leCiitc(l at .i10 (1 R Pitt 4133. 5 (IIIL)RINE REOPENEP T1 his permit
A Flight-Dynamic Helicopter Mathematical Model with a Single Flap-Lag- Torsion Main Rotor

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-02-01

allows several hinge sequences and two offsets in the hinges. Quasi-steady Greenberg theory is used to calculate the blade-section aerodynamic forces...steady Greenberg model is used (ref. 3), Unsteady inflow effects are included using the three-state nonlinear Pitt/Peters dynamic inflow model (ref. 4...sectional aerodynamic model is based on quasi-steady Greenberg theory, which is a Theodorsen theory modified to account for lead-lag motions (refs. 3,14). The
The behavioral implications of the bilateral gamma process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Haibin; Wang, Shouyang; Lu, Zudi

2018-06-01

Bilateral gamma process is widely used in risk management and asset pricing. However the behavioral implications of this process remain unknown. This paper investigates this problem for the first time within the framework of Tauchen and Pitts (1983). With the assumption that there are two types of traders in the market, the optimistic and the pessimistic, we find the bilateral gamma process can be derived from Walrasian equilibrium. This finding establishes the microstructure foundations for the bilateral gamma process.
Internet Economics IV

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-08-01

components, and B2B /B2C aspects of those in a technical and economic snapshot. Talk number six discusses the trade-off between quality and cost, which...web services have been defined. The fifth talk summarizes key aspects of XML (Extended Markup Language), Web Services and their components, and B2B ...Internet is Run: A Worldwide Perspective 69 Christoph Pauls 5 XML, Web Services and B2C/ B2B : A Technical and Economical Snap- shot 87 Matthias Pitt 6
2015 Distinguished career award: Reflections on a career in science.

PubMed

Stricker, Edward M

2016-08-01

I was very pleased to receive the 2015 Distinguished Career Award from SSIB. This brief manuscript contains reminisces that might stir up pleasant memories in the older members of SSIB and also some general thoughts that I hope will be of value to the younger investigators who are closer to the beginning of their scientific careers. Although the organization has chosen to honor me with this special award, my own career was shaped by a great many people who have influenced my scientific career and I want to acknowledge them. They include Neal Miller, my doctoral mentor at Yale; Joe Holmes and Alan Epstein, my postdoctoral mentors; George Wolf and Reed Hainsworth, graduate student colleagues; John Brobeck, Paul Rozin, and Phil Teitelbaum, Michael Zigmond, Joe Verbalis, Jim Smith, and Alan Sved, faculty colleagues; Derek Denton, Paul McHugh, and James Fitzsimons, scientific role models; John Bruno, Steve Fluharty, and Linda Rinaman, post-doctoral trainees at Pitt; and Lori Flanagan, Kath Curtis, Michael Bushey, Mike Bykowski, Reza Manesh, Carrie Smith, Jennifer Vaughan, and Myriam Stricker, student trainees at Pitt. I thank them all and also my colleagues in SSIB not only for the honor of this award but for providing an abundant supply of insights and discoveries that have stimulated me throughout my adult life, in addition to being an attentive community in supporting my own work. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
"We Know but We Don't Really Know": Diet, Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Knowledge and Beliefs Among Underserved Pregnant Women.

PubMed

Beckham, A Jenna; Urrutia, Rachel Peragallo; Sahadeo, Latoya; Corbie-Smith, Giselle; Nicholson, Wanda

2015-08-01

To describe the knowledge of underserved pregnant women related to diet, physical activity, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Underserved pregnant women from the University of North Carolina and Pitt County, North Carolina participated in 9 focus group interviews. Focus group questions focused on knowledge of CVD risk factors, lifestyle prevention strategies such as diet and physical activity, and the sources of such knowledge. Data were analyzed with the constant comparative method. Prior to the focus group, each woman was invited to complete a telephone survey to collect demographic information and responses to a 13-item CVD knowledge questionnaire. Means and frequency procedures were used to analyze demographic information. Fifty women participated in nine focus group interviews. Participants possessed basic knowledge of CVD risk factors and preventive strategies, such as basic guidelines and recommendations for healthy diet and physical activity in pregnancy. However, women often receive incomplete guidance from obstetric providers, and women, therefore, desired more information on these topics. Some gaps were filled by nurses and nutritionists. Women also sought information from female friends and relatives. Incorrect knowledge was demonstrated in all groups and led to less healthful behaviors in some cases. Underserved pregnant women have basic knowledge about healthy lifestyle and CVD prevention behaviors; however important gaps and misinformation exist.
A Retrospective Review: Significance of Vegetation Size in Injection Drug Users with Right-Sided Infective Endocarditis.

PubMed

Otome, Ohide; Guy, Stephen; Tramontana, Adrian; Lane, Garry; Karunajeewa, Harin

2016-05-01

Previously described prognostic markers in right-sided infective endocarditis (RSIE) include vegetation size ≥1cm, fever for more than three weeks, cardiac failure and severe sepsis. This study aimed to evaluate effectiveness of medical therapy for vegetations ≥1cm and explore determinants of outcome in a representative population of intravenous drug users (IDUs) at a metropolitan Australian health service. Retrospective review of consecutive IDUs presenting to our institution with native-valve RSIE (by modified Duke criteria) over seven years (2005-2011). Data recorded included echocardiographic estimation of maximal vegetation diameter (classified as < or ≥1cm). Relationships between vegetation size and specified outcomes of death, septic shock, recurrence and relapse were examined by Chi-squared testing. Of 49 episodes five (10%) were managed surgically and a further four (8%) were lost to follow-up and excluded from the analysis. Of the remaining 40 evaluable medically treated patients (median age 28, range 20-55), 37 (93%) cultured methicillin-sensitive S. aureus and all had tricuspid valve involvement. Of 24 with vegetations ≥1cm, three died (mortality 13%) compared with one (6%) in 16 medically treated patients with vegetations <1cm (p=0.63). A Pittsburgh (PITT) bacteraemia score of ≥4 at presentation was associated with a mortality of 24% (four of 17 patients died) compared with 0 in 23 patients with PITT scores <4 (p=0.026). Medical therapy alone can be effective for RSIE when large vegetations are present. However a high sepsis score at presentation may increase risk of death. Larger studies are required to determine optimal indications for early surgical intervention. Copyright © 2015 Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons (ANZSCTS) and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Healthcare-associated, community-acquired and hospital-acquired bacteraemic urinary tract infections in hospitalized patients: a prospective multicentre cohort study in the era of antimicrobial resistance.

PubMed

Horcajada, J P; Shaw, E; Padilla, B; Pintado, V; Calbo, E; Benito, N; Gamallo, R; Gozalo, M; Rodríguez-Baño, J

2013-10-01

The clinical and microbiological characteristics of community-onset healthcare-associated (HCA) bacteraemia of urinary source are not well defined. We conducted a prospective cohort study at eight tertiary-care hospitals in Spain, from October 2010 to June 2011. All consecutive adult patients hospitalized with bacteraemic urinary tract infection (BUTI) were included. HCA-BUTI episodes were compared with community-acquired (CA) and hospital-acquired (HA) BUTI. A logistic regression analysis was performed to identify 30-day mortality risk factors. We included 667 episodes of BUTI (246 HCA, 279 CA and 142 HA). Differences between HCA-BUTI and CA-BUTI were female gender (40% vs 69%, p <0.001), McCabe score II-III (48% vs 14%, p <0.001), Pitt score ≥2 (40% vs 31%, p 0.03), isolation of extended spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaciae (13% vs 5%, p <0.001), median hospital stay (9 vs 7 days, p 0.03), inappropriate empirical antimicrobial therapy (21% vs 13%, p 0.02) and mortality (11.4% vs 3.9%, p 0.001). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was more frequently isolated in HA-BUTI (16%) than in HCA-BUTI (4%, p <0.001). Independent factors for mortality were age (OR 1.04; 95% CI 1.01-1.07), McCabe score II-III (OR 3.2; 95% CI 1.8-5.5), Pitt score ≥2 (OR 3.2 (1.8-5.5) and HA-BUTI OR 3.4 (1.2-9.0)). Patients with HCA-BUTI are a specific group with significant clinical and microbiological differences from patients with CA-BUTI, and some similarities with patients with HA-BUTI. Mortality was associated with patient condition, the severity of infection and hospital acquisition. © 2012 The Authors Clinical Microbiology and Infection © 2012 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.
Exploration of the Feasibility of Present Generation Lithium Batteries for Electric Vehicles.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-11-01

would allow for overcharging the battery as a whole. Chemical redox pairs with formal potentials above the cathode potential and below the potential...AD-A 24 098 EXPLORATION 0F THE FEASIBILT 0F PRESENT GENERATION 1/ LITHIUM BATTERIES FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES(U) EIC LABS INC NEWTON MA P B HARRIS ET AL...LITHIUM BATTERIES FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES by P. B. Harris, G. L. Holleck, J. Buzby, J. Avery, L. Pitts and K. M. Abraham EIC Laboratories, Inc. 67 Chapel
Automated Design of a Microprogrammed Controller for a Finite State Machine

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-06-01

Franz Lisp and the Liszt compiler. The most im- portant component of lincoln.l is the defstruct (define structure) macro. The defstruct macro is used to...multiple definition problem for the global variable "ospeed". This problem was the result of loading a C language object file into Franz Lisp or Liszt with...a global variable which had the same name as one inside Lisp or Liszt . MacPitts was written using an older Opus of Franz that did not have a termcap
Increasing the Practical Impact of Formal Methods for Computer-Aided Software Development: Software Slicing, Merging and Integration

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-10-15

Chairs: Luqi Dave Dampier Workshop Chairman: Valdis Berzins Program Committee Chairs: Luqi Dave Dampier Program Committee: Joseph Goguen David Hislop ...Monterey, CA 93943 9500 Gilman Drive (408) 656-2461 La Jolla, CA 92093 berzins@cs.nps.navy.mil (619) 534-6898 wgg@cs.ucsd.edu A. Berztiss David Hislop ...Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2211 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260 (919) 549-4255 (412) 624-8401 hislop @aro-emh 1 .army.mil alpha@cs.pitt.edu Jim
Military Review. Volume 82, Number 2, March-April 2002

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-04-01

Association (1997), 399-411. 6. A.M. Friedlander, S.L. Welkos, M.L.M. Pitt, J.W. Ezzell , P.L. Worsham, K.J. Rose, et al., �Postexposure Prophylaxis Against...forces. The helicopter drop should be from two to three miles behind the target, so that instead of going deeper into enemy territory for the attack...333 pages, $25.00. Two weeks before the end of World War II, a Japanese submarine in the Philippine Sea, about 350 miles East of Leyte, torpedoed
Tetracycline Susceptibility Testing and Resistance Genes in Isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii-Acinetobacter calcoaceticus Complex from a U.S. Military Hospital

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-06-01

marcescens . Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 73:2199– 2206. 12. Turton, J. F., N. Woodford, J. Glover, S . Yarde, M. E. Kaufmann, and T. L. Pitt. 2006...Susceptibility Testing and Resistance Genes in Isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii-Acinetobacter calcoaceticus Complex from a U.S. Military Hospital Kevin S ...3 2 8 29 9 30 7 a S , susceptible. 2693 Report Documentation Page Form ApprovedOMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for the collection of
Debunking Astronomical Fiction Science: A Resource Guide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fraknoi, A.

2010-08-01

This resource guide is for educators who receive questions about controversial topics and want readings or websites to brush up on the facts or to recommend to students or the public. This is by no means a complete list, but a short guide of some of the key resources that may be of help. A version of this was distributed at the meeting during the oral session. Longer version of this list can be found online at http://www.astrosociety.org/education/resources/pseudobib.html.

COIN Manpower Ratios: Debunking the 10 to 1 Ratio and Surges

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-01-15

54-‘62 400,000 50,000 8:1 Angola ’75-‘88 110,000 100,000 1:1 Bolivia 18,000 5,000 4:1 Cuba ’53-‘59 12,000 3,000 4:1 Revolution of French...of Guerrilla Warfare. New York: Checkmark Books. Brennan, R. (1959). Castro, Cuba , and Justice. Garden City: Doubleday & Co. Brogan, P. (1998...Draper, T. (1961, March 27). Castro’s Cuba : A Revolution Betrayed? New Leader, XLIV, 1-8. Herne, B. (1999). White hunters : the golden age of African
Controversial therapeutics: the β-adrenergic antagonist and cocaine-associated cardiovascular complications dilemma.

PubMed

Schurr, James W; Gitman, Brenda; Belchikov, Yuly

2014-12-01

Cocaine abuse is associated with cardiovascular complications that include chest pain and myocardial infarction. Traditional therapy for these conditions includes a β-adrenergic antagonist. However, guidelines released in 2008 recommended against this treatment option because of the prevailing theory that cocaine will potentiate vasospasm secondary to unopposed α-adrenergic effects. Subsequently, further evidence and updated guidelines have become available, debunking this claim. Current literature is limited but suggests that β-adrenergic antagonists are harmful. Although case reports support a detrimental effect of β-adrenergic antagonists, the anecdotal data are inconsistent, and the conclusions from case studies are overruled by larger studies. The pharmacology, pathophysiology, and literature on the use of β-adrenergic antagonists in association with cocaine are reviewed. Future studies that focus on outcomes and different pharmacologic profiles of β-adrenergic antagonists are needed. © 2014 Pharmacotherapy Publications, Inc.
Brain Knowledge and the Prevalence of Neuromyths among Prospective Teachers in Greece

PubMed Central

Papadatou-Pastou, Marietta; Haliou, Eleni; Vlachos, Filippos

2017-01-01

Although very often teachers show a great interest in introducing findings from the field of neuroscience in their classrooms, there is growing concern about the lack of academic instruction on neuroscience on teachers' curricula because this has led to a proliferation of neuromyths. We surveyed 479 undergraduate (mean age = 19.60 years, SD = 2.29) and 94 postgraduate students (mean age = 28.52 years, SD = 7.16) enrolled in Departments of Education at the University of Thessaly and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. We used a 70-item questionnaire aiming to explore general knowledge on the brain, neuromyths, the participants' attitude toward neuroeducation as well as their reading habits. Prospective teachers were found to believe that neuroscience knowledge is useful for teachers (90.3% agreement), to be somewhat knowledgeable when it comes to the brain (47.33% of the assertions were answered correctly), but to be less well informed when it comes to neuroscientific issues related to special education (36.86% correct responses). Findings further indicate that general knowledge about the brain was found to be the best safeguard against believing in neuromyths. Based on our results we suggest that prospective teachers can benefit from academic instruction on neuroscience. We propose that such instruction takes place in undergraduate courses of Departments of Education and that emphasis is given in debunking neuromyths, enhancing critical reading skills, and dealing with topics relevant to special education. PMID:28611700
Confronting Misinformation in Climate Change Higher Education

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bedford, D. P.

2012-12-01

Among the many challenges faced by climate change educators is the highly politicized nature of the subject matter (e.g. McCright and Dunlap, 2011) and the associated misinformation from key media outlets and websites (e.g. see Oreskes and Conway, 2010). Students typically do not enter the classroom as 'blank slates', but often have already formed some opinion about climate change which may or may not be based on reputable sources. Further, many students have lives outside the classroom and/or off campus, and even those who do live in an isolated bubble of campus life will eventually graduate. Thus, providing students with a level of climate change knowledge and understanding robust enough to cope with misinformation may be an important goal for educators. This paper presents a case study of the direct use of climate change misinformation as a college-level classroom activity. Some research from other fields (notably psychology) has found that directly addressing misconceptions in the classroom can be the most effective means of dispelling them (Kowalski and Taylor, 2009). However, directly confronting misinformation in the classroom carries inherent risks, such as reinforcing misconceptions (e.g. Cook and Lewandowsky, 2011). This paper therefore considers approaches to minimizing those risks while attempting to maximize the possible benefits. This paper argues that use of misinformation as a teaching tool can provide useful exercises in critical thinking, testing of content knowledge, and consideration of the nature of science. Cook, J. and S. Lewandowsky. 2011. The Debunking Handbook. Online publication available www.skepticalscience.com/docs/Debunking_Handbook.pdf. Accessed 7 July 2012. Kowalski, P. and A.K. Taylor. 2009. DOI: 10.1080/00986280902959986. McCright, A., and R.T. Dunlap. 2011. The politicization of climate change and polarization in the American public's views of global warming, 2001-2010. The Sociological Quarterly 52:2, 155-194. Oreskes, N. and E. Conway. 2010. Merchants of Doubt. Bloomsbury Press.
Abrasion-Erosion Resistance of Concrete Made with Two Aggregates, Stonewall Jackson Dam, West Virginia.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-09-01

the concrete mixtures; Mr. Dale Glass , Mr. Frank W. Dorsey, and Mr. Roger Buttner conducted the abrasion-erosion tests. Mr. Stuart Long served as the...PITT- 8 S-1, was from the Buffalo Slag Co., Franklinville, New York. This fine aggregate is classified as a glacial sand and is composed primarily of...MATERIAL Fine Aggregate ILZAI% Franklin, NY R:.rLcE- Buffalo Slag Co. sA--L.. BY ~ J2rhDst:r esne Kinzua Damn - . USED A PROCESSING BEFORE TESTING
History of the chemical heritage foundation scientific instrumentation museum.

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

Ferraro, J. R.; Brame, E. G., Jr.; Chemistry

It all began in March 1990 at the 40th Pittsburgh Conference (PittCon) meeting in the Jacob Javitz Convention Center in New York, New York. Coauthor John R. Ferraro stopped at the Beckman Booth and began discussing with Robert Jarnutowski, at the time an engineer with Beckman Instruments (Fullerton, CA), the impending 50th anniversary of the landmark instrument, the Beckman DU spectrophotometer, in 1991. The thought entered Ferraro's mind that landmark instruments such as this one should be preserved in a museum, Germany, England, and Italy host scientific instrumentation museums.
KSC-2013-3561

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-08-15

DRYDEN FLIGHT RESEARCH CENTER, Calif. - Simulation technicians Brent Bieber, left, and Dennis Pitts install a boilerplate Dream Chaser canopy structure over the cockpit of a flight simulator in the simulation laboratory at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center in California. The modification will give Dream Chaser pilot-astronauts a more representative view of the actual flight profiles the spacecraft would fly during piloted approach and landing tests. Sierra Nevada Corporation's Space Systems division is conducting uncrewed captive- and free-flight approach and landing tests of its Dream Chaser at Dryden during the summer and fall. Photo credit: NASA/Ken Ulbrich
Effective Use of Naloxone by Law Enforcement in Response to Multiple Opioid Overdoses.

PubMed

Kitch, Bryan B; Portela, Roberto C

2016-01-01

Growing rates of opioid abuse and overdose throughout the nation have lead some community organizations to develop naloxone administration programs. In Pitt County North Carolina, two of our law enforcement agencies were trained in the identification of opioid overdose and use of naloxone therapy. Attributed partially to introduction of fentanyl into the illicit drug market, our community experienced a 48-hour period in which officers successfully deployed five doses of antagonist medication to four individuals. This article presents case descriptions demonstrating the feasibility and safety of law enforcement naloxone programs.
Fake news and post-truth pronouncements in general and in early human development.

PubMed

Grech, Victor

2017-12-01

Fake news and post-truth pronouncements are increasingly common, and are unfortunately also progressively being applied to the sciences, including the medical sciences. This editorial briefly reviews this unsavoury trend and highlights recent debunking of fake truths in early human development. Science is arguably the last metanarrative with any significant cachet in the postmodern period. We, as scientists, must strive to ensure that our work is transparent and of the highest possible standard so as to continue to uphold science's integrity and probity. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Gay priests and other bogeymen.

PubMed

Clark, Stephen J

2006-01-01

The sexual abuse of boys by priests was at the center of the 2002 scandal in the Roman Catholic Church. This scandal has resurrected the misconception that a link exists between having a homosexual orientation and being at increased risk for being a pedophile or child molester. This paper reviews and debunks the arguments in support of this misconception. Central to these arguments is what might be called the "proportionality argument": that the ratio of homosexuals to heterosexuals among child molesters is higher than the ratio of homosexuals to heterosexuals in the general population. The flaws in the proportionality argument and several other misconceptions are discussed.
The Pitt Innovation Challenge (PInCh): Driving Innovation in Translational Research Through an Incentive-Based, Problem-Focused Competition.

PubMed

Fitzpatrick, Nicole Edgar; Maier, John; Yasko, Laurel; Mathias, David; Qua, Kacy; Wagner, Erika; Miller, Elizabeth; Reis, Steven E

2017-05-01

Translational research aims to move scientific discoveries across the biomedical spectrum from the laboratory to humans, and to ultimately transform clinical practice and public health policies. Despite efforts to accelerate translational research through national initiatives, several major hurdles remain. The authors created the Pitt Innovation Challenge (PInCh) as an incentive-based, problem-focused approach to solving identified clinical or public health problems at the University of Pittsburgh Clinical and Translational Science Institute in spring 2014. With input from a broad range of stakeholders, PInCh leadership arrived at the challenge question: How do we empower individuals to take control of their own health outcomes? The authors developed the PInCh's three-round proposal submission and review process as well as an online contest management tool to support the process. Ninety-two teams submitted video proposals in round one. Proposals included mobile applications (29; 32%), other information technology (19; 21%), and community program (22; 24%) solutions. Ten teams advanced to the final round, where three were awarded $100,000 to implement their solution over 12 months. In a 6-month follow-up survey, 6/11 (55%) team leaders stated the PInCh helped to facilitate connections outside their normal sphere of collaborators. Additional educational training sessions related to problem-focused research will be developed. The PInCh will be expanded to engage investment and industry communities to facilitate the translation of solutions to clinical practice via commercialization pathways. External organizations and other universities will be engaged to use the PInCh as a mechanism to fuel innovation in their spaces.
Shared vision and autonomous motivation vs. financial incentives driving success in corporate acquisitions

PubMed Central

Clayton, Byron C.

2015-01-01

Successful corporate acquisitions require its managers to achieve substantial performance improvements in order to sufficiently cover acquisition premiums, the expected return of debt and equity investors, and the additional resources needed to capture synergies and accelerate growth. Acquirers understand that achieving the performance improvements necessary to cover these costs and create value for investors will most likely require a significant effort from mergers and acquisitions (M&A) management teams. This understanding drives the common and longstanding practice of offering hefty performance incentive packages to key managers, assuming that financial incentives will induce in-role and extra-role behaviors that drive organizational change and growth. The present study debunks the assumptions of this common M&A practice, providing quantitative evidence that shared vision and autonomous motivation are far more effective drivers of managerial performance than financial incentives. PMID:25610406
Shared vision and autonomous motivation vs. financial incentives driving success in corporate acquisitions.

PubMed

Clayton, Byron C

2014-01-01

Successful corporate acquisitions require its managers to achieve substantial performance improvements in order to sufficiently cover acquisition premiums, the expected return of debt and equity investors, and the additional resources needed to capture synergies and accelerate growth. Acquirers understand that achieving the performance improvements necessary to cover these costs and create value for investors will most likely require a significant effort from mergers and acquisitions (M&A) management teams. This understanding drives the common and longstanding practice of offering hefty performance incentive packages to key managers, assuming that financial incentives will induce in-role and extra-role behaviors that drive organizational change and growth. The present study debunks the assumptions of this common M&A practice, providing quantitative evidence that shared vision and autonomous motivation are far more effective drivers of managerial performance than financial incentives.
The Effect of Hydrophobic Pockets in Human Serum Albumin Adsorption to Self-Assembled Monolayers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, Eugene J.; Jia, Shijin; Petrash, Stanislaw; Foster, Mark D.

2001-04-01

Molecular properties of proteins and their interactions with surfaces have an effect on protein adsorption, which is one of the first and most important events that occurs when a biological fluid contacts a surface. For biomaterials applications, blood reaction to foreign objects can cause thrombosis. To understand thrombosis, it is necessary to understand the mechanism of adsorption of blood proteins onto artificial surfaces. Such interactions as hydrophobicity^1,2, electrostatics^3 and specific binding^4 have been found to be driving forces for protein adsorption. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) provide an ideal surface for which protein adsorption behavior can be studied.^1 SAMs provide chemical homogeneity, robustness, and variable surface functionality. The hydrophobicity of SAMs has been of great interest in studying surface interactions with proteins.^1, 2 The packing density of alkyl chains of SAMs can also be varied in order to obtain different surface properties. The most abundant protein in the blood is human serum albumin (HSA). Because HSA acts as a fatty acid transporter, it has six binding sites for fatty acids. Pitt and Cooper^4 have shown that alkylation of surfaces increases the initial adsorption rate of delipidized (fatty acid free) HSA. Petrash et al.^5 have shown that delipidized HSA binds more tenaciously to less densely packed alkyl SAMs than to densely packed alkyl SAMs when desorbed by sodium dodecyl sulfate. Using X-ray reflectivity to study the adsorbed protein layer thickness, lipidized HSA (fatty acid bound) adsorption and desorption studies showed that specific binding of HSA is one of the main factors in binding tenacity between HSA and less densely packed alkyl SAMs. Atomic force microscopy was used as a complementary technique to confirm these results, and neutron reflectivity and spectroscopy techniques will also be used to study the adsorption behaviors of HSA and other blood proteins in future work. 1. Prime, K. L.; Whitesides, G. M. Science 1991, 252, 1164. 2. Lu, J. R.; Su, T. J.; Thirtle, P. N.; Thomas, R. K.; Rennie, A. R.; Cubitt, R. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 1998, 206, 212. 3. Su, T. J.; Lu, J.R.; Thomas, R. K.; Cui, Z. F. J. Phys. Chem. B. 1999, 103, 3727. 4. Pitt, W. G.; Cooper, S. L. J. Biomed. Mater. Res. 1988, 22, 359. 5. Petrash, S.; Sheller, N. B.; Dando, W.; Foster, M. D. Langmuir 1997, 13, 1881.
Using "Making Sense of Climate Science Denial" MOOC videos in a college course

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schuenemann, K. C.; Cook, J.

2015-12-01

The Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) "Denial101x: Making Sense of Climate Science Denial" teaches students to make sense of the science and respond to climate change denial. The course is made up of a series of short, myth-debunking lecture videos that can be strategically used in college courses. The videos and the visuals within have proven a great resource for an introductory college level climate change course. Methods for using the videos in both online and in-classroom courses will be presented, as well as student reactions and learning from the videos. The videos introduce and explain a climate science topic, then paraphrase a common climate change myth, explain why the myth is wrong by identifying the characteristic of climate denial used, and concludes by reinforcing the correct science. By focusing on common myths, the MOOC has made an archive of videos that can be used by anyone in need of a 5-minute response to debunk a myth. By also highlighting five characteristics of climate denial: fake experts, logical fallacies, impossible expectations, cherry picking, and conspiracy theories (FLICC), the videos also teach the viewer the skills they need to critically examine myths they may encounter in the real world on a variety of topics. The videos also include a series of expert scientist interviews that can be used to drive home points, as well as put some faces to the science. These videos are freely available outside of the MOOC and can be found under the relevant "Most used climate myths" section on the skepticalscience.com webpage, as well as directly on YouTube. Discover ideas for using videos in future courses, regardless of discipline.
Insect vision as model for machine vision

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Osorio, D.; Sobey, Peter J.

1992-11-01

The neural architecture, neurophysiology and behavioral abilities of insect vision are described, and compared with that of mammals. Insects have a hardwired neural architecture of highly differentiated neurons, quite different from the cerebral cortex, yet their behavioral abilities are in important respects similar to those of mammals. These observations challenge the view that the key to the power of biological neural computation is distributed processing by a plastic, highly interconnected, network of individually undifferentiated and unreliable neurons that has been a dominant picture of biological computation since Pitts and McCulloch's seminal work in the 1940's.
The gravitational wave strain in the characteristic formalism of numerical relativity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bishop, Nigel T.; Reisswig, Christian

2014-01-01

The extraction of the gravitational wave signal, within the context of a characteristic numerical evolution is revisited. A formula for the gravitational wave strain is developed and tested, and is made publicly available as part of the PITT code within the Einstein Toolkit. Using the new strain formula, we show that artificial non-linear drifts inherent in time integrated waveforms can be reduced for the case of a binary black hole merger configuration. For the test case of a rapidly spinning stellar core collapse model, however, we find that the drift must have different roots.
The U.S. Air Service in World War I. Volume IV. Postwar Review,

DTIC Science & Technology

1979-01-01

19, 1914 12 M 10 No 1)iinag S-ept. 10, 1416 2 P)ITt is Nil Dama~e Aug 13, 1918H 1145 pmn 16 D~ouble track dietruyrd, 17 hours to rCliAtt St2516, 1918 ...this use of its bombing aviation) as carried out in the war of 1914 - 1918 is the lack of a predetermined program carefully calculated to destroy by...History," R-I, the correction Stuttgart, with munition works (23 August 1914 to 26 being the addition of the at Oberndorf as the alternate September 1918
Halogen and Sulfur Reactions Relevant to Polar Chemistry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wine, Paul H.; Nicovich, J. Michael; Stickel, Robert E.; Zhao, Z.; Shackleford, C. J.; Kreutter, K. D.; Daykin, E. P.; Wang, S.

1997-01-01

It is widely hypothesized that catalytic cycles involving BrO(x) species play an important role in the episodic destruction of ground-level ozone which is observed in the springtime Arctic boundary layer, although the exact mechanism for production of BrO(x) radicals remains an open question [Barrie et al., Bottenheim et al.; Finlayson-Pitts et al., McConnell et al.] The critical evidence linking ozone depletion with BrO(x) chemistry is an observed negative correlation between ozone and filterable bromine [Bottenheim et al., Kieser et al.] In a recent field study of springtime Arctic boundary layer chemistry [Kieser et al.] ozone concentrations and ethane concentrations were found to be correlated; this observation suggests chlorine atoms (which react rapidly with ethane) may also be an important catalyst for ozone destruction under springtime Arctic conditions.
The Pitt Innovation Challenge (PInCh): Driving Innovation in Translational Research Through an Incentive-Based, Problem-Focused Competition

PubMed Central

Fitzpatrick, Nicole Edgar; Maier, John; Yasko, Laurel; Mathias, David; Qua, Kacy; Wagner, Erika; Miller, Elizabeth; Reis, Steven E.

2017-01-01

Problem Translational research aims to move scientific discoveries across the biomedical spectrum from the laboratory to humans, and to ultimately transform clinical practice and public health policies. Despite efforts to accelerate translational research through national initiatives, several major hurdles remain. Approach The authors created the Pitt Innovation Challenge (PInCh) as an incentive-based, problem-focused approach to solving identified clinical or public health problems at the University of Pittsburgh Clinical and Translational Science Institute in spring 2014. With input from a broad range of stakeholders, PInCh leadership arrived at the challenge question: How do we empower individuals to take control of their own health outcomes? The authors developed the PInCh’s three-round proposal submission and review process as well as an online contest management tool to support the process. Outcomes Ninety-two teams submitted videos proposals in round one. Proposals included mobile applications (29, 32%), other information technology (19, 21%), and community program (22, 24%) solutions. Ten teams advanced to the final round, where three were awarded $100,000 to implement their solution over twelve months. In a six-month follow-up survey, 6/11 (55%) team leaders stated the PInCh helped to facilitate connections outside their normal sphere of collaborators. Next Steps Additional educational training sessions related to problem-focused research will be developed. The PInCh will be expanded to engage investment and industry communities to facilitate the translation of solutions to clinical practice via commercialization pathways. External organizations and other universities will be engaged to use the PInCh as a mechanism to fuel innovation in their spaces. PMID:27508341

Ambroise Paré (1510-1590) and His Innovative Work on the Treatment of War Injuries.

PubMed

Markatos, Konstantinos; Tzivra, Anna; Tsoutsos, Spyridon; Tsourouflis, Gerasimos; Karamanou, Marianna; Androutsos, Georgios

2018-04-01

The purpose of this study is to summarize the innovations of Ambroise Paré (1510-1590) on the treatment of war wounds and improving amputation technique through ligature in arteries and veins. Ambroise Paré debunked the widely accepted idea that gun powder was poisonous for wounds. He also minimized the use of cautery of wounds by his dressing methods and the application of ligature during amputations. All these innovative rationales revolutionized the practice of war surgery during the Renaissance and paved the way for the introduction of modern surgery. Nevertheless, although his wound dressing innovations became widely accepted, the same did not happen with ligature and amputation; those techniques could become widely applicable if one could somehow control bleeding until the blood vessels had been tied. This became possible much later in the 18th century when Jean Louis Petit invented the first useful and efficient tourniquet.
The close relationships of Lesbians and gay men.

PubMed

Peplau, Letitia Anne; Fingerhut, Adam W

2007-01-01

This article reviews empirical studies of same-sex couples in the United States, highlighting consistent findings, drawing comparisons to heterosexual couples, and noting gaps in available research. U.S. Census data indicate that there were more than 600,000 same-sex couples living together in 2000. Research about relationship formation, the division of household labor, power, satisfaction, sexuality, conflict, commitment, and relationship stability is presented. Next, we highlight three recent research topics: the legalization of same-sex relationships through civil unions and same-sex marriage, the experiences of same-sex couples raising children, and the impact of societal prejudice and discrimination on same-sex partners. We conclude with comments about the contributions of empirical research to debunking negative stereotypes of same-sex couples, testing the generalizability of theories about close relationships, informing our understanding of gender and close relationships, and providing a scientific basis for public policy.
Scientists Look at 2010: Carrying on Margaret Mayall's Legacy of Debunking Pseudoscience

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Larsen, Krinstine

2010-06-01

In 1941 Margaret Mayall, the future director of the AAVSO, and Harvard colleague Bart Bok authored a critical study of astrology and its impact on society entitled "Scientists Look at Astrology." They chastised the scientific community for thinking the debunking of astrology to be "below the dignity of scientists." In contrast, they opined that it is one of the duties of scientists to "inform the public about the nature and background of a current fad, such as astrology, even though to do so may be unpleasant." Fast-forward 68 years in the future, and the astronomical community now faces a pseudoscientific enemy just as insidious as astrology, yet just as ignored by the general professional and amateur community as astrology had been when Mayall and Bok took up the charge in 1941. The pseudoscience in question is the well-publicized "prediction" that the Mayan calendar will end on December 21, 2012, causing the end of civilization in concert with one of a number of possible astronomical calamities, including (but not limited to) the gravitational pull of the center of the Milky Way (somehow enhanced by an "alignment" with our solar system), the near-approach by a mythical 10th planet (often named Nibiru), large-scale damage to the planet by solar flares larger than those ever recorded, or the shifting of the earth's axis of rotation (often confused with a proposed sudden and catastrophic reversal of the earth's magnetic polarity). As a scientific and educational organization, the AAVSO and its members have a responsibility to follow in Mayall's footsteps, shining the light of reason and knowledge on the dark corners of ignorance which far too often permeate the Internet, radio and television programming, and recent films, most notably 2012. This talk will highlight some of the basic premises of the 2012 hysteria and suggest ways that the AAVSO and its members can use variable stars and the history of the AAVSO to counteract some of the astronomical misinformation which is increasingly promulgated by proponents of the 2012 pseudoscience.
Intimate partner violence against women and its related immigration stressors in Pakistani immigrant families in Germany

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

This paper addresses the issue of intimate partner violence against women and its related immigration stressors in Pakistani immigrant families in Germany. Drawing on 32 in-depth interviews with Pakistani women in three cities in Germany, we found that psychological violence was the commonly reported violence among the study participants. The data showed that the process of immigration exacerbated tensions between spouses because of various immigration stressors such as threats to cultural identity, children’s socialization, and social isolation. In order to cope with the stressful spousal relations, women applied various indigenous strategies, but avoided seeking help from the host country’s formal care-providing institutions. This study also debunks some stereotypes and popular media clichés about the “victimhood of women from conservative developing countries” and provides an understanding of the issue of intimate partner violence within an immigration context. Further research with a larger sample will be helpful to understand immigration-induced stress and intimate partner violence in immigrant families. PMID:23984223
Primary quantum yields of NO2 photodissociation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gardner, Edward P.; Sperry, Paul D.; Calvert, Jack G.

1987-01-01

The quantum yields of formation of NO, O2, and NO2 loss are measured for NO2 vapor at low pressures (0.13-0.30 torr) irradiated at 334-405 nm wavelengths and temperature in the range 273-370 K in order to study the primary quantum efficiencies of NO2 photodecomposition. The temperature and wavelength dependences of the primary quantum efficiencies are examined. It is observed that the primary quantum efficiencies increase rapidly from near zero at 424 nm to near unity for excitation at wavelengths less than 394 nm. The theory of Pitts et al. (1964) that the energy deficiency for photodissociation of NO2 excited at wavelengths greater than 397.9 nm is due to the rotational and vibrational energy of the NO2 molecules is confirmed by the data. Values for the primary quantum yields of NO2 photodecomposition as a function of wavelength are presented.
Dimensions of Oppositional Defiant Disorder in Young Children: Heterotypic Continuity with Anxiety and Depression

PubMed Central

Lavigne, John V.; Gouze, Karen R.; Bryant, Fred B.; Hopkins, Joyce

2014-01-01

There are distinct dimensions of Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) that have been associated with symptoms of other disorders (heterotypic continuity). The present study compared the heterotypic continuity of a two-factor (Pitt-2) model and the three-factor model incorporated into DSM-5 with symptoms of anxiety and depression. Participants were a diverse community sample of 796 children (38.8% minority, 49.1% boys) assessed at ages 4, 5 and 6 years. Symptoms were assessed with the dimensional scales of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-Young Child version and the Child Symptom Inventory. Dimensions of both the two- and three-factor DSM-5 models were associated with later symptoms of anxiety and depression. The association, however, was weak when accounting for initial levels of internalizing symptoms: thus there was little evidence for the unique contributions of ODD dimensions to symptoms of subsequent internalizing disorders for either model. PMID:24497230
Evaluation of five years of nursing home inspection forms: structural and hygiene-related violation trends.

PubMed

Avery, Chris; Humphrey, Charles; Balany, Jo Anne

2014-11-01

Health inspections are performed at nursing homes to identify and reduce risk and to help maintain a safe environment for nursing home residents. The study described in this article aimed to identify the most frequent violations, types of violations (hygiene or structural), and repeat violations in nursing home facilities during health inspections; and to determine if the age of the facility influenced inspection scores. Nursing home health inspection forms (N = 131) completed between 2005 and 2011 in Pitt County, North Carolina, were analyzed. Results indicated that 60% of all violations were hygiene-related and could possibly be corrected without significant financial investments by management. Significant correlations occurred between the total number of violations and the facility age (p = .003) and between the number of repeat violations and total violations (p < .001). The average inspection score for nursing homes could be increased by more than three points if sanitation practices were improved.
I'll Tell You What You Think: An Exercise in Pseudoscience Debunking in an Introductory Astronomy Course

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caton, Dan

2013-11-01

At Appalachian State University students have to take just two semesters of a physical or biological science to satisfy the general education requirements. Most non-science major students have little time in their crowded schedules to take additional science courses, whether they want to or not, and in fact face a surcharge when taking more courses than needed to graduate. Given this environment, it is essential that we cover more than just the basics of one particular discipline, like astronomy in my case. We should teach something about the overall philosophy of science, the scientific method, and the importance of science in our lives.
Is Debunking Intelligent Design an Effective Approach to Teaching?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Storrs, Alex; Slater, T. F.; CAPER Team

2006-12-01

Good teaching demands that faculty establish students’ prior knowledge and beliefs and use this to guide instruction. One of the most important beliefs many students bring with them into science instruction is religious faith. Over 80% of undergraduates claim some sort of religious affiliation (Lindholm 2004) and a fifth of these rely on a literal interpretation of the Bible. Instructors must acknowledge the deep convictions of many undergraduates, and not dismiss them as “unscientific”. It is our position that teaching a science course while pretending that human affairs and convictions do not impact the scientific enterprise is not only misguided, but ineffective at providing students a liberal undergraduate education. While including “Intelligent Design” (ID) in public school classes has been thoroughly repudiated (e.g Kitzmuller v. Dover) many students equate ID to “God”. Debunking ID thus appears to prove that “God” doesn’t exist. When faced with a choice between beliefs developed over a lifetime and a single science course, the natural position for students will be to discard science when it seems in direct conflict. We propose a short discussion at the start of the first class which elicits and values student perspectives. This can defuse some of the tension experienced by students of faith and allow them to learn more science, developing better attitudes toward science. This is in contrast to simply telling students that “there is no room for faith in the objective pursuit of science.” At minimum we should provide students with references to modern discussions of science and religion issues and examples of scientists of faith who are able to fully resolve seemingly disparate issues between their scientific life and their religious convictions, even when full exploration of these topics is beyond the scope of the course. References: Lindholm, J. (2004): http://www.spirituality.ucla.edu/Publication%20&%20Reports/Lindholm%20USC%20chapter.doc
Review of the ITER diagnostics suite for erosion, deposition, dust and tritium measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reichle, R.; Andrew, P.; Bates, P.; Bede, O.; Casal, N.; Choi, C. H.; Barnsley, R.; Damiani, C.; Bertalot, L.; Dubus, G.; Ferreol, J.; Jagannathan, G.; Kocan, M.; Leipold, F.; Lisgo, S. W.; Martin, V.; Palmer, J.; Pearce, R.; Philipps, V.; Pitts, R. A.; Pampin, R.; Passedat, G.; Puiu, A.; Suarez, A.; Shigin, P.; Shu, W.; Vayakis, G.; Veshchev, E.; Walsh, M.

2015-08-01

Dust and tritium inventories in the vacuum vessel have upper limits in ITER that are set by nuclear safety requirements. Erosion, migration and re-deposition of wall material together with fuel co-deposition will be largely responsible for these inventories. The diagnostic suite required to monitor these processes, along with the set of the corresponding measurement requirements is currently under review given the recent decision by the ITER Organization to eliminate the first carbon/tungsten (C/W) divertor and begin operations with a full-W variant Pitts et al. [1]. This paper presents the result of this review as well as the status of the chosen diagnostics.
The power of a musical instrument: Franklin, the Mozarts, Mesmer, and the glass armonica.

PubMed

Gallo, D A; Finger, S

2000-11-01

In 1761 Benjamin Franklin invented the armonica (often referred to as the glass harmonica), an instrument designed to simplify the playing of the musical glasses. The instrument immediately became popular and inspired compositions by Wolfgang Mozart, who had the opportunity to hear and play one at the house of Franz Anton Mesmer. Armonica music was used by Mesmer in his séances, because he felt it could promote healing by propagating a mystical fluid that he called animal magnetism through the body. After Mesmer's theories were debunked by a highly respected panel of scientists, the armonica fell out of vogue. Because Franklin was on the panel that examined the discredited mesmerism, he indirectly contributed to his own invention's demise.
HIV prevention and transmission myths among heterosexually active adults in low-income areas of South Florida.

PubMed

Beck, Dano W; Lalota, Marlene; Metsch, Lisa R; Cardenas, Gabriel A; Forrest, David W; Lieb, Spencer; Liberti, Thomas M

2012-04-01

Misconceptions about HIV transmission and prevention may inhibit individuals' accurate assessment of their level of risk. We used venue-based sampling to conduct a cross-sectional study of heterosexually active adults (N = 1,221) within areas exhibiting high poverty and HIV/AIDS rates in Miami-Dade and Broward counties in 2007. Two logistic regression analyses identified correlates of holding inaccurate beliefs about HIV transmission and prevention. Belief in incorrect HIV prevention methods (27.2%) and modes of transmission (38.5%) was common. Having at least one incorrect prevention belief was associated with being Hispanic compared to white (non-Hispanic), being depressed, and not knowing one's HIV status. Having at least one incorrect transmission belief was associated with being younger, heavy alcohol use, being depressed, not having seen a physician in the past 12 months, and not knowing one's HIV status. Among low-income heterosexuals, HIV prevention and transmission myths are widespread. Debunking them could have HIV prevention value.
The geological record and phylogeny of spider wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae): A revision of fossil species and their phylogenetic placement.

PubMed

Rodriguez, Juanita; Waichert, Cecilia; von Dohlen, Carol D; Pitts, James P

2017-01-01

Accurate fossil identification has become increasingly relevant with the widespread use of phylogenetic divergence time estimation methods, which rely on fossil data to determine clade hard-minimum ages. Here we revise, diagnose and illustrate known spider wasp (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) fossil species and place them within the latest Pompilidae phylogenetic hypothesis. Ceropalites infelix Cockerell, from the Florissant Fossil Beds (Priabonian), is no longer recognized as Pompilidae, but as Aulacidae. Agenioideus saxigenus (Cockerell) comb. nov., Deuteragenia wettweri (Statz) comb. nov., Caputelus scudderi (Cockerell, 1906) comb. nov., Pepsinites avitula (Cockerell, 1941) comb. nov., Pepsinites contentus (Theobald, 1937) comb. nov., Pepsinites florissantensis (Cockerell, 1906) comb. nov., Pepsinites laminarum (Rohwer, 1909) comb. nov., Pepsinites scelerosus (Meunier, 1919) comb. nov., Pepsinites cockerellae (Rohwer, 1909) comb. nov., Pompilinites coquandi (Theobald, 1937) comb. nov., Pompilinites depressus (Statz, 1936) comb. nov., Pompilites incertus (Theobald, 1937) comb. nov., Pompilites induratus (Heer, 1849) comb. nov., Pompilites fasciatus (Theobald, 1937) comb. nov., and Pompilites senex comb. nov. are new combinations. Twenty-three fossil species of spider wasps are now recognized in 13 genera. Four new genera are proposed: Caputelus Waichert & Pitts gen. nov., Pompilites Rodriguez gen. nov., Pompilinites Rodriguez & Waichert gen. nov., and Pepsinites Rodriguez & Waichert gen. nov., of which the three latter are collective-group names for fossils with taxonomic uncertainty. One species of fossil spider wasp is described: Deuteragenia catalunyia Rodriguez, Waichert & Pitts sp. nov., from the Bellver deposits in Catalonia, Spain. Five of the 23 known species can be used to determine hard-minimum age for calibrations of genera stem-groups (Agenioideus, Anoplius, Cryptocheilus, Deuteragenia, Priocnemis). The fossil belonging to the stem-group of the tribe Ageniellini (Chubutholites) is not recommended for calibration because of the high uncertainty in its age and taxonomy. The remaining taxa can be assigned to the lineage comprising Pompilinae + Pepsinae (12 species) or crown-group Pompilidae (four species).
The geological record and phylogeny of spider wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae): A revision of fossil species and their phylogenetic placement

PubMed Central

Waichert, Cecilia; von Dohlen, Carol D.; Pitts, James P.

2017-01-01

Accurate fossil identification has become increasingly relevant with the widespread use of phylogenetic divergence time estimation methods, which rely on fossil data to determine clade hard-minimum ages. Here we revise, diagnose and illustrate known spider wasp (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) fossil species and place them within the latest Pompilidae phylogenetic hypothesis. Ceropalites infelix Cockerell, from the Florissant Fossil Beds (Priabonian), is no longer recognized as Pompilidae, but as Aulacidae. Agenioideus saxigenus (Cockerell) comb. nov., Deuteragenia wettweri (Statz) comb. nov., Caputelus scudderi (Cockerell, 1906) comb. nov., Pepsinites avitula (Cockerell, 1941) comb. nov., Pepsinites contentus (Theobald, 1937) comb. nov., Pepsinites florissantensis (Cockerell, 1906) comb. nov., Pepsinites laminarum (Rohwer, 1909) comb. nov., Pepsinites scelerosus (Meunier, 1919) comb. nov., Pepsinites cockerellae (Rohwer, 1909) comb. nov., Pompilinites coquandi (Theobald, 1937) comb. nov., Pompilinites depressus (Statz, 1936) comb. nov., Pompilites incertus (Theobald, 1937) comb. nov., Pompilites induratus (Heer, 1849) comb. nov., Pompilites fasciatus (Theobald, 1937) comb. nov., and Pompilites senex comb. nov. are new combinations. Twenty-three fossil species of spider wasps are now recognized in 13 genera. Four new genera are proposed: Caputelus Waichert & Pitts gen. nov., Pompilites Rodriguez gen. nov., Pompilinites Rodriguez & Waichert gen. nov., and Pepsinites Rodriguez & Waichert gen. nov., of which the three latter are collective-group names for fossils with taxonomic uncertainty. One species of fossil spider wasp is described: Deuteragenia catalunyia Rodriguez, Waichert & Pitts sp. nov., from the Bellver deposits in Catalonia, Spain. Five of the 23 known species can be used to determine hard-minimum age for calibrations of genera stem-groups (Agenioideus, Anoplius, Cryptocheilus, Deuteragenia, Priocnemis). The fossil belonging to the stem-group of the tribe Ageniellini (Chubutholites) is not recommended for calibration because of the high uncertainty in its age and taxonomy. The remaining taxa can be assigned to the lineage comprising Pompilinae + Pepsinae (12 species) or crown-group Pompilidae (four species). PMID:29020022
The Central Asian Journal of Global Health to Increase Scientific Productivity.

PubMed

Freese, Kyle; Shubnikov, Eugene; LaPorte, Ron; Adambekov, Shalkar; Askarova, Sholpan; Zhumadilov, Zhaxybay; Linkov, Faina

2013-01-01

The WHO Collaborating Center at the University of Pittsburgh, USA partnering with Nazarbayev University, developed the Central Asian Journal of Global Health (CAJGH, cajgh.pitt.edu) in order to increase scientific productivity in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Scientists in this region often have difficulty publishing in upper tier English language scientific journals due to language barriers, high publication fees, and a lack of access to mentoring services. CAJGH seeks to help scientists overcome these challenges by providing peer-reviewed publication free of change with English and research mentoring services available to selected authors. CAJGH began as a way to expand the Supercourse scientific network (www.pitt.edu/~super1) in the Central Asian region in order to rapidly disseminate educational materials. The network began with approximately 60 individuals in five Central Asian countries and has grown to over 1,300 in a few short years. The CAJGH website receives nearly 900 visits per month. The University of Pittsburgh's "open access publishing system" was utilized to create CAJGH in 2012. There are two branches of the CAJGH editorial board: Astana (at the Center for Life Sciences, Nazarbayev University) and Pittsburgh (WHO Collaborating Center). Both are comprised of leading scientists and expert staff who work together throughout the review and publication process. Two complete issues have been published since 2012 and a third is now underway. Even though CAJGH is a new journal, the editorial board uses a rigorous review process; fewer than 50% of all submitted articles are forwarded to peer review or accepted for publication. Furthermore, in 2014, CAJGH will apply to be cross referenced in PubMed and Scopes. CAJGH is one of the first English language journals in the Central Asian region that reaches a large number of scientists. This journal fills a unique niche that will assist scientists in Kazakhstan and Central Asia publish their research findings and share their knowledge with others around the region and the world.
Osteoporosis: Modern Paradigms for Last Century’s Bones †

PubMed Central

Kruger, Marlena C.; Wolber, Frances M.

2016-01-01

The skeleton is a metabolically active organ undergoing continuously remodelling. With ageing and menopause the balance shifts to increased resorption, leading to a reduction in bone mineral density and disruption of bone microarchitecture. Bone mass accretion and bone metabolism are influenced by systemic hormones as well as genetic and lifestyle factors. The classic paradigm has described osteoporosis as being a “brittle bone” disease that occurs in post-menopausal, thin, Caucasian women with low calcium intakes and/or vitamin D insufficiency. However, a study of black women in Africa demonstrated that higher proportions of body fat did not protect bone health. Isoflavone interventions in Asian postmenopausal women have produced inconsistent bone health benefits, due in part to population heterogeneity in enteric bacterial metabolism of daidzein. A comparison of women and men in several Asian countries identified significant differences between countries in the rate of bone health decline, and a high incidence rate of osteoporosis in both sexes. These studies have revealed significant differences in genetic phenotypes, debunking long-held beliefs and leading to new paradigms in study design. Current studies are now being specifically designed to assess genotype differences between Caucasian, Asian, African, and other phenotypes, and exploring alternative methodology to measure bone architecture. PMID:27322315
Osteoporosis: Modern Paradigms for Last Century's Bones.

PubMed

Kruger, Marlena C; Wolber, Frances M

2016-06-17

The skeleton is a metabolically active organ undergoing continuously remodelling. With ageing and menopause the balance shifts to increased resorption, leading to a reduction in bone mineral density and disruption of bone microarchitecture. Bone mass accretion and bone metabolism are influenced by systemic hormones as well as genetic and lifestyle factors. The classic paradigm has described osteoporosis as being a "brittle bone" disease that occurs in post-menopausal, thin, Caucasian women with low calcium intakes and/or vitamin D insufficiency. However, a study of black women in Africa demonstrated that higher proportions of body fat did not protect bone health. Isoflavone interventions in Asian postmenopausal women have produced inconsistent bone health benefits, due in part to population heterogeneity in enteric bacterial metabolism of daidzein. A comparison of women and men in several Asian countries identified significant differences between countries in the rate of bone health decline, and a high incidence rate of osteoporosis in both sexes. These studies have revealed significant differences in genetic phenotypes, debunking long-held beliefs and leading to new paradigms in study design. Current studies are now being specifically designed to assess genotype differences between Caucasian, Asian, African, and other phenotypes, and exploring alternative methodology to measure bone architecture.
Melt layer formation in stainless steel under transient thermal loads

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Steudel, I.; Klimov, N. S.; Linke, J.; Loewenhoff, Th.; Pintsuk, G.; Pitts, R. A.; Wirtz, M.

2015-08-01

To investigate the performance of stainless steel under transient thermal events, such as photon pulses caused by disruptions mitigated by massive gas injection (MGI), the material has been exposed to electron beam loads with ITER relevant power densities slightly above the melting threshold (245 MW/m2) and a pulse duration of 3 ms (Sugihara et al., 2012; Klimov et al., 2013; Pitts et al., 2013). The samples were manufactured from different steel grades with slightly modified chemical composition. To investigate the effect of repetitive surface heat loads on the melting process and the melt motion, identical heat pulses in the range of 100-3000 were applied. All tested materials showed intense melt-induced surface roughening, driven by repeated shallow surface melting up to several ten micrometre and fast re-solidification with epitaxial grain growth. During the liquid phase, melt motion induced by cohesive forces results in the formation of a wavy surface structure with apexes. Further experiments have been performed to study the effects of non-perpendicular surfaces or leading edges.
Beyond the sensible world: a discussion of Mark Zuss' The practice of theoretical curiosity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fellner, Gene; Pitts, Wesley; Zuss, Mark

2012-09-01

In this article, Gene Fellner reviews Mark Zuss's recently published The practice of theoretical curiosity (2012) and provides a synopsis of the book's structure. These two sections are followed by a metalogue in which Mark Zuss, Welsey Pitts, and Fellner discuss curiosity and the conundrum of establishing limits beyond which curiosity should not roam. This is a central theme of Zuss's book, and it is of particular significance today as curiosity, driven by developments in technoscience and transgenics, transforms nature and we who are part of it. Influenced by Merleau-Ponty's phenomenological lens, Zuss discusses how our knowing the world through our senses is entering an uncertain future mediated by curiosity's reach into everyday life.
Evol and ProDy for bridging protein sequence evolution and structural dynamics.

PubMed

Bakan, Ahmet; Dutta, Anindita; Mao, Wenzhi; Liu, Ying; Chennubhotla, Chakra; Lezon, Timothy R; Bahar, Ivet

2014-09-15

Correlations between sequence evolution and structural dynamics are of utmost importance in understanding the molecular mechanisms of function and their evolution. We have integrated Evol, a new package for fast and efficient comparative analysis of evolutionary patterns and conformational dynamics, into ProDy, a computational toolbox designed for inferring protein dynamics from experimental and theoretical data. Using information-theoretic approaches, Evol coanalyzes conservation and coevolution profiles extracted from multiple sequence alignments of protein families with their inferred dynamics. ProDy and Evol are open-source and freely available under MIT License from http://prody.csb.pitt.edu/. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Pencil-and-Paper Neural Networks: An Undergraduate Laboratory Exercise in Computational Neuroscience

PubMed Central

Crisp, Kevin M.; Sutter, Ellen N.; Westerberg, Jacob A.

2015-01-01

Although it has been more than 70 years since McCulloch and Pitts published their seminal work on artificial neural networks, such models remain primarily in the domain of computer science departments in undergraduate education. This is unfortunate, as simple network models offer undergraduate students a much-needed bridge between cellular neurobiology and processes governing thought and behavior. Here, we present a very simple laboratory exercise in which students constructed, trained and tested artificial neural networks by hand on paper. They explored a variety of concepts, including pattern recognition, pattern completion, noise elimination and stimulus ambiguity. Learning gains were evident in changes in the use of language when writing about information processing in the brain. PMID:26557791
[Integration of psychodynamic imaginative trauma therapy in a modified psychoanalytic concept of a inpatient psychotherapy unit].

PubMed

Beckrath-Wilking, Ulrike

2004-11-01

Results of latest neurobiological trauma-research suggest that many psychic disorders like personality disorders with complex traumatisation in patient's history and co-morbidities should better be treated as posttraumatic disorders. This is important for any therapy planning: should a modified psychoanalytic approach (like TFP by Kernberg) with emphasis on interpreting the transference-relation be preferred for patients with Borderline personality disorder or - diagnosing the same patients as complex posttraumatic stress disorder - a phase oriented trauma-specific approach. As such PITT combines psychodynamic understanding with hypnotherapeutic and imaginative methods. Crucial points are an active and supporting therapeutic relation, safety and reduction of stress, focus on all individual resources and use of imaginative ways for stabilization and later trauma-confrontation work.
Mechanisms of subliminal response priming.

PubMed

Kiesel, Andrea; Kunde, Wilfried; Hoffmann, Joachim

2008-07-15

Subliminal response priming has been considered to operate on several stages, e.g. perceptual, central or motor stages might be affected. While primes' impact on target perception has been clearly demonstrated, semantic response priming recently has been thrown into doubt (e.g. Klinger, Burton, & Pitts, 2000). Finally, LRP studies have revealed that subliminal primes evoke motor processes. Yet, the premises for such prime-evoked motor activation are not settled. A transfer of priming to stimuli that have never been presented as targets appears particularly interesting because it suggests a level of processing that goes beyond a reactivation of previously acquired S-R links. Yet, such transfer has not always withstood empirical testing. To account for these contradictory results, we proposed a two-process model (Kunde, Kiesel, & Hoffmann, 2003): First, participants build up expectations regarding imperative stimuli for the required responses according to experience and/or instructions. Second, stimuli that match these "action triggers" directly activate the corresponding motor responses irrespective of their conscious identification. In line with these assumptions, recent studies revealed that non-target primes induce priming when they fit the current task intentions and when they are expected in the experimental setting.
Brokering: a process for establishing long-term and stable links with gay male communities for research and public health education.

PubMed

Silvestre, A J

1994-02-01

The success of efforts to prevent continued transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and to increase compliance with HIV prophylactic interventions among homosexual and bisexual men will depend in part on health care professionals' understanding of and ability to establish linkages with these men. In order to recruit men into a research project and an educational program, staff at the Pitt Men's Study, an epidemiological investigation of HIV infection, developed a process described here as "brokering," which was based on community organizing and marketing principles. Brokering is a dynamic process by which researchers and public health professionals exchange goods and services with formal and informal leaders of the gay community in order to establish strong, long-term linkages. To date, this process yielded 2,989 homosexual and bisexual recruits into the study, which began in 1983. After 8 years, 79% of those still alive continue to return for follow-up. While recruitment techniques will need to vary from city to city, the importance of establishing linkages with the local indigenous leadership remains of major importance.
A Resource Guide for Debunking Astronomical Pseudo-Science

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fraknoi, A.

2008-11-01

Many of us who do public programs for the International Year of Astronomy are likely to meet people who have questions or want to challenge us about pseudo-scientific topics related to astronomy. Perhaps they have heard about the claim that the moon landings were a hoax, or have seen a light in the sky which puzzled them. Even those of us who have extensive training in astronomy often are not prepared for tackling such questions. To deal with such situations, here is a concise guide to printed and web resources that offer rational examination of some of these ``fiction science'' claims. This is not a complete list, but a ``first defense'' for beginners. A fuller version can be found at: http://www.astrosociety.org/education/resources/pseudobib.html
Shared Communities, Structural Contexts, and HIV Risk: Prioritizing the HIV Risk and Prevention Needs of Black Heterosexual Men

PubMed Central

Raj, Anita

2012-01-01

Black heterosexual men (BHM) are seldom mentioned in HIV prevention research, policy, and interventions, despite evidence that heterosexual contact is becoming the leading exposure category for BHM. The disparate effect of HIV/AIDS on BHM; the debunked “down low” myth; the contexts of BHM's lives in terms of disproportionate poverty, unemployment, and incarceration; and a growing empirical base linking these factors to increased HIV risk, underscore the need to prioritize HIV risk and prevention initiatives for BHM. We highlighted the structural contexts of HIV risk for BHM, and four community-based approaches to address HIV risk and prevention for BHM: (1) men's health programs; (2) workforce and postincarceration release programs; (3) linkages to women's prevention programs; and (4) faith-based initiatives. PMID:22401513
My 40-Year History with Cronobacter/Enterobacter sakazakii – Lessons Learned, Myths Debunked, and Recommendations

PubMed Central

Farmer, John J.

2015-01-01

Much has been learned about organism in the Cronobacter/Enterobacter sakazakii complex since I first named and described Enterobacter sakazakii in 1980. However, there are still wide knowledge gaps. One of the most serious is that are still many uncertainties associated with assessing the public health risk posed by these bacteria, particularly in neonatal meningitis. Over the last few decades, Cronobacter contamination of commercial powdered infant formula products has apparently been reduced, but it is still an ongoing problem. The powdered infant formula industry still cannot produce powdered formula that is free of bacterial contamination with Cronobacter, other Enterobacteriaceae, other pathogenic bacteria, and other microorganisms. Until this happens, infants and other will be at risk of becoming infected when they ingest contaminated formula. PMID:26640778
The history of Italian parasitology.

PubMed

Roncalli Amici, R

2001-07-12

The history of Italian parasitology can be subdivided into two periods: pre-Redi and post-Redi. The first period includes the contributions to parasitology by savants who operated during the Roman, medieval and Renaissance eras; the second period started in 1668 when Francesco Redi published his experiments to debunk the theory of spontaneous generation; the work of Redi was subsequently continued by Vallisnieri, Spallanzani and others. The latter period includes classic contributions in the field of parasitology provided by veterinarians such as Ercolani, Perroncito, Piana and Rivolta, and by physicians such as Bassi, Grassi, Golgi, and Celli. Also, two outstanding pages of medical parasitology were written during this period--the unraveling and defeat of St. Gotthard's disease and the conquering of malaria on Italian soil--both accomplished through the generous efforts of dedicated individuals.
"Exploratory experimentation" as a probe into the relation between historiography and philosophy of science.

PubMed

Schickore, Jutta

2016-02-01

This essay utilizes the concept "exploratory experimentation" as a probe into the relation between historiography and philosophy of science. The essay traces the emergence of the historiographical concept "exploratory experimentation" in the late 1990s. The reconstruction of the early discussions about exploratory experimentation shows that the introduction of the concept had unintended consequences: Initially designed to debunk philosophical ideas about theory testing, the concept "exploratory experimentation" quickly exposed the poverty of our conceptual tools for the analysis of experimental practice. Looking back at a number of detailed analyses of experimental research, we can now appreciate that the concept of exploratory experimentation is too vague and too elusive to fill the desideratum whose existence it revealed. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Oscillations and chaos in neural networks: an exactly solvable model.

PubMed Central

Wang, L P; Pichler, E E; Ross, J

1990-01-01

We consider a randomly diluted higher-order network with noise, consisting of McCulloch-Pitts neurons that interact by Hebbian-type connections. For this model, exact dynamical equations are derived and solved for both parallel and random sequential updating algorithms. For parallel dynamics, we find a rich spectrum of different behaviors including static retrieving and oscillatory and chaotic phenomena in different parts of the parameter space. The bifurcation parameters include first- and second-order neuronal interaction coefficients and a rescaled noise level, which represents the combined effects of the random synaptic dilution, interference between stored patterns, and additional background noise. We show that a marked difference in terms of the occurrence of oscillations or chaos exists between neural networks with parallel and random sequential dynamics. Images PMID:2251287
TRITIUM, ARGON 37, AND MANGANESE 54 RADIOACTIVITIES IN A FRAGMENT OF SPUTNIK 4

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

DeFelice, J.; Fireman, E.L.; Tilles, D.

1963-09-15

Tritium, Ar/sup 37/, and Mn/sup 54/ radioactivities were measured in samples from a steel fragment of Sputnik 4. The tritium activity was low compared with the amount expected to be produced by cosmic rays. Some metallurgical evidence suggests the possibility that the lowest tritium content was in the sample that may have experienced the most heating. The amount of manganese 54 radioactivity was approximately 40% of the value obtained in Aroos by others, whereas the amount of Ar/sup 37/ was about 20% of that measured in Aroos and about 30% of that estimated from the Ar/sup 39/ measurements in Aroos,more » Norfork, Pitts, and Treysa, together with the ratio of production cross sections. (auth)« less
Public Health Law and Institutional Vaccine Skepticism.

PubMed

Parasidis, Efthimios

2016-12-01

Vaccine-hesitant parents are often portrayed as misinformed dilettantes clinging to unscientific Internet chatter and a debunked study that linked the MMR vaccine and autism. While this depiction may be an accurate portrayal of a small (but vocal) subset, scholars have unearthed a more complex picture that casts vaccine hesitancy in the context of broader notions of lack of trust in government and industry. At the same time, commentators have highlighted limitations of the vaccine injury compensation program and US Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg have argued that preemption laws that provide vaccine manufacturers with broad legal immunities create "a regulatory vacuum in which no one ensures that vaccine manufacturers adequately take account of scientific and technological advancements when designing or distributing their products." In short, the discussions surrounding vaccine hesitancy that dominate public discourse detract from serious debate as to whether amendments to vaccine-related laws can address the limitations of the existing framework governing immunizations. This commentary examines these issues through a public health law lens. Copyright © 2016 by Duke University Press.
Choosing appropriate independent variable in educational experimental research: some errors debunked

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panjaitan, R. L.

2018-03-01

It is found that a number of quantitative research reports of some beginning researchers, especially undergraduate students, tend to ‘merely’ quantitative with not really proper understanding of variables involved in the research. This paper focuses on some mistakes related to independent variable determination in experimental research in education. With literature research methodology, data were gathered from an undergraduate student’s thesis as a single non-human subject. This data analysis resulted some findings, such as misinterpreted variables that should have represented the research question, and unsuitable calculation of determination coefficient due to incorrect independent variable determination. When a researcher misinterprets data as data that could behave as the independent variable but actually it could not, all of the following data processes become pointless. These problems might lead to inaccurate research conclusion. In this paper, the problems were analysed and discussed. To avert the incorrectness in processing data, it is suggested that undergraduate students as beginning researchers have adequate statistics mastery. This study might function as a resource to researchers in education to be aware to and not to redo similar errors.
Regression-based statistical mediation and moderation analysis in clinical research: Observations, recommendations, and implementation.

PubMed

Hayes, Andrew F; Rockwood, Nicholas J

2017-11-01

There have been numerous treatments in the clinical research literature about various design, analysis, and interpretation considerations when testing hypotheses about mechanisms and contingencies of effects, popularly known as mediation and moderation analysis. In this paper we address the practice of mediation and moderation analysis using linear regression in the pages of Behaviour Research and Therapy and offer some observations and recommendations, debunk some popular myths, describe some new advances, and provide an example of mediation, moderation, and their integration as conditional process analysis using the PROCESS macro for SPSS and SAS. Our goal is to nudge clinical researchers away from historically significant but increasingly old school approaches toward modifications, revisions, and extensions that characterize more modern thinking about the analysis of the mechanisms and contingencies of effects. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Modelling the dynamics of a hypothetical Planet X by way of gravitational N-body simulator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cowley, Michael; Hughes, Stephen

2017-03-01

This paper describes a novel activity to model the dynamics of a Jupiter-mass, trans-Neptunian planet of a highly eccentric orbit. Despite a history rooted in modern astronomy, ‘Planet X’, a hypothesised hidden planet lurking in our outer Solar System, has often been touted by conspiracy theorists as the cause of past mass extinction events on Earth, as well as other modern-day doomsday scenarios. Frequently dismissed as pseudoscience by astronomers, these stories continue to draw the attention of the public by provoking mass media coverage. Targeted at junior undergraduate levels, this activity allows students to debunk some of the myths surrounding Planet X by using simulation software to demonstrate that such a large-mass planet with extreme eccentricity would be unable to enter our Solar System unnoticed, let alone maintain a stable orbit.
A CRDS approach to gas phase equilibrium constants: the case of N 2O 4 ↔ 2NO 2 at 283 K

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tuchler, Matthew F.; Schmidt, Kierstin L.; Morgan, Mackenzie

2005-01-01

We report a general technique for determining the gas phase equilibrium constant, KP, of the A ↔ 2C system using cavity ringdown spectroscopy (CRDS). Working at a constant temperature, the absorption of one of the equilibrium species is measured at two different total pressures. KP is determined from the total pressures of the equilibrium mixture and the ratio of the absorptions. Theoretical limits on sensitivity of this technique are described as a function of experimental conditions. We present results from the reaction N 2O 4 ↔ 2NO 2 measured at T = 283 K. KP measured in this experiment, 21 (±5) Torr, is found to be lower than that recommended by the NASA Panel for Data Evaluation, 32 Torr. [S.P. Sander, A.R. Ravishankara, D.M. Golden, C.E. Kolb, M.J. Kurylo, R.E. Huie, V.L. Orkin, M.J. Molina, G.K. Moortgat, B.J. Finlayson-Pitts, Chemical Kinetics and Photochemical Data for Use in Atmospheric Studies. Evaluation No. 14; Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, 2003].
An international survey of building energy codes and their implementation

DOE PAGES

Evans, Meredydd; Roshchanka, Volha; Graham, Peter

2017-08-01

Buildings are key to low-carbon development everywhere, and many countries have introduced building energy codes to improve energy efficiency in buildings. Yet, building energy codes can only deliver results when the codes are implemented. For this reason, studies of building energy codes need to consider implementation of building energy codes in a consistent and comprehensive way. This research identifies elements and practices in implementing building energy codes, covering codes in 22 countries that account for 70% of global energy use in buildings. These elements and practices include: comprehensive coverage of buildings by type, age, size, and geographic location; an implementationmore » framework that involves a certified agency to inspect construction at critical stages; and building materials that are independently tested, rated, and labeled. Training and supporting tools are another element of successful code implementation. Some countries have also introduced compliance evaluation studies, which suggested that tightening energy requirements would only be meaningful when also addressing gaps in implementation (Pitt&Sherry, 2014; U.S. DOE, 2016b). Here, this article provides examples of practices that countries have adopted to assist with implementation of building energy codes.« less
Mechanisms of subliminal response priming

PubMed Central

Kiesel, Andrea; Kunde, Wilfried; Hoffmann, Joachim

2008-01-01

Subliminal response priming has been considered to operate on several stages, e.g. perceptual, central or motor stages might be affected. While primes’ impact on target perception has been clearly demonstrated, semantic response priming recently has been thrown into doubt (e.g. Klinger, Burton, & Pitts, 2000). Finally, LRP studies have revealed that subliminal primes evoke motor processes. Yet, the premises for such prime-evoked motor activation are not settled. A transfer of priming to stimuli that have never been presented as targets appears particularly interesting because it suggests a level of processing that goes beyond a reactivation of previously acquired S-R links. Yet, such transfer has not always withstood empirical testing. To account for these contradictory results, we proposed a two-process model (Kunde, Kiesel, & Hoffmann, 2003): First, participants build up expectations regarding imperative stimuli for the required responses according to experience and/or instructions. Second, stimuli that match these “action triggers” directly activate the corresponding motor responses irrespective of their conscious identification. In line with these assumptions, recent studies revealed that non-target primes induce priming when they fit the current task intentions and when they are expected in the experimental setting. PMID:20517516
An international survey of building energy codes and their implementation

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

Evans, Meredydd; Roshchanka, Volha; Graham, Peter

Buildings are key to low-carbon development everywhere, and many countries have introduced building energy codes to improve energy efficiency in buildings. Yet, building energy codes can only deliver results when the codes are implemented. For this reason, studies of building energy codes need to consider implementation of building energy codes in a consistent and comprehensive way. This research identifies elements and practices in implementing building energy codes, covering codes in 22 countries that account for 70% of global energy use in buildings. These elements and practices include: comprehensive coverage of buildings by type, age, size, and geographic location; an implementationmore » framework that involves a certified agency to inspect construction at critical stages; and building materials that are independently tested, rated, and labeled. Training and supporting tools are another element of successful code implementation. Some countries have also introduced compliance evaluation studies, which suggested that tightening energy requirements would only be meaningful when also addressing gaps in implementation (Pitt&Sherry, 2014; U.S. DOE, 2016b). Here, this article provides examples of practices that countries have adopted to assist with implementation of building energy codes.« less
Evaluating the One-in-Five Statistic: Women's Risk of Sexual Assault While in College.

PubMed

Muehlenhard, Charlene L; Peterson, Zoë D; Humphreys, Terry P; Jozkowski, Kristen N

In 2014, U.S. president Barack Obama announced a White House Task Force to Protect Students From Sexual Assault, noting that "1 in 5 women on college campuses has been sexually assaulted during their time there." Since then, this one-in-five statistic has permeated public discourse. It is frequently reported, but some commentators have criticized it as exaggerated. Here, we address the question, "What percentage of women are sexually assaulted while in college?" After discussing definitions of sexual assault, we systematically review available data, focusing on studies that used large, representative samples of female undergraduates and multiple behaviorally specific questions. We conclude that one in five is a reasonably accurate average across women and campuses. We also review studies that are inappropriately cited as either supporting or debunking the one-in-five statistic; we explain why they do not adequately address this question. We identify and evaluate several assumptions implicit in the public discourse (e.g., the assumption that college students are at greater risk than nonstudents). Given the empirical support for the one-in-five statistic, we suggest that the controversy occurs because of misunderstandings about studies' methods and results and because this topic has implications for gender relations, power, and sexuality; this controversy is ultimately about values.

Comparisons and Challenges of Modern Neutrino Scattering Experiments (TENSIONS2016 Report)

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

Betancourt, M.; et al.

Over the last decade, there has been enormous effort to measure neutrino interaction cross sections important to oscillation experiments. However, a number of results from modern experiments appear to be in tension with each other, despite purporting to measure the same processes. The TENSIONS2016 workshop was held at University of Pittsburgh July 24-31, 2016 and was sponsored by the Pittsburgh High Energy Physics, Astronomy, and Cosmology Center (PITT-PACC). The focus was on bringing experimentalists from three experiments together to compare results in detail and try to find the source of tension by clarifying and comparing signal definitions and the analysismore » strategies used for each measurement. A set of comparisons between the measurements using a consistent set of models was also made. This paper summarizes the main conclusions of that work.« less
Mycotoxins in Meat and Processed Meat Products

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bailly, Jean-Denis; Guerre, Philippe

Mycotoxins are toxic substances elaborated by fungi. They constitute a heterogeneous group of secondary metabolites with diverse potent pharmacological and toxic effects in humans and animals. More than 300 secondary metabolites have been identified but around 30 are of real concern for human and animal health (for review, see Bennett & Klich, 2003). These molecules are produced during mould development on plants in the field or during storage period. They can be found as natural contaminants of many vegetal foods or feeds, mainly cereals, but also fruits, nuts, grains, forage as well as compound foods intended for human or animal consumption. Most important mycotoxins are produced by moulds belonging to Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium genus (Bhatnagar, Yu, & Ehrlich, 2002; Conkova, Laciakova, Kovac, & Seidel, 2003; Pitt, 2002). These molecules are usually classified depending on the fungal species that produce them (Table 4.1)
A Lady 'in Proper Proportions'? Feminism, Lytton Strachey, and Florence Nightingale's Reputation, 1918-39.

PubMed

Southern, James

2017-03-01

Lytton Strachey's Eminent Victorians has long been regarded as a watershed in attitudes to Victorian culture, widely seen as having instigated a revolutionary backlash against the values and heroes of the Victorian era in England. Its impact, however, on the reputations of his four subjects-Thomas Arnold, General Gordon, Cardinal Manning and Florence Nightingale-has been subjected to surprisingly little scholarly attention. Drawing on the work of gender historians, this article reassesses Strachey's effect on the reputation of Nightingale, using biographies and contemporary reviews of Eminent Victorians. It argues that, far from 'debunking' the famous nurse as is generally assumed, Strachey in many ways enhanced her reputation and rendered her a plausible icon for English feminists of the 1920s and 1930s. © The Author [2016]. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.
Fingerprinting with Wow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Eugene; Craver, Scott

2006-02-01

Wow, or time warping caused by speed fluctuations in analog audio equipment, provides a wealth of applications in watermarking. Very subtle temporal distortion has been used to defeat watermarks, and as components in watermarking systems. In the image domain, the analogous warping of an image's canvas has been used both to defeat watermarks and also proposed to prevent collusion attacks on fingerprinting systems. In this paper, we explore how subliminal levels of wow can be used for steganography and fingerprinting. We present both a low-bitrate robust solution and a higher-bitrate solution intended for steganographic communication. As already observed, such a fingerprinting algorithm naturally discourages collusion by averaging, owing to flanging effects when misaligned audio is averaged. Another advantage of warping is that even when imperceptible, it can be beyond the reach of compression algorithms. We use this opportunity to debunk the common misconception that steganography is impossible under "perfect compression."
Examining our privileges and oppressions: incorporating an intersectionality paradigm into nursing.

PubMed

Van Herk, Kimberley A; Smith, Dawn; Andrew, Caroline

2011-03-01

An intersectionality paradigm is a means by which nurses can attend to issues of oppression and privilege within their practice and profession. Intersectionality is introduced as an essential theory to help debunk the hegemony of the 'white, middle class' perspective that often directs nursing research, practice, and education. The values and benefits of using an intersectionality paradigm in nursing are shown through recent research done with Aboriginal women. These findings contribute to an increased understanding of the importance and necessity of attending to the power relations that dominate nursing care encounters and influence the way nurses provide care. By acknowledging and responding to the presence of privilege and oppression and the associated power dynamics within the therapeutic encounter, nursing can strive further in helping to alleviate social injustices and health disparities that arise from unequal power relations. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Debunking a Video on YouTube as an Authentic Research Experience

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davidowsky, Philip; Rogers, Michael

2015-05-01

Students are exposed to a variety of unrealistic physical experiences seen in movies, video games, and short online videos. A popular classroom activity has students examine footage to identify what aspects of physics are correctly and incorrectly represented.1-7 Some of the physical phenomena pictured might be tricks or illusions made easier to perform with the use of video, while others are removed from their historical context, leaving the audience to form misguided conclusions about what they saw with only the information in the video. One such video in which the late Eric Laithwaite, a successful British engineer and inventor, claims that a spinning wheel "becomes light as a feather" provides an opportunity for students to investigate Laithwaite's claim.8 The use of video footage can engage students in learning physics9 but also provide an opportunity for authentic research experiences.
Three Myths from the Language Acquisition Literature

PubMed Central

Schoneberger, Ted

2010-01-01

Three popular assertions have hindered the promotion of an empiricist approach to language acquisition: (a) that Brown and Hanlon (1970) claimed to offer data that parents do not reinforce their children's grammaticality; (b) that Brown and Hanlon also claimed to offer data that parents do not provide negative evidence (i.e., corrective feedback) for ungrammaticality; and (c) that Gold (1967) claimed to offer a formal proof showing that, without negative evidence, a child cannot acquire a language solely from environmental input. In this paper I offer introductory comments on the nature–nurture distinction (including interactionism, and the nativists' claim to have found a gene for language). Next I debunk the three aforementioned assertions by arguing that the authors (Brown & Hanlon; Gold) never made the claims attributed to them; review evidence on the role of reinforcement and corrective feedback in language acquisition; and offer some concluding comments. PMID:22477466
Introduction to the special issue 'unintended effects of international cooperation'.

PubMed

Koch, Dirk-Jan; Schulpen, Lau

2018-06-01

The 'Evaluation and Program Planning' journal has contributed to the launch of an academic discussion of unintended effects of international cooperation, notably by publishing in 2016 articles by Bamberger, Tarsilla, & Hesse-Biber and by Jabeen. This special issue aims to take up the academic challenges as laid down by those authors, by providing among others a clear typology and applying it, by outlining various methodological options and testing them, and elaborating on suggestions on how to deal with the barriers that prevent unintended effects being taken into account. This special issue makes clear that it is possible to reduce the share of unforeseen effects of international cooperation. Turning the spotlight on unintended effects that can be anticipated, and aiming to make progress on uncovering those that are particularly difficult to detect and debunking those that are exaggerated is the task that lies ahead of us. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Cholesterol Autoxidation Revisited: Debunking the Dogma Associated with the Most Vilified of Lipids.

PubMed

Zielinski, Zosia A M; Pratt, Derek A

2016-06-08

The longstanding dogma that cholesterol (chol) autoxidation gives chol 7-hydroperoxide (7-OOH) as the sole primary product is shown to be invalid. In fact, the epimers of each of chol 4-OOH, 6-OOH, and 7-OOH are readily formed. Although the C4-H bond that must be cleaved to produce the chol 4-OOH and 6-OOH products is significantly stronger than the C7-H bond, H-atom abstraction from C4 is facilitated by H-bond formation between the attacking peroxyl radical and the 3β-OH. Chol 5α-OOH is also formed, but only in the presence of a good H-atom donor. Chol 5α-OOH and 6-OOH undergo Hock fragmentation to yield the secosterols implicated in cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting that they are likely to arise simply from autoxidation and not from reactions with O3 or (1)O2.
Performance of a kinetic model for intracellular ice formation based on the extent of supercooling.

PubMed

Pitt, R E; Chandrasekaran, M; Parks, J E

1992-06-01

Cryomicroscopy was used to study the incidence of intracellular ice formation (IIF) in protoplasts isolated from rye (Secale cereale) leaves during subfreezing isothermal periods and in in vitro mature bovine oocytes during cooling at constant rates. IIF in protoplasts occurred at random times during isothermal periods, and the kinetics of IIF were faster as isothermal temperature decreased. Mean IIF times decreased from approximately 1700 s at -4.0 degrees C to less than 1 s at -18.5 degrees C. Total incidence of IIF after 200 s increased from 4% at -4.0 degrees C to near 100% at -15.5 degrees C. IIF behavior in protoplasts was qualitatively similar to that for Drosophila melanogaster embryos over the same temperature ranges (Myers et al., Cryobiology 26, 472-484, 1989), but the kinetics of IIF were about five times faster in protoplasts. IIF observations in linear cooling of bovine oocytes indicated a median IIF temperature of -11 degrees C at 16 degrees C/min and total incidences of 97%, 50%, and 19% at 16, 8, and 4 degrees C/min, respectively. A stochastic model of IIF was developed which preserved certain features of an earlier model (Pitt et al. Cryobiology 28, 72-86, 1991), namely Weibull behavior in IIF temperatures during rapid linear cooling, but with a departure from the concept of a supercooling tolerance. Instead, the new model uses the osmotic state of the cell, represented by the extent of supercooling, as the independent variable governing the kinetics of IIF. Two kinetic parameters are needed for the model: a scale factor tau 0 dictating the sensitivity to supercooling, and an exponent rho dictating the strength of time dependency. The model was fit to the data presented in this study as well as those from Myers et al. and Pitt et al. for D. melanogaster embryos with and without cryoprotectant, and from Toner et al. (Cryobiology 28, 55-71, 1991) for mouse oocytes. In protoplasts, D. melanogaster embryos, and mouse oocytes, the parameters were estimated from IIF times in the early stages of isothermal periods, while the osmotic state of the cell was relatively constant. In bovine oocytes, the parameters were estimated from linear cooling data. Without further calibration, the model was used to predict total IIF incidence under different cooling regimes. For protoplasts, D. melanogaster embryos, and bovine oocytes, the model's predictions were quite accurate compared to the actual data. In mouse oocytes, adjustment of the hydraulic permeability coefficient (Lp) at 0 degree C was required to yield realistic behavior.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Stuck with/in a 'turn': Can we metaphorize better in Science and Technology Studies?

PubMed

Vasileva, Bistra

2015-06-01

This contribution encourages loosening the cast-iron mould of the 'turn' metaphor that the practices of general and ontology-related turn-talking/making in Science and Technology Studies forge and fortify. Could framing novel themes and thinking in terms of 'turn' be as good as fettering? Not specific to the 'ontological turn' or 'turn to ontology', but haunting Science and Technology Studies across the board to signify supposed tidal change, the metaphor warrants dissection. Thus, this commentary expounds four distinct yet not unrelated versions of 'turn'--rotation, change of course/direction, change in general and occasion/opportunity to act--together with the worlds they beget. Then, the operation of these 'turns' in the debates on the 'ontological turn' is pursued. Enactments of the first three modes/moulds of 'turn', all entailing and tainted by the inexorable directedness of change the coupled 'turn to' framing imparts, either debunk or qualify the extent of the professed 'turn', with the effect of betraying its conceptual and methodological offerings. The fourth version, less substitutable with 'turn to' and thus less infected by intransigent directedness, escapes the rigidity that diminishes the value of ontology-minded studies. Clear of either a resolution to the debate or an alternative trope to cure the maladies of 'turn', the conclusion wishes to open space for pondering how to metaphorize more consciously and judiciously evolution and innovation in Science and Technology Studies.
A hierarchical Bayesian approach to adaptive vision testing: A case study with the contrast sensitivity function.

PubMed

Gu, Hairong; Kim, Woojae; Hou, Fang; Lesmes, Luis Andres; Pitt, Mark A; Lu, Zhong-Lin; Myung, Jay I

2016-01-01

Measurement efficiency is of concern when a large number of observations are required to obtain reliable estimates for parametric models of vision. The standard entropy-based Bayesian adaptive testing procedures addressed the issue by selecting the most informative stimulus in sequential experimental trials. Noninformative, diffuse priors were commonly used in those tests. Hierarchical adaptive design optimization (HADO; Kim, Pitt, Lu, Steyvers, & Myung, 2014) further improves the efficiency of the standard Bayesian adaptive testing procedures by constructing an informative prior using data from observers who have already participated in the experiment. The present study represents an empirical validation of HADO in estimating the human contrast sensitivity function. The results show that HADO significantly improves the accuracy and precision of parameter estimates, and therefore requires many fewer observations to obtain reliable inference about contrast sensitivity, compared to the method of quick contrast sensitivity function (Lesmes, Lu, Baek, & Albright, 2010), which uses the standard Bayesian procedure. The improvement with HADO was maintained even when the prior was constructed from heterogeneous populations or a relatively small number of observers. These results of this case study support the conclusion that HADO can be used in Bayesian adaptive testing by replacing noninformative, diffuse priors with statistically justified informative priors without introducing unwanted bias.
A hierarchical Bayesian approach to adaptive vision testing: A case study with the contrast sensitivity function

PubMed Central

Gu, Hairong; Kim, Woojae; Hou, Fang; Lesmes, Luis Andres; Pitt, Mark A.; Lu, Zhong-Lin; Myung, Jay I.

2016-01-01

Measurement efficiency is of concern when a large number of observations are required to obtain reliable estimates for parametric models of vision. The standard entropy-based Bayesian adaptive testing procedures addressed the issue by selecting the most informative stimulus in sequential experimental trials. Noninformative, diffuse priors were commonly used in those tests. Hierarchical adaptive design optimization (HADO; Kim, Pitt, Lu, Steyvers, & Myung, 2014) further improves the efficiency of the standard Bayesian adaptive testing procedures by constructing an informative prior using data from observers who have already participated in the experiment. The present study represents an empirical validation of HADO in estimating the human contrast sensitivity function. The results show that HADO significantly improves the accuracy and precision of parameter estimates, and therefore requires many fewer observations to obtain reliable inference about contrast sensitivity, compared to the method of quick contrast sensitivity function (Lesmes, Lu, Baek, & Albright, 2010), which uses the standard Bayesian procedure. The improvement with HADO was maintained even when the prior was constructed from heterogeneous populations or a relatively small number of observers. These results of this case study support the conclusion that HADO can be used in Bayesian adaptive testing by replacing noninformative, diffuse priors with statistically justified informative priors without introducing unwanted bias. PMID:27105061
Beyond the organ donor card: the effect of knowledge, attitudes, and values on willingness to communicate about organ donation to family members.

PubMed

Morgan, Susan E; Miller, Jenny K

2002-01-01

Although numerous studies have examined many of the predictors of signing an organ donor card, including knowledge, attitudes, values, and demographic variables, very few have examined the factors associated with individuals' willingness to communicate about organ donation with family members. Because organ donation does not take place without the permission of a person's next-of-kin, government agencies and organ procurement organizations have targeted communication with family members as a primary objective of organ donation campaigns. This study reports the results of a survey of a stratified random sample of adults at 2 local sites of a national employer. Results indicate that knowledge, attitude, and altruism are significantly related to 2 measures of willingness to communicate: past behavior (whether respondents had already discussed organ donation with family members) and a scale measuring willingness to communicate about organ donation in the future. Because the quality of discussions between the potential donor and his or her family will depend on how well the donor is able to address vital issues regarding donation, it is concluded that campaigns seeking to promote communication between family members about organ donation must simultaneously seek to increase knowledge, debunk myths, and bolster positive attitudes about donation.
Debunking Occam's razor: Diagnosing multiple genetic diseases in families by whole-exome sequencing.

PubMed

Balci, T B; Hartley, T; Xi, Y; Dyment, D A; Beaulieu, C L; Bernier, F P; Dupuis, L; Horvath, G A; Mendoza-Londono, R; Prasad, C; Richer, J; Yang, X-R; Armour, C M; Bareke, E; Fernandez, B A; McMillan, H J; Lamont, R E; Majewski, J; Parboosingh, J S; Prasad, A N; Rupar, C A; Schwartzentruber, J; Smith, A C; Tétreault, M; Innes, A M; Boycott, K M

2017-09-01

Recent clinical whole exome sequencing (WES) cohorts have identified unanticipated multiple genetic diagnoses in single patients. However, the frequency of multiple genetic diagnoses in families is largely unknown. We set out to identify the rate of multiple genetic diagnoses in probands and their families referred for analysis in two national research programs in Canada. We retrospectively analyzed WES results for 802 undiagnosed probands referred over the past 5 years in either the FORGE or Care4Rare Canada WES initiatives. Of the 802 probands, 226 (28.2%) were diagnosed based on mutations in known disease genes. Eight (3.5%) had two or more genetic diagnoses explaining their clinical phenotype, a rate in keeping with the large published studies (average 4.3%; 1.4 - 7.2%). Seven of the 8 probands had family members with one or more of the molecularly diagnosed diseases. Consanguinity and multisystem disease appeared to increase the likelihood of multiple genetic diagnoses in a family. Our findings highlight the importance of comprehensive clinical phenotyping of family members to ultimately provide accurate genetic counseling. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Beyond attributions: Understanding public stigma of mental illness with the common sense model.

PubMed

Mak, Winnie W S; Chong, Eddie S K; Wong, Celia C Y

2014-03-01

The present study applied the common sense model (i.e., cause, controllability, timeline, consequences, and illness coherence) to understand public attitudes toward mental illness and help-seeking intention and to examine the mediating role of perceived controllability between causal attributions with public attitudes and help seeking. Based on a randomized household sample of 941 Chinese community adults in Hong Kong, results of the structural equation modeling demonstrated that people who endorsed cultural lay beliefs tended to perceive the course of mental illness as less controllable, whereas those with psychosocial attributions see its course as more controllable. The more people perceived the course of mental illness as less controllable, more chronic, and incomprehensible, the lower was their acceptance and the greater was mental illness stigma. Furthermore, those who perceived mental illness with dire consequences were more likely to feel greater stigma and social distance. Conversely, when people were more accepting, they were more likely to seek help for psychological services and felt a shorter social distance. The common sense model provides a multidimensional framework in understanding public's mental illness perceptions and stigma. Not only should biopsychosocial determinants of mental illness be advocated to the public, cultural myths toward mental illness must be debunked.
[Factors that influence the sexuality of the elderly: an integrative review].

PubMed

Alencar, Danielle Lopes de; Marques, Ana Paula de Oliveira; Leal, Márcia Carréra Campos; Vieira, Júlia de Cássia Miguel

2014-08-01

The scope of this article is to analyze the scientific evidence addressing the factors that influence the sexuality of the elderly. It involved an online search carried out in pairs, including original articles published between 2006 and October 2011 in Portuguese, English or Spanish, which fulfilled the requirements of the study. The MEDLINE, LILACS, CidSaúde and BDENF databases were used with the key words: sexualidade e idoso / sexuality and elderly / sexualidad y anciano. The articles selected were assessed for methodological quality using two instruments, namely CASP and the Hierarchical Classification of Evidence. After analysis, 15 articles were included in the review, which discuss the culture of asexuality of the elderly, whereby the experience of sexuality only prevails among younger people. The absence of the partner due to widowhood, attributing value to beauty standards of the young, the occurrence of disease, use of medication, and changes in sexual physiology were identified as important factors that influence the sexuality of the elderly. The conclusion drawn is that social and cultural factors, changes in body physiology, and the occurrence of disease interfere with the sexuality of the elderly, making it necessary for nursing professionals to be proactive in debunking myths and providing orientation.
Schizophrenia interactome with 504 novel protein–protein interactions

PubMed Central

Ganapathiraju, Madhavi K; Thahir, Mohamed; Handen, Adam; Sarkar, Saumendra N; Sweet, Robert A; Nimgaonkar, Vishwajit L; Loscher, Christine E; Bauer, Eileen M; Chaparala, Srilakshmi

2016-01-01

Genome-wide association studies of schizophrenia (GWAS) have revealed the role of rare and common genetic variants, but the functional effects of the risk variants remain to be understood. Protein interactome-based studies can facilitate the study of molecular mechanisms by which the risk genes relate to schizophrenia (SZ) genesis, but protein–protein interactions (PPIs) are unknown for many of the liability genes. We developed a computational model to discover PPIs, which is found to be highly accurate according to computational evaluations and experimental validations of selected PPIs. We present here, 365 novel PPIs of liability genes identified by the SZ Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC). Seventeen genes that had no previously known interactions have 57 novel interactions by our method. Among the new interactors are 19 drug targets that are targeted by 130 drugs. In addition, we computed 147 novel PPIs of 25 candidate genes investigated in the pre-GWAS era. While there is little overlap between the GWAS genes and the pre-GWAS genes, the interactomes reveal that they largely belong to the same pathways, thus reconciling the apparent disparities between the GWAS and prior gene association studies. The interactome including 504 novel PPIs overall, could motivate other systems biology studies and trials with repurposed drugs. The PPIs are made available on a webserver, called Schizo-Pi at http://severus.dbmi.pitt.edu/schizo-pi with advanced search capabilities. PMID:27336055
Body dirt or liquid gold? How the 'safety' of donated breastmilk is constructed for use in neonatal intensive care.

PubMed

Carroll, Katherine

2014-06-01

When mothers of preterm infants are unable to produce sufficient volumes of breastmilk, neonatologists in many Western countries prescribe pasteurized donor breastmilk. Breastmilk has a paradoxical presence in the neonatal intensive care unit while it has therapeutic properties, it also has the potential to transmit disease. National health authorities and local neonatal intensive care unit policies each delimit the safety of donor milk by focusing on the presence or absence of pathogens. It is in this light that breastmilk from the human milk bank is both sought and legitimated to minimize safety concerns. This research uses data arising from an ethnographic study of two human milk banks and two neonatal intensive care units in the United States, and 73 interviews with milk donors, neonatal intensive care unit parents and clinicians. The primary research question framing the study was 'What are the underlying processes and practices that have enabled donor milk to be endorsed as a safe and legitimate feeding option in neonatal intensive care units?' This study is framed using three key principles of Latour's 'new critique', namely, adding to reality rather than debunking it, getting closer to data rather than turning away from fact and creating arenas in which to assemble. As a result, conceptions of donor milk's safety are expanded. This case study of donor milk demonstrates how Latour's new critique can inform science and technology studies approaches to the study of safety in health care.
Synthesis of Perylene Imide Diones as Platforms for the Development of Pyrazine Based Organic Semiconductors.

PubMed

de Echegaray, Paula; Mancheño, María J; Arrechea-Marcos, Iratxe; Juárez, Rafael; López-Espejo, Guzmán; López Navarrete, J Teodomiro; Ramos, María Mar; Seoane, Carlos; Ortiz, Rocío Ponce; Segura, José L

2016-11-18

There is a great interest in peryleneimide (PI)-containing compounds given their unique combination of good electron accepting ability, high abosorption in the visible region, and outstanding chemical, thermal, and photochemical stabilities. Thus, herein we report the synthesis of perylene imide derivatives endowed with a 1,2-diketone functionality (PIDs) as efficient intermediates to easily access peryleneimide (PI)-containing organic semiconductors with enhanced absorption cross-section for the design of tunable semiconductor organic materials. Three processable organic molecular semiconductors containing thiophene and terthiophene moieties, PITa, PITb, and PITT, have been prepared from the novel PIDs. The tendency of these semiconductors for molecular aggregation have been investigated by NMR spectroscopy and supported by quantum chemical calculations. 2D NMR experiments and theoretical calculations point to an antiparallel π-stacking interaction as the most stable conformation in the aggregates. Investigation of the optical and electrochemical properties of the materials is also reported and analyzed in combination with DFT calculations. Although the derivatives presented here show modest electron mobilities of ∼10 -4 cm 2 V -1 s -1 , these preliminary studies of their performance in organic field effect transistors (OFETs) indicate the potential of these new building blocks as n-type semiconductors.

Nitrogen and carbon dynamics beneath on-site wastewater treatment systems in Pitt County, North Carolina.

PubMed

Del Rosario, Katie L; Humphrey, Charles P; Mitra, Siddhartha; O'Driscoll, Michael A

2014-01-01

On-site wastewater treatment systems (OWS) are a potentially significant non-point source of nutrients to groundwater and surface waters, and are extensively used in coastal North Carolina. The goal of this study was to determine the treatment efficiency of four OWS in reducing total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations before discharge to groundwater and/or adjacent surface water. Piezometers were installed for groundwater sample collection and nutrient analysis at four separate residences that use OWS. Septic tank effluent, groundwater, and surface water samples (from an adjacent stream) were collected four times during 2012 for TDN and DOC analysis and pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, and dissolved oxygen measurements. Treatment efficiencies from the tank to the groundwater beneath the drainfields ranged from 33 to 95% for TDN and 45 to 82% for DOC, although dilution accounted for most of the concentration reductions. There was a significant positive correlation between nitrate concentration and separation distance from trench bottom to water table and a significant negative correlation between DOC concentration and separation distance. The TDN and DOC transport (>15 m) from two OWS with groundwater saturated drainfield trenches was significant.
Celebrity Health Announcements and Online Health Information Seeking: An Analysis of Angelina Jolie's Preventative Health Decision.

PubMed

Dean, Marleah

2016-01-01

On May 14, 2013, Angelina Jolie disclosed she carries BRCA1, which means she has an 87% risk of developing breast cancer during her lifetime. Jolie decided to undergo a preventative bilateral mastectomy (PBM), reducing her risk to 5%. The purpose of this study was to analyze the type of information individuals are exposed to when using the Internet to search health information regarding Jolie's decision. Qualitative content analysis revealed four main themes--information about genetics, information about a PBM, information about health care, and information about Jolie's gender identity. Broadly, the identified websites mention Jolie's high risk for developing cancer due to the genetic mutation BRCA1, describe a PBM occasionally noting reasons why she had this surgery and providing alternatives to the surgery, discuss issues related to health care services, costs, and insurances about Jolie's health decision, and portray Jolie as a sexual icon, a partner to Brad Pitt, a mother of six children, and an inspirational humanitarian. The websites also depict Jolie's health decision in positive, negative, and/or both ways. Discussion centers on how this actress' health decision impacts the public.
Use of segmented constrained layer damping treatment for improved helicopter aeromechanical stability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Qiang; Chattopadhyay, Aditi; Gu, Haozhong; Liu, Qiang; Chattopadhyay, Aditi; Zhou, Xu

2000-08-01

The use of a special type of smart material, known as segmented constrained layer (SCL) damping, is investigated for improved rotor aeromechanical stability. The rotor blade load-carrying member is modeled using a composite box beam with arbitrary wall thickness. The SCLs are bonded to the upper and lower surfaces of the box beam to provide passive damping. A finite-element model based on a hybrid displacement theory is used to accurately capture the transverse shear effects in the composite primary structure and the viscoelastic and the piezoelectric layers within the SCL. Detailed numerical studies are presented to assess the influence of the number of actuators and their locations for improved aeromechanical stability. Ground and air resonance analysis models are implemented in the rotor blade built around the composite box beam with segmented SCLs. A classic ground resonance model and an air resonance model are used in the rotor-body coupled stability analysis. The Pitt dynamic inflow model is used in the air resonance analysis under hover condition. Results indicate that the surface bonded SCLs significantly increase rotor lead-lag regressive modal damping in the coupled rotor-body system.
Improved helicopter aeromechanical stability analysis using segmented constrained layer damping and hybrid optimization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Qiang; Chattopadhyay, Aditi

2000-06-01

Aeromechanical stability plays a critical role in helicopter design and lead-lag damping is crucial to this design. In this paper, the use of segmented constrained damping layer (SCL) treatment and composite tailoring is investigated for improved rotor aeromechanical stability using formal optimization technique. The principal load-carrying member in the rotor blade is represented by a composite box beam, of arbitrary thickness, with surface bonded SCLs. A comprehensive theory is used to model the smart box beam. A ground resonance analysis model and an air resonance analysis model are implemented in the rotor blade built around the composite box beam with SCLs. The Pitt-Peters dynamic inflow model is used in air resonance analysis under hover condition. A hybrid optimization technique is used to investigate the optimum design of the composite box beam with surface bonded SCLs for improved damping characteristics. Parameters such as stacking sequence of the composite laminates and placement of SCLs are used as design variables. Detailed numerical studies are presented for aeromechanical stability analysis. It is shown that optimum blade design yields significant increase in rotor lead-lag regressive modal damping compared to the initial system.
Effects of low-powered RF sweep between 0.01-20 GHz on female Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes: A collective behaviour analysis

PubMed Central

Poh, Abdul Halim; Shafiei, M. M.; Leong, C. S.; Lau, Yee Ling; Mahamd Adikan, Faisal Rafiq; Bakhtiari, Majid; Abdulla Hassan, Mahmood Ameen

2017-01-01

There are many products claiming to be an electronic solution towards repelling mosquitoes. Several reviews were published in debunking these claims. However, there is a lack of a systematic study on effects of electromagnetic (EM) or more specifically, radio frequency (RF) waves against mosquitoes due to the conclusions made in those years. Therefore, we attempt to establish a fundamental study on female Aedes Aegypti (Linnaeus) mosquitoes by quantifying the collective behavior of the mosquitoes against a continuous stream of low-powered RF signals via a broadband horn antenna using image processing methods. By examining the average lateral and vertical positions of the mosquitoes versus frequency and time, the data shows negligible consistency in the reactions of the mosquitoes toward the different frequencies ranging from 10 to 20,000.00 MHz, with a step of 10 MHz. This was done by examining 33 hours of spatiotemporal data, which was divided into three sessions. All three sessions showed totally different convolutions in the positions in arbitrary units based on the raster scan of the image processing output. Several frequencies apparently showed up to 0.2–70% shift in both lateral and vertical components along the spectrum, without repeatability for all three sessions. This study contributes to the following: A pilot study for establishing the collective effects of RF against mosquitoes, open-source use, and finally a low-cost and easily adaptable platform for the study of EM effects against any insects. PMID:28582398
Morbidity from in-hospital complications is greater than treatment failure in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia.

PubMed

Holmes, Natasha E; Robinson, J Owen; van Hal, Sebastiaan J; Munckhof, Wendy J; Athan, Eugene; Korman, Tony M; Cheng, Allen C; Turnidge, John D; Johnson, Paul D R; Howden, Benjamin P

2018-03-05

Various studies have identified numerous factors associated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB). A new study was created to provide deeper insight into in-hospital complications and risk factors for treatment failure. Adult patients hospitalised with Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB) were recruited prospectively into a multi-centre cohort. The primary outcome was treatment failure at 30 days (composite of all-cause mortality, persistent bacteraemia, or recurrent bacteraemia), and secondary measures included in-hospital complications and mortality at 6- and 12-months. Data were available for 222 patients recruited from February 2011 to December 2012. Treatment failure at 30-days was recorded in 14.4% of patients (30-day mortality 9.5%). Multivariable analysis predictors of treatment failure included age > 70 years, Pitt bacteraemia score ≥ 2, CRP at onset of SAB > 250 mg/L, and persistent fevers after SAB onset; serum albumin at onset of SAB, receipt of appropriate empiric treatment, recent healthcare attendance, and performing echocardiography were protective. 6-month and 12-month mortality were 19.1% and 24.2% respectively. 45% experienced at least one in-hospital complication, including nephrotoxicity in 19.5%. This study demonstrates significant improvements in 30-day outcomes in SAB in Australia. However, we have identified important areas to improve outcomes from SAB, particularly reducing renal dysfunction and in-hospital treatment-related complications.
Treatment of ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteraemia with carbapenems or flomoxef: a retrospective study and laboratory analysis of the isolates.

PubMed

Lee, Chen-Hsiang; Su, Lin-Hui; Tang, Ya-Fen; Liu, Jien-Wei

2006-11-01

To better understand the clinical outcomes of patients with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-KP) bacteraemia treated with either flomoxef or a carbapenem, and to evaluate the in vitro activities of these antibiotics against ESBL-KP. Retrospective analyses to identify risk factors for mortality in patients with flomoxef-susceptible ESBL-KP, especially addressing the therapeutic roles of flomoxef and carbapenem. In vitro activities of flomoxef and carbapenem against flomoxef-susceptible ESBL-KP isolates were evaluated by susceptibility testing and time-kill study. Twenty-seven patients (flomoxef group, n=7; carbapenem group, n=20) were included. Clinical severity reflected by high Pitt bacteraemia score (>or=6) was an independent risk factor for mortality (OR 13.43; 95% CI, 1.08-166.73; P=0.043), while use of flomoxef or a carbapenem was not. The MICs of flomoxef and carbapenem indicated that the tested ESBL-KP were susceptible to these antibiotics regardless of the inoculum size of 10(5) or 10(7) cfu/mL. Time-kill study showed that these antibiotics (flomoxef 8 mg/L and meropenem 4 mg/L) each acted actively against and inhibited the regrowth of the tested ESBL-KP for at least 24 h. Flomoxef might be as clinically effective as a carbapenem in treating flomoxef-susceptible ESBL-KP bacteraemia.
Five solar geoengineering tropes that have outstayed their welcome

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reynolds, Jesse L.; Parker, Andy; Irvine, Peter

2016-12-01

In the last decade, solar geoengineering (solar radiation management, or SRM) has received increasing consideration as a potential means to reduce risks of anthropogenic climate change. Some ideas regarding SRM that have been proposed have receded after being appropriately scrutinized, while others have strengthened through testing and critique. This process has improved the understanding of SRM's potential and limitations. However, several claims are frequently made in the academic and popular SRM discourses and, despite evidence to the contrary, pose the risk of hardening into accepted facts. Here, in order to foster a more productive and honest debate, we identify, describe, and refute five of the most problematic claims that are unsupported by existing evidence, unlikely to occur, or greatly exaggerated. These are: (A) once started, SRM cannot be stopped; (B) SRM is a right-wing project; (C) SRM would cost only a few billion dollars per year; (D) modeling studies indicate that SRM would disrupt monsoon precipitation; and (E) there is an international prohibition on outdoors research. SRM is a controversial proposed set of technologies that could prove to be very helpful or very harmful, and it warrants vigorous and informed public debate. By highlighting and debunking some persistent but unsupported claims, this paper hopes to bring rigor to such discussions.
Two analogy strategies: the cases of mind metaphors and introspection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fischer, Eugen

2018-04-01

Analogical reasoning is often employed in problem-solving and metaphor interpretation. This paper submits that, as a default, analogical reasoning addressing these different tasks employs different mapping strategies. In problem-solving, it employs analogy-maximising strategies (like structure mapping, Gentner, D., & Markman, A. B. (1997). Structure mapping in analogy and similarity. American Psychologist, 52, 45-56); in metaphor interpretation, analogy-minimising strategies (like ATT-Meta, Barnden, J. A. (2015). Open-ended elaborations in creative metaphor. In T. R. Besold, M. Schorlemmer, & A. Smaill (Eds.), Computational creativity research: Towards creative machines (pp. 217-242). Berlin: Springer). The two strategies interact in analogical reasoning with conceptual metaphors. This interaction leads to predictable fallacies. The paper supports these hypotheses through case-studies on "mind" metaphors from ordinary discourse, and abstract problem-solving in the philosophy of mind, respectively. It shows that (1) default metaphorical interpretations for vision- and space-cognition metaphors can be derived with a variant of the analogy-minimising ATT-Meta approach, (2) philosophically influential introspective conceptions of the mind can be derived with conceptual metaphors only through an analogy-maximising strategy, and (3) the interaction of these strategies leads to hitherto unrecognised fallacies in analogical reasoning with metaphors. This yields a debunking explanation of introspective conceptions.
Final Research Performance Report - Small Molecular Associative Carbon Dioxide (CO 2) Thickeners for Improved Mobility Control

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

Enick, Robert M.

The initial objective of this project was to promote the application of a CO 2 thickener for improved mobility control during CO 2 EOR based on solubility tests, viscosity tests, and core floods. Ultimately, it was demonstrated that the CO 2-soluble polymeric thickeners are much better suited for use a CO 2-soluble conformance control agents for diverting the flow of CO 2 away from thief zones. Our team generated several effective small molecule CO 2 thickeners with ARPA-e funding. Unfortunately, none of these small molecule thickeners could dissolve in CO 2 without the addition of unacceptably large amounts of hexanemore » or toluene as a co-solvent Therefore none were viable candidates for the core flooding studies associated with NETL award. Therefore during the entire core flood testing program associated with this NETL award, our team used only the most promising polymeric CO 2 thickener, a polyfluoroacrylate (PFA). In order to produce an environmentally benign polymer, the monomer used to make the new polymers used in this study was a fluoroacrylate that contains only six fluorinated carbons. We verified CO 2 solubility with a phase behavior cell. The thickening potential of all polymer samples was substantiated with a falling ball viscometer and a falling cylinder viscometer at Pitt. Two different viscometers were used to determine the increase in CO 2 viscosity that could be achieved via the dissolution of PFA. Praxair, which has an interest in thickening CO 2 for pilot EOR projects and for waterless hydraulic fracturing, agreed to measure the viscosity of CO 2-PFA solutions at no cost to the project. Falling cylinder viscometery was conducted at Pitt in our windowed high pressure phase behavior cell. Both apparatuses indicated that at very low shear rates the CO 2 viscosity increased by a factor of roughly 3.5 when 1wt% PFA was dissolved in the CO 22. Our team also planned thickener concentrations and compositions at Pitt for the core tests that were conducted at Special Core Analysis Laboratories, Inc., (SCAL) in Midland, TX, where the ability for PFA to reduce CO 2 mobility in a core was then tested. During the beginning of these tests, the PFA polymer was then shown to impart reasonable improvements in mobility control during the SCAL core tests; as the CO 2-PFA solution displaced CO 2 from the core at a constant volumetric flow rate, the pressure drop increased as expected. However, as the test progressed, there was clear and surprising evidence of dramatic reductions in core permeability due to PFA adsorption, especially for sandstones. For example, as the CO 2-PFA solution displaced pure CO 2 from sandstone and limestone cores, the pressure drop increased by factors of multiple hundreds to over a thousand. It was subsequently demonstrated that the PFA injected into the core either (a) adsorbed strongly and irreversibly onto the rock surfaces, (b) deposited/precipitated within the rock, thereby blocking pores in a manner that could be dislodged by large changes in flow rate or flow direction, or (c) remained in solution and passed completely through the core. The loss of PFA to the porous media and the unacceptably large increases in pressure drop both indicated that PFA was inappropriate for CO 2 EOR mobility control, where thickener adsorption must be minimized and mobility reductions of only 10-100-fold are typically required. However, we realized that because the CO 2-PFA solution could greatly reduce the permeability of porous media, it could serve as a near wellbore conformance control agent for blocking “thief zones”, where adsorption is acceptable and dramatic increases in pressure drop are desirable. These effects were more dramatic for sandstone than for limestone. Therefore, these PFA fluoroacrylate polymers can serve as a CO 2-soluble conformance control agent for CO 2-EOR, especially in sandstone formations. This injection of a single phase solution of CO 2-PFA for permeability reduction is (to the best of our knowledge) the first report of a CO 2-soluble conformance control additive. We also demonstrated that the optimal strategy for using CO 2-PFA solutions for conformance control is analogous to the application of water-based polymeric gels; the CO 2-PFA solution should first be injected only in an isolated thief zone to induce dramatic reductions in permeability only in that thief zone, and then CO 2 should be injected into all of the zones. Finally, it was noted that given the propensity of PFA to adsorb onto sandstone, the adsorption of PFA from CO 2-PFA solutions onto cement surfaces promote the sealing of extremely fine cracks in casing cement.« less
HEALTH STATUS OF RED-FOOTED BOOBIES ( SULA SULA) DETERMINED BY HEMATOLOGY, BIOCHEMISTRY, BLOOD GASES, AND PHYSICAL EXAMINATION.

PubMed

Lewbart, Gregory A; Ulloa, Catalina; Deresienski, Diane; Regalado, Cristina; Muñoz-Pérez, Juan-Pablo; Garcia, Juan; Hardesty, Britta Denise; Valle, Carlos A

2017-12-01

The red-footed booby ( Sula sula) is a widely distributed sulid native to the Galápagos archipelago. Hematology and blood chemistry parameters have been published for this species, but not from the San Cristóbal rookery. Analyses were run on blood samples drawn from 31 manually restrained red-footed boobies that were captured by hand from their nests at Punta Pitt on San Cristóbal Island. A portable blood analyzer (iSTAT) was used to obtain near immediate field results for pH, partial pressure of oxygen, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, bicarbonate, hematocrit, hemoglobin, sodium, potassium, ionized calcium, and glucose. Blood lactate was measured using a portable Lactate Plus™ analyzer. Average heart rate, respiratory rate, body weight, body temperature, and biochemistry and hematology parameters were comparable to those of healthy individuals of other sulids. The reported results provide baseline data that can be used for comparisons among populations and in detecting changes in health status among Galápagos red-footed boobies.
Mn-Based Cathode with Synergetic Layered-Tunnel Hybrid Structures and Their Enhanced Electrochemical Performance in Sodium Ion Batteries.

PubMed

Wu, Zhen-Guo; Li, Jun-Tao; Zhong, Yan-Jun; Guo, Xiao-Dong; Huang, Ling; Zhong, Ben-He; Agyeman, Daniel-Adjei; Lim, Jin-Myoung; Kim, Du-Ho; Cho, Maeng-Hyo; Kang, Yong-Mook

2017-06-28

A synergistic approach for advanced cathode materials is proposed. Sodium manganese oxide with a layered-tunnel hybrid structure was designed, synthesized, and subsequently investigated. The layered-tunnel hybrid structure provides fast Na ion diffusivity and high structural stability thanks to the tunnel phase, enabling high rate capability and greatly improved cycling stability compared to that of the pure P2 layered phase while retaining the high specific capacity of the P2 layered phase. The hybrid structure provided a decent discharge capacity of 133.4 mAh g -1 even at 8 C, which exceeds the reported best rate capability for Mn-based cathodes. It also displayed an impressive cycling stability, maintaining 83.3 mAh g -1 after 700 cycles at 10 C. Theoretical calculation and the potentiostatic intermittent titration technique (PITT) demonstrated that this hybrid structure helps enhance Na ion diffusivity during charge and discharge, attaining, as a result, an unprecendented electrochemical performance.
Dental Health Services Research Unit celebrates 30 years: Report of conference to mark the 30th anniversary of the Dental Health Services Research Unit (DHSRU) at Dundee, held on 1st December 2008.

PubMed

Eaton, Kenneth A; Pitts, Nigel B

2009-04-01

Over the years, several members of the staff of the Dental Health Services Research Unit (DHSRU) at Dundee have published papers in Primary Dental Care. Furthermore, its Director, Professor Nigel Pitts, together with Drs Jan Clarkson and Gail Topping have co-edited a number of the Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK)'s standards manuals and contributed to others. It had been suggested to the Unit by several parties that, having been in funded existence for some 30 years, it would be appropriate to mark this anniversary with a conference to explore 'Dental Health Services Research: After 30 years, what was the impact, what have we learned and where are we going?' So, following a range of consultations, the conference was convened at the West Park Conference Centre in Dundee with a mixed audience representing both dental research and dental practice.
The software/wetware distinction. Comment on “Toward a computational framework for cognitive biology: Unifying approaches from cognitive neuroscience and comparative cognition” by W. Tecumseh Fitch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dennett, Daniel

2014-09-01

Fitch [5] has not only articulated a growing consensus, after decades of ideological quarreling, about how to put cognitive science together, but in the process has attempted to advance the unification process with some bold strokes of his own. His proposal [4] that we take seriously the perspective which replaces "spherical neurons" (McCulloch Pitts logical neurons and their close kin) with neurons that are micro-agents with agendas and computational talents of their own, has been taken up by a variety of theorists, including myself [2,3]. Now his dendrophilia hypothesis promises to distill the core truths energizing the heated debates about the innate equipment that distinguishes the cognitive competences of our species from all others. Whether this promise can be kept is a wide-open empirical question, but Fitch has given us enough specification to justify a serious investment in answering it.
Neurons with hysteresis form a network that can learn without any changes in synaptic connection strengths

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoffmann, Geoffrey W.; Benson, Maurice W.

1986-08-01

A neural network concept derived from an analogy between the immune system and the central nerous system is outlined. The theory is based on a nervous that is slightly more complicated than the conventional McCullogh-Pitts type of neuron, in that it exhibits hysteresis at the single cell level. This added complication is compensated by the fact that a network of such neurons is able to learn without the necessity for any changes in synaptic connection strengths. The learning occurs as a natural consequence of interactions between the network and its enviornment, with environmental stimuli moving the system around in an N-dimensional phase space, until a point in phase space is reached such that the system's responses are appropriate for dealing with the stimuli. Due to the hysteresis associated with each neuron, the system tends to stay in the region of phase space where it is located. The theory includes a role for sleep in learning.
Socioeconomic status and electrolyte intake in black adults: the Pitt County Study.

PubMed Central

Gerber, A M; James, S A; Ammerman, A S; Keenan, N L; Garrett, J M; Strogatz, D S; Haines, P S

1991-01-01

BACKGROUND. Although the inverse association between socioeconomic status (SES) and blood pressure has often been observed, little is known about the relationship between SES and dietary risk factors for elevated blood pressure. Therefore, this study described the distribution of dietary intakes of sodium, potassium, and calcium and examined the association between electrolyte intake and SES among 1784 Black men and women aged 25 to 50 residing in eastern North Carolina. METHODS. Household interviews were conducted in 1988 to obtain information on psychosocial and dietary correlates of blood pressure. Electrolyte intake (mg/day) was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire adapted to reflect regional and ethnic food preferences. SES was categorized into three levels defined by the participant's educational level and occupation. RESULTS. After adjustment for age and energy intake, potassium and calcium intake increased with increasing SES for both sexes. Sodium intake was high for all groups and did not vary markedly with SES, but sodium to potassium and sodium to calcium ratios decreased with increasing SES. In addition, high SES individuals were more likely to believe that diet affects risk for disease and to report less salt use at the table and less current sodium consumption than in the past. CONCLUSION. These data indicate that nutritional beliefs as well as the consumption of electrolytes are associated with SES in Black adults. PMID:1746658
Parametric study of a pin-plane probe in moderately magnetized plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Binwal, S.; Gandhi, S.; Kabariya, H.; Karkari, S. K.

2015-12-01

The application of a planar Langmuir probe in magnetized plasma is found to be problematic due to significant perturbation of plasma along the magnetic field lines intercepting the probe surface. This causes the Ampere-Volts ‘I e(U)’ characteristics of the probe to deviate from its usual exponential law; in conjunction the electron saturation current I es is significantly reduced. Moreover estimating the electron temperature T e by considering the entire semi-log plot of I e(U) gives ambiguous values of T e. To address this problem, Pitts and Stangeby developed a formula for the reduction factor for I es. This formula depends on a number of uncertain parameters, namely; the ion temperature T +, electron cross-field diffusion coefficient {{D}\\bot ,\\text{e}} and the local potential hill V h estimated by applying a floating pin probe in the vicinity of the planar probe. Due to implicit dependence of these parameters on T e, the resulting analysis is not straightforward. This paper presents a parametric study of different parameters that influence the characteristics of a planar probe in magnetized plasma. For this purpose a pin-plane probe is constructed and applied in the magnetized plasma column. A comprehensive discussion is presented that highlights the practical methodology of using this technique for extracting useful information of plasma parameters in magnetized plasmas.
A gatekeeping procedure to test a primary and a secondary endpoint in a group sequential design with multiple interim looks.

PubMed

Tamhane, Ajit C; Gou, Jiangtao; Jennison, Christopher; Mehta, Cyrus R; Curto, Teresa

2018-03-01

Glimm et al. (2010) and Tamhane et al. (2010) studied the problem of testing a primary and a secondary endpoint, subject to a gatekeeping constraint, using a group sequential design (GSD) with K=2 looks. In this article, we greatly extend the previous results to multiple (K>2) looks. If the familywise error rate (FWER) is to be controlled at a preassigned α level then it is clear that the primary boundary must be of level α. We show under what conditions one α-level primary boundary is uniformly more powerful than another. Based on this result, we recommend the choice of the O'Brien and Fleming (1979) boundary over the Pocock (1977) boundary for the primary endpoint. For the secondary endpoint the choice of the boundary is more complicated since under certain conditions the secondary boundary can be refined to have a nominal level α'>α, while still controlling the FWER at level α, thus boosting the secondary power. We carry out secondary power comparisons via simulation between different choices of primary-secondary boundary combinations. The methodology is applied to the data from the RALES study (Pitt et al., 1999; Wittes et al., 2001). An R library package gsrsb to implement the proposed methodology is made available on CRAN. © 2017, The International Biometric Society.
Independent Contributions of Early Positive Parenting and Mother-Son Coercion on Emerging Social Development.

PubMed

Akcinar, Berna; Shaw, Daniel S

2018-06-01

In the current study, we explored associations between parent-child coercion and positive parenting in the toddler period in relation to children's social-behavioral development during the school-age period. The data were drawn from the Pitt Mother & Child Project, a sample of 310 low-income, ethnically diverse boys. Drawing on tenets of both attachment and social learning theory, it was hypothesized that coercive mother-son interaction would lead to reductions in positive maternal parenting in the toddler period, and that both positive parenting and mother-son coercion in the toddler period would contribute to children's conduct problems at school entry and lower social skills and peer rejection in middle childhood. The results were largely confirmed, such that mother-son coercive interaction at 18 months was related to decreases in positive parenting at 24 months. Additionally, mother-son coercive interaction and positive parenting at 24 months were linked to child conduct problems at age 5, which in turn predicted child social skills and peer rejection during middle childhood. In addition to indirect effects through child conduct problems, mother-son coercion continued to be independently related to school-age peer rejection. The findings are discussed with respect to the importance of early coercive interactions in the growth of child social-behavioral development from early to middle childhood.
Social support, stress, and blood pressure in black adults.

PubMed

Strogatz, D S; Croft, J B; James, S A; Keenan, N L; Browning, S R; Garrett, J M; Curtis, A B

1997-09-01

Psychosocial factors arising from socioeconomic disadvantage and discrimination may contribute to the excess risk of elevated blood pressure in African-Americans. The purpose of this study was to assess the association of social support and stress with blood pressure in a community-based sample of 25-to 50-year-old black adults in Pitt County, NC. A stratified random sample of dwellings was selected in 1988, and 1,784 black adults (80% of those eligible) were interviewed. Analyses were sex specific and adjusted for age, obesity, and waist/hip ratio. In separate analyses of emotional support, instrumental support, and stress with blood pressure, all associations were in the predicted direction (inverse for support, direct for stress) but were stronger for systolic than for diastolic blood pressure. Differences in systolic blood pressure associated with low support or high stress ranged from 5.2 to 3.6 mmHg in women and 3.5 to 2.5 mmHg in men. In simultaneous regression analyses of support and stress, each of the separate effects was reduced for women, but a sizable aggregate effect of low support and high stress remained [+7.2 mmHg (95% confidence limits = +1.3, +13.1) for systolic blood pressure and +4.0 mmHg (95% confidence limits = +0.1, +7.9) for diastolic blood pressure.

The connectivity Pitt, and how to avoid it

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Durham, Brian

2017-04-01

UK government's newly announced intention to reconstitute its railway industry offers a chance to revisit an issue of hydrological connectivity. Following increased flooding nationally documented by the Pitt Review 2008, major industries have sought to improve resilience: this is especially relevant to the railway where a single company holds an infrastructure portfolio with major flood plain embankments and consequent drainage implications. At Oxford, following repeated railway flooding it was proposed in 2015 to raise a section of track. The flooding occurred at a location where the rail embankment intersects with a road embankment. The proposed mitigation flow matches the sectional area of track-raising measured in the plane of the road embankment, yet the applicant proposed its mitigation culvert in the plane of the rail embankment which already had original (I K Brunel, 1840s) culverts four times the Environment Agency's target flow for the entire flood plain. In terms of impact on neighbouring properties the company's Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) could be read in two ways, one being relatively benign (10-20mm rise), the other being an order of magnitude larger in locations where it was possible to relate proposed water level to individual properties, with implications in one case for an estate of 180 houses built to a nominal 100-year return flood standard. Assessment of impact was made harder by confidentiality. This might have been transparent to the regulating authorities, but in the event the local press attributed the award of planning permission to the company's claim that it had a fall-back position, i.e. it could raise its track without offering flood mitigation. Was this true? When the company proposed a local engineering operation in 2010 it published four pages from its Act of Parliament of 1843, one of which included a drainage term not relevant in that operation. Drainage duly became relevant five years later with the track raising discussed here, but the drainage term in this case was not disclosed in the proposal documentation. Correspondence with company officers at the highest level has at time of writing not elucidated this position, which on a wider scale might tend to transfer historic drainage obligations to the state, thus potentially relevant to the newly announced reorganisation of the industry. This presentation looks at the wording of the 1843 Act relative to: bye-laws administered by leet and baron courts; drainage boards; and modern case law ( http://www.6pumpcourt.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/common-law-liabilities-for-flooding-WU.pdf )
LENS: web-based lens for enrichment and network studies of human proteins

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

Background Network analysis is a common approach for the study of genetic view of diseases and biological pathways. Typically, when a set of genes are identified to be of interest in relation to a disease, say through a genome wide association study (GWAS) or a different gene expression study, these genes are typically analyzed in the context of their protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks. Further analysis is carried out to compute the enrichment of known pathways and disease-associations in the network. Having tools for such analysis at the fingertips of biologists without the requirement for computer programming or curation of data would accelerate the characterization of genes of interest. Currently available tools do not integrate network and enrichment analysis and their visualizations, and most of them present results in formats not most conducive to human cognition. Results We developed the tool Lens for Enrichment and Network Studies of human proteins (LENS) that performs network and pathway and diseases enrichment analyses on genes of interest to users. The tool creates a visualization of the network, provides easy to read statistics on network connectivity, and displays Venn diagrams with statistical significance values of the network's association with drugs, diseases, pathways, and GWASs. We used the tool to analyze gene sets related to craniofacial development, autism, and schizophrenia. Conclusion LENS is a web-based tool that does not require and download or plugins to use. The tool is free and does not require login for use, and is available at http://severus.dbmi.pitt.edu/LENS. PMID:26680011
Perceptions of sexual harassment by evidence quality, perceiver gender, feminism, and right wing authoritarianism: Debunking popular myths.

PubMed

Bhattacharya, Gargi; Stockdale, Margaret S

2016-10-01

This study examined the critique in public discourse that sexual harassment (SH) victim advocates, particularly women and feminists, ignore the quality of evidence in a SH claim and are reluctant to find evidence of a false accusation. To balance the inquiry, the study also examined whether right wing authoritarians (RWAs) also ignore evidence quality and presume such claims are false accusations. Participants were 961 U.S. adults (51% female) who completed an online experiment in which they read either a gender harassment (GH) or unwanted sexual attention (USA) scenario of hostile work environment SH and rated the scenario on severity, perceived guilt of the accused, belief that the accused should receive negative job consequences, and likelihood that the claimant was making a false accusation. Scenarios varied by the strength of the evidence in support of the SH claim. Participants completed measures of identification with and support for feminism, RWA, and demographic variables. Results found that contrary to expectations, evidence had a stronger effect on women's, feminists', and feminism supporters' perceptions and to a lesser extent RWAs' perceptions of the scenarios. When evidence was weak, women and feminists, compared to others, were less supportive of the prosecution, but when evidence was strong they were more supportive of the prosecution than were others. These findings address criticisms that advocates for gender equity and victim's rights, particularly women and feminists, are unable to reach fair judgments of SH complaints. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).
The standard of care and conflicts at the end of life in critical care: lessons from medical-legal crossroads and the role of a quasi-judicial tribunal in decision-making.

PubMed

Hawryluck, Laura; Sibbald, Robert; Chidwick, Paula

2013-12-01

The goals of this qualitative study were to review the last 7 years of end of life legal decisions within the critical care field to explore how medical benefit is defined and by whom and the role of the standard of care (SoC) in conflict resolution. A public online, non-profit database of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada was searched for relevant Consent and Capacity Board decisions from 2003 to 2012. In total, 1486 cases were collected, and purposive sampling identified a total of 29 decisions regarding use of life-sustaining treatments at end of life. Using modified grounded theory, decisions were read and analyzed from a central SoC concept to understand definitions of benefit, rationales for case adjudication, and repercussions of legal recourse in conflict resolution. Medical benefit was clearly defined, and its role in determining SoC, transparent. Perceptions of variability in SoC were enhanced by physicians in intractable conflicts seeking legal validation by framing SoC issues as "best interest" determinations. The results reveal some key problems in recourse to the Consent and Capacity Board for clinicians, patients and substitute decision makers in such conflict situations. This study can help improve decision-making by debunking myth of variability in determinations of medical benefit and the standards of care at end of life and reveal the pitfalls of legal recourse in resolving intractable conflicts. © 2013.
Debunking some judicial myths about epidemiology and its relevance to UK tort law.

PubMed

Mcivor, Claire

2013-01-01

Due to the limitations of current medical knowledge, claimants in complicated disease litigation often experience difficulties in proving causation. This paper aims to demonstrate that in some instances these difficulties could be overcome through greater use of epidemiological evidence. To encourage greater use of such evidence, it is first of all necessary to address and correct a series of common judicial misconceptions of epidemiology as a scientific discipline. By distinguishing epidemiology from the application of bare statistics, and by explaining that the courts are not automatically bound by an epidemiological result of 51+% to hold that causation has been established, this paper seeks to allay common judicial concerns about epidemiological evidence. It further seeks to demonstrate that the current judicial approach to determining questions of probabilistic causation is fundamentally flawed and that it could be significantly improved through greater use of specialist epidemiological expert witnesses. On the issue of expertise, the paper goes on to highlight the problems associated with the tendency of UK lawyers to turn to clinicians as experts on all matters of biomedical science.
Why Frankenstein is a Stigma Among Scientists.

PubMed

Nagy, Peter; Wylie, Ruth; Eschrich, Joey; Finn, Ed

2017-06-26

As one of the best known science narratives about the consequences of creating life, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (1818) is an enduring tale that people know and understand with an almost instinctive familiarity. It has become a myth reflecting people's ambivalent feelings about emerging science: they are curious about science, but they are also afraid of what science can do to them. In this essay, we argue that the Frankenstein myth has evolved into a stigma attached to scientists that focalizes the public's as well as the scientific community's negative reactions towards certain sciences and scientific practices. This stigma produces ambivalent reactions towards scientific artifacts and it leads to negative connotations because it implies that some sciences are dangerous and harmful. We argue that understanding the Frankenstein stigma can empower scientists by helping them revisit their own biases as well as responding effectively to people's expectations for, and attitudes towards, scientists and scientific artifacts. Debunking the Frankenstein stigma could also allow scientists to reshape their professional identities so they can better show the public what ethical and moral values guide their research enterprises.
Debunking the End of the World: It's not Just for 2012 Anymore

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Larsen, K.

2014-07-01

The December 21, 2012 Mayan Calendar end-of-the-world phenomenon was an exemplary teachable moment in terms of integrating critical thinking into our courses and public outreach. However, the passing of this date without an apocalypse does not mean that we should forget the lessons learned or assume that apocalyptic ideas are less common among our students or the general public. Polls have concluded that one in seven adults worldwide believes the world will end in his or her lifetime. A casual perusal of the cosmophobia.org public forum demonstrates that there is still much work to be done in terms of getting our formal and informal education audiences to apply critical thinking skills to what they see on The History Channel or on the Internet. Misconceptions still abound and leave the general public open to being manipulated by pseudosciences and frauds. Being forewarned is being forearmed in this battle. This paper examines the recent rash of proposed astronomical doomsday scenarios and explains how we can stay on top of future apocalypse scares.
Myths of motherhood. The role of culture in the development of postpartum depression.

PubMed

Ambrosini, Alessandra; Stanghellini, Giovanni

2012-01-01

This paper intends to offer a theoretical insight into the myths of motherhood and how these myths can bear on the pathogenesis of postpartum depression. From a man's view motherhood is conceptualized as a necessary stage in the progress towards the attainment of femininity. This view is impersonal and external to the experience of motherhood. From a female perspective, motherhood presents itself as a conflicting situation. We will then focus on the necessity to construct a discourse on motherhood by using a code which belongs to women rather than men. The analysis of a blog and a comedy show will provide evidence concerning the evolution of the female discourse on motherhood thus contributing to the debunking of the myths of motherhood. The final section discusses ways in which myths of motherhood can bear on the pathogenesis of postpartum. Among "melancholic type" women, who tend to abide by social norms, play established social roles and hide their inner conflicts, myths of motherhood contribute to suppress the contradiction which is intrinsic to motherhood itself making this contradiction uncontrollable and potentially devastating.
The Race Idea in Reproductive Technologies: Beyond Epistemic Scientism and Technological Mastery.

PubMed

Russell, Camisha

2015-12-01

This paper explores the limitations of epistemic scientism for understanding the role the concept of race plays in assisted reproductive technology (ART) practices. Two major limitations centre around the desire to use scientific knowledge to bring about social improvement. In the first case, undue focus is placed on debunking the scientific reality of racial categories and characteristics. The alternative to this approach is to focus instead on the way the race idea functions in ART practices. Doing so reveals how the race idea (1) helps to define the reproductive "problems" different groups of women are experiencing and to dictate when and how they should be "helped"; (2) helps to resolve tensions about who should be considered the real parents of children produced by reproductive technologies; and (3) is used to limit ART use where that use threatens to denaturalize the very sociopolitical landscape the race idea has created. In the second case, scientific knowledge regarding reproduction is thought to call for technological control over that reproduction. This leads to an overemphasis on personal responsibility and a depoliticization of racialized social inequalities.
Debunking the Myth of Two-Temperature Coronae for RS CVn Systems Using Contemporaneous

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Linsky, Jeffrey L.

For many years the standard analysis of low energy resolution x-ray observations of active late-type stars with the IPC, PSPC, TGS, and SSS has been to assume that the stellar coronae have plasma at only two temperatures. This type of analysis is constrained by the small information content and limited bandpass of the data but has NO PHYSICAL BASIS WHATSOEVER. We propose to test this hypothesis and to go beyond it to derive continuous emission measure distributions for the coronae of three very bright RS CVn systems (sigma-2 Cor Bor, UX Ari and VY Ari) using CONTEMPORANEOUS high resolution EUVE spectra and the improved x-ray energy resolution of ASCA. EUVE provides Fe lines with a broad range of ionization to derive the emission measure EM(T) independent of any uncertainties in the coronal abundances, while ASCA provides information on the hot plasma as seen in blended features of Mg, Si, S, and Fe and can test for coronal abundances different from the photosphere. We will model the quiescent and flare emission with magnetic loops.
A fallacious jar? The peculiar relation between descriptive premises and normative conclusions in neuroethics.

PubMed

Wagner, Nils-Frederic; Northoff, Georg

2015-06-01

Ethical questions have traditionally been approached through conceptual analysis. Inspired by the rapid advance of modern brain imaging techniques, however, some ethical questions appear in a new light. For example, hotly debated trolley dilemmas have recently been studied by psychologists and neuroscientists alike, arguing that their findings can support or debunk moral intuitions that underlie those dilemmas. Resulting from the wedding of philosophy and neuroscience, neuroethics has emerged as a novel interdisciplinary field that aims at drawing conclusive relationships between neuroscientific observations and normative ethics. A major goal of neuroethics is to derive normative ethical conclusions from the investigation of neural and psychological mechanisms underlying ethical theories, as well as moral judgments and intuitions. The focus of this article is to shed light on the structure and functioning of neuroethical arguments of this sort, and to reveal particular methodological challenges that lie concealed therein. We discuss the methodological problem of how one can--or, as the case may be, cannot--validly infer normative conclusions from neuroscientific observations. Moreover, we raise the issue of how preexisting normative ethical convictions threaten to invalidate the interpretation of neuroscientific data, and thus arrive at question-begging conclusions. Nonetheless, this is not to deny that current neuroethics rightly presumes that moral considerations about actual human lives demand empirically substantiated answers. Therefore, in conclusion, we offer some preliminary reflections on how the discussed methodological challenges can be met.
Defending the social value of knowledge as a safeguard for public trust.

PubMed

Holzer, Felicitas S

2017-09-01

The 'socially valuable knowledge' (SVK) principle has been widely acknowledged as one of the most important guiding principles for biomedical research involving human subjects. The principle states that the potential of producing socially valuable knowledge is a necessary requirement, although not sufficient, for the ethical conduct of research projects. This is due to the assumption that the social value of knowledge avoids exploitation of research subjects and justifies the use of health resources. However, more recently, several authors have started interrogating the validity of SVK in research and offered various lines of argument against the SVK principle as a necessary constraint to research. In this article, I will reconstruct the main arguments of this discussion between defenders and debunkers of the SVK principle and offer a third way to consider the social value of knowledge in research studies. I will argue that the social value of knowledge can be supported by an independent justification. This justification of the SVK principle addresses the rationality and common interest of researchers. Thus, I will introduce the SVK principle as a safeguarding principle for public trust based on a conceptual framework by Alex John London. My approach justifies keeping the principle as a precautionary and rational requirement for human health research that all rational stakeholders can agree upon. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Bloodstream Infections and Clinical Significance of Healthcare-associated Bacteremia: A Multicenter Surveillance Study in Korean Hospitals

PubMed Central

Son, Jun Seong; Ko, Kwan Soo; Yeom, Joon Sup; Ki, Hyun Kyun; Kim, Shin-Woo; Chang, Hyun-Ha; Ryu, Seong Yeol; Kim, Yeon-Sook; Jung, Sook-In; Shin, Sang Yop; Oh, Hee Bok; Lee, Yeong Seon; Chung, Doo Ryeon; Lee, Nam Yong; Peck, Kyong Ran

2010-01-01

Recent changes in healthcare systems have changed the epidemiologic paradigms in many infectious fields including bloodstream infection (BSI). We compared clinical characteristics of community-acquired (CA), hospital-acquired (HA), and healthcare-associated (HCA) BSI. We performed a prospective nationwide multicenter surveillance study from 9 university hospitals in Korea. Total 1,605 blood isolates were collected from 2006 to 2007, and 1,144 isolates were considered true pathogens. HA-BSI accounted for 48.8%, CA-BSI for 33.2%, and HCA-BSI for 18.0%. HA-BSI and HCA-BSI were more likely to have severe comorbidities. Escherichia coli was the most common isolate in CA-BSI (47.1%) and HCA-BSI (27.2%). In contrast, Staphylococcus aureus (15.2%), coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (15.1%) were the common isolates in HA-BSI. The rate of appropriate empiric antimicrobial therapy was the highest in CA-BSI (89.0%) followed by HCA-BSI (76.4%), and HA-BSI (75.0%). The 30-day mortality rate was the highest in HA-BSI (23.0%) followed by HCA-BSI (18.4%), and CA-BSI (10.2%). High Pitt score and inappropriate empirical antibiotic therapy were the independent risk factors for mortality by multivariate analysis. In conclusion, the present data suggest that clinical features, outcome, and microbiologic features of causative pathogens vary by origin of BSI. Especially, HCA-BSI shows unique clinical characteristics, which should be considered a distinct category for more appropriate antibiotic treatment. PMID:20592888
A new thermal vacuum facility at the Martin Marietta Waterton plant

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Watson, Robert N.; Bonn, John W.

1992-01-01

A new thermal-vacuum facility has been recently completed at the Martin Marietta Waterton plant near Denver, Colorado. The facility was designed, fabricated, installed, and tested as a turn-key project by Pitt-Des Moines Inc. and CVI Inc. The chamber has a 5.49 M by 6.10 M (18 ft by 20 ft) flat floor and a half-cylindrical roof with a diameter of 5.49 M (18 ft). Both ends of the chamber have full cross section doors, with one equipped with translating motors for horizontal motion. The chamber is provided with four 0.91 M (36 inches) cryopumps to obtain an ultimate pressure of 9 x 10(exp -8) Torr (Clean-Dry-Empty). The thermal shroud is designed to operate at a maximum of -179 C (-290 F) with an internal heat input of 316 MJ/Hr (300,000 BTU/Hr) using liquid nitrogen. The shroud is also designed to operate at any temperature between -156 C (-250 F) and 121 C (+250 F) using gaseous nitrogen, and heat or cool at a rate of 1.1 C (2 F) per minute.
Estimation of polar stratospheric cloud infrared extinction climatology using visible satellite observations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pitts, Michael C.; Thomason, Larry W.

1995-01-01

Polar stratospheric clouds (PSC's) provide surfaces for heterogeneous processes which can dramatically alter the normal partitioning of odd nitrogen and chlorine families in the winter polar stratospheres, setting up conditions for significant ozone depletion as manifested in the springtime Antarctic ozone hole. The spatial and temporal distribution of PSC's is important for parameterizing PSC occurrence in multidimensional photochemical models whose use is essential for fully understanding observed Antarctic ozone losses as well as for accessing the possibility of a similar phemonenon occurring in the future in the Arctic. The Stratospheric Aerosol Measurement (SAM) 2 sensor, a single-channel (1mu m) photometer launched into a Sun-synchronous orbit aboard the Nimbus 7 satellite in October 1978, provided a unique database to establish the climatology of PSC's. Poole and Pitts (1994) used the record of high-latitude aerosol extinction obtained by SAM II from 1979-1989 to establish the climatology of PSC occurrences in the Arctic and Antarctic. Unfortunately, little information about PSC composition or type was detectable from the single-wavelength SAM II data.
Pharmit: interactive exploration of chemical space.

PubMed

Sunseri, Jocelyn; Koes, David Ryan

2016-07-08

Pharmit (http://pharmit.csb.pitt.edu) provides an online, interactive environment for the virtual screening of large compound databases using pharmacophores, molecular shape and energy minimization. Users can import, create and edit virtual screening queries in an interactive browser-based interface. Queries are specified in terms of a pharmacophore, a spatial arrangement of the essential features of an interaction, and molecular shape. Search results can be further ranked and filtered using energy minimization. In addition to a number of pre-built databases of popular compound libraries, users may submit their own compound libraries for screening. Pharmit uses state-of-the-art sub-linear algorithms to provide interactive screening of millions of compounds. Queries typically take a few seconds to a few minutes depending on their complexity. This allows users to iteratively refine their search during a single session. The easy access to large chemical datasets provided by Pharmit simplifies and accelerates structure-based drug design. Pharmit is available under a dual BSD/GPL open-source license. © The Author(s) 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.
The Online Bioinformatics Resources Collection at the University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences Library System--a one-stop gateway to online bioinformatics databases and software tools.

PubMed

Chen, Yi-Bu; Chattopadhyay, Ansuman; Bergen, Phillip; Gadd, Cynthia; Tannery, Nancy

2007-01-01

To bridge the gap between the rising information needs of biological and medical researchers and the rapidly growing number of online bioinformatics resources, we have created the Online Bioinformatics Resources Collection (OBRC) at the Health Sciences Library System (HSLS) at the University of Pittsburgh. The OBRC, containing 1542 major online bioinformatics databases and software tools, was constructed using the HSLS content management system built on the Zope Web application server. To enhance the output of search results, we further implemented the Vivísimo Clustering Engine, which automatically organizes the search results into categories created dynamically based on the textual information of the retrieved records. As the largest online collection of its kind and the only one with advanced search results clustering, OBRC is aimed at becoming a one-stop guided information gateway to the major bioinformatics databases and software tools on the Web. OBRC is available at the University of Pittsburgh's HSLS Web site (http://www.hsls.pitt.edu/guides/genetics/obrc).
Synthesis of one-dimensional gold nanostructures and the electrochemical application of the nanohybrid containing functionalized graphene oxide for cholesterol biosensing.

PubMed

Nandini, Seetharamaiah; Nalini, Seetharamaiah; Reddy, M B Madhusudana; Suresh, Gurukar Shivappa; Melo, Jose Savio; Niranjana, Pathappa; Sanetuntikul, Jakkid; Shanmugam, Sangaraju

2016-08-01

This manuscript reports a new approach for the synthesis of one dimensional gold nanostructure (AuNs) and its application in the development of cholesterol biosensor. Au nanostructures have been synthesized by exploiting β-diphenylalanine (β-FF) as an sacrificial template, whereas the Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized by ultrasound irradiation. X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDAX) have been employed to characterize the morphology and composition of the prepared samples. With the aim to develop a highly sensitive cholesterol biosensor, cholesterol oxidase (ChOx) was immobilized on AuNs which were appended on the graphite (Gr) electrode via chemisorption onto thiol-functionalized graphene oxide (GO-SH). This Gr/GO-SH/AuNs/ChOx biosensor has been characterized using cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and chronoamperometry. CV results indicated a direct electron transfer between the enzyme and the electrode surface. A new potentiostat intermitant titration technique (PITT) has been studied to determine the diffusion coefficient and maxima potential value. The proposed biosensor showed rapid response, high sensitivity, wide linear range and low detection limit. Furthermore, our AuNs modified electrode showed excellent selectivity, repeatability, reproducibility and long term stability. The proposed electrode has also been used successfully to determine cholesterol in serum samples. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Notes from the Field: Clostridium perfringens Gastroenteritis Outbreak Associated with a Catered Lunch - North Carolina, November 2015.

PubMed

Rinsky, Jessica L; Berl, E; Greene, V; Morrow, J; Didomenico, A; MacFarquhar, J; Gómez, G A; Lúquez, C; Williams, C

2016-11-25

During November 2015, the North Carolina Division of Public Health was notified by the Pitt County Health Department (PCHD) that approximately 40 persons who attended a catered company Thanksgiving lunch the previous day were ill with diarrhea and abdominal pain. The North Carolina Division of Public Health and PCHD worked together to investigate the source of illness and implement control measures. Within hours of notification, investigators developed and distributed an online survey to all lunch attendees regarding symptoms and foods consumed and initiated a cohort study. A case of illness was defined as abdominal pain or diarrhea in a lunch attendee with illness onset <24 hours after the event. Risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated for all menu items. Among 80 attendees, 58 (73%) completed the survey, including 44 respondents (76%) who reported illnesses meeting the case definition; among these, 41 (93%) reported diarrhea, and 40 (91%) reported abdominal pain. There were no hospitalizations. Symptom onset began a median of 13 hours after lunch (range = 1-22 hours). Risk for illness among persons who ate turkey or stuffing (38 of 44; 86%), which were plated and served together, was significantly higher than risk for illness among those who did not eat turkey or stuffing (six of 14; 43%) (RR = 2.02; 95% CI = 1.09-3.73).
Parent & Family Influences on Adopting Healthy Weight-Related Behaviors: Views and Perceptions of Obese African-American Female Adolescents.

PubMed

Pratt, Keeley J; McRitchie, Susan; Collier, David N; Lutes, Lesley D; Sumner, Susan

2015-06-01

RTI International is acknowledged for supporting the time of Susan McRitchie, Keeley Pratt and Susan Sumner to participate in the design, execution, or analysis of this study. East Carolina University would like to acknowledge Brittney France for being a triangulated investigator for the qualitative analysis and to the Pitt Memorial Hospital Foundation for financial support of the healthy lifestyles camp. Our purpose was to evaluate the views of obese African-American (AA) female adolescents concerning parent and family factors relating to obesity and a healthy lifestyle. Obese AA female adolescents enrolled in a residential healthy lifestyle program completed inventories measuring family functioning and perceptions of parenting styles, and participated in focus groups to identify themes regarding parent and family involvement in healthy lifestyle change. The majority of participants' mothers were scored as "inductive/authoritative" and fathers were "indulgent". Mothers reportedly were seen as more likely to encourage dieting to control weight than fathers. Common themes of the focus groups included a desire for family involvement, identification of family behaviors that were supportive as well as those which were perceived as unhelpful. Though generalizability of these results is limited by a homogenous small sample size, our results suggest that obese adolescents seeking weight loss treatment desire significant family involvement in their efforts. © 2015 National Medical Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Determining Mass and Persistence of a Reactive Brominated-Solvent DNAPL Source Using Mass Depletion-Mass Flux Reduction Relationships During Pumping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnston, C. D.; Davis, G. B.; Bastow, T.; Annable, M. D.; Trefry, M. G.; Furness, A.; Geste, Y.; Woodbury, R.; Rhodes, S.

2011-12-01

Measures of the source mass and depletion characteristics of recalcitrant dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) contaminants are critical elements for assessing performance of remediation efforts. This is in addition to understanding the relationships between source mass depletion and changes to dissolved contaminant concentration and mass flux in groundwater. Here we present results of applying analytical source-depletion concepts to pumping from within the DNAPL source zone of a 10-m thick heterogeneous layered aquifer to estimate the original source mass and characterise the time trajectory of source depletion and mass flux in groundwater. The multi-component, reactive DNAPL source consisted of the brominated solvent tetrabromoethane (TBA) and its transformation products (mostly tribromoethene - TriBE). Coring and multi-level groundwater sampling indicated the DNAPL to be mainly in lower-permeability layers, suggesting the source had already undergone appreciable depletion. Four simplified source dissolution models (exponential, power function, error function and rational mass) were able to describe the concentration history of the total molar concentration of brominated organics in extracted groundwater during 285 days of pumping. Approximately 152 kg of brominated compounds were extracted. The lack of significant kinetic mass transfer limitations in pumped concentrations was notable. This was despite the heterogeneous layering in the aquifer and distribution of DNAPL. There was little to choose between the model fits to pumped concentration time series. The variance of groundwater velocities in the aquifer determined during a partitioning inter-well tracer test (PITT) were used to parameterise the models. However, the models were found to be relatively insensitive to this parameter. All models indicated an initial source mass around 250 kg which compared favourably to an estimate of 220 kg derived from the PITT. The extrapolated concentrations from the dissolution models diverged, showing disparate approaches to possible remediation objectives. However, it also showed that an appreciable proportion of the source would need to be removed to discriminate between the models. This may limit the utility of such modelling early in the history of a DNAPL source. A further limitation is the simplified approach of analysing the combined parent/daughter compounds with different solubilities as a total molar concentration. Although the fitted results gave confidence to this approach, there were appreciable changes in relative abundance. The dissolution and partitioning processes are discussed in relation to the lower-solubility TBA becoming dominant in pumped groundwater over time, despite its known rapid transformation to TriBE. These processes are also related to the architecture of the depleting source as revealed by multi-level groundwater sampling under reversed pumping/injection conditions.
New science, old convictions - Texas Senate Bill 344: identifying further necessary reform in forensic science.

PubMed

Soni, Naina

2015-02-01

In June 2013, Texas Senate Bill 344 (SB 344) was signed into law after strong Innocence Project support. SB 344 has since transformed the Texan judicial landscape. Known as the 'Junk Science Writ', SB 344 enables the court to grant habeas corpus relief based on scientific evidence that '(1) was not available to be offered by a convicted person at the convicted person's trial; or (2) contradicts scientific evidence relied on by the state at trial'. Inmates, such as the 'San Antonio Four', whose convictions were based upon what is now considered 'faulty' medical and forensic testimony, have been released under SB 344. Yet, science, as a field dependent on innovation, is inherently prone to debunking the scientific and forensic methods the law has relied upon to convict individuals. This commentary identifies policy behind SB 344, how SB 344 may influence the perception of science in the courtroom, and how 'junk science' is defined and/or limited. Furthermore, this commentary concludes that to achieve justice in the legal system through habeas relief based on 'junk science', it is necessary to revitalize and standardize forensic science.
New science, old convictions − Texas Senate Bill 344: identifying further necessary reform in forensic science

PubMed Central

Soni, Naina

2015-01-01

In June 2013, Texas Senate Bill 344 (SB 344) was signed into law after strong Innocence Project support. SB 344 has since transformed the Texan judicial landscape. Known as the ‘Junk Science Writ’, SB 344 enables the court to grant habeas corpus relief based on scientific evidence that ‘(1) was not available to be offered by a convicted person at the convicted person's trial; or (2) contradicts scientific evidence relied on by the state at trial’. Inmates, such as the ‘San Antonio Four’, whose convictions were based upon what is now considered ‘faulty’ medical and forensic testimony, have been released under SB 344. Yet, science, as a field dependent on innovation, is inherently prone to debunking the scientific and forensic methods the law has relied upon to convict individuals. This commentary identifies policy behind SB 344, how SB 344 may influence the perception of science in the courtroom, and how ‘junk science’ is defined and/or limited. Furthermore, this commentary concludes that to achieve justice in the legal system through habeas relief based on ‘junk science’, it is necessary to revitalize and standardize forensic science. PMID:27774192
Sustainable Energy - Without the hot air

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

MacIsaac, Dan

2009-11-01

Reader John Roeder writes about a website associated with David MacKay's book Sustainable Energy-Without the hot air. The book is a freely downloadable PDF (or purchasable) book describing an analysis detailing a low-carbon renewable energy transformation route for a large, modern first world industrial country (the United Kingdom). Written for the layman, the work uses vernacular language, e.g., energy consumption and production in a series of bar charts detailing the impacts of necessary strategies such as population reduction, lifestyle changes, and technology changes. MacKay notes that most reasonable plans have large nuclear and ``clean coal'' or other carbon capture components, lots of pumped heat, wind, and much efficiency improvement. He debunks some sacred cows (roof-mounted micro-turbines; hydrogen-powered cars) while pointing out simple effective technologies such as roof-mounted solar water heaters. Similar modest changes in the U.S. (painting roofs white in the southern half of the country) have strong impacts. MacKay claims that he ``doesn't advocate any particular plan or technology,'' but ``tells you how many bricks are in the lego box, and how big each brick is'' so readers can start making planning decisions.
Debunking the viper's strike: harmless snakes kill a common assumption.

PubMed

Penning, David A; Sawvel, Baxter; Moon, Brad R

2016-03-01

To survive, organisms must avoid predation and acquire nutrients and energy. Sensory systems must correctly differentiate between potential predators and prey, and elicit behaviours that adjust distances accordingly. For snakes, strikes can serve both purposes. Vipers are thought to have the fastest strikes among snakes. However, strike performance has been measured in very few species, especially non-vipers. We measured defensive strike performance in harmless Texas ratsnakes and two species of vipers, western cottonmouths and western diamond-backed rattlesnakes, using high-speed video recordings. We show that ratsnake strike performance matches or exceeds that of vipers. In contrast with the literature over the past century, vipers do not represent the pinnacle of strike performance in snakes. Both harmless and venomous snakes can strike with very high accelerations that have two key consequences: the accelerations exceed values that can cause loss of consciousness in other animals, such as the accelerations experienced by jet pilots during extreme manoeuvres, and they make the strikes faster than the sensory and motor responses of mammalian prey and predators. Both harmless and venomous snakes can strike faster than the blink of an eye and often reach a target before it can move. © 2016 The Author(s).
Puerto Rico - 2002 : field studies to resolve aerosol processes.

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

Gaffney, J. S.; Marley, N. A.; Ravelo, R.

1999-10-05

A number of questions remain concerning homogeneous aerosol formation by natural organics interacting with anthropogenic pollutants. For example, chlorine has been proposed as a potential oxidant in the troposphere because of its very high reactivity with a wide range of organics (Finlayson-Pitts, 1993). Indeed, sea salt aerosol in the presence of ozone has been shown to produce chlorine atoms in heterogeneous photochemical reactions under laboratory conditions. Whether chlorine can initiate oxidation of natural organics such as monoterpene hydrocarbons and can generate homogeneous nucleation or condensable material that contributes to aerosol loadings needs to be assessed. The nighttime reactions of ozonemore » and nitrate radical can also result in monoterpene reactions that contribute to aerosol mass. We are currently planning field studies in Puerto Rico to assess these aerosol issues and other atmospheric chemistry questions. Puerto Rico has a number of key features that make it very attractive for a field study of this sort. The principal feature is the island's very regular meteorology and its position in the Caribbean Sea relative to the easterly trade winds. This meteorology and the island's rectangular shape (100 x 35 miles) make it highly suitable for simplification of boundary layer conditions. In addition, the long stretch between Puerto Rico and the nearest pollution sources in Africa and southern Europe make the incoming background air relatively clean and constant. Furthermore, Puerto Rico has approximately 3.5 million people with a very well defined source region and a central area of rain forest vegetation. These features make Puerto Rico an ideal locale for assessing aerosol processes. The following sections describe specific areas of atmospheric chemistry that can be explored during the proposed field study.« less
Gateway Effects: Why the Cited Evidence Does Not Support Their Existence for Low-Risk Tobacco Products (and What Evidence Would).

PubMed

Phillips, Carl V

2015-05-21

It is often claimed that low-risk drugs still create harm because of "gateway effects", in which they cause the use of a high-risk alternative. Such claims are popular among opponents of tobacco harm reduction, claiming that low-risk tobacco products (e.g., e-cigarettes, smokeless tobacco) cause people to start smoking, sometimes backed by empirical studies that ostensibly support the claim. However, these studies consistently ignore the obvious alternative causal pathways, particularly that observed associations might represent causation in the opposite direction (smoking causes people to seek low-risk alternatives) or confounding (the same individual characteristics increase the chance of using any tobacco product). Due to these complications, any useful analysis must deal with simultaneity and confounding by common cause. In practice, existing analyses seem almost as if they were designed to provide teaching examples about drawing simplistic and unsupported causal conclusions from observed associations. The present analysis examines what evidence and research strategies would be needed to empirically detect such a gateway effect, if there were one, explaining key methodological concepts including causation and confounding, examining the logic of the claim, identifying potentially useful data, and debunking common fallacies on both sides of the argument, as well as presenting an extended example of proper empirical testing. The analysis demonstrates that none of the empirical studies to date that are purported to show a gateway effect from tobacco harm reduction products actually does so. The observations and approaches can be generalized to other cases where observed association of individual characteristics in cross-sectional data could result from any of several causal relationships.
Gateway Effects: Why the Cited Evidence Does Not Support Their Existence for Low-Risk Tobacco Products (and What Evidence Would)

PubMed Central

Phillips, Carl V.

2015-01-01

It is often claimed that low-risk drugs still create harm because of “gateway effects”, in which they cause the use of a high-risk alternative. Such claims are popular among opponents of tobacco harm reduction, claiming that low-risk tobacco products (e.g., e-cigarettes, smokeless tobacco) cause people to start smoking, sometimes backed by empirical studies that ostensibly support the claim. However, these studies consistently ignore the obvious alternative causal pathways, particularly that observed associations might represent causation in the opposite direction (smoking causes people to seek low-risk alternatives) or confounding (the same individual characteristics increase the chance of using any tobacco product). Due to these complications, any useful analysis must deal with simultaneity and confounding by common cause. In practice, existing analyses seem almost as if they were designed to provide teaching examples about drawing simplistic and unsupported causal conclusions from observed associations. The present analysis examines what evidence and research strategies would be needed to empirically detect such a gateway effect, if there were one, explaining key methodological concepts including causation and confounding, examining the logic of the claim, identifying potentially useful data, and debunking common fallacies on both sides of the argument, as well as presenting an extended example of proper empirical testing. The analysis demonstrates that none of the empirical studies to date that are purported to show a gateway effect from tobacco harm reduction products actually does so. The observations and approaches can be generalized to other cases where observed association of individual characteristics in cross-sectional data could result from any of several causal relationships. PMID:26006122
Religion and gender in a men's hospital and school of nursing, 1866-1969.

PubMed

Wall, Barbra Mann

2009-01-01

This article explores religious beliefs, practices, and representations of the Alexian Brothers, a religious order of Catholic nursing brothers, and the role of gender in this discourse. Nursing in the United States developed within a cultural framework of caring as part of women's roles in families and communities. Yet, a study of the Alexian Brothers challenges the dominance of the "female" in most gender analyses of nursing. Historical methodology is used to evaluate and interpret data within the broader framework of historiographical literature on gender, religion, and nursing. In analyzing nursing, religion, and gender, attention has been paid to representations, mainly of women, through photographs and written literature. In this article, the same sources are used for men. The story of the Alexian Brothers and the men they educated is a testament to the power of gender and religion in nursing history. These men carved out a system of caring that recognized it as a responsibility not only of women but also of men. As they asserted that their paid work was a Christian calling, they renegotiated dominant notions of masculinity. In doing so, male nurses navigated among an array of representations, from nurse, to school administrator, to military soldier, to religious person, to professional practitioner of scientific medicine. These self-representations in the masculine spaces of the hospital and nursing school were designed to debunk stereotypes of feminine men, and they challenged traditional spatial boundaries.
A comparison of urban heat islands mapped using skin temperature, air temperature, and apparent temperature (Humidex), for the greater Vancouver area.

PubMed

Ho, Hung Chak; Knudby, Anders; Xu, Yongming; Hodul, Matus; Aminipouri, Mehdi

2016-02-15

Apparent temperature is more closely related to mortality during extreme heat events than other temperature variables, yet spatial epidemiology studies typically use skin temperature (also known as land surface temperature) to quantify heat exposure because it is relatively easy to map from satellite data. An empirical approach to map apparent temperature at the neighborhood scale, which relies on publicly available weather station observations and spatial data layers combined in a random forest regression model, was demonstrated for greater Vancouver, Canada. Model errors were acceptable (cross-validated RMSE=2.04 °C) and the resulting map of apparent temperature, calibrated for a typical hot summer day, corresponded well with past temperature research in the area. A comparison with field measurements as well as similar maps of skin temperature and air temperature revealed that skin temperature was poorly correlated with both air temperature (R(2)=0.38) and apparent temperature (R(2)=0.39). While the latter two were more similar (R(2)=0.87), apparent temperature was predicted to exceed air temperature by more than 5 °C in several urban areas as well as around the confluence of the Pitt and Fraser rivers. We conclude that skin temperature is not a suitable proxy for human heat exposure, and that spatial epidemiology studies could benefit from mapping apparent temperature, using an approach similar to the one reported here, to better quantify differences in heat exposure that exist across an urban landscape. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Phenotypic and Molecular Convergence of 2q23.1 Deletion Syndrome with Other Neurodevelopmental Syndromes Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder

PubMed Central

Mullegama, Sureni V.; Alaimo, Joseph T.; Chen, Li; Elsea, Sarah H.

2015-01-01

Roughly 20% of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are syndromic with a well-established genetic cause. Studying the genes involved can provide insight into the molecular and cellular mechanisms of ASD. 2q23.1 deletion syndrome (causative gene, MBD5) is a recently identified genetic neurodevelopmental disorder associated with ASD. Mutations in MBD5 have been found in ASD cohorts. In this study, we provide a phenotypic update on the prevalent features of 2q23.1 deletion syndrome, which include severe intellectual disability, seizures, significant speech impairment, sleep disturbance, and autistic-like behavioral problems. Next, we examined the phenotypic, molecular, and network/pathway relationships between nine neurodevelopmental disorders associated with ASD: 2q23.1 deletion Rett, Angelman, Pitt-Hopkins, 2q23.1 duplication, 5q14.3 deletion, Kleefstra, Kabuki make-up, and Smith-Magenis syndromes. We show phenotypic overlaps consisting of intellectual disability, speech delay, seizures, sleep disturbance, hypotonia, and autistic-like behaviors. Molecularly, MBD5 possibly regulates the expression of UBE3A, TCF4, MEF2C, EHMT1 and RAI1. Network analysis reveals that there could be indirect protein interactions, further implicating function for these genes in common pathways. Further, we show that when MBD5 and RAI1 are haploinsufficient, they perturb several common pathways that are linked to neuronal and behavioral development. These findings support further investigations into the molecular and pathway relationships among genes linked to neurodevelopmental disorders and ASD, which will hopefully lead to common points of regulation that may be targeted toward therapeutic intervention. PMID:25853262
Li-ion transport in all-solid-state lithium batteries with LiCoO 2 using NASICON-type glass ceramic electrolytes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, J.; Imanishi, N.; Zhang, T.; Hirano, A.; Takeda, Y.; Yamamoto, O.

LiCoO 2 thin films were deposited on the NASICON-type glass ceramics, Li 1+ x+ yAl xTi 2- xSi yP 3- yO 12, by radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering and were annealed at different temperatures. The as-deposited and the annealed LiCoO 2 thin films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that the films exhibited a (1 0 4) preferred orientation after annealing and Co 3O 4 was observed by annealing over 500 °C due to the reaction between the LiCoO 2 and the glass ceramics. The effect of annealing temperature on the interfacial resistance of glass ceramics/LiCoO 2 and Li-ion transport in the bulk LiCoO 2 thin film was investigated by galvanostatic cycling, cyclic voltammetry (CV), potentiostatic intermittent titration technique (PITT) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) with the Li/PEO/glass ceramics/LiCoO 2 cell. The cell performance was limited by the Li-ion diffusion resistance in Ohara/LiCoO 2 interface as well as in bulk LiCoO 2.
Comparisons of mosquito populations before and after construction of a wetland for water quality improvement in Pitt County, North Carolina, and data-reliant vectorborne disease management.

PubMed

Anderson, Alice L; O'Brien, Kevin; Hartwell, Megan

2007-04-01

Wetlands serve an important purpose in flood control and water quality, but constructed-wetland sites also provide habitats for mosquito breeding. Communities near constructed-wetland sites often raise a "mosquito" objection when constructed wetlands are proposed. Wildlife and wetland advocates can confuse the public by making unsubstantiated claims about natural predators eliminating or controlling mosquito problems in a constructed wetland. Management of constructed-wetland mosquito habitat, with adequate mosquito surveillance and data analysis, can help lead to a successful project and satisfied citizens. The cooperative project described in this paper, was conducted in the town of Simpson, North Carolina, and was designed to determine the mosquito population impact of wetland construction at Mill Branch Stream, a small tributary of the Tar River in Eastern North Carolina. In the authors' analysis of three years of mosquito surveillance data, month (time of year standing in for temperature and day length) was a significant factor in regression analysis for mosquito numbers, but rainfall was not. Numbers of mosquitoes were not found to be significantly higher after construction than before construction.
Comparison of instructor-led versus peer-led debriefing in nursing students.

PubMed

Roh, Young Sook; Kelly, Michelle; Ha, Eun Ho

2016-06-01

Despite its widespread support, the most effective simulation-based debriefing method has little evidence to support its efficacy. In this study, we compared the effect of peer-led and instructor-led debriefing among nursing students. The study was conducted with a non-equivalent control group using a pretest-post-test design. A convenience sample of third-year nursing students was used for the study, where 65 students enrolled in a 2-week clinical placement rotation were randomly assigned to the instructor-led group or peer-led group. The quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills, satisfaction with simulation, and quality of debriefing in the peer-led group were compared to those in the instructor-led group. Group differences at each testing interval were analyzed using independent t-test. Nursing students in the instructor-led debriefing group showed better subsequent cardiopulmonary resuscitation performance, more satisfaction with simulation experience, and higher debriefing scores compared to the peer-led group. From our study, instructor-led debriefing is an effective method in improving skills performance, inducing favorable satisfaction, and providing better quality of debriefing among nursing students. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.
Sip and spit or sip and swallow: Choice of method differentially alters taste intensity estimates across stimuli.

PubMed

Running, Cordelia A; Hayes, John E

2017-11-01

While the myth of the tongue map has been consistently and repeatedly debunked in controlled studies, evidence for regional differences in suprathreshold intensity has been noted by multiple research groups. Given differences in physiology between the anterior and posterior tongue (fungiform versus foliate and circumvallate papillae) and differences in total area stimulated (anterior only versus whole tongue, pharynx, and epiglottis), small methodological changes (sip and spit versus sip and swallow) have the potential to substantially influence data. We hypothesized instructing participants to swallow solutions would result in greater intensity ratings for taste versus expectorating the solutions, particularly for umami and bitter, as these qualities were previously found to elicit regional differences in perceived intensity. Two experiments were conducted: one with model taste solutions [sucrose (sweet), a monosodium glutamate/inosine monophosphate (MSG/IMP) mixture (savory/umami), isolone (a bitter hop extract), and quinine HCl (bitter)], and a second with actual food products (grapefruit juice, salty vegetable stock, savory vegetable stock, iced coffee, and a green tea sweetened with acesulfame-potassium and sucralose). In a counterbalanced crossover design, participants (n=66 in experiment 1 and 64 in experiment 2) rated the stimuli for taste intensities both when swallowing and when spitting out the stimuli. Results suggest swallowing may lead to greater reported bitterness versus spitting out the stimulus, but that this effect was not consistent across all samples. Thus, explicit instructions to spit out or swallow samples should be given to participants in studies investigating differences in taste intensities, as greater intensity may sometimes, but not always, be observed when swallowing various taste stimuli. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Evidence-Based Higher Education - Is the Learning Styles 'Myth' Important?

PubMed

Newton, Philip M; Miah, Mahallad

2017-01-01

The basic idea behind the use of 'Learning Styles' is that learners can be categorized into one or more 'styles' (e.g., Visual, Auditory, Converger) and that teaching students according to their style will result in improved learning. This idea has been repeatedly tested and there is currently no evidence to support it. Despite this, belief in the use of Learning Styles appears to be widespread amongst schoolteachers and persists in the research literature. This mismatch between evidence and practice has provoked controversy, and some have labeled Learning Styles a 'myth.' In this study, we used a survey of academics in UK Higher Education ( n = 114) to try and go beyond the controversy by quantifying belief and, crucially, actual use of Learning Styles. We also attempted to understand how academics view the potential harms associated with the use of Learning Styles. We found that general belief in the use of Learning Styles was high (58%), but lower than in similar previous studies, continuing an overall downward trend in recent years. Critically the percentage of respondents who reported actually using Learning Styles (33%) was much lower than those who reported believing in their use. Far more reported using a number of techniques that are demonstrably evidence-based. Academics agreed with all the posited weaknesses and harms of Learning Styles theory, agreeing most strongly that the basic theory of Learning Styles is conceptually flawed. However, a substantial number of participants (32%) stated that they would continue to use Learning Styles despite being presented with the lack of an evidence base to support them, suggesting that 'debunking' Learning Styles may not be effective. We argue that the interests of all may be better served by promoting evidence-based approaches to Higher Education.
Conspiracy beliefs and knowledge about HIV origins among adolescents in Soweto, South Africa.

PubMed

Hogg, Robert; Nkala, Busisiwe; Dietrich, Janan; Collins, Alexandra; Closson, Kalysha; Cui, Zishan; Kanters, Steve; Chia, Jason; Barhafuma, Bernard; Palmer, Alexis; Kaida, Angela; Gray, Glenda; Miller, Cari

2017-01-01

We examined adolescents' knowledge regarding the origin of HIV/AIDS and correlates of beliefs surrounding conspiracy theories in Soweto, South Africa. Now, a decade post-AIDS denialism, South Africa has the largest antiretroviral therapy roll-out worldwide. However, conspiracy theories stemming from past AIDS denialism may impact HIV prevention and treatment efforts. Study participants were recruited through the Kganya Motsha Adolescent Health Centre and the Perinatal HIV Research Unit's Botsha Bophelo Adolescent Health Study (BBAHS). Adolescents were eligible to participate if aged 14-19 years and living in Soweto. We calculated the proportion of adolescents who correctly believed that HIV originated from non-human primates, and used contingency table analysis and logistic regression modeling to describe correlates associated with accurate knowledge and beliefs in conspiracy theories. Of 830 adolescents, 168 (20.2%) participants correctly identified HIV as originating from chimpanzees and one third (n = 71, 8.6%) believed in a conspiracy theory about the origins of HIV, including that it originated from the US government (2.3%), the pharmaceutical industry (2.2%), a vaccine (2.1%), space (1.5%), and a scientist (0.6%). Participants who were more likely to correctly identify the origin of HIV were older, men, and unemployed. Participants who were men, unemployed or students, and who had a parent or close relative who had died of HIV, were more likely to believe in a conspiracy theory regarding the origins of HIV. Adolescents living in Soweto did not have high levels of accurate knowledge regarding the origins of HIV/AIDS and conspiracy beliefs were present among a small minority of participants. Accurate knowledge of the origins of HIV and debunking myths are important for improving uptake of HIV prevention tools in this population.
OH cleavage from tyrosine: debunking a myth

DOE PAGES

Bury, Charles S.; Carmichael, Ian; Garman, Elspeth F.

2017-01-01

During macromolecular X-ray crystallography experiments, protein crystals held at 100 K have been widely reported to exhibit reproducible bond scission events at doses on the order of several MGy. With the objective to mitigate the impact of radiation damage events on valid structure determination, it is essential to correctly understand the radiation chemistry mechanisms at play. OH-cleavage from tyrosine residues is regularly cited as amongst the most available damage pathways in protein crystals at 100 K, despite a lack of widespread reports of this phenomenon in protein crystal radiation damage studies. Furthermore, no clear mechanism for phenolic C—O bond cleavagemore » in tyrosine has been reported, with the tyrosyl radical known to be relatively robust and long-lived in both aqueous solutions and the solid state. Here, the initial findings of Tyr –OH group damage in a myrosinase protein crystal have been reviewed. Consistent with that study, at increasing doses, clear electron density loss was detectable local to Tyr –OH groups. A systematic investigation performed on a range of protein crystal damage series deposited in the Protein Data Bank has established that Tyr –OH electron density loss is not generally a dominant damage pathway in protein crystals at 100 K. Full Tyr aromatic ring displacement is here proposed to account for instances of observable Tyr –OH electron density loss, with the original myrosinase data shown to be consistent with such a damage model. Also presented are systematic analysis of the effects of other environmental factors, including solvent accessibility and proximity to disulfide bonds or hydrogen bond interactions. Residues in known active sites showed enhanced sensitivity to radiation-induced disordering, as has previously been reported.« less
Conspiracy beliefs and knowledge about HIV origins among adolescents in Soweto, South Africa

PubMed Central

Nkala, Busisiwe; Dietrich, Janan; Collins, Alexandra; Closson, Kalysha; Cui, Zishan; Kanters, Steve; Chia, Jason; Barhafuma, Bernard; Palmer, Alexis; Kaida, Angela; Gray, Glenda; Miller, Cari

2017-01-01

Purpose We examined adolescents’ knowledge regarding the origin of HIV/AIDS and correlates of beliefs surrounding conspiracy theories in Soweto, South Africa. Now, a decade post-AIDS denialism, South Africa has the largest antiretroviral therapy roll-out worldwide. However, conspiracy theories stemming from past AIDS denialism may impact HIV prevention and treatment efforts. Methods Study participants were recruited through the Kganya Motsha Adolescent Health Centre and the Perinatal HIV Research Unit’s Botsha Bophelo Adolescent Health Study (BBAHS). Adolescents were eligible to participate if aged 14–19 years and living in Soweto. We calculated the proportion of adolescents who correctly believed that HIV originated from non-human primates, and used contingency table analysis and logistic regression modeling to describe correlates associated with accurate knowledge and beliefs in conspiracy theories. Results Of 830 adolescents, 168 (20.2%) participants correctly identified HIV as originating from chimpanzees and one third (n = 71, 8.6%) believed in a conspiracy theory about the origins of HIV, including that it originated from the US government (2.3%), the pharmaceutical industry (2.2%), a vaccine (2.1%), space (1.5%), and a scientist (0.6%). Participants who were more likely to correctly identify the origin of HIV were older, men, and unemployed. Participants who were men, unemployed or students, and who had a parent or close relative who had died of HIV, were more likely to believe in a conspiracy theory regarding the origins of HIV. Conclusions Adolescents living in Soweto did not have high levels of accurate knowledge regarding the origins of HIV/AIDS and conspiracy beliefs were present among a small minority of participants. Accurate knowledge of the origins of HIV and debunking myths are important for improving uptake of HIV prevention tools in this population. PMID:28151937
Peer-led and professional-led group interventions for people with co-occurring disorders: a qualitative study.

PubMed

Pallaveshi, Luljeta; Balachandra, Krishna; Subramanian, Priya; Rudnick, Abraham

2014-05-01

This pilot study evaluated the experience of people with co-occurring disorders (mental illness and addiction) in relation to peer-led and professional-led group interventions. The study used a qualitative (phenomenological) approach to evaluate the experience of a convenience sample of 6 individuals with co-occurring disorders who participated in up to 8 sessions each of both peer-led and professional-led group interventions (with a similar rate of attendance in both groups). The semi-structured interview data were coded and thematically analyzed. We found 5 themes within and across the 2 interventions. In both groups, participants experienced a positive environment and personal growth, and learned, albeit different things. They were more comfortable in the peer-led group and acquired more knowledge and skills in the professional-led group. Offering both peer-led and professional-led group interventions to people with co-occurring disorders may be better than offering either alone.

Does sampling using random digit dialling really cost more than sampling from telephone directories: Debunking the myths

PubMed Central

Yang, Baohui; Eyeson-Annan, Margo

2006-01-01

Background Computer assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) is widely used for health surveys. The advantages of CATI over face-to-face interviewing are timeliness and cost reduction to achieve the same sample size and geographical coverage. Two major CATI sampling procedures are used: sampling directly from the electronic white pages (EWP) telephone directory and list assisted random digit dialling (LA-RDD) sampling. EWP sampling covers telephone numbers of households listed in the printed white pages. LA-RDD sampling has a better coverage of households than EWP sampling but is considered to be more expensive due to interviewers dialling more out-of-scope numbers. Methods This study compared an EWP sample and a LA-RDD sample from the New South Wales Population Health Survey in 2003 on demographic profiles, health estimates, coefficients of variation in weights, design effects on estimates, and cost effectiveness, on the basis of achieving the same level of precision of estimates. Results The LA-RDD sample better represented the population than the EWP sample, with a coefficient of variation of weights of 1.03 for LA-RDD compared with 1.21 for EWP, and average design effects of 2.00 for LA-RDD compared with 2.38 for EWP. Also, a LA-RDD sample can save up to 14.2% in cost compared to an EWP sample to achieve the same precision for health estimates. Conclusion A LA-RDD sample better represents the population, which potentially leads to reduced bias in health estimates, and rather than costing more than EWP actually costs less. PMID:16504117
'It's Fast, It's Quick, It Stops Me Being Sick': How to influence preparation of opioid tablets for injection.

PubMed

Lafferty, Lise; Treloar, Carla; van Breda, Nick; Steele, Maureen; Hiley, Sarah; Flaherty, Ian; Salmon, Allison

2017-09-01

Injection of pharmaceutical opioids (PO) among people who inject drugs has increased in many countries. The common method for preparing PO tablets for injection uses heat, resulting in greater particulate matter and therefore increased risk of local infection risk and damage to veins and organs. A cold preparation process has fewer risks, but this preparation method is not commonly used. This study seeks to explore how people who inject PO learn to prepare injections and how health promotion efforts could influence practice. Between March and December 2013, qualitative interviews were undertaken with 33 clients of Sydney's Medically Supervised Injecting Centre who inject PO tablets regarding sources of knowledge and current preparation methods for injection of POs. Overwhelmingly, the most commonly reported source of knowledge around injection of tablets was others who inject. Most participants reported heating the solution as the quickest way to administer the drug. Attitudes to the use of wheel filters varied, with some participants reporting that they would use the filters if they were shown how, while others reported a number of barriers to using filters, including complexity of use. Harnessing the power of social connections may provide avenues for education about safer injecting of tablets, including the use of wheel filters. Further work is required to debunk myths about the relative potencies of cold versus hot drug solution. Collaborations between harm reduction workers and peer workers would assist in knowledge dissemination regarding safer injecting practices. © 2017 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs.
A Response to Odland et al.'s Misleading, Alarmist Estimates of Risk for Overpathologizing when Interpreting the MMPI-2-RF.

PubMed

Tarescavage, Anthony M; Ben-Porath, Yossef S

2015-01-01

In a recently published article in this journal, Odland, Lammy, Perle, Martin, and Grote report Monte Carlo-simulated normative base rates of scale elevations on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF). Their primary conclusion--reflected in the title of their article--is that MMPI-2-RF interpretation is associated with "high risk of pathologizing healthy adults" when the 40 substantive scales of the test are simultaneously interpreted. In this paper, we describe how their conclusion follows from several faulty premises, three of which were already debunked in an earlier article and remain false despite counterarguments proposed by Odland and colleagues. We also address these authors' misinterpretation of their analyses and, furthermore, their premise that MMPI-2-RF interpretive guidelines are flawed because they "currently do not account for a basic statistical principle: Type I (or alpha) error inflation" (p. 1). This premise is irrelevant to psychological test interpretation and misaligned with neuropsychological testing literature cited in support of it. Consistent with suggestions by some of the authors they cite, we reiterate MMPI-2-RF interpretive guidelines designed to mitigate the impact of measurement error (not alpha error) by way of a scientific assessment approach that relies on integration of information derived from multiple sources.
Bad astronomy : misconceptions and misuses revealed, from astrology to the moon landing "hoax"

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Plait, Philip C.

2002-02-01

Advance praise for Philip Plait s Bad Astronomy "Bad Astronomy is just plain good! Philip Plait clears up every misconception on astronomy and space you never knew you suffered from." --Stephen Maran, Author of Astronomy for Dummies and editor of The Astronomy and Astrophysics Encyclopedia "Thank the cosmos for the bundle of star stuff named Philip Plait, who is the world s leading consumer advocate for quality science in space and on Earth. This important contribution to science will rest firmly on my reference library shelf, ready for easy access the next time an astrologer calls." --Dr. Michael Shermer, Publisher of Skeptic magazine, monthly columnist for Scientific American, and author of The Borderlands of Science "Philip Plait has given us a readable, erudite, informative, useful, and entertaining book. Bad Astronomy is Good Science. Very good science..." --James "The Amazing" Randi, President, James Randi Educational Foundation, and author of An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural "Bad Astronomy is a fun read. Plait is wonderfully witty and educational as he debunks the myths, legends, and 'conspiracies that abound in our society. 'The Truth Is Out There' and it's in this book. I loved it!" --Mike Mullane, Space Shuttle astronaut and author of Do Your Ears Pop in Space?
The Vision of "Industrie 4.0" in the Making-a Case of Future Told, Tamed, and Traded.

PubMed

Pfeiffer, Sabine

2017-01-01

Since industrial trade fair Hannover Messe 2011, the term "Industrie 4.0" has ignited a vision of a new Industrial Revolution and has been inspiring a lively, ongoing debate among the German public about the future of work, and hence society, ever since. The discourse around this vision of the future eventually spread to other countries, with public awareness reaching a temporary peak in 2016 when the World Economic Forum's meeting in Davos was held with the motto "Mastering the Fourth Industrial Revolution." How is it possible for a vision originally established by three German engineers to unfold and bear fruit at a global level in such a short period of time? This article begins with a summary of the key ideas that are discussed under the label Industrie 4.0. The main purpose, based on an in-depth discourse analysis, is to debunk the myth about the origin of this powerful vision and to trace the narrative back to the global economic crisis in 2009 and thus to the real actors, central discourse patterns, and hidden intentions of this vision of a new Industrial Revolution. In conclusion, the discourse analysis reveals that this is not a case of visioneering but one of a future told, tamed, and traded.
Debunking the Myth of Value-Neutral Virginity: Toward Truth in Scientific Advertising

PubMed Central

Mandel, David R.; Tetlock, Philip E.

2016-01-01

The scientific community often portrays science as a value-neutral enterprise that crisply demarcates facts from personal value judgments. We argue that this depiction is unrealistic and important to correct because science serves an important knowledge generation function in all modern societies. Policymakers often turn to scientists for sound advice, and it is important for the wellbeing of societies that science delivers. Nevertheless, scientists are human beings and human beings find it difficult to separate the epistemic functions of their judgments (accuracy) from the social-economic functions (from career advancement to promoting moral-political causes that “feel self-evidently right”). Drawing on a pluralistic social functionalist framework that identifies five functionalist mindsets—people as intuitive scientists, economists, politicians, prosecutors, and theologians—we consider how these mindsets are likely to be expressed in the conduct of scientists. We also explore how the context of policymaker advising is likely to activate or de-activate scientists’ social functionalist mindsets. For instance, opportunities to advise policymakers can tempt scientists to promote their ideological beliefs and values, even if advising also brings with it additional accountability pressures. We end prescriptively with an appeal to scientists to be more circumspect in characterizing their objectivity and honesty and to reject idealized representations of scientific behavior that inaccurately portray scientists as value-neutral virgins. PMID:27064318
Debunking the Myth of Value-Neutral Virginity: Toward Truth in Scientific Advertising.

PubMed

Mandel, David R; Tetlock, Philip E

2016-01-01

The scientific community often portrays science as a value-neutral enterprise that crisply demarcates facts from personal value judgments. We argue that this depiction is unrealistic and important to correct because science serves an important knowledge generation function in all modern societies. Policymakers often turn to scientists for sound advice, and it is important for the wellbeing of societies that science delivers. Nevertheless, scientists are human beings and human beings find it difficult to separate the epistemic functions of their judgments (accuracy) from the social-economic functions (from career advancement to promoting moral-political causes that "feel self-evidently right"). Drawing on a pluralistic social functionalist framework that identifies five functionalist mindsets-people as intuitive scientists, economists, politicians, prosecutors, and theologians-we consider how these mindsets are likely to be expressed in the conduct of scientists. We also explore how the context of policymaker advising is likely to activate or de-activate scientists' social functionalist mindsets. For instance, opportunities to advise policymakers can tempt scientists to promote their ideological beliefs and values, even if advising also brings with it additional accountability pressures. We end prescriptively with an appeal to scientists to be more circumspect in characterizing their objectivity and honesty and to reject idealized representations of scientific behavior that inaccurately portray scientists as value-neutral virgins.
Ten reasons to embrace scientism.

PubMed

Peels, Rik

2017-06-01

A strong version of scientism, such as that of Alex Rosenberg, says, roughly, that natural science reliably delivers rational belief or knowledge, whereas common sense sources of belief, such as moral intuition, memory, and introspection, do not. In this paper I discuss ten reasons that adherents of scientism have or might put forward in defence of scientism. The aim is to show which considerations could plausibly count in favour of scientism and what this implies for the way scientism ought to be formulated. I argue that only three out of these ten reasons potentially hold water and that the evidential weight is, therefore, on their shoulders. These three reasons for embracing scientism are, respectively, particular empirical arguments to the effect that there are good debunking explanations for certain common sense beliefs, that there are incoherences and biases in the doxastic outputs of certain common sense sources of belief, and that beliefs that issue from certain common sense doxastic sources are illusory. From what I argue, it follows that only a version of scientism that is significantly weaker than many versions of scientism that we find in the literature is potentially tenable. I conclude the paper by stating what such a significantly weaker version of scientism could amount to. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
In search of the good life: a cultural odyssey in the East and West.

PubMed

Ng, Aik Kwang; Ho, David Y F; Wong, Shyh Shin; Smith, Ian

2003-11-01

In the first part of this article, the authors argue that any conception of well-being is culturally embedded and depends on how the notions of "well" and "being" are defined and practiced in different cultural communities. To support this argument, they conduct a comprehensive review of the empirical literature, which shows that members of individualistic and collectivistic cultures differ in their emotional experience of well-being. This difference has been traced to the indigenous psychology of selfhood in those cultures. In the second part of the article, the authors debunk the myth of infinite cultural variability, while retaining the basic insight concerning the cultural constitution of well-being. They develop a theoretical model of well-being, in which agency and communion are universal dimensions of well-being, and people in different cultures require different combinations of agency and communion to experience well-being. Following this theoretical development, the authors examine cultural impediments to the good life in individualistic and collectivistic cultures. The mutual incompatibility of agency and communion is ruled out as a possible cause of why it is so difficult to live the good life. Instead, the authors propose a dialectical synthesis of agency and communion as a way of dealing with this challenge of living the good life.
Projecting LED product life based on application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Narendran, Nadarajah; Liu, Yi-wei; Mou, Xi; Thotagamuwa, Dinusha R.; Eshwarage, Oshadhi V. Madihe

2016-09-01

LED products have started to displace traditional light sources in many lighting applications. One of the commonly claimed benefits for LED lighting products is their long useful lifetime in applications. Today there are many replacement lamp products using LEDs in the marketplace. Typically, lifetime claims of these replacement lamps are in the 25,000-hour range. According to current industry practice, the time for the LED light output to reach the 70% value is estimated according to IESNA LM-80 and TM-21 procedures and the resulting value is reported as the whole system life. LED products generally experience different thermal environments and switching (on-off cycling) patterns when used in applications. Current industry test methods often do not produce accurate lifetime estimates for LED systems because only one component of the system, namely the LED, is tested under a continuous-on burning condition without switching on and off, and because they estimate for only one failure type, lumen depreciation. The objective of the study presented in this manuscript was to develop a test method that could help predict LED system life in any application by testing the whole LED system, including on-off power cycling with sufficient dwell time, and considering both failure types, catastrophic and parametric. The study results showed for the LED A-lamps tested in this study, both failure types, catastrophic and parametric, exist. The on-off cycling encourages catastrophic failure, and maximum operating temperature influences the lumen depreciation rate and parametric failure time. It was also clear that LED system life is negatively affected by on-off switching, contrary to commonly held belief. In addition, the study results showed that most of the LED systems failed catastrophically much ahead of the LED light output reaching the 70% value. This emphasizes the fact that life testing of LED systems must consider catastrophic failure in addition to lumen depreciation, and the shorter of the two failure modes must be selected as the system life. The results of this study show a shorter time test procedure can be developed to accurately predict LED system life in any application by knowing the LED temperature and the switching cycle.
Development of a method for the characterization and operation of UV-LED for water treatment.

PubMed

Kheyrandish, Ataollah; Mohseni, Madjid; Taghipour, Fariborz

2017-10-01

Tremendous improvements in semiconductor technology have made ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs) a viable alternative to conventional UV sources for water treatment. A robust and validated experimental protocol for studying the kinetics of microorganism inactivation is key to the further development of UV-LEDs for water treatment. This study proposes a protocol to operate UV-LEDs and control their output as a polychromatic radiation source. In order to systematically develop this protocol, the results of spectral power distribution, radiation profile, and radiant power measurements of a variety of UV-LEDs are presented. A wide range of UV-LEDs was selected for this study, covering various UVA, UVB, and UVC wavelengths, viewing angles from 3.5° to 135°, and a variety of output powers. The effects of operational conditions and measurement techniques were investigated on these UV-LEDs using a specially designed and fabricated setup. Operating conditions, such as the UV-LED electrical current and solder temperature, were found to significantly affect the power and peak wavelength output. The measurement techniques and equipment, including the detector size, detector distance from the UV-LED, and potential reflection from the environment, were shown to influence the results for many of the UV-LEDs. The results obtained from these studies were analyzed and applied to the development of a protocol for UV-LED characterization. This protocol is presented as a guideline that allows the operation and control of UV-LEDs in any structure, as well as accurately measuring the UV-LED output. Such information is essential for performing a reliable UV-LED assessment for the inactivation of microorganisms and for obtaining precise kinetic data. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Evaluation of an LED (Light-Emitting Diode) high-mounted signal lamp

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olson, P. L.

1987-02-01

Two studies are described evaluating high-mounted stoplights using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) compared with conventional incandescent units. The first of these studies obtained ratings from subjects who drove one car and followed another car that was equipped with the test lamps. The results indicate that the subjects generally preferred the LEDs to the conventional lamp. The second study was a laboratory evaluation of the attention-getting capabilities of LED and incandescent stoplights. Under all conditions tested subjects responded faster to the LED units. The response time advantage for the LED units increased with more difficult viewing conditions, such as high levels of illumination and long viewing distance. The results of these investigations are discussed in terms of the applicability of the LED technology to high mounted stoplights on motor vehicles.
RNA Deep Sequencing Reveals Differential MicroRNA Expression during Development of Sea Urchin and Sea Star

PubMed Central

Kadri, Sabah; Hinman, Veronica F.; Benos, Panayiotis V.

2011-01-01

microRNAs (miRNAs) are small (20–23 nt), non-coding single stranded RNA molecules that act as post-transcriptional regulators of mRNA gene expression. They have been implicated in regulation of developmental processes in diverse organisms. The echinoderms, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus (sea urchin) and Patiria miniata (sea star) are excellent model organisms for studying development with well-characterized transcriptional networks. However, to date, nothing is known about the role of miRNAs during development in these organisms, except that the genes that are involved in the miRNA biogenesis pathway are expressed during their developmental stages. In this paper, we used Illumina Genome Analyzer (Illumina, Inc.) to sequence small RNA libraries in mixed stage population of embryos from one to three days after fertilization of sea urchin and sea star (total of 22,670,000 reads). Analysis of these data revealed the miRNA populations in these two species. We found that 47 and 38 known miRNAs are expressed in sea urchin and sea star, respectively, during early development (32 in common). We also found 13 potentially novel miRNAs in the sea urchin embryonic library. miRNA expression is generally conserved between the two species during development, but 7 miRNAs are highly expressed in only one species. We expect that our two datasets will be a valuable resource for everyone working in the field of developmental biology and the regulatory networks that affect it. The computational pipeline to analyze Illumina reads is available at http://www.benoslab.pitt.edu/services.html. PMID:22216218
Farmers' market shopping and dietary behaviours among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants.

PubMed

Jilcott Pitts, Stephanie B; Wu, Qiang; Demarest, Chelsea L; Dixon, Crystal E; Dortche, Ciarra Jm; Bullock, Sally L; McGuirt, Jared; Ward, Rachel; Ammerman, Alice S

2015-09-01

Because farmers' markets include a variety of fruits and vegetables, shopping at farmers' markets would likely improve diet quality among low-income consumers, as well as promote sustainable direct farm-to-consumer business models. However, not much is known about how to promote farmers' market shopping among low-income consumers. Therefore, the purpose of the present paper was to examine barriers to and facilitators of shopping at farmers' markets and associations between shopping at farmers' markets and self-reported dietary behaviours (fruit and vegetable, sugar-sweetened beverage and fast-food consumption) and BMI. Cross-sectional analyses of associations between farmers' market shopping frequency, awareness of markets, access to markets, dietary behaviours and BMI. Department of Social Services, Pitt County, eastern North Carolina, USA. Between April and July 2013, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants (n 205) completed a quantitative survey. Barriers to shopping at farmers' markets included does not accept SNAP/electronic benefit transfer, out of the way and lack of transportation. Farmers' market shopping was associated with awareness of farmers' markets (estimate =0·18 (se 0·04), P<0·001). Fruit and vegetable consumption was positively associated with farmers' market shopping (estimate =1·06 (se 0·32), P=0·001). Our study is one of the first to examine SNAP participants' farmers' market shopping, distance to farmers' markets and dietary behaviours. Barriers to shopping at farmers' markets and increasing awareness of existing markets should be addressed in future interventions to increase SNAP participants' use of farmers' markets, ultimately improving diet quality in this high-risk group.
Homer W. Smith's contribution to renal physiology.

PubMed

Giebisch, Gerhard

2004-01-01

Homer Smith was, for three decades, from the 1930s until his death in 1962, one of the leaders in the field of renal physiology. His contributions were many: he played a major role in introducing and popularizing renal clearance methods, introduced non-invasive methods for the measurement of glomerular filtration rate, of renal blood flow and tubular transport capacity, and provided novel insights into the mechanisms of excretion of water and electrolytes. Homer Smith's contributions went far beyond his personal investigations. He was a superb writer of several inspiring textbooks of renal physiology that exerted great and lasting influence on the development of renal physiology. Smith's intellectual insights and ability for critical analysis of data allowed him to create broad concepts that defined the functional properties of glomeruli, tubules and the renal circulation. A distinguishing feature of Homer Smith's career was his close contact and collaboration, over many years, with several clinicians of his alma mater, New York University. For initiating these pathophysiological investigations, he is justly credited to have advanced, in a major way, our understanding of altered renal function in disease. Smith's lasting scientific impact is also reflected by a whole school of investigators that trained with him and who applied his methods, analyses and concepts to the study of renal function all over the world. So great was his influence and preeminence that Robert Pitts, in his excellent tribute to Homer Smith in the Memoirs of the National Academy of Science states that his death brought an end to what might be aptly called the Smithian Era of renal physiology.
Isolating neural correlates of conscious perception from neural correlates of reporting one's perception

PubMed Central

Pitts, Michael A.; Metzler, Stephen; Hillyard, Steven A.

2014-01-01

To isolate neural correlates of conscious perception (NCCs), a standard approach has been to contrast neural activity elicited by identical stimuli of which subjects are aware vs. unaware. Because conscious experience is private, determining whether a stimulus was consciously perceived requires subjective report: e.g., button-presses indicating detection, visibility ratings, verbal reports, etc. This reporting requirement introduces a methodological confound when attempting to isolate NCCs: The neural processes responsible for accessing and reporting one's percept are difficult to distinguish from those underlying the conscious percept itself. Here, we review recent attempts to circumvent this issue via a modified inattentional blindness paradigm (Pitts et al., 2012) and present new data from a backward masking experiment in which task-relevance and visual awareness were manipulated in a 2 × 2 crossed design. In agreement with our previous inattentional blindness results, stimuli that were consciously perceived yet not immediately accessed for report (aware, task-irrelevant condition) elicited a mid-latency posterior ERP negativity (~200–240 ms), while stimuli that were accessed for report (aware, task-relevant condition) elicited additional components including a robust P3b (~380–480 ms) subsequent to the mid-latency negativity. Overall, these results suggest that some of the NCCs identified in previous studies may be more closely linked with accessing and maintaining perceptual information for reporting purposes than with encoding the conscious percept itself. An open question is whether the remaining NCC candidate (the ERP negativity at 200–240 ms) reflects visual awareness or object-based attention. PMID:25339922
General and mechanistic optimal relationships for tensile strength of doubly convex tablets under diametrical compression.

PubMed

Razavi, Sonia M; Gonzalez, Marcial; Cuitiño, Alberto M

2015-04-30

We propose a general framework for determining optimal relationships for tensile strength of doubly convex tablets under diametrical compression. This approach is based on the observation that tensile strength is directly proportional to the breaking force and inversely proportional to a non-linear function of geometric parameters and materials properties. This generalization reduces to the analytical expression commonly used for flat faced tablets, i.e., Hertz solution, and to the empirical relationship currently used in the pharmaceutical industry for convex-faced tablets, i.e., Pitt's equation. Under proper parametrization, optimal tensile strength relationship can be determined from experimental results by minimizing a figure of merit of choice. This optimization is performed under the first-order approximation that a flat faced tablet and a doubly curved tablet have the same tensile strength if they have the same relative density and are made of the same powder, under equivalent manufacturing conditions. Furthermore, we provide a set of recommendations and best practices for assessing the performance of optimal tensile strength relationships in general. Based on these guidelines, we identify two new models, namely the general and mechanistic models, which are effective and predictive alternatives to the tensile strength relationship currently used in the pharmaceutical industry. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Seismic image of a CO2 reservoir beneath a seismically active volcano

USGS Publications Warehouse

Julian, B.R.; Pitt, A.M.; Foulger, G.R.

1998-01-01

Mammoth Mountain is a seismically active volcano 200 000 to 50 000 years old, situated on the southwestern rim of Long Valley caldera, California. Since 1989 it has shown evidence of unrest in the form of earthquake swarms (Hill et al. 1990), volcanic 'long-period' earthquakes (Pitt and Hill 1994), increased output of magmatic 3He (Sorey et al. 1993) and the emission of about 500 tonnes day-1 of CO2 (Farrar et al. 1995; Hill 1996; M. Sorey, personal communication, 1997) which has killed trees and poses a threat to human safety. Local-earthquake tomography shows that in mid-1989 areas of subsequent tree-kill were underlain by extensive regions where the ratio of the compressional and shear elastic-wave speeds Vp/VS was about 9% lower than in the surrounding rocks. Theory (Mavko and Mukerji 1995), experiment (Ito, DeVilbiss and Nur 1979) and experience at other geothermal/volcanic areas (Julian et al. 1996) and at petroleum reservoirs (Harris et al. 1996) indicate that Vp/VS is sensitive to pore-fluid compressibility, through its effect on Vp. The observed Vp/VS anomaly is probably caused directly by CO2, and seismic Vp/VS tomography is thus a promising tool for monitoring gas concentration and movement in volcanoes, which may in turn be related to volcanic activity.
Large, high-intensity fire events in southern California shrublands: debunking the fine-grain age patch model.

PubMed

Keeley, Jon E; Zedler, Paul H

2009-01-01

We evaluate the fine-grain age patch model of fire regimes in southern California shrublands. Proponents contend that the historical condition was characterized by frequent small to moderate size, slow-moving smoldering fires, and that this regime has been disrupted by fire suppression activities that have caused unnatural fuel accumulation and anomalously large and catastrophic wildfires. A review of more than 100 19th-century newspaper reports reveals that large, high-intensity wildfires predate modern fire suppression policy, and extensive newspaper coverage plus first-hand accounts support the conclusion that the 1889 Santiago Canyon Fire was the largest fire in California history. Proponents of the fine-grain age patch model contend that even the very earliest 20th-century fires were the result of fire suppression disrupting natural fuel structure. We tested that hypothesis and found that, within the fire perimeters of two of the largest early fire events in 1919 and 1932, prior fire suppression activities were insufficient to have altered the natural fuel structure. Over the last 130 years there has been no significant change in the incidence of large fires greater than 10,000 ha, consistent with the conclusion that fire suppression activities are not the cause of these fire events. Eight megafires (> or = 50,000 ha) are recorded for the region, and half have occurred in the last five years. These burned through a mosaic of age classes, which raises doubts that accumulation of old age classes explains these events. Extreme drought is a plausible explanation for this recent rash of such events, and it is hypothesized that these are due to droughts that led to increased dead fine fuels that promoted the incidence of firebrands and spot fires. A major shortcoming of the fine-grain age patch model is that it requires age-dependent flammability of shrubland fuels, but seral stage chaparral is dominated by short-lived species that create a dense surface layer of fine fuels. Results from the Behave Plus fire model with a custom fuel module for young chaparral shows that there is sufficient dead fuel to spread fire even under relatively little winds. Empirical studies of fuel ages burned in recent fires illustrate that young fuels often comprise a major portion of burned vegetation, and there is no difference between evergreen chaparral and semi-deciduous sage scrub. It has also been argued that the present-day fire size distribution in northern Baja California is a model of the historical patterns that were present on southern California landscapes. Applying this model with historical fire frequencies shows that the Baja model is inadequate to maintain these fire-prone ecosystems and further demonstrates that fire managers in southern California are not likely to learn much from studying modern Baja California fire regimes. Further supporting this conclusion are theoretical cellular automata models of fire spread, which show that, even in systems with age dependent flammability, landscapes evolve toward a complex age mosaic with a plausible age structure only when there is a severe stopping rule that constrains fire size, and only if ignitions are saturating.
Large, high-intensity fire events in Southern California shrublands: Debunking the fine-grain age patch model

USGS Publications Warehouse

Keeley, J.E.; Zedler, P.H.

2009-01-01

We evaluate the fine-grain age patch model of fire regimes in southern California shrublands. Proponents contend that the historical condition was characterized by frequent small to moderate size, slow-moving smoldering fires, and that this regime has been disrupted by fire suppression activities that have caused unnatural fuel accumulation and anomalously large and catastrophic wildfires. A review of more than 100 19th-century newspaper reports reveals that large, high-intensity wildfires predate modern fire suppression policy, and extensive newspaper coverage plus first-hand accounts support the conclusion that the 1889 Santiago Canyon Fire was the largest fire in California history. Proponents of the fine-grain age patch model contend that even the very earliest 20th-century fires were the result of fire suppression disrupting natural fuel structure. We tested that hypothesis and found that, within the fire perimeters of two of the largest early fire events in 1919 and 1932, prior fire suppression activities were insufficient to have altered the natural fuel structure. Over the last 130 years there has been no significant change in the incidence of large fires greater than 10000 ha, consistent with the conclusion that fire suppression activities are not the cause of these fire events. Eight megafires (???50 000 ha) are recorded for the region, and half have occurred in the last five years. These burned through a mosaic of age classes, which raises doubts that accumulation of old age classes explains these events. Extreme drought is a plausible explanation for this recent rash of such events, and it is hypothesized that these are due to droughts that led to increased dead fine fuels that promoted the incidence of firebrands and spot fires. A major shortcoming of the fine-grain age patch model is that it requires age-dependent flammability of shrubland fuels, but seral stage chaparral is dominated by short-lived species that create a dense surface layer of fine fuels. Results from the Behave Plus fire model with a custom fuel module for young chaparral shows that there is sufficient dead fuel to spread fire even under relatively little winds. Empirical studies of fuel ages burned in recent fires illustrate that young fuels often comprise a major portion of burned vegetation, and there is no difference between evergreen chaparral and semi-deciduous sage scrub. It has also been argued that the present-day fire size distribution in northern Baja California is a model of the historical patterns that were present on southern California landscapes. Applying this model with historical fire frequencies shows that the Baja model is inadequate to maintain these fire-prone ecosystems and further demonstrates that fire managers in southern California are not likely to learn much from studying modern Baja California fire regimes. Further supporting this conclusion are theoretical cellular automata models of fire spread, which show that, even in systems with age dependent flammability, landscapes evolve toward a complex age mosaic with a plausible age structure only when there is a severe stopping rule that constrains fire size, and only if ignitions are saturating. ?? 2009 by the Ecological Society of America.

Developing Successful International Faculty Led Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fabregas Janeiro, Maria G.; Fabre, Ricardo Lopez; Rosete, Rodrigo Tello

2012-01-01

Faculty Led Programs are study abroad experiences led by university professors. Faculty Led Programs are considered as an opportunity for college students, especially in the United States to attend a short-term international experience (Mills, 2010). Faculty Led Program is an international experience which is different from the traditional…
Effectiveness of peer-led dissonance-based eating disorder prevention groups: results from two randomized pilot trials.

PubMed

Stice, Eric; Rohde, Paul; Durant, Shelley; Shaw, Heather; Wade, Emily

2013-05-01

The present preliminary trials tested whether undergraduate peer leaders can effectively deliver a dissonance-based eating disorder prevention program, which could facilitate broad dissemination of this efficacious intervention. In Study 1, female undergraduates (N=171) were randomized to peer-led groups, clinician-led groups, or an educational brochure control condition. In Study 2, which improved a design limitation of Study 1 by using completely parallel outcome measures across conditions, female undergraduates (N=148) were randomized to either immediate peer-led groups or a waitlist control condition. In Study 1, participants in peer- and clinician-led groups showed significantly greater pre-post reductions in risk factors and eating disorder symptoms than controls (M d=.64 and .98 respectively), though clinician- versus peer-led groups had higher attendance and competence ratings, and produced stronger effects at posttest (M d=.32) and at 1-year follow-up (M d=.26). In Study 2, participants in peer-led groups showed greater pre-post reductions in all outcomes than waitlist controls (M d=.75). Results provide novel evidence that dissonance-based eating disorder prevention groups led by undergraduate peers are feasible and produce greater reductions in eating disorder risk factors and symptoms than minimal-intervention control conditions, but indicate that effects are smaller for peer- versus clinician-led groups. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Three consecutive days of application of LED therapy is necessary to inhibit experimentally induced root resorption in rats: a microtomographic study.

PubMed

Higashi, Dayla Thyeme; Andrello, Avacir Casanova; Tondelli, Pedro Marcelo; de Oliveira Toginho Filho, Dari; de Paula Ramos, Solange

2017-01-01

Previous studies have suggested that phototherapy may modulate orthodontic tooth movement and the incidence of root resorption. We aimed to identify a minimal dose-response relationship to LED therapy with regard to orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) and root resorption in rats. Forty-eight male Wistar rats were divided into six groups with equal and random distribution: control (C) no intervention; three daily LED irradiation (CLED); submitted only to OTM (RR); OTM and LED irradiation on the first day (LED1); OTM and two LED irradiation on the first and second days (LED2); and OTM and three LED irradiation on the first, second, and third days (LED3). Orthodontic appliance was installed in groups RR, LED1, LED2, and LED3 to promote OTM. Animals from groups CLED, LED1, LED2, and LED3 received LED therapy (940 nm, 4 J, 4 J/cm2) according to each group of treatment. After 7 days, all the animals were sacrificed. The jaws were fixed and scanned with microtomography (micro-CT). The micro-CT images were reconstructed on 2D and 3D models. These models were used to identify and measure root resorption number and dimensions (diameter, depth, and volume). The distance between the first and second molars was used to verify tooth displacement. The results showed that LED3 group had significantly lower number of root resorption. The root resorption dimensions (diameter and depth) had no significant differences among the experimental groups. LED3 group had significant tooth displacement in relation to C and CLED groups. In conclusion, three daily LED therapy doses are required to inhibit root resorption after appliance of orthodontic forces.
Forecasting surface water flooding hazard and impact in real-time

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cole, Steven J.; Moore, Robert J.; Wells, Steven C.

2016-04-01

Across the world, there is increasing demand for more robust and timely forecast and alert information on Surface Water Flooding (SWF). Within a UK context, the government Pitt Review into the Summer 2007 floods provided recommendations and impetus to improve the understanding of SWF risk for both off-line design and real-time forecasting and warning. Ongoing development and trial of an end-to-end real-time SWF system is being progressed through the recently formed Natural Hazards Partnership (NHP) with delivery to the Flood Forecasting Centre (FFC) providing coverage over England & Wales. The NHP is a unique forum that aims to deliver coordinated assessments, research and advice on natural hazards for governments and resilience communities across the UK. Within the NHP, a real-time Hazard Impact Model (HIM) framework has been developed that includes SWF as one of three hazards chosen for initial trialling. The trial SWF HIM system uses dynamic gridded surface-runoff estimates from the Grid-to-Grid (G2G) hydrological model to estimate the SWF hazard. National datasets on population, infrastructure, property and transport are available to assess impact severity for a given rarity of SWF hazard. Whilst the SWF hazard footprint is calculated in real-time using 1, 3 and 6 hour accumulations of G2G surface runoff on a 1 km grid, it has been possible to associate these with the effective rainfall design profiles (at 250m resolution) used as input to a detailed flood inundation model (JFlow+) run offline to produce hazard information resolved to 2m resolution. This information is contained in the updated Flood Map for Surface Water (uFMfSW) held by the Environment Agency. The national impact datasets can then be used with the uFMfSW SWF hazard dataset to assess impacts at this scale and severity levels of potential impact assigned at 1km and for aggregated county areas in real-time. The impact component is being led by the Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) within the NHP. Flood Guidance within the FFC employs the national Flood Risk Matrix, which categorises potential impacts into minimal, minor, significant and severe, and Likelihood, into very low, low, medium and high classes, and the matrix entries then define the Overall Flood Risk as very low, low, medium and high. Likelihood is quantified by running G2G with Met Office ensemble rainfall inputs that in turn allows a probability to be assigned to the SWF hazard and associated impact. This overall procedure is being trialled and refined off-line by CEH and HSL using case study data, and at the same time implemented as a pre-operational test system at the Met Office for evaluation by FFC (a joint Environment Agency and Met Office centre for flood forecasting) in 2016.
Development and future of ultraviolet light-emitting diodes: UV-LED will replace the UV lamp

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muramoto, Yoshihiko; Kimura, Masahiro; Nouda, Suguru

2014-06-01

Ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs) have started replacing UV lamps. The power per LED of high-power LED products has reached 12 W (14 A), which is 100 times the values observed ten years ago. In addition, the cost of these high-power LEDs has been decreasing. In this study, we attempt to understand the technologies and potential of UV-LEDs.
Comparison of UV-LED and low pressure UV for water disinfection: Photoreactivation and dark repair of Escherichia coli.

PubMed

Li, Guo-Qiang; Wang, Wen-Long; Huo, Zheng-Yang; Lu, Yun; Hu, Hong-Ying

2017-12-01

Studies on ultraviolet light-emitting diode (UV-LED) water disinfection have shown advantages, such as safety, flexible design, and lower starting voltages. However, information about reactivation after UV-LED disinfection is limited, which is an important issue of UV light-based technology. In this study, the photoreactivation and dark repair of Escherichia coli after UV-LEDs and low pressure (LP) UV disinfection were compared. Four UV-LED units, 265 nm, 280 nm, the combination of 265 + 280 (50%), and 265 + 280 (75%) were tested. 265 nm LEDs was more effective than 280 nm LEDs and LP UV lamps for E. coli inactivation. No synergic effect for disinfection was observed from the combination of 265 and 280 nm LEDs. 265 nm LEDs had no different reactivation performances with that of LP UV, while 280 nm LEDs could significantly repress photoreactivation and dark repair at a low irradiation intensity of 6.9 mJ/cm 2 . Furthermore, the UV-induced damage of 280 nm LEDs was less repaired which was determined by endonuclease sensitive site (ESS) assay. The impaired protein activities by 280 nm LEDs might be one of the reasons that inhibited reactivation. A new reactivation rate constant, K max , was introduced into the logistic model to simulate the reactivation data, which showed positive relationship with the maximum survival ratio and was more reasonable to interpret the results of photoreactivation and dark repair. This study revealed the distinct roles of different UV lights in disinfection and reactivation, which is helpful for the future design of UV-LED equipment. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Learners' perspectives on the provision of condoms in South African public schools.

PubMed

de Bruin, W E; Panday-Soobrayan, S

2017-12-01

A stubborn health challenge for learners in South African public schools concerns sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). In 2015, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) proposed the provision of condoms and SRHR-services to learners in schools. This study aimed to contribute to the finalisation and implementation of DBE's policy by exploring learners' perspectives on the provision of condoms and SRHR-services in schools. Sixteen focus group discussions were conducted with learners (n = 116) from 33 public schools, to assess their attitudes, social influences, and needs and desires regarding condom provision and SRHR-services in schools. The majority of learners did not support condom provision in schools as they feared that it may increase sexual activity. Contrarily, they supported the provision of other SRHR-services as clinics fail to offer youth-friendly services. Learners' sexual behaviour and access to SRHR-services are strongly determined by their social environment, including traditional norms and values, and social-pressure from peers and adults. Learners' most pressing needs and desires to access condoms and SRHR-services in school concerned respect, privacy and confidentiality of such service provision. Implementation of DBE's policy must be preceded by an evidence-informed advocacy campaign to debunk myths about the risk of increased sexual activity, to advocate for why such services are needed, to shift societal norms towards open discussion of adolescent SRHR and to grapple with the juxtaposition of being legally empowered but socially inhibited to protect oneself from HIV, STIs and early pregnancy. Provision of condoms and other SRHR-services in schools must be sensitive to learners' privacy and confidentiality to minimise stigma and discrimination.
A critique of statistical hypothesis testing in clinical research

PubMed Central

Raha, Somik

2011-01-01

Many have documented the difficulty of using the current paradigm of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) to test and validate the effectiveness of alternative medical systems such as Ayurveda. This paper critiques the applicability of RCTs for all clinical knowledge-seeking endeavors, of which Ayurveda research is a part. This is done by examining statistical hypothesis testing, the underlying foundation of RCTs, from a practical and philosophical perspective. In the philosophical critique, the two main worldviews of probability are that of the Bayesian and the frequentist. The frequentist worldview is a special case of the Bayesian worldview requiring the unrealistic assumptions of knowing nothing about the universe and believing that all observations are unrelated to each other. Many have claimed that the first belief is necessary for science, and this claim is debunked by comparing variations in learning with different prior beliefs. Moving beyond the Bayesian and frequentist worldviews, the notion of hypothesis testing itself is challenged on the grounds that a hypothesis is an unclear distinction, and assigning a probability on an unclear distinction is an exercise that does not lead to clarity of action. This critique is of the theory itself and not any particular application of statistical hypothesis testing. A decision-making frame is proposed as a way of both addressing this critique and transcending ideological debates on probability. An example of a Bayesian decision-making approach is shown as an alternative to statistical hypothesis testing, utilizing data from a past clinical trial that studied the effect of Aspirin on heart attacks in a sample population of doctors. As a big reason for the prevalence of RCTs in academia is legislation requiring it, the ethics of legislating the use of statistical methods for clinical research is also examined. PMID:22022152
Part I: Muslims, social inclusion and the West. Exploring challenges faced by stigmatized groups.

PubMed

Hankir, Ahmed; Carrick, Frederick R; Zaman, Rashid

2017-09-01

The rise of radicalisation, the 'demonization' of Muslims in the media and the immigration crisis in Europe have all contributed and colluded to heightened levels of Islamophobia in the West. The stigmatisation of Muslims can and has resulted in negative outcomes in this group such as elevated levels of psychological distress and an increase in hate crime and terrorist attacks perpetrated against Muslims from members of the far right. There are 1.6 billion Muslims on the planet and Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. Now, more than ever it seems, is a critical time to learn about what the true message of Islam is and who the blessed prophet Muhammad peace be upon him (PBUH) was from reliable and authentic sources. This paper aims to challenge the stigma attached to Muslims through the following means: 1. It contains information to educate people about Islam, debunk myths and challenge negative stereotypes; 2. It utilizes the power of 'story-telling' to engage readers and to equip them with facts and the necessary skills to combat Islamophobia. Part I includes a brief introduction of Islam and concludes with a concise description and evaluation of an anti-Islamophobia programme that was piloted in Cambridge University (UK) and delivered as a Keynote Address at the Carrick Institute for Graduate Studies International Symposium of Clinical Neuroscience in Orlando, (USA). Our hope is that through this initiative we can create a critical mass and inspire and empower people, Muslims and non-Muslims alike to stand in solidarity and collectively challenge extremism in any of its many forms. Our hypothesis is that this will result in better outcomes such as reductions in radicalization and Islamophobia.
Killing us softly: the dangers of legalizing assisted suicide.

PubMed

Golden, Marilyn; Zoanni, Tyler

2010-01-01

This article is an overview of the problems with the legalization of assisted suicide as public policy. The disability community's opposition to assisted suicide stems in part from factors that directly impact the disability community as well as all of society. These factors include the secrecy in which assisted suicide operates today, in states where it is legal; the lack of robust oversight and the absence of investigation of abuse; the reality of who uses it; the dangerous potential of legalization to further erode the quality of the U.S. health care system; and its potential for other significant harms. Legalizing assisted suicide would augment real dangers that negate genuine choice and self-determination. In view of this reality, we explore many of the disability-related effects of assisted suicide, while also addressing the larger social context that inseparably impacts people with disabilities and the broader public. First, after addressing common misunderstandings, we examine fear and bias toward disability, and the deadly interaction of assisted suicide and our profit-driven health care system. Second, we review the practice of assisted suicide in Oregon, the first U.S. state to legalize it, and debunk the merits of the so-called Oregon model. Third and finally, we explore the ways that so-called "narrow" assisted suicide proposals threaten inevitable expansion. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Addiction as a Systems Failure: Focus on Adolescence and Smoking

PubMed Central

Baler, Ruben D.; Volkow, Nora D.

2011-01-01

Objective Scientific advances in the field of addiction have forever debunked the notion that addiction reflects a character flaw under voluntary control, demonstrating instead that it is a bona fide disease of the brain. The aim of this review is to go beyond this consensus understanding and explore the most current evidence regarding the vast number of genetic, developmental, and environmental factors whose complex interactions modulate addiction risk and trajectory. Method Focusing on childhood and adolescent smoking as a paradigm, we review the important risk factors for the development of addictions, starting at the level of genetics and closing with a focus on sociocultural and policy factors. Results A critical review of the pertinent literature provides a detailed view of the cumulative power of risk and protection factors across different phenomenological levels to modulate the risk of undesirable outcomes, particularly for young people. The result represents a compelling argument for the need to engage in comprehensive, multilevel approaches to promoting health. Conclusions Today, the field of medicine understands more about disease than about health; however it need not be that way. The view of drug addiction as a systems failure should help refocus our general approach to developing dynamic models and early comprehensive interventions that optimize the ways in which we prevent and treat a complex, developmental disorder such as drug addiction. PMID:21421173
A Progressive Reading, Writing, and Artistic Module to Support Scientific Literacy.

PubMed

Stockwell, Stephanie B

2016-03-01

Scientific literacy, marked by the ability and willingness to engage with scientific information, is supported through a new genre of citizen science-course-based research in association with undergraduate laboratories. A three-phased progressive learning module was developed to enhance student engagement in such contexts while supporting three learning outcomes: I) present an argument based on evidence, II) analyze science and scientists within a social context, and III) experience, reflect upon, and communicate the nature of scientific discovery. Phase I entails guided reading and reflection of citizen science-themed texts. In Phase II, students write, peer-review, and edit position and counterpoint papers inspired by the following prompt, "Nonscientists should do scientific research." Phase III involves two creative assignments intended to communicate the true nature of science. Students work collaboratively to develop public service announcement-like poster campaigns to debunk a common misconception about the nature of science or scientists. Individually, they create a work of art to communicate a specific message about the raw experience of performing scientific research. Suggestions for implementation and modifications are provided. Strengths of the module include the development of transferable skills, temporal distribution of grading demands, minimal in-class time needed for implementation, and the inclusion of artistic projects to support affective learning domains. This citizen science-themed learning module is an excellent complement to laboratory coursework, as it serves to surprise, challenge, and inspire students while promoting disciplinary values.
New Media E/PO: Building a Digital Astronomy Community

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gay, Pamela L.

2008-05-01

Today's communications landscape is rich with new technologies. Cell phones and laptops are the constant companions of content consumers, and as we plan tomorrow's Education and Public Outreach programs, we need to consider how to most effectively utilize these technologies with their new, dynamic content possibilities - We need to use New Media. The field of New Media includes dynamic content sites such as: blogs, pod/vodcasts, Flickr, Facebook, Ustream, Twitter, and Second Life. The first part of this talk will summarize what New Media is available in the field of astronomy. All new media technologies have one thing in common: Users can easily create and input their own content and/or comments. These new media users and content contributors can just as easily be professional researchers, E/PO professionals, amateur astronomers, stay-at-home parents, and school kids. All are welcome in the online community, and today, all voices are digitally joined in the cacophony of astronomy new media content. This rich diversity supports many opportunities for learning, mentoring, content distribution, and discussion of ideas (including the debunking of bad ideas). In the second half of this talk, ways to use new media to build a community that shares, promotes, and comments on content is discussed, and techniques for dealing with the high flux of content are outlined. Also covered are the considerations that need to be made to make content as broadly accessible as possible.
DIMM-SC: a Dirichlet mixture model for clustering droplet-based single cell transcriptomic data.

PubMed

Sun, Zhe; Wang, Ting; Deng, Ke; Wang, Xiao-Feng; Lafyatis, Robert; Ding, Ying; Hu, Ming; Chen, Wei

2018-01-01

Single cell transcriptome sequencing (scRNA-Seq) has become a revolutionary tool to study cellular and molecular processes at single cell resolution. Among existing technologies, the recently developed droplet-based platform enables efficient parallel processing of thousands of single cells with direct counting of transcript copies using Unique Molecular Identifier (UMI). Despite the technology advances, statistical methods and computational tools are still lacking for analyzing droplet-based scRNA-Seq data. Particularly, model-based approaches for clustering large-scale single cell transcriptomic data are still under-explored. We developed DIMM-SC, a Dirichlet Mixture Model for clustering droplet-based Single Cell transcriptomic data. This approach explicitly models UMI count data from scRNA-Seq experiments and characterizes variations across different cell clusters via a Dirichlet mixture prior. We performed comprehensive simulations to evaluate DIMM-SC and compared it with existing clustering methods such as K-means, CellTree and Seurat. In addition, we analyzed public scRNA-Seq datasets with known cluster labels and in-house scRNA-Seq datasets from a study of systemic sclerosis with prior biological knowledge to benchmark and validate DIMM-SC. Both simulation studies and real data applications demonstrated that overall, DIMM-SC achieves substantially improved clustering accuracy and much lower clustering variability compared to other existing clustering methods. More importantly, as a model-based approach, DIMM-SC is able to quantify the clustering uncertainty for each single cell, facilitating rigorous statistical inference and biological interpretations, which are typically unavailable from existing clustering methods. DIMM-SC has been implemented in a user-friendly R package with a detailed tutorial available on www.pitt.edu/∼wec47/singlecell.html. wei.chen@chp.edu or hum@ccf.org. Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com
Light colour and intensity alters reproductive/seasonal responses in Japanese quail.

PubMed

Yadav, Suneeta; Chaturvedi, Chandra Mohini

2015-08-01

An extensive literature is available on the photoperiodic responses of avian species but studies on light colour and wavelength from light emitting diode (LED) sources on reproduction are limited. Hence, an experiment was designed to study the effect of different colours and intensities of light on the reproductive responses of Japanese quail. Three-week old quail were exposed to five different light conditions with a long photoperiod (LD 16:8): WT (white fluorescent light 100 lux as control), W LED (white light emitting diode, 30 lux), B LED (blue LED, 30 lux), G LED (green LED, 30 lux) and R-LED (red LED, 30 lux). The cloacal gland size, an indicator of androgenic activity, was monitored weekly. The results indicated an early initiation of gonadal growth in WT quail which continued and maintained a plateau throughout the period of study. On the other hand, in general low intensity light, there was a decreased amplitude of the reproductive cycle and the quail exposed to different colour lights (green, red and blue lights) used different incubation times to initiate their gonadal growth and exhibited a gonadal cycle of a different duration up to 15.5 weeks. Thereafter, the gonad of quail of all the LED groups started developing again (including the blue LED exposed quail which remained undeveloped until this age) and attained the increased degree of growth until 26.5 weeks of age. During the second cycle, gonads of green and red light exposed quail continued to increase and maintained a plateau of development similar to WT exposed control while white and blue LED exposed quail exhibited spontaneous regression and attained complete sexual quiescence. Based on our study, it is suggested that long term exposure to blue LED light of low intensity may induce gonadal regression even under long-day conditions (LD 16:8), while exposure to green and red lights appears to maintain a constant photosensitivity after one complete gonadal cycle. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Examining Young Recreational Male Soccer Players' Experience in Adult- and Peer-Led Structures.

PubMed

Imtiaz, Faizan; Hancock, David J; Côté, Jean

2016-09-01

Youth sport has the potential to be one of the healthiest and most beneficial activities in which children can partake. Participation in a combination of adult-led and peer-led sport structures appears to lead to favorable outcomes such as enhanced physical fitness, as well as social and emotional development. The purpose of the present study was to examine the subjective and objective experiences of 27 recreational male soccer players aged 10 to 12 years old (M = 10.11 years, SD = 0.32) across adult-led and peer-led sport structures. Direct video observation and experience-rating scales were utilized in an effort to shed light on the impact of adult-led and peer-led sport structures on the same athletes. In the adult-led structures, youth experienced high levels of effort and concentration while spending more time physically or mentally engaged. Meanwhile, youth experienced high rates of prosocial behaviors, sport-related communication, and general communication during the peer-led structures. The results of the present study indicate that rather than one approach being superior to the other, both adult- and peer-led sport structures have the potential to yield unique benefits toward children's positive experiences in sport.
Nurse-led versus doctor-led care for bronchiectasis.

PubMed

Lawton, Kathryn; Royals, Karen; Carson-Chahhoud, Kristin V; Campbell, Fiona; Smith, Brian J

2018-06-20

Specialist nursing roles to manage stable disease populations are being used to meet the needs of both patients and health services. With increasing cost pressures on health departments, alternative models such as nurse-led care are gaining momentum as a substitute for traditional doctor-led care. This review evaluates the safety, effectiveness, and health outcomes of nurses practising in autonomous roles while using advanced practice skills, within the context of bronchiectasis management in subacute, ambulatory, and/or community care. To compare the effectiveness of nurse-led care versus doctor-led care in the management of stable bronchiectasis. We searched the Cochrane Airways Group Specialised Register and bibliographies of selected papers in addition to grey literature such as electronic clinical trials registries. Searches were current as of March 2018. Randomised controlled trials were eligible for inclusion in the review. Two reviewers extracted and entered data from included studies. Primary outcomes were numbers of exacerbations requiring treatment with antibiotics, hospital admissions, and emergency department attendances. We included one United Kingdom (UK) study in the review. In this randomised controlled trial, a total of 80 participants, with a mean age of 58 years, were treated for 12 months by a specialist nurse or doctor, then were crossed over to the other clinician for the next 12 months. Two participants died during the study period. Six participants failed to cross over to nurse-led care because of unstable bronchiectasis. Overall, the level of study completion was high.Data show no difference in the numbers of exacerbations requiring treatment with antibiotics (rate ratio 1.09, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.91 to 1.30, 80 participants, moderate-certainty evidence). Investigators reported more hospital admissions in the nurse-led care group (rate ratio 1.52, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.23, 80 participants, moderate-certainty evidence) and did not report emergency department attendance.For secondary outcomes, participants in the nurse-led care group used more healthcare resources during the first year of the trial. Increased admissions and greater use of resources made treatment costs for nurse-led groups' higher. Total costs for both years of the study were £8,464 and £5,228 for nurse-led care compared with doctor-led care. However, by the second year, treatment costs were almost equitable between the two groups, which may reflect the nurses' learning of how to better treat people with bronchiectasis. No statistically significant changes were observed in quality of life, exercise capacity, mortality, or lung function. Wide confidence intervals led to uncertainty regarding these results. Adverse events were not an outcome for this review. This update of the review shows that only one trial met review criteria. Review authors were unable to demonstrate effectiveness of nurse-led care compared with doctor-led care on the basis of findings of a single study. The included study reported no significant differences, but limited evidence means that differences in clinical outcomes between nurse-led care and usual care within the setting of a specialist clinic remain unclear. Further research is required to determine whether nurse-led care is cost-effective, if guidelines and protocols for bronchiectasis management are followed does this increases costs and how effective nurse-led management of bronchiectasis is in other clinical settings such as inpatient and outreach.
Protocol for Determining Ultraviolet Light Emitting Diode (UV-LED) Fluence for Microbial Inactivation Studies.

PubMed

Kheyrandish, Ataollah; Mohseni, Madjid; Taghipour, Fariborz

2018-06-15

Determining fluence is essential to derive the inactivation kinetics of microorganisms and to design ultraviolet (UV) reactors for water disinfection. UV light emitting diodes (UV-LEDs) are emerging UV sources with various advantages compared to conventional UV lamps. Unlike conventional mercury lamps, no standard method is available to determine the average fluence of the UV-LEDs, and conventional methods used to determine the fluence for UV mercury lamps are not applicable to UV-LEDs due to the relatively low power output, polychromatic wavelength, and specific radiation profile of UV-LEDs. In this study, a method was developed to determine the average fluence inside a water suspension in a UV-LED experimental setup. In this method, the average fluence was estimated by measuring the irradiance at a few points for a collimated and uniform radiation on a Petri dish surface. New correction parameters were defined and proposed, and several of the existing parameters for determining the fluence of the UV mercury lamp apparatus were revised to measure and quantify the collimation and uniformity of the radiation. To study the effect of polychromatic output and radiation profile of the UV-LEDs, two UV-LEDs with peak wavelengths of 262 and 275 nm and different radiation profiles were selected as the representatives of typical UV-LEDs applied to microbial inactivation. The proper setup configuration for microorganism inactivation studies was also determined based on the defined correction factors.
Damage of photoreceptor-derived cells in culture induced by light emitting diode-derived blue light

PubMed Central

Kuse, Yoshiki; Ogawa, Kenjiro; Tsuruma, Kazuhiro; Shimazawa, Masamitsu; Hara, Hideaki

2014-01-01

Our eyes are increasingly exposed to light from the emitting diode (LED) light of video display terminals (VDT) which contain much blue light. VDTs are equipped with televisions, personal computers, and smart phones. The present study aims to clarify the mechanism underlying blue LED light-induced photoreceptor cell damage. Murine cone photoreceptor-derived cells (661 W) were exposed to blue, white, or green LED light (0.38 mW/cm2). In the present study, blue LED light increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, altered the protein expression level, induced the aggregation of short-wavelength opsins (S-opsin), resulting in severe cell damage. While, blue LED light damaged the primary retinal cells and the damage was photoreceptor specific. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC), an antioxidant, protected against the cellular damage induced by blue LED light. Overall, the LED light induced cell damage was wavelength-, but not energy-dependent and may cause more severe retinal photoreceptor cell damage than the other LED light. PMID:24909301
[Functional state of the visual analyzer in the conditions of the use of traditional and LED light sources].

PubMed

Kaptsov, V A; Sosunov, N N; Shishchenko, I I; Viktorov, V S; Tulushev, V N; Deynego, V N; Bukhareva, E A; Murashova, M A; Shishchenko, A A

2014-01-01

There was performed the experimental work on the study of the possibility of the application of LED lighting (LED light sources) in rail transport for traffic safety in related professions. Results of 4 series of studies involving 10 volunteers for the study and a comparative evaluation of the functional state of the visual analyzer, the general functional state and mental capacity under the performing the simulated operator activity in conditions of traditional light sources (incandescent, fluorescent lamp) and the new LED (LED lamp, LED panel) light sources have revealed changes in the negative direction. This was pronounced in a some decrease of functional stability to color discrimination between green and red cone signals, as well as an increase in response time in complex visual--motor response and significant reduction in readiness for emergency action of examinees.

An empirical comparison of several recent epistatic interaction detection methods.

PubMed

Wang, Yue; Liu, Guimei; Feng, Mengling; Wong, Limsoon

2011-11-01

Many new methods have recently been proposed for detecting epistatic interactions in GWAS data. There is, however, no in-depth independent comparison of these methods yet. Five recent methods-TEAM, BOOST, SNPHarvester, SNPRuler and Screen and Clean (SC)-are evaluated here in terms of power, type-1 error rate, scalability and completeness. In terms of power, TEAM performs best on data with main effect and BOOST performs best on data without main effect. In terms of type-1 error rate, TEAM and BOOST have higher type-1 error rates than SNPRuler and SNPHarvester. SC does not control type-1 error rate well. In terms of scalability, we tested the five methods using a dataset with 100 000 SNPs on a 64 bit Ubuntu system, with Intel (R) Xeon(R) CPU 2.66 GHz, 16 GB memory. TEAM takes ~36 days to finish and SNPRuler reports heap allocation problems. BOOST scales up to 100 000 SNPs and the cost is much lower than that of TEAM. SC and SNPHarvester are the most scalable. In terms of completeness, we study how frequently the pruning techniques employed by these methods incorrectly prune away the most significant epistatic interactions. We find that, on average, 20% of datasets without main effect and 60% of datasets with main effect are pruned incorrectly by BOOST, SNPRuler and SNPHarvester. The software for the five methods tested are available from the URLs below. TEAM: http://csbio.unc.edu/epistasis/download.php BOOST: http://ihome.ust.hk/~eeyang/papers.html. SNPHarvester: http://bioinformatics.ust.hk/SNPHarvester.html. SNPRuler: http://bioinformatics.ust.hk/SNPRuler.zip. Screen and Clean: http://wpicr.wpic.pitt.edu/WPICCompGen/. wangyue@nus.edu.sg.
Isotopic analysis of Bothrops atrox in Amazonian forest

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martinez, M. G.; Silva, A. M.; Chalkidis, H.; de Oliveira Júnior, R. C.; Camargo, P. B.

2012-12-01

The poisoning of snakes is considered a public health problem, especially in populations from rural areas of tropical and subtropical countries. In Brazil, the 26,000 snakebites, 90% are of the genus Bothrops, and Bothrops atrox species predominant in the Amazon region including all the Brazilian Amazon. Research shows that using stable isotopes, we can verify the isotopic composition of tissues of animals that depend mainly on food, water ingested and inhaled gases. For this study, samples taken from Bothrops atrox (B. atrox), in forest using pitfall traps and fall ("Pitt-fall traps with drift fence"). The analyzes were performed by mass spectrometry, where the analytical error is 0.3‰ for carbon and 0.5‰ to nitrogen. The results of the forest animals are significantly different from results of animal vivarium. The average values of the tissues and venoms of snakes of the forest for carbon-13 and nitrogen-15 are: δ13C = -24.68‰ and δ15N = 14.22‰ and mean values of tissue and poisons snakes vivarium (Instituto Butantan) to carbon-13 and nitrogen-15 are δ13C = -20.47‰ and δ15N = 8.36‰, with a significantly different due to different sources of food animals. Based on all results isotopic δ13C and δ15N, we can suggest that changes as the power of the serpent, (nature and captivity), changes occur in relation to diet and environment as the means of the isotopic data are quite distinct, showing that these changes can also cause metabolic changes in the body of the animal itself and the different periods of turnover of each tissue analyzed.
Associations between food insecurity, supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) benefits, and body mass index among adult females.

PubMed

Jilcott, Stephanie B; Wall-Bassett, Elizabeth D; Burke, Sloane C; Moore, Justin B

2011-11-01

Obesity disproportionately affects low-income and minority individuals and has been linked with food insecurity, particularly among women. More research is needed to examine potential mechanisms linking obesity and food insecurity. Therefore, this study's purpose was to examine cross-sectional associations between food insecurity, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits per household member, perceived stress, and body mass index (BMI) among female SNAP participants in eastern North Carolina (n=202). Women were recruited from the Pitt County Department of Social Services between October 2009 and April 2010. Household food insecurity was measured using the validated US Department of Agriculture 18-item food security survey module. Perceived stress was measured using the 14-item Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale. SNAP benefits and number of children in the household were self-reported and used to calculate benefits per household member. BMI was calculated from measured height and weight (as kg/m(2)). Multivariate linear regression was used to examine associations between BMI, SNAP benefits, stress, and food insecurity while adjusting for age and physical activity. In adjusted linear regression analyses, perceived stress was positively related to food insecurity (P<0.0001), even when SNAP benefits were included in the model. BMI was positively associated with food insecurity (P=0.04). Mean BMI was significantly greater among women receiving <$150 in SNAP benefits per household member vs those receiving ≥$150 in benefits per household member (35.8 vs 33.1; P=0.04). Results suggest that provision of adequate SNAP benefits per household member might partially ameliorate the negative effects of food insecurity on BMI. Copyright © 2011 American Dietetic Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Molecular dynamics simulations of Palmitic acid adsorbed on NaCl

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lovrić, Josip; Brizquez, Stéphane; Duflot, Denis; Monnerville, Maurice; Pouilly, Brigitte; Toubin, Céline

2015-04-01

The aerosol and gases effects in the atmosphere play an important role on health, air quality and climate, affecting both political decisions and economic activities around the world [1]. Among the several approaches of studying the origin of these effects, computational modeling is of fundamental importance, providing insights on the elementary chemical processes. Sea salts are the most important aerosol in the troposphere (109T/year) [2]. Our theoretical work consists in modeling a (100) NaCl surface coated with palmitic acid (PA) molecules. Molecular dynamics simulations are carried out with the GROMACS package [3], in the NPT ensemble at different temperatures, different PA coverages and various humidity. We focus on two aspects of the PA organization at the salt surface: the first one is related to transition in molecular orientation of the adsorbate as a function of PA coverage. The second one implies the effect of humidity, by adding water molecules, on the organization of the fatty acid at the salt surface, and especially on the occurrence of PA isolated islands as observed in the experiments [4]. For high humidity conditions, PA are removed from the salt surface and form islands on top of the water. This effect is enhanced when temperature increases. Acknowledgments: this research has been supported by the CaPPA project (Chemical and Physical Properties of the Atmosphere), funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR) through the PIA (Programme d'Investissement d'Avenir) under contract ANR-10-LABX-005. [1] O. Boucher et al, 5th Assessment Report IPCC, (2013) [2] B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, Chem. Rev.103, 4801-4822 (2003) [3] http://www.gromacs.org/ [4] S. Sobanska et al, private communication
Fracture Resistance and Mode of Failure of Ceramic versus Titanium Implant Abutments and Single Implant-Supported Restorations.

PubMed

Sghaireen, Mohd G

2015-06-01

The material of choice for implant-supported restorations is affected by esthetic requirements and type of abutment. This study compares the fracture resistance of different types of implant abutments and implant-supported restorations and their mode of failure. Forty-five Oraltronics Pitt-Easy implants (Oraltronics Dental Implant Technology GmbH, Bremen, Germany) (4 mm diameter, 10 mm length) were embedded in clear autopolymerizing acrylic resin. The implants were randomly divided into three groups, A, B and C, of 15 implants each. In group A, titanium abutments and metal-ceramic crowns were used. In group B, zirconia ceramic abutments and In-Ceram Alumina crowns were used. In group C, zirconia ceramic abutments and IPS Empress Esthetic crowns were used. Specimens were tested to failure by applying load at 130° from horizontal plane using an Instron Universal Testing Machine. Subsequently, the mode of failure of each specimen was identified. Fracture resistance was significantly different between groups (p < .05). The highest fracture loads were associated with metal-ceramic crowns supported by titanium abutments (p = .000). IPS Empress crowns supported by zirconia abutments had the lowest fracture loads (p = .000). Fracture modes of metal-ceramic crowns supported by titanium abutments included screw fracture and screw bending. Fracture of both crown and abutment was the dominant mode of failure of In-Ceram/IPS Empress crowns supported by zirconia abutments. Metal-ceramic crowns supported by titanium abutments were more resistant to fracture than In-Ceram crowns supported by zirconia abutments, which in turn were more resistant to fracture than IPS Empress crowns supported by zirconia abutments. In addition, failure modes of restorations supported by zirconia abutments were more catastrophic than those for restorations supported by titanium abutments. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Impact of Inadequate Empirical Therapy on the Mortality of Patients with Bloodstream Infections: a Propensity Score-Based Analysis

PubMed Central

Retamar, Pilar; Portillo, María M.; López-Prieto, María Dolores; Rodríguez-López, Fernando; de Cueto, Marina; García, María V.; Gómez, María J.; del Arco, Alfonso; Muñoz, Angel; Sánchez-Porto, Antonio; Torres-Tortosa, Manuel; Martín-Aspas, Andrés; Arroyo, Ascensión; García-Figueras, Carolina; Acosta, Federico; Corzo, Juan E.; León-Ruiz, Laura; Escobar-Lara, Trinidad

2012-01-01

The impact of the adequacy of empirical therapy on outcome for patients with bloodstream infections (BSI) is key for determining whether adequate empirical coverage should be prioritized over other, more conservative approaches. Recent systematic reviews outlined the need for new studies in the field, using improved methodologies. We assessed the impact of inadequate empirical treatment on the mortality of patients with BSI in the present-day context, incorporating recent methodological recommendations. A prospective multicenter cohort including all BSI episodes in adult patients was performed in 15 hospitals in Andalucía, Spain, over a 2-month period in 2006 to 2007. The main outcome variables were 14- and 30-day mortality. Adjusted analyses were performed by multivariate analysis and propensity score-based matching. Eight hundred one episodes were included. Inadequate empirical therapy was administered in 199 (24.8%) episodes; mortality at days 14 and 30 was 18.55% and 22.6%, respectively. After controlling for age, Charlson index, Pitt score, neutropenia, source, etiology, and presentation with severe sepsis or shock, inadequate empirical treatment was associated with increased mortality at days 14 and 30 (odds ratios [ORs], 2.12 and 1.56; 95% confidence intervals [95% CI], 1.34 to 3.34 and 1.01 to 2.40, respectively). The adjusted ORs after a propensity score-based matched analysis were 3.03 and 1.70 (95% CI, 1.60 to 5.74 and 0.98 to 2.98, respectively). In conclusion, inadequate empirical therapy is independently associated with increased mortality in patients with BSI. Programs to improve the quality of empirical therapy in patients with suspicion of BSI and optimization of definitive therapy should be implemented. PMID:22005999
Protection against the synaptic targeting and toxicity of Alzheimer's-associated Aβ oligomers by insulin mimetic chiro-inositols

PubMed Central

Pitt, Jason; Thorner, Michael; Brautigan, David; Larner, Joseph; Klein, William L.

2013-01-01

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive dementia that correlates highly with synapse loss. This loss appears due to the synaptic accumulation of toxic Aβ oligomers (ADDLs), which damages synapse structure and function. Although it has been reported that oligomer binding and toxicity can be prevented by stimulation of neuronal insulin signaling with PPARγ agonists, these agonists have problematic side effects. We therefore investigated the therapeutic potential of chiro-inositols, insulin-sensitizing compounds safe for human consumption. Chiro-inositols have been studied extensively for treatment of diseases associated with peripheral insulin resistance, but their insulin mimetic function in memory-relevant central nervous system (CNS) cells is unknown. Here we demonstrate that mature cultures of hippocampal neurons respond to d-chiro-inositol (DCI), pinitol (3-O-methyl DCI), and the inositol glycan INS-2 (pinitol β-1-4 galactosamine) with increased phosphorylation in key upstream components in the insulin-signaling pathway (insulin receptor, insulin receptor substrate-1, and Akt). Consistent with insulin stimulation, DCI treatment promotes rapid withdrawal of dendritic insulin receptors. With respect to neuroprotection, DCI greatly enhances the ability of insulin to prevent ADDL-induced synapse damage (EC50 of 90 nM). The mechanism comprises inhibition of oligomer binding at synapses and requires insulin/IGF signaling. DCI showed no effects on Aβ oligomerization. We propose that inositol glycans and DCI, a compound already established as safe for human consumption, have potential as AD therapeutics by protecting CNS synapses against Aβ oligomers through their insulin mimetic activity.—Pitt, J., Thorner, M., Brautigan, D., Larner, J., Klein, W. L. Protection against the synaptic targeting and toxicity of Alzheimer's-associated Aβ oligomers by insulin mimetic chiro-inositols. PMID:23073831
High lenticular tolerance to ultraviolet radiation-B by pigmented guinea-pig; application of a safety limit strategy for UVR-induced cataract.

PubMed

Mody, Vino C; Kakar, Manoj; Söderberg, Per G; Löfgren, Stefan

2012-05-01

The purpose of this study was to determine a threshold measure, maximum tolerable dose (MTD), for avoidance of UVR-B-induced cataract in the pigmented guinea-pig. Thirty pupil-dilated anesthetized young female guinea-pigs, divided into five equal groups, received between 0 and 84.9 kJ/m(2) unilateral UVR-B. Lens extraction and in vitro lens photography occurred 24 hr after exposure. Measurement of intensity of lens light scattering served as quantifying tool for the degree of cataract. Data analysis included regression, using a second order polynomial model. The applied MTD concept was based on the UVR-B dose-response curve obtained for the pigmented guinea-pig. A smaller number of pigmented guinea-pigs, pigmented rats and albino rats underwent morphometric analysis of the anterior segment geometry. All eyes exposed to UVR-B developed cataract in the anterior subcapsular region. MTD for avoidance of UVR-B-induced cataract was 69.0 kJ/m(2) in the pigmented guinea-pig. Iris was considerably thicker in the guinea-pig than in the rats. Lens blockage by the dilated iris was lowest in the guinea-pig. Maximum tolerable dose for avoidance of UVR-B-induced cataract in the pigmented guinea-pig was 69.0 kJ/m(2), over 10-fold higher than the threshold 5 kJ/m(2) obtained by Pitts et al. in the pigmented rabbit. Maximum tolerable dose is an appropriate method for estimation of toxicity for UVR-B-induced cataract in the guinea-pig. The pigmented guinea-pig is significantly less sensitive to UVR-B exposure than the pigmented rabbit and pigmented rat. © 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2010 Acta Ophthalmol.
Experiments on transient melting of tungsten by ELMs in ASDEX Upgrade

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krieger, K.; Balden, M.; Coenen, J. W.; Laggner, F.; Matthews, G. F.; Nille, D.; Rohde, V.; Sieglin, B.; Giannone, L.; Göths, B.; Herrmann, A.; de Marne, P.; Pitts, R. A.; Potzel, S.; Vondracek, P.; ASDEX-Upgrade Team; EUROfusion MST1 Team

2018-02-01

Repetitive melting of tungsten by power transients originating from edge localized modes (ELMs) has been studied in ASDEX Upgrade. Tungsten samples were exposed to H-mode discharges at the outer divertor target plate using the divertor manipulator II (DIM-II) system (Herrmann et al 2015 Fusion Eng. Des. 98-9 1496-9). Designed as near replicas of the geometries used also in separate experiments on the JET tokamak (Coenen et al 2015 J. Nucl. Mater. 463 78-84 Coenen et al 2015 Nucl. Fusion 55 023010; Matthews et al 2016 Phys. Scr. T167 7), the samples featured a misaligned leading edge and a sloped ridge respectively. Both structures protrude above the default target plate surface thus receiving an increased fraction of the parallel power flux. Transient melting by ELMs was induced by moving the outer strike point to the sample location. The temporal evolution of the measured current flow from the samples to vessel potential confirmed transient melting. Current magnitude and dependency from surface temperature provided strong evidence for thermionic electron emission as main origin of the replacement current driving the melt motion. The different melt patterns observed after exposures at the two sample geometries support the thermionic electron emission model used in the MEMOS melt motion code, which assumes a strong decrease of the thermionic net current at shallow magnetic field to surface angles (Pitts et al 2017 Nucl. Mater. Energy 12 60-74). Post exposure ex situ analysis of the retrieved samples show recrystallization of tungsten at the exposed surface areas to a depth of up to several mm. The melt layer transport to less exposed surface areas leads to ratcheting pile up of re-solidified debris with zonal growth extending from the already enlarged grains at the surface.
LED phototherapy on midpalatal suture after rapid maxilla expansion: a Raman spectroscopic study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosa, Cristiane B.; Habib, Fernando Antonio L.; de Araújo, Telma M.; dos Santos, Jean N.; Cangussu, Maria Cristina T.; Barbosa, Artur Felipe S.; de Castro, Isabele Cardoso V.; Soares, Luiz Guilherme P.; Pinheiro, Antonio L. B.

2015-03-01

A quick bone formation after maxillary expansion would reduce treatment timeand the biomodulating effects of LED light could contribute for it. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of LED phototherapy on the acceleration of bone formation at the midpalatal suture after maxilla expansion. Thirty rats divided into 6 groups were used on the study at 2 time points - 7 days: Control; Expansion; and Expansion + LED; and 14 days: Expansion; Expansion + LED in the first week; Expansion and LED in the first and second weeks. LED irradiation occurred at every 48 h during 2 weeks. Expansion was accomplished using a spatula and maintained with a triple helicoid of 0.020" stainless steel orthodontic wire. A LED light (λ850 ± 10nm, 150mW ± 10mW, spot of 0.5cm2, t=120 sec, SAEF of 18J/cm2) was applied in one point in the midpalatal suture immediately behind the upper incisors. Near infrared Raman spectroscopic analysis of the suture region was carried and data submitted to statistical analyzes (p≤0.05). Raman spectrum analysis demonstrated that irradiation increased hydroxyapatite in the midpalatal suture after expansion. The results of this indicate that LED irradiation; have a positive biomodulation contributing to the acceleration of bone formation in the midpalatal suture after expansion procedure.
Physically active families - de-bunking the myth? A qualitative study of family participation in physical activity.

PubMed

Thompson, Janice L; Jago, R; Brockman, R; Cartwright, K; Page, A S; Fox, K R

2010-03-01

The benefits of physical activity for reducing obesity and related chronic diseases are well known. The need for more family-based interventions to increase physical activity is frequently cited in the literature; however, little is known about if and how families are physically active together, and what factors might influence family-based participation in regular physical activity. This study examined the types of activities (physical and sedentary) engaged in as a family and explored parents' perceptions of the importance, frequency, nature and barriers to family physical activity. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 30 parents (26 female, four male) of 10- to 11-year-old schoolchildren who attended either low, middle or high socio-economic status schools in Bristol, UK. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, anonymized and analysed using conventional content analysis. The majority of parents rated family engagement in physical activity as important, and identified benefits such as increased parent-child communication, spending time together, enjoyment, enhanced mental health, weight control and physical fitness. Despite these benefits most parents reported their families did little or no physical activity together as a family unit during the week, and any activities performed together were usually sedentary in nature. They reported increased family physical activity on the weekends but rarely including the full family unit simultaneously. Parents in two-parent households commonly paired off with one or more children because of complexities of schedules. Commonly reported barriers were busy lifestyles, diverse ages and interests of children and adults, bad weather, and lack of access to facilities, transportation and money to support activities. Family-based interventions might be more effective if they are designed to accommodate the complex demands and needs of two-parent and single-parent families and provide affordable, diverse activities appealing to a wide range of interests.
Heat dissipation investigation of the internal heat sink geometry of a commercial available LED lamp

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lai, S. L.; Ong, N. R.; Kirtsaeng, S.; Sakuntasathien, S.; Alcain, J. B.; Sauli, Z.; Thangsi, K.; Retnasamy, V.

2017-09-01

Thermal issue is still the bottleneck of the LED to sustain their operational performance. LED lamp is vastly commercialized and has become the next generation of lighting source to substitute the conventional incandescent lamp. Thus, thermal management issue on LED lamp is important to maintain the device reliability. This study focuses on the modification of internal heat sink of the LED lamp which was considered and the thermal performance was investigated. Open source software, Salome and Elmer were used for this study. The result shows that larger surface area of heat sink has better heat dissipation performance.
Patient-led versus physician-led titration of insulin glargine in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes: a randomized multinational ATLAS study.

PubMed

Garg, Satish K; Admane, Karim; Freemantle, Nick; Odawara, Masato; Pan, Chang-Yu; Misra, Anoop; Jarek-Martynowa, Iwona R; Abbas-Raza, Syed; Mirasol, Roberto C; Perfetti, Riccardo

2015-02-01

Self-adjustment of insulin dose is commonly practiced in Western patients with type 2 diabetes but is usually not performed in Asian patients. This multinational, 24-week, randomized study compared patient-led with physician-led titration of once-daily insulin glargine in Asian patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes who were on 2 oral glucose-lowering agents. Patient-led (n = 275) or physician-led (n = 277) subjects followed the same dose-titration algorithm guided by self-monitored fasting blood glucose (FBG; target, 110 mg/dL [6.1 mmol/L]). The primary endpoint was change in mean glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) at week 24 in the patient-led versus physician-led titration groups. Patient-led titration resulted in a significantly higher drop in HbA1c value at 24 weeks when compared with physician-led titration (-1.40% vs. -1.25%; mean difference, -0.15; 95% confidence interval, -0.29 to 0.00; P = .043). Mean decrease in FBG was greatest in the patient-led group (-2.85 mmol/L vs. -2.48 mmol/L; P = .001). The improvements in HbA1c and FBG were consistent across countries, with similar improvements in treatment satisfaction in both groups. Mean daily insulin dose was higher in the patient-led group (28.9 units vs. 22.2 units; P<.001). Target HbA1c of <7.0% without severe hypoglycemia was achieved in 40.0% and 32.9% in the patient-led and physician-led groups, respectively (P = .086). Severe hypoglycemia was not different in the 2 groups (0.7%), with an increase in nocturnal and symptomatic hypoglycemia in the patient-led arm. Patient-led insulin glargine titration achieved near-target blood glucose levels in Asian patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes who were on 2 oral glucose-lowering drugs, demonstrating that Asian patients can self-uptitrate insulin dose effectively when guided.
QAARM: quasi-anharmonic autoregressive model reveals molecular recognition pathways in ubiquitin

PubMed Central

Savol, Andrej J.; Burger, Virginia M.; Agarwal, Pratul K.; Ramanathan, Arvind; Chennubhotla, Chakra S.

2011-01-01

Motivation: Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have dramatically improved the atomistic understanding of protein motions, energetics and function. These growing datasets have necessitated a corresponding emphasis on trajectory analysis methods for characterizing simulation data, particularly since functional protein motions and transitions are often rare and/or intricate events. Observing that such events give rise to long-tailed spatial distributions, we recently developed a higher-order statistics based dimensionality reduction method, called quasi-anharmonic analysis (QAA), for identifying biophysically-relevant reaction coordinates and substates within MD simulations. Further characterization of conformation space should consider the temporal dynamics specific to each identified substate. Results: Our model uses hierarchical clustering to learn energetically coherent substates and dynamic modes of motion from a 0.5 μs ubiqutin simulation. Autoregressive (AR) modeling within and between states enables a compact and generative description of the conformational landscape as it relates to functional transitions between binding poses. Lacking a predictive component, QAA is extended here within a general AR model appreciative of the trajectory's temporal dependencies and the specific, local dynamics accessible to a protein within identified energy wells. These metastable states and their transition rates are extracted within a QAA-derived subspace using hierarchical Markov clustering to provide parameter sets for the second-order AR model. We show the learned model can be extrapolated to synthesize trajectories of arbitrary length. Contact: ramanathana@ornl.gov; chakracs@pitt.edu PMID:21685101
Identification of Vape Shops in Two North Carolina Counties: An Approach for States without Retailer Licensing.

PubMed

Lee, Joseph G L; D'Angelo, Heather; Kuteh, Jaleel D; Martin, Ryan J

2016-10-27

Stores that sell electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) as their primary product are a new phenomenon and often termed "vape shops". While vape shops are now regulated by state and federal agencies, not all states maintain lists of vape shops in operation. Standard ways of identifying tobacco retailers through off-premise alcohol permits and business listing services may not identify vape shops. We used four online business listing services (i.e., Google Maps, ReferenceUSA, YellowPages.com, Yelp) to identify vape shops in two counties in North Carolina (NC). In one county, we also assessed four vaping web sites. We drove primary and secondary roads to physically validate the identified stores and attempt to identify stores not listed online. To assess the accuracy of the online searches, we calculated sensitivity and positive predictive values (PPVs). This research was conducted in spring and summer 2016 and identified 28 vape shops online. We confirmed 16 vape shops (seven in Pitt County, NC, USA, and nine in Durham County, NC, USA). Online searches ranged in sensitivity, 62.5%-81.3%, and PPVs ranged from 73.3% to 92.3%. Because of the range of sensitivity found among the business listing services, state policymakers should consider uniform licensing requirements for vape and tobacco retailers to more easily track retailers and ensure compliance with regulations.
Identification of Vape Shops in Two North Carolina Counties: An Approach for States without Retailer Licensing

PubMed Central

Lee, Joseph G. L.; D’Angelo, Heather; Kuteh, Jaleel D.; Martin, Ryan J.

2016-01-01

Stores that sell electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) as their primary product are a new phenomenon and often termed “vape shops”. While vape shops are now regulated by state and federal agencies, not all states maintain lists of vape shops in operation. Standard ways of identifying tobacco retailers through off-premise alcohol permits and business listing services may not identify vape shops. We used four online business listing services (i.e., Google Maps, ReferenceUSA, YellowPages.com, Yelp) to identify vape shops in two counties in North Carolina (NC). In one county, we also assessed four vaping web sites. We drove primary and secondary roads to physically validate the identified stores and attempt to identify stores not listed online. To assess the accuracy of the online searches, we calculated sensitivity and positive predictive values (PPVs). This research was conducted in spring and summer 2016 and identified 28 vape shops online. We confirmed 16 vape shops (seven in Pitt County, NC, USA, and nine in Durham County, NC, USA). Online searches ranged in sensitivity, 62.5%–81.3%, and PPVs ranged from 73.3% to 92.3%. Because of the range of sensitivity found among the business listing services, state policymakers should consider uniform licensing requirements for vape and tobacco retailers to more easily track retailers and ensure compliance with regulations. PMID:27801793
Executive summary

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ayon, Juan A.

1992-01-01

The Astrotech 21 Optical Systems Technology Workshop was held in Pasadena, California on March 6-8, 1991. The purpose of the workshop was to examine the state of Optical Systems Technology at the National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA), and in industry and academia, in view of the potential Astrophysics mission set currently being considered for the late 1990's through the first quarter of the 21st century. The principal result of the workshop is this publication, which contains an assessment of the current state of the technology, and specific technology advances in six critical areas of optics, all necessary for the mission set. The workshop was divided into six panels, each of about a dozen experts in specific fields, representing NASA, industry, and academia. In addition, each panel contained expertise that spanned the spectrum from x-ray to submillimeter wavelengths. This executive summary contains the principal recommendations of each panel. The six technology panels and their chairs were: (1) Wavefront Sensing, Control, and Pointing, Thomas Pitts, Itek Optical Systems, A Division of Litton; (2) Fabrication, Roger Angel, Steward Observatory, University of Arizona; (3) Materials and Structures, Theodore Saito, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; (4) Optical Testing, James Wyant, WYKO Corporation; (5) Optical Systems Integrated Modeling, Robert R. Shannon, Optical Sciences Center, University of Arizona; and (6) Advanced Optical Instruments Technology, Michael Shao, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology. This Executive Summary contains the principal recommendations of each panel.
Risk factors of treatment failure and 30-day mortality in patients with bacteremia due to MRSA with reduced vancomycin susceptibility.

PubMed

Yang, Chien-Chang; Sy, Cheng-Len; Huang, Yhu-Chering; Shie, Shian-Sen; Shu, Jwu-Ching; Hsieh, Pang-Hsin; Hsiao, Ching-Hsi; Chen, Chih-Jung

2018-05-18

Bacteremia caused by MRSA with reduced vancomycin susceptibility (MRSA-RVS) frequently resulted in treatment failure and mortality. The relation of bacterial factors and unfavorable outcomes remains controversial. We retrospectively reviewed clinical data of patients with bacteremia caused by MRSA with vancomycin MIC = 2 mg/L from 2009 to 2012. The significance of bacterial genotypes, agr function and heterogeneous vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (hIVSA) phenotype in predicting outcomes were determined after clinical covariates adjustment with multivariate analysis. A total of 147 patients with mean age of 63.5 (±18.1) years were included. Seventy-nine (53.7%) patients failed treatment. Forty-seven (31.9%) patients died within 30 days of onset of MRSA bacteremia. The Charlson index, Pitt bacteremia score and definitive antibiotic regimen were independent factors significantly associated with either treatment failure or mortality. The hVISA phenotype was a potential risk factor predicting treatment failure (adjusted odds ratio 2.420, 95% confidence interval 0.946-6.191, P = 0.0652). No bacterial factors were significantly associated with 30-day mortality. In conclusion, the comorbidities, disease severity and antibiotic regimen remained the most relevant factors predicting treatment failure and 30-day mortality in patients with MRSA-RVS bacteremia. hIVSA phenotype was the only bacterial factor potentially associated with unfavorable outcome in this cohort.
CR extension from hypersurfaces of higher type

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baracco, Luca

2007-07-01

We prove extension of CR functions from a hypersurface M of in presence of the so-called sector property. If M has finite type in the Bloom-Graham sense, then our result is already contained in [C. Rea, Prolongement holomorphe des fonctions CR, conditions suffisantes, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris 297 (1983) 163-166] by Rea. We think however, that the argument of our proof carries an expressive geometric meaning and deserves interest on its own right. Also, our method applies in some case to hypersurfaces of infinite type; note that for these, the classical methods fail. CR extension is treated by many authors mainly in two frames: extension in directions of iterated of commutators of CR vector fields (cf., for instance, [A. Boggess, J. Pitts, CR extension near a point of higher type, Duke Math. J. 52 (1) (1985) 67-102; A. Boggess, J.C. Polking, Holomorphic extension of CR functions, Duke Math. J. 49 (1982) 757-784. ; M.S. Baouendi, L. Rothschild, Normal forms for generic manifolds and holomorphic extension of CR functions, J. Differential Geom. 25 (1987) 431-467. ]); extension through minimality towards unprecised directions [A.E. Tumanov, Extension of CR-functions into a wedge, Mat. Sb. 181 (7) (1990) 951-964. ; A.E. Tumanov, Analytic discs and the extendibility of CR functions, in: Integral Geometry, Radon Transforms and Complex Analysis, Venice, 1996, in: Lecture Notes in Math., vol. 1684, Springer, Berlin, 1998, pp. 123-141].
Effect of light-emitting diode vs. fluorescent lighting on laying hens in aviary hen houses: Part 1 - Operational characteristics of lights and production traits of hens.

PubMed

Long, H; Zhao, Y; Wang, T; Ning, Z; Xin, H

2016-01-01

Light-emitting diode (LED) lights are becoming more affordable for agricultural applications. Despite many lab-scale studies concerning impact of LED on poultry, little research has been documented under field production conditions, especially for laying hens. This 15-month field study was carried out to evaluate the effects of LED vs. fluorescent (FL) lights on laying hens (Dekalb white breed) using 4 (2 pairs) aviary hen houses each at a nominal capacity of 50,000 hens. The evaluation was done regarding operational characteristics of the lights and hen production traits. The results show that spatial distribution of the LED light was less uniform than that of the FL light. Light intensity of the LED light decreased by 27% after 3,360 h use but remained quite steady from 3,360 to 5,760 h use. Eleven out of 762 (1.44%) LED lamps (new at onset of the study) in the 2 houses failed during the 15-month experiment period. The neck area of the LED lamp was hottest, presumably the primary reason for the lamp failure as cracks were noticed in the neck region of all failed LED lamps. No differences were observed in egg weight, hen-day egg production, feed use, and mortality rate between LED and FL regimens. However, hens under the FL had higher eggs per hen housed and better feed conversion than those under the LED during 20 to 70 wk production (P < 0.05). Hens under the LED tended to have less feather uniformity and insulation than those under the FL (P < 0.05). Moreover, hens under the LED showed a larger median avoidance distance than those under the FL at 36 wk age (P < 0.05), indicating that hens under the LED were more alert; but no difference at 60 wk age. More comparative research to quantify behavioral and production responses of different breeds of hens to LED vs. FL lighting seems warranted. © 2015 Poultry Science Association Inc.

Analysis of Light Emitting Diode Technology for Aerospace Suitability in Human Space Flight Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Treichel, Todd H.

Commercial space designers are required to manage space flight designs in accordance with parts selections made from qualified parts listings approved by Department of Defense and NASA agencies for reliability and safety. The research problem was a government and private aerospace industry problem involving how LEDs cannot replace existing fluorescent lighting in manned space flight vehicles until such technology meets DOD and NASA requirements for reliability and safety, and effects on astronaut cognition and health. The purpose of this quantitative experimental study was to determine to what extent commercial LEDs can suitably meet NASA requirements for manufacturer reliability, color reliability, robustness to environmental test requirements, and degradation effects from operational power, while providing comfortable ambient light free of eyestrain to astronauts in lieu of current fluorescent lighting. A fractional factorial experiment tested white and blue LEDs for NASA required space flight environmental stress testing and applied operating current. The second phase of the study used a randomized block design, to test human factor effects of LEDs and a qualified ISS fluorescent for retinal fatigue and eye strain. Eighteen human subjects were recruited from university student members of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Findings for Phase 1 testing showed that commercial LEDs met all DOD and NASA requirements for manufacturer reliability, color reliability, robustness to environmental requirements, and degradation effects from operational power. Findings showed statistical significance for LED color and operational power variables but degraded light output levels did not fall below the industry recognized <70%. Findings from Phase 2 human factors testing showed no statistically significant evidence that the NASA approved ISS fluorescent lights or blue or white LEDs caused fatigue, eye strain and/or headache, when study participants perform detailed tasks of reading and assembling mechanical parts for an extended period of two uninterrupted hours. However, human subjects self-reported that blue LEDs provided the most white light and the favored light source over the white LED and the ISS fluorescent as a sole artificial light source for space travel. According to NASA standards, findings from this study indicate that LEDs meet criteria for the NASA TRL 7 rating, as study findings showed that commercial LED manufacturers passed the rigorous testing standards of suitability for space flight environments and human factor effects. Recommendations for future research include further testing for space flight using the basis of this study for replication, but reduce study limitations by 1) testing human subjects exposure to LEDs in a simulated space capsule environment over several days, and 2) installing and testing LEDs in space modules being tested for human spaceflight.
A review of passive thermal management of LED module

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huaiyu, Ye; Koh, Sau; van Zeijl, Henk; Gielen, A. W. J.; Guoqi, Zhang

2011-01-01

Recently, the high-brightness LEDs have begun to be designed for illumination application. The increased electrical currents used to drive LEDs lead to thermal issues. Thermal management for LED module is a key design parameter as high operation temperature directly affects their maximum light output, quality, reliability and life time. In this review, only passive thermal solutions used on LED module will be studied. Moreover, new thermal interface materials and passive thermal solutions applied on electronic equipments are discussed which have high potential to enhance the thermal performance of LED Module.
Analysis of condition for uniform lighting generated by array of light emitting diodes with large view angle.

PubMed

Qin, Zong; Wang, Kai; Chen, Fei; Luo, Xiaobing; Liu, Sheng

2010-08-02

In this research, the condition for uniform lighting generated by array of LEDs with large view angle was studied. The luminous intensity distribution of LED is not monotone decreasing with view angle. A LED with freeform lens was designed as an example for analysis. In a system based on LEDs designed in house with a thickness of 20mm and rectangular arrangement, the condition for uniform lighting was derived and the analytical results demonstrated that the uniformity was not decreasing monotonously with the increasing of LED-to-LED spacing. The illuminance uniformities were calculated with Monte Carlo ray tracing simulations and the uniformity was found to increase with the increasing of certain LED-to-LED spacings anomalously. Another type of large view angle LED and different arrangements were discussed in addition. Both analysis and simulation results showed that the method is available for LED array lighting system design on the basis of large view angle LED..
Peer-led versus teacher-led AIDS education for female high-school students in Yazd, Islamic Republic of Iran.

PubMed

Baghianimoghadam, M H; Forghani, H; Zolghadr, R; Rahaei, Z; Khani, P

2012-04-01

Peer-led programmes on AIDS prevention have shown a good level of effectiveness when tested among high-risk populations. This study compared peer-led and teacher-led methods of education about HIV/AIDS among female high-school students in Yazd city, Islamic Republic of Iran. In 2009 students in 3 high schools were trained by their classmates (peer-led), by the research team (teacher-led) or had no education (controls); 180 students completed a specially designed questionnaire based on the health belief model, before and after the intervention. Post-intervention mean knowledge scores increased 2-fold in the peer-led group, and this was significantly higher than the increase in the teacher-led group scores (1.5-fold). Control group scores were unchanged. In the peer-led programme all of the components of the model were significantly improved whereas in the teacher-led programme, only perceived severity and perceived barriers scored significantly higher after the intervention.
A Simple Photometer to Study Skylight

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McIntosh Gordon

2006-01-01

A simple photometer constructed from an LED and an op amp can be used to measure light in a number of physical situations. A variety of LEDs exist to investigate different wavelength ranges. Combined with an inexpensive transit, the LED photometer can be used to carry out skylight studies and atmospheric optical depth measurements. The activities…
Engaging Students in Learning: Findings from a Study of Project-Led Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fernandes, Sandra; Mesquita, Diana; Flores, Maria Assunção; Lima, Rui M.

2014-01-01

This paper reports on findings from a three-year study of project-based learning implemented in the first year of the Industrial Engineering and Management programme, at the University of Minho, Portugal. This particular model was inspired on project-led education (PLE), following Powell and Weenk's [2003. "Project-Led Engineering…
Teacher Perceptions and Benefits of Student-Led Conferencing in Southern and Central Illinois Elementary Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

West, Kelly L.

2017-01-01

Student-led conferences are an alternative method of reporting progress to parents. This qualitative phenomenological research study was conducted in order to examine elementary teachers' perceptions of student-led conferences in comparison to traditional parent-teacher conferences in Central and Southern Illinois. Additionally, the study examined…
Effect of LED light stimulation on sleep latency in night shift people

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Jih-Huah; Chang, Yang-Chyuan; Chiu, Hui-Ling; Fang, Wei; Shan, Yi-Chia; Chen, Ming-Jie; Chang, Yu-Ting

2014-05-01

Sleep problems are getting worse and worse in modern world. They have a severe impact on psychological and physical health, as well as social performances. From our previous study, the brainwave α rhythm, θ wave and β wave were affected by radiating the palm of the subjects with low-level laser array. In addition, from other study, the LED array stimulator (LEDAS) also has the similar effects. In the present study, LED light was used to radiate the left palm of the subjects too, and the effects were assessed with the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) and heart-rate variability (HRV) analysis. The results revealed that it doesn't have significant meaning between these two groups. However, the tendency of the sleep latency (SL) in the LED group was shorter than that in the control group. In addition, the autonomic nervous system (ANS) analysis showed that the sympathetic nervous system was getting larger in the LED group than that in the control group, and total ANS activity were mainly getting larger in the LED group. We infer that this LED stimulation could reduce SL and balance ANS activity of the night-shift people. In the future, the further study will be conducted on normal subjects.
Comparative clinical study using laser and LED-therapy for orofacial pain relief: dentin hypersensitivity and cervicogenic headache

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lizarelli, Rosane F. Z.; Pizzo, Renata C. A.; Florez, Fernando L. E.; Grecco, Clovis; Speciali, Jose G.; Bagnato, Vanderlei S.

2015-06-01

Considering several clinical situations, low intensity laser therapy has been widely applied in pain relief or analgesia mechanism. With the advent of new LED-based (light emitting diode) light sources, the need of further clinical experiments aiming to compare the effectiveness among them is paramount. The LED system therapeutic use can be denominated as LEDT - Light Emitting Diode Therapy. This study proposed two clinical evaluations of pain relief effect: to dentin hypersensitivity and to cervicogenic headache using different sources of lasers (low and high intensity) and light emitting diodes (LEDs), one emitting at the spectral band of red (630+/- 5nm) and the other one at infrared band (880+/- 5nm). Two different clinical studies were performed and presented interesting results. Considering dentin hypersensitivity, red and infrared led were so effective than the control group (high intensity laser system); by the other side, considering cervicogenic headache, control group (infrared laser) was the best treatment in comparison to red and infrared led system.
Study on method to simulate light propagation on tissue with characteristics of radial-beam LED based on Monte-Carlo method.

PubMed

Song, Sangha; Elgezua, Inko; Kobayashi, Yo; Fujie, Masakatsu G

2013-01-01

In biomedical, Monte-carlo simulation is commonly used for simulation of light diffusion in tissue. But, most of previous studies did not consider a radial beam LED as light source. Therefore, we considered characteristics of a radial beam LED and applied them on MC simulation as light source. In this paper, we consider 3 characteristics of radial beam LED. The first is an initial launch area of photons. The second is an incident angle of a photon at an initial photon launching area. The third is the refraction effect according to contact area between LED and a turbid medium. For the verification of the MC simulation, we compared simulation and experimental results. The average of the correlation coefficient between simulation and experimental results is 0.9954. Through this study, we show an effective method to simulate light diffusion on tissue with characteristics for radial beam LED based on MC simulation.
Theoretical and experimental luminous characteristics of white LEDs composed of multiphosphors and near-UV LED for lighting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uchida, Yuji; Taguchi, Tsunemasa

2003-07-01

We have performed theoretical studies on the luminous characeristics of white LED light source which composed of multi phosphors and near ultraviolet (UV) LED for general lighting. White LED source for general lighting applications requires the conditions that have high-flux, high luminous efficacy of radiation (> 100 lm/W) in addition to high color rendering index (Ra > 90) and variable color temperatures. Recently, we have proposed a novel type white LED based on multi phosphors and near UV LED system in order to high-Ra (>93). We will describe the excellent luminescence properties of white LED consisting of orange (O), yellow (Y), green (G) and blue (B) phosphor materials, and near UV LED. The color spectral contributions of individual phosphor-coated LED are theoretically analyzed using our multi LED lighting theory calculated the maximum luminous efficacy can be estimated to be approximately 300 lm/W having a high Ra of about 90 taking into account individual radiation spectrum. Illuminance distribution of white LED is in fairly good agreement with the experimental data.
Feasibility of light-emitting diode uses for annular reactor inner-coated with TiO2 or nitrogen-doped TiO2 for control of dimethyl sulfide.

PubMed

Jo, Wan-Kuen; Eun, Sung-Soo; Shin, Seung-Ho

2011-01-01

Limited environmental pollutants have only been investigated for the feasibility of light-emitting diodes (LED) uses in photocatalytic decomposition (PD). The present study investigated the applicability of LEDs for annular photocatalytic reactors by comparing PD efficiencies of dimethyl sulfide (DMS), which has not been investigated with any LED-PD system, between photocatalytic systems utilizing conventional and various LED lamps with different wavelengths. A conventional 8 W UV/TiO(2) system exhibited a higher DMS PD efficiency as compared with UV-LED/TiO(2) system. Similarly, a conventional 8 W visible-lamp/N-enhanced TiO(2) (NET) system exhibited a higher PD efficiency as compared with six visible-LED/NET systems. However, the ratios of PD efficiency to the electric power consumption were rather high for the photocatalytic systems using UV- or visible-LED lamps, except for two LED lamps (yellow- and red-LED lamps), compared to the photocatalytic systems using conventional lamps. For the photocatalytic systems using LEDs, lower flow rates and input concentrations and shorter hydraulic diameters exhibited higher DMS PD efficiencies. An Fourier-transformation infrared analysis suggested no significant absorption of byproducts on the catalyst surface. Consequently, it was suggested that LEDs can still be energy-efficiently utilized as alternative light sources for the PD of DMS, under the operational conditions used in this study. © 2011 The Authors. Photochemistry and Photobiology © 2011 The American Society of Photobiology.
Side-emitting illuminators using LED sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Feng; Van Derlofske, John F.

2003-11-01

This study investigates illuminators composed of light emitting diode (LED) array sources and side-emitting light guides to provide efficient general illumination. Specifically, new geometries are explored to increase the efficiency of current systems while maintaining desired light distribution. LED technology is already successfully applied in many illumination applications, such as traffic signals and liquid crystal display (LCD) backlighting. It provides energy-efficient, small-package, long-life, and color-adjustable illumination. However, the use of LEDs in general illumination is still in its early stages. Current side-emitting systems typically use a light guide with light sources at one end, an end-cap surface at the other end, and light releasing sidewalls. This geometry introduces efficiency loss that can be as high as 40%. The illuminators analyzed in this study use LED array sources along the longitude of a light guide to increase the system efficiency. These new geometries also provide the freedom of elongating the system without sacrificing system efficiency. In addition, alternative geometries can be used to create white light with monochromatic LED sources. As concluded by this study, the side-emitting illuminators using LED sources gives the possibility of an efficient, distribution-controllable linear lighting system.
Refrigerated display case lighting with LEDs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raghavan, Ramesh; Narendran, Nadarajah

2002-11-01

The rapid development of high brightness light emitting diodes (LEDs) has triggered many applications, especially in the area of display lighting. This paper focuses on the application of white LEDs in refrigerated display cases. The fluorescent lighting presently used in commercial refrigerators is inefficient in the application and also it provides poor lighting for merchandising. A laboratory human factors experiment was conducted to assess the preference for the different lighting systems, namely, fluorescent and LED. Two refrigerated display cases, one with the traditional fluorescent lighting system and the other with a prototype LED lighting system, were placed side-by-side in a laboratory setting. Illuminance measurements made within the two display cases showed that the lighting was more uniform with the LED system compared to the traditional fluorescent system. Sixteen human subjects participated in this study and rated their preference for the two lighting systems. The results show that human subjects strongly preferred the display case with the LED lighting. The authors of this manuscript believe a field study would be greatly beneficial to further confirm these results and to understand the relationship between preference and sales. Considering the luminous efficacy of white LEDs presently available in the marketplace, it is possible to develop a LED based lighting system for commercial refrigerators that is competitive with fluorescent lighting system in terms of energy use. The LED based lighting would provide better lighting than traditional fluorescent lighting.
2012 best practices for repositories collection, storage, retrieval, and distribution of biological materials for research international society for biological and environmental repositories.

PubMed

2012-04-01

Third Edition [Formula: see text] [Box: see text] Printed with permission from the International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER) © 2011 ISBER All Rights Reserved Editor-in-Chief Lori D. Campbell, PhD Associate Editors Fay Betsou, PhD Debra Leiolani Garcia, MPA Judith G. Giri, PhD Karen E. Pitt, PhD Rebecca S. Pugh, MS Katherine C. Sexton, MBA Amy P.N. Skubitz, PhD Stella B. Somiari, PhD Individual Contributors to the Third Edition Jonas Astrin, Susan Baker, Thomas J. Barr, Erica Benson, Mark Cada, Lori Campbell, Antonio Hugo Jose Froes Marques Campos, David Carpentieri, Omoshile Clement, Domenico Coppola, Yvonne De Souza, Paul Fearn, Kelly Feil, Debra Garcia, Judith Giri, William E. Grizzle, Kathleen Groover, Keith Harding, Edward Kaercher, Joseph Kessler, Sarah Loud, Hannah Maynor, Kevin McCluskey, Kevin Meagher, Cheryl Michels, Lisa Miranda, Judy Muller-Cohn, Rolf Muller, James O'Sullivan, Karen Pitt, Rebecca Pugh, Rivka Ravid, Katherine Sexton, Ricardo Luis A. Silva, Frank Simione, Amy Skubitz, Stella Somiari, Frans van der Horst, Gavin Welch, Andy Zaayenga 2012 Best Practices for Repositories: Collection, Storage, Retrieval and Distribution of Biological Materials for Research INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL REPOSITORIES (ISBER) INTRODUCTION T he availability of high quality biological and environmental specimens for research purposes requires the development of standardized methods for collection, long-term storage, retrieval and distribution of specimens that will enable their future use. Sharing successful strategies for accomplishing this goal is one of the driving forces for the International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER). For more information about ISBER see www.isber.org . ISBER's Best Practices for Repositories (Best Practices) reflect the collective experience of its members and has received broad input from other repository professionals. Throughout this document effective practices are presented for the management of specimen collections and repositories. The term "Best Practice" is used in cases where a level of operation is indicated that is above the basic recommended practice or more specifically designates the most effective practice. It is understood that repositories in certain locations or with particular financial constraints may not be able to adhere to each of the items designated as "Best Practices". Repositories fitting into either of these categories will need to decide how they might best adhere to these recommendations within their particular circumstances. While adherence to ISBER Best Practices is strictly on a voluntary basis, it is important to note that some aspects of specimen management are governed by national/federal, regional and local regulations. The reader should refer directly to regulations for their national/federal, regional and local requirements, as appropriate. ISBER has strived to include terminology appropriate to the various specimen types covered under these practices, but here too, the reader should take steps to ensure the appropriateness of the recommendations to their particular repository type prior to the implementation of any new approaches. Important terms within the document are italicized when first used in a section and defined in the glossary. The ISBER Best Practices are periodically reviewed and revised to reflect advances in research and technology. The third edition of the Best Practices builds on the foundation established in the first and second editions which were published in 2005 and 2008, respectively.
A qualitative study on Singaporean women's views towards breast cancer screening and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) gene testing to guide personalised screening strategies.

PubMed

Wong, Xin Yi; Chong, Kok Joon; van Til, Janine A; Wee, Hwee Lin

2017-11-21

Breast cancer is the top cancer by incidence and mortality in Singaporean women. Mammography is by far its best screening tool, but current recommended age and interval may not yield the most benefit. Recent studies have demonstrated the potential of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to improve discriminatory accuracy of breast cancer risk assessment models. This study was conducted to understand Singaporean women's views towards breast cancer screening and SNPs gene testing to guide personalised screening strategies. Focus group discussions were conducted among English-speaking women (n = 27) between 40 to 65 years old, both current and lapsed mammogram users. Women were divided into four groups based on age and mammogram usage. Discussions about breast cancer and screening experience, as well as perception and attitude towards SNPs gene testing were conducted by an experienced moderator. Women were also asked for factors that will influence their uptake of the test. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis to captured similarities and differences in views expressed. Barriers to repeat mammogram attendance include laziness to make appointment and painful and uncomfortable screening process. However, the underlying reason may be low perceived susceptibility to breast cancer. Facilitators to repeat mammogram attendance include ease of making appointment and timely reminders. Women were generally receptive towards SNPs gene testing, but required information on accuracy, cost, invasiveness, and side effects before they decide whether to go for it. Other factors include waiting time for results and frequency interval. On average, women gave a rating of 7.5 (range 5 to 10) when asked how likely they will go for the test. Addressing concerns such as pain and discomfort during mammogram, providing timely reminders and debunking breast cancer myths can help to improve screening uptake. Women demonstrated a spectrum of responses towards a novel test like SNPs gene testing, but need more information to make an informed decision. Future public health education on predictive genetic testing should adequately address both benefits and risks. Findings from this study is used to inform a discrete choice experiment to empirically quantify women preferences and willingness-to-pay for SNPs gene testing.
Medical Students' Learning from Patient-Led Teaching: Experiential versus Biomedical Knowledge

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Henriksen, Ann-Helen; Ringsted, Charlotte

2014-01-01

The aim of this study was to explore how medical students perceive the experience of learning from patient instructors (patients with rheumatism who teach health professionals and students) in the context of coupled faculty-led and patient-led teaching session. This was an explorative study with a qualitative approach based on focus group…
Argumentation as a Lens to Examine Student Discourse in Peer-Led Guided Inquiry for College General Chemistry

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kulatunga, Ushiri Kumarihamy

2013-01-01

This dissertation work entails three related studies on the investigation of Peer-Led Guided Inquiry student discourse in a General Chemistry I course through argumentation. The first study, "Argumentation and participation patterns in general chemistry peer-led sessions," is focused on examining arguments and participation patterns in…
Evaluation of LED vehicular and pedestrian modules.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-04-01

This study was conducted to verify the compliance of vehicular and pedestrian LED traffic signal modules with the Institute : of Transportation Engineers specifications; and to assess drivers preferences of the LED modules. Four vehicular modules ...
Validation of thermal effects of LED package by using Elmer finite element simulation method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leng, Lai Siang; Retnasamy, Vithyacharan; Mohamad Shahimin, Mukhzeer; Sauli, Zaliman; Taniselass, Steven; Bin Ab Aziz, Muhamad Hafiz; Vairavan, Rajendaran; Kirtsaeng, Supap

2017-02-01

The overall performance of the Light-emitting diode, LED package is critically affected by the heat attribution. In this study, open source software - Elmer FEM has been utilized to study the thermal analysis of the LED package. In order to perform a complete simulation study, both Salome software and ParaView software were introduced as Pre and Postprocessor. The thermal effect of the LED package was evaluated by this software. The result has been validated with commercially licensed software based on previous work. The percentage difference from both simulation results is less than 5% which is tolerable and comparable.

Modular design of the LED vehicle projector headlamp system.

PubMed

Hsieh, Chi-Chang; Li, Yan-Huei; Hung, Chih-Ching

2013-07-20

A well designed headlamp for a vehicle lighting system is very important as it provides drivers with safe and comfortable driving conditions at night or in dark places. With the advances of the semiconductor technology, the LED has become the fourth generation lighting source in the auto industry. In this study, we will propose a LED vehicle projector headlamp system. This headlamp system contains several LED headlamp modules, and every module of it includes four components: focused LEDs, asymmetric metal-based plates, freeform surfaces, and condenser lenses. By optimizing the number of LED headlamp modules, the proposed LED vehicle projector headlamp system has only five LED headlamp modules. It not only provides the low-beam cutoff without a shield, but also meets the requirements of the ECE R112 regulation. Finally, a prototype of the LED vehicle projector headlamp system was assembled and fabricated to create the correct light pattern.
Effects of LED or laser phototherapy on bone defects grafted with MTA and irradiated with laser or LED light: a comparative Raman spectroscopic study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pinheiro, Antonio L. B.; Soares, Luiz G. P.; Barbosa, Artur Felipe S.; Silveira, Landulfo, Jr.

2012-03-01

We studied peaks of calcium hydroxyapatite - CHA on defects grafted with MTA, treated or not with Light Emitting Diode - LED or IR Laser. 54 rats were divided in 6 groups each subdivided into 3 subgroups (15,21,30d). LED (λ850 +/- 10nm) or IR Laser (λ850 nm) was applied over (LED) or in 4 points around the defect at 48 h intervals for 15 days. Raman readings were taken at the surface of the defect. The smaller overall intensity of the peak was found in Group MTA + Laser (1510.2 +/- 274.1) and the highest on Group LED (2322 +/- 715). There were no statistically significant differences between non-irradiated subjects on regards the CHA peaks. On the other hand, there were statistically significant differences between the Group Clot and LED, Clot and Laser, and Clot and MTA + Laser (p =0.01, p = 0.02, p = 0.003). There were no significant differences between Group MTA and MTA + LED (p=0.2) but significant differences were seen between Groups MTA and MTA + Laser (p=0.01). Significant differences were also observed between Groups LED and Laser (p <0.001) and between Groups MTA + LED and MTA + Laser (p=0.009). MTA, due to its characteristics, seemed to be directly affected by the light. However, the use of either phototherapy positively affected bone healing similarly as observed on different studies using other biomaterials. The overall analysis of our results indicated that the use of either light source resulted in a better, more advanced, and of quality bone repair.
Light-Emitting Diode (LED) Traps Improve the Light-Trapping of Anopheline Mosquitoes.

PubMed

Costa-Neta, B M; da Silva, A A; Brito, J M; Moraes, J L P; Rebêlo, J M M; Silva, F S

2017-11-07

Numerous advantages over the standard incandescent lamp favor the use of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as an alternative and inexpensive light source for sampling medically important insects in surveillance studies. Previously published studies examined the response of mosquitoes to different wavelengths, but data on anopheline mosquito LED attraction are limited. Center for Disease Control and Prevention-type light traps were modified by replacing the standard incandescent lamp with 5-mm LEDs, one emitting at 520 nm (green) and the other at 470 nm (blue). To test the influence of moon luminosity on LED catches, the experiments were conducted during the four lunar phases during each month of the study period. A total of 1,845 specimens representing eight anopheline species were collected. Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) evansae (35.2%) was the most frequently collected, followed by An. (Nys.) triannulatus (21.9%), An. (Nys.) goeldii (12.9%), and An. (Nys.) argyritarsis (11.5%). The green LED was the most attractive light source, accounting for 43.3% of the individuals collected, followed by the blue (31.8%) and control (24.9%) lights. The LED traps were significantly more attractive than the control, independent of the lunar phase. Light trapping of anopheline mosquitoes was more efficient when the standard incandescent lamp was replaced with LEDs, regardless of the moon phase. The efficiency of LEDs improves light trapping results, and it is suggested that the use of LEDs as an attractant for anopheline mosquitoes should be taken into consideration when sampling anopheline mosquitoes. © The Authors 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.
Comparative effectiveness of flomoxef versus carbapenems in the treatment of bacteraemia due to extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae with emphasis on minimum inhibitory concentration of flomoxef: a retrospective study.

PubMed

Lee, Chen-Hsiang; Su, Lin-Hui; Chen, Fang-Ju; Tang, Ya-Feng; Li, Chia-Chin; Chien, Chun-Chih; Liu, Jien-Wei

2015-12-01

This study compared treatment outcomes of adult patients with bacteraemia due to extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-EK) receiving flomoxef versus those receiving a carbapenem as definitive therapy. In propensity score matching (PSM) analysis, case patients receiving flomoxef shown to be active in vitro against ESBL-EK were matched with controls who received a carbapenem. The primary endpoint was 30-day crude mortality. The flomoxef group had statistically significantly higher sepsis-related mortality (27.3% vs. 10.5%) and 30-day mortality (28.8% vs. 12.8%) than the carbapenem group. Of the bacteraemic episodes caused by isolates with a MICflomoxef of ≤1 mg/L, sepsis-related mortality rates were similar between the two treatment groups (8.7% vs. 6.4%; P=0.73). The sepsis-related mortality rate of the flomoxef group increased to 29.6% and 50.0% of episodes caused by isolates with a MICflomoxef of 2-4 mg/L and 8 mg/L, respectively, which was significantly higher than the carbapenem group (12.3%). In the PSM analysis of 86 case-control pairs infected with strains with a MICflomoxef of 2-8 mg/L, case patients had a significantly higher 30-day mortality rate (38.4% vs. 18.6%). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that flomoxef therapy for isolates with a MICflomoxef of 2-8 mg/L, concurrent pneumonia or urosepsis, and a Pitt bacteraemia score ≥4 were independently associated with 30-day mortality. Definitive flomoxef therapy appears to be inferior to carbapenems in treating ESBL-EK bacteraemia, particularly for isolates with a MICflomoxef of 2-8 mg/L, even though the currently suggested MIC breakpoint of flomoxef is ≤8 mg/L. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. and the International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.
Digital photogrammetry and histomorphometric assessment of the effect of non-coherent light (light-emitting diode) therapy (λ640 ± 20 nm) on the repair of third-degree burns in rats.

PubMed

Neves, Silvana Maria Véras; Nicolau, Renata Amadei; Filho, Antônio Luiz Martins Maia; Mendes, Lianna Martha Soares; Veloso, Ana Maria

2014-01-01

Recent studies have demonstrated the efficacy of coherent light therapy from the red region of the electromagnetic spectrum on the tissue-healing process. This study analysed the effect of non-coherent light therapy (light-emitting diode-LED) with or without silver sulfadiazine (sulpha) on the healing process of third-degree burns. In this study, 72 rats with third-degree burns were randomly divided into six groups (n = 12): Gr1 (control), Gr2 (non-contact LED), Gr3 (contact LED), Gr4 (sulfadiazine), Gr5 (sulfadiazine + non-contact LED) and Gr6 (sulfadiazine + contact LED). The groups treated with LED therapy received treatment every 48 h (λ = 640 ± 20 nm, 110 mW, 16 J/cm(2); 41 s with contact and 680 s without contact). The digital photometric and histomorphometric analyses were conducted after the burn occurred. The combination of sulpha and LED (contact or non-contact) improved the healing of burn wounds. These results demonstrate that the combination of silver sulfadiazine with LED therapy (λ = 640 ± 20 nm, 4 J/cm(2), without contact) improves healing of third-degree burn wounds, significantly reduces the lesion area and increases the granulation tissue, increases the number of fibroblasts, promotes collagen synthesis and prevents burn infections by accelerating recovery.
Improved light extraction efficiency of GaN-based flip-chip light-emitting diodes with an antireflective interface layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Dongxue; Ma, Ping; Liu, Boting; Zhang, Shuo; Wang, Junxi; Li, Jinmin

2016-05-01

GaN-based flip-chip light-emitting diodes (FC-LEDs) grown on nanopatterned sapphire substrates (NPSS) are fabricated using self-assembled SiO2 nanospheres as masks during inductively coupled plasma etching. By controlling the pattern spacing, epitaxial GaN can be grown from the top or bottom of patterns to obtain two different GaN/substrate interfaces. The optoelectronic characteristics of FC-LED chips with different GaN/sapphire interfaces are studied. The FC-LED with an antireflective interface layer consisting of a NPSS with GaN in the pattern spacings demonstrates better optical properties than the FC-LED with an interface embedded with air voids. Our study indicates that the two types of FC-LEDs grown on NPSS show higher crystal quality and improved electrical and optical characteristics compared with those of FC-LEDs grown on conventional planar sapphire substrates.
Visual ergonomic evaluations on four different designs of LED traffic signs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Yi-Chun; Huang, Ting-Yuan; Lee, Tsung-Xian; Sun, Ching-Cherng

2017-08-01

To investigate the legibility and visual comfort of LED traffic signs, an ergonomic experiment is performed on four custom-designed LED traffic signs, including three self-luminous ones as LED lightbox, LED backlight and regional LED backlight, and one non-self-luminous sign with external LED lighting. The four signs are hanged side-by-side and evaluated by observers through questionnaires. The signage dimension is one-sixth of the real freeway traffic signs, and the observation distance is 25 m. The luminance of three self-luminous signs is 216 cd/m2. The illuminance of external LED lighting is 400 lux on the traffic sign. The ambient illuminance is 2.8 and 6.0 lux in two rounds. The results show that self-luminous traffic signs provide superior legibility, visual comfort and user preference than the non-self-luminous one. Among the three self-luminous signs, regional LED backlight is most susceptible to the ambient illumination. LED lightbox has significantly better preference score than LED backlight under darker ambient lighting. Only LED lightbox has significantly better visual comfort than external LED lighting in the brighter environment. Based on the four LED traffic signs evaluated in this study, we suggest LED lightbox as the prior choice. Further investigations on the effect of ambient illumination and other designs of self-luminous traffic signs are in progress.
Parent, Student, and Teacher Perceptions of Student-Led Conferences and Strategies to Host Effective Student-Led Conferences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jackson, Sharon M.

2012-01-01

This is a mixed-methods case study designed to examine the perceptions parents, students and teachers have about student-led conferences with the purpose of informing practices at the researcher's school as well as sharing strategies used to host effective student-led conferences. Parents and students were interviewed and surveyed. Teachers were…
Comparative experimental and simulation studies of high-power AlGaN-based 353 nm ultraviolet flip-chip and top-emitting LEDs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Mengling; Zhou, Shengjun; Liu, Xingtong; Gao, Yilin; Ding, Xinghuo

2018-03-01

Experimental and simulation studies of high-power AlGaN-based 353 nm ultraviolet (UV) flip-chip (FC) and top-emitting (TE) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are performed here. To improve the optical and electrical properties of ultraviolet LEDs, we fabricate high-power FC-UV LEDs with Ta2O5/SiO2 distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs) and a strip-shaped SiO2 current blocking layer (CBL). The reflectance of fourteen pairs of Ta2O5/SiO2 DBRs is 96.4% at 353 nm. The strip-shaped SiO2 CBL underneath the strip-shaped p-electrode can prevent the current concentrating in regions immediately adjacent to the p-electrode where the overlying opaque p-electrode metal layer absorbs the emitted UV light. Moreover, two-level metallization electrodes are used to improve current spreading. Our numerical results show that FC-UV LED has a more favorable current spreading uniformity than TE-UV LED. The light output power of 353 nm FC-UV LED was 23.22 mW at 350 mA, which is 24.7% higher than that of TE-UV LED.
How nurse-led practices perceive implementation of the patient-centered medical home.

PubMed

Frasso, Rosemary; Golinkoff, A; Klusaritz, Heather; Kellom, Katherine; Kollar-McArthur, Helen; Miller-Day, Michelle; Gabbay, Robert; Cronholm, Peter F

2017-04-01

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) promotes the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model as a way to improve healthcare quality, the patient experience, and has identified nurse-led primary care as a mechanism meeting the increasing demand for quality primary care. The purpose of this study was to investigate the implementation of a PCMH model in nurse-led primary care practices and to identify facilitators and barriers to the implementation of this model. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with providers and staff in nurse-led practices. These data suggest two categories of processes that facilitate the integration of PCMH in the nurse-led practice setting: patient-oriented facilitators and organizational facilitators. In addition, a number of barriers were identified to implementing the PCMH model. Overall, these practices creatively engaged in the transformation process by structuring themselves as a complex adaptive system and building upon the core principles of nurse-led care. Since the core principles of nurse-led care map onto many of the same principles of the PCMH model, this study discusses the possibility that nurse-led practices may experience fewer barriers when transitioning into PCMHs. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Assessment of the use of LED phototherapy on bone defects grafted with hydroxyapatite on rats with iron-deficiency anemia and nonanemic: a Raman spectroscopy analysis.

PubMed

de Castro, Isabele Cardoso Vieira; Rosa, Cristiane Becher; Dos Reis Júnior, João Alves; Moreira, Luiz Gaudêncio Passos; Aragão, Juliana S; Barbosa, Artur Felipe dos Santos; Silveira, Landulfo; Pinheiro, Antonio L B

2014-09-01

This study aimed to assess bone repair in defects grafted or not with hydroxyapatite (HA) on healthy and iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) rats submitted or not to LED phototherapy (LED-PT) by Raman spectroscopy. The animals were divided in eight groups with five rats each: Clot; Clot + LED; IDA + Clot; IDA + LED; Graft; Graft + LED; IDA + Graft; and IDA + Graft + LED. When appropriated, irradiation with IR LED (λ850 ± 10 nm, 150 mW, CW, Φ = 0.5 cm(2), 16 J/cm(2), 15 days) was carried out. Raman shifts: ∼ 960 [symmetric PO4 stretching (phosphate apatite)], ∼ 1,070 [symmetric CO3 stretching (B-type carbonate apatite)], and ∼ 1,454 cm(-1) [CH2/CH3 bending in organics (protein)] were analyzed. The mean peak values for ∼ 960, ∼ 1,070, and ∼ 1,454 cm(-1) were nonsignificantly different on healthy or anemic rats. The group IDA + Graft + LED showed the lowest mean values for the peak ∼ 960 cm(-1) when compared with the irradiated IDA group or not (p ≤ 0.001; p ≤ 0.001). The association of LED-PT and HA-graft showed lowest mean peak at ∼ 1,454 cm(-1) for the IDA rats. The results of this study indicated higher HA peaks as well as a decrease in the level of organic components on healthy animals when graft and LED phototherapy are associated. In the other hand, IDA condition interfered in the graft incorporation to the bone as LED phototherapy only improved bone repair when graft was not used.
Preliminary studies on LED-activated pyropheophorbide-α methyl ester killing cisplatin-resistant ovarian carcinoma cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tan, Yong; Xu, Chuan Shan; Xia, Xin Shu; Yu, He Ping; Bai, Ding Qun; He, Yong; Xu, Jing; Wang, Ping; Wang, Xin Na; Leung, Albert Wing Nang

2009-05-01

In the present study, a novel LED source was applied for activating pyropheophorbids-a methyl ester (MPPa) in cisplatin-resistant ovarian cell line COC1/DDP cells. MPPa concentration was 2 μM and light energy from 0.125-8 J/cm2. Cytotoxicity was investigated 24 h using MTT reduction assay and light microscopy after treatment. Cellular ultrastructure was observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nuclear chromatin by fluorescent microscope with Hoechst33258 staining. MTT reduction assay showed that the cytotoxicity of LED-activated MPPa in the COC1/DDP cells increased along with the light dose of LED source and LED-activated MPPa resulted in light-dependent cytotoxicity. The observations from light microscopy reinforced the above results. TEM showed that necrotic cells with the disruption of karyotheca, karyorrhexis, and karyolysis of nucleus and apoptotic cells, especially the apoptotic body, can be seen post LED-activated MPPa. Hoechst33258 staining showed that condensation of chromatin and nuclear fragmentations could be found in many treated cells and some of them formed the structure of apoptotic bodies when COC1/DDP cells were exposed to 2 μM MPPa for 20 h and then 1 J/cm2 irradiation of LED source. The findings demonstrated that the novel LED source could efficiently activated MPPa and LED-activated MPPa could significantly kill cisplatin-resistant ovarian cell line COC1/DDP cells through two major pathways including necrosis and apoptosis, suggesting that LED is a novel and efficient light source and LED-activated MPPa might be potential therapeutic modality for treating cisplatin-resistant ovarian carcinoma.
Life of LED-Based White Light Sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Narendran, Nadarajah; Gu, Yimin

2005-09-01

Even though light-emitting diodes (LEDs) may have a very long life, poorly designed LED lighting systems can experience a short life. Because heat at the p-n-junction is one of the main factors that affect the life of the LED, by knowing the relationship between life and heat, LED system manufacturers can design and build long-lasting systems. In this study, several white LEDs from the same manufacturer were subjected to life tests at different ambient temperatures. The exponential decay of light output as a function of time provided a convenient method to rapidly estimate life by data extrapolation. The life of these LEDs decreases in an exponential manner with increasing temperature. In a second experiment,several high-power white LEDs from different manufacturers were life-tested under similar conditions. Results show that the different products have significantly different life values.
Effects of Light-Emitting Diode Irradiation on Growth Characteristics and Regulation of Porphyrin Biosynthesis in Rice Seedlings.

PubMed

Tran, Lien Hong; Jung, Sunyo

2017-03-16

We examined the effects of light quality on growth characteristics and porphyrin biosynthesis of rice seedlings grown under different wavelengths from light emitting diodes (LEDs). After 10 days of exposure to various wavelengths of LEDs, leaf area and shoot biomass were greater in seedlings grown under white and blue LEDs than those of green and red LEDs. Both green and red LED treatments drastically decreased levels of protoporphyrin IX (Proto IX) and Mg-porphyrins compared to those of white LED, while levels of Mg-Proto IX monomethyl ester and protochlorophyllide under blue LED were decreased by 21% and 49%, respectively. Transcript levels of PPO1 were greatly upregulated in seedlings grown under red LED compared to white LED, whereas transcript levels of HO2 and CHLD were upregulated under blue LED. Overall, most porphyrin biosynthetic genes in the Fe-porphyrin branch remained almost constant or upregulated, while most genes in the Mg-porphyrin branch were downregulated. Expression levels of nuclear-encoded photosynthetic genes Lhcb and RbcS noticeably decreased after exposure to blue and red LEDs, compared to white LED. Our study suggests that specific wavelengths of LED greatly influence characteristics of growth in plants partly through altering the metabolic regulation of the porphyrin biosynthetic pathway, and possibly contribute to affect retrograde signaling.
Clinical and economic outcomes of nurse-led services in the ambulatory care setting: A systematic review.

PubMed

Chan, Raymond J; Marx, Wolfgang; Bradford, Natalie; Gordon, Louisa; Bonner, Ann; Douglas, Clint; Schmalkuche, Diana; Yates, Patsy

2018-05-01

With the increasing burden of chronic and age-related diseases, and the rapidly increasing number of patients receiving ambulatory or outpatient-based care, nurse-led services have been suggested as one solution to manage increasing demand on the health system as they aim to reduce waiting times, resources, and costs while maintaining patient safety and enhancing satisfaction. The aims of this review were to assess the clinical effectiveness, economic outcomes and key implementation characteristics of nurse-led services in the ambulatory care setting. A systematic review was conducted using the standard Cochrane Collaboration methodology and was prepared in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) on The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE EBSCO, CINAHL EBSCO, and PsycINFO Ovid (from inception to April 2016). Data were extracted and appraisal undertaken. We included randomised controlled trials; quasi-randomised controlled trials; controlled and non-controlled before-and-after studies that compared the effects of nurse-led services in the ambulatory or community care setting with an alternative model of care or standard care. Twenty-five studies of 180,308 participants were included in this review. Of the 16 studies that measured and reported on health-related quality of life outcomes, the majority of studies (n = 13) reported equivocal outcomes; with three studies demonstrating superior outcomes and one demonstrating inferior outcomes in comparison with physician-led and standard care. Nurse-led care demonstrated either equivalent or better outcomes for a number of outcomes including symptom burden, self-management and behavioural outcomes, disease-specific indicators, satisfaction and perception of quality of life, and health service use. Benefits of nurse-led services remain inconclusive in terms of economic outcomes. Nurse-led care is a safe and feasible model of care for consideration across a number of ambulatory care settings. With appropriate training and support provided, nurse-led care is able to produce at least equivocal outcomes or at times better outcomes in terms of health-related quality of life compared to physician-led care or standard care for managing chronic conditions. There is a lack of high quality economic evaluations for nurse-led services, which is essential for guiding the decision making of health policy makers. Key factors such as education and qualification of the nurse; self-management support; resources available for the nurse; prescribing capabilities; and evaluation using appropriate outcome should be carefully considered for future planning of nurse-led services. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The education and medical practice of Dr. James McCune Smith (1813-1865), first black American to hold a medical degree.

PubMed Central

Morgan, Thomas M.

2003-01-01

James McCune Smith (1813-1865)--first black American to obtain a medical degree, prominent abolitionist and suffragist, compassionate physician, prolific writer, and public intellectual--has been relatively neglected by historians of medicine. No biography of Smith exists to this day, though he has been the subject of several essays. Born, in his own words, "the son of a self-emancipated bond-woman," and denied admission to colleges in the United States, his native land, Smith earned medical, master's, and baccalaureate degrees at Glasgow University in Scotland. On his return to New York City in 1837, Smith became the first black physician to publish articles in US medical journals. Smith was broadly involved in the anti-slavery and suffrage movements, contributing to and editing abolitionist newspapers and serving as an officer of many organizations for the improvement of social conditions in the black community. In his scientific writings Smith debunked the racial theories in Thomas Jefferson's Notes on the State of Virginia, refuted phrenology and homeopathy, and responded with a forceful statistical critique to the racially biased US Census of 1840. Frederick Douglass, Gerrit Smith, and John Brown personally collaborated with James McCune Smith in the fight for black freedom. As the learned physician-scholar of the abolition movement, Smith was instrumental in making the overthrow of slavery credible and successful. Images Figure 1 PMID:12911258
Bathroom Buddies: Countering your Clockwise Rotation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cooper, C. M.; Stegman, D. R.

2006-12-01

Which way does your bathtub, toilet, sink, or other favorite plumbing basin drain? Popular television shows perpetuate the fact that water spins the opposite direction in the southern hemisphere, and sometimes even explicitly point to the Coriolis effect (or Earth's rotation) as the cause. Skeptics disagree: "No way. Water doesn't obey your rules: it goes where it wants...like me, babe." [1]. Fact: Cyclones rotate clockwise in the southern hemisphere and hurricanes counter-clockwise in the northern hemisphere. But does your hemisphere also determine the direction water spirals down your toilet? In the ideal scenario of water draining out a sink (i.e. a defect-free, perfectly-leveled basin in which water has remained undisturbed for sufficient enough time to quiet any background motions or eddies) --- then yes, maybe it is possible. However, in everyday life, not even the most decadent of bathtubs provide us a large enough lengthscale to observe the Coriolis effect on the direction which water spirals towards the drain. Thus, we are left confronting the possibility that something heard on television isn't true. But is just "telling" students, friends, or strangers in bars enough to debunk this urban myth? Rather, we offer a practical demonstration involving a friend from the opposite hemisphere (if not one in existence, then find one on the internet!), a bathroom, a funnel, a bucket, some food coloring, a camera, a pitcher and some equations and scalings for extra credit and fun. 1) Simpson, B., "Bart vs. Australia", Season 6, Episode 119, 1995.
Educating Brazilian workers about AIDS.

PubMed

1991-12-01

This article contains a the script for a slide-tape presentation entitled Working Against AIDS, a presentation developed by the Brazil Family Planning Association (BEMFAM) which is designed to debunk common misconceptions about the disease. This audio-visual, which targets Brazilian workers, can be used during talks, seminars, and meetings. A discussion of the issues involved usually follows the presentation of Working Against AIDS. The presentation contains 30 illustrated slides (these are included in the article). The presentation begins by explaining that much of the information concerning AIDS is prejudicial and misleading. The next few slides point out some of the common misconceptions about AIDS, such as claims denying the existence of the disease, or suggestions that only homosexuals and prostitutes are at risk. The presentation then goes on to explain the ways in which the virus can and cannot be transmitted. Then it discusses how the virus destroys the body's natural defenses and explains the ensuing symptoms. Slides 14 and 15 point out that no cure yet exists for AIDS, making prevention essential. Slides 16-23 explain what actions are considered to be high risk and which ones do not entail risk. Noting that AIDS can be prevented, slide 24 says that the disease should not present an obstacle to spontaneous manifestations of human relations. The next slide explains that condoms should always be used when having sex with someone who could be infected with AIDS. Finally slides 26-30 demonstrate the proper way to use and dispose of a condom.
The New Pessimism about Petroleum Resources: Debunking the Hubbert Model (and Hubbert Modelers)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lynch, M. C.

2004-12-01

Recently, numerous publications have appeared warning that oil production is near an unavoidable, geologically-determined peak that could have consequences up to and including "war, starvation, economic recession, possibly even the extinction of homo sapiens" (Campbell in Ruppert 2002) The current series of alarmist articles could be said to be merely reincarnations of earlier work which proved fallacious, but the authors insist that they have made significant advances in their analyses, overcoming earlier errors. For a number of reasons, this work has been nearly impenetrable to many observers, which seems to have lent it an added cachet. However, careful examination of the data and methods, as well as extensive perusal of the writings, suggests that the opacity of the work is-at best-obscuring the inconclusive nature of their research. Some of the arguments about resource scarcity resemble those made in the 1970s. They have noted that discoveries are low (as did Wilson, 1977), and that most estimates of ultimately recoverable resources (URR) are in the range of 2 trillion barrels, approximately twice production to date. But beyond that, Campbell and Laherrere in particular claim that they have developed accurate estimates of URR, and thus, unlike earlier work, theirs is more scientific and reliable. In other words, this time the wolf is really here. But careful examination of their work reveals instead a pattern of errors and mistaken assumptions presented as conclusive research results.
A Progressive Reading, Writing, and Artistic Module to Support Scientific Literacy†

PubMed Central

Stockwell, Stephanie B.

2016-01-01

Scientific literacy, marked by the ability and willingness to engage with scientific information, is supported through a new genre of citizen science—course-based research in association with undergraduate laboratories. A three-phased progressive learning module was developed to enhance student engagement in such contexts while supporting three learning outcomes: I) present an argument based on evidence, II) analyze science and scientists within a social context, and III) experience, reflect upon, and communicate the nature of scientific discovery. Phase I entails guided reading and reflection of citizen science–themed texts. In Phase II, students write, peer-review, and edit position and counterpoint papers inspired by the following prompt, “Nonscientists should do scientific research.” Phase III involves two creative assignments intended to communicate the true nature of science. Students work collaboratively to develop public service announcement–like poster campaigns to debunk a common misconception about the nature of science or scientists. Individually, they create a work of art to communicate a specific message about the raw experience of performing scientific research. Suggestions for implementation and modifications are provided. Strengths of the module include the development of transferable skills, temporal distribution of grading demands, minimal in-class time needed for implementation, and the inclusion of artistic projects to support affective learning domains. This citizen science–themed learning module is an excellent complement to laboratory coursework, as it serves to surprise, challenge, and inspire students while promoting disciplinary values. PMID:27047600

A comprehensive comparable study of the physiological properties of four microalgal species under different light wavelength conditions.

PubMed

Zhong, Yu; Jin, Peng; Cheng, Jay J

2018-05-19

Microalgae treated with blue light have potential for production of human nutrition supplement and biofuel due to their higher biomass productivity and favorable fatty acid composition. Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorella pyrenoidosa, Scenedesmus quadricauda and Scenedesmus obliquus are representative green microalgae which are widely reported for algal production. In this study, we provide a systematic investigation of the biomass productivity, photosynthetic pigments, chlorophyll fluorescence and fatty acid content of the four green microalgae. The strains were grown in two primary monochromatic light wavelengths [red and blue LEDs (light emitting diode)], and in white LED conditions, respectively. Among them, blue LED light was determined as the best light for growth rate, followed by red LED and white LED. The chlorophyll generation was more sensitive to the monochromatic blue light. The polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) such as α-linolenic acid (18:3), which were perfect for human nutrition supplementation, showed high concentrations in these algae strains under blue LED. Collectively, the results indicate that the blue LED is suitable for various food, feed, and algal biofuel productions due to both biomass and fatty acid productivity.
Interactive effect of light colours and temporal synergism of circadian neural oscillations in reproductive regulation of Japanese quail.

PubMed

Yadav, Suneeta; Chaturvedi, Chandra Mohini

2016-09-01

Avian literature reports the modulation of 'photoperiodic gonadal responses' by the temporal phase relation of serotonergic and dopaminergic oscillations in Japanese quail. But, the modulation of 'light colour responses' by the temporal synergism of neural oscillations is not yet known. Hence the present study was designed to investigate the interaction of the light colour (blue, red) and the phase relation of neural oscillations in the reproductive regulation of Japanese quail. Three week old male Japanese quail were divided into two groups and maintained under a long day length condition (16L:8D) and were exposed to a 30 lux intensity of blue LED (light emitting diode) (B LED) and a red LED light (R LED). At the age of 15.5weeks, quail of one subgroup of B LED were injected with serotonin precursor (5-HTP) and dopamine precursor (l-DOPA) 12hrs apart (B LED+12-hr) and those of the R LED group were injected with the same drugs (5mg/100g body weight over a period of thirteen days) but 8hrs apart (R LED+8-hr). The remaining subgroups of both the light colour groups (B LED & R LED) received normal saline twice daily and served as controls. Cloacal gland volume was recorded weekly until 35.5weeks of age when the study was terminated and reproductive parameters (testicular volume, GSI, seminiferous tubule diameter and plasma testosterone) were assessed. Results indicate that the 8-hr temporal phase relation of neural oscillations suppresses reproductive activity even during the photosensitive phase of the red light exposed quail (R LED+8-hr) compare to the R LED controls. On the other hand, the 12-hr temporal phase relation stimulates the gonadal development of the B LED+12-hr quail compared to the B LED controls which after completing one cycle entered into a regressive phase and remained sexually quiescent. These experiments suggest that the temporal phase relations of circadian neural oscillations, in addition to modulating the classical photoperiodic responses, may also modulate the gonadal responses to blue (suppressive) and red (stimulatory) light. These studies led us to conclude that the temporal phase relation of serotonergic and dopaminergic oscillations is not only an important regulator of avian reproduction but may also override the classical effects of light colours in Japanese quail. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Effect of short LED lamp exposure on wear resistance, residual monomer and degree of conversion for Filtek Z250 and Tetric EvoCeram composites.

PubMed

Kopperud, Hilde M; Johnsen, Gaute F; Lamolle, Sébastien; Kleven, Inger S; Wellendorf, Hanne; Haugen, Håvard J

2013-08-01

The latest LED dental curing devices claim sufficient curing of restorative materials with short curing times. This study evaluates mechanical and chemical properties as a function of curing time of two commercial composite filling materials cured with three different LED lamps. The composites were Filtek Z250 (3M ESPE) and Tetric EvoCeram (Ivoclar Vivadent) and the LED curing devices were bluephase 16i (Ivoclar Vivadent), L.E.Demetron II (Kerr) and Mini L.E.D. (Satelec). Control samples were cured with a QTH-lamp (VCL 400, Kerr). The wear resistance after simulated tooth brushing, degree of conversion, curing depth, and amounts of residual monomers were measured after different curing times. The results of this study show that short curing time with high-intensity LEDs may influence the bulk properties of the materials, resulting in lower curing depth and increased residual monomer content. The measured surface properties of the materials, degree of conversion and wear resistance, were not affected by short curing times to the same extent. This study demonstrates that reduced exposure time with high intensity LEDs can result in composite restorations with inferior curing depth and increased leaching of monomers. Dentists are recommended to use sufficient curing times even with high intensity LEDs to ensure adequate curing and minimize the risk of monomer leaching. Copyright © 2013 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Uniformity of LED light illumination in application to direct imaging lithography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Ting-Ming; Chang, Shenq-Tsong; Tsay, Ho-Lin; Hsu, Ming-Ying; Chen, Fong-Zhi

2016-09-01

Direct imaging has widely applied in lithography for a long time because of its simplicity and easy-maintenance. Although this method has limitation of lithography resolution, it is still adopted in industries. Uniformity of UV irradiance for a designed area is an important requirement. While mercury lamps were used as the light source in the early stage, LEDs have drawn a lot of attention for consideration from several aspects. Although LED has better and better performance, arrays of LEDs are required to obtain desired irradiance because of limitation of brightness for a single LED. Several effects are considered that affect the uniformity of UV irradiance such as alignment of optics, temperature of each LED, performance of each LED due to production uniformity, and pointing of LED module. Effects of these factors are considered to study the uniformity of LED Light Illumination. Numerical analysis is performed by assuming a serious of control factors to have a better understanding of each factor.
A Novel Methodology for Measurements of an LED's Heat Dissipation Factor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jou, R.-Y.; Haung, J.-H.

2015-12-01

Heat generation is an inevitable byproduct with high-power light-emitting diode (LED) lighting. The increase in junction temperature that accompanies the heat generation sharply degrades the optical output of the LED and has a significant negative influence on the reliability and durability of the LED. For these reasons, the heat dissipation factor, Kh, is an important factor in modeling and thermal design of LED installations. In this study, a methodology is proposed and experiments are conducted to determine LED heat dissipation factors. Experiments are conducted for two different brands of LED. The average heat dissipation factor of the Edixeon LED is 0.69, and is 0.60 for the OSRAM LED. By using the developed test method and comparing the results to the calculated luminous fluxes using theoretical equations, the interdependence of optical, electrical, and thermal powers can be predicted with a reasonable accuracy. The difference between the theoretical and experimental values is less than 9 %.
Comparative study on luminescence extraction strategies of LED by large-scale fabrication of nanopillar and nanohole structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Wei; Li, Junmei; Sheikhi, Moheb; Jiang, Jie’an; Yang, Zhenhai; Li, Hongwei; Guo, Shiping; Sheng, Jiang; Sun, Jie; Bo, Baoxue; Ye, Jichun

2018-06-01

Light extraction and current injection are two important considerations in the development of high efficiency light-emitting-diodes (LEDs), but usually cannot be satisfied simultaneously in nanostructure patterned devices. In this work, we investigated near-UV LEDs with nanopillar and nanohole patterns to improve light extraction efficiency. Photoluminescence (PL) intensities were enhanced by 8.0 and 4.1 times for nanopillar and nanohole LEDs compared to that of planar LED. Nanopillar LED exhibits higher PL emission than that of the nanohole LED, attributing to a convex shape sidewall for more effective outward light scattering, and reduction of quantum-confined-stark-effect owing to strain relaxation. However, nanopillar LED exhibits lower electroluminescence intensity than the nanohole sample, which calls for further optimization in carrier distributions. Experimental results were further supported by near-field electric field simulations. This work demonstrates the difference in optical and electrical behaviors between the nanopillar and nanohole LEDs, paving the way for detailed understanding on luminescence extraction mechanisms of nanostructure patterned UV emitters.
Hybrid daylight/light-emitting diode illumination system for indoor lighting.

PubMed

Ge, Aiming; Qiu, Peng; Cai, Jinlin; Wang, Wei; Wang, Junwei

2014-03-20

A hybrid illumination method using both daylight and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for indoor lighting is presented in this study. The daylight can be introduced into the indoor space by a panel-integration system. The daylight part and LEDs are combined within a specific luminaire that can provide uniform illumination. The LEDs can be turned on and dimmed through closed-loop control when the daylight illuminance is inadequate. We simulated the illumination and calculated the indoor lighting efficiency of our hybrid daylight and LED lighting system, and compared this with that of LED and fluorescent lighting systems. Simulation results show that the efficiency of the hybrid daylight/LED illumination method is better than that of LED and traditional lighting systems, under the same lighting conditions and lighting time; the method has hybrid lighting average energy savings of T5 66.28%, and that of the LEDs is 41.62%.
High-Modulation-Speed LEDs Based on III-Nitride

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Hong

III-nitride InGaN light-emitting diodes (LEDs) enable wide range of applications in solid-state lighting, full-color displays, and high-speed visible-light communication. Conventional InGaN quantum well LEDs grown on polar c-plane substrate suffer from quantum confined Stark effect due to the large internal polarization-related fields, leading to a reduced radiative recombination rate and device efficiency, which limits the performance of InGaN LEDs in high-speed communication applications. To circumvent these negative effects, non-trivial-cavity designs such as flip-chip LEDs, metallic grating coated LEDs are proposed. This oral defense will show the works on the high-modulation-speed LEDs from basic ideas to applications. Fundamental principles such as rate equations for LEDs/laser diodes (LDs), plasmonic effects, Purcell effects will be briefly introduced. For applications, the modal properties of flip-chip LEDs are solved by implementing finite difference method in order to study the modulation response. The emission properties of highly polarized InGaN LEDs coated by metallic gratings are also investigated by finite difference time domain method.
Spectral effects of light-emitting diodes on plant growth and development: The importance of green and blue light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cope, K. R.; Bugbee, B.

2011-12-01

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are an emerging technology for plant growth lighting. Due to their narrow spectral output, colored LEDs provide many options for studying the spectral effects of light on plants. Early on, efficient red LEDs were the primary focus of photobiological research; however, subsequent studies have shown that normal plant growth and development cannot be achieved under red light without blue light supplementation. More recent studies have shown that red and blue (RB) LEDs supplemented with green light increase plant dry mass. This is because green light transmits more effectively through the leaf canopy than red and blue light, thus illuminating lower plant leaves and increasing whole-plant photosynthesis. Red, green and blue (RGB) light can be provided by either a conventional white light source (such as fluorescent lights), a combination of RGB LEDs, or from recently developed white LEDs. White LEDs exceed the efficiency of fluorescent lights and have a comparable broad spectrum. As such, they have the potential to replace fluorescent lighting for growth-chamber-based crop production both on Earth and in space. Here we report the results of studies on the effects of three white LED types (warm, neutral and cool) on plant growth and development compared to combinations of RB and RGB LEDs. Plants were grown under two constant light intensities (200 and 500 μmol m-2 s-1). Temperature, environmental conditions and root-zone environment were uniformly maintained across treatments. Phytochrome photoequilbria and red/far-red ratios were similar among treatments and were comparable to conventional fluorescent lights. Blue light had a significant effect on both plant growth (dry mass gain) and development (dry mass partitioning). An increase in the absolute amount (μmol m-2 s-1) of blue light from 0-80 μmol m-2 s-1 resulted in a decrease in stem elongation, independent of the light intensity. However, an increase in the relative amount (%) of blue light caused a decrease in specific leaf area (leaf area per unit leaf mass). As the relative amount of blue light increased, chlorophyll concentration per unit leaf area increased, but chlorophyll concentration per unit leaf mass remained constant. The relative amount of blue light increased total dry mass in some species while it remained constant in others. An increase in the fraction of green light increased dry mass in radish. Overall, white LEDs provided a more uniform spectral distribution, reduced stem elongation and leaf area, and maintained or increased dry mass as compared to RB and RGB LEDs. Cool white LEDs are more electrically efficient than the other two white LEDs and have sufficient blue light for normal plant growth and development at both high and low light intensities. Compared to sunlight, cool white LEDs are perhaps deficient in red light and may therefore benefit from supplementation with red LEDs. Future studies will be conducted to test this hypothesis. These results have significant implication for LADA growth chambers which are currently used for vegetable production on the International Space Station.
Effectiveness of nurse-led clinics on service delivery and clinical outcomes in adults with chronic ear, nose and throat complaints: a systematic review.

PubMed

Whiteford, Caroline; White, Sarahlouise; Stephenson, Matthew

2016-04-01

Ear, nose and throat complaints are very common and can cause significant disruption to patients' lives. Many conditions are of a chronic nature and are not currently managed in a timely manner by general practitioners in the community. This may be due to a lack of specialized knowledge, necessary diagnostic equipment or time for lengthy patient education on management of their condition. A nurse-led model of care may be an effective alternative. To examine the effectiveness of nurse-led clinics on adults with chronic ear, nose and throat complaints. Adult patients, aged 18 years and older, attending ear, nose and throat clinics, regardless of the complaint. Nurse-led care in general practice and acute care in which the nurse was identified as taking a lead role in the care of the patients with chronic ear, nose and throat complaints. General practitioner-led care, or ear, nose and throat consultant-led care, sometimes described as "standard care". Service delivery outcomes, clinical and health outcomes and financial outcomes. Any relevant quantitative studies published in English between 1980 and 2013 were considered. A standardized three-step search strategy aimed to find both published and unpublished studies. Databases searched include PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library (CENTRAL), Scopus, Embase, MedNar and ProQuest Theses and Dissertations. Methodological validity was assessed independently by two reviewers using standardized critical appraisal instruments from the Joanna Briggs Institute. Due to methodological heterogeneity of the included studies, no statistical pooling was possible and all results are presented narratively. The search identified 13,536 titles, of which 20 potentially relevant articles were retrieved. Of these 20, 17 were excluded following full-text review leaving three studies that were assessed for methodological quality and included in the review. Service delivery outcome findings were that patient satisfaction was equal or higher and waiting times were shorter in nurse led clinics. The other service delivery outcomes were not addressed. Clinical and health outcomes findings were that lower pain/discomfort levels were demonstrated in nurse led clinics but other clinical/health outcomes were not addressed. Financial outcomes findings were that nurse-led clinics were cost effective when compared with medical-led clinics. While all studies reported evidence of the effectiveness of nurse-led clinics in service delivery and clinical outcomes in adults with chronic ear, nose and throat complaints, most of the data was self-reported and many of the outcomes of interest were not considered. The lack of experimental trials means that the level of evidence is low and further research is needed. There was also not enough detail in the financial outcomes from which clear conclusions of the cost benefit of nurse-led clinics could be drawn. Evidence from included studies indicated higher levels of patient satisfaction, cost benefits and lower levels of pain/discomfort in nurse-led clinics, which suggests that nurse-led ear, nose and throat clinics may be considered in the management of adult patients with ear, nose and throat complaints. Currently there is little evidence examining the effectiveness of nurse-led ear, nose and throat clinics. Areas to be addressed by future research should include: levels of patient education, booking queues, levels of self-treatment change in presentation to clinic episodes, reinfection rates, prevention and cure and representation of patients at clinics for same complaint.
Thermal Analysis of LED Phosphor Layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perera, Ukwatte Lokuliyanage Indika Upendra

Solid-state lighting technology has progressed to a level where light-emitting diode (LED) products are either on par or better than their traditional lighting technology counterparts with respect to efficacy and lifetime. At present, the most common method to create "white" light from LEDs for illumination applications is by using the LED primary radiation and wavelength-converting materials. In this method, the re-emission from the wavelength-converting materials excited by the LED primary radiation is combined with the LED primary radiation to create the "white" light. During this conversion process, heat is generated as a result of conversion inefficiencies and other loss mechanisms in the LED and the wavelength-converting materials. This generated heat, if not properly dissipated, increases the operating temperature, thereby increasing the light output degradation of the system over both the short and long term. The heat generation of the LED and thermal management of the LED have been studied extensively. Methods to effectively dissipate heat from the LEDs and maintain lower LED operating temperature are well understood. However, investigation of factors driving heat generation, the resulting temperature distribution in the phosphor layer, and the influence of the phosphor layer temperature on LED performance and reliability have not received the same focus. The goal of this dissertation was to understand the main factors driving heat and light generation and the transport of light and heat in the wavelength-converting layer of an LED system. Another goal was to understand the interaction between heat and light in the system and to develop and analyze a solution to reduce the wavelength-converting layer operating temperature, thereby improving light output and reliability. Even though past studies have explored generation and transfer separately for light and heat, to the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first study that has analyzed both factors simultaneously to optimize the performance of a phosphor-converted LED system, thus contributing new knowledge to the field. In this dissertation, a theoretical model was developed that modeled both light propagation and heat transfer in the wavelength-converting layer for identifying the factors influencing heat generation. This theoretical model included temperature-dependent phosphor efficiency and light absorption in the phosphor layer geometry. Experimental studies were used to validate the developed model. The model indicated good agreement with the experimental results. The developed theoretical model was then used to model experimental studies. These experiment results were compared with the model predicted results for total radiant power output of LED systems and phosphor layer surface temperature. These comparisons illustrated the effectiveness of a dedicated heat dissipation method in reducing the operating temperature of the wavelength-converting layer, and the contribution of different heat dissipation mechanisms were quantified using the developed numerical model. In addition to these short-term studies, an experiment was conducted to validate the effectiveness of the dedicated wavelength-converting heat sink design to improve system lifetime by reducing phosphor layer operating temperature. The proposed heat sink design decreased the operating temperature of the phosphor layer by ~10°C, improving lifetime by twofold. Finally, this dissertation investigated the potential of the developed theoretical model being used as a tool for prioritizing research tasks and as a design tool during the material selection and system configuration phases.
Shifting management of a community volunteer system for improved child health outcomes: results from an operations research study in Burundi.

PubMed

Weiss, Jennifer; Makonnen, Raphael; Sula, Delphin

2015-01-01

Community-based strategies that foster frequent contact between caregivers of children under five and provide credible sources of health information are essential to improve child survival. Care Groups are a community-based implementation strategy for the delivery of social and behavior change interventions. This study assessed if supervision of Care Group activities by Ministry of Health (MOH) personnel could achieve the same child health outcomes as supervision provided by specialized non-governmental organization (NGO) staff. The study was a pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design implemented in Burundi. A total of 45 MOH-led Care Groups with 478 Care Group Volunteers (CGVs) were established in the intervention area; and 50 NGO-led Care Groups with 509 CGVs were formed in the comparison area. Data were collected from 593 and 700 mothers of children 0-23 months at baseline and endline, respectively. Pearson's chi-squared test and difference-in-difference analysis assessed changes in 40 child health and nutrition outcomes. A qualitative process evaluation was also conducted midway through the study. The MOH-led Care Group model performed at least as well as the NGO-led model in achieving specific child health and nutrition outcomes. Mothers of children 0-23 months in the intervention and comparison sites reported similar levels of knowledge and practices for 38 of 40 dependent variables measured in the study, and these results remained unchanged after accounting for differences in the indicator values at baseline. Process monitoring data confirmed that the MOH-led Care Group model and the NGO-led Care Group model were implemented with similar intervention strength. The study demonstrated that behavior change interventions traditionally led by NGOs can be implemented through the existing MOH systems and achieve similar results, thereby increasing the potential for sustainable child health outcomes. Future research on the MOH-led Care Group model is required to systematically document all inputs and monetary costs borne by the MOH to implement the model.
Aging characteristics of blue InGaN micro-light emitting diodes at an extremely high current density of 3.5 kA cm-2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tian, Pengfei; Althumali, Ahmad; Gu, Erdan; Watson, Ian M.; Dawson, Martin D.; Liu, Ran

2016-04-01

The aging characteristics of blue InGaN micro-light emitting diodes (micro-LEDs) with different sizes have been studied at an extremely high current density 3.5 kA cm-2 for emerging micro-LED applications including visible light communication (VLC), micro-LED pumped organic lasers and optogenetics. The light output power of micro-LEDs first increases and then decreases due to the competition of Mg activation in p-GaN layer and defect generation in the active region. The smaller micro-LEDs show less light output power degradation compared with larger micro-LEDs, which is attributed to the lower junction temperature of smaller micro-LEDs. It is found that the high current density without additional junction temperature cannot induce significant micro-LED degradation at room temperature but the combination of the high current density and high junction temperature leads to strong degradation. Furthermore, the cluster LEDs, composed of a micro-LED array, have been developed with both high light output power and less light output degradation for micro-LED applications in solid state lighting and VLC.
Effects of Blue Light Emitting Diode Irradiation On the Proliferation, Apoptosis and Differentiation of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

PubMed

Yuan, Ye; Yan, Gege; Gong, Rui; Zhang, Lai; Liu, Tianyi; Feng, Chao; Du, Weijie; Wang, Ying; Yang, Fan; Li, Yuan; Guo, Shuyuan; Ding, Fengzhi; Ma, Wenya; Idiiatullina, Elina; Pavlov, Valentin; Han, Zhenbo; Cai, Benzhi; Yang, Lei

2017-01-01

Blue light emitting diodes (LEDs) have been proven to affect the growth of several types of cells. The effects of blue LEDs have not been tested on bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), which are important for cell-based therapy in various medical fields. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of blue LED on the proliferation, apoptosis and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. BMSCs were irradiated with a blue LED light at 470 nm for 1 min, 5 min, 10 min, 30 min and 60 min or not irradiated. Cell proliferation was measured by performing cell counting and EdU staining assays. Cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL staining. Osteogenic differentiation was evaluated by ALP and ARS staining. DCFH-DA staining and γ-H2A.X immunostaining were used to measure intracellular levels of ROS production and DNA damage. Both cell counting and EdU staining assays showed that cell proliferation of BMSCs was significantly reduced upon blue LED irradiation. Furthermore, treatment of BMSCs with LED irradiation was followed by a remarkable increase in apoptosis, indicating that blue LED light induced toxic effects on BMSCs. Likewise, BMSC osteogenic differentiation was inhibited after exposure to blue LED irradiation. Further, blue LED irradiation was followed by the accumulation of ROS production and DNA damage. Taken together, our study demonstrated that blue LED light inhibited cell proliferation, inhibited osteogenic differentiation, and induced apoptosis in BMSCs, which are associated with increased ROS production and DNA damage. These findings may provide important insights for the application of LEDs in future BMSC-based therapies. © 2017 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.
Time dependence of composite shrinkage using halogen and LED light curing.

PubMed

Uhl, Alexander; Mills, Robin W; Rzanny, Angelika E; Jandt, Klaus D

2005-03-01

The polymerization shrinkage of light cured dental composites presents the major drawback for these aesthetically adaptable restorative materials. LED based light curing technology has recently become commercially available. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate if there was a statistically significant difference in linear and volumetric composite shrinkage strain if a LED LCU is used for the light curing process rather than a conventional halogen LCU. The volumetric shrinkage strain was determined using the Archimedes buoyancy principle after 5, 10, 20, 40 s of light curing and after 120 s following the 40 s light curing time period. The linear shrinkage strain was determined with a dynamic mechanical analyzer for the composites Z100, Spectrum, Solitaire2 and Definite polymerized with the LCUs Trilight (halogen), Freelight I (LED) and LED63 (LED LCU prototype). The changes in irradiance and spectra of the LCUs were measured after 0, 312 and 360 min of duty time. In general there was no considerable difference in shrinkage of the composites Z100, Spectrum or Solitaire2 when the LED63 was used instead of the Trilight. There was, however, a statistically significant difference in shrinkage strain when the composite Definite was polymerized with the LED63 instead of the Trilight. The spectrum of the Trilight changed during the experiment considerably whereas the LED63 showed an almost constant light output. The Freelight I dropped considerably in irradiance and had to be withdrawn from the study because of technical problems. The composites containing only the photoinitiator camphorquinone showed similar shrinkage strain behaviour when a LED or halogen LCU is used for the polymerization. The irradiance of some LED LCUs can also decrease over time and should therefore be checked on a regular basis.
Factors Associated with Lower Extremity Dysmorphia Caused by Lower Extremity Lymphoedema.

PubMed

Yamamoto, T; Yamamoto, N; Yoshimatsu, H; Narushima, M; Koshima, I

2017-07-01

Indocyanine green (ICG) lymphography has been reported to be useful for the early diagnosis of lymphoedema. However, no study has reported the usefulness of ICG lymphography for evaluation of lymphoedema with lower extremity dysmorphia (LED). This study aimed to elucidate independent factors associated with LED in secondary lower extremity lymphoedema (LEL) patients. This was a retrospective observational study of 268 legs of 134 secondary LEL patients. The medical charts were reviewed to obtain data of clinical demographics and ICG lymphography based severity stage (leg dermal backflow [LDB] stage). LED was defined as a leg with a LEL index of 250 or higher. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent factors associated with LED. LED was observed in 106 legs (39.6%). Multivariate analysis revealed that independent factors associated with LED were higher LDB stages compared with LDB stage 0 (LDB stage III; OR 17.586; 95% CI 2.055-150.482; p = .009) (LDB stage IV; OR 76.794; 95% CI 8.132-725.199; p < .001) (LDB stage V; OR 47.423; 95% CI 3.704-607.192; p = .003). On the other hand, inverse associations were observed in higher age (65 years or older; OR 0.409; 95% CI 0.190-0.881; p = .022) and higher body mass index (25 kg/m 2 or higher; OR 0.408; 95% CI 0.176-0.946; p = .037). Independent factors associated with LED were elucidated. ICG lymphography based severity stage showed the strongest association with LED, and was useful for evaluation of progressed LEL with LED. Copyright © 2017 European Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Improved InGaN LED System Efficacy and Cost via Droop Reduction

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

Wildeson, Isaac

Efficiency droop is a non-thermal process intrinsic to indium gallium nitride light emitting diodes (LEDs) in which the external quantum efficiency (EQE) decreases with increasing drive current density. Mitigating droop would allow one to reduce the size of LEDs driven at a given current or to drive LEDs of given size at higher current while maintaining high efficiencies. In other words, droop mitigation can lead to significant gains in light output per dollar and/or light output per watt of input power. This project set an EQE improvement goal at high drive current density which was to be attained by improvingmore » the LED active region design and growth process following a droop mitigation strategy. The interactions between LED active region design parameters and efficiency droop were studied by modeling and experiments. The crystal defects that tend to form in more complex LED designs intended to mitigate droop were studied with advanced characterization methods that provided insight into the structural and electronic properties of the material. This insight was applied to improve the epitaxy process both in terms of active region design and optimization of growth parameters. The final project goals were achieved on schedule and an epitaxy process leading to LEDs with EQE exceeding the project target was demonstrated.« less
Demonstration of UV LED versatility when paired with molded UV transmitting glass optics to produce unique irradiance patterns

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jasenak, Brian

2017-02-01

Ultraviolet light-emitting diode (UV LED) adoption is accelerating; they are being used in new applications such as UV curing, germicidal irradiation, nondestructive testing, and forensic analysis. In many of these applications, it is critically important to produce a uniform light distribution and consistent surface irradiance. Flat panes of fused quartz, silica, or glass are commonly used to cover and protect UV LED arrays. However, they don't offer the advantages of an optical lens design. An investigation was conducted to determine the effect of a secondary glass optic on the uniformity of the light distribution and irradiance. Glass optics capable of transmitting UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C wavelengths can improve light distribution, uniformity, and intensity. In this work, two simulation studies were created to illustrate distinct irradiance patterns desirable for potential real world applications. The first study investigates the use of a multi-UV LED array and optic to create a uniform irradiance pattern on the flat two dimensional (2D) target surface. The uniformity was improved by designing both the LED array and molded optic to produce a homogenous pattern. The second study investigated the use of an LED light source and molded optic to improve the light uniformity on the inside of a canister. The case study illustrates the requirements for careful selection of LED based on light distribution and subsequent design of optics. The optic utilizes total internal reflection to create optimized light distribution. The combination of the LED and molded optic showed significant improvement in uniformity on the inner surface of the canister. The simulations illustrate how the application of optics can significantly improve UV light distribution which can be critical in applications such as UV curing and sterilization.
830 nm light-emitting diode low level light therapy (LED-LLLT) enhances wound healing: a preliminary study.

PubMed

Min, Pok Kee; Goo, Boncheol Leo

2013-01-01

The application of light-emitting diodes in a number of clinical fields is expanding rapidly since the development in the late 1990s of the NASA LED. Wound healing is one field where low level light therapy with LEDs (LED-LLLT) has attracted attention for both accelerating wound healing and controlling sequelae. The present study evaluated LED-LLLT in 5 wounds of various etiologies. There were 5 patients with ages ranging from 7 to 54 years, comprising 2 males and 3 females. The study followed 5 wounds, namely 2 acute excoriation wounds; 1 acute/subacute dog bite with infection; 1 subacute post-filler ulcerated wound with necrotic ischemic tissue and secondary infection; and 1 subacute case of edema and infection of the lips with herpes simplex involvement after an illegal cosmetic tattoo operation. All patients were in varying degrees of pain. All wounds were treated with multiple sessions (daily, every other day or twice weekly) using an LED-LLLT system (830 nm, CW, irradiance of 100 mW/cm(2) and fluence of 60 J/cm(2)) till improvement was achieved. Full wound healing and control of infection and discomfort were achieved in all patients, with wound condition-mediated treatment periods ranging from 1 to 8 weeks. No recurrence of the herpes simplex case was seen in a 4-month follow-up. 830 nm LED-LLLT successfully brought about accelerated healing in wounds of different etiologies and at different stages, and successfully controlled secondary infection. LED-LLLT was easy and pain-free to apply, and was well-tolerated by all patients. The good results warrant the design of controlled studies with a larger patient population.
830 nm light-emitting diode low level light therapy (LED-LLLT) enhances wound healing: a preliminary study

PubMed Central

Min, Pok Kee; Goo, Boncheol Leo

2013-01-01

Background and aims: The application of light-emitting diodes in a number of clinical fields is expanding rapidly since the development in the late 1990s of the NASA LED. Wound healing is one field where low level light therapy with LEDs (LED-LLLT) has attracted attention for both accelerating wound healing and controlling sequelae. The present study evaluated LED-LLLT in 5 wounds of various etiologies. Subjects and methods: There were 5 patients with ages ranging from 7 to 54 years, comprising 2 males and 3 females. The study followed 5 wounds, namely 2 acute excoriation wounds; 1 acute/subacute dog bite with infection; 1 subacute post-filler ulcerated wound with necrotic ischemic tissue and secondary infection; and 1 subacute case of edema and infection of the lips with herpes simplex involvement after an illegal cosmetic tattoo operation. All patients were in varying degrees of pain. All wounds were treated with multiple sessions (daily, every other day or twice weekly) using an LED-LLLT system (830 nm, CW, irradiance of 100 mW/cm2 and fluence of 60 J/cm2) till improvement was achieved. Results: Full wound healing and control of infection and discomfort were achieved in all patients, with wound condition-mediated treatment periods ranging from 1 to 8 weeks. No recurrence of the herpes simplex case was seen in a 4-month follow-up. Conclusions: 830 nm LED-LLLT successfully brought about accelerated healing in wounds of different etiologies and at different stages, and successfully controlled secondary infection. LED-LLLT was easy and pain-free to apply, and was well-tolerated by all patients. The good results warrant the design of controlled studies with a larger patient population. PMID:24155549

Analysing How People Orient to and Spread Rumours in Social Media by Looking at Conversational Threads

PubMed Central

Zubiaga, Arkaitz; Liakata, Maria; Procter, Rob; Wong Sak Hoi, Geraldine; Tolmie, Peter

2016-01-01

As breaking news unfolds people increasingly rely on social media to stay abreast of the latest updates. The use of social media in such situations comes with the caveat that new information being released piecemeal may encourage rumours, many of which remain unverified long after their point of release. Little is known, however, about the dynamics of the life cycle of a social media rumour. In this paper we present a methodology that has enabled us to collect, identify and annotate a dataset of 330 rumour threads (4,842 tweets) associated with 9 newsworthy events. We analyse this dataset to understand how users spread, support, or deny rumours that are later proven true or false, by distinguishing two levels of status in a rumour life cycle i.e., before and after its veracity status is resolved. The identification of rumours associated with each event, as well as the tweet that resolved each rumour as true or false, was performed by journalist members of the research team who tracked the events in real time. Our study shows that rumours that are ultimately proven true tend to be resolved faster than those that turn out to be false. Whilst one can readily see users denying rumours once they have been debunked, users appear to be less capable of distinguishing true from false rumours when their veracity remains in question. In fact, we show that the prevalent tendency for users is to support every unverified rumour. We also analyse the role of different types of users, finding that highly reputable users such as news organisations endeavour to post well-grounded statements, which appear to be certain and accompanied by evidence. Nevertheless, these often prove to be unverified pieces of information that give rise to false rumours. Our study reinforces the need for developing robust machine learning techniques that can provide assistance in real time for assessing the veracity of rumours. The findings of our study provide useful insights for achieving this aim. PMID:26943909
Glare effect for three types of street lamps based on White LEDs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Ching-Cherng; Jiang, Chong-Jhih; Chen, Yi-Chun; Yang, Tsung-Hsun

2014-05-01

This study is aimed to assess the glare effect from LED-based street lamps with three general optical designs, which are cluster LEDs with a single lens, a LED array accompany with a lens array, and a tilted LED array, respectively. Observation conditions were simulated based on various locations and viewing axes. Equivalent luminance calculations were used to reveal the glare levels of the three designs. The age effect for the calculated equivalent luminance was also examined for human eyes of people at the age of 40 or 60. The results demonstrate that among the three design types, a LED array accompany with a lens array causes relatively smaller glare for most viewing conditions.
LED roadway lighting, volume 2 : field evaluations and software comparisons.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-10-01

The use of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for roadway lighting can potentially save energy costs and reduce the frequency of maintenance. The objective of this study is to explore the current state of the art in LED roadway lighting technology. Three s...
Impact of watering with UV-LED-treated wastewater on microbial and physico-chemical parameters of soil.

PubMed

Chevremont, A-C; Boudenne, J-L; Coulomb, B; Farnet, A-M

2013-04-15

Advanced oxidation processes based on UV radiations have been shown to be a promising wastewater disinfection technology. The UV-LED system involves innovative materials and could be an advantageous alternative to mercury-vapor lamps. The use of the UV-LED system results in good water quality meeting the legislative requirements relating to wastewater reuse for irrigation. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of watering with UV-LED treated wastewaters (UV-LED WW) on soil parameters. Solid-state ¹³C NMR shows that watering with UV-LED WW do not change the chemical composition of soil organic matter compared to soil watered with potable water. Regarding microbiological parameters, laccase, cellulase, protease and urease activities increase in soils watered with UV-LED WW which means that organic matter brought by the effluent is actively degraded by soil microorganisms. The functional diversity of soil microorganisms is not affected by watering with UV-LED WW when it is altered by 4 and 8 months of watering with wastewater (WW). After 12 months, functional diversity is similar regardless of the water used for watering. The persistence of faecal indicator bacteria (coliform and enterococci) was also determined and watering with UV-LED WW does not increase their number nor their diversity unlike soils irrigated with activated sludge wastewater. The study of watering-soil microcosms with UV-LED WW indicates that this system seems to be a promising alternative to the UV-lamp-treated wastewaters. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Effects of color temperatures (Kelvin) of LED bulbs on blood physiological variables of broilers grown to heavy weights.

PubMed

Olanrewaju, H A; Purswell, J L; Collier, S D; Branton, S L

2015-08-01

Light-emitting diode (LED) lighting is being used in the poultry industry to reduce energy usage in broiler production facilities. However, limited data are available comparing efficacy of different spectral distribution of LED bulbs on blood physiological variables of broilers grown to heavy weights (>3 kg). The present study evaluated the effects of color temperature (Kelvin) of LED bulbs on blood physiological variables of heavy broilers in 2 trials with 4 replicates/trial. The study was a randomized complete block design. Four light treatments consisted of 3 LED light bulbs [2,700 K, (Warm-LED); 5,000 K, (Cool-LED-#1); 5,000 K, (Cool-LED-#2)] and incandescent light (ICD, standard) from 1 to 56 d age. A total of 960 1-day-old Ross × Ross 708 chicks (30 males/room 30 females/room) were equally and randomly distributed among 16 environmentally controlled rooms at 50% RH. Each of the 4 treatments was represented by 4 rooms. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. All treatment groups were provided the same diet. Venous blood samples were collected on d 21, 28, 42, and 56 for immediate analysis of selected physiological variables and plasma collection. In comparison with ICD, Cool-LED-#1 had greater (P < 0.05) effects on pH, partial pressure of CO₂(pCO₂), partial pressure of O₂(pO₂), saturated O₂(sO₂), and K⁺. However, all these acid-base changes remained within the normal venous acid-base homeostasis and physiological ranges. In addition, no effect of treatments was observed on HCO(3)(-), hematocrit (Hct), hemoglobin (Hb), Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl⁻, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (McHc), osmolality, and anion gap. Moreover, blood glucose concentrations were not affected by treatments. This study shows that the 3 LED light bulbs evaluated in this study may be suitable for replacement of ICD light sources in commercial poultry facilities to reduce energy cost and optimize production efficiency without inducing physiological stress on broilers grown to heavy weights. © 2015 Poultry Science Association Inc.
Outcomes and opportunities: a nurse-led model of chronic disease management in Australian general practice.

PubMed

Eley, Diann S; Patterson, Elizabeth; Young, Jacqui; Fahey, Paul P; Del Mar, Chris B; Hegney, Desley G; Synnott, Robyn L; Mahomed, Rosemary; Baker, Peter G; Scuffham, Paul A

2013-01-01

The Australian government's commitment to health service reform has placed general practice at the centre of its agenda to manage chronic disease. Concerns about the capacity of GPs to meet the growing chronic disease burden has stimulated the implementation and testing of new models of care that better utilise practice nurses (PN). This paper reports on a mixed-methods study nested within a larger study that trialled the feasibility and acceptability of a new model of nurse-led chronic disease management in three general practices. Patients over 18 years of age with type 2 diabetes, hypertension or stable ischaemic heart disease were randomised into PN-led or usual GP-led care. Primary outcomes were self-reported quality of life and perceptions of the model's feasibility and acceptability from the perspective of patients and GPs. Over the 12-month study quality of life decreased but the trend between groups was not statistically different. Qualitative data indicate that the PN-led model was acceptable and feasible to GPs and patients. It is possible to extend the scope of PN care to lead the routine clinical management of patients' stable chronic diseases. All GPs identified significant advantages to the model and elected to continue with the PN-led care after our study concluded.
Essentials for Successful and Widespread LED Lighting Adoption

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khan, Nisa

2011-03-01

Solid-state lighting (SSL), with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as the light source, is a growing and essential field, particularly in regard to the heightened need for global energy efficiency. In recent years, SSL has experienced remarkable advances in efficiency, light output magnitude and quality. Thus such diverse applications as signage, message centers, displays, and special lighting are now adopting LEDs, taking 2010's market to 9.1 billion - 68% growth from the previous year! While this is promising, future growth in both display and lighting applications will rely upon unveiling deeper understanding and key innovations in LED lighting science and technologies. In this presentation, some LED lighting fundamentals, engineering challenges and novel solutions will be discussed to address reduction in efficiency (a.k.a. droop) at high currents, and to obtain uniform light distribution for overcoming LEDs' directional nature. The droop phenomenon has been a subject of much controversy in the industry and despite several studies and claims, a widely-accepted explanation still lacks because of counter arguments and experiments. Recently several research studies have identified that the droop behavior in nitride-based LEDs beyond certain current density ranges can only be comprehensively explained if the current leaking beyond the LED active region is included. Although such studies have identified a few useful current leakage mechanisms outside the active region, no one has included current leakage, due to non-ideal, 3-D device structures that create undesirable current distribution inside and outside the active region. This talk will address achieving desirable current distributions from optimized 3-D device structures that should reduce current leakage and hence the droop behavior. In addition to novel LED design solutions for droop reduction and uniform light distribution, the talk will address cost and yield concerns as they pertain to core material scarcity. Such solutions are expected to make LED lights more energy efficient, pleasant in appearance, longer-lasting, affordable, and thus suitable for green living.
Nurse versus physician-led care for the management of asthma.

PubMed

Kuethe, Maarten C; Vaessen-Verberne, Anja A P H; Elbers, Roy G; Van Aalderen, Wim M C

2013-02-28

Asthma is the most common chronic disease in childhood and prevalence is also high in adulthood, thereby placing a considerable burden on healthcare resources. Therefore, effective asthma management is important to reduce morbidity and to optimise utilisation of healthcare facilities. To review the effectiveness of nurse-led asthma care provided by a specialised asthma nurse, a nurse practitioner, a physician assistant or an otherwise specifically trained nursing professional, working relatively independently from a physician, compared to traditional care provided by a physician. Our scope included all outpatient care for asthma, both in primary care and in hospital settings. We carried out a comprehensive search of databases including The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE and EMBASE to identify trials up to August 2012. Bibliographies of relevant papers were searched, and handsearching of relevant publications was undertaken to identify additional trials. Randomised controlled trials comparing nurse-led care versus physician-led care in asthma for the same aspect of asthma care. We used standard methodological procedures expected by The Cochrane Collaboration. Five studies on 588 adults and children were included concerning nurse-led care versus physician-led care. One study included 154 patients with uncontrolled asthma, while the other four studies including 434 patients with controlled or partly controlled asthma. The studies were of good methodological quality (although it is not possible to blind people giving or receiving the intervention to which group they are in). There was no statistically significant difference in the number of asthma exacerbations and asthma severity after treatment (duration of follow-up from six months to two years). Only one study had healthcare costs as an outcome parameter, no statistical differences were found. Although not a primary outcome, quality of life is a patient-important outcome and in the three trials on 380 subjects that reported on this outcome, there was no statistically significant difference (standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.03; 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.23 to 0.17). We found no significant difference between nurse-led care for patients with asthma compared to physician-led care for the outcomes assessed. Based on the relatively small number of studies in this review, nurse-led care may be appropriate in patients with well-controlled asthma. More studies in varied settings and among people with varying levels of asthma control are needed with data on adverse events and health-care costs.
[Hygienic aspects of the use of LED light sources for general illumination in schools].

PubMed

Kuchma, V R; Sukhareva, L M; Teksheva, L M; Stepanova, M I; Sazaniuk, Z I

2013-01-01

For the time present becoming more common semiconductor sources of artificial lighting has become a more and more frequent practice. With the aim to study the impact of LEDs on the health of schoolchildren studies in experimental conditions (specially equipped classrooms) were performed. The comparative analysis of the state of vision, mental health and emotional state of pupils in primary, middle and high schools under fluorescent and LED lighting, meeting to the regulatory requirements, has revealed that the physiological cost of schooling in the use of LED units in classrooms is lower than in a traditional, fluorescent lighting.
Seismic analysis of parallel structures coupled by lead extrusion dampers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patel, C. C.

2017-06-01

In this paper, the response behaviors of two parallel structures coupled by Lead Extrusion Dampers (LED) under various earthquake ground motion excitations are investigated. The equation of motion for the two parallel, multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) structures connected by LEDs is formulated. To explore the viability of LED to control the responses, namely displacement, acceleration and shear force of parallel coupled structures, the numerical study is done in two parts: (1) two parallel MDOF structures connected with LEDs having same damper damping in all the dampers and (2) two parallel MDOF structures connected with LEDs having different damper damping. A parametric study is conducted to investigate the optimum damping of the dampers. Moreover, to limit the cost of the dampers, the study is conducted with only 50% of total dampers at optimal locations, instead of placing the dampers at all the floor level. Results show that LEDs connecting the parallel structures of different fundamental frequencies, the earthquake-induced responses of either structure can be effectively reduced. Further, it is not necessary to connect the two structures at all floors; however, lesser damper at appropriate locations can significantly reduce the earthquake response of the coupled system, thus reducing the cost of the dampers significantly.
LED street lighting evaluation -- phase II : LED specification and life-cycle cost analysis.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-01-01

Phase II of this study focused on developing a draft specification for LED luminaires to be used by IDOT : and a life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) tool for solid state lighting technologies. The team also researched the : latest developments related to...
LED phototherapy in full-thickness burns induced by CO2 laser in rats skin.

PubMed

da Silva Melo, Milene; Alves, Leandro Procópio; Fernandes, Adriana Barrinha; Carvalho, Henrique Cunha; de Lima, Carlos José; Munin, Egberto; Gomes, Mônica Fernandes; Salgado, Miguel Angel Castillo; Zângaro, Renato Amaro

2018-04-27

Many studies have been conducted on the treatment of burns because they are important in morbidity and mortality. These studies are mainly focused on improving care and quality of life of patients. The aim of this study was evaluate the LED phototherapy effects in rats skin full-thickness burns induced by CO 2 laser. The animals were divided in NT group that did not received any treatment and LED group that received LED irradiation at 685 nm, 220 mW, and 4.5 J/cm 2 during 40 s by burned area. Biopsies were obtained after 7, 14, and 21 days of treatment and submitted to histological and immunohistochemical analysis. The LED phototherapy shows anti-inflammatory effects, improves angiogenesis, and stimulates the migration and proliferation of fibroblasts. The T CD8+ lymphocytes were more common in burned areas compared to T CD4+ lymphocytes since statistically significant differences were observed in the LED group compared to the NT group after 7 days of treatment. These results showed that LED phototherapy performs positive influence in full-thickness burns repair from the healing process modulated by cellular immune response. The obtained results allowed inferring that burns exhibit a characteristic cell immune response and this cannot be extrapolated to other wounds such as incision and wounds induced by punch, among others.
Antibacterial Mechanism of 405-Nanometer Light-Emitting Diode against Salmonella at Refrigeration Temperature.

PubMed

Kim, Min-Jeong; Yuk, Hyun-Gyun

2017-03-01

The aim of this study was to elucidate the antibacterial mechanism of 405 ± 5-nm light-emitting diode (LED) illumination against Salmonella at 4°C in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) by determining endogenous coproporphyrin content, DNA oxidation, damage to membrane function, and morphological change. Gene expression levels, including of oxyR , recA , rpoS , sodA , and soxR , were also examined to understand the response of Salmonella to LED illumination. The results showed that Salmonella strains responded differently to LED illumination, revealing that S. enterica serovar Enteritidis (ATCC 13076) and S. enterica subsp. enterica serovar Saintpaul (ATCC 9712) were more susceptible and resistant, respectively, than the 16 other strains tested. There was no difference in the amounts of endogenous coproporphyrin in the two strains. Compared with that in nonilluminated cells, the DNA oxidation levels in illuminated cells increased. In illuminated cells, we observed a loss of efflux pump activity, damage to the glucose uptake system, and changes in membrane potential and integrity. Transmission electron microscopy revealed a disorganization of chromosomes and ribosomes due to LED illumination. The levels of the five genes measured in the nonilluminated and illuminated S Saintpaul cells were upregulated in PBS at a set temperature of 4°C, indicating that increased gene expression levels might be due to a temperature shift and nutrient deficiency rather than to LED illumination. In contrast, only oxyR in S Enteritidis cells was upregulated. Thus, different sensitivities of the two strains to LED illumination were attributed to differences in gene regulation. IMPORTANCE Bacterial inactivation using visible light has recently received attention as a safe and environmentally friendly technology, in contrast with UV light, which has detrimental effects on human health and the environment. This study was designed to understand how 405 ± 5-nm light-emitting diode (LED) illumination kills Salmonella strains at refrigeration temperature. The data clearly demonstrated that the effectiveness of LED illumination on Salmonella strains depended highly on the serotype and strain. Our findings also revealed that its antibacterial mechanism was mainly attributed to DNA oxidation and a loss of membrane functions rather than membrane lipid peroxidation, which has been proposed by other researchers who studied the antibacterial effect of LED illumination by adding exogenous photosensitizers, such as chlorophyllin and hypericin. Therefore, this study suggests that the detailed antibacterial mechanisms of 405-nm LED illumination without additional photosensitizers may differ from that by exogenous photosensitizers. Furthermore, a change in stress-related gene regulation may alter the susceptibility of Salmonella cells to LED illumination at refrigeration temperature. Thus, our study provides new insights into the antibacterial mechanism of 405 ± 5-nm LED illumination on Salmonella cells. Copyright © 2017 American Society for Microbiology.
Antibacterial Mechanism of 405-Nanometer Light-Emitting Diode against Salmonella at Refrigeration Temperature

PubMed Central

Kim, Min-Jeong

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to elucidate the antibacterial mechanism of 405 ± 5-nm light-emitting diode (LED) illumination against Salmonella at 4°C in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) by determining endogenous coproporphyrin content, DNA oxidation, damage to membrane function, and morphological change. Gene expression levels, including of oxyR, recA, rpoS, sodA, and soxR, were also examined to understand the response of Salmonella to LED illumination. The results showed that Salmonella strains responded differently to LED illumination, revealing that S. enterica serovar Enteritidis (ATCC 13076) and S. enterica subsp. enterica serovar Saintpaul (ATCC 9712) were more susceptible and resistant, respectively, than the 16 other strains tested. There was no difference in the amounts of endogenous coproporphyrin in the two strains. Compared with that in nonilluminated cells, the DNA oxidation levels in illuminated cells increased. In illuminated cells, we observed a loss of efflux pump activity, damage to the glucose uptake system, and changes in membrane potential and integrity. Transmission electron microscopy revealed a disorganization of chromosomes and ribosomes due to LED illumination. The levels of the five genes measured in the nonilluminated and illuminated S. Saintpaul cells were upregulated in PBS at a set temperature of 4°C, indicating that increased gene expression levels might be due to a temperature shift and nutrient deficiency rather than to LED illumination. In contrast, only oxyR in S. Enteritidis cells was upregulated. Thus, different sensitivities of the two strains to LED illumination were attributed to differences in gene regulation. IMPORTANCE Bacterial inactivation using visible light has recently received attention as a safe and environmentally friendly technology, in contrast with UV light, which has detrimental effects on human health and the environment. This study was designed to understand how 405 ± 5-nm light-emitting diode (LED) illumination kills Salmonella strains at refrigeration temperature. The data clearly demonstrated that the effectiveness of LED illumination on Salmonella strains depended highly on the serotype and strain. Our findings also revealed that its antibacterial mechanism was mainly attributed to DNA oxidation and a loss of membrane functions rather than membrane lipid peroxidation, which has been proposed by other researchers who studied the antibacterial effect of LED illumination by adding exogenous photosensitizers, such as chlorophyllin and hypericin. Therefore, this study suggests that the detailed antibacterial mechanisms of 405-nm LED illumination without additional photosensitizers may differ from that by exogenous photosensitizers. Furthermore, a change in stress-related gene regulation may alter the susceptibility of Salmonella cells to LED illumination at refrigeration temperature. Thus, our study provides new insights into the antibacterial mechanism of 405 ± 5-nm LED illumination on Salmonella cells. PMID:28003197
Photodynamic Therapy for Actinic Keratoses: A Randomized Prospective Non-sponsored Cost-effectiveness Study of Daylight-mediated Treatment Compared with Light-emitting Diode Treatment.

PubMed

Neittaanmäki-Perttu, Noora; Grönroos, Mari; Karppinen, Toni; Snellman, Erna; Rissanen, Pekka

2016-02-01

Daylight-mediated photodynamic therapy (DL-PDT) is considered as effective as conventional PDT using artificial light (light-emitting diode (LED)-PDT) for treatment of actinic keratoses (AK). This randomized prospective non-sponsored study assessed the cost-effectiveness of DL-PDT compared with LED-PDT. Seventy patients with 210 AKs were randomized to DL-PDT or LED-PDT groups. Effectiveness was assessed at 6 months. The costs included societal costs and private costs, including the time patients spent in treatment. Results are presented as incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). The total costs per patient were significantly lower for DL-PDT (€132) compared with LED-PDT (€170), giving a cost saving of €38 (p = 0.022). The estimated probabilities for patients' complete response were 0.429 for DL-PDT and 0.686 for LED-PDT; a difference in probability of being healed of 0.257. ICER showed a monetary gain of €147 per unit of effectiveness lost. DL-PDT is less costly and less effective than LED-PDT. In terms of cost-effectiveness analysis, DL-PDT provides lower value for money compared with LED-PDT.
Thermal characterizations analysis of high-power ThinGaN cool-white light-emitting diodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raypah, Muna E.; Devarajan, Mutharasu; Ahmed, Anas A.; Sulaiman, Fauziah

2018-03-01

Analysis of thermal properties plays an important role in the thermal management of high-power (HP) lighting-emitting diodes (LEDs). Thermal resistance, thermal capacitance, and thermal time constant are essential parameters for the optimal design of the LED device and system, particularly for dynamic performance study. In this paper, thermal characterization and thermal time constant of ThinGaN HP LEDs are investigated. Three HP cool-white ThinGaN LEDs from different manufacturers are used in this study. A forward-voltage method using thermal transient tester (T3Ster) system is employed to determine the LEDs' thermal parameters at various operating conditions. The junction temperature transient response is described by a multi-exponential function model to extract thermal time constants. The transient response curve is divided into three layers and expressed by three exponential functions. Each layer is associated with a particular thermal time constant, thermal resistance, and thermal capacitance. It is found that the thermal time constant of LED package is on the order of 22 to 100 ms. Comparison between the experimental results is carried out to show the design effects on thermal performance of the LED package.
Evaluation of the effect of LED radiation in the repair of skin wounds on the dorsum of rats with iron deficiency anemia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Oliveira, Susana Carla Pires Sampaio; de Carvalho Monteiro, Juliana Santos; dos Santos Aciole, Gilberth Tadeu; DeCastro, Isabele Cardoso V.; Menezes, Diego Silva; de Fátima Lima Ferreira, Maria; dos Santos, Jean Nunes; Zanin, Fátima; Barbosa Pinheiro, Antônio Luiz

2010-05-01

Iron deficiency anemia causes reduction on the level of hemoglobin and of the number of RBC and affects around 35% of the human population. Laser and LED therapies have been successfully used on wound healing studies. The aim of the present study was to assess histologically the effect of LED Phototherapy on the healing of cutaneous wounds on anemic rats. Fifty one 21 days old male wistar rats weighting around 50 g were kept under iron free die (Sem ferro-AIN93-G) during 15 days in order to induce anemia. Non treated animals acted as controls. A standartized cutaneous wound was created on the dorsum of each animal whom were distributed into four groups: Group I—Anemia+LED, Group II—Non anemic+LED, Group III—Anemia+no treatment, Group IV—No anemic+no-treatment. Irradiation started immediately after surgery and repeated at 48 h intervals during 21 days. Animal death occurred after 7, 14 and 21 days after wounding. The results of the histologic analysis showed that LED Phototherapy stimulated fibroblastic proliferation. It is concluded that LED irradiation improves wound healing on iron deficient anemic animals.
Experimental Study on Active Cooling Systems Used for Thermal Management of High-Power Multichip Light-Emitting Diodes

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

The objective of this study was to develop suitable cooling systems for high-power multichip LEDs. To this end, three different active cooling systems were investigated to control the heat generated by the powering of high-power multichip LEDs in two different configurations (30 and 2 × 15 W). The following cooling systems were used in the study: an integrated multi-fin heat sink design with a fan, a cooling system with a thermoelectric cooler (TEC), and a heat pipe cooling device. According to the results, all three systems were observed to be sufficient for cooling high-power LEDs. Furthermore, it was observed that the integrated multifin heat sink design with a fan was the most efficient cooling system for a 30 W high-power multichip LED. The cooling system with a TEC and 46 W input power was the most efficient cooling system for 2 × 15 W high-power multichip LEDs. PMID:25162058
Assessment of LED (λ 850 +/- 10 nm) phototherapy in the inflammatory process of rat's TMJ induced by carrageenan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Castro, Isabele C. V.; Rosa, Cristiane B.; Carvalho, Carolina M.; Soares, Luiz Guilherme P.; Cangussu, Maria Cristina T.; dos Santos, Jean N.; Pinheiro, Antônio L. B.

2015-03-01

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are commonly found in the population and usually involve inflammatory processes. Previous studies have shown positive effects of LED (Light emitting diodes) phototherapies on TMD but its action and mechanism in the inflammatory infiltrate of the temporomandibular joint are still poorly understood. The aim of this study was to assess through histological analysis the effectiveness LED (10 J/cm2, λ850 nm, 100 mW, CW) on the inflammation of the temporomandibular joint of rats induced by carrageenan. Thirty animals were divided in two groups with five animals per subgroup according to the experimental times of two, three and seven days: Inflammation and Inflammation + LED phototherapy. The first irradiation was performed 24 h after induction with an interval of 48 h between sessions. After animal death, specimens were processed and stained with HE and Picrosirius. Then the samples were examined histologically. Data were statistically analyzed. The inflammation group showed mild to moderate chronic inflammatory infiltrate among the bone trabecules of the condyle. Over the time-course of the study in the LED group the condyle showed aspects of normality and absent inflammation in some specimens. In all the time-points, no statistically significant differences were found for collagen deposition in the in the condyle and disc when LED was compared to Inflammation group. LED treated groups also demonstrated a smaller number of the layers of the synovial membrane when compared to the non-irradiated groups. It was concluded that, in general, LED phototherapy resulted in a reduction of inflammatory infiltrate in the temporomandibular joint of rat.
The Involvement of the Oxidative Stress in Murine Blue LED Light-Induced Retinal Damage Model.

PubMed

Nakamura, Maho; Kuse, Yoshiki; Tsuruma, Kazuhiro; Shimazawa, Masamitsu; Hara, Hideaki

2017-01-01

The aim of study was to establish a mouse model of blue light emitting diode (LED) light-induced retinal damage and to evaluate the effects of the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Mice were exposed to 400 or 800 lx blue LED light for 2 h, and were evaluated for retinal damage 5 d later by electroretinogram amplitude and outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness. Additionally, we investigated the effect of blue LED light exposure on shorts-wave-sensitive opsin (S-opsin), and rhodopsin expression by immunohistochemistry. Blue LED light induced light intensity dependent retinal damage and led to collapse of S-opsin and altered rhodopsin localization from inner and outer segments to ONL. Conversely, NAC administered at 100 or 250 mg/kg intraperitoneally twice a day, before dark adaptation and before light exposure. NAC protected the blue LED light-induced retinal damage in a dose-dependent manner. Further, blue LED light-induced decreasing of S-opsin levels and altered rhodopsin localization, which were suppressed by NAC. We established a mouse model of blue LED light-induced retinal damage and these findings indicated that oxidative stress was partially involved in blue LED light-induced retinal damage.

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