Stochastic nature of series of waiting times.

PubMed

Anvari, Mehrnaz; Aghamohammadi, Cina; Dashti-Naserabadi, H; Salehi, E; Behjat, E; Qorbani, M; Nezhad, M Khazaei; Zirak, M; Hadjihosseini, Ali; Peinke, Joachim; Tabar, M Reza Rahimi

2013-06-01

Although fluctuations in the waiting time series have been studied for a long time, some important issues such as its long-range memory and its stochastic features in the presence of nonstationarity have so far remained unstudied. Here we find that the "waiting times" series for a given increment level have long-range correlations with Hurst exponents belonging to the interval 1/2

Stochastic nature of series of waiting times

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anvari, Mehrnaz; Aghamohammadi, Cina; Dashti-Naserabadi, H.; Salehi, E.; Behjat, E.; Qorbani, M.; Khazaei Nezhad, M.; Zirak, M.; Hadjihosseini, Ali; Peinke, Joachim; Tabar, M. Reza Rahimi

2013-06-01

Although fluctuations in the waiting time series have been studied for a long time, some important issues such as its long-range memory and its stochastic features in the presence of nonstationarity have so far remained unstudied. Here we find that the “waiting times” series for a given increment level have long-range correlations with Hurst exponents belonging to the interval 1/2

Scottish Visitor Attractions: Managerial Competence Requirements

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Watson, Sandra; McCracken, Martin; Hughes, Moira

2004-01-01

This paper presents the findings from a study into managerial competence in the Scottish visitor attraction sector. It provides an insight into the range, diversity and perceived importance of current and future competences highlighting differences based on gender, age, size, level of training and location. Although the main findings reveal a…

Perceptions and Effects of Classroom Capture Software on Course Performance among Selected Online Community College Mathematics Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Rachel Naomi

2017-01-01

The purpose of this mixed methods research study was two-fold. First, I compared the findings of the success rates of online mathematics students with the perceived effects of classroom capture software in hopes to find convergence. Second, I used multiple methods in different phases of the study to expand the breadth and range of the effects of…

Andes hantavirus variant in rodents, southern Amazon Basin, Peru.

PubMed

Razuri, Hugo; Tokarz, Rafal; Ghersi, Bruno M; Salmon-Mulanovich, Gabriela; Guezala, M Claudia; Albujar, Christian; Mendoza, A Patricia; Tinoco, Yeny O; Cruz, Christopher; Silva, Maria; Vasquez, Alicia; Pacheco, Víctor; Ströher, Ute; Guerrero, Lisa Wiggleton; Cannon, Deborah; Nichol, Stuart T; Hirschberg, David L; Lipkin, W Ian; Bausch, Daniel G; Montgomery, Joel M

2014-02-01

We investigated hantaviruses in rodents in the southern Amazon Basin of Peru and identified an Andes virus variant from Neacomys spinosus mice. This finding extends the known range of this virus in South America and the range of recognized hantaviruses in Peru. Further studies of the epizoology of hantaviruses in this region are warranted.

Do feasibility studies contribute to, or avoid, waste in research?

PubMed Central

Hejdenberg, Jennie; Hinrichs-Krapels, Saba; Armstrong, David

2018-01-01

In the context of avoiding research waste, the conduct of a feasibility study before a clinical trial should reduce the risk that further resources will be committed to a trial that is likely to ‘fail’. However, there is little evidence indicating whether feasibility studies add to or reduce waste in research. Feasibility studies funded by the National Institute for Health Research’s (NIHR) Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) programme were examined to determine how many had published their findings, how many had applied for further funding for a full trial and the timeframe in which both of these occurred. A total of 120 feasibility studies which had closed by May 2016 were identified and each Principal Investigator (PI) was sent a questionnaire of which 89 responses were received and deemed suitable for analysis. Based on self reported answers from the PIs a total of 57 feasibility studies were judged as feasible, 20 were judged not feasible and for 12 it was judged as uncertain whether a full trial was feasible. The RfPB programme had spent approximately £19.5m on the 89 feasibility studies of which 16 further studies had been subsequently funded to a total of £16.8m. The 20 feasibility studies which were judged as not feasible potentially saved up to approximately £20m of further research funding which would likely to have not completed successfully. The average RfPB feasibility study took 31 months (range 18 to 48) to complete and cost £219,048 (range £72,031 to £326,830) and the average full trial funded from an RfPB feasibility study took 42 months (range 26 to 55) to complete and cost £1,163,996 (range £321,403 to £2,099,813). The average timeframe of feasibility study and full trial was 72 months (range 56 to 91), however in addition to this time an average of 10 months (range -7 to 29) was taken between the end of the feasibility study and the application for the full trial, and a further average of 18 months (range 13 to 28) between the application for the full trial and the start of the full trial. Approximately 58% of the 89 feasibility studies had published their findings with the majority of the remaining studies still planning to publish. Due to the long time frames involved a number of studies were still in the process of publishing the feasibility findings and/or applying for a full trial. Feasibility studies are potentially useful at avoiding waste and de-risking funding investments of more expensive full trials, however there is a clear time delay and therefore some potential waste in the existing research pathway. PMID:29684043

Do feasibility studies contribute to, or avoid, waste in research?

PubMed

Morgan, Ben; Hejdenberg, Jennie; Hinrichs-Krapels, Saba; Armstrong, David

2018-01-01

In the context of avoiding research waste, the conduct of a feasibility study before a clinical trial should reduce the risk that further resources will be committed to a trial that is likely to 'fail'. However, there is little evidence indicating whether feasibility studies add to or reduce waste in research. Feasibility studies funded by the National Institute for Health Research's (NIHR) Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) programme were examined to determine how many had published their findings, how many had applied for further funding for a full trial and the timeframe in which both of these occurred. A total of 120 feasibility studies which had closed by May 2016 were identified and each Principal Investigator (PI) was sent a questionnaire of which 89 responses were received and deemed suitable for analysis. Based on self reported answers from the PIs a total of 57 feasibility studies were judged as feasible, 20 were judged not feasible and for 12 it was judged as uncertain whether a full trial was feasible. The RfPB programme had spent approximately £19.5m on the 89 feasibility studies of which 16 further studies had been subsequently funded to a total of £16.8m. The 20 feasibility studies which were judged as not feasible potentially saved up to approximately £20m of further research funding which would likely to have not completed successfully. The average RfPB feasibility study took 31 months (range 18 to 48) to complete and cost £219,048 (range £72,031 to £326,830) and the average full trial funded from an RfPB feasibility study took 42 months (range 26 to 55) to complete and cost £1,163,996 (range £321,403 to £2,099,813). The average timeframe of feasibility study and full trial was 72 months (range 56 to 91), however in addition to this time an average of 10 months (range -7 to 29) was taken between the end of the feasibility study and the application for the full trial, and a further average of 18 months (range 13 to 28) between the application for the full trial and the start of the full trial. Approximately 58% of the 89 feasibility studies had published their findings with the majority of the remaining studies still planning to publish. Due to the long time frames involved a number of studies were still in the process of publishing the feasibility findings and/or applying for a full trial. Feasibility studies are potentially useful at avoiding waste and de-risking funding investments of more expensive full trials, however there is a clear time delay and therefore some potential waste in the existing research pathway.

High temperature thermoelectric properties of rock-salt structure PbS

DOE PAGES

Parker, David S.; Singh, David J.

2013-12-18

We present an analysis of the high temperature transport properties of rock-salt structure PbS, a sister compound to the better studied lead chalcogenides PbSe and PbTe. In this study, we find thermopower magnitudes exceeding 200 V/K in a wide doping range for temperatures of 800 K and above. Based on these calculations, and an analysis of recent experimental work we find that this material has a potential for high thermoelectric performance. Also, we find favorable mechanical properties, based on an analysis of published data.

Laboratory Study of Air Turbulence-Particle Coupling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petersen, A.; Baker, L.; Coletti, F.

2017-12-01

Inertial particles suspended in a turbulent flow are unable to follow the fluid's rapid velocity fluctuations, leading to high concentrations in regions where fluid strain dominates vorticity. This phenomenon is known as preferential concentration or clustering and is thought to affect natural processes ranging from the collisional growth of raindrops to the formation of planetesimals in proto-planetary nebulas. In the present study, we use a large jet-stirred chamber to generate homogeneous air turbulence into which we drop particles with an aerodynamic response time comparable to the flow time scales. Using laser imaging we find that turbulence can lead to a multi-fold increase of settling velocity compared to still-air conditions. We then employ Voronoi tessellation to examine the particle spatial distribution, finding strong evidence of turbulence-driven particle clustering over a wide range of experimental conditions. We observe individual clusters of a larger size range than seen previously, sometimes beyond the integral length scale of the turbulence. We also investigate cluster topology and find that they (i) exhibit a fractal structure, (ii) have a nearly constant particle concentration over their entire size range, and (iii) are most often vertically oriented. Furthermore, clustered particles tend to fall faster than those outside clusters, and larger clusters fall faster on average than smaller ones. Finally, by simultaneous measurement of particle and air velocity fields, we provide the first experimental evidence of preferential sweeping, a mechanism previously proposed to explain the increase in particle settling velocity found in numerical simulations, and find it especially effective for clustered particles. These results are significant for the micro-scale physics of atmospheric clouds. The large cluster size range has implications for how droplets will influence the local environment through condensation, evaporation, drag and latent heat effects. Our results also suggest that large collections of droplets will interact due to differential settling, possibly enhancing raindrop formation.

Andes Hantavirus Variant in Rodents, Southern Amazon Basin, Peru

PubMed Central

Tokarz, Rafal; Ghersi, Bruno M.; Salmon-Mulanovich, Gabriela; Guezala, M. Claudia; Albujar, Christian; Mendoza, A. Patricia; Tinoco, Yeny O.; Cruz, Christopher; Silva, Maria; Vasquez, Alicia; Pacheco, Víctor; Ströher, Ute; Guerrero, Lisa Wiggleton; Cannon, Deborah; Nichol, Stuart T.; Hirschberg, David L.; Lipkin, W. Ian; Bausch, Daniel G.; Montgomery, Joel M.

2014-01-01

We investigated hantaviruses in rodents in the southern Amazon Basin of Peru and identified an Andes virus variant from Neacomys spinosus mice. This finding extends the known range of this virus in South America and the range of recognized hantaviruses in Peru. Further studies of the epizoology of hantaviruses in this region are warranted. PMID:24447689

Diagnostic performance of major depression disorder case-finding instruments used among mothers of young children in the United States: A systematic review.

PubMed

Owora, Arthur H; Carabin, Hélène; Reese, Jessica; Garwe, Tabitha

2016-09-01

Growing recognition of the interrelated negative outcomes associated with major depression disorder (MDD) among mothers and their children has led to renewed public health interest in the early identification and treatment of maternal MDD. Healthcare providers, however, remain unsure of the validity of existing case-finding instruments. We conducted a systematic review to identify the most valid maternal MDD case-finding instrument used in the United States. We identified articles reporting the sensitivity and specificity of MDD case-finding instruments based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) by systematically searching through three electronic bibliographic databases, PubMed, PsycINFO, and EMBASE, from 1994 to 2014. Study eligibility and quality were evaluated using the Standards for the Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy studies and Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies guidelines respectively. Overall, we retrieved 996 unduplicated articles and selected 74 for full-text review. Of these, 14 articles examining 21 different instruments were included in the systematic review. The 10 item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and Postpartum Depression Screening Scale had the most stable (lowest variation) and highest diagnostic performance during the antepartum and postpartum periods (sensitivity range: 0.63-0.94 and 0.67-0.95; specificity range: 0.83-0.98 and 0.68-0.97 respectively). Greater variation in diagnostic performance was observed among studies with higher MDD prevalence. Factors that explain greater variation in instrument diagnostic performance in study populations with higher MDD prevalence were not examined. Findings suggest that the diagnostic performance of maternal MDD case-finding instruments is peripartum period-specific. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Volatility of linear and nonlinear time series

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalisky, Tomer; Ashkenazy, Yosef; Havlin, Shlomo

2005-07-01

Previous studies indicated that nonlinear properties of Gaussian distributed time series with long-range correlations, ui , can be detected and quantified by studying the correlations in the magnitude series ∣ui∣ , the “volatility.” However, the origin for this empirical observation still remains unclear and the exact relation between the correlations in ui and the correlations in ∣ui∣ is still unknown. Here we develop analytical relations between the scaling exponent of linear series ui and its magnitude series ∣ui∣ . Moreover, we find that nonlinear time series exhibit stronger (or the same) correlations in the magnitude time series compared with linear time series with the same two-point correlations. Based on these results we propose a simple model that generates multifractal time series by explicitly inserting long range correlations in the magnitude series; the nonlinear multifractal time series is generated by multiplying a long-range correlated time series (that represents the magnitude series) with uncorrelated time series [that represents the sign series sgn(ui) ]. We apply our techniques on daily deep ocean temperature records from the equatorial Pacific, the region of the El-Ninõ phenomenon, and find: (i) long-range correlations from several days to several years with 1/f power spectrum, (ii) significant nonlinear behavior as expressed by long-range correlations of the volatility series, and (iii) broad multifractal spectrum.

Indoor Thermal Factors and Symptoms in Office Workers: Findings from the U.S. EPA BASE Study

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

Mendell, Mark; Mirer, Anna

2008-06-01

Some prior research in office buildings has associated higher indoor temperatures even within the recommended thermal comfort range with increased worker symptoms. We reexamined this relationship in data from 95 office buildings in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Building Assessment Survey and Evaluation (BASE) Study. We investigated relationships between building-related symptoms and thermal metrics constructed from real-time measurements. We estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95percent confidence intervals in adjusted logistic regression models with general estimating equations, overall and by season. Winter indoor temperatures spanned the recommended winter comfort range; summer temperatures were mostly colder than the recommended summer range. Increasingmore » indoor temperatures, overall, were associated with increases in few symptoms. Higher winter indoor temperatures, however, were associated with increases in all symptoms analyzed. Higher summer temperatures, above 23oC, were associated with decreases in most symptoms. Humidity ratio, a metric of absolute humidity, showed few clear associations. Thus, increased symptoms with higher temperatures within the thermal comfort range were found only in winter. In summer, buildings were overcooled, and only the higher observed temperatures were within the comfort range; these were associated with decreased symptoms. Confirmation of these findings would suggest that thermal management guidelines consider health effects as well as comfort.« less

The rationale, development, and standardization of a basic word vocabulary test.

PubMed

Dupuy, H J

1974-04-01

The results of the studies to date indicate that the Basic Word Vocabulary Test provides a range of items in terms of item difficulty levels useful in printed form from about the third grade to the highest educational levels. Since pictorial and orally given vocabulary tests are used from about ages 2 to 8 years, further work should be done to extend the scale downward so that a single comprehensive vocabulary scale ranging from age 2 years to the highest level of verbal development is available for general use. Validation studies should also be conducted with other well-known intelligence tests so that scores can be compared. Alternate forms need to be developed to allow for longitudinal studies of growth and development. The use of a single standard of measurement of vocabulary development, suitable over a wide range of age and ability levels, by different investigators should materially aid in comparing results across studies and samples and lead to more consistent findings, advances in knowledge, and wider application of findings in practical circumstances, The findings presented in this report indicate that the Basic Word Vocabulary Test adequately measures basic word knowledge acquisition and development. The BWVT is suitable for evaluation of individuals and for use in making group comparisons in levels of basic word knowledge attainment, growth, and development. All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated.

Probing the role of long-range interactions in the dynamics of a long-range Kitaev chain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dutta, Anirban; Dutta, Amit

2017-09-01

We study the role of long-range interactions (more precisely, the long-range superconducting gap term) on the nonequilibrium dynamics considering a long-range p -wave superconducting chain in which the superconducting term decays with distance between two sites in a power-law fashion characterized by an exponent α . We show that the Kibble-Zurek scaling exponent, dictating the power-law decay of the defect density in the final state reached following a slow (in comparison to the time scale associated with the minimum gap in the spectrum of the Hamiltonian) quenching of the chemical potential μ across a quantum critical point, depends nontrivially on the exponent α as long as α <2 ; on the other hand, for α >2 , we find that the exponent saturates to the corresponding well-known value of 1 /2 expected for the short-range model. Furthermore, studying the dynamical quantum phase transitions manifested in the nonanalyticities in the rate function of the return possibility I (t ) in subsequent temporal evolution following a sudden change in μ , we show the existence of a new region; in this region, we find three instants of cusp singularities in I (t ) associated with a single sector of Fisher zeros. Notably, the width of this region shrinks as α increases and vanishes in the limit α →2 , indicating that this special region is an artifact of the long-range nature of the Hamiltonian.

Phenological response of sea turtles to environmental variation across a species' northern range.

PubMed

Mazaris, Antonios D; Kallimanis, Athanasios S; Pantis, John D; Hays, Graeme C

2013-01-22

Variations in environmental parameters (e.g. temperature) that form part of global climate change have been associated with shifts in the timing of seasonal events for a broad range of organisms. Most studies evaluating such phenological shifts of individual taxa have focused on a limited number of locations, making it difficult to assess how such shifts vary regionally across a species range. Here, by using 1445 records of the date of first nesting for loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) at different breeding sites, on different continents and in different years across a broad latitudinal range (25-39° 'N), we demonstrate that the gradient of the relationship between temperature and the date of first breeding is steeper at higher latitudes, i.e. the phenological responses to temperature appear strongest at the poleward range limit. These findings support the hypothesis that biological changes in response to climate change will be most acute at the poleward range limits and are in accordance with the predictions of MacArthur's hypothesis that poleward range limit for species range is environmentally limited. Our findings imply that the poleward populations of loggerheads are more sensitive to climate variations and thus they might display the impacts of climate change sooner and more prominently.

Phenological response of sea turtles to environmental variation across a species' northern range

PubMed Central

Mazaris, Antonios D.; Kallimanis, Athanasios S.; Pantis, John D.; Hays, Graeme C.

2013-01-01

Variations in environmental parameters (e.g. temperature) that form part of global climate change have been associated with shifts in the timing of seasonal events for a broad range of organisms. Most studies evaluating such phenological shifts of individual taxa have focused on a limited number of locations, making it difficult to assess how such shifts vary regionally across a species range. Here, by using 1445 records of the date of first nesting for loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) at different breeding sites, on different continents and in different years across a broad latitudinal range (25–39° ′N), we demonstrate that the gradient of the relationship between temperature and the date of first breeding is steeper at higher latitudes, i.e. the phenological responses to temperature appear strongest at the poleward range limit. These findings support the hypothesis that biological changes in response to climate change will be most acute at the poleward range limits and are in accordance with the predictions of MacArthur's hypothesis that poleward range limit for species range is environmentally limited. Our findings imply that the poleward populations of loggerheads are more sensitive to climate variations and thus they might display the impacts of climate change sooner and more prominently. PMID:23193130

Does this adult patient have a blunt intra-abdominal injury?

PubMed

Nishijima, Daniel K; Simel, David L; Wisner, David H; Holmes, James F

2012-04-11

Blunt abdominal trauma often presents a substantial diagnostic challenge. Well-informed clinical examination can identify patients who require further diagnostic evaluation for intra-abdominal injuries after blunt abdominal trauma. To systematically assess the precision and accuracy of symptoms, signs, laboratory tests, and bedside imaging studies to identify intra-abdominal injuries in patients with blunt abdominal trauma. We conducted a structured search of MEDLINE (1950-January 2012) and EMBASE (1980-January 2012) to identify English-language studies examining the identification of intra-abdominal injuries. A separate, structured search was conducted for studies evaluating bedside ultrasonography. We included studies of diagnostic accuracy for intra-abdominal injury that compared at least 1 finding with a reference standard of abdominal computed tomography, diagnostic peritoneal lavage, laparotomy, autopsy, and/or clinical course for intra-abdominal injury. Twelve studies on clinical findings and 22 studies on bedside ultrasonography met inclusion criteria for data extraction. Critical appraisal and data extraction were independently performed by 2 authors. The prevalence of intra-abdominal injury in adult emergency department patients with blunt abdominal trauma among all evidence level 1 and 2 studies was 13% (95% CI, 10%-17%), with 4.7% (95% CI, 2.5%-8.6%) requiring therapeutic surgery or angiographic embolization of injuries. The presence of a seat belt sign (likelihood ratio [LR] range, 5.6-9.9), rebound tenderness (LR, 6.5; 95% CI, 1.8-24), hypotension (LR, 5.2; 95% CI, 3.5-7.5), abdominal distention (LR, 3.8; 95% CI, 1.9-7.6), or guarding (LR, 3.7; 95% CI, 2.3-5.9) suggest an intra-abdominal injury. The absence of abdominal tenderness to palpation does not rule out an intra-abdominal injury (summary LR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.46-0.80). The presence of intraperitoneal fluid or organ injury on bedside ultrasound assessment is more accurate than any history and physical examination findings (adjusted summary LR, 30; 95% CI, 20-46); conversely, a normal ultrasound result decreases the chance of injury detection (adjusted summary LR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.19-0.34). Test results increasing the likelihood of intra-abdominal injury include a base deficit less than -6 mEq/L (LR, 18; 95% CI, 11-30), elevated liver transaminases (LR range, 2.5-5.2), hematuria (LR range, 3.7-4.1), anemia (LR range, 2.2-3.3), and abnormal chest radiograph (LR range, 2.5-3.8). Symptoms and signs may be most useful in combination, particularly in identification of patients who do not need further diagnostic workup. Bedside ultrasonography has the highest accuracy of all individual findings, but a normal result does not rule out an intra-abdominal injury. Combinations of clinical findings may be most useful to determine which patients do not require further evaluation, but the ideal combination of variables for identifying patients without intra-abdominal injury requires further study.

Raman spectroscopy of femtosecond multipulse irradiation of vitreous silica: Experiment and simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shcheblanov, N. S.; Povarnitsyn, M. E.; Mishchik, K. N.; Tanguy, A.

2018-02-01

We report an experimental and numerical study of femtosecond multipulse laser-induced densification in vitreous silica (v -SiO2 ) and its signature in Raman spectra. We compare the experimental findings to the recently developed molecular dynamics (MD) approach accounting for bond breaking due to laser irradiation, together with a dynamical matrix approach and bond polarizability model based on first-principles calculations for the estimation of Raman spectra. We observe two stages of the laser-induced densification and Raman spectrum evolution: growth during several hundreds of pulses followed by further saturation. At the medium range, the network connectivity change in v -SiO2 is expressed in reduction of the major ring fractions leading to more compacted structure. With the help of the Sen and Thorpe model, we also study the short-range order transformation and derive the interbonding Si-O-Si angle change from the Raman measurements. Experimental findings are in excellent agreement with our MD simulations and hence support a bond-breaking mechanism of laser-induced densification. Thus, our modeling explains well the laser-induced changes both in the short-range order caused by the appearance of Si coordination defects and medium-range order connected to evolution of the ring distribution. Finally, our findings disclose similarities between sheared, permanently densified, and laser-induced glass and suggest interesting future experiments in order to clarify the impact of the thermomechanical history on glasses under shear, cold and hot compression, and laser-induced densification.

Atypical Findings on Cervicovaginal Smears Correlate with Cervical Involvement by Malignant Mixed Müllerian Tumors of the Uterus.

PubMed

Hanley, Krisztina Z; Oprea-Ilies, Gabriela; Ormenisan, Claudia; Seydafkan, Shabnam; Mosunjac, Marina B

2015-01-01

A malignant mixed müllerian tumor (MMMT) is a high-grade neoplasm commonly arising from the uterus. Patients present with bleeding and a mass protruding from the cervix. This study was designed to correlate Papanicolaou (Pap) smear findings with histological findings in women diagnosed with MMMT. Women diagnosed with MMMT were identified. Preoperative Pap tests were correlated with histological findings. Statistical analysis was performed to assess associations between abnormal Pap tests and histological findings. Forty patients with MMMT were included in the study. Age ranged from 37-85 years and tumor size ranged from 1.2 to 21 cm. In presurgical Pap tests (4 conventional and 36 liquid based), 11 smears (27.5%) were diagnosed as negative, 5 (12.5%) as atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance, 6 (15%) as atypical glandular cells, 16 (40%) as malignant and 2 (5%) as high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion. Malignant cells detected on Pap smears showed a strong correlation with endocervical involvement by MMMT (p = 0.002). Larger tumors were more likely to involve the cervix (p = 0.0115). The Pap test can predict cervical involvement by MMMT. On Pap smears, MMMT cells showed no correlation with other adverse histological features (lymphovascular invasion, myoinvasion or adnexal involvement). © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Capillariidae eggs found in the urine of a free ranging maned wolf from Argentina.

PubMed

Beldomenico, Pablo Martín; Hunzicker, Daniel; Lopez Taverna, Julio; Rejf, Paula K

2002-06-01

The first finding of a Capillariid in the urinary tract of a free ranging maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) is described. The individual was an adult male attacked by dogs in the locality of Cayastacito (Santa Fe, Argentina, 31 degrees 05' S, 60 degrees 34' W). Eggs found in urine measured 64.6-66.9 micrometer (mean 65.4 micrometer) x 26.9-31 micrometer (mean 29 micrometer). Further studies are needed to determine whether this finding corresponds to a new Capillariid species, related to C. brachyurus, or it is an already described species that has been introduced by domestic dogs.

Optimal design of wavy microchannel and comparison of heat transfer characteristics with zigzag and straight geometries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parlak, Zekeriya

2018-05-01

Design concept of microchannel heat exchangers is going to plan with new flow microchannel configuration to reduce the pressure drop and improve heat transfer performance. The study aims to find optimum microchannel design providing the best performance of flow and heat transfer characterization in a heat sink. Therefore, three different types of microchannels in which water is used, straight, wavy and zigzag have been studied. The optimization operation has been performed to find optimum geometry with ANSYS's Response Surface Optimization Tool. Primarily, CFD analysis has been performed by parameterizing a wavy microchannel geometry. Optimum wavy microchannel design has been obtained by the response surface created for the range of velocity from 0.5 to 5, the range of amplitude from 0.06 to 0.3, the range of microchannel height from 0.1 to 0.2, the range of microchannel width from 0.1 to 0.2 and range of sinusoidal wave length from 0.25 to 2.0. All simulations have been performed in the laminar regime for Reynolds number ranging from 100 to 900. Results showed that the Reynolds number range corresponding to the industrial pressure drop limits is between 100 and 400. Nu values obtained in this range for optimum wavy geometry were found at a rate of 10% higher than those of the zigzag channel and 40% higher than those of the straight channels. In addition, when the pressure values of the straight channel did not exceed 10 kPa, the inlet pressure data calculated for zigzag and wavy channel data almost coincided with each other.

Single- and Repeat-dose Oral Toxicity Studies of Lithospermum erythrorhizon Extract in Dogs

PubMed Central

Hwang, Jae-Sik; Kim, Myoung-Jun; Choi, Young Whan; Han, Kyoung-Goo; Kang, Jong-Koo

2015-01-01

Lithospermum erythrorhizon has long been used in traditional Asian medicine for the treatment of diseases, including skin cancer. The oral toxicity of a hexane extract of Lithospermum erythrorhizon root (LEH) was investigated in Beagle dogs by using single escalating doses, two-week dose range-finding, and 4-week oral repeat dosing. In the single dose-escalating oral toxicity study, no animal died, showed adverse clinical signs, or changes in body weight gain at LEH doses of up to 2,000 mg/kg. In a 2 week dose range-finding study, no treatment-related adverse effects were detected by urinalysis, hematology, blood biochemistry, organ weights, or gross and histopathological examinations at doses of up to 500 mg LEH/kg/day. In the 4 week repeat-dose toxicity study, a weight loss or decreased weight gain was observed at 300 mg/kg/day. Although levels of serum triglyceride and total bilirubin were increased in a dose dependent manner, there were no related morphological changes. Based on these findings, the sub-acute no observable adverse effect level for 4-week oral administration of LEH in Beagles was 100 mg/kg/day. PMID:25874036

Single- and Repeat-dose Oral Toxicity Studies of Lithospermum erythrorhizon Extract in Dogs.

PubMed

Nam, Chunja; Hwang, Jae-Sik; Kim, Myoung-Jun; Choi, Young Whan; Han, Kyoung-Goo; Kang, Jong-Koo

2015-03-01

Lithospermum erythrorhizon has long been used in traditional Asian medicine for the treatment of diseases, including skin cancer. The oral toxicity of a hexane extract of Lithospermum erythrorhizon root (LEH) was investigated in Beagle dogs by using single escalating doses, two-week dose range-finding, and 4-week oral repeat dosing. In the single dose-escalating oral toxicity study, no animal died, showed adverse clinical signs, or changes in body weight gain at LEH doses of up to 2,000 mg/kg. In a 2 week dose range-finding study, no treatment-related adverse effects were detected by urinalysis, hematology, blood biochemistry, organ weights, or gross and histopathological examinations at doses of up to 500 mg LEH/kg/day. In the 4 week repeat-dose toxicity study, a weight loss or decreased weight gain was observed at 300 mg/kg/day. Although levels of serum triglyceride and total bilirubin were increased in a dose dependent manner, there were no related morphological changes. Based on these findings, the sub-acute no observable adverse effect level for 4-week oral administration of LEH in Beagles was 100 mg/kg/day.

Institutional Trial Quality Audit of the University of South Africa (UNISA)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Commonwealth of Learning, 2007

2007-01-01

This report presents the findings of the Trial Audit Panel (TAP) after studying a range of documentation before and during the audit and discussing issues with a wide range of University of South Africa (Unisa) staff during their visit to the University in June 2007. The original intention was to produce two reports, one in the format and…

Where to find weather and climatic data for forest research studies and management planning.

Treesearch

Donald A. Haines

1977-01-01

Forest-range research or operational study designs should include the possible effects of weather and climate. This document describes the meteorological observational networks, the data available from them, and where the information is stored.

Brain Ultrasonography Findings in Neonatal Seizure; a Cross-sectional Study.

PubMed

Nabavi, Seyed Saeed; Partovi, Parinaz

2017-01-01

Screening of newborns with seizure, who have curable pathologic brain findings, might be able to improve their final outcome by accelerating treatment intervention. The present study aimed to evaluate the brain ultrasonography findings of newborns hospitalized with complaint of seizure. The present cross-sectional study designed to evaluate brain ultrasonography findings of hospitalized newborns complaining seizure. Neonatal seizure was defined as presence of tonic, clonic, myoclonic, and subtle attacks in 1 - 28 day old newborns. 100 newborns with the mean age of 5.82 ± 6.29 days were evaluated (58% male). Most newborns were in the < 10 days age range (76%), term (83%) and with normal birth weight (81%). 22 (22%) of the ultrasonography examinations showed a pathologic finding. A correlation was only found between birth age and probability of the presence of a pathologic problem in the brain as the frequency of these problems was significantly higher in pre-term newborns (p = 0.023). Based on the findings of the present study, frequency of pathologic findings in neonatal brain ultrasonography was 22%. Hemorrhage (12%) and hydrocephaly (7%) were the most common findings. The only factor correlating with increased probability of positive findings was the newborns being pre-term.

Serum chemistry, hematologic, and post-mortem findings in free-ranging bobcats (Lynx rufus) with notoedric mange

USGS Publications Warehouse

Serieys, Laurel E.K.; Foley, Janet; Owens, Sean; Woods, Leslie; Boydston, Erin E.; Lyren, Lisa M.; Poppenga, Robert H.; Clifford, Deana L.; Stephenson, Nicole; Rudd, Jaime; Riley, Seth P.D.

2013-01-01

Notoedric mange was responsible for a population decline of bobcats (Lynx rufus) in 2 Southern California counties from 2002–2006 and is now reported to affect bobcats in Northern and Southern California. With this study we document clinical laboratory and necropsy findings for bobcats with mange. Bobcats in this study included free-ranging bobcats with mange (n = 34), a control group of free-ranging bobcats without mange (n = 11), and a captive control group of bobcats without mange (n = 19). We used 2 control groups to evaluate potential anomalies due to capture stress or diet. Free-ranging healthy and mange-infected bobcats were trapped or salvaged. Animals were tested by serum biochemistry, complete blood count, urine protein and creatinine, body weight, necropsy, and assessment for anticoagulant rodenticide residues in liver tissue. Bobcats with severe mange were emaciated, dehydrated, and anemic with low serum creatinine, hyperphosphatemia, hypoglycemia, hypernatremia, and hyperchloremia, and sometimes septicemic when compared to control groups. Liver enzymes and leukocyte counts were elevated in free-ranging, recently captured bobcats whether or not they were infested with mange, suggesting capture stress. Bobcats with mange had lower levels of serum cholesterol, albumin, globulin, and total protein due to protein loss likely secondary to severe dermatopathy. Renal insufficiency was unlikely in most cases, as urine protein:creatinine ratios were within normal limits. A primary gastrointestinal loss of protein or blood was possible in a few cases, as evidenced by elevated blood urea nitrogen, anemia, intestinal parasitism, colitis, gastric hemorrhage, and melena. The prevalence of exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides was 100% (n = 15) in bobcats with mange. These findings paint a picture of debilitating, multisystemic disease with infectious and toxic contributing factors that can progress to death in individuals and potential decline in populations.

"Who Stays and Who Leaves?" Findings from a Three-Part Study of Teacher Turnover in NYC Middle Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marinell, William H.; Coca, Vanessa M.

2013-01-01

This paper synthesizes findings from the Research Alliance's investigation of teacher turnover in New York City's public middle schools. These years are widely recognized as a critical turning point for students, and the NYC Department of Education (DOE) is pursuing a range of middle school improvement initiatives. The stability of the middle…

Fish movement and habitat use depends on water body size and shape

USGS Publications Warehouse

Woolnough, D.A.; Downing, J.A.; Newton, T.J.

2009-01-01

Home ranges are central to understanding habitat diversity, effects of fragmentation and conservation. The distance that an organism moves yields information on life history, genetics and interactions with other organisms. Present theory suggests that home range is set by body size of individuals. Here, we analyse estimates of home ranges in lakes and rivers to show that body size of fish and water body size and shape influence home range size. Using 71 studies including 66 fish species on five continents, we show that home range estimates increased with increasing water body size across water body shapes. This contrasts with past studies concluding that body size sets home range. We show that water body size was a consistently significant predictor of home range. In conjunction, body size and water body size can provide improved estimates of home range than just body size alone. As habitat patches are decreasing in size worldwide, our findings have implications for ecology, conservation and genetics of populations in fragmented ecosystems. ?? 2008 Blackwell Munksgaard.

Large Deviations in Weakly Interacting Boundary Driven Lattice Gases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Wijland, Frédéric; Rácz, Zoltán

2005-01-01

One-dimensional, boundary-driven lattice gases with local interactions are studied in the weakly interacting limit. The density profiles and the correlation functions are calculated to first order in the interaction strength for zero-range and short-range processes differing only in the specifics of the detailed-balance dynamics. Furthermore, the effective free-energy (large-deviation function) and the integrated current distribution are also found to this order. From the former, we find that the boundary drive generates long-range correlations only for the short-range dynamics while the latter provides support to an additivity principle recently proposed by Bodineau and Derrida.

Statistical regularities of art images and natural scenes: spectra, sparseness and nonlinearities.

PubMed

Graham, Daniel J; Field, David J

2007-01-01

Paintings are the product of a process that begins with ordinary vision in the natural world and ends with manipulation of pigments on canvas. Because artists must produce images that can be seen by a visual system that is thought to take advantage of statistical regularities in natural scenes, artists are likely to replicate many of these regularities in their painted art. We have tested this notion by computing basic statistical properties and modeled cell response properties for a large set of digitized paintings and natural scenes. We find that both representational and non-representational (abstract) paintings from our sample (124 images) show basic similarities to a sample of natural scenes in terms of their spatial frequency amplitude spectra, but the paintings and natural scenes show significantly different mean amplitude spectrum slopes. We also find that the intensity distributions of paintings show a lower skewness and sparseness than natural scenes. We account for this by considering the range of luminances found in the environment compared to the range available in the medium of paint. A painting's range is limited by the reflective properties of its materials. We argue that artists do not simply scale the intensity range down but use a compressive nonlinearity. In our studies, modeled retinal and cortical filter responses to the images were less sparse for the paintings than for the natural scenes. But when a compressive nonlinearity was applied to the images, both the paintings' sparseness and the modeled responses to the paintings showed the same or greater sparseness compared to the natural scenes. This suggests that artists achieve some degree of nonlinear compression in their paintings. Because paintings have captivated humans for millennia, finding basic statistical regularities in paintings' spatial structure could grant insights into the range of spatial patterns that humans find compelling.

Length of FMR1 repeat alleles within the normal range does not substantially affect the risk of early menopause

PubMed Central

Ruth, Katherine S.; Bennett, Claire E.; Schoemaker, Minouk J.; Weedon, Michael N.; Swerdlow, Anthony J.; Murray, Anna

2016-01-01

STUDY QUESTION Is the length of FMR1 repeat alleles within the normal range associated with the risk of early menopause? SUMMARY ANSWER The length of repeat alleles within the normal range does not substantially affect risk of early menopause. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY There is a strong, well-established relationship between length of premutation FMR1 alleles and age at menopause, suggesting that this relationship could continue into the normal range. Within the normal range, there is conflicting evidence; differences in ovarian reserve have been identified with FMR1 repeat allele length, but a recent population-based study did not find any association with age at menopause as a quantitative trait. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION We analysed cross-sectional baseline survey data collected at recruitment from 2004 to 2010 from a population-based, prospective epidemiological cohort study of >110 000 women to investigate whether repeat allele length was associated with early menopause. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHOD We included 4333 women from the Breakthrough Generations Study (BGS), of whom 2118 were early menopause cases (menopause under 46 years) and 2215 were controls. We analysed the relationship between length of FMR1 alleles and early menopause using logistic regression with allele length as continuous and categorical variables. We also conducted analyses with the outcome age at menopause as a quantitative trait as well as appropriate sensitivity and exploratory analyses. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE There was no association of the shorter or longer FMR1 allele or their combined genotype with the clinically relevant end point of early menopause in our main analysis. Likewise, there were no associations with age at menopause as a quantitative trait in our secondary analysis. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Women with homozygous alleles in the normal range may have undetected FMR1 premutation alleles, although there was no evidence to suggest this. We estimate minor dilution of risk of early menopause from the likely inclusion of some women with menopause at over 45 years in the early menopause cases due to age-rounding bias in self-reports. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS There is no robust evidence in this large study that variation within the normal range of FMR1 repeat alleles influences timing of menopause in the general population, which contradicts findings from some earlier, mainly smaller studies. The FMR1 CGG repeat polymorphism in the normal range is unlikely to contribute to genetic susceptibility to early menopause. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) We thank Breast Cancer Now and The Institute of Cancer Research for funding the BGS. The Institute of Cancer Research acknowledges NHS funding to the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre. The study was funded by the Wellcome Trust (grant number 085943). There are no competing interests. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER Not applicable. PMID:27614355

Quantifying and modeling long-range cross correlations in multiple time series with applications to world stock indices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Duan; Podobnik, Boris; Horvatić, Davor; Stanley, H. Eugene

2011-04-01

We propose a modified time lag random matrix theory in order to study time-lag cross correlations in multiple time series. We apply the method to 48 world indices, one for each of 48 different countries. We find long-range power-law cross correlations in the absolute values of returns that quantify risk, and find that they decay much more slowly than cross correlations between the returns. The magnitude of the cross correlations constitutes “bad news” for international investment managers who may believe that risk is reduced by diversifying across countries. We find that when a market shock is transmitted around the world, the risk decays very slowly. We explain these time-lag cross correlations by introducing a global factor model (GFM) in which all index returns fluctuate in response to a single global factor. For each pair of individual time series of returns, the cross correlations between returns (or magnitudes) can be modeled with the autocorrelations of the global factor returns (or magnitudes). We estimate the global factor using principal component analysis, which minimizes the variance of the residuals after removing the global trend. Using random matrix theory, a significant fraction of the world index cross correlations can be explained by the global factor, which supports the utility of the GFM. We demonstrate applications of the GFM in forecasting risks at the world level, and in finding uncorrelated individual indices. We find ten indices that are practically uncorrelated with the global factor and with the remainder of the world indices, which is relevant information for world managers in reducing their portfolio risk. Finally, we argue that this general method can be applied to a wide range of phenomena in which time series are measured, ranging from seismology and physiology to atmospheric geophysics.

Quantifying and modeling long-range cross correlations in multiple time series with applications to world stock indices.

PubMed

Wang, Duan; Podobnik, Boris; Horvatić, Davor; Stanley, H Eugene

2011-04-01

We propose a modified time lag random matrix theory in order to study time-lag cross correlations in multiple time series. We apply the method to 48 world indices, one for each of 48 different countries. We find long-range power-law cross correlations in the absolute values of returns that quantify risk, and find that they decay much more slowly than cross correlations between the returns. The magnitude of the cross correlations constitutes "bad news" for international investment managers who may believe that risk is reduced by diversifying across countries. We find that when a market shock is transmitted around the world, the risk decays very slowly. We explain these time-lag cross correlations by introducing a global factor model (GFM) in which all index returns fluctuate in response to a single global factor. For each pair of individual time series of returns, the cross correlations between returns (or magnitudes) can be modeled with the autocorrelations of the global factor returns (or magnitudes). We estimate the global factor using principal component analysis, which minimizes the variance of the residuals after removing the global trend. Using random matrix theory, a significant fraction of the world index cross correlations can be explained by the global factor, which supports the utility of the GFM. We demonstrate applications of the GFM in forecasting risks at the world level, and in finding uncorrelated individual indices. We find ten indices that are practically uncorrelated with the global factor and with the remainder of the world indices, which is relevant information for world managers in reducing their portfolio risk. Finally, we argue that this general method can be applied to a wide range of phenomena in which time series are measured, ranging from seismology and physiology to atmospheric geophysics.

Intratracheal fiber glass instillation in rats: IL8 and lymphocytes levels in bronchoalveolar lavage, correlation with the histopathological findings

PubMed Central

HANCU, BIANCA DOMOKOS; POP, MONICA

2013-01-01

Introduction Fiberglass (FG) is the largest category of man –made mineral fibers. Many types of FG are manufactured for specific uses building insulation, air handling, and sound absorption. Because of increasing use and potential for widespread human exposure, a chronic toxicity instillation study was conducted in Wistar rats, which were found to be sensitive to the induction of mesotheliomas with another MMVF. Aim The present study is focused on the effect of fiber glass on lung through intratracheal exposure, the analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage and measurement of IL 8 levels, lymphocytes number and histopathological finding after the exposure period. Material and method Four groups of 8 female Wistar rats were included in the study. The animals were divided into three groups of 8 each, exposed to different doses of FG and one control group. The first group (1–8) was exposed to 6 mg dose/0.2 ml saline 5 days/week for 10 weeks, the second (9–16) group was exposed to 10 mg/0.2 ml saline 5 days/week 10 weeks, the third group (17–24) was exposed to 12 mg FG/0.2 ml saline solution 5 days/week 10 weeks and the control group (25–32) was exposed to the same volume of saline. The fibers had been size selected to be rat respirable. At the end of the exposure period of 10 weeks the rats were killed one week after the last exposure. Following preparation of the lungs, they were lavaged with 2x5 ml saline without massage. The lavage fluid was collected in calibrated tubes and harvested volume was recorded. Supernatant was obtained after centrifugation at 1,500 r.p.m for 5 minutes and IL8 levels and lymphocytes number were measured. Results The IL8 levels were found to be dose related; the first group had values ranging from 10 to 19.8 pg/ml and the total lymphocytes number in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid ranging from 1,500–1,900 and minimal/slight inflammatory lesions. The second group had the IL8 levels ranging between 60.4–80.4 pg/ml, lymphocytes number between 680–881 and moderate to marked inflammatory lesions. For the third group the IL8 values ranged between 88.3–113.2, the lymphocytes number ranged between 241–342 and the histopathological findings were marked and severe including emphysema, lung and pleural fibrosis. The control group had IL8 values between 10–19.4, there were no lymphocytes in the bronchoalveolar lavage and no histopathological findings. Conclusion These findings indicate that IL8 levels were dose related and IL8 levels have an inverse correlation with lymphocytes count in BAL, also correlated with the histopathological findings for the studied groups. PMID:26527915

Pulmonary involvement in rheumatoid arthritis: multidetector computed tomography findings.

PubMed

Yuksekkaya, Ruken; Celikyay, Fatih; Yilmaz, Ayse; Arslan, Sule; Inanir, Ahmet; Inonu, Handan; Deniz, Caglar

2013-12-01

Pulmonary involvement in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is common and encompasses a large spectrum of disease with different treatment options and prognoses. Therefore, assessment of these patients with multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is vital. To evaluate the MDCT pulmonary findings of patients with RA and to compare these findings with the clinical status. Chest MDCT scans of 85 patients with RA between 2006-2012 were assessed. One patient with a pulmonary infection was excluded from the study. MDCT findings and distribution of the CT findings were examined, and patients were classified according to the predominant CT pattern. The pulmonary function test (PFT) results and categories, demographic characteristics, and clinical status of some of the patients for whom the results were obtained were evaluated, and the CT findings, PFT results, demographic characteristics, and clinical status were compared. The study group consisted of 20 men (mean age, 58.1 years ± 13.1; range, 15-77 years) and 64 women (mean age, 55.3 years ± 11.5; range, 30-84 years). The most frequent findings were nodules (78.6%) and pleural thickening (48.8%). The most common CT patterns were follicular bronchiolitis (FB) in 28 (33.3%) patients and nodular disease (ND) in 12 (14.3%) others. There was no statistically significant difference between the CT findings and PFT results, and no statistically significant difference was noted in the CT findings between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. In addition, there were some patients who exhibited no symptoms and/or had abnormal PFT results but had abnormal CT findings. Rheumatoid arthritis is associated with a high frequency of CT findings and CT patterns, with nodules and pleural thickening being the most common CT findings and FB and ND being the most common CT patterns. MDCT identification of patients with RA may be helpful in the evaluation of pulmonary disease, even in patients without symptoms and PFT abnormalities.

Modelling Sensory Limitation: The Role of Tree Selection, Memory and Information Transfer in Bats’ Roost Searching Strategies

PubMed Central

Ruczyński, Ireneusz; Bartoń, Kamil A.

2012-01-01

Sensory limitation plays an important role in the evolution of animal behaviour. Animals have to find objects of interest (e.g. food, shelters, predators). When sensory abilities are strongly limited, animals adjust their behaviour to maximize chances for success. Bats are nocturnal, live in complex environments, are capable of flight and must confront numerous perceptual challenges (e.g. limited sensory range, interfering clutter echoes). This makes them an excellent model for studying the role of compensating behaviours to decrease costs of finding resources. Cavity roosting bats are especially interesting because the availability of tree cavities is often limited, and their quality is vital for bats during the breeding season. From a bat’s sensory point of view, cavities are difficult to detect and finding them requires time and energy. However, tree cavities are also long lasting, allowing information transfer among conspecifics. Here, we use a simple simulation model to explore the benefits of tree selection, memory and eavesdropping (compensation behaviours) to searches for tree cavities by bats with short and long perception range. Our model suggests that memory and correct discrimination of tree suitability are the basic strategies decreasing the cost of roost finding, whereas perceptual range plays a minor role in this process. Additionally, eavesdropping constitutes a buffer that reduces the costs of finding new resources (such as roosts), especially when they occur in low density. We conclude that natural selection may promote different strategies of roost finding in relation to habitat conditions and cognitive skills of animals. PMID:23028666

Evaluation of the School Breakfast Program Pilot Project: Findings from the First Year of Implementation. Nutrition Assistance Program Report Series.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McLaughlin, Joan E.; Bernstein, Lawrence S.; Crepinsek, May Kay; Daft, Lynn M.; Murphy, J. Michael

In 1998, Congress authorized implementation of a 3-year pilot breakfast program involving 4,300 students in elementary schools in 6 school districts representing a range of economic and demographic characteristics. The program began in the 2000-01 school year. This lengthy report presents the findings from the pilot's first year. The study had two…

Enabling Students to Understand Measures of Central Tendency and Variation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Suco, Erika; Samere, Marie; Hong, Siu Lun

2012-01-01

Somewhere in a programme of study for mathematics in Key Stages 3 and 4 you would expect to find the terms mean, mode, median, and range. You might even find the terms central tendency, and variation. Many students following such a programme will be able to calculate the mean, most will be able to quote the mode, and some students will be able to…

76 FR 69636 - Amides, C5

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-09

... discussed in this unit. Acute studies revealed low oral and dermal toxicity (OPPTS Harmonized Test... range finding study administered the test substance to female rats on gestation days 6-19. All females.../40tab_02.tpl . To access the harmonized test guidelines referenced in this document electronically...

Power law cross-correlations between price change and volume change of Indian stocks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hasan, Rashid; Mohammed Salim, M.

2017-05-01

We study multifractal long-range correlations and cross-correlations of daily price change and volume change of 50 stocks that comprise Nifty index of National Stock Exchange, Mumbai, using MF-DFA and MF-DCCA methods. We find that the time series of price change are uncorrelated, whereas anti-persistent long-range multifractal correlations are found in volume change series. We also find antipersistent long-range multifractal cross-correlations between the time series of price change and volume change. As multifractality is a signature of complexity, we estimate complexity parameters of the time series of price change, volume change, and cross-correlated price-volume change by fitting the fourth-degree polynomials to their multifractal spectra. Our results indicate that the time series of price change display high complexity, whereas the time series of volume change and cross-correlated price-volume change display low complexity.

Interrater and intrarater agreements of magnetic resonance imaging findings in the lumbar spine: significant variability across degenerative conditions.

PubMed

Fu, Michael C; Buerba, Rafael A; Long, William D; Blizzard, Daniel J; Lischuk, Andrew W; Haims, Andrew H; Grauer, Jonathan N

2014-10-01

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is frequently used in the evaluation of degenerative conditions in the lumbar spine. The relative interrater and intrarater agreements of MRI findings across different pathologic conditions are underexplored, as most studies are focused on specific findings. The purpose of this study was to characterize the interrater and intrarater agreements of MRI findings used to assess the degenerative lumbar spine. A retrospective diagnostic study at a large academic medical center was undertaken with a panel of orthopedic surgeons and musculoskeletal radiologists to assess lumbar MRIs using standardized criteria. Seventy-five subjects who underwent routine lumbar spine MRI at our institution were included. Each MRI study was assessed for 10 lumbar degenerative findings using standardized criteria. Lumbar vertebral levels were assessed independently, where applicable, for a total of 52 data points collected per study. T2-weighted axial and sagittal MRI sequences were presented in random order to the four reviewers (two orthopedic spine surgeons and two musculoskeletal radiologists) independently to determine interrater agreement. The first 10 studies were reevaluated at the end to determine intrarater agreement. Images were assessed using standardized and pilot-tested criteria to assess disc degeneration, stenosis, and other degenerative changes. Interrater and intrarater absolute percent agreements were calculated. To highlight the most clinically important MRI disagreements, a modified agreement analysis was also performed (in which disagreements between the lowest two severity grades for applicable conditions were ignored). Fleiss kappa coefficients for interrater agreement were determined. The overall absolute and modified interrater agreements were 76.9% and 93.5%, respectively. The absolute and modified intrarater agreements were 81.3% and 92.7%, respectively. Average Fleiss kappa coefficient was 0.431, suggesting moderate overall agreement. However, when stratified by condition, absolute interrater agreement ranged from 65.1% to 92.0%. Disc hydration, disc space height, and bone marrow changes exhibited the lowest absolute interrater agreements. The absolute intrarater agreement had a narrower range, from 74.5% to 91.5%. Fleiss kappa coefficients ranged from fair-to-substantial agreement (0.282-0.618). Even in a study using standardized evaluation criteria, there was significant variability in the interrater and intrarater agreements of MRI in assessing different degenerative conditions of the lumbar spine. Clinicians should be aware of the condition-specific diagnostic limitations of MRI interpretation. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Prognostic value of coronary computed tomographic angiography findings in asymptomatic individuals: a 6-year follow-up from the prospective multicentre international CONFIRM study.

PubMed

Cho, Iksung; Al'Aref, Subhi J; Berger, Adam; Ó Hartaigh, Bríain; Gransar, Heidi; Valenti, Valentina; Lin, Fay Y; Achenbach, Stephan; Berman, Daniel S; Budoff, Matthew J; Callister, Tracy Q; Al-Mallah, Mouaz H; Cademartiri, Filippo; Chinnaiyan, Kavitha; Chow, Benjamin J W; DeLago, Augustin; Villines, Todd C; Hadamitzky, Martin; Hausleiter, Joerg; Leipsic, Jonathon; Shaw, Leslee J; Kaufmann, Philipp A; Feuchtner, Gudrun; Kim, Yong-Jin; Maffei, Erica; Raff, Gilbert; Pontone, Gianluca; Andreini, Daniele; Marques, Hugo; Rubinshtein, Ronen; Chang, Hyuk-Jae; Min, James K

2018-03-14

The long-term prognostic benefit of coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) findings of coronary artery disease (CAD) in asymptomatic populations is unknown. From the prospective multicentre international CONFIRM long-term study, we evaluated asymptomatic subjects without known CAD who underwent both coronary artery calcium scoring (CACS) and CCTA (n = 1226). Coronary computed tomographic angiography findings included the severity of coronary artery stenosis, plaque composition, and coronary segment location. Using the C-statistic and likelihood ratio tests, we evaluated the incremental prognostic utility of CCTA findings over a base model that included a panel of traditional risk factors (RFs) as well as CACS to predict long-term all-cause mortality. During a mean follow-up of 5.9 ± 1.2 years, 78 deaths occurred. Compared with the traditional RF alone (C-statistic 0.64), CCTA findings including coronary stenosis severity, plaque composition, and coronary segment location demonstrated improved incremental prognostic utility beyond traditional RF alone (C-statistics range 0.71-0.73, all P < 0.05; incremental χ2 range 20.7-25.5, all P < 0.001). However, no added prognostic benefit was offered by CCTA findings when added to a base model containing both traditional RF and CACS (C-statistics P > 0.05, for all). Coronary computed tomographic angiography improved prognostication of 6-year all-cause mortality beyond a set of conventional RF alone, although, no further incremental value was offered by CCTA when CCTA findings were added to a model incorporating RF and CACS.

Impact of statin adherence on cardiovascular disease and mortality outcomes: a systematic review

PubMed Central

De Vera, Mary A; Bhole, Vidula; Burns, Lindsay C; Lacaille, Diane

2014-01-01

Aims While suboptimal adherence to statin medication has been quantified in real-world patient settings, a better understanding of its impact is needed, particularly with respect to distinct problems of medication taking. Our aim was to synthesize current evidence on the impacts of statin adherence, discontinuation and persistence on cardiovascular disease and mortality outcomes. Methods We conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed studies using a mapped search of Medline, Embase and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts databases. Observational studies that met the following criteria were included: defined patient population; statin adherence exposure; defined study outcome [i.e. cardiovascular disease (CVD), mortality]; and reporting of statin-specific results. Results Overall, 28 studies were included, with 19 studies evaluating outcomes associated with statin adherence, six with statin discontinuation and three with statin persistence. Among adherence studies, the proportion of days covered was the most widely used measure, with the majority of studies reporting increased risk of CVD (statistically significant risk estimates ranging from 1.22 to 5.26) and mortality (statistically significant risk estimates ranging from 1.25 to 2.54) among non-adherent individuals. There was greater methodological variability in discontinuation and persistence studies. However, findings of increased CVD (statistically significant risk estimates ranging from 1.22 to 1.67) and mortality (statistically significant risk estimates ranging from 1.79 to 5.00) among nonpersistent individuals were also consistently reported. Conclusions Observational studies consistently report an increased risk of adverse outcomes associated with poor statin adherence. These findings have important implications for patients and physicians and emphasize the importance of monitoring and encouraging adherence to statin therapy. PMID:25364801

Personality disorders and traits in patients with body dysmorphic disorder.

PubMed

Phillips, K A; McElroy, S L

2000-01-01

Individuals with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) have been postulated to have schizoid, narcissistic, and obsessional personality traits and to be sensitive, introverted, perfectionistic, and insecure. However, data on personality traits and disorders in BDD are limited. This study assessed 148 subjects with BDD, 26 of whom participated in a fluvoxamine treatment study; 74 subjects were assessed for personality disorders with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSMIII-R Personality Disorders (SCID-II), 100 subjects completed the NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI), and 51 subjects completed the Rathus Assertiveness Scale. Forty-two subjects (57%) had one or more personality disorders, with avoidant personality disorder (43%) being most common, followed by dependent (15%), obsessive-compulsive (14%), and paranoid (14%) personality disorders. On the NEO-FFI, the mean scores were in the very high range for neuroticism, the low range for extraversion and conscientiousness, the low-average range for agreeableness, and the average range for openness to experience. On the Rathus Assertiveness Scale, the mean score was -17.1 +/- 32.0 for women and -17.0 +/- 32.3 for men. Among fluvoxamine responders, the number of personality disorders significantly decreased between the study baseline and endpoint. These findings suggest that the rate of personality disorders in BDD is relatively high, with avoidant personality disorder being most common. The high neuroticism scores and low extraversion scores are consistent with this finding.

Density of states and magnetotransport in Weyl semimetals with long-range disorder

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pesin, D. A.; Mishchenko, E. G.; Levchenko, A.

2015-11-01

We study the density of states and magnetotransport properties of disordered Weyl semimetals, focusing on the case of a strong long-range disorder. To calculate the disorder-averaged density of states close to nodal points, we treat exactly the long-range random potential fluctuations produced by charged impurities, while the short-range component of disorder potential is included systematically and controllably with the help of a diagram technique. We find that, for energies close to the degeneracy point, long-range potential fluctuations lead to a finite density of states. In the context of transport, we discuss that a self-consistent theory of screening in magnetic field may conceivably lead to nonmonotonic low-field magnetoresistance.

Radiographic Findings in Revision Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstructions from the MARS Cohort

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

The Multicenter ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) Revision Study (MARS) group was developed to investigate revision ACL reconstruction outcomes. An important part of this is obtaining and reviewing radiographic studies. The goal for this radiographic analysis is to establish radiographic findings for a large revision ACL cohort to allow comparison with future studies. The study was designed as a cohort study. Various established radiographic parameters were measured by three readers. These included sagittal and coronal femoral and tibial tunnel position, joint space narrowing, and leg alignment. Inter- and intraobserver comparisons were performed. Femoral sagittal position demonstrated 42% were more than 40% anterior to the posterior cortex. On the sagittal tibia tunnel position, 49% demonstrated some impingement on full-extension lateral radiographs. Limb alignment averaged 43% medial to the medial edge of the tibial plateau. On the Rosenberg view (45-degree flexion view), the minimum joint space in the medial compartment averaged 106% of the opposite knee, but it ranged down to a minimum of 4.6%. Lateral compartment narrowing at its minimum on the Rosenberg view averaged 91.2% of the opposite knee, but it ranged down to a minimum of 0.0%. On the coronal view, verticality as measured by the angle from the center of the tibial tunnel aperture to the center of the femoral tunnel aperture measured 15.8 degree ± 6.9% from vertical. This study represents the radiographic findings in the largest revision ACL reconstruction series ever assembled. Findings were generally consistent with those previously demonstrated in the literature. PMID:23404491

Hospital ownership and financial performance: what explains the different findings in the empirical literature?

PubMed

Shen, Yu-Chu; Eggleston, Karen; Lau, Joseph; Schmid, Christopher H

2007-01-01

This study applies meta-analytic methods to conduct a quantitative review of the empirical literature on hospital ownership since 1990. We examine four financial outcomes across 40 studies: cost, revenue, profit margin, and efficiency. We find that variation in the magnitudes of ownership effects can be explained by a study's research focus and methodology. Studies using empirical methods that control for few confounding factors tend to find larger differences between for-profit and not-for-profit hospitals than studies that control for a wider range of confounding factors. Functional form and sample size also matter. Failure to apply log transformation to highly skewed expenditure data yields misleadingly large estimated differences between for-profits and not-for-profits. Studies with fewer than 200 observations also produce larger point estimates and wide confidence intervals.

Simulation of the Burridge-Knopoff model of earthquakes with variable range stress transfer.

PubMed

Xia, Junchao; Gould, Harvey; Klein, W; Rundle, J B

2005-12-09

Simple models of earthquake faults are important for understanding the mechanisms for their observed behavior, such as Gutenberg-Richter scaling and the relation between large and small events, which is the basis for various forecasting methods. Although cellular automaton models have been studied extensively in the long-range stress transfer limit, this limit has not been studied for the Burridge-Knopoff model, which includes more realistic friction forces and inertia. We find that the latter model with long-range stress transfer exhibits qualitatively different behavior than both the long-range cellular automaton models and the usual Burridge-Knopoff model with nearest-neighbor springs, depending on the nature of the velocity-weakening friction force. These results have important implications for our understanding of earthquakes and other driven dissipative systems.

Education Policy Studies in South Africa, 1995-2006

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Deacon, Roger; Osman, Ruksana; Buchler, Michelle

2010-01-01

This article reports on findings pertaining to scholarship in education policy drawn from a wider study on all education research in South Africa from 1995 to 2006. This study, which defined education research as broadly pertaining to teaching and/or learning, obtained extensive data from a wide range of sources, including universities, public…

History, Physical Examination, Laboratory Testing, and Emergency Department Ultrasonography for the Diagnosis of Acute Cholecystitis.

PubMed

Jain, Ashika; Mehta, Ninfa; Secko, Michael; Schechter, Joshua; Papanagnou, Dimitri; Pandya, Shreya; Sinert, Richard

2017-03-01

Acute cholecystitis (AC) is a common differential for patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with abdominal pain. The diagnostic accuracy of history, physical examination, and bedside laboratory tests for AC have not been quantitatively described. We performed a systematic review to determine the utility of history and physical examination (H&P), laboratory studies, and ultrasonography (US) in diagnosing AC in the ED. We searched medical literature from January 1965 to March 2016 in PubMed, Embase, and SCOPUS using a strategy derived from the following formulation of our clinical question: patients-ED patients suspected of AC; interventions-H&P, laboratory studies, and US findings commonly used to diagnose AC; comparator-surgical pathology or definitive diagnostic radiologic study confirming AC; and outcome-the operating characteristics of the investigations in diagnosing AC were calculated. Sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios (LRs) were calculated using Meta-DiSc with a random-effects model (95% CI). Study quality and risks for bias were assessed using the Quality Assessment Tool for Diagnostic Accuracy Studies. Separate PubMed, Embase, and SCOPUS searches retrieved studies for H&P (n = 734), laboratory findings (n = 74), and US (n = 492). Three H&P studies met inclusion/exclusion criteria with AC prevalence of 7%-64%. Fever had sensitivity ranging from 31% to 62% and specificity from 37% to 74%; positive LR [LR+] was 0.71-1.24, and negative LR [LR-] was 0.76-1.49. Jaundice sensitivity ranged from 11% to 14%, and specificity from 86% to 99%; LR+ was 0.80-13.81, and LR- was 0.87-1.03. Murphy's sign sensitivity was 62% (range = 53%-71%), and specificity was 96% (range = 95%-97%); LR+ was 15.64 (range = 11.48-21.31), and LR- was 0.40 (range = 0.32-0.50). Right upper quadrant pain had sensitivity ranging from 56% to 93% and specificity of 0% to 96%; LR+ ranged from 0.92 to 14.02, and LR- from 0.46 to 7.86. One laboratory study met criteria with a 26% prevalence of AC. Elevated bilirubin had a sensitivity of 40% (range = 12%-74%) and specificity of 93% (range = 77%-99%); LR+ was 5.80 (range = 1.25-26.99), and LR- was 0.64 (range = 0.39-1.08). Five US studies with a prevalence of AC of between 10% and 46%. US sensitivity was 86% (range = 78%-94%) and specificity was 71% (range = 66%-76%); LR+ was 3.23 (range = 1.74-6.00), and LR- was 0.18 (range = 0.10-0.33). Variable disease prevalence, coupled with limited sample sizes, increases the risk of selection bias. Individually, none of these investigations reliably rule out AC. Development of a clinical decision rule to include evaluation of H&P, laboratory data, and US are more likely to achieve a correct diagnosis of AC. © 2016 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.

Characterising the effect of global and local geometric imperfections on the numerical performance of a brace member

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hassan, M. S.; Goggins, J.; Salawdeh, S.

2015-07-01

A numerical imperfection study is carried out on a hot rolled tubular brace member under displacement controlled amplitudes. An appropriate range of global and local imperfections is used in the finite element analyses to evaluate the initial-post buckling compressive strength, lateral storey drift, energy dissipation and mid-length lateral deformation of the brace member. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of the geometrical imperfection on the numerical performance, and to determine an amplitude range that can be used unequivocally for numerical modelling of brace members. It is shown that the amplitude of global imperfections has an effect on the initial response, whereas the amplitude of local imperfections has influence on the resistance capacity of the brace member at higher ductility level. Based on the results, a refined range of amplitude of global and local imperfections is proposed. This range is found to have a good agreement with design standards. In addition, an already established equation to find lateral deformation is compared to results from the analyses and found that the equation with some modification can be used accurately in design. In this paper, a modification factor is proposed in the equation to find the lateral deformation to account for the imperfection amplitude in the numerical analyses of brace members.

Long-range dependence and multifractality in the term structure of LIBOR interest rates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cajueiro, Daniel O.; Tabak, Benjamin M.

2007-01-01

In this paper we present evidence of long-range dependence in LIBOR interest rates. We study a data set from 2000 to 2005, for six different currencies and various maturities. Empirical results suggest that the degree of long-range dependence decreases with maturity, with the exception of interest rates on Japanese Yen and on Indonesian Rupiah. Furthermore, interest rates have a multifractal nature and the degree of multifractality is much stronger for Indonesia (emerging market). These findings suggest that interest rates derivatives should take these features into account. Furthermore, fixed income risk and portfolio management should incorporate long-range dependence in the modeling of interest rates.

The determination of the operating range of a twin-grip control yoke through biomechanical means

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gaertner, K. P.

1978-01-01

A twin-grip control yoke was designed as an ergonomic case study that allows dual axis control inputs, both axes being rotational. Inputs are effected by rotating the grips. How the handles were designed with respect to their shape and size and how the angular range of the control yoke in both rotational axes was evaluated. The control yoke which requires two-hand operation was tested to determine its operating range. The intention of this investigation was to find out the optimal form of the control yoke and the maximum permissible range in both rotating axes. In these experiments controls had no spring resistance.

Scaling range of power laws that originate from fluctuation analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grech, Dariusz; Mazur, Zygmunt

2013-05-01

We extend our previous study of scaling range properties performed for detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) [Physica A0378-437110.1016/j.physa.2013.01.049 392, 2384 (2013)] to other techniques of fluctuation analysis (FA). The new technique, called modified detrended moving average analysis (MDMA), is introduced, and its scaling range properties are examined and compared with those of detrended moving average analysis (DMA) and DFA. It is shown that contrary to DFA, DMA and MDMA techniques exhibit power law dependence of the scaling range with respect to the length of the searched signal and with respect to the accuracy R2 of the fit to the considered scaling law imposed by DMA or MDMA methods. This power law dependence is satisfied for both uncorrelated and autocorrelated data. We find also a simple generalization of this power law relation for series with a different level of autocorrelations measured in terms of the Hurst exponent. Basic relations between scaling ranges for different techniques are also discussed. Our findings should be particularly useful for local FA in, e.g., econophysics, finances, or physiology, where the huge number of short time series has to be examined at once and wherever the preliminary check of the scaling range regime for each of the series separately is neither effective nor possible.

NASA astronomical findings highlighted on This Week @NASA – January 8, 2016

NASA Image and Video Library

2016-01-08

New NASA astrophysics findings were highlighted at the 227th American Astronomical Society meeting, Jan. 4-8 in Kissimmee, Florida. The findings, which ranged from runaway stars to a burping galaxy, were made with the help of several NASA observation instruments, including the Spitzer Space Telescope, the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, the Chandra X-ray Observatory, the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array and others. Also, Next space station crew preparing for mission, Economical new era of aviation, A new level of coral reef studies and more!

Does This Child Have Pneumonia?: The Rational Clinical Examination Systematic Review.

PubMed

Shah, Sonal N; Bachur, Richard G; Simel, David L; Neuman, Mark I

2017-08-01

Pneumonia is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children. It is important to identify the clinical symptoms and physical examination findings associated with pneumonia to improve timely diagnosis, prevent significant morbidity, and limit antibiotic overuse. To systematically review the accuracy of symptoms and physical examination findings in identifying children with radiographic pneumonia. MEDLINE and Embase (1956 to May 2017) were searched, along with reference lists from retrieved articles, to identify diagnostic studies of pediatric pneumonia across a broad age range that had to include children younger than age 5 years (although some studies enrolled children up to age 19 years); 3644 unique articles were identified, of which 23 met inclusion criteria. Two authors independently abstracted raw data and assessed methodological quality. A third author resolved disputes. Likelihood ratios (LRs), sensitivity, and specificity were calculated for individual symptoms and physical examination findings for the diagnosis of pneumonia. An infiltrate on chest radiograph was considered the reference standard for the diagnosis of pneumonia. Twenty-three prospective cohort studies of children (N = 13 833) with possible pneumonia were included (8 from North America), with a range of 78 to 2829 patients per study. The prevalence of radiographic pneumonia in North American studies was 19% (95% CI, 11%-31%) and 37% (95% CI, 26%-50%) outside of North America. No single symptom was strongly associated with pneumonia; however, the presence of chest pain in 2 studies that included adolescents was associated with pneumonia (LR, 1.5-5.5; sensitivity, 8%-14%; specificity, 94%-97%). Vital sign abnormalities such as fever (temperature >37.5°C [LR range, 1.7-1.8]; sensitivity, 80%-92%; specificity, 47%-54%) and tachypnea (respiratory rate >40 breaths/min; LR, 1.5 [95% CI, 1.3-1.7]; sensitivity, 79%; specificity, 51%) were not strongly associated with pneumonia diagnosis. Similarly, auscultatory findings were not associated with pneumonia diagnosis. The presence of moderate hypoxemia (oxygen saturation ≤96%; LR, 2.8 [95% CI, 2.1-3.6]; sensitivity, 64%; specificity, 77%) and increased work of breathing (grunting, flaring, and retractions; positive LR, 2.1 [95% CI, 1.6-2.7]) were signs most associated with pneumonia. The presence of normal oxygenation (oxygen saturation >96%) decreased the likelihood of pneumonia (LR, 0.47 [95% CI, 0.32-0.67]). Although no single finding reliably differentiates pneumonia from other causes of childhood respiratory illness, hypoxia and increased work of breathing are more important than tachypnea and auscultatory findings.

Correlation between toe flexor strength and ankle dorsiflexion ROM during the countermovement jump.

PubMed

Yun, Sung Joon; Kim, Moon-Hwan; Weon, Jong-Hyuck; Kim, Young; Jung, Sung-Hoon; Kwon, Oh-Yun

2016-08-01

[Purpose] This study assessed the relationships between peak toe flexor muscle strength, ankle dorsiflexion range of motion, and countermovement jump height. [Subjects and Methods] Eighteen healthy volunteers participated in the study. Each participant completed tests for peak toe flexor muscle strength, ankle dorsiflexion range of motion, and countermovement jump height. [Results] The results showed (1) a moderate correlation between ankle dorsiflexion range of motion and countermovement jump height and (2) a high correlation between peak first toe flexor muscle strength and countermovement jump height. Peak first toe flexor muscle strength and ankle dorsiflexion range of motion are the main contributors to countermovement jump performance. [Conclusion] These findings indicate that the measurement of peak first toe flexor muscle strength and ankle dorsiflexion range of motion may be useful in clinical practice for improving jump performance in athletes training for sports such as volleyball and basketball.

Ultrasonographic Findings of the Shoulder in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Comparison with Physical Examination

PubMed Central

Kim, Su Ho; Seo, Young-Il

2007-01-01

The objectives of this study were: 1) to identify the ultrasonographic (US) abnormalities and 2) to compare the findings of physical examination with US findings in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with shoulder pain. We studied 30 RA patients. Physical examination was performed systemically as follows: 1) area of tenderness; 2) range of passive and active shoulder motion; 3) impingement tests; 4) maneuvers for determining the location of the tendon lesions. US investigations included the biceps, the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and subscapularis tendons; the subacromial-subdeltoid bursa; and the glenohumeral and acromioclavicular joints. Thirty RA patients with 35 painful and 25 non-painful shoulders were examined. The range of motion affected the most by shoulder pain was abduction. The most frequent US finding of shoulder joint was effusion in the long head of the biceps tendon. Among the rotator cuff tendons, subscapularis was the most frequently involved. Tendon tear was also common among non-painful shoulders. Physical examination used for the diagnosis of shoulder pain had low sensitivity and specificity for detecting abnormalities in the rheumatoid shoulder joint. In conclusion, US abnormalities showed frequent tendon tears in our RA patients. Physical examination had low sensitivity and specificity for detecting rotator cuff tear in the rheumatoid shoulder joint. PMID:17728506

Steady-State Visual Evoked Potentials Can Be Explained by Temporal Superposition of Transient Event-Related Responses

PubMed Central

Capilla, Almudena; Pazo-Alvarez, Paula; Darriba, Alvaro; Campo, Pablo; Gross, Joachim

2011-01-01

Background One common criterion for classifying electrophysiological brain responses is based on the distinction between transient (i.e. event-related potentials, ERPs) and steady-state responses (SSRs). The generation of SSRs is usually attributed to the entrainment of a neural rhythm driven by the stimulus train. However, a more parsimonious account suggests that SSRs might result from the linear addition of the transient responses elicited by each stimulus. This study aimed to investigate this possibility. Methodology/Principal Findings We recorded brain potentials elicited by a checkerboard stimulus reversing at different rates. We modeled SSRs by sequentially shifting and linearly adding rate-specific ERPs. Our results show a strong resemblance between recorded and synthetic SSRs, supporting the superposition hypothesis. Furthermore, we did not find evidence of entrainment of a neural oscillation at the stimulation frequency. Conclusions/Significance This study provides evidence that visual SSRs can be explained as a superposition of transient ERPs. These findings have critical implications in our current understanding of brain oscillations. Contrary to the idea that neural networks can be tuned to a wide range of frequencies, our findings rather suggest that the oscillatory response of a given neural network is constrained within its natural frequency range. PMID:21267081

Reasons for referral and findings of clinical neuropsychological assessment in youth with mental illness: A clinical file audit.

PubMed

Proffitt, Tina-Marie; Brewer, Warrick J; Parrish, Emma M; McGorry, Patrick D; Allott, Kelly A

2018-01-01

Study aims were to 1) determine the characteristics and reasons for referral for Clinical Neuropsychological Assessment (CNA) and 2) characterize the findings and recommendations contained in the CNA reports, of clients attending a youth mental health service. File audit of all CNA reports (N = 140) of youth attending a mental health service. Cognitive performances on neuropsychological tests that were administered to >50% of clients were examined. Referral reasons, findings, and recommendations for future treatment were coded and described from neuropsychological files. Age of clients referred for CNA ranged from 13-29, the majority were male (62.5%), referred primarily from the early psychosis clinic (63.2%), and had a mean number of 3.5 presenting problems. Cognitive performances ranged from extremely low to very superior. Mean number of reasons for referral was 2, with treatment recommendation (55%) and diagnostic clarification (50.7%) being the most common. Mean number of findings from CNA was 5.8; most commonly, a diagnosis of clinically meaningful cognitive impairment (85%), followed by a recommendations for additional services/investigations (77.1%). CNA provides diagnostic clarification and treatment recommendations for youth receiving mental health treatment. Future studies should examine the cost-effectiveness, implementation, and objective impact of CNA in clinical practice.

Long-range anticorrelations and non-Gaussian behavior of the heartbeat

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Peng, C.-K.; Mietus, J.; Hausdorff, J. M.; Havlin, S.; Stanley, H. E.; Goldberger, A. L.

1993-01-01

We find that the successive increments in the cardiac beat-to-beat intervals of healthy subjects display scale-invariant, long-range anticorrelations (up to 10 exp 4 heart beats). Furthermore, we find that the histogram for the heartbeat intervals increments is well described by a Levy (1991) stable distribution. For a group of subjects with severe heart disease, we find that the distribution is unchanged, but the long-range correlations vanish. Therefore, the different scaling behavior in health and disease must relate to the underlying dynamics of the heartbeat.

Visualising Conversation Structure across Time: Insights into Effective Doctor-Patient Consultations

PubMed Central

Angus, Daniel; Watson, Bernadette; Smith, Andrew; Gallois, Cindy; Wiles, Janet

2012-01-01

Effective communication between healthcare professionals and patients is critical to patients’ health outcomes. The doctor/patient dialogue has been extensively researched from different perspectives, with findings emphasising a range of behaviours that lead to effective communication. Much research involves self-reports, however, so that behavioural engagement cannot be disentangled from patients’ ratings of effectiveness. In this study we used a highly efficient and time economic automated computer visualisation measurement technique called Discursis to analyse conversational behaviour in consultations. Discursis automatically builds an internal language model from a transcript, mines the transcript for its conceptual content, and generates an interactive visual account of the discourse. The resultant visual account of the whole consultation can be analysed for patterns of engagement between interactants. The findings from this study show that Discursis is effective at highlighting a range of consultation techniques, including communication accommodation, engagement and repetition. PMID:22693629

Cognitive, behavioral and goal adjustment coping and depressive symptoms in young people with diabetes: a search for intervention targets for coping skills training.

PubMed

Kraaij, Vivian; Garnefski, Nadia

2015-03-01

The aim of the present study was to find relevant coping factors for the development of psychological intervention programs for young people with Type 1 (T1) diabetes. A wide range of coping techniques was studied, including cognitive coping, behavioral coping and goal adjustment coping. A total of 78 young people with T1 diabetes participated. They were contacted through a social networking website, several Internet sites, and flyers. A wide range of coping techniques appeared to be related to depressive symptoms. Especially the cognitive coping strategies self-blame, rumination, refocus positive, and other-blame, together with goal adjustment coping, were of importance. A large proportion of the variance of depressive symptoms could be explained (65 %). These findings suggest that these specific coping strategies should be part of coping skills trainings for young people with T1 diabetes.

Factor structure of a standards-based inventory of competencies in social work with groups.

PubMed

Macgowan, Mark J; Dillon, Frank R; Spadola, Christine E

2018-01-01

This study extends previous findings on a measure of competencies based on Standards for Social Work Practice with Groups. The Inventory of Competencies in Social Work with Groups (ICSWG) measures confidence in performing the Standards. This study examines the latent structure of the Inventory, while illuminating the underlying structure of the Standards. A multinational sample of 586 persons completed the ICSWG. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA), reliability estimates, standard error of measurement estimates, and a range of validity tests were conducted. The EFA yielded a six-factor solution consisting of core values, mutuality/connectivity, collaboration, and three phases of group development (planning, beginnings/middles, endings). The alphas were .98 for the scale and ranged from .85 to .95 for the subscales. Correlations between the subscales and validators supported evidence of construct validity. The findings suggest key group work domains that should be taught and practiced in social work with groups.

A Systematic Review on the Designs of Clinical Technology: Findings and Recommendations for Future Research

PubMed Central

PhD, Greg Alexander; Staggers, Nancy

2010-01-01

Human factors (HF) studies are increasingly important as technology infuses into clinical settings. No nursing research reviews exist in this area. The authors conducted a systematic review on designs of clinical technology, 34 articles with 50 studies met inclusion criteria. Findings were classified into three categories based on HF research goals. The majority of studies evaluated effectiveness of clinical design; efficiency was fewest. Current research ranges across many interface types examined with no apparent pattern or obvious rationale. Future research should expand types, settings, participants; integrate displays; and expand outcome variables. PMID:19707093

Effects of suspended sulfates on human health.

PubMed Central

French, J G

1975-01-01

Recent evidence from epidemiologic studies conducted in several areas of the United States shows an association of excess risk of asthmatic attacks with elevated levels of suspended sulfates within specific temperature ranges. These findings are disscussed in the context of experimental animal studies which tend to support these observations. PMID:1157797

Field Guides in Academe: A Citation Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schmidt, Dianne

2006-01-01

Field guides are common in libraries but are generally not considered scholarly. This study examines citations to fifty field guides to determine how they were used in scholarly publications, finding that field guides are frequently cited as a source of data on the ranges, habits, and descriptions of plants and animals.

Attachment from Infancy to Adulthood: The Major Longitudinal Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grossmann, Klaus E., Ed.; Grossmann, Karin, Ed.; Waters, Everett, Ed.

2005-01-01

This volume provides unique and valuable firsthand accounts of the most important longitudinal studies of attachment. Presented are a range of research programs that have broadened the understanding of early close relationships and their role in individual adaptation throughout life. In addition to discussing the findings that emerged from each…

Time-Series Evidence of the Effect of the Minimum Wage on Youth Employment and Unemployment.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Charles; And Others

1983-01-01

The study finds that a 10 percent increase in the federal minimum wage (or the coverage rate) would reduce teenage (16-19) employment by about one percent, which is at the lower end of the range of estimates from previous studies. (Author/SSH)

Histological findings and immunohistochemical surfactant protein A (SP-A) expression in asphyxia: its application in the diagnosis of drowning.

PubMed

Pérez-Cárceles, M D; Sibón, A; Vizcaya, M A; Osuna, E; Gómez-Zapata, M; Luna, A; Martínez-Díaz, F

2008-09-01

The histopathological alterations that permit the diagnosis of death by asphyxia are very unspecific, although pulmonary alterations are of great importance in this respect. The postmortem diagnosis of drowning, particularly, continues to be one of the most difficult in forensic pathology. The aim of this study is to jointly evaluate microscopic findings and immunohistochemical surfactant protein A (SP-A) expression in the upper and lower lobes of lungs in different causes of death, and their possible application to the diagnosis of drowning. We studied 120 cadavers from subjects with a mean age of 48.73 years (SD 19.45; range 2-86 years), and with a mean post-mortem interval of 30 hours (SD 39.59; range 3-216 hours). According to the scene, cause and circumstances of death, and autopsy findings, cases were classified into groups as follows: (a) drowning (n=47); (b) other asphyxia (n=44) and (c) other causes (n=29). In the upper and lower lobes of lungs, histological studies of H&E staining and immunohistochemical surfactant protein A expression were made. The presence and severity of congestion, haemorrhage and oedema, together with immunohistochemical SP-A expression, may have a diagnostic value in differentiating asphyxia and drowning from other causes of death, and drowning from other types of asphyxia. Our findings suggest that both lobes should be investigated to establish the diagnosis, although the findings in the upper lobe might be the most important for differentiating the exact cause of death.

Complete devil's staircase and crystal-superfluid transitions in a dipolar XXZ spin chain: a trapped ion quantum simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hauke, Philipp; Cucchietti, Fernando M.; Müller-Hermes, Alexander; Bañuls, Mari-Carmen; Cirac, J. Ignacio; Lewenstein, Maciej

2010-11-01

Systems with long-range interactions show a variety of intriguing properties: they typically accommodate many metastable states, they can give rise to spontaneous formation of supersolids, and they can lead to counterintuitive thermodynamic behavior. However, the increased complexity that comes with long-range interactions strongly hinders theoretical studies. This makes a quantum simulator for long-range models highly desirable. Here, we show that a chain of trapped ions can be used to quantum simulate a one-dimensional (1D) model of hard-core bosons with dipolar off-site interaction and tunneling, equivalent to a dipolar XXZ spin-1/2 chain. We explore the rich phase diagram of this model in detail, employing perturbative mean-field theory, exact diagonalization and quasi-exact numerical techniques (density-matrix renormalization group and infinite time-evolving block decimation). We find that the complete devil's staircase—an infinite sequence of crystal states existing at vanishing tunneling—spreads to a succession of lobes similar to the Mott lobes found in Bose-Hubbard models. Investigating the melting of these crystal states at increased tunneling, we do not find (contrary to similar 2D models) clear indications of supersolid behavior in the region around the melting transition. However, we find that inside the insulating lobes there are quasi-long-range (algebraic) correlations, as opposed to models with nearest-neighbor tunneling, that show exponential decay of correlations.

Correlated bursts and the role of memory range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jo, Hang-Hyun; Perotti, Juan I.; Kaski, Kimmo; Kertész, János

2015-08-01

Inhomogeneous temporal processes in natural and social phenomena have been described by bursts that are rapidly occurring events within short time periods alternating with long periods of low activity. In addition to the analysis of heavy-tailed interevent time distributions, higher-order correlations between interevent times, called correlated bursts, have been studied only recently. As the underlying mechanism behind such correlated bursts is far from being fully understood, we devise a simple model for correlated bursts using a self-exciting point process with a variable range of memory. Whether a new event occurs is stochastically determined by a memory function that is the sum of decaying memories of past events. In order to incorporate the noise and/or limited memory capacity of systems, we apply two memory loss mechanisms: a fixed number or a variable number of memories. By analysis and numerical simulations, we find that too much memory effect may lead to a Poissonian process, implying that there exists an intermediate range of memory effect to generate correlated bursts comparable to empirical findings. Our conclusions provide a deeper understanding of how long-range memory affects correlated bursts.

Modelling Polar Self Assembly

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olvera de La Cruz, Monica; Sayar, Mehmet; Solis, Francisco J.; Stupp, Samuel I.

2001-03-01

Recent experimental studies in our group have shown that self assembled thin films of noncentrosymmetric supramolecular objects composed of triblock rodcoil molecules exhibit finite polar order. These aggregates have both long range dipolar and short range Ising-like interactions. We study the ground state of a simple model with these competing interactions. We find that the competition between Ising-like and dipolar forces yield a periodic domain structure, which can be controlled by adjusting the force constants and film thickness. When the surface forces are included in the potential, the system exhibits a finite macroscopic polar order.

Static and sliding contact of rough surfaces: Effect of asperity-scale properties and long-range elastic interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hulikal, Srivatsan; Lapusta, Nadia; Bhattacharya, Kaushik

2018-07-01

Friction in static and sliding contact of rough surfaces is important in numerous physical phenomena. We seek to understand macroscopically observed static and sliding contact behavior as the collective response of a large number of microscopic asperities. To that end, we build on Hulikal et al. (2015) and develop an efficient numerical framework that can be used to investigate how the macroscopic response of multiple frictional contacts depends on long-range elastic interactions, different constitutive assumptions about the deforming contacts and their local shear resistance, and surface roughness. We approximate the contact between two rough surfaces as that between a regular array of discrete deformable elements attached to a elastic block and a rigid rough surface. The deformable elements are viscoelastic or elasto/viscoplastic with a range of relaxation times, and the elastic interaction between contacts is long-range. We find that the model reproduces the main macroscopic features of evolution of contact and friction for a range of constitutive models of the elements, suggesting that macroscopic frictional response is robust with respect to the microscopic behavior. Viscoelasticity/viscoplasticity contributes to the increase of friction with contact time and leads to a subtle history dependence. Interestingly, long-range elastic interactions only change the results quantitatively compared to the meanfield response. The developed numerical framework can be used to study how specific observed macroscopic behavior depends on the microscale assumptions. For example, we find that sustained increase in the static friction coefficient during long hold times suggests viscoelastic response of the underlying material with multiple relaxation time scales. We also find that the experimentally observed proportionality of the direct effect in velocity jump experiments to the logarithm of the velocity jump points to a complex material-dependent shear resistance at the microscale.

Effect of exposure of miners to aluminium powder.

PubMed

Rifat, S L; Eastwood, M R; McLachlan, D R; Corey, P N

1990-11-10

'McIntyre Powder' (finely ground aluminium and aluminium oxide) was used as a prophylactic agent against silicotic lung disease between 1944 and 1979 in mines in northern Ontario. To find out whether the practice produced neurotoxic effects a morbidity prevalence study was conducted between 1988 and 1989. There were no significant differences between exposed and non-exposed miners in reported diagnoses of neurological disorder; however, exposed miners performed less well than did unexposed workers on cognitive state examinations; also, the proportion of men with scores in the impaired range was greater in the exposed than non-exposed group. Likelihood of scores in the impaired range increased with duration of exposure. The findings are consistent with putative neurotoxicity of chronic aluminium exposure.

Costly bilingualism model in a population with one zealot

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hong, Hyunsuk; Son, Seung-Woo

2013-08-01

We consider a costly bilingualism model in which one can take two strategies in parallel. We investigate how a single zealot triggers the cascading behavior and how the compatibility of the two strategies affects when interacting patterns change. First, the role of the interaction range in the cascading is studied by increasing the range from local to global. We find that people sometimes do not favor taking the superior strategy even though its payoff is higher than that of the inferior one. This is found to be caused by the local interactions rather than the global ones. Applying this model to social networks, we find that the location of the zealot is also important for larger cascading in heterogeneous networks.

Costly bilingualism model in a population with one zealot.

PubMed

Hong, Hyunsuk; Son, Seung-Woo

2013-08-01

We consider a costly bilingualism model in which one can take two strategies in parallel. We investigate how a single zealot triggers the cascading behavior and how the compatibility of the two strategies affects when interacting patterns change. First, the role of the interaction range in the cascading is studied by increasing the range from local to global. We find that people sometimes do not favor taking the superior strategy even though its payoff is higher than that of the inferior one. This is found to be caused by the local interactions rather than the global ones. Applying this model to social networks, we find that the location of the zealot is also important for larger cascading in heterogeneous networks.

Periodic Screening Pelvic Examination: Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.

PubMed

Guirguis-Blake, Janelle M; Henderson, Jillian T; Perdue, Leslie A

2017-03-07

Recent changes in the periodicity of cervical cancer screening have led to questions about the role of screening pelvic examinations among asymptomatic women. To systematically review literature on health benefits, accuracy, and harms of the screening pelvic examination for gynecologic conditions for the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). MEDLINE, PubMed, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for relevant English-language studies published through January 13, 2016, with surveillance through August 3, 2016. Two reviewers independently screened abstracts and studies. The search yielded 8678 unique citations; 316 full-text articles were reviewed, and 9 studies including 27 630 patients met inclusion criteria. Two reviewers rated study quality using USPSTF criteria. Morbidity; mortality; diagnostic accuracy for any gynecologic cancer or condition except cervical cancer, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, which are covered by other USPSTF screening recommendations; harms (false-positive rates, false-negative rates, surgery rates). No trials examined the effectiveness of the pelvic examination in reducing all-cause mortality, reducing cancer- and disease-specific morbidity and mortality, or improving quality of life. Eight studies reported accuracy for the screening pelvic examination: ovarian cancer (4 studies; n = 26 432), bacterial vaginosis (2 studies; n = 930), trichomoniasis (1 study; n = 779), and genital herpes (1 study; n = 779). In the 4 ovarian cancer screening studies, low prevalence of ovarian cancer consistently resulted in low positive predictive values (PPVs) and false-positive rates, with a lack of precision in accuracy estimates (sensitivity range, 0%-100%; specificity range, 91%-99%; PPV range, 0%-3.6%; negative predictive value [NPV] range, ≥99%). Each diagnostic accuracy study for bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, and genital herpes was performed in a high-prevalence population with substantial proportions of symptomatic patients and reported accuracy characteristics for individual physical examination findings (bacterial vaginosis, homogeneous discharge: sensitivity range, 69%-79%; specificity range, 54%-97%; PPV range, 52%-95%; NPV range, 79%-80%; herpes simplex virus, vulvar ulcerations: sensitivity, 20%; specificity, 98%; PPV, 88%; NPV, 57%; trichomoniasis, colpitis macularis: sensitivity, 2%; specificity, 100%; PPV, 100%; NPV, 85%). Surgery rates resulting from an abnormal screening pelvic examination for ovarian cancer ranged from 5% to 36% at 1 year, with the largest study reporting an 11% surgery rate and 1% complication rate within 1 year of a screening pelvic examination with abnormal findings. No direct evidence was identified for overall benefits and harms of the pelvic examination as a 1-time or periodic screening test. Limited evidence was identified regarding the diagnostic accuracy and harms of routine screening pelvic examinations in asymptomatic primary care populations.

Interaction between pancreatic β cell and electromagnetic fields: A systematic study toward finding the natural frequency spectrum of β cell system.

PubMed

Farashi, Sajjad

2017-01-01

Interaction between biological systems and environmental electric or magnetic fields has gained attention during the past few decades. Although there are a lot of studies that have been conducted for investigating such interaction, the reported results are considerably inconsistent. Besides the complexity of biological systems, the important reason for such inconsistent results may arise due to different excitation protocols that have been applied in different experiments. In order to investigate carefully the way that external electric or magnetic fields interact with a biological system, the parameters of excitation, such as intensity or frequency, should be selected purposefully due to the influence of these parameters on the system response. In this study, pancreatic β cell, the main player of blood glucose regulating system, is considered and the study is focused on finding the natural frequency spectrum of the system using modeling approach. Natural frequencies of a system are important characteristics of the system when external excitation is applied. The result of this study can help researchers to select proper frequency parameter for electrical excitation of β cell system. The results show that there are two distinct frequency ranges for natural frequency of β cell system, which consist of extremely low (or near zero) and 100-750 kHz frequency ranges. There are experimental works on β cell exposure to electromagnetic fields that support such finding.

Comprehensive clinical studies in 34 patients with molecularly defined UPD(14)pat and related conditions (Kagami–Ogata syndrome)

PubMed Central

Kagami, Masayo; Kurosawa, Kenji; Miyazaki, Osamu; Ishino, Fumitoshi; Matsuoka, Kentaro; Ogata, Tsutomu

2015-01-01

Paternal uniparental disomy 14 (UPD(14)pat) and epimutations and microdeletions affecting the maternally derived 14q32.2 imprinted region lead to a unique constellation of clinical features such as facial abnormalities, small bell-shaped thorax with a coat-hanger appearance of the ribs, abdominal wall defects, placentomegaly, and polyhydramnios. In this study, we performed comprehensive clinical studies in patients with UPD(14)pat (n=23), epimutations (n=5), and microdeletions (n=6), and revealed several notable findings. First, a unique facial appearance with full cheeks and a protruding philtrum and distinctive chest roentgenograms with increased coat-hanger angles to the ribs constituted the pathognomonic features from infancy through childhood. Second, birth size was well preserved, with a median birth length of ±0 SD (range, −1.7 to +3.0 SD) and a median birth weight of +2.3 SD (range, +0.1 to +8.8 SD). Third, developmental delay and/or intellectual disability was invariably present, with a median developmental/intellectual quotient of 55 (range, 29–70). Fourth, hepatoblastoma was identified in three infantile patients (8.8%), and histological examination in two patients showed a poorly differentiated embryonal hepatoblastoma with focal macrotrabecular lesions and well-differentiated hepatoblastoma, respectively. These findings suggest the necessity of an adequate support for developmental delay and periodical screening for hepatoblastoma in the affected patients, and some phenotypic overlap between UPD(14)pat and related conditions and Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome. On the basis of our previous and present studies that have made a significant contribution to the clarification of underlying (epi)genetic factors and the definition of clinical findings, we propose the name ‘Kagami–Ogata syndrome' for UPD(14)pat and related conditions. PMID:25689926

Long-range correlation and market segmentation in bond market

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zhongxing; Yan, Yan; Chen, Xiaosong

2017-09-01

This paper investigates the long-range auto-correlations and cross-correlations in bond market. Based on Detrended Moving Average (DMA) method, empirical results present a clear evidence of long-range persistence that exists in one year scale. The degree of long-range correlation related to maturities has an upward tendency with a peak in short term. These findings confirm the expectations of fractal market hypothesis (FMH). Furthermore, we have developed a method based on a complex network to study the long-range cross-correlation structure and applied it to our data, and found a clear pattern of market segmentation in the long run. We also detected the nature of long-range correlation in the sub-period 2007-2012 and 2011-2016. The result from our research shows that long-range auto-correlations are decreasing in the recent years while long-range cross-correlations are strengthening.

DELAYED PREPUTIAL SEPARATION (PPS) AND SP22 MEASUREMENT IN RATS ADMINISTERED BROMOCHLOROACETIC ACID (BCA) IN DRINKING WATER

EPA Science Inventory

Reproductive effects of BCA were determined in a dose range finding study (DRFS) and definitive two-generational study. Adult male and female CD� (SD) rats were administered BCA in drinking water for two weeks in the DRFS (10/sex/group) and ten weeks in the definitive study (25/s...

Long-range fluctuations and multifractality in connectivity density time series of a wind speed monitoring network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laib, Mohamed; Telesca, Luciano; Kanevski, Mikhail

2018-03-01

This paper studies the daily connectivity time series of a wind speed-monitoring network using multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis. It investigates the long-range fluctuation and multifractality in the residuals of the connectivity time series. Our findings reveal that the daily connectivity of the correlation-based network is persistent for any correlation threshold. Further, the multifractality degree is higher for larger absolute values of the correlation threshold.

A Study of Memory Effects in a Chess Database.

PubMed

Schaigorodsky, Ana L; Perotti, Juan I; Billoni, Orlando V

2016-01-01

A series of recent works studying a database of chronologically sorted chess games-containing 1.4 million games played by humans between 1998 and 2007- have shown that the popularity distribution of chess game-lines follows a Zipf's law, and that time series inferred from the sequences of those game-lines exhibit long-range memory effects. The presence of Zipf's law together with long-range memory effects was observed in several systems, however, the simultaneous emergence of these two phenomena were always studied separately up to now. In this work, by making use of a variant of the Yule-Simon preferential growth model, introduced by Cattuto et al., we provide an explanation for the simultaneous emergence of Zipf's law and long-range correlations memory effects in a chess database. We find that Cattuto's Model (CM) is able to reproduce both, Zipf's law and the long-range correlations, including size-dependent scaling of the Hurst exponent for the corresponding time series. CM allows an explanation for the simultaneous emergence of these two phenomena via a preferential growth dynamics, including a memory kernel, in the popularity distribution of chess game-lines. This mechanism results in an aging process in the chess game-line choice as the database grows. Moreover, we find burstiness in the activity of subsets of the most active players, although the aggregated activity of the pool of players displays inter-event times without burstiness. We show that CM is not able to produce time series with bursty behavior providing evidence that burstiness is not required for the explanation of the long-range correlation effects in the chess database. Our results provide further evidence favoring the hypothesis that long-range correlations effects are a consequence of the aging of game-lines and not burstiness, and shed light on the mechanism that operates in the simultaneous emergence of Zipf's law and long-range correlations in a community of chess players.

A Study of Memory Effects in a Chess Database

PubMed Central

Schaigorodsky, Ana L.; Perotti, Juan I.; Billoni, Orlando V.

2016-01-01

A series of recent works studying a database of chronologically sorted chess games–containing 1.4 million games played by humans between 1998 and 2007– have shown that the popularity distribution of chess game-lines follows a Zipf’s law, and that time series inferred from the sequences of those game-lines exhibit long-range memory effects. The presence of Zipf’s law together with long-range memory effects was observed in several systems, however, the simultaneous emergence of these two phenomena were always studied separately up to now. In this work, by making use of a variant of the Yule-Simon preferential growth model, introduced by Cattuto et al., we provide an explanation for the simultaneous emergence of Zipf’s law and long-range correlations memory effects in a chess database. We find that Cattuto’s Model (CM) is able to reproduce both, Zipf’s law and the long-range correlations, including size-dependent scaling of the Hurst exponent for the corresponding time series. CM allows an explanation for the simultaneous emergence of these two phenomena via a preferential growth dynamics, including a memory kernel, in the popularity distribution of chess game-lines. This mechanism results in an aging process in the chess game-line choice as the database grows. Moreover, we find burstiness in the activity of subsets of the most active players, although the aggregated activity of the pool of players displays inter-event times without burstiness. We show that CM is not able to produce time series with bursty behavior providing evidence that burstiness is not required for the explanation of the long-range correlation effects in the chess database. Our results provide further evidence favoring the hypothesis that long-range correlations effects are a consequence of the aging of game-lines and not burstiness, and shed light on the mechanism that operates in the simultaneous emergence of Zipf’s law and long-range correlations in a community of chess players. PMID:28005922

NASA Finds Sea Ice Driving Arctic Air Pollutants Alaskan North Slope

NASA Image and Video Library

2012-03-01

JPL-led study shows bromine explosion on March 13, 2008 across the Alaskan North Slope looking south toward the Brooks Range at the horizon, which blocked the bromine from going further south into the Alaskan interior.

Investigating the physics and environment of Lyman limit systems in cosmological simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Erkal, Denis

2015-07-01

In this work, I investigate the properties of Lyman limit systems (LLSs) using state-of-the-art zoom-in cosmological galaxy formation simulations with on the fly radiative transfer, which includes both the cosmic UV background (UVB) and local stellar sources. I compare the simulation results to observations of the incidence frequency of LLSs and the H I column density distribution function over the redshift range z = 2-5 and find good agreement. I explore the connection between LLSs and their host haloes and find that LLSs reside in haloes with a wide range of halo masses with a nearly constant covering fraction within a virial radius. Over the range z = 2-5, I find that more than half of the LLSs reside in haloes with M < 1010 h-1 M⊙, indicating that absorption line studies of LLSs can probe these low-mass galaxies which H2-based star formation models predict to have very little star formation. I study the physical state of individual LLSs and test a simple model which encapsulates many of their properties. I confirm that LLSs have a characteristic absorption length given by the Jeans length and that they are in photoionization equilibrium at low column densities. Finally, I investigate the self-shielding of LLSs to the UVB and explore how the non-sphericity of LLSs affects the photoionization rate at a given N_{H I}. I find that at z ≈ 3, LLSs have an optical depth of unity at a column density of ˜1018 cm-2 and that this is the column density which characterizes the onset of self-shielding.

The Promise and Perils of Population Research on Same-Sex Families.

PubMed

Reczek, Corinne; Spiker, Russell; Liu, Hui; Crosnoe, Robert

2017-12-01

As a follow-up to our 2016 study, this article presents new findings examining the relationship between same-sex family structure and child health using the 2008-2015 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). After discussing NIHS data problems, we examine the relationship between family structure and a broad range of child well-being outcomes, including school days lost, behavior, parent-rated health, emotional difficulties, and activity limitations. We find both similarities (school days lost, behavior, parent-rated health) and differences (emotional difficulties and activity limitations) across our two studies using different survey years, but our overall conclusions are robust. We further discuss the implications of our findings for future research on this topic, including how to account for biological relatedness in a study on child health in same-sex families.

High Frequency of Neuroimaging Abnormalities Among Pediatric Patients With Sepsis Who Undergo Neuroimaging.

PubMed

Sandquist, Mary K; Clee, Mark S; Patel, Smruti K; Howard, Kelli A; Yunger, Toni; Nagaraj, Usha D; Jones, Blaise V; Fei, Lin; Vadivelu, Sudhakar; Wong, Hector R

2017-07-01

This study was intended to describe and correlate the neuroimaging findings in pediatric patients after sepsis. Retrospective chart review. Single tertiary care PICU. Patients admitted to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center with a discharge diagnosis of sepsis or septic shock between 2004 and 2013 were crossmatched with patients who underwent neuroimaging during the same time period. All neuroimaging studies that occurred during or subsequent to a septic event were reviewed, and all new imaging findings were recorded and classified. As many patients experienced multiple septic events and/or had multiple neuroimaging studies after sepsis, our statistical analysis utilized the most recent or "final" imaging study available for each patient so that only brain imaging findings that persisted were included. A total of 389 children with sepsis and 1,705 concurrent or subsequent neuroimaging studies were included in the study. Median age at first septic event was 3.4 years (interquartile range, 0.7-11.5). Median time from first sepsis event to final neuroimaging was 157 days (interquartile range, 10-1,054). The most common indications for final imaging were follow-up (21%), altered mental status (18%), and fever/concern for infection (15%). Sixty-three percentage (n = 243) of final imaging studies demonstrated abnormal findings, the most common of which were volume loss (39%) and MRI signal and/or CT attenuation abnormalities (21%). On multivariable logistic regression, highest Pediatric Risk of Mortality score and presence of oncologic diagnosis/organ transplantation were independently associated with any abnormal final neuroimaging study findings (odds ratio, 1.032; p = 0.048 and odds ratio, 1.632; p = 0.041), although early timing of neuroimaging demonstrated a negative association (odds ratio, 0.606; p = 0.039). The most common abnormal finding of volume loss was independently associated with highest Pediatric Risk of Mortality score (odds ratio, 1.037; p = 0.016) and oncologic diagnosis/organ transplantation (odds ratio, 2.207; p = 0.001) and was negatively associated with early timing of neuroimaging (odds ratio, 0.575; p = 0.037). The majority of pediatric patients with sepsis and concurrent or subsequent neuroimaging have abnormal neuroimaging findings. The implications of this high incidence for long-term neurologic outcomes and follow-up require further exploration.

Abnormal maternal echocardiographic findings in triplet pregnancies presenting with dyspnoea.

PubMed

Elhenicky, Marie; Distelmaier, Klaus; Mailath-Pokorny, Mariella; Worda, Christof; Langer, Martin; Worda, Katharina

2016-03-01

The objective of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of abnormal maternal echocardiographic findings in triplet pregnancies presenting with dyspnoea. Between 2003 and 2013, patients' records of 96 triplet pregnancies at our department were analysed including maternal and fetal outcome, echocardiographic parameters and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels. After exclusion of triplet pregnancies with fetal demise before 23 + 0 weeks, selective feticide or missing outcome data, the study population consisted of 60 triplet pregnancies. All women with dyspnoea underwent echocardiography and measurement of NT-proBNP. Dyspnoea towards the end of pregnancy was observed in 13.3% (8/60) of all women with triplet pregnancies, and all of these women underwent echocardiography. The prevalence of abnormal echocardiographic findings in women with dyspnoea was 37.5% (3/8) with peripartum cardiomyopathy in one woman. Median serum NT-proBNP was significantly higher in women with abnormal echocardiographic findings compared with those without (1779 ng/ml, range 1045-6076 ng/ml vs 172 ng/ml, range 50-311 ng/ml; p < 0.001 by Mann-Whitney-U Test). We conclude that triplet pregnancies presenting with dyspnoea show a high prevalence of abnormal echocardiographic findings. Since dyspnoea is a common sign in triplet pregnancies and is associated with a high rate of cardiac involvement, echocardiography and evaluation of maternal NT-proBNP could be considered to improve early diagnosis and perinatal management.

Clinical Trial Results Summary for Laypersons: A User Testing Study.

PubMed

Raynor, D K; Myers, L; Blackwell, K; Kress, B; Dubost, A; Joos, A

2018-01-01

To apply "user testing" to maximize readability and acceptability of a Clinical Trial Results Laypersons Summary-a new European requirement. "User testing" (using questionnaire and semistructured interview) assessed whether people could find and understand key points. Findings were used to improve content and design, prior to retesting. Participants had a range of levels of health literacy and there was a higher education group. Participants accessed the summary on screen. In round 1 we tested 12 points of information. In round 2 a revised summary addressing round 1 findings was tested, leading to a third final version. In round 1, 2 of 12 points of information did not reach the target and interviews raised further format and content issues (some distracting technical explanations and inability to find or understand the 2 main study purposes). These findings informed revisions for the version tested in round 2, with 2 different points not reaching the target (inclusion criteria relating to duration of seasonal allergies and how researchers found out about participants' symptoms). Identified problems in both rounds were addressed and reflected in the final version. Despite improvements, participants did not consistently understand that summaries were intended for the public, or to only interpret results of single trials in the context of additional trials. All readers, including those with higher education, found the clear and straightforward language acceptable. Applying "user testing" resulted in a largely health-literate summary suitable for people across a range of backgrounds.

Influence of target reflection on three-dimensional range gated reconstruction.

PubMed

Chua, Sing Yee; Wang, Xin; Guo, Ningqun; Tan, Ching Seong

2016-08-20

The range gated technique is a promising laser ranging method that is widely used in different fields such as surveillance, industry, and military. In a range gated system, a reflected laser pulse returned from the target scene contains key information for range reconstruction, which directly affects the system performance. Therefore, it is necessary to study the characteristics and effects of the target reflection factor. In this paper, theoretical and experimental analyses are performed to investigate the influence of target reflection on three-dimensional (3D) range gated reconstruction. Based on laser detection and ranging (LADAR) and bidirectional reflection distribution function (BRDF) theory, a 3D range gated reconstruction model is derived and the effect on range accuracy is analyzed from the perspectives of target surface reflectivity and angle of laser incidence. Our theoretical and experimental study shows that the range accuracy is proportional to the target surface reflectivity, but it decreases when the angle of incidence increases to adhere to the BRDF model. The presented findings establish a comprehensive understanding of target reflection in 3D range gated reconstruction, which is of interest to various applications such as target recognition and object modeling. This paper provides a reference for future improvement to perform accurate range compensation or correction.

Basis convergence of range-separated density-functional theory.

PubMed

Franck, Odile; Mussard, Bastien; Luppi, Eleonora; Toulouse, Julien

2015-02-21

Range-separated density-functional theory (DFT) is an alternative approach to Kohn-Sham density-functional theory. The strategy of range-separated density-functional theory consists in separating the Coulomb electron-electron interaction into long-range and short-range components and treating the long-range part by an explicit many-body wave-function method and the short-range part by a density-functional approximation. Among the advantages of using many-body methods for the long-range part of the electron-electron interaction is that they are much less sensitive to the one-electron atomic basis compared to the case of the standard Coulomb interaction. Here, we provide a detailed study of the basis convergence of range-separated density-functional theory. We study the convergence of the partial-wave expansion of the long-range wave function near the electron-electron coalescence. We show that the rate of convergence is exponential with respect to the maximal angular momentum L for the long-range wave function, whereas it is polynomial for the case of the Coulomb interaction. We also study the convergence of the long-range second-order Møller-Plesset correlation energy of four systems (He, Ne, N2, and H2O) with cardinal number X of the Dunning basis sets cc - p(C)V XZ and find that the error in the correlation energy is best fitted by an exponential in X. This leads us to propose a three-point complete-basis-set extrapolation scheme for range-separated density-functional theory based on an exponential formula.

Ranging behavior of eastern hoolock gibbon (Hoolock leuconedys) in a northern montane forest in Gaoligongshan, Yunnan, China.

PubMed

Zhang, Dao; Fei, Han-Lan; Yuan, Sheng-Dong; Sun, Wen-Mo; Ni, Qing-Yong; Cui, Liang-Wei; Fan, Peng-Fei

2014-04-01

Generally, food abundance and distribution exert important influence on primate ranging behavior. Hoolock gibbons (genus Hoolock) live in lowland and montane forests in India, Bangladesh, Myanmar and China. All information about hoolock gibbons comes from studies on western hoolock gibbons (Hoolock hoolock) living in lowland forest. Between August 2010 and September 2011, we studied the ranging behavior of one habituated group of eastern hoolock gibbon (H. leuconedys) living in a seasonal montane forest in Gaoligongshan, Yunnan, China. Results show that the study group did not increase foraging effort, calculated in this study as the daily path length, when fruit was less available. Instead, the gibbons fed more on leaves and decreased traveling to conserve energy. They relied heavily on a single food species in most study months which was patchily distributed within their total (14-month) home range, and during most months they used only a small portion of their total home range. In order to find enough food, the group shifted its monthly home range according to the seasonal availability of food species. To satisfy their annual food requirements, they occupied a total home range of 93 ha. The absence of neighboring groups of gibbons and the presence of tsaoko cardamom (Amomum tsaoko) plantations may also have influenced the ranging behavior of the group. Further long-term studies of neighboring groups living in intact forests are required to assess these effects.

A fuel conservation study for transport aircraft utilizing advanced technology and hydrogen fuel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Berry, W.; Calleson, R.; Espil, J.; Quartero, C.; Swanson, E.

1972-01-01

The conservation of fossil fuels in commercial aviation was investigated. Four categories of aircraft were selected for investigation: (1) conventional, medium range, low take-off gross weight; (2) conventional, long range, high take-off gross weights; (3) large take-off gross weight aircraft that might find future applications using both conventional and advanced technology; and (4) advanced technology aircraft of the future powered with liquid hydrogen fuel. It is concluded that the hydrogen fueled aircraft can perform at reduced size and gross weight the same payload/range mission as conventionally fueled aircraft.

Ethnic discrimination and health: the relationship between experienced ethnic discrimination and multiple health domains in Norway's rural Sami population

PubMed Central

Hansen, Ketil Lenert

2015-01-01

Objective Self-reported ethnic discrimination has been associated with a range of health outcomes. This study builds on previous efforts to investigate the prevalence of self-reported ethnic discrimination in the indigenous (Sami) population, and how such discrimination may be associated with key health indicators. Study design The study relies on data from the 2003/2004 (n=4,389) population-based study of adults (aged 36–79 years) in 24 rural municipalities of Central and North Norway (the SAMINOR study). Self-reported ethnic discrimination was measured using the question: “Have you ever experienced discrimination due to your ethnic background?” Health indicators included questions regarding cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic muscle pain, metabolic syndrome and obesity. Logistic regression was applied to examine the relationship between self-reported ethnic discrimination and health outcomes. Results The study finds that for Sami people living in minority areas, self-reported ethnic discrimination is associated with all the negative health indicators included in the study. Conclusion We conclude that ethnic discrimination affects a wide range of health outcomes. Our findings highlight the importance of ensuring freedom from discrimination for the Sami people of Norway. PMID:25683064

Sex, Drugs and STDs: Preliminary Findings from the Belfast Youth Development Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McAloney, Kareena; McCrystal, Patrick; Percy, Andrew

2010-01-01

Young people's participation in sexual risk behaviours is commonly linked with participation in a range of other risky behaviours, and in particular with substance use behaviours. This cross-sectional analysis of the sixth sweep of the Belfast Youth Development Study aimed to examine associations between substance use and sexual activity and…

An Investigation of Young Children's Timbral Sensitivity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lowther, Dawn

2004-01-01

This paper reports the development of a discrimination task to investigate the sensitivity of children aged 3-8 years to a range of timbral stimuli. The paper discusses the strengths and weaknesses of other research exploring timbral perception and explains how the findings from these studies shaped the methodological approach of this study.…

Online Cultural Heritage Exhibitions: A Survey of Strategic Issues

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liew, Chern Li

2006-01-01

Purpose: This paper seeks to report findings from a study that looked at a range of strategic issues faced in the development, management and maintenance of online cultural heritage exhibitions. The study examined exhibitions from different types of cultural agencies and asked questions about whether, for instance, the exhibitions are part of the…

Long Term Study of Prematures: Summary of Published Findings.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wiener, Gerald

Are children intellectually impaired as a result of low birth weight and does relative impairment change as children grow older? Premature infants from a range of socioeconomic groups were studied in five rounds over 13 years to provide neurological, psychological, achievement, and sociological data on 582 children in three birth weight groups. A…

Educational Psychologists' Use of Therapeutic Interventions: Issues Arising from Two Exploratory Case Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Atkinson, Cathy; Corban, Ian; Templeton, Jenny

2011-01-01

This article considers the evolving role of the educational psychologist (EP) in providing therapeutic support to children and young people. Through two small-scale research studies, EPs' use of therapeutic interventions and issues in delivering them are explored. Findings reveal use of a range of therapeutic interventions in different contexts…

Teaching Large Sections of a Business Communication Course: A Multicase Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wright, Carol

2017-01-01

The purpose of this research is to examine specific examples of how business communication courses are delivered in large, face-to-face university classes to discover implications of these large courses. This case study reviewed four classes from two different midsized universities whose classes range from 48 to 300 students. Findings suggest…

Benefits of Collaborative Writing for ESL Advanced Diploma Students in the Production of Reports

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fong, Lin Siew

2012-01-01

This study analyzes the collaborative writing sessions of two groups of advanced diploma economics students with mixed proficiency. Although studies in collaborative writing usually highlight the mixed results of students' collaboration ranging from promoting peer learning to having unresolved conflict, the findings of this paper only provide the…

[Monitoring methods and their results in environmental medicine - implications for medical counsellors].

PubMed

Wolter, E; Neumann, A; Straff, W

2017-06-01

Besides effect and environmental monitoring, human biomonitoring (HBM) offers an attractive method for analyzing the distribution and intensity of anthropogenic environmental pollutants in individuals or in particular groups of the population. However, no assessment values of comparable reliability are available to enable an interpretation of the results of environmental studies from the viewpoint of environmental health. This must be taken into account when reporting findings of such studies as well as in medical consultation, in order to avoid overdiagnosis and unnecessary anxiety for the participant. In medical practice, care should be taken when dealing with monitoring results outside the normal range! Environmental or biomonitoring results provide only a part of the available information alongside medical history and clinical examinations. In the case of tests performed for private interests as well as tests carried out within the framework of an epidemiological environmental survey, communication of results and findings can be problematic. In epidemiological studies, a close co-operation between the participant's consultant physician and physicians conducting the study is beneficial in order to ensure professional advisory counselling for subjects with results outside the normal range.

Efficacy Study of Broken Rice Maltodextrin in In Vitro Wound Healing Assay

PubMed Central

Mohamed Amin, Zahiah; Koh, Soo Peng; Abdul Hamid, Nur Syazwani

2015-01-01

Maltodextrins that contain both simple sugars and polymers of saccharides have been widely used as ingredients in food products and pharmaceutical delivery systems. To date, no much work has been reported on the applications of maltodextrin from broken rice (RB) sources. Therefore, the objective of this work was to investigate the in vitro wound healing efficacy of RB maltodextrin at different conditions. Wounds treated with lower dextrose equivalent (DE) range (DE 10–14) of maltodextrins at a concentration of 10% obtained from RB were found to be able to heal the wounds significantly faster (p < 0.01) than maltodextrin with higher DE ranges (DE 15–19 and DE 20–24) and concentrations of 5% and 20%. The findings from both BrdU and MTT assay further confirmed its wound healing properties as the NIH 3T3 fibroblast wounded cells were able to proliferate without causing cytotoxic effect when wounded cell was treated with maltodextrin. All these findings indicated that the RB maltodextrin could perform better than the commercial maltodextrin at the same DE range. This study showed that RB maltodextrins had better functionality properties than other maltodextrin sources and played a beneficial role in wound healing application. PMID:26436094

SSRscanner: a program for reporting distribution and exact location of simple sequence repeats.

PubMed

Anwar, Tamanna; Khan, Asad U

2006-02-20

Simple sequence repeats (SSRs) have become important molecular markers for a broad range of applications, such as genome mapping and characterization, phenotype mapping, marker assisted selection of crop plants and a range of molecular ecology and diversity studies. These repeated DNA sequences are found in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. They are distributed almost at random throughout the genome, ranging from mononucleotide to trinucleotide repeats. They are also found at longer lengths (> 6 repeating units) of tracts. Most of the computer programs that find SSRs do not report its exact position. A computer program SSRscanner was written to find out distribution, frequency and exact location of each SSR in the genome. SSRscanner is user friendly. It can search repeats of any length and produce outputs with their exact position on chromosome and their frequency of occurrence in the sequence. This program has been written in PERL and is freely available for non-commercial users by request from the authors. Please contact the authors by E-mail: huzzi99@hotmail.com.

The size distribution of interstellar grains

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Witt, Adolf N.

1987-01-01

Three major areas involving interstellar grains were investigated. First, studies were performed of scattering in reflection nebulae with the goal of deriving scattering characteristics of dust grains such as the albedo and the phase function asymmetry throughout the visible and the ultraviolet. Secondly, studies were performed of the wavelength dependence of interstellar extinction designed to demonstrate the wide range of grain size distributions naturally occurring in individual clouds in different parts of the galaxy. And thirdly, studies were also performed of the ultraviolet powered emission of dust grains in the 0.5 to 1.0 micron wavelength range in reflection nebulae. Findings considered of major importance are highlighted.

Resilience in mental health: linking psychological and neurobiological perspectives

PubMed Central

Rutten, B P F; Hammels, C; Geschwind, N; Menne-Lothmann, C; Pishva, E; Schruers, K; van den Hove, D; Kenis, G; van Os, J; Wichers, M

2013-01-01

Objective To review the literature on psychological and biological findings on resilience (i.e. the successful adaptation and swift recovery after experiencing life adversities) at the level of the individual, and to integrate findings from animal and human studies. Method Electronic and manual literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE and PSYCHINFO, using a range of search terms around biological and psychological factors influencing resilience as observed in human and experimental animal studies, complemented by review articles and cross-references. Results The term resilience is used in the literature for different phenomena ranging from prevention of mental health disturbance to successful adaptation and swift recovery after experiencing life adversities, and may also include post-traumatic psychological growth. Secure attachment, experiencing positive emotions and having a purpose in life are three important psychological building blocks of resilience. Overlap between psychological and biological findings on resilience in the literature is most apparent for the topic of stress sensitivity, although recent results suggest a crucial role for reward experience in resilience. Conclusion Improving the understanding of the links between genetic endowment, environmental impact and gene–environment interactions with developmental psychology and biology is crucial for elucidating the neurobiological and psychological underpinnings of resilience. PMID:23488807

Entanglement entropy for the long-range Ising chain in a transverse field.

PubMed

Koffel, Thomas; Lewenstein, M; Tagliacozzo, Luca

2012-12-28

We consider the Ising model in a transverse field with long-range antiferromagnetic interactions that decay as a power law with their distance. We study both the phase diagram and the entanglement properties as a function of the exponent of the interaction. The phase diagram can be used as a guide for future experiments with trapped ions. We find two gapped phases, one dominated by the transverse field, exhibiting quasi-long-range order, and one dominated by the long-range interaction, with long-range Néel ordered ground states. We determine the location of the quantum critical points separating those two phases. We determine their critical exponents and central charges. In the phase with quasi-long-range order the ground states exhibit exotic corrections to the area law for the entanglement entropy coexisting with gapped entanglement spectra.

Thermal comfort study of hospital workers in Malaysia.

PubMed

Yau, Y H; Chew, B T

2009-12-01

This article presents findings of the thermal comfort study in hospitals. A field survey was conducted to investigate the temperature range for thermal comfort in hospitals in the tropics. Thermal acceptability assessment was conducted to examine whether the hospitals in the tropics met the ASHRAE Standard-55 80% acceptability criteria. A total of 114 occupants in four hospitals were involved in the study. The results of the field study revealed that only 44% of the examined locations met the comfort criteria specified in ASHRAE Standard 55. The survey also examined the predicted percentage of dissatisfied in the hospitals. The results showed that 49% of the occupants were satisfied with the thermal environments in the hospitals. The field survey analysis revealed that the neutral temperature for Malaysian hospitals was 26.4 degrees C. The comfort temperature range that satisfied 90% of the occupants in the space was in the range of 25.3-28.2 degrees C. The results from the field study suggested that a higher comfort temperature was required for Malaysians in hospital environments compared with the temperature criteria specified in ASHRAE Standard (2003). In addition, the significant deviation between actual mean vote and predicted mean vote (PMV) strongly implied that PMV could not be applied without errors in hospitals in the tropics. The new findings on thermal comfort temperature range in hospitals in the tropics could be used as an important guide for building services engineers and researchers who are intending to minimize energy usage in heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems in hospitals operating in the tropics with acceptable thermal comfort level and to improve the performance and well-being of its workers.

Assessment of nerve involvement in the lumbar spine: agreement between magnetic resonance imaging, physical examination and pain drawing findings.

PubMed

Bertilson, Bo C; Brosjö, Eva; Billing, Hans; Strender, Lars-Erik

2010-09-10

Detection of nerve involvement originating in the spine is a primary concern in the assessment of spine symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become the diagnostic method of choice for this detection. However, the agreement between MRI and other diagnostic methods for detecting nerve involvement has not been fully evaluated. The aim of this diagnostic study was to evaluate the agreement between nerve involvement visible in MRI and findings of nerve involvement detected in a structured physical examination and a simplified pain drawing. Sixty-one consecutive patients referred for MRI of the lumbar spine were - without knowledge of MRI findings - assessed for nerve involvement with a simplified pain drawing and a structured physical examination. Agreement between findings was calculated as overall agreement, the p value for McNemar's exact test, specificity, sensitivity, and positive and negative predictive values. MRI-visible nerve involvement was significantly less common than, and showed weak agreement with, physical examination and pain drawing findings of nerve involvement in corresponding body segments. In spine segment L4-5, where most findings of nerve involvement were detected, the mean sensitivity of MRI-visible nerve involvement to a positive neurological test in the physical examination ranged from 16-37%. The mean specificity of MRI-visible nerve involvement in the same segment ranged from 61-77%. Positive and negative predictive values of MRI-visible nerve involvement in segment L4-5 ranged from 22-78% and 28-56% respectively. In patients with long-standing nerve root symptoms referred for lumbar MRI, MRI-visible nerve involvement significantly underestimates the presence of nerve involvement detected by a physical examination and a pain drawing. A structured physical examination and a simplified pain drawing may reveal that many patients with "MRI-invisible" lumbar symptoms need treatment aimed at nerve involvement. Factors other than present MRI-visible nerve involvement may be responsible for findings of nerve involvement in the physical examination and the pain drawing.

Grief support in accident and emergency nursing: a literature review 1985-1993.

PubMed

McDonald, L; Butterworth, T; Yates, D W

1995-07-01

On completing a wide ranging review of literature related to Accident and Emergency (A & E) nursing, the authors chose to focus upon grief support. The literature ranges from personal experiences to large scale research. A table of studies is included to clarify major research findings in this area. The article concludes by recommending long term support for bereaved relatives and research to demonstrate the value of support for relatives in the community.

Geographic location and phylogeny are the main determinants of the size of the geographical range in aquatic beetles

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Why some species are widespread while others are very restricted geographically is one of the most basic questions in biology, although it remains largely unanswered. This is particularly the case for groups of closely related species, which often display large differences in the size of the geographical range despite sharing many other factors due to their common phylogenetic inheritance. We used ten lineages of aquatic Coleoptera from the western Palearctic to test in a comparative framework a broad set of possible determinants of range size: species' age, differences in ecological tolerance, dispersal ability and geographic location. Results When all factors were combined in multiple regression models between 60-98% of the variance was explained by geographic location and phylogenetic signal. Maximum latitudinal and longitudinal limits were positively correlated with range size, with species at the most northern latitudes and eastern longitudes displaying the largest ranges. In lineages with lotic and lentic species, the lentic (better dispersers) display larger distributional ranges than the lotic species (worse dispersers). The size of the geographical range was also positively correlated with the extent of the biomes in which the species is found, but we did not find evidence of a clear relationship between range size and age of the species. Conclusions Our findings show that range size of a species is shaped by an interplay of geographic and ecological factors, with a phylogenetic component affecting both of them. The understanding of the factors that determine the size and geographical location of the distributional range of species is fundamental to the study of the origin and assemblage of the current biota. Our results show that for this purpose the most relevant data may be the phylogenetic history of the species and its geographical location. PMID:22122885

Range-based volatility, expected stock returns, and the low volatility anomaly

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

One of the foundations of financial economics is the idea that rational investors will discount stocks with more risk (volatility), which will result in a positive relation between risk and future returns. However, the empirical evidence is mixed when determining how volatility is related to future returns. In this paper, we examine this relation using a range-based measure of volatility, which is shown to be theoretically, numerically, and empirically superior to other measures of volatility. In a variety of tests, we find that range-based volatility is negatively associated with expected stock returns. These results are robust to time-series multifactor models as well as cross-sectional tests. Our findings contribute to the debate about the direction of the relationship between risk and return and confirm the presence of the low volatility anomaly, or the anomalous finding that low volatility stocks outperform high volatility stocks. In other tests, we find that the lower returns associated with range-based volatility are driven by stocks with lottery-like characteristics. PMID:29190652

Range-based volatility, expected stock returns, and the low volatility anomaly.

PubMed

Blau, Benjamin M; Whitby, Ryan J

2017-01-01

One of the foundations of financial economics is the idea that rational investors will discount stocks with more risk (volatility), which will result in a positive relation between risk and future returns. However, the empirical evidence is mixed when determining how volatility is related to future returns. In this paper, we examine this relation using a range-based measure of volatility, which is shown to be theoretically, numerically, and empirically superior to other measures of volatility. In a variety of tests, we find that range-based volatility is negatively associated with expected stock returns. These results are robust to time-series multifactor models as well as cross-sectional tests. Our findings contribute to the debate about the direction of the relationship between risk and return and confirm the presence of the low volatility anomaly, or the anomalous finding that low volatility stocks outperform high volatility stocks. In other tests, we find that the lower returns associated with range-based volatility are driven by stocks with lottery-like characteristics.

The Internet and Some International Regulatory Issues Relating to Content: A Pilot Comparative Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Australian Broadcasting Authority.

In December 1996 UNESCO commissioned the Australian Broadcasting Authority to conduct a pilot study which considered a range of online issues; this report outlines the findings of the pilot study, based on data collected between February and May 1997 and updated in July 1997. The objective is to identify the main types of Internet content which…

Managing Criticism in Ph.D. Supervision: A Qualitative Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Li, Sarah; Seale, Clive

2007-01-01

This article is part of a larger study which presents findings from an in-depth longitudinal case study of a student's Ph.D. journey. It shows how criticism is produced and managed in the supervisory relationship. As well as an overview of types of criticism produced across a range of supervisory interactions, the article presents a micro-analysis…

Ethnic discrimination and health: the relationship between experienced ethnic discrimination and multiple health domains in Norway's rural Sami population.

PubMed

Hansen, Ketil Lenert

2015-01-01

Self-reported ethnic discrimination has been associated with a range of health outcomes. This study builds on previous efforts to investigate the prevalence of self-reported ethnic discrimination in the indigenous (Sami) population, and how such discrimination may be associated with key health indicators. The study relies on data from the 2003/2004 (n=4,389) population-based study of adults (aged 36-79 years) in 24 rural municipalities of Central and North Norway (the SAMINOR study). Self-reported ethnic discrimination was measured using the question: "Have you ever experienced discrimination due to your ethnic background?" Health indicators included questions regarding cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic muscle pain, metabolic syndrome and obesity. Logistic regression was applied to examine the relationship between self-reported ethnic discrimination and health outcomes. The study finds that for Sami people living in minority areas, self-reported ethnic discrimination is associated with all the negative health indicators included in the study. We conclude that ethnic discrimination affects a wide range of health outcomes. Our findings highlight the importance of ensuring freedom from discrimination for the Sami people of Norway.

A METHOD FOR EXPOSING RODENTS TO RESUSPENDED PARTICLES USING WHOLE-BODY PLETHYSMOGRAPHY

EPA Science Inventory

Background: Epidemiological studies have reported increased risks of cardiopulmonary-related hospitalization and death in association with exposure to elevated levels of particulate matter (PM) across a wide range of urban areas. In response to these findings, researchers have c...

16 CFR 1303.5 - Findings.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... designed to eliminate or reduce is lead poisoning in children. The adverse effects of this poisoning in children can cause a range of disorders such as hyperactivity, slowed learning ability, withdrawal... functional disorders which are often included under the heading of minimal brain dysfunction. Studies suggest...

16 CFR 1303.5 - Findings.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... designed to eliminate or reduce is lead poisoning in children. The adverse effects of this poisoning in children can cause a range of disorders such as hyperactivity, slowed learning ability, withdrawal... functional disorders which are often included under the heading of minimal brain dysfunction. Studies suggest...

16 CFR 1303.5 - Findings.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... designed to eliminate or reduce is lead poisoning in children. The adverse effects of this poisoning in children can cause a range of disorders such as hyperactivity, slowed learning ability, withdrawal... functional disorders which are often included under the heading of minimal brain dysfunction. Studies suggest...

16 CFR 1303.5 - Findings.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... designed to eliminate or reduce is lead poisoning in children. The adverse effects of this poisoning in children can cause a range of disorders such as hyperactivity, slowed learning ability, withdrawal... functional disorders which are often included under the heading of minimal brain dysfunction. Studies suggest...

Athletic pubalgia and the "sports hernia": MR imaging findings.

PubMed

Zoga, Adam C; Kavanagh, Eoin C; Omar, Imran M; Morrison, William B; Koulouris, George; Lopez, Hector; Chaabra, Avneesh; Domesek, John; Meyers, William C

2008-06-01

To retrospectively determine the sensitivity and specificity of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings in patients with clinical athletic pubalgia, with either surgical or physical examination findings as the reference standard. Institutional review board approval was granted for this HIPAA-compliant study, and informed consent was waived. MR imaging studies in 141 patients (134 male patients, seven female patients; mean age, 30.1 years; range, 17-71 years) who had been referred to a subspecialist because of groin pain were reviewed for findings including hernia, pubic bone marrow edema, secondary cleft sign, and rectus abdominis and adductor tendon injury. MR imaging findings were compared with surgical findings for 102 patients, physical examination findings for all 141 patients, and MR imaging findings in an asymptomatic control group of 25 men (mean age, 29.8 years; range, 18-39 years). Sensitivity and specificity of MR imaging for rectus abdominis and adductor tendon injury were determined by using a chi(2) analysis, and significance of the findings was analyzed with an unpaired Student t test. Disease patterns seen at MR imaging were compared with those reported in the surgical and sports medicine literature. One hundred thirty-eight (98%) of 141 patients had findings at MR imaging that could cause groin pain. Compared with surgery, MR imaging had a sensitivity and specificity, respectively, of 68% and 100% for rectus abdominis tendon injury and 86% and 89% for adductor tendon injury. Injury in each of these structures was significantly more common in the patient group than in the control group (P < .001). Only two patients had hernias at surgery. At MR imaging, injury or disease could be fit into distinct groups, including osteitis pubis, adductor compartment injury, rectus abdominis tendon injury, and injury or disease remote from the pubic symphysis. Patients with injury involving the rectus abdominis insertion were most likely to go on to surgical pelvic floor repair. MR imaging depicts patterns of findings in patients with athletic pubalgia, including rectus abdominis insertional injury, thigh adductor injury, and articular diseases at the pubic symphysis (osteitis pubis). (c) RSNA, 2008.

Neuroimaging in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Other Stress-related Disorders

PubMed Central

Bremner, J. Douglas

2009-01-01

Synopsis Traumatic stress has a broad range of effects on the brain. Brain areas implicated in the stress response include the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex. Studies in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychiatric disorders related to stress have replicated findings in animal studies by finding alterations in these brain areas. Brain regions implicated in PTSD also play an important role in memory function, highlighting the important interplay between memory and the traumatic stress response. Abnormalities in these brain areas are hypothesized to underlie symptoms of PTSD and other stress-related psychiatric disorders. PMID:17983968

Dynamic Range Across Music Genres and the Perception of Dynamic Compression in Hearing-Impaired Listeners

PubMed Central

Kirchberger, Martin

2016-01-01

Dynamic range compression serves different purposes in the music and hearing-aid industries. In the music industry, it is used to make music louder and more attractive to normal-hearing listeners. In the hearing-aid industry, it is used to map the variable dynamic range of acoustic signals to the reduced dynamic range of hearing-impaired listeners. Hence, hearing-aided listeners will typically receive a dual dose of compression when listening to recorded music. The present study involved an acoustic analysis of dynamic range across a cross section of recorded music as well as a perceptual study comparing the efficacy of different compression schemes. The acoustic analysis revealed that the dynamic range of samples from popular genres, such as rock or rap, was generally smaller than the dynamic range of samples from classical genres, such as opera and orchestra. By comparison, the dynamic range of speech, based on recordings of monologues in quiet, was larger than the dynamic range of all music genres tested. The perceptual study compared the effect of the prescription rule NAL-NL2 with a semicompressive and a linear scheme. Music subjected to linear processing had the highest ratings for dynamics and quality, followed by the semicompressive and the NAL-NL2 setting. These findings advise against NAL-NL2 as a prescription rule for recorded music and recommend linear settings. PMID:26868955

Dynamic Range Across Music Genres and the Perception of Dynamic Compression in Hearing-Impaired Listeners.

PubMed

Kirchberger, Martin; Russo, Frank A

2016-02-10

Dynamic range compression serves different purposes in the music and hearing-aid industries. In the music industry, it is used to make music louder and more attractive to normal-hearing listeners. In the hearing-aid industry, it is used to map the variable dynamic range of acoustic signals to the reduced dynamic range of hearing-impaired listeners. Hence, hearing-aided listeners will typically receive a dual dose of compression when listening to recorded music. The present study involved an acoustic analysis of dynamic range across a cross section of recorded music as well as a perceptual study comparing the efficacy of different compression schemes. The acoustic analysis revealed that the dynamic range of samples from popular genres, such as rock or rap, was generally smaller than the dynamic range of samples from classical genres, such as opera and orchestra. By comparison, the dynamic range of speech, based on recordings of monologues in quiet, was larger than the dynamic range of all music genres tested. The perceptual study compared the effect of the prescription rule NAL-NL2 with a semicompressive and a linear scheme. Music subjected to linear processing had the highest ratings for dynamics and quality, followed by the semicompressive and the NAL-NL2 setting. These findings advise against NAL-NL2 as a prescription rule for recorded music and recommend linear settings. © The Author(s) 2016.

Dynamic Simulation of Random Packing of Polydispersive Fine Particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferraz, Carlos Handrey Araujo; Marques, Samuel Apolinário

2018-02-01

In this paper, we perform molecular dynamic (MD) simulations to study the two-dimensional packing process of both monosized and random size particles with radii ranging from 1.0 to 7.0 μm. The initial positions as well as the radii of five thousand fine particles were defined inside a rectangular box by using a random number generator. Both the translational and rotational movements of each particle were considered in the simulations. In order to deal with interacting fine particles, we take into account both the contact forces and the long-range dispersive forces. We account for normal and static/sliding tangential friction forces between particles and between particle and wall by means of a linear model approach, while the long-range dispersive forces are computed by using a Lennard-Jones-like potential. The packing processes were studied assuming different long-range interaction strengths. We carry out statistical calculations of the different quantities studied such as packing density, mean coordination number, kinetic energy, and radial distribution function as the system evolves over time. We find that the long-range dispersive forces can strongly influence the packing process dynamics as they might form large particle clusters, depending on the intensity of the long-range interaction strength.

Managing incidental findings in human subjects research: analysis and recommendations.

PubMed

Wolf, Susan M; Lawrenz, Frances P; Nelson, Charles A; Kahn, Jeffrey P; Cho, Mildred K; Clayton, Ellen Wright; Fletcher, Joel G; Georgieff, Michael K; Hammerschmidt, Dale; Hudson, Kathy; Illes, Judy; Kapur, Vivek; Keane, Moira A; Koenig, Barbara A; Leroy, Bonnie S; McFarland, Elizabeth G; Paradise, Jordan; Parker, Lisa S; Terry, Sharon F; Van Ness, Brian; Wilfond, Benjamin S

2008-01-01

No consensus yet exists on how to handle incidental findings (IFs) in human subjects research. Yet empirical studies document IFs in a wide range of research studies, where IFs are findings beyond the aims of the study that are of potential health or reproductive importance to the individual research participant. This paper reports recommendations of a two-year project group funded by NIH to study how to manage IFs in genetic and genomic research, as well as imaging research. We conclude that researchers have an obligation to address the possibility of discovering IFs in their protocol and communications with the IRB, and in their consent forms and communications with research participants. Researchers should establish a pathway for handling IFs and communicate that to the IRB and research participants. We recommend a pathway and categorize IFs into those that must be disclosed to research participants, those that may be disclosed, and those that should not be disclosed.

Choice of range-energy relationship for the analysis of electron-beam-induced-current line scans

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luke, Keung, L.

1994-07-01

The electron range in a material is an important parameter in the analysis of electron-beam-induced-current (EBIC) line scans. Both the Kanaya-Okayama (KO) and Everhart-Hoff (EH) range-energy relationships have been widely used by investigators for this purpose. Although the KO range is significantly larer than the EH range, no study has been done to examine the effect of choosing one range over the other on the values of the surface recombination velocity S(sub T) and minority-carrier diffusion length L evaluated from EBICF line scans. Such a study has been carried out, focusing on two major questions: (1) When the KO range is used in different reported methods to evaluate either or both S(sub T) and L from EBIC line scans, how different are their values thus determined in comparison to those using the EH range?; (2) from EBIC line scans of a given material, is there a way to discriminate between the KO and the EH ranges which should be used to analyze these scans? Answers to these questions are presented to assist investigators in extracting more reliable values of either or both S(sub T) and L and in finding the right range to use in the analysis of these line scans.

Prevailing Negative Soil Biota Effect and No Evidence for Local Adaptation in a Widespread Eurasian Grass

PubMed Central

Wagner, Viktoria; Antunes, Pedro M.; Ristow, Michael; Lechner, Ute; Hensen, Isabell

2011-01-01

Background Soil biota effects are increasingly accepted as an important driver of the abundance and distribution of plants. While biogeographical studies on alien invasive plant species have indicated coevolution with soil biota in their native distribution range, it is unknown whether adaptation to soil biota varies among populations within the native distribution range. The question of local adaptation between plants and their soil biota has important implications for conservation of biodiversity and may justify the use of seed material from local provenances in restoration campaigns. Methodology/Principal Findings We studied soil biota effects in ten populations of the steppe grass Stipa capillata from two distinct regions, Europe and Asia. We tested for local adaptation at two different scales, both within (ca. 10–80 km) and between (ca. 3300 km) regions, using a reciprocal inoculation experiment in the greenhouse for nine months. Generally, negative soil biota effects were consistent. However, we did not find evidence for local adaptation: both within and between regions, growth of plants in their ‘home soil’ was not significantly larger relative to that in soil from other, more distant, populations. Conclusions/Significance Our study suggests that negative soil biota effects can prevail in different parts of a plant species' range. Absence of local adaptation points to the possibility of similar rhizosphere biota composition across populations and regions, sufficient gene flow to prevent coevolution, selection in favor of plasticity, or functional redundancy among different soil biota. From the point of view of plant - soil biota interactions, our findings indicate that the current practice of using seeds exclusively from local provenances in ecosystem restoration campaigns may not be justified. PMID:21479262

Intraspecific carbon and nitrogen isotopic variability in foxtail millet (Setaria italica).

PubMed

Lightfoot, Emma; Przelomska, Natalia; Craven, Martha; O Connell, Tamsin C; He, Lu; Hunt, Harriet V; Jones, Martin K

2016-07-15

Isotopic palaeodietary studies generally focus on bone collagen from human and/or animal remains. While plant remains are rarely analysed, it is known that plant isotope values can vary as a result of numerous factors, including soil conditions, the environment and type of plant. The millets were important food crops in prehistoric Eurasia, yet little is known about the isotopic differences within millet species. Here we compare the stable isotope ratios within and between Setaria italica plants grown in a controlled environment chamber. Using homogenised samples, we compare carbon isotope ratios of leaves and grains, and nitrogen isotope ratios of grains, from 29 accessions of Setaria italica. We find significant isotopic variability within single leaves and panicles, and between leaves and panicles within the same plant, which must be considered when undertaking plant isotope studies. We find that the leaves and grains from the different accessions have a ca 2‰ range in δ(13) C values, while the nitrogen isotope values in the grains have a ca 6‰ range. We also find an average offset of 0.9‰ between leaves and grains in their δ(13) C values. The variation found is large enough to have archaeological implications and within- and between-plant isotope variability should be considered in isotope studies. The range in δ(15) N values is particularly significant as it is larger than the typical values quoted for a trophic level enrichment, and as such may lead to erroneous interpretations of the amount of animal protein in human or animal diets. It is therefore necessary to account for the variability in plant stable isotope values during palaeodietary reconstructions. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Expanding the Range of the First Step to Success Intervention: Tertiary-Level Support for Children, Teachers, and Families

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Frey, Andy J.; Small, Jason W.; Lee, Jon; Walker, Hill M.; Seeley, John R.; Feil, Edward G.; Golly, Annemeike

2015-01-01

This study presents the findings of a quasi-experimental feasibility study examining the Tertiary First Step intervention, an enhanced version of the First Step to Success early intervention program. Tertiary FirstStep was developed to engage families more effectively and influence and improve parenting practices for children having challenging…

From Principled Dissent to Cognitive Escape: Managerial Resistance in the English Further Education Sector

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Page, Damien

2011-01-01

This article presents findings from a study of first tier managers (FTMs) within further education. While studies of managerial resistance are rare, this research highlights a range of resistant behaviours employed by first tier managers as they struggle to meet demands from students, their teams and the organisation. Resistance here is considered…

Expanding the Range of the First Step to Success Intervention: Tertiary-Level Support for Children, Teachers, and Families

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Frey, Andy J.; Small, Jason W.; Lee, Jon; Walker, Hill M.; Seeley, John R.; Feil, Edward G.; Golly, Annemeike

2015-01-01

This study presents the findings of a quasi-experimental feasibility study examining the Tertiary First Step intervention, an enhanced version of the First Step to Success early intervention program. Tertiary First Step was developed to engage families more effectively and influence and improve parenting practices for children having challenging…

Lifelong Education, Quality of Life and Self-Efficacy of Chinese Older Adults

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leung, Dion S. Y.; Liu, Ben C. P.

2011-01-01

This study aimed to identify the relationships between lifelong learning, quality of life, and self-efficacy of older adults. One thousand and three participants of a lifelong educational program participated; the mean age was 50.6 (SD = 7.8, range: 18-78). Findings revealed that the patterns of study established a positive association with…

Practical Applications of Space Systems, Supporting Paper 4: Agriculture, Forest, and Range.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Academy of Sciences - National Research Council, Washington, DC. Assembly of Engineering.

This report summarizes the findings of one of fourteen panels that studied the progress of space science applications and defined user needs potentially capable of being met by space-system applications. The study was requested by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and was conducted by the Space Applications Board. The panels…

Finding the Key to Successful L2 Learning in Groups and Individuals

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lowie, Wander; van Dijk, Marijn; Chan, Huiping; Verspoor, Marjolijn

2017-01-01

A large body studies into individual differences in second language learning has shown that success in second language learning is strongly affected by a set of relevant learner characteristics ranging from the age of onset to motivation, aptitude, and personality. Most studies have concentrated on a limited number of learner characteristics and…

The Relations Between Student Organizations and the Wider University. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gamson, Zelda F.

This report presents the findings from a study of student organizations at the University of Michigan. Four religious groups, 5 political groups, 10 sororities and 10 fraternities were chosen to represent a range of groups within each of the types. The study was undertaken to determine (1) the impact of formal student organizations on their…

Coping and Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents with a Chronic Medical Condition: A Search for Intervention Targets

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kraaij, Vivian; Garnefski, Nadia

2012-01-01

The aim of the present study was to find relevant coping factors for the development of psychological intervention programs for adolescents with a chronic medical condition. A wide range of coping techniques were studied, including cognitive coping, behavioral coping and goal adjustment coping. A total of 176 adolescents participated. They were…

Psychological and Socio-Demographic Correlates of Academic Performance Distinguishing Completers and Non-Completers in Distance Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sultan, Sarwat; Hagger, Martin

2013-01-01

This paper addresses the findings of a study conducted on identifying the psychological and socio-demographic factors contributing in completers and non-completers of distance learning program. A sample of 232 distance learners ranging in age between 25-45 years old participated in this study. For psychological factors, the Perceived Competence…

Thematic versus Subject-Based Curriculum Delivery and Achievement Goals: Findings from a Single-School Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Putwain, Dave; Whiteley, Helen; Caddick, Lee

2011-01-01

Background: It has been claimed that thematic or integrated approaches to curriculum delivery offer a range of advantages over subject-based modes of delivery including improved pupil motivation. Purpose: This study put claims regarding pupil motivation to the test, using the achievement goals framework. This contemporary approach to understanding…

Hayman Fire Case Study: Summary [RMRS-GTR-115

Treesearch

Russell T. Graham

2003-01-01

This publication summarizes the findings in the 400-page companion document, Hayman Fire Case Study, Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-114. This summary document's purpose is to convey information quickly and succinctly to a wide array of audiences.In 2002 much of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado was rich in dry vegetation as a...

Diversity within: Subgroup Differences of Youth Problem Behaviors among Asian Pacific Islander American Adolescents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Choi, Yoonsun

2008-01-01

This study compares problem behaviors across a range of adolescent Asian Pacific Islander (API) subgroups using the Add Health data, and controlling for parental education or immigrant status. The study finds that Filipino, "other" API, and multiethnic API American youth are at higher risk for poorer outcomes than Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese…

Many-body optimization using an ab initio monte carlo method.

PubMed

Haubein, Ned C; McMillan, Scott A; Broadbelt, Linda J

2003-01-01

Advances in computing power have made it possible to study solvated molecules using ab initio quantum chemistry. Inclusion of discrete solvent molecules is required to determine geometric information about solute/solvent clusters. Monte Carlo methods are well suited to finding minima in many-body systems, and ab initio methods are applicable to the widest range of systems. A first principles Monte Carlo (FPMC) method was developed to find minima in many-body systems, and emphasis was placed on implementing moves that increase the likelihood of finding minimum energy structures. Partial optimization and molecular interchange moves aid in finding minima and overcome the incomplete sampling that is unavoidable when using ab initio methods. FPMC was validated by studying the boron trifluoride-water system, and then the method was used to examine the methyl carbenium ion in water to demonstrate its application to solvation problems.

Variability in core areas of spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) in a tropical dry forest in Costa Rica.

PubMed

Asensio, Norberto; Schaffner, Colleen M; Aureli, Filippo

2012-04-01

Core areas are highly used parts of the home range on which the survival of solitary or group-living animals depends. We investigated the home range and core area size and area fidelity of a spider monkey community in a tropical dry forest over a 4-year period. Home ranges overlapped extensively across years, subgroup sizes, and seasons. In contrast, spider monkeys used core areas that varied in size and location across the study years, subgroup sizes, and seasons. These shifts in core areas suggest that the understanding of core areas, and thus the spatial requirements, of a species in a particular habitat may be limited if based on short-term studies. In this respect, our findings emphasize the importance of long-term studies of the spatial ecology of any species in a particular habitat. Our study also shows that the yearly home range basically includes all the core areas from different years, seasons, and subgroup sizes (i.e., the super-core area). This is conceptually important for territorial species, such as spider monkeys, which defend a stable home range as it contains not only the current, but also the future core areas.

A Broader View

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McCaull, Julian

1972-01-01

Presents a profile of Dr. Victor Sidel, one of an increasing number of physicians who are finding that the environmental factors which cause disease often lie outside the range of their professional training. To prevent, rather than treat disease, the physician finds himself grappling with issues which range from pollution to poverty. (BL)

Basis convergence of range-separated density-functional theory

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

Franck, Odile, E-mail: odile.franck@etu.upmc.fr; Mussard, Bastien, E-mail: bastien.mussard@upmc.fr; CNRS, UMR 7616, Laboratoire de Chimie Théorique, F-75005 Paris

2015-02-21

Range-separated density-functional theory (DFT) is an alternative approach to Kohn-Sham density-functional theory. The strategy of range-separated density-functional theory consists in separating the Coulomb electron-electron interaction into long-range and short-range components and treating the long-range part by an explicit many-body wave-function method and the short-range part by a density-functional approximation. Among the advantages of using many-body methods for the long-range part of the electron-electron interaction is that they are much less sensitive to the one-electron atomic basis compared to the case of the standard Coulomb interaction. Here, we provide a detailed study of the basis convergence of range-separated density-functional theory. Wemore » study the convergence of the partial-wave expansion of the long-range wave function near the electron-electron coalescence. We show that the rate of convergence is exponential with respect to the maximal angular momentum L for the long-range wave function, whereas it is polynomial for the case of the Coulomb interaction. We also study the convergence of the long-range second-order Møller-Plesset correlation energy of four systems (He, Ne, N{sub 2}, and H{sub 2}O) with cardinal number X of the Dunning basis sets cc − p(C)V XZ and find that the error in the correlation energy is best fitted by an exponential in X. This leads us to propose a three-point complete-basis-set extrapolation scheme for range-separated density-functional theory based on an exponential formula.« less

Valuing Reductions in Fatal Illness Risks: Implications of Recent Research.

PubMed

Robinson, Lisa A; Hammitt, James K

2016-08-01

The value of mortality risk reductions, conventionally expressed as the value per statistical life, is an important determinant of the net benefits of many government policies. US regulators currently rely primarily on studies of fatal injuries, raising questions about whether different values might be appropriate for risks associated with fatal illnesses. Our review suggests that, despite the substantial expansion of the research base in recent years, few US studies of illness-related risks meet criteria for quality, and those that do yield similar values to studies of injury-related risks. Given this result, combining the findings of these few studies with the findings of the more robust literature on injury-related risks appears to provide a reasonable range of estimates for application in regulatory analysis. Our review yields estimates ranging from about $4.2 million to $13.7 million with a mid-point of $9.0 million (2013 dollars). Although the studies we identify differ from those that underlie the values currently used by Federal agencies, the resulting estimates are remarkably similar, suggesting that there is substantial consensus emerging on the values applicable to the general US population. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

An exploration of peer-assisted learning in undergraduate nursing students in paediatric clinical settings: An ethnographic study.

PubMed

Carey, Matthew C; Chick, Anna; Kent, Bridie; Latour, Jos M

2018-06-01

Peer-assisted leaning relates to the acquisition of knowledge and skills through shared learning of matched equals. The concept has been explored within the field of nurse education across a range of learning environments, but its impact in practice is still relatively unknown. This paper reports on findings when observing paediatric undergraduate nursing students who engage in PAL within the clinical practice setting. The aim of this paper is to report the findings of a study undertaken to explore peer-assisted learning in undergraduate nursing students, studying children's health, in the clinical practice setting. A qualitative ethnographic study using non-participant observations. A range of inpatient paediatric clinical settings across two teaching hospitals. First, second and third year paediatric student nurses enrolled on a Bachelor of Nursing Programme. Non-participant observations were used to observe a range of interactions between the participants when engaging in peer-assisted learning within the same clinical area. A total of 67 h of raw data collected across all observations was analysed using framework analysis to draw together key themes. Of the 20 identified students across two hospitals, 17 agreed to take part in the study. Findings were aggregated into three key themes; 1. Peers as facilitators to develop learning when engaging in peer-assisted learning, 2. Working together to develop clinical practice and deliver care, 3. Positive support and interaction from peers to enhance networking and develop working structure. Peer-assisted learning in undergraduate children's nursing students stimulates students in becoming engaged in their learning experiences in clinical practice and enhance collaborative support within the working environment. The benefits of peer-assisted learning in current clinical practice settings can be challenging. Therefore, education and practice need to be aware of the benefits and their contribution towards future strategies and models of learning. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Distribution of Linearly Polarized Gluons and Elliptic Azimuthal Anisotropy in Deep Inelastic Scattering Dijet Production at High Energy

DOE PAGES

Dumitru, Adrian; Lappi, Tuomas; Skokov, Vladimir

2015-12-17

In this study, we determine the distribution of linearly polarized gluons of a dense target at small x by solving the Balitsky–Jalilian-Marian–Iancu–McLerran–Weigert–Leonidov–Kovner rapidity evolution equations. From these solutions, we estimate the amplitude of cos2Φ azimuthal asymmetries in deep inelastic scattering dijet production at high energies. We find sizable long-range in rapidity azimuthal asymmetries with a magnitude in the range of v 2=~10%.

Entrainment range of the suprachiasmatic nucleus affected by the difference in the neuronal amplitudes between the light-sensitive and light-insensitive regions.

PubMed

Gu, Changgui; Yang, Huijie; Ruan, Zhongyuan

2017-04-01

Mammals not only can be synchronized to the natural 24-h light-dark cycle, but also to a cycle with a non-24-h period. The range of the period of the external cycle, for which the animals can be entrained to, is called the entrainment range, which differs among species. The entrainment range as a characteristic of the animal is determined by the main circadian clock, i.e., the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the brain. The SCN is composed of ∼10000 heterogeneous neurons, which can be divided into two subgroups, i.e., the ventrolateral subgroup (VL) directly receiving the light information from the retina and relaying the information to the dorsomedial subgroup (DM). Among the SCN neurons, the amplitudes are different; however, it is unclear that the amplitude is related to the location of the neurons in experiments. In the present study, we examined the effect of the difference in the neuronal amplitude between the VL and the DM on the entrainment range of the SCN, based on a mathematical model, i.e., the Poincaré model, which is used to describe the circadian clock. We find that the maximal entrainment range is obtained when the difference is equal to a critical point. If the difference of the amplitudes of the VL neurons to the amplitudes of the DM neurons is smaller than a critical point, with the increase of the difference, the entrainment range of the SCN increases, while if the difference is larger than the critical point, the entrainment range decreases with the increase of the difference. Our finding may give a potential explanation for the diversity of the entrainment range among species.

Entrainment range of the suprachiasmatic nucleus affected by the difference in the neuronal amplitudes between the light-sensitive and light-insensitive regions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gu, Changgui; Yang, Huijie; Ruan, Zhongyuan

2017-04-01

Mammals not only can be synchronized to the natural 24-h light-dark cycle, but also to a cycle with a non-24-h period. The range of the period of the external cycle, for which the animals can be entrained to, is called the entrainment range, which differs among species. The entrainment range as a characteristic of the animal is determined by the main circadian clock, i.e., the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the brain. The SCN is composed of ˜10 000 heterogeneous neurons, which can be divided into two subgroups, i.e., the ventrolateral subgroup (VL) directly receiving the light information from the retina and relaying the information to the dorsomedial subgroup (DM). Among the SCN neurons, the amplitudes are different; however, it is unclear that the amplitude is related to the location of the neurons in experiments. In the present study, we examined the effect of the difference in the neuronal amplitude between the VL and the DM on the entrainment range of the SCN, based on a mathematical model, i.e., the Poincaré model, which is used to describe the circadian clock. We find that the maximal entrainment range is obtained when the difference is equal to a critical point. If the difference of the amplitudes of the VL neurons to the amplitudes of the DM neurons is smaller than a critical point, with the increase of the difference, the entrainment range of the SCN increases, while if the difference is larger than the critical point, the entrainment range decreases with the increase of the difference. Our finding may give a potential explanation for the diversity of the entrainment range among species.

What Use Is Maths to Me? A Report on the Outcomes from Student Focus Groups

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Onion, Alice J.

2004-01-01

This paper reports on the views of school and college students in the 14-18 age range on mathematics and its applications. The findings relate to the perceived relevance of mathematics and to choices for sixth form study.

Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program: Cost-Effectiveness Tables Development and Methodology

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-05-01

This document presents summary and detailed findings from a research effort to develop estimates of the cost-effectiveness of a range of project types funded under the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program. In this study, c...

16 CFR § 1303.5 - Findings.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... regulation is designed to eliminate or reduce is lead poisoning in children. The adverse effects of this poisoning in children can cause a range of disorders such as hyperactivity, slowed learning ability... functional disorders which are often included under the heading of minimal brain dysfunction. Studies suggest...

Can you catch Ebola from a stork bite? Inductive reasoning influences generalization of perceived zoonosis risk

PubMed Central

Davis, Tyler

2017-01-01

Emerging zoonoses are a prominent global health threat. Human beliefs are central to drivers of emerging zoonoses, yet little is known about how people make inferences about risk in such scenarios. We present an inductive account of zoonosis risk perception, suggesting that beliefs about the range of animals able to transmit diseases to each other influence how people generalize risks to other animals and health behaviors. Consistent with our account, in Study 1, we find that participants who endorse higher likelihoods of cross-species disease transmission have stronger intentions to report animal bites. In Study 2, using real-world descriptions of Ebola virus from the WHO and CDC, we find that communications conveying a broader range of animals as susceptible to the virus increase intentions to report animal bites and decrease perceived safety of wild game meat. These results suggest that inductive reasoning principles may be harnessed to modulate zoonosis risk perception and combat emerging infectious diseases. PMID:29117192

Collisionless Boltzmann equation approach for the study of stellar discs within barred galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bienaymé, Olivier

2018-04-01

We have studied the kinematics of stellar disc populations within the solar neighbourhood in order to find the imprints of the Galactic bar. We carried out the analysis by developing a numerical resolution of the 2D2V (two-dimensional in the physical space, 2D, and two-dimensional in the velocity motion, 2V) collisionless Boltzmann equation and modelling the stellar motions within the plane of the Galaxy within the solar neighbourhood. We recover similar results to those obtained by other authors using N-body simulations, but we are also able to numerically identify faint structures thanks to the cancelling of the Poisson noise. We find that the ratio of the bar pattern speed to the local circular frequency is in the range ΩB/Ω = 1.77 to 1.91. If the Galactic bar angle orientation is within the range from 24 to 45 degrees, the bar pattern speed is between 46 and 49 km s-1 kpc-1.

Altered Connectivity and Action Model Formation in Autism Is Autism

PubMed Central

Mostofsky, Stewart H.; Ewen, Joshua B.

2014-01-01

Internal action models refer to sensory-motor programs that form the brain basis for a wide range of skilled behavior and for understanding others’ actions. Development of these action models, particularly those reliant on visual cues from the external world, depends on connectivity between distant brain regions. Studies of children with autism reveal anomalous patterns of motor learning and impaired execution of skilled motor gestures. These findings robustly correlate with measures of social and communicative function, suggesting that anomalous action model formation may contribute to impaired development of social and communicative (as well as motor) capacity in autism. Examination of the pattern of behavioral findings, as well as convergent data from neuroimaging techniques, further suggests that autism-associated action model formation may be related to abnormalities in neural connectivity, particularly decreased function of long-range connections. This line of study can lead to important advances in understanding the neural basis of autism and, more critically, can be used to guide effective therapies targeted at improving social, communicative, and motor function. PMID:21467306

Can you catch Ebola from a stork bite? Inductive reasoning influences generalization of perceived zoonosis risk.

PubMed

Davis, Tyler; Goldwater, Micah B; Ireland, Molly E; Gaylord, Nicholas; Van Allen, Jason

2017-01-01

Emerging zoonoses are a prominent global health threat. Human beliefs are central to drivers of emerging zoonoses, yet little is known about how people make inferences about risk in such scenarios. We present an inductive account of zoonosis risk perception, suggesting that beliefs about the range of animals able to transmit diseases to each other influence how people generalize risks to other animals and health behaviors. Consistent with our account, in Study 1, we find that participants who endorse higher likelihoods of cross-species disease transmission have stronger intentions to report animal bites. In Study 2, using real-world descriptions of Ebola virus from the WHO and CDC, we find that communications conveying a broader range of animals as susceptible to the virus increase intentions to report animal bites and decrease perceived safety of wild game meat. These results suggest that inductive reasoning principles may be harnessed to modulate zoonosis risk perception and combat emerging infectious diseases.

Phonon Instability and Broken Long-Ranged p Bond in Ge-Sb-Te Phase-Change Materials from First Principles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Young-Sun; Kim, Jeongwoo; Jhi, Seung-Hoon

2018-05-01

Ge-Sb-Te (GST) compounds exhibit substantial electrical and optical contrast between the amorphous and crystalline phases. Despite extensive studies of GST compounds, the underlying mechanism for fast transitions between the amorphous and crystalline phases is yet to be revealed. In this paper, we study the properties of phonons and a long-ranged p -orbital network of hexagonal GST compounds using first-principles calculations. By investigating volume-dependent phonon dispersions, we observe the structural instability at elevated temperature due to the spontaneous softening of a specific in-plane vibrational mode (Eu ). We find that the atomic distortion by the Eu mode is associated with weakening of delocalized p bonding inducing large structural and electrical changes. We also discuss how to manipulate the Eu mode to control the device performance. Our finding helps deepen the understanding of the phase-change mechanism and improve the device performance, especially the switching power and operating temperature.

Dose-response relationship in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders.

PubMed

Weihrauch, T R; Demol, P

1989-08-01

Numerous clinical studies have been performed to establish efficacy and safety of drugs in gastroenterological disorders. Only in a few if any of these studies, however, the rationale for the optimal dose and the dose regimens, respectively, have been addressed. Adequate and well-controlled dose finding studies play a key role in the clinical assessment of new drugs and in the evaluation of new indications. Hereby the range from the minimal effective dose to the maximal effective and well tolerated dose can be assessed and thus the optimal dose-range and dosage regimen be determined. Meaningful pharmacodynamic studies can be performed in the gastrointestinal tract also in healthy volunteers provided that a method with a high predictability for the desired therapeutic effect is available such as measurement of gastric acid secretion and its inhibition by a drug. Dose finding studies in gastroenterology can be carried out under two main aspects: First, to assess the pharmacodynamic and therapeutic effect of a compound on the gastrointestinal tract (e.g. anti-ulcer drug). Second, to evaluate the side effects of a drug on the gastrointestinal tract (e.g. gastric mucosal damage by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). For the evaluation of new drugs in gastrointestinal therapy a number of methods are available which yield accurate and reproducible data. While careful clinical-pharmacological dose-response studies using these methods have been carried out already more than a decade ago, it is surprising that therapeutic dose finding studies have become available only during the past few years. For scientific as well as for ethical reasons more trials which determine the optimal therapeutic dose are warranted.

Comparison of cervical os versus vaginal evidentiary findings during sexual assault exam.

PubMed

Morgan, Jean A

2008-04-01

Evidence collection post sexual assault varies across the nation. The Ohio Department of Health has a standardized kit for evidence collection used during the forensic exams of sexual assault survivors. The protocol includes obtaining 4 swabs: 2 from the vaginal pooled fluid and 2 from the cervical area. The purpose is to determine if augmenting the state protocol with cervical os swabs and a comparison slide will improve evidentiary findings in adolescent and adult female rape survivors. A descriptive study of 30 months for sexual assault female survivors over the age of 13 treated at a level II emergency department by a trained sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE). The comparisons of cervical os specimens versus vaginal pool findings were analyzed by the Canton-Stark County Crime Laboratory (C-SCCL). Eighty-six cases were completed. After investigation, local law enforcement officials turned in 36 kits (42%) to be processed at the C-SCCL for the standard vaginal pool swabs and slide. The average estimated time interval between assault and treatment time was 20.46 hours (range, 2.83 to 80.83 hours). The average age of the survivor was 23.7 years, (range, 15 to 48). Eight percent (3/36) had only cervical os semen evidentiary findings. Forty-four percent (16/36) had positive semen evidentiary findings in vaginal pool and cervical os. Successful convictions were aided by the cervical os research study, especially because vaginal pool evidence diminishes when collected after 24 hours, but may be present longer in the cervical os.

Modeling and analysis of biomagnetic blood Carreau fluid flow through a stenosis artery with magnetic heat transfer: A transient study.

PubMed

Abdollahzadeh Jamalabadi, Mohammad Yaghoub; Daqiqshirazi, Mohammadreza; Nasiri, Hossein; Safaei, Mohammad Reza; Nguyen, Truong Khang

2018-01-01

We present a numerical investigation of tapered arteries that addresses the transient simulation of non-Newtonian bio-magnetic fluid dynamics (BFD) of blood through a stenosis artery in the presence of a transverse magnetic field. The current model is consistent with ferro-hydrodynamic (FHD) and magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) principles. In the present work, blood in small arteries is analyzed using the Carreau-Yasuda model. The arterial wall is assumed to be fixed with cosine geometry for the stenosis. A parametric study was conducted to reveal the effects of the stenosis intensity and the Hartman number on a wide range of flow parameters, such as the flow velocity, temperature, and wall shear stress. Current findings are in a good agreement with recent findings in previous research studies. The results show that wall temperature control can keep the blood in its ideal blood temperature range (below 40°C) and that a severe pressure drop occurs for blockages of more than 60 percent. Additionally, with an increase in the Ha number, a velocity drop in the blood vessel is experienced.

“U-Method” TVT-Secur Slings: Are they obstructive?

PubMed Central

Richard, Patrick; Gagnon, Louis-Olivier; Tu, Le Mai

2012-01-01

Introduction: The TVT-Secur, a single incision sling, was introduced in 2006. It is implanted using either the “hammock” or the “U-method” technique. With the latter, the sling is tightened to create a “pillowing effect” on the urethra until a negative stress test is obtained. Short-term results seem promising. However, no study has ever reported on the voiding pattern 12 months after its implantation. Our objective was to assess whether the “U-method” technique creates an obstructive voiding pattern on pressure-flow study (PFS) 12 months after the surgery. Methods: In this retrospective study, we reviewed the charts of 33 women who underwent the “U-method” TVT-Secur. Patients were evaluated before and 12 months postoperatively with regard to different urodynamic studies (UDS). The incontinence status was also assessed 12 months after surgery. Results: At 12 months after the operation, 12.5% (4/32) of the patients reported an improvement of their stress urinary incontinence, while 78.1% (25/32) reported being cured from it. The objective cure rate was 63% (19/30). One patient had a suspected bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) based on PFS. Maximal flow rate (Qmax) was significantly lower 12 months after surgery (26.0 mL/s [range: 19.0–36.5] vs. 21.5 mL/s [range: 16.0–32.3]). However, median voided volume was lower on the postoperative uroflowmetry (446 mL [range: 348–605] vs. 320 mL [range: 243–502]). Furthermore, none of the patients complained of voiding symptoms after surgery. Conclusions: Although one patient had findings compatible with BOO, none complained of voiding symptoms. TVT-Secur may result in a lower Qmax. However, this finding may be due to a lower voiding volume on the postoperative UDS. PMID:22511425

Subject-Specific Carpal Ligament Elongation in Extreme Positions, Grip, and the Dart Thrower's Motion

PubMed Central

Rainbow, Michael J.; Kamal, Robin N.; Moore, Douglas C.; Akelman, Edward; Wolfe, Scott W.; Crisco, Joseph J.

2015-01-01

This study examined whether the radiocarpal and dorsal capsular ligaments limit end-range wrist motion or remain strained during midrange wrist motion. Fibers of these ligaments were modeled in the wrists of 12 subjects over multiple wrist positions that reflect high demand tasks and the dart thrower's motion. We found that many of the volar and dorsal ligaments were within 5% of their maximum length throughout the range of wrist motion. Our finding of wrist ligament recruitment during midrange and end-range wrist motion helps to explain the complex but remarkably similar intersubject patterns of carpal motion. PMID:26367853

Effectiveness of massage therapy on the range of motion of the shoulder: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Yeun, Young-Ran

2017-02-01

[Purpose] This study was conducted to identify and analyze the degree of effect of massage therapy on the range of motion of the shoulder. [Subjects and Methods] The database search was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, RISS, NDSL, NANET, DBpia, and KoreaMed. The meta-analysis was based on 7 studies, covered a total of 237 participants, and used a random-effects model. [Results] The effect size estimate showed that massage therapy significantly improved the shoulder range of motion, especially the flexion (SMD: 18.21, 95% CI 1.57-34.85) and abduction (SMD: 22.07, 95% CI 5.84-38.30). [Conclusion] The review findings suggest that massage therapy is effective in improving the shoulder flexion and abduction.

A brief overview of channel monitoring in land management: Five case studies. Case study #1

Treesearch

Leslie Reid

1999-01-01

Yesterday we heard about some successful monitoring programs,but today I would like to share some findings from a study I did, which was basically a post-mortem of failed monitoring programs.There were about 30 projects,and I wanted to know why did they fail,and were there patterns of why they failed.The projects ranged from university studies,land management,and...

Schools That Make a Difference to Post-Compulsory Uptake of Physical Science Subjects: Some Comparative Case Studies in England

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bennett, Judith; Lubben, Fred; Hampden-Thompson, Gillian

2013-01-01

This paper presents the findings of the qualitative component of a combined methods research study that explores a range of individual and school factors that influence the uptake of chemistry and physics in post-compulsory study in England. The first phase involves using the National Pupil Database to provide a sampling frame to identify four…

The Rising Prevalence of Autism: A Prospective Longitudinal Study in the Faroe Islands

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kocovska, Eva; Biskupsto, Rannva; Gillberg, I. Carina; Ellefsen, Asa; Kampmann, Hanna; Stora, Tormoour; Billstedt, Eva; Gillberg, Christopher

2012-01-01

We have followed up a 2002 population study of autism prevalence in 15-24-year olds in the Faroe Islands. The rate of ASD grew significantly from 0.56% in 2002 to 0.94% in 2009. Although these results are within the range of typical findings from other studies, there were some interesting details. There were--in addition to 43 originally diagnosed…

Public Experience with Psychoactive Substances: A Nationwide Study Among Adults and Youth. Part 1, Main Findings.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Abelson, Herbert I.; Atkinson, Ronald B.

This is a study of beliefs, attitudes, and behavior with regard to a wide range of legal and illegal drugs. Included are data about coffee, tea, tobacco, and illicit drugs such as marihuana and heroin. The report covers the current situation and highlights trends from two prior studies on drug abuse conducted for the National Commission on…

Designed for Learning: A Case Study in Rethinking Teaching and Learning for a Large First Year Class

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goldacre, Lisa; Bolt, Susan; Lambiris, Michael

2013-01-01

This paper presents a case study in which the principles of scholarship were applied to designing an approach to learning suitable for large classes. While this case study describes an Australian first year Business Law unit, the findings presented in this paper would be relevant to a wide range of teachers faced with large enrollments in first…

Polygenic Sex Determination System in Zebrafish

PubMed Central

Liew, Woei Chang; Bartfai, Richard; Lim, Zijie; Sreenivasan, Rajini; Siegfried, Kellee R.; Orban, Laszlo

2012-01-01

Background Despite the popularity of zebrafish as a research model, its sex determination (SD) mechanism is still unknown. Most cytogenetic studies failed to find dimorphic sex chromosomes and no primary sex determining switch has been identified even though the assembly of zebrafish genome sequence is near to completion and a high resolution genetic map is available. Recent publications suggest that environmental factors within the natural range have minimal impact on sex ratios of zebrafish populations. The primary aim of this study is to find out more about how sex is determined in zebrafish. Methodology/Principal Findings Using classical breeding experiments, we found that sex ratios across families were wide ranging (4.8% to 97.3% males). On the other hand, repeated single pair crossings produced broods of very similar sex ratios, indicating that parental genotypes have a role in the sex ratio of the offspring. Variation among family sex ratios was reduced after selection for breeding pairs with predominantly male or female offspring, another indication that zebrafish sex is regulated genetically. Further examinations by a PCR-based “blind assay" and array comparative genomic hybridization both failed to find universal sex-linked differences between the male and female genomes. Together with the ability to increase the sex bias of lines by selective breeding, these data suggest that zebrafish is unlikely to utilize a chromosomal sex determination (CSD) system. Conclusions/Significance Taken together, our study suggests that zebrafish sex is genetically determined with limited, secondary influences from the environment. As we have not found any sign for CSD in the species, we propose that the zebrafish has a polygenic sex determination system. PMID:22506019

Comparison between the Reflux Finding Score and the Reflux Symptom Index in the Practice of Otorhinolaryngology.

PubMed

Nunes, Heloisa Sobreira; Pinto, José Antonio; Zavanela, Adma Roberta; Cavallini, André Freitas; Freitas, Gabriel Santos; Garcia, Fabiola Esteves

2016-07-01

The Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease has a prevalence of ∼12% of the urban population in Brazil. Koufman proposed the term to designate Laryngeal Pharyngeal Reflux (LPR) symptoms, signs or tissue damage resulting from aggression of the gastrointestinal contents in the upper aerodigestive tract. Belafsky et al proposed a score that points to inflammatory laryngeal signs through videolaryngoscopic findings, the Reflux Finding Score (RFS). Moreover, in 2002, they published the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI). The objective of this study is to provide a comparison between the Reflux Finding Score and the Reflux Symptom Index in the practice of Otorhinolaryngology. Our study involved a total of 135 patients who visited the Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) clinic Núcleo de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço de São Paulo between April 2014 and May 2015 with suspected LPR. We excluded nine patients and the study group was 126 patients. All patients were ranked by their RSI and RFS scores. The study group consisted of 126 patients (88 women and 38 men). Their main complaints were cough (40.4%), globus (21.4%), dysphonia (19.8%), throat clearing (15.8%), postnasal drip (3.17%), snoring (1.5%), dysphagia (1.5%), cacosmia (0.7%), and regurgitation (1.5%). The RSI ranges from 13 to 42 with a mean of 20.7 (SD = 6.67). The RFS ranged from 3 to 19 with a mean of 9.53 (SD = 2.64). The RSI and RFS can easily be included in ENT routines as objective parameters, with low cost and high practicality. Based on the clinical index, the specialist can evaluate the need for further tests.

Comparison between the Reflux Finding Score and the Reflux Symptom Index in the Practice of Otorhinolaryngology

PubMed Central

Nunes, Heloisa Sobreira; Pinto, José Antonio; Zavanela, Adma Roberta; Cavallini, André Freitas; Freitas, Gabriel Santos; Garcia, Fabiola Esteves

2016-01-01

Introduction  The Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease has a prevalence of ∼12% of the urban population in Brazil. Koufman proposed the term to designate Laryngeal Pharyngeal Reflux (LPR) symptoms, signs or tissue damage resulting from aggression of the gastrointestinal contents in the upper aerodigestive tract. Belafsky et al proposed a score that points to inflammatory laryngeal signs through videolaryngoscopic findings, the Reflux Finding Score (RFS). Moreover, in 2002, they published the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI). Objective  The objective of this study is to provide a comparison between the Reflux Finding Score and the Reflux Symptom Index in the practice of Otorhinolaryngology. Methods  Our study involved a total of 135 patients who visited the Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) clinic Núcleo de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço de São Paulo between April 2014 and May 2015 with suspected LPR. We excluded nine patients and the study group was 126 patients. All patients were ranked by their RSI and RFS scores. Results  The study group consisted of 126 patients (88 women and 38 men). Their main complaints were cough (40.4%), globus (21.4%), dysphonia (19.8%), throat clearing (15.8%), postnasal drip (3.17%), snoring (1.5%), dysphagia (1.5%), cacosmia (0.7%), and regurgitation (1.5%). The RSI ranges from 13 to 42 with a mean of 20.7 (SD = 6.67). The RFS ranged from 3 to 19 with a mean of 9.53 (SD = 2.64). Conclusion  The RSI and RFS can easily be included in ENT routines as objective parameters, with low cost and high practicality. Based on the clinical index, the specialist can evaluate the need for further tests. PMID:27413402

Aircraft engine sump-fire studies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Loomis, W. R.

1976-01-01

Results of ongoing experimental studies are reported in which a 125-millimeter-diameter-advanced-bearing test rig simulating an engine sump is being used to find the critical range of conditions for fires to occur. Design, material, and operating concepts and techniques are being studied with the objective of minimizing the problem. It has been found that the vapor temperature near a spark ignitor is most important in determining ignition potential. At temperatures producing oil vapor pressures below or much above the calculated flammability limits, fires have not been ignited. But fires have been routinely started within the theoretical flammability range. This indicates that generalizing the sump-fire problem may make it amenable to analysis, with the potential for realistic solutions.

Supervised and Unsupervised Self-Testing for HIV in High- and Low-Risk Populations: A Systematic Review

PubMed Central

Pant Pai, Nitika; Sharma, Jigyasa; Shivkumar, Sushmita; Pillay, Sabrina; Vadnais, Caroline; Joseph, Lawrence; Dheda, Keertan; Peeling, Rosanna W.

2013-01-01

Background Stigma, discrimination, lack of privacy, and long waiting times partly explain why six out of ten individuals living with HIV do not access facility-based testing. By circumventing these barriers, self-testing offers potential for more people to know their sero-status. Recent approval of an in-home HIV self test in the US has sparked self-testing initiatives, yet data on acceptability, feasibility, and linkages to care are limited. We systematically reviewed evidence on supervised (self-testing and counselling aided by a health care professional) and unsupervised (performed by self-tester with access to phone/internet counselling) self-testing strategies. Methods and Findings Seven databases (Medline [via PubMed], Biosis, PsycINFO, Cinahl, African Medicus, LILACS, and EMBASE) and conference abstracts of six major HIV/sexually transmitted infections conferences were searched from 1st January 2000–30th October 2012. 1,221 citations were identified and 21 studies included for review. Seven studies evaluated an unsupervised strategy and 14 evaluated a supervised strategy. For both strategies, data on acceptability (range: 74%–96%), preference (range: 61%–91%), and partner self-testing (range: 80%–97%) were high. A high specificity (range: 99.8%–100%) was observed for both strategies, while a lower sensitivity was reported in the unsupervised (range: 92.9%–100%; one study) versus supervised (range: 97.4%–97.9%; three studies) strategy. Regarding feasibility of linkage to counselling and care, 96% (n = 102/106) of individuals testing positive for HIV stated they would seek post-test counselling (unsupervised strategy, one study). No extreme adverse events were noted. The majority of data (n = 11,019/12,402 individuals, 89%) were from high-income settings and 71% (n = 15/21) of studies were cross-sectional in design, thus limiting our analysis. Conclusions Both supervised and unsupervised testing strategies were highly acceptable, preferred, and more likely to result in partner self-testing. However, no studies evaluated post-test linkage with counselling and treatment outcomes and reporting quality was poor. Thus, controlled trials of high quality from diverse settings are warranted to confirm and extend these findings. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary PMID:23565066

Will Neuroimaging Reveal a Severe Intracranial Injury in This Adult With Minor Head Trauma?: The Rational Clinical Examination Systematic Review.

PubMed

Easter, Joshua S; Haukoos, Jason S; Meehan, William P; Novack, Victor; Edlow, Jonathan A

Adults with apparently minor head trauma (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] scores ≥13 who appear well on examination) may have severe intracranial injuries requiring prompt intervention. Findings from clinical examination can aid in determining which adults with minor trauma have severe intracranial injuries visible on computed tomography (CT). To assess systematically the accuracy of symptoms and signs in adults with minor head trauma in order to identify those with severe intracranial injuries. We performed a systematic search of MEDLINE (1966-2015) and the Cochrane Library to identify studies assessing the diagnosis of intracranial injuries. Studies were included that measured the performance of findings for identifying intracranial injury with a reference standard of neuroimaging or follow-up evaluation. Fourteen studies (range, 431-7955 patients) met inclusion criteria with patients having GCS scores between 13 and 15 and 50% or more older than 18 years. Three authors independently performed critical appraisal and data extraction. The prevalence of severe intracranial injury (requiring prompt intervention) among the 23,079 patients with minor head trauma was 7.1% (95% CI, 6.8%-7.4%) and the prevalence of injuries leading to death or requiring neurosurgical intervention was 0.9% (95% CI, 0.78%-1.0%). The presence of physical examination findings suggestive of skull fracture (likelihood ratio [LR], 16; 95% CI, 3.1-59; specificity, 99%), GCS score of 13 (LR, 4.9; 95% CI, 2.8-8.5; specificity, 97%), 2 or more vomiting episodes (LR, 3.6; 95% CI, 3.1-4.1; specificity, 92%), any decline in GCS score (LR range, 3.4-16; specificity range, 91%-99%;), and pedestrians struck by motor vehicles (LR range, 3.0-4.3; specificity range, 96%-97%) were associated with severe intracranial injury on CT. Among patients with apparent minor head trauma, the absence of any of the features of the Canadian CT Head Rule (≥65 years; ≥2 vomiting episodes, amnesia >30 minutes, pedestrian struck, ejected from vehicle, fall >1 m, suspected skull fracture, or GCS score <15 at 2 hours) had an LR of 0.04 (95% CI, 0-0.65), lowering the probability of severe injury to 0.31% (95% CI, 0%-4.7%). The absence of all the New Orleans Criteria findings (>60 years, intoxication, headache, vomiting, amnesia, seizure, or trauma above the clavicle) had an LR of 0.08 (95% CI, 0.01-0.84), lowering the probability of severe intracranial injury to 0.61% (95% CI, 0.08%-6.0%). Combinations of history and physical examination features in clinical decision rules can identify patients with minor head trauma at low risk of severe intracranial injuries. Certain findings, including signs of skull fracture, GCS score of 13, 2 or more vomiting episodes, decrease in GCS score, and pedestrians struck by motor vehicles, may help identify patients at increased risk of severe intracranial injuries.

Exploration of patients' readiness for an eHealth management program for chronic heart failure: a preliminary study.

PubMed

Nahm, Eun-Shim; Blum, Kay; Scharf, Barbara; Friedmann, Erika; Thomas, Sue; Jones, Deborah; Gottlieb, Stephen S

2008-01-01

Heart failure (HF) is a major public health problem in the United States. Approximately 5 million Americans are living with HF, and each year, 550,000 more are newly diagnosed. With recent, rapidly advancing technologies, many studies have examined the effects of technology-based HF management programs. Most of these studies focused on telemonitoring devices, lacking an aspect to motivate individuals to manage their own illnesses. This exploratory study was conducted to (1) examine the readiness of patients with HF in using an eHealth program that includes both telemonitoring and motivational components (ie, Web learning modules, eCommunication) and (2) assess the specific needs of patients with HF that can be addressed by a future eHealth program. This was a single group descriptive study using a convenience sample. A total of 44 patients with HF (mean age, 72.8 years; range, 55-85 years) were recruited from the pool of enrollees of the Medicare Coordinated Care Demonstration project for HF management that used only a telemonitoring component. Although only 10 participants were users, among 34 nonusers, 17 reported availability of Web access, and 15 reported that they would use the Internet if access and training were available. Overall, confidence for using telemonitoring devices and Web-based health modules was high, with means of 27 (range, 3-30) and 7.6 (range, 1-10), respectively. Confidence for learning health information using Web modules, however, was lower with a mean of 41.5 (range, 8-80). The 2 most highly rated health information needs were research findings (n = 41, 93.2%) and medication (n = 39, 88.6%). Most participants would like to have e-mail communication with healthcare providers. The findings showed the participants' high readiness to use the proposed eHealth program if access and training were provided. This study used a small convenience sample. Further studies are needed with larger, diverse samples.

Statistical physics approaches to financial fluctuations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Fengzhong

2009-12-01

Complex systems attract many researchers from various scientific fields. Financial markets are one of these widely studied complex systems. Statistical physics, which was originally developed to study large systems, provides novel ideas and powerful methods to analyze financial markets. The study of financial fluctuations characterizes market behavior, and helps to better understand the underlying market mechanism. Our study focuses on volatility, a fundamental quantity to characterize financial fluctuations. We examine equity data of the entire U.S. stock market during 2001 and 2002. To analyze the volatility time series, we develop a new approach, called return interval analysis, which examines the time intervals between two successive volatilities exceeding a given value threshold. We find that the return interval distribution displays scaling over a wide range of thresholds. This scaling is valid for a range of time windows, from one minute up to one day. Moreover, our results are similar for commodities, interest rates, currencies, and for stocks of different countries. Further analysis shows some systematic deviations from a scaling law, which we can attribute to nonlinear correlations in the volatility time series. We also find a memory effect in return intervals for different time scales, which is related to the long-term correlations in the volatility. To further characterize the mechanism of price movement, we simulate the volatility time series using two different models, fractionally integrated generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (FIGARCH) and fractional Brownian motion (fBm), and test these models with the return interval analysis. We find that both models can mimic time memory but only fBm shows scaling in the return interval distribution. In addition, we examine the volatility of daily opening to closing and of closing to opening. We find that each volatility distribution has a power law tail. Using the detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) method, we show long-term auto-correlations in these volatility time series. We also analyze return, the actual price changes of stocks, and find that the returns over the two sessions are often anti-correlated.

Kinetic studies of a doubly bound red cell antigen-antibody system.

PubMed

Oberhardt, B J; Miller, I F

1972-08-01

The Polybrene method for detection of red cell antibodies which utilizes continuous flow equipment was modified so that kinetic studies could be performed on red cell antibodies doubly bound between adjacent red cells. In the anti-Rh(o)-Rh(o) erythrocyte system, deaggregation by temperature was studied over an antibody concentration range of from approximately 1 to 500 antibody molecules per erythrocyte, a residence time range of approximately eightfold, and a temperature range of from 10 to 55 degrees C. The rate of dissociation of antigen-antibody complex, as determined from deaggregation of antibody-dependent red cell aggregates, was found to be of apparent zero order. The apparent activation energy for the antigen-antibody reaction under the experimental conditions was determined and found to be higher than would be expected for singly bound antigen-antibody systems. Possible explanations are considered for these findings in terms of an antigen-antibody bond-breaking model.

Individual differences in emotional complexity: their psychological implications.

PubMed

Kang, Sun-Mee; Shaver, Phillip R

2004-08-01

Two studies explored the nature and psychological implications of individual differences in emotional complexity, defined as having emotional experiences that are broad in range and well differentiated. Emotional complexity was predicted to be associated with private self-consciousness, openness to experience, empathic tendencies, cognitive complexity, ability to differentiate among named emotions, range of emotions experienced daily, and interpersonal adaptability. The Range and Differentiation of Emotional Experience Scale (RDEES) was developed to test these hypotheses. In Study 1 (N=1,129) students completed questionnaire packets containing the RDEES and various outcome measures. Study 2 (N=95) included the RDEES and non-self-report measures such as peer reports, complexity of representations of the emotion domain, and level of ego development measured by a sentence completion test. Results supported all of the hypotheses, providing extensive evidence for the RDEES's construct validity. Findings were discussed in terms of the role of emotional complexity in ego maturity and interpersonal adaptability.

AGN Clustering in the BAT Sample

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Powell, Meredith; Cappelluti, Nico; Urry, Meg; Koss, Michael; BASS Team

2018-01-01

We characterize the environments of local growing supermassive black holes by measuring the clustering of AGN in the Swift-BAT Spectroscopic Survey (BASS). With 548 AGN in the redshift range 0.01

Importance of race-ethnicity: An exploration of Asian, Black, Latino, and Multiracial adolescent identity

PubMed Central

Charmaraman, Linda; Grossman, Jennifer M.

2010-01-01

This mixed-method study used a grounded theory approach to explore the meanings underlying the importance adolescents attach to their racial-ethnic identities. The sample consisted of 923 9th–12th grade students from Black, Latino, Asian, and Multiracial backgrounds. Thematic findings identified a broad range of explanations for adolescents’ racial-ethnic centrality, ranging from pride and cultural connection to ambivalence and colorblind attitudes. While racial-ethnic groups differed in reported levels of racial-ethnic centrality, few group differences were identified in participants’ thematic explanations, with the exception of racial-ethnic and gender differences for Positive Regard and Disengagement. These findings highlight the diversity of meanings adolescents attribute to their racial-ethnic centrality as well as the many commonalities among adolescents across gender and racial-ethnic groups. PMID:20438152

The Free Energy in the Derrida-Retaux Recursive Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Yueyun; Shi, Zhan

2018-05-01

We are interested in a simple max-type recursive model studied by Derrida and Retaux (J Stat Phys 156:268-290, 2014) in the context of a physics problem, and find a wide range for the exponent in the free energy in the nearly supercritical regime.

Experiences of chronic low back pain: a meta-ethnography of qualitative research.

PubMed

MacNeela, Padraig; Doyle, Catherine; O'Gorman, David; Ruane, Nancy; McGuire, Brian E

2015-01-01

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is associated with a number of costly disability-related outcomes. It has received increasing attention from qualitative researchers studying its consequences for personal, social, and health care experiences. As research questions and methods diversify, there is a growing need to integrate findings emerging from these studies. A meta-ethnography was carried out to synthesise the findings of 38 separate qualitative articles published on the subjective experience of CLBP between 1994 and 2011. Studies were identified following a literature search and quality appraisal. Four themes were proposed after a process of translating the meaning of text extracts from the findings sections across all the articles. The themes referred to the undermining influence of pain, its disempowering impact on all levels, unsatisfying relationships with health care professionals, and learning to live with the pain. The findings are dominated by wide-ranging distress and loss but also acknowledge self-determination and resilience. Implications of the meta-ethnography for clinicians and future qualitative research are outlined, including the need to study relatively unexamined facets of subjective experience such as illness trajectory and social identity.

An Epidemiological Prospective Study of Children’s Health and Annoyance Reactions to Aircraft Noise Exposure in South Africa

PubMed Central

Seabi, Joseph

2013-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate health and annoyance reactions to change in chronic exposure to aircraft noise on a sample of South African children. It was the intention of this study to examine if effects of noise on health and annoyance can be demonstrated. If so, whether such effects persist over time, or whether such effects are reversible after the cessation of exposure to noise. A cohort of 732 children with a mean age of 11.1 (range = 8–14) participated at baseline measurements in Wave 1 (2009), and 649 (mean age = 12.3; range = 9–15) and 174 (mean age = 13.3; range = 10–16) children were reassessed in Wave 2 (2010) and Wave 3 (2011) after the relocation of the airport, respectively. The findings revealed that the children who were exposed to chronic aircraft noise continued to experience significantly higher annoyance than their counterparts in all the waves at school, and only in Wave 1 and Wave 2 at home. Aircraft noise exposure did not have adverse effects on the children’s self-reported health outcomes. Taken together, these findings suggest that chronic exposure to aircraft noise may have a lasting impact on children’s annoyance, but not on their subjective health rating. This is one of the first longitudinal studies of this nature in the African continent to make use of an opportunity resulting from the relocation of airport. PMID:23823713

Connectivity in Autism: A review of MRI connectivity studies

PubMed Central

Rane, Pallavi; Cochran, David; Hodge, Steven M.; Haselgrove, Christian; Kennedy, David; Frazier, Jean A.

2016-01-01

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects 1 in 50 children between the ages of 6–17 years as per a 2012 CDC survey of parents. The etiology of ASD is not precisely known. ASD is an umbrella term, which includes low (IQ<70) to high functioning (IQ>70) individuals. A better understanding of the disorder, and how it manifests in an individual subject can lead to more effective intervention plans to fulfill the individual’s treatment needs. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive investigational tool that can help study the ways in which the brain develops and/or deviates from the typical developmental trajectory. MRI offers insights into the structure, function, and metabolism of the brain. In this article, we review published studies on brain connectivity changes in ASD using either resting state functional MRI or diffusion tensor imaging. The general findings of decreases in white matter integrity and long-range neural coherence are prevalent in ASD literature. However, there is somewhat less of a consensus in the detailed localization of these findings. There are even fewer studies linking these connectivity alterations with the behavioral phenotype of the disorder. Nevertheless, with the help of data sharing and large-scale analytic efforts, the field is advancing towards several convergent themes. These include reduced functional coherence of long-range intra-hemispheric cortico-cortical default mode circuitry, impaired inter-hemispheric regulation, and an associated, perhaps compensatory, increase in local and short-range cortico-subcortical coherence. PMID:26146755

Is Endoscopy Really Necessary in My Case? A Four Year Retrospective Study.

PubMed

Dinesh, H N; Kumar, Cd Jagadish; Sanjay, H M; Sachin, V; Basavaraju

2015-07-01

About 40% of the general population report dyspepsia at some time in their life making it a fairly common disease. Uncomplicated dyspepsia refers to patients whose dyspepsia is not accompanied by alarm features or associated with NSAIDS usage. To assess the need for UGI Endoscopy and find out the patterns of different endoscopic presentations in patients presenting with uncomplicated dyspepsia. Our study conducted in KR Hospital, Mysore, Department of General Surgery is a retrospective endoscopic study of 1450 patients with uncomplicated dysepsia. A significant 64% of the patients presenting with uncomplicated dyspepsia were found to have findings on endoscopy. The most common age range for positive endoscopic findings was 40-50 years in our hospital. Malignancy was diagnosed in 2.5% patients. We recommend upper GI endoscopy in patients presenting with uncomplicated dyspepsia for patients above 40 years of age in our hospital.

Is Endoscopy Really Necessary in My Case? A Four Year Retrospective Study

PubMed Central

Dinesh, HN; Kumar, CD Jagadish; Sachin, V; Basavaraju

2015-01-01

Introduction: About 40% of the general population report dyspepsia at some time in their life making it a fairly common disease. Uncomplicated dyspepsia refers to patients whose dyspepsia is not accompanied by alarm features or associated with NSAIDS usage. Aim: To assess the need for UGI Endoscopy and find out the patterns of different endoscopic presentations in patients presenting with uncomplicated dyspepsia. Materials and Methods: Our study conducted in KR Hospital, Mysore, Department of General Surgery is a retrospective endoscopic study of 1450 patients with uncomplicated dysepsia. Results: A significant 64% of the patients presenting with uncomplicated dyspepsia were found to have findings on endoscopy. The most common age range for positive endoscopic findings was 40-50 years in our hospital. Malignancy was diagnosed in 2.5% patients. Conclusion: We recommend upper GI endoscopy in patients presenting with uncomplicated dyspepsia for patients above 40 years of age in our hospital. PMID:26417553

The Unexpected Effects of Inclusion on the Families of Students with Learning Disabilities: A Focus-Group Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dyson, Lily L.

2007-01-01

This study investigated the unexpected effects of inclusion on the families of students with learning disabilities. A focus group interview was conducted with 13 parents who have children with learning disabilities. The children's ages ranged from 5 to 24 years. Findings are reported regarding participants' comments in response to two guiding…

Trends in Research about Health in Early Childhood: Economics and Equity, from Micro-Studies to Big Business

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alderson, Priscilla

2011-01-01

Research about health is concerned with physical and mental well-being, illness and injury. Directly or indirectly, health relates to almost every aspect of early childhood. This article reviews the enormous range of research available, examining the aims and purposes of the studies, their methods and findings and the ways in which childhood and…

What Do We Learn in Smethwick Village? Computer Games, Media Learning and Discursive Confusion

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McDougall, Julian

2007-01-01

This article presents findings from research exploring the intervention made by the introduction of computer games as an object of study in Media Studies at AS level in England. The outcome is a range of discursive data in the form of teachers and students from two English colleges talking about their experiences of this curriculum encounter. This…

Evaluating the Impact of School Nutrition Programs. Final Report. E-FAN-04-008

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bhattacharya, Jayanta; Currie, Janet; Haider, Steven J.

2004-01-01

This study develops estimates of the efficacy of school nutrition programs in improving a broad range of dietary outcomes by comparing the nutritional status of students and their families during the school year with the status when school is out. The study finds evidence that children who have a School Breakfast Program (SBP) available consume a…

Students' Conceptions of the Particulate Nature of Matter at Secondary and Tertiary Level

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ayas, Alipasa; Ozmen, Haluk; Calik, Muammer

2010-01-01

The aim of the present study is to elicit students' understanding of the particulate nature of matter via a cross-age study ranging from secondary to tertiary educational levels. A questionnaire with five-item open-ended questions was administered to 166 students from the secondary to tertiary levels of education. In light of the findings, it can…

Building a Career Mathematics File: Challenging Students to Find the Importance of Mathematics in a Variety of Occupations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Keleher, Lori A.

2006-01-01

The Career Mathematics file is an occupational problem-solving system, which includes a wide range of mathematical problems and solutions, collected from various resources and helps students establish connections between mathematics and their environment. The study shows that the problems given can be used as realistic examples to study and…

Population structure and phylogeography of the Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) across the Scotia Arc.

PubMed

Levy, Hila; Clucas, Gemma V; Rogers, Alex D; Leaché, Adam D; Ciborowski, Kate L; Polito, Michael J; Lynch, Heather J; Dunn, Michael J; Hart, Tom

2016-03-01

Climate change, fisheries' pressure on penguin prey, and direct human disturbance of wildlife have all been implicated in causing large shifts in the abundance and distribution of penguins in the Southern Ocean. Without mark-recapture studies, understanding how colonies form and, by extension, how ranges shift is challenging. Genetic studies, particularly focused on newly established colonies, provide a snapshot of colonization and can reveal the extent to which shifts in abundance and occupancy result from changes in demographic rates (e.g., reproduction and survival) or migration among suitable patches of habitat. Here, we describe the population structure of a colonial seabird breeding across a large latitudinal range in the Southern Ocean. Using multilocus microsatellite genotype data from 510 Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) individuals from 14 colonies along the Scotia Arc and Antarctic Peninsula, together with mitochondrial DNA data, we find strong genetic differentiation between colonies north and south of the Polar Front, that coincides geographically with the taxonomic boundary separating the subspecies P. p. papua and P. p. ellsworthii. Using a discrete Bayesian phylogeographic approach, we show that southern Gentoos expanded from a possible glacial refuge in the center of their current range, colonizing regions to the north and south through rare, long-distance dispersal. Our findings show that this dispersal is important for new colony foundation and range expansion in a seabird species that ordinarily exhibits high levels of natal philopatry, though persistent oceanographic features serve as barriers to movement.

Relationship between the hip and low back pain in athletes who participate in rotation-related sports.

PubMed

Harris-Hayes, Marcie; Sahrmann, Shirley A; Van Dillen, Linda R

2009-02-01

Hip function has been proposed to be related to low back pain (LBP) because of the anatomical proximity of the hip and lumbopelvic region. To date, findings have been inconclusive, possibly because the samples studied were heterogeneous. Sub-grouping samples based on characteristics such as activity demand, LBP classification, and sex might clarify research findings. To describe and summarize studies that examine 3 factors proposed to be important to the study of the hip-LBP relationship. Review of cross-sectional studies. Academic health-care center and research laboratory. 3 groups: athletes with a history of LBP who regularly participate in rotation-related sports, athletes without a history of LBP who are active but do not regularly participate in rotation-related sports, and athletes without a history of LBP who participate in rotation-related sports. Hip range of motion and hip-lumbopelvic region coordination. Hip range of motion was measured with an inclinometer. Coordination was examined based on kinematics obtained with a 3-dimensional motion-capture system. Differences among groups were found based on activity demand, LBP classification, and sex. When assessing athletes with and without LBP, characteristics such as activity demand, LBP classification, and sex should be considered.

The impact of breast cancer among Canadian women: disability and productivity.

PubMed

Quinlan, Elizabeth; Thomas-MacLean, Roanne; Hack, Tom; Kwan, Winkle; Miedema, Baukje; Tatemichi, Sue; Towers, Anna; Tilley, Andrea

2009-01-01

Each year over 20,000 Canadian women are diagnosed with breast cancer. Many breast cancer survivors anticipate a considerable number of years of potential participation in the paid labour market, therefore, the link between breast cancer survivorship and productivity deserves serious consideration. The hypothesis guiding this study is that arm morbidities such as lymphedema, pain, and range of motion limitations are important explanatory variables in survivors' loss of productivity. The study draws from a larger longitudinal research project involving over 600 breast cancer survivors in four geographical locations across Canada. The study's regression results indicate that, after adjusting for fatigue, breast cancer stage, and geographical location, survivors with range of motion limitations and arm pain are more than two and half times as likely to lose some productivity capacity as compared to counterparts with no arm morbidity. The findings make a compelling argument for the necessity of adequate rehabilitation programs delivered at crucial times in breast cancer survivors' recovery. The study's unexpected finding that geographical location is a highly significant predictor of changes in productivity among breast cancer survivors is interpreted as a factor of the regulatory framework governing employment relationships in the four different jurisdictions.

Measurements and Modeling of III-V Solar Cells at High Temperatures up to 400 $${}^{\\circ}$$ C

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

Perl, Emmett E.; Simon, John; Geisz, John F.

2016-09-01

In this paper, we study the performance of 2.0 eV Al0.12Ga0.39In0.49P and 1.4 eV GaAs solar cells over a temperature range of 25-400 degrees C. The temperature-dependent J01 and J02 dark currents are extracted by fitting current-voltage measurements to a two-diode model. We find that the intrinsic carrier concentration ni dominates the temperature dependence of the dark currents, open-circuit voltage, and cell efficiency. To study the impact of temperature on the photocurrent and bandgap of the solar cells, we measure the quantum efficiency and illuminated current-voltage characteristics of the devices up to 400 degrees C. As the temperature is increased,more » we observe no degradation to the internal quantum efficiency and a decrease in the bandgap. These two factors drive an increase in the short-circuit current density at high temperatures. Finally, we measure the devices at concentrations ranging from ~30 to 1500 suns and observe n = 1 recombination characteristics across the entire temperature range. These findings should be a valuable guide to the design of any system that requires high-temperature solar cell operation.« less

Coping and coping assistance among children with sickle cell disease and their parents

PubMed Central

Barakat, Lamia P.; Alderfer, Melissa A.; Marsac, Meghan L.

2014-01-01

The ways in which a family copes with the physical and psychosocial burdens of sickle cell disease (SCD) can influence child and family functioning. However, few studies have examined SCD-related stressors beyond pain or how children and parents cope with these stressors. This study aimed to describe child coping and parent attempts to help their children cope (i.e., coping assistance) with a range of SCD stressors by using a triangulated mixed methods design. We also explored convergence between findings from qualitative interviews and quantitative coping inventories. Fifteen children (aged 6 – 14) with SCD and their parents (N = 15) completed semi-structured interviews and self-report measures to assess SCD-related stressors, coping, and coping assistance strategies. Findings indicate that children experience numerous stressors related to SCD and its treatment, including but not limited to pain. To manage these stressors, families employ a range of approach- and avoidance-oriented coping strategies. Quantitative and qualitative assessments provided complementary and unique contributions to understanding coping processes among children with SCD and their parents. Examining a broad range of stressors and integrating multiple assessment methods helps improve our understanding of coping with pediatric SCD, which may inform clinical practice and family-focused intervention development. PMID:24327131

Possible mechanisms of the antifungal activity of fluconazole in combination with terbinafine against Candida albicans.

PubMed

Khodavandi, Alireza; Alizadeh, Fahimeh; Vanda, Nasim Aghai; Karimi, Golgis; Chong, Pei Pei

2014-12-01

Candidiasis is a term describing infections by yeasts from the genus Candida, the majority Candida albicans. Treatment of such infections often requires antifungals such as the azoles, but increased use of these drugs has led to selection of yeasts with increased resistance to these drugs. Combination therapy would be one of the best strategies for the treatment of candidiasis due to increased resistance to azoles. The antifungal activities of fluconazole and terbinafine were evaluated in vitro alone and in combination using broth microdilution test and time kill study. Eventually the expression level of selected genes involved in ergosterol biosynthesis of Candida was evaluated using semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The obtained results showed the significant MICs ranging from 0.25 to 8 µg/mL followed by FICs ranged from 0.37 to 1 in combination with fluconazole/terbinafine. Our findings have demonstrated that the combination of fluconazole and terbinafine could also significantly reduce the expression of ERG1, 3, and 11 in the cell membrane of Candida in all concentrations tested ranging from 1.73- to 6.99-fold. This study was undertaken with the ultimate goal of finding the probable targets of fluconazole/terbinafine in C. albicans by looking at its effects on cell membrane synthesis.

Research yields precise uncertainty equations

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

Jones, E.H.; Ferguson, K.R.

1987-08-03

Results of a study of orifice-meter accuracy by Chevron Oil Field Research Co. at its Venice, La., calibration facility have important implications for natural gas custody-transfer measurement. The calibration facility, data collection, and equipment calibration were described elsewhere. This article explains the derivation of uncertainty factors and details the study's findings. The results were based on calibration of two 16-in. orifice-meter runs. The experimental data cover a beta-ratio range of from 0.27 to 0.71 and a Reynolds number range of from 4,000,000 to 35,000,000. Discharge coefficients were determined by comparing the orifice flow to the flow from critical-flow nozzles.

The influence of liquidity on informational efficiency: The case of the Thai Stock Market

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bariviera, Aurelio Fernández

2011-11-01

The presence of long-range memory in financial time series is a puzzling fact that challenges the established financial theory. We study the effect of liquidity on the efficiency (measured by the Hurst’s exponent) of the Thai Stock Market. According to our study, we find that: (i) the R/S method could generate spurious long-range dependence, giving the DFA method more reliable estimates of the Hurst’s exponent and (ii) there is a weak relationship between market capitalization and the efficiency of the market, and that the latter is not significantly affected by the presence of foreign investors.

Culicoides biting midges (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) in various climatic zones of Russia and adjacent lands.

PubMed

Sprygin, A V; Fiodorova, O A; Babin, Yu Yu; Elatkin, N P; Mathieu, B; England, M E; Kononov, A V

2014-12-01

Culicoides biting midges play an important role in the epidemiology of many vector-borne infections, including bluetongue virus, an internationally important virus of ruminants. The territory of the Russian Federation includes regions with diverse climatic conditions and a wide range of habitats suitable for Culicoides. This review summarizes available data on Culicoides studied in the Russian Federation covering geographically different regions, as well as findings from adjacent countries. Previous literature on species composition, ranges of dominant species, breeding sites, and host preferences is reviewed and suggestions made for future studies to elucidate vector-virus relationships. © 2014 The Society for Vector Ecology.

Ground-state phases of the spin-1 J1-J2 Heisenberg antiferromagnet on the honeycomb lattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, P. H. Y.; Bishop, R. F.

2016-06-01

We study the zero-temperature quantum phase diagram of a spin-1 Heisenberg antiferromagnet on the honeycomb lattice with both nearest-neighbor exchange coupling J1>0 and frustrating next-nearest-neighbor coupling J2≡κ J1>0 , using the coupled cluster method implemented to high orders of approximation, and based on model states with different forms of classical magnetic order. For each we calculate directly in the bulk thermodynamic limit both ground-state low-energy parameters (including the energy per spin, magnetic order parameter, spin stiffness coefficient, and zero-field uniform transverse magnetic susceptibility) and their generalized susceptibilities to various forms of valence-bond crystalline (VBC) order, as well as the energy gap to the lowest-lying spin-triplet excitation. In the range 0 <κ <1 we find evidence for four distinct phases. Two of these are quasiclassical phases with antiferromagnetic long-range order, one with two-sublattice Néel order for κ <κc1=0.250(5 ) , and another with four-sublattice Néel-II order for κ >κc 2=0.340 (5 ) . Two different paramagnetic phases are found to exist in the intermediate region. Over the range κc1<κ<κci=0.305 (5 ) we find a gapless phase with no discernible magnetic order, which is a strong candidate for being a quantum spin liquid, while over the range κci<κ <κc 2 we find a gapped phase, which is most likely a lattice nematic with staggered dimer VBC order that breaks the lattice rotational symmetry.

Assessing the prevalence and clinical relevance of positive abdominal and pelvic CT findings in senior patients presenting to the emergency department.

PubMed

Alabousi, Abdullah; Patlas, Michael N; Meshki, Malek; Monteiro, Sandra; Katz, Douglas S

2016-04-01

The purpose of our study was to retrospectively evaluate the prevalence and clinical relevance of positive abdominal and pelvic CT findings for patients 65 years of age and older, when compared with all other scanned adult Emergency Department (ED) patients, at a single tertiary care hospital. Our hypothesis was that there is an increased prevalence and clinical relevance of positive abdominal/pelvic CT findings in senior patients. A research ethics board-approved retrospective review of all adult patients who underwent an emergency CT of the abdomen and pelvis for acute nontraumatic abdominal and/or pelvic signs and symptoms was performed. Two thousand one hundred two patients between October 1, 2011, and September 30, 2013, were reviewed. Six hundred thirty-one patients were included in the <65 group (298 men and 333 women; mean age 46, age range 18-64), and 462 were included in the >65 group (209 men and 253 women; mean age 77.6, age range 65-99). Overall, there were more positive CT findings for patients <65 (389 positive cases, 61.6 %) compared with the >65 group (257 positive cases, 55.6 %), which was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.03). Moreover, with the exception of complicated appendicitis cases, which were more common in the >65 group, there were no statistically significant differences in the clinical/surgical relevance of the positive CT findings between the two groups. The findings of our retrospective study therefore refute our hypothesis that there is an increased prevalence of positive abdominal CT findings in patients >65. This may be related to ED physicians at our institution being more hesitant to order CT examinations for the younger population, presumably due to radiation concerns. However, older patients in our series were more likely to present with complicated appendicitis, and a lower threshold for ordering CT examinations of the abdomen and pelvis in this patient population should therefore be considered.

Smoke and mirrors: Testing the scope of chimpanzees’ appearance-reality understanding

PubMed Central

Lurz, Robert; Russell, Jamie L.; Hopkins, William D.

2016-01-01

The ability to make appearance-reality (AR) discriminations is an important higher-order cognitive adaptation in humans but is still poorly understood in our closest primate relatives. Previous research showed that chimpanzees are capable of AR discrimination when choosing between food items that appear, due to the effects of distorting lenses, to be smaller or larger than they actually are (Krachun, Call & Tomasello, 2009). In the current study, we investigated the scope and flexibility of chimpanzees’ AR discrimination abilities by presenting them with a wider range of illusory stimuli. In addition to using lenses to change the apparent size of food items (Experiment 1), we used a mirror to change the apparent number of items (Experiment 2), and tinted filters to change their apparent color (Experiment 3). In all three experiments, some chimpanzees were able to maximize their food rewards by making a choice based on the real properties of the stimuli in contrast to their manifest apparent properties. These results replicate the earlier findings for size illusions and extend them to additional situations involving illusory number and color. Control tests, together with findings from previous studies, ruled out lower-level explanations for the chimpanzees’ performance. The findings thus support the hypothesis that chimpanzees are capable of making AR discriminations with a range of illusory stimuli. PMID:26848736

ADRB2, brain white matter integrity and cognitive ageing in the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936.

PubMed

Lyall, Donald M; Lopez, Lorna M; Bastin, Mark E; Maniega, Susana Muñoz; Penke, Lars; Valdés Hernández, Maria del C; Royle, Natalie A; Starr, John M; Porteous, David J; Wardlaw, Joanna M; Deary, Ian J

2013-01-01

The non-synonymous mutations arg16gly (rs1042713) and gln27glu (rs1042714) in the adrenergic β-2 receptor gene (ADRB2) have been associated with cognitive function and brain white matter integrity. The current study aimed to replicate these findings and expand them to a broader range of cognitive and brain phenotypes. The sample used is a community-dwelling group of older people, the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936. They had been assessed cognitively at age 11 years, and undertook further cognitive assessments and brain diffusion MRI tractography in older age. The sample size range for cognitive function variables was N = 686-765, and for neuroimaging variables was N = 488-587. Previously-reported findings with these genetic variants did not replicate in this cohort. Novel, nominally significant associations were observed; notably, the integrity of the left arcuate fasciculus mediated the association between rs1042714 and the Digit Symbol Coding test of information processing speed. No significant associations of cognitive and brain phenotypes with ADRB2 variants survived correction for false discovery rate. Previous findings may therefore have been subject to type 1 error. Further study into links between ADRB2, cognitive function and brain white matter integrity is required.

Perceived Health Benefits and Willingness to Pay for Parks by Park Users: Quantitative and Qualitative Research

PubMed Central

Henderson-Wilson, Claire; Sia, Kah-Ling; Veitch, Jenny; Staiger, Petra K; Davidson, Penny; Nicholls, Peter

2017-01-01

Whilst a growing body of evidence demonstrates people derive a range of health and wellbeing benefits from visiting parks, only a limited number of attempts have been made to provide a complementary economic assessment of parks. The aim of this exploratory study was to directly estimate the perceived health and wellbeing benefits attained from parks and the economic value assigned to parks by park users in Victoria, Australia. The research employed a mixed methods approach (survey and interviews) to collect primary data from a selection of 140 park users: 100 from two metropolitan parks in Melbourne and 40 from a park on the urban fringe of Melbourne, Victoria. Our findings suggest that park users derive a range of perceived physical, mental/spiritual, and social health benefits, but park use was predominantly associated with physical health benefits. Overall, our exploratory study findings suggest that park users are willing to pay for parks, as they highly value them as places for exercising, socialising, and relaxing. Importantly, most people would miss parks if they did not exist. The findings aim to provide park managers, public health advocates, and urban policy makers with evidence about the perceived health and wellbeing benefits of park usage and the economic value park visitors place on parks. PMID:28505123

Perceived Health Benefits and Willingness to Pay for Parks by Park Users: Quantitative and Qualitative Research.

PubMed

Henderson-Wilson, Claire; Sia, Kah-Ling; Veitch, Jenny; Staiger, Petra K; Davidson, Penny; Nicholls, Peter

2017-05-15

Whilst a growing body of evidence demonstrates people derive a range of health and wellbeing benefits from visiting parks, only a limited number of attempts have been made to provide a complementary economic assessment of parks. The aim of this exploratory study was to directly estimate the perceived health and wellbeing benefits attained from parks and the economic value assigned to parks by park users in Victoria, Australia. The research employed a mixed methods approach (survey and interviews) to collect primary data from a selection of 140 park users: 100 from two metropolitan parks in Melbourne and 40 from a park on the urban fringe of Melbourne, Victoria. Our findings suggest that park users derive a range of perceived physical, mental/spiritual, and social health benefits, but park use was predominantly associated with physical health benefits. Overall, our exploratory study findings suggest that park users are willing to pay for parks, as they highly value them as places for exercising, socialising, and relaxing. Importantly, most people would miss parks if they did not exist. The findings aim to provide park managers, public health advocates, and urban policy makers with evidence about the perceived health and wellbeing benefits of park usage and the economic value park visitors place on parks.

SU-F-J-206: Systematic Evaluation of the Minimum Detectable Shift Using a Range- Finding Camera

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

Platt, M; Platt, M; Lamba, M

2016-06-15

Purpose: The robotic table used for patient alignment in proton therapy is calibrated only at commissioning under well-defined conditions and table shifts may vary over time and with differing conditions. The purpose of this study is to systematically investigate minimum detectable shifts using a time-of-flight (TOF) range-finding camera for table position feedback. Methods: A TOF camera was used to acquire one hundred 424 × 512 range images from a flat surface before and after known shifts. Range was assigned by averaging central regions of the image across multiple images. Depth resolution was determined by evaluating the difference between the actualmore » shift of the surface and the measured shift. Depth resolution was evaluated for number of images averaged, area of sensor over which depth was averaged, distance from camera to surface, central versus peripheral image regions, and angle of surface relative to camera. Results: For one to one thousand images with a shift of one millimeter the range in error was 0.852 ± 0.27 mm to 0.004 ± 0.01 mm (95% C.I.). For varying regions of the camera sensor the range in error was 0.02 ± 0.05 mm to 0.47 ± 0.04 mm. The following results are for 10 image averages. For areas ranging from one pixel to 9 × 9 pixels the range in error was 0.15 ± 0.09 to 0.29 ± 0.15 mm (1σ). For distances ranging from two to four meters the range in error was 0.15 ± 0.09 to 0.28 ± 0.15 mm. For an angle of incidence between thirty degrees and ninety degrees the average range in error was 0.11 ± 0.08 to 0.17 ± 0.09 mm. Conclusion: It is feasible to use a TOF camera for measuring shifts in flat surfaces under clinically relevant conditions with submillimeter precision.« less

Case finding of lifestyle and mental health disorders in primary care: validation of the ‘CHAT’ tool

PubMed Central

Goodyear-Smith, Felicity; Coupe, Nicole M; Arroll, Bruce; Elley, C Raina; Sullivan, Sean; McGill, Anne-Thea

2008-01-01

Background Primary care is accessible and ideally placed for case finding of patients with lifestyle and mental health risk factors and subsequent intervention. The short self-administered Case-finding and Help Assessment Tool (CHAT) was developed for lifestyle and mental health assessment of adult patients in primary health care. This tool checks for tobacco use, alcohol and other drug misuse, problem gambling, depression, anxiety and stress, abuse, anger problems, inactivity, and eating disorders. It is well accepted by patients, GPs and nurses. Aim To assess criterion-based validity of CHAT against a composite gold standard. Design of study Conducted according to the Standards for Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy statement for diagnostic tests. Setting Primary care practices in Auckland, New Zealand. Method One thousand consecutive adult patients completed CHAT and a composite gold standard. Sensitivities, specificities, positive and negative predictive values, and likelihood ratios were calculated. Results Response rates for each item ranged from 79.6 to 99.8%. CHAT was sensitive and specific for almost all issues screened, except exercise and eating disorders. Sensitivity ranged from 96% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 87 to 99%) for major depression to 26% (95% CI = 22 to 30%) for exercise. Specificity ranged from 97% (95% CI = 96 to 98%) for problem gambling and problem drug use to 40% (95% CI = 36 to 45%) for exercise. All had high likelihood ratios (3–30), except exercise and eating disorders. Conclusion CHAT is a valid and acceptable case-finding tool for most common lifestyle and mental health conditions. PMID:18186993

Species traits and climate velocity explain geographic range shifts in an ocean-warming hotspot.

PubMed

Sunday, Jennifer M; Pecl, Gretta T; Frusher, Stewart; Hobday, Alistair J; Hill, Nicole; Holbrook, Neil J; Edgar, Graham J; Stuart-Smith, Rick; Barrett, Neville; Wernberg, Thomas; Watson, Reg A; Smale, Dan A; Fulton, Elizabeth A; Slawinski, Dirk; Feng, Ming; Radford, Ben T; Thompson, Peter A; Bates, Amanda E

2015-09-01

Species' ranges are shifting globally in response to climate warming, with substantial variability among taxa, even within regions. Relationships between range dynamics and intrinsic species traits may be particularly apparent in the ocean, where temperature more directly shapes species' distributions. Here, we test for a role of species traits and climate velocity in driving range extensions in the ocean-warming hotspot of southeast Australia. Climate velocity explained some variation in range shifts, however, including species traits more than doubled the variation explained. Swimming ability, omnivory and latitudinal range size all had positive relationships with range extension rate, supporting hypotheses that increased dispersal capacity and ecological generalism promote extensions. We find independent support for the hypothesis that species with narrow latitudinal ranges are limited by factors other than climate. Our findings suggest that small-ranging species are in double jeopardy, with limited ability to escape warming and greater intrinsic vulnerability to stochastic disturbances. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd/CNRS.

New insights into the column CH2O/NO2 ratio as an indicator of near-surface ozone sensitivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schroeder, Jason R.; Crawford, James H.; Fried, Alan; Walega, James; Weinheimer, Andrew; Wisthaler, Armin; Müller, Markus; Mikoviny, Tomas; Chen, Gao; Shook, Michael; Blake, Donald R.; Tonnesen, Gail S.

2017-08-01

Satellite-based measurements of the column CH2O/NO2 ratio have previously been used to estimate near-surface ozone (O3) sensitivity (i.e., NOx or VOC limited), and the forthcoming launch of air quality-focused geostationary satellites provides a catalyst for reevaluating the ability of satellite-measured CH2O/NO2 to be used in this manner. In this study, we use a 0-D photochemical box model to evaluate O3 sensitivity and find that the relative rate of radical termination from radical-radical interactions to radical-NOx interactions (referred to as LROx/LNOx) provides a good indicator of maximum O3 production along NOx ridgelines. Using airborne measurements from NASA's Deriving Information on Surface Conditions from Column and Vertically Resolved Observations Relative to Air Quality (DISCOVER-AQ) deployments in Colorado, Maryland, and Houston, we show that in situ measurements of CH2O/NO2 can be used to indicate O3 sensitivity, but there is an important "transition/ambiguous" range whereby CH2O/NO2 fails to categorize O3 sensitivity, and the range and span of this transition/ambiguous range varies regionally. Then, we apply these findings to aircraft-derived column density measurements from DISCOVER-AQ and find that inhomogeneities in vertical mixing in the lower troposphere further degrades the ability of column CH2O/NO2 to indicate near-surface O3 sensitivity (i.e., the transition/ambiguous range is much larger than indicated by in situ data alone), and we hypothesize that the global transition/ambiguous range is sufficiently large to make the column CH2O/NO2 ratio unuseful for classifying near-surface O3 sensitivity. Lastly, we present a case study from DISCOVER-AQ-Houston that suggests that O3 sensitivity on exceedance days may be substantially different than on nonexceedance days (which may be observable from space) and explore the diurnal evolution of O3 sensitivity, O3 production, and the column CH2O/NO2 ratio. The results of these studies suggest that although satellite measurements of CH2O/NO2 alone may not be sufficient for accurately classifying near-surface O3 sensitivity, new techniques offered by geostationary platforms may nonetheless provide methods for using space-based measurements to develop O3 mitigation strategies.

SSRscanner: a program for reporting distribution and exact location of simple sequence repeats

PubMed Central

Anwar, Tamanna; Khan, Asad U

2006-01-01

Simple sequence repeats (SSRs) have become important molecular markers for a broad range of applications, such as genome mapping and characterization, phenotype mapping, marker assisted selection of crop plants and a range of molecular ecology and diversity studies. These repeated DNA sequences are found in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. They are distributed almost at random throughout the genome, ranging from mononucleotide to trinucleotide repeats. They are also found at longer lengths (> 6 repeating units) of tracts. Most of the computer programs that find SSRs do not report its exact position. A computer program SSRscanner was written to find out distribution, frequency and exact location of each SSR in the genome. SSRscanner is user friendly. It can search repeats of any length and produce outputs with their exact position on chromosome and their frequency of occurrence in the sequence. Availability This program has been written in PERL and is freely available for non-commercial users by request from the authors. Please contact the authors by E-mail: huzzi99@hotmail.com PMID:17597863

Optical properties of an atomic ensemble coupled to a band edge of a photonic crystal waveguide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Munro, Ewan; Kwek, Leong Chuan; Chang, Darrick E.

2017-08-01

We study the optical properties of an ensemble of two-level atoms coupled to a 1D photonic crystal waveguide (PCW), which mediates long-range coherent dipole-dipole interactions between the atoms. We show that the long-range interactions can dramatically alter the linear and nonlinear optical behavior, as compared to a typical atomic ensemble. In particular, in the linear regime, we find that the transmission spectrum contains multiple transmission dips, whose properties we characterize. Moreover, we show how the linear spectrum may be used to infer the number of atoms present in the system, constituting an important experimental tool in a regime where techniques for conventional ensembles break down. We also show that some of the transmission dips are associated with an effective ‘two-level’ resonance that forms due to the long-range interactions. In particular, under strong global driving and appropriate conditions, we find that the atomic ensemble is only capable of absorbing and emitting single collective excitations at a time. Our results are of direct relevance to atom-PCW experiments that should soon be realizable.

Magnetic properties of tapiolite (FeTa2O6); a quasi two-dimensional (2D) antiferromagnet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chung, E. M. L.; Lees, M. R.; McIntyre, G. J.; Wilkinson, C.; Balakrishnan, G.; Hague, J. P.; Visser, D.; McK Paul, D.

2004-11-01

The possibilities of two-dimensional (2D) short-range magnetic correlations and frustration effects in the mineral tapiolite are investigated using bulk-property measurements and neutron Laue diffraction. In this study of the magnetic properties of synthetic single-crystals of tapiolite, we find that single crystals of FeTa2O6 order antiferromagnetically at TN = 7.95 ± 0.05 K, with extensive two-dimensional correlations existing up to at least 40 K. Although we find no evidence that FeTa2O6 is magnetically frustrated, hallmarks of two-dimensional magnetism observed in our single-crystal data include: (i) broadening of the susceptibility maximum due to short-range correlations, (ii) a spin-flop transition and (iii) lambda anomalies in the heat capacity and d(χT)/dT. Complementary neutron Laue diffraction measurements reveal 1D magnetic diffuse scattering extending along the c* direction perpendicular to the magnetic planes. This magnetic diffuse scattering, observed for the first time using the neutron Laue technique by VIVALDI, arises directly as a result of 2D short-range spin correlations.

Supporting Families: A Comparative Study of Outcomes and Costs of Services for Children in Need. Issues in Practice.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Statham, June; Holtermann, Sally; Winter, Gill

Noting that little is known about the costs and effectiveness of family support services, this study examined the full range of services provided to 40 families in need by two local authorities in North Wales. The study compared costs in the two authorities and well-being for the families after 3 months. Findings indicated that the families in the…

Directed Motor-Auditory EEG Connectivity Is Modulated by Music Tempo.

PubMed

Nicolaou, Nicoletta; Malik, Asad; Daly, Ian; Weaver, James; Hwang, Faustina; Kirke, Alexis; Roesch, Etienne B; Williams, Duncan; Miranda, Eduardo R; Nasuto, Slawomir J

2017-01-01

Beat perception is fundamental to how we experience music, and yet the mechanism behind this spontaneous building of the internal beat representation is largely unknown. Existing findings support links between the tempo (speed) of the beat and enhancement of electroencephalogram (EEG) activity at tempo-related frequencies, but there are no studies looking at how tempo may affect the underlying long-range interactions between EEG activity at different electrodes. The present study investigates these long-range interactions using EEG activity recorded from 21 volunteers listening to music stimuli played at 4 different tempi (50, 100, 150 and 200 beats per minute). The music stimuli consisted of piano excerpts designed to convey the emotion of "peacefulness". Noise stimuli with an identical acoustic content to the music excerpts were also presented for comparison purposes. The brain activity interactions were characterized with the imaginary part of coherence (iCOH) in the frequency range 1.5-18 Hz (δ, θ, α and lower β) between all pairs of EEG electrodes for the four tempi and the music/noise conditions, as well as a baseline resting state (RS) condition obtained at the start of the experimental task. Our findings can be summarized as follows: (a) there was an ongoing long-range interaction in the RS engaging fronto-posterior areas; (b) this interaction was maintained in both music and noise, but its strength and directionality were modulated as a result of acoustic stimulation; (c) the topological patterns of iCOH were similar for music, noise and RS, however statistically significant differences in strength and direction of iCOH were identified; and (d) tempo had an effect on the direction and strength of motor-auditory interactions. Our findings are in line with existing literature and illustrate a part of the mechanism by which musical stimuli with different tempi can entrain changes in cortical activity.

Moderate clinical improvement after revision arthroplasty of the severely stiff knee.

PubMed

Heesterbeek, P J C; Goosen, J H M; Schimmel, J J P; Defoort, K C; van Hellemondt, G G; Wymenga, A B

2016-10-01

Revision of the severe stiff total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is challenging, and clinical outcome is inferior to other indications for revision. The purpose of the present study was to determine clinical outcome of TKA revision in patients with severe stiffness (range of motion (ROM) ≤ 70°) and evaluate a possible influence of accompanying findings, such as component malposition, aseptic loosening or instability. A prospective cohort of 40 patients with a preoperative ROM ≤ 70° and a minimum of 2-year follow-up after total system revision (Genesis or Legion stemmed condylar implant) was evaluated. ROM, Knee Society Scoring System (KSS) and visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores were obtained preoperatively and at 2 years. Patient satisfaction and complication rate were assessed. Component malposition was most frequently reported as accompanying finding (n = 27). Comparisons between pre- and postoperative outcome (p < 0.05) and between different subgroups (component malposition, aseptic loosening, and instability) based on accompanying findings were made (no statistical comparison). ROM, KSS and VAS pain scores improved significantly (p < 0.001): median ROM at two years 85° (range 10-125) and median gain 25° (range -10 to +85). Median VAS satisfaction was 53.5 points (range 15-98). Seventeen patients reported at least one complication, including one re-revision. Six patients underwent manipulation under anaesthesia, and five were referred to the pain clinic. No clear differences between subgroups were observed. TKA revision in patients with severe stiffness resulted in a moderate but significant improved clinical outcome after 2 years. Accompanying abnormalities such as component malposition, aseptic loosening or instability did not influence clinical outcome. Realistic patient counselling on the moderate outcome and possible remaining limitations in daily life might help to improve patient satisfaction. Therapeutic studies-case series with no comparison group, Level IV.

Directed Motor-Auditory EEG Connectivity Is Modulated by Music Tempo

PubMed Central

Nicolaou, Nicoletta; Malik, Asad; Daly, Ian; Weaver, James; Hwang, Faustina; Kirke, Alexis; Roesch, Etienne B.; Williams, Duncan; Miranda, Eduardo R.; Nasuto, Slawomir J.

2017-01-01

Beat perception is fundamental to how we experience music, and yet the mechanism behind this spontaneous building of the internal beat representation is largely unknown. Existing findings support links between the tempo (speed) of the beat and enhancement of electroencephalogram (EEG) activity at tempo-related frequencies, but there are no studies looking at how tempo may affect the underlying long-range interactions between EEG activity at different electrodes. The present study investigates these long-range interactions using EEG activity recorded from 21 volunteers listening to music stimuli played at 4 different tempi (50, 100, 150 and 200 beats per minute). The music stimuli consisted of piano excerpts designed to convey the emotion of “peacefulness”. Noise stimuli with an identical acoustic content to the music excerpts were also presented for comparison purposes. The brain activity interactions were characterized with the imaginary part of coherence (iCOH) in the frequency range 1.5–18 Hz (δ, θ, α and lower β) between all pairs of EEG electrodes for the four tempi and the music/noise conditions, as well as a baseline resting state (RS) condition obtained at the start of the experimental task. Our findings can be summarized as follows: (a) there was an ongoing long-range interaction in the RS engaging fronto-posterior areas; (b) this interaction was maintained in both music and noise, but its strength and directionality were modulated as a result of acoustic stimulation; (c) the topological patterns of iCOH were similar for music, noise and RS, however statistically significant differences in strength and direction of iCOH were identified; and (d) tempo had an effect on the direction and strength of motor-auditory interactions. Our findings are in line with existing literature and illustrate a part of the mechanism by which musical stimuli with different tempi can entrain changes in cortical activity. PMID:29093672

Nanosized solvent superstructures in ultramolecular aqueous dilutions: twenty years' research using water proton NMR relaxation.

PubMed

Demangeat, Jean-Louis

2013-04-01

proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation times T1, T2, T1/T2 are sensitive to motion and organization of water molecules. Especially, increase in T1/T2 reflects a higher degree of structuring. My purpose was to look at physical changes in water in ultrahigh aqueous dilutions. Samples were prepared by iterative centesimal (c) dilution with vigorous agitation, ranging between 3c and 24c (Avogadro limit 12c). Solutes were silica-lactose, histamine, manganese-lactose. Solvents were water, NaCl 0.15 M or LiCl 0.15 M. Solvents underwent strictly similar, simultaneous dilution/agitation, for each level of dilution, as controls. NMR relaxation was studied within 0.02-20 MHz. No changes were observed in controls. Increasing T1 and T1/T2 were found in dilutions, which persisted beyond 9c (manganese-lactose), 10c (histamine) and 12c (silica-lactose). For silica-lactose in LiCl, continuous decrease in T2 with increase in T1/T2 within the 12c-24c range indicated growing structuring of water despite absence of the initial solute. All changes vanished after heating/cooling. These findings were interpreted in terms of nanosized (>4-nm) supramolecular structures involving water, nanobubbles and ions, if any. Additional study of low dilutions of silica-lactose revealed increased T2 and decreased T1/T2 compared to solvent, within the 10(-3)-10(-6) range, reflecting transient solvent destructuring. This could explain findings at high dilution. Proton NMR relaxation demonstrated modifications of the solvent throughout the low to ultramolecular range of dilution. The findings suggested the existence of superstructures that originate stereospecifically around the solute after an initial destructuring of the solvent, developing more upon dilution and persisting beyond 12c. Copyright © 2013 The Faculty of Homeopathy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

How should we define eHealth, and does the definition matter?

PubMed

Showell, Chris; Nøhr, Christian

2012-01-01

There is no useful definition for eHealth; we would like to find one. This study will provide a contribution to clarify the discussion on eHealth as a concept to enhance the understanding of the range of meanings which have been ascribed to the term ehealth.

Postdoctoral Appointments and Disappointments.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Academy of Sciences - National Research Council, Washington, DC. Commission on Human Resources.

Detailed findings on a broad range of issues concerning the importance of postdoctorals to the nation's research effort and the value of postdoctoral experience to young scientists and engineers pursuing careers in research are presented. The report, the first comprehensive study of postdoctorals in 10 years, identifies the following issues: (1)…

Handbook of Spatial Cognition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Waller, David, Ed.; Nadel, Lynn, Ed.

2012-01-01

Spatial cognition is a branch of cognitive psychology that studies how people acquire and use knowledge about their environment to determine where they are, how to obtain resources, and how to find their way home. Researchers from a wide range of disciplines, including neuroscience, cognition, and sociology, have discovered a great deal about how…

Quantity versus Quality in Project-based Learning Practices.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Keegan, Anne; Turner, J. Rodney

2001-01-01

Presents a study on practices adopted by organizations for learning through projects involving 19 companies from across Europe and a range of different industries. Uses concepts of variation, selection, and retention in organizational learning to analyze the findings, and reports the challenges faced by project-based organizations in each of the…

Natural resistance of raw cotton fiber to heat evidenced by the suppressed depolymerization of cellulose

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Mechanically purified raw cotton fiber finds a growing range of applications in support of environmental sustainability, but its unique thermal stability, which is important in processes and utilization, is little known. This study shows that at low temperatures (< 300 'C), the accelerated dehydrati...

Supportive Discourse Moves in Persian Requests

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nodoushan, Mohammad Ali Salmani; Allami, Hamid

2011-01-01

This paper reports the findings of a study designed to investigate the types of supportive discourse moves employed by Persian speakers in their Requestive Speech Acts. 372 respondents took a Discourse Completion Test (DCT) with six scenarios ranging from formal to informal degrees of Perceived Situational Seriousness, and returned 2232 Requestive…

Language Skills in Low-SES Rural Appalachian Children: Kindergarten to Middle Childhood

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reynolds, Mary E.; Fish, Margaret

2010-01-01

This study examined the development of language in low-SES rural Appalachian children from kindergarten through middle childhood. Findings showed that the children's language skills improved significantly between kindergarten and middle childhood, with all middle childhood language means within the average range. However, all areas of language…

50 CFR 216.178 - Renewal of Letters of Authorization.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... IMPORTING OF MARINE MAMMALS Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to U.S. Navy Training in the Hawaii Range... previous year (either from the HRC or other locations). (2) Findings of the Monitoring Workshop that the... explosives training or not involving coincident use). (5) Results from the Long Term Prospective Study. (6...

50 CFR 216.178 - Renewal of Letters of Authorization.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... IMPORTING OF MARINE MAMMALS Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to U.S. Navy Training in the Hawaii Range... the HRC or other locations). (2) Findings of the Monitoring Workshop that the Navy will convene in... from the HRC Study Area or other locations, and involving coincident MFAS/HFAS or explosives training...

50 CFR 216.178 - Renewal of Letters of Authorization.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... IMPORTING OF MARINE MAMMALS Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to U.S. Navy Training in the Hawaii Range... previous year (either from the HRC or other locations). (2) Findings of the Monitoring Workshop that the... explosives training or not involving coincident use). (5) Results from the Long Term Prospective Study. (6...

50 CFR 216.178 - Renewal of Letters of Authorization.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... IMPORTING OF MARINE MAMMALS Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to U.S. Navy Training in the Hawaii Range... the HRC or other locations). (2) Findings of the Monitoring Workshop that the Navy will convene in... from the HRC Study Area or other locations, and involving coincident MFAS/HFAS or explosives training...

Adult Student Preferences: Instructor Characteristics Conducive to Successful Teaching

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Phillips, Lindsay A.; Baltzer, Carolyn; Filoon, Lisa; Whitley, Cynthia

2017-01-01

Purpose: This study examined adult students' perspectives on what characteristics make for successful teaching and learning environments in the adult student classroom. Methodology: One hundred and thirty-two adult students (ranging in age from 22 to 70) participated in a mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative) survey. Findings: Adult…

Community Size, Community Attachment and Newspaper Readership.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stephens, Lowndes F.

Residents in several states and communities ranging in size from farms to inner cities of more than 500,000 people were surveyed to further explore the strong relationship between community ties and newspaper readership indicated by results of a previous study sponsored by the American Newspaper Publishers Association. The findings revealed that…

Linear Age-Correlated Development of Inhibitory Saccadic Trajectory Deviations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

West, Greg L.; Mendizabal, Sandrine; Carrière, Marie-Pierre; Lippé, Sarah

2014-01-01

The present study examined development-related differences in saccade curvature during a goal-directed saccade task in the presence of distracting visual information. Participants were individuals who ranged in age from 6 to 30 years. Consistent with previous findings, all participants showed curvature toward the distractor stimulus at shorter…

College Libraries and Student Culture: What We Now Know

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Duke, Lynda M., Ed.; Asher, Andrew D., Ed.

2012-01-01

How do college students "really" conduct research for classroom assignments? In 2008, five large Illinois universities were awarded a Library Services and Technology Act Grant to try to answer that question. The resulting ongoing study has already yielded some eye-opening results. The findings suggest changes ranging from simple…

Is There Life without Work?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nuttman-Shwartz, Orit

2007-01-01

The present study examined the way retirees perceive retirement and continue to work post-retirement. Using a longitudinal design, qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed to examine the effect of preoccupation with work on adjustment to retirement. The findings indicate a wide range of attitudes toward cessation of the working life on…

"Live" (stained) benthic foraminiferal living depths, stable isotopes, and taxonomy offshore South Georgia, Southern Ocean: implications for calcification depths

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dejardin, Rowan; Kender, Sev; Allen, Claire S.; Leng, Melanie J.; Swann, George E. A.; Peck, Victoria L.

2018-01-01

It is widely held that benthic foraminifera exhibit species-specific calcification depth preferences, with their tests recording sediment pore water chemistry at that depth (i.e. stable isotope and trace metal compositions). This assumed depth-habitat-specific pore water chemistry relationship has been used to reconstruct various palaeoenvironmental parameters, such as bottom water oxygenation. However, many deep-water foraminiferal studies show wide intra-species variation in sediment living depth but relatively narrow intra-species variation in stable isotope composition. To investigate this depth-habitat-stable-isotope relationship on the shelf, we analysed depth distribution and stable isotopes of living (Rose Bengal stained) benthic foraminifera from two box cores collected on the South Georgia shelf (ranging from 250 to 300 m water depth). We provide a comprehensive taxonomic analysis of the benthic fauna, comprising 79 taxonomic groupings. The fauna shows close affinities with shelf assemblages from around Antarctica. We find live specimens of a number of calcareous species from a range of depths in the sediment column. Stable isotope ratios (δ13C and δ18O) were measured on stained specimens of three species, Astrononion echolsi, Cassidulinoides porrectus, and Buccella sp. 1, at 1 cm depth intervals within the downcore sediment sequences. In agreement with studies in deep-water settings, we find no significant intra-species variability in either δ13Cforam or δ18Oforam with sediment living depth on the South Georgia shelf. Our findings add to the growing evidence that infaunal benthic foraminiferal species calcify at a fixed depth. Given the wide range of depths at which we find living, infaunal species, we speculate that they may actually calcify predominantly at the sediment-seawater interface, where carbonate ion concentration and organic carbon availability is at a maximum.

Dielectric Study of Alcohols Using Broadband Terahertz Time Domain Spectroscopy (THz-TDS).

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarkar, Sohini; Saha, Debasis; Banerjee, Sneha; Mukherjee, Arnab; Mandal, Pankaj

2016-06-01

Broadband Terahertz-Time Domain Spectroscopy (THz-TDS) (1-10 THz) has been utilized to study the complex dielectric properties of methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, and 1-octanol. Previous reports on dielectric study of alcohols were limited to 5 THz. At THz (1 THz = 33.33 wn = 4 meV) frequency range (0.1 to 15 THz), the molecular reorientation and several intermolecular vibrations (local oscillation of dipoles) may coexist and contribute to the overall liquid dynamics. We find that the Debye type relaxations barely contribute beyond 1 THz, rather three harmonic oscillators dominate the entire spectral range. To get insights on the modes responsible for the observed absorption in THz frequency range, we performed all atom molecular dynamics (MD) using OPLS force field and ab initio quantum calculations. Combined experimental and theoretical study reveal that the complex dielectric functions of alcohols have contribution from a) alkyl group oscillation within H-bonded network ( 1 THz), b) intermolecular H-bond stretching ( 5 THz) , and c) librational motions in alcohols. The present work, therefore, complements all previous studies on alcohols at lower frequencies and provides a clear picture on them in a broad spectral range from microwave to 10 THz.

Instructional Design in Technical Areas. Australian Education Review, No. 43.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sweller, John

This book details the findings from a research team that used cognitive principles and a large range of experiments to devise a variety of instructional designs. Their recommendations are based on 20 years of objective, published research. Although the program focused on technical subjects, the findings can easily be applied to a range of…

Retrospective approach to methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase mutations in children.

PubMed

Özer, Işıl; Özçetin, Mustafa; Karaer, Hatice; Kurt, Semiha G; Şahin, Şemsettin

2011-07-01

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase reduces methyltetrahydrofolate, a cosubstrate in the remethylation of homocysteine, from methylenetetrahydrofolate. Congenital defects, hematologic tumors, and intrauterine growth retardation can occur during childhood. This study evaluated clinical and laboratory treatment approaches in children diagnosed with methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase mutations. Our group included 23 boys and 14 girls, aged 103.4 ± 70.8 months S.D. Clinical findings of patients and homocysteine, vitamin B12, folate, hemogram, electroencephalography, cranial magnetic resonance imaging, and echocardiography data were evaluated in terms of treatment approach. Our patients' findings included vitamin B12 at 400.4 ± 224.6 pg/mL S.D. (normal range, 300-700 pg/mL), folate at 10.1 ± 4.5 ng/mL S.D. (normal range, 1.8-9 ng/mL), and homocysteine at 8.4 ± 4.7 μmol/L S.D. (normal range, 5.5-17 μmol/L). Eighty-eight percent of patients demonstrated clinical findings. In comparisons involving categorical variables between groups, χ(2) tests were used. No relationship was evident between mutation type, laboratory data, and clinical severity. All mothers who had MTHFR mutations and had babies with sacral dimples had taken folate supplements during pregnancy. To avoid the risk of neural tube defects, pregnant women with a MTHFR mutation may require higher than normally recommended doses of folic acid supplementation for optimum health. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

MEASURING THE LUMINOSITY AND VIRIAL BLACK HOLE MASS DEPENDENCE OF QUASAR–GALAXY CLUSTERING AT z ∼ 0.8

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

Krolewski, Alex G.; Eisenstein, Daniel J., E-mail: akrolewski@college.harvard.edu

2015-04-10

We study the dependence of quasar clustering on quasar luminosity and black hole mass by measuring the angular overdensity of photometrically selected galaxies imaged by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) about z ∼ 0.8 quasars from SDSS. By measuring the quasar–galaxy cross-correlation function and using photometrically selected galaxies, we achieve a higher density of tracer objects and a more sensitive detection of clustering than measurements of the quasar autocorrelation function. We test models of quasar formation and evolution by measuring the luminosity dependence of clustering amplitude. We find a significant overdensity of WISE galaxies about z ∼ 0.8 quasarsmore » at 0.2–6.4 h{sup −1} Mpc in projected comoving separation. We find no appreciable increase in clustering amplitude with quasar luminosity across a decade in luminosity, and a power-law fit between luminosity and clustering amplitude gives an exponent of −0.01 ± 0.06 (1 σ error). We also fail to find a significant relationship between clustering amplitude and black hole mass, although our dynamic range in true mass is suppressed due to the large uncertainties in virial black hole mass estimates. Our results indicate that a small range in host dark matter halo mass maps to a large range in quasar luminosity.« less

Co-evolution of payoff strategy and interaction strategy in prisoner's dilemma game

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Kangjie; Cheng, Hongyan

2016-11-01

Co-evolutionary dynamical models, providing a realistic paradigm for investigating complex system, have been extensively studied. In this paper, the co-evolution of payoff strategy and interaction strategy is studied. Starting with an initial Gaussian distribution of payoff strategy r with the mean u and the variance q, we focus on the final distribution of the payoff strategy. We find that final distribution of the payoff strategy may display different structures depending on parameters. In the ranges u < - 1 and u > 3, the distribution displays a single-peak structure which is symmetric about r = u. The distribution manifests itself as a double-peak structure in the range - 1 < u < 3 although a fake three-peak structure shows up in range 1 < u < 2. The explanations on the formation of different types of payoff strategy distributions are presented.

Dermal Structure in Lymphedema Patients with History of Acute Dermatolymphangioadenitis Evaluated by Histogram Analysis of Ultrasonography Findings: A Case-Control Study.

PubMed

Dai, Misako; Sato, Aya; Maeba, Hiroko; Iuchi, Terumi; Matsumoto, Masaru; Okuwa, Mayumi; Nakatani, Toshio; Sanada, Hiromi; Sugama, Junko

2016-03-01

Acute dermatolymphangioadenitis (ADLA) is a risk factor for increasing of edema and worsening severity. Reducing ADLA frequency is an important objective of lymphedema management because ADLA episodes are strongly associated with poor quality of life. Lymphedema changes dermal and subcutaneous structure, favoring ADLA; ADLA recurrence may be caused by structural change of the dermis. However, the structure of the skin following ADLA episodes has not been studied in depth. The aim of this study was to examine changes in the skin after episodes of ADLA in breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) using histogram analysis of ultrasonography findings. This was a case-control study with matching for the duration of lymphedema. We compared 10 limbs (5 BCRL patients, Cases) with a history of ADLA and 14 limbs (7 BCRL patients, Controls) without. Ultrasonography was performed using a 20-MHz probe, and measurements were made at a site 10 cm proximal to the ulnar styloid process. We compared "skewness" of the images in the dermis from the histogram analysis. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Kanazawa University. Skewness was significantly different between the affected and unaffected limbs (p = 0.02). Cases showed a positive value (median 0.74, range -0.18 to 1.26), whereas Controls showed a negative value (median -0.21, range -0.45 to 0.31). Episodes of ADLA changed the distribution of echogenicity on imaging, which indicates a change in the collagen fibers in the dermis. These findings might contribute to improving the management of lymphedema and prevention of recurrent ADLA.

Assessment of nerve involvement in the lumbar spine: agreement between magnetic resonance imaging, physical examination and pain drawing findings

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background Detection of nerve involvement originating in the spine is a primary concern in the assessment of spine symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become the diagnostic method of choice for this detection. However, the agreement between MRI and other diagnostic methods for detecting nerve involvement has not been fully evaluated. The aim of this diagnostic study was to evaluate the agreement between nerve involvement visible in MRI and findings of nerve involvement detected in a structured physical examination and a simplified pain drawing. Methods Sixty-one consecutive patients referred for MRI of the lumbar spine were - without knowledge of MRI findings - assessed for nerve involvement with a simplified pain drawing and a structured physical examination. Agreement between findings was calculated as overall agreement, the p value for McNemar's exact test, specificity, sensitivity, and positive and negative predictive values. Results MRI-visible nerve involvement was significantly less common than, and showed weak agreement with, physical examination and pain drawing findings of nerve involvement in corresponding body segments. In spine segment L4-5, where most findings of nerve involvement were detected, the mean sensitivity of MRI-visible nerve involvement to a positive neurological test in the physical examination ranged from 16-37%. The mean specificity of MRI-visible nerve involvement in the same segment ranged from 61-77%. Positive and negative predictive values of MRI-visible nerve involvement in segment L4-5 ranged from 22-78% and 28-56% respectively. Conclusion In patients with long-standing nerve root symptoms referred for lumbar MRI, MRI-visible nerve involvement significantly underestimates the presence of nerve involvement detected by a physical examination and a pain drawing. A structured physical examination and a simplified pain drawing may reveal that many patients with "MRI-invisible" lumbar symptoms need treatment aimed at nerve involvement. Factors other than present MRI-visible nerve involvement may be responsible for findings of nerve involvement in the physical examination and the pain drawing. PMID:20831785

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in free-ranging and feral cats on Amami Oshima Island, Japan.

PubMed

Matsuu, Aya; Yokota, Shin-Ichi; Ito, Keiko; Masatani, Tatsunori

2017-11-17

On Amami Oshima Island, free-ranging and feral cats are harmful to wildlife populations. In this study, the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in these cats was examined using a newly developed Gaussia luciferase immunoprecipitation system assay. Of 1,363 cats, 123 cats (9.0%) was positive for T. gondii. The prevalence was significantly different in different areas; among cats in the rural area, where many wild animals live, including endangered species, T. gondii infection was more prevalent than in the urban area of the island. This finding indicates a possible risk to wildlife of infection from free-ranging and feral cats. Therefore, management of cats is important for wildlife conservation.

Injection-locking of terahertz quantum cascade lasers up to 35GHz using RF amplitude modulation.

PubMed

Gellie, Pierre; Barbieri, Stefano; Lampin, Jean-François; Filloux, Pascal; Manquest, Christophe; Sirtori, Carlo; Sagnes, Isabelle; Khanna, Suraj P; Linfield, Edmund H; Davies, A Giles; Beere, Harvey; Ritchie, David

2010-09-27

We demonstrate that the cavity resonance frequency - the round-trip frequency - of Terahertz quantum cascade lasers can be injection-locked by direct modulation of the bias current using an RF source. Metal-metal and single-plasmon waveguide devices with roundtrip frequencies up to 35GHz have been studied, and show locking ranges above 200MHz. Inside this locking range the laser round-trip frequency is phase-locked, with a phase noise determined by the RF-synthesizer. We find a square-root dependence of the locking range with RF-power in agreement with classical injection-locking theory. These results are discussed in the context of mode-locking operation.

Is Toxoplasma gondii a threat to the conservation of free-ranging Australian marsupial populations?

PubMed Central

Hillman, Alison E.; Lymbery, Alan J.; Thompson, R.C. Andrew

2015-01-01

It has often been asserted that Australian marsupial species are particularly susceptible to Toxoplasma gondii infection and to clinical toxoplasmosis following infection. This implicates T. gondii as a potential threat to marsupial population viability, and contrasts to what is known of T. gondii in populations of several other host species. We reviewed the literature, and found a lack of scientifically robust evidence addressing the occurrence of T. gondii infection in free-ranging populations of Australian marsupial species, and the impacts of the infection on population health. Key limitations included a lack of studies in free-ranging marsupial populations, study findings susceptible to substantial chance influences, and selection, misclassification and confounding biases. The lack of scientifically robust data available on this topic indicates that assertions that free-ranging populations of Australian marsupials are particularly susceptible to T. gondii infection and to toxoplasmosis are premature. The threat of T. gondii to the viability of free-ranging marsupial populations should therefore be regarded, at this stage, as a hypothesis. PMID:27141439

Interobserver variability of sonography for prediction of placenta accreta.

PubMed

Bowman, Zachary S; Eller, Alexandra G; Kennedy, Anne M; Richards, Douglas S; Winter, Thomas C; Woodward, Paula J; Silver, Robert M

2014-12-01

The sensitivity of sonography to predict accreta has been reported as higher than 90%. However, most studies are from single expert investigators. Our objective was to analyze interobserver variability of sonography for prediction of placenta accreta. Patients with previa with and without accreta were ascertained, and images with placental views were collected, deidentified, and placed in random sequence. Three radiologists and 3 maternal-fetal medicine specialists interpreted each study for the presence of accreta and specific findings reported to be associated with its diagnosis. Investigator-specific sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were calculated. κ statistics were used to assess variability between individuals and types of investigators. A total of 229 sonographic studies from 55 patients with accreta and 56 control patients were examined. Accuracy ranged from 55.9% to 76.4%. Of imaging studies yielding diagnoses, sensitivity ranged from 53.4% to 74.4%, and specificity ranged from 70.8% to 94.8%. Overall interobserver agreement was moderate (mean κ ± SD = 0.47 ± 0.12). κ values between pairs of investigators ranged from 0.32 (fair agreement) to 0.73 (substantial agreement). Average individual agreement ranged from fair (κ = 0.35) to moderate (κ = 0.53). Blinded from clinical data, sonography has significant interobserver variability for the diagnosis of placenta accreta. © 2013 by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.

Housing and Health in Ghana: The Psychosocial Impacts of Renting a Home

PubMed Central

Luginaah, Isaac; Arku, Godwin; Baiden, Philip

2010-01-01

This paper reports the findings of a qualitative study investigating the impacts of renting a home on the psychosocial health of tenants in the Accra Metropolitan Area (AMA) in Ghana. In-depth interviews (n = 33) were conducted with private renters in Adabraka, Accra. The findings show that private renters in the AMA face serious problems in finding appropriate and affordable rental units, as well as a persistent threat of eviction by homeowners. These challenges tend to predispose renters to psychosocial distress and diminishing ontological security. Findings are relevant to a range of pluralistic policy options that emphasize both formal and informal housing provision, together with the reorganization and decentralization of the Rent Control Board to the district level to facilitate easy access by the citizenry. PMID:20616989

Long-Range Interactions Restrict Water Transport in Pyrophyllite Interlayers

DOE PAGES

Zarzycki, Piotr; Gilbert, Benjamin

2016-04-27

Water diffusion within smectite clay interlayers is reduced by confinement and hence is highly determined by the interlayer spacings that are adopted during swelling. However, a molecular understanding of the short-and long-range forces governing interlayer water structure and dynamics is lacking. Using molecular dynamics simulations of water intercalated between pyrophyllite (smectite prototype) layers we provide a detailed picture of the variation of interlayered water mobility accompanying smectite expansion. Subtle changes in hydrogen bond network structure cause significant changes in water mobility that is greater for stable hydration states and reduced for intermediate separations. By studying pyrophyllite with and without externalmore » water we reveal that long-range electrostatic forces apply a restraining effect upon interlayer water mobility. Our findings are relevant for broad range of confining nanostructures with walls thin enough to permit long-range interactions that could affect the mobility of confined solvent molecules and solute species.« less

Long-Range Interactions Restrict Water Transport in Pyrophyllite Interlayers

PubMed Central

Zarzycki, Piotr; Gilbert, Benjamin

2016-01-01

Water diffusion within smectite clay interlayers is reduced by confinement and hence is highly determined by the interlayer spacings that are adopted during swelling. However, a molecular understanding of the short- and long-range forces governing interlayer water structure and dynamics is lacking. Using molecular dynamics simulations of water intercalated between pyrophyllite (smectite prototype) layers we provide a detailed picture of the variation of interlayered water mobility accompanying smectite expansion. Subtle changes in hydrogen bond network structure cause significant changes in water mobility that is greater for stable hydration states and reduced for intermediate separations. By studying pyrophyllite with and without external water we reveal that long-range electrostatic forces apply a restraining effect upon interlayer water mobility. Our findings are relevant for broad range of confining nanostructures with walls thin enough to permit long-range interactions that could affect the mobility of confined solvent molecules and solute species. PMID:27118164

Effects of Coulomb Repulsion on the Phase Diagram of the Asakura-Oosawa Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haaga, Jason; Pemberton, Elizabeth; Gunton, James; Rickman, Jeffrey

We investigate the effect of adding a screened Coulomb charge to a model colloidal system interacting via the Asakura-Oosawa depletion potential. This model has previously been used to study the early stages of amelogenin self-assembly, a crucial process in the formation of dental enamel, by Li et al (BiophysicalJournal 101, 2502 (2011). By employing Monte Carlo simulations, we explore the role of interaction strengths and ranges on phase behavior. We find that charge strength and range have a strong influence on the stable, in the case of long range depletion potential, or metastable, in the case of short range depletion, fluid-fluid phase separation. Coulomb repulsion narrows and flattens the coexistence curve with increasing charge. This talk will also discuss solid-solid transitions present for certain interaction ranges. This work is supported by the G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Foundation.

Text-in-context: a method for extracting findings in mixed-methods mixed research synthesis studies.

PubMed

Sandelowski, Margarete; Leeman, Jennifer; Knafl, Kathleen; Crandell, Jamie L

2013-06-01

Our purpose in this paper is to propose a new method for extracting findings from research reports included in mixed-methods mixed research synthesis studies. International initiatives in the domains of systematic review and evidence synthesis have been focused on broadening the conceptualization of evidence, increased methodological inclusiveness and the production of evidence syntheses that will be accessible to and usable by a wider range of consumers. Initiatives in the general mixed-methods research field have been focused on developing truly integrative approaches to data analysis and interpretation. The data extraction challenges described here were encountered, and the method proposed for addressing these challenges was developed, in the first year of the ongoing (2011-2016) study: Mixed-Methods Synthesis of Research on Childhood Chronic Conditions and Family. To preserve the text-in-context of findings in research reports, we describe a method whereby findings are transformed into portable statements that anchor results to relevant information about sample, source of information, time, comparative reference point, magnitude and significance and study-specific conceptions of phenomena. The data extraction method featured here was developed specifically to accommodate mixed-methods mixed research synthesis studies conducted in nursing and other health sciences, but reviewers might find it useful in other kinds of research synthesis studies. This data extraction method itself constitutes a type of integration to preserve the methodological context of findings when statements are read individually and in comparison to each other. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Active Case Finding for Communicable Diseases in Prison Settings: Increasing Testing Coverage and Uptake Among the Prison Population in the European Union/European Economic Area

PubMed Central

Vroling, Hilde; Babudieri, Sergio; Monarca, Roberto; Vonk Noordegraaf-Schouten, Marije; Beer, Netta; Gomes Dias, Joana; O’Moore, Éamonn; Hedrich, Dagmar; Oordt-Speets, Anouk

2018-01-01

Abstract Prison populations are disproportionally affected by communicable diseases when compared with the general community because of a complex mix of socioeconomic determinants and environmental factors. Tailored and adequate health care provision in prisons has the potential to reach vulnerable and underserved groups and address their complex needs. We investigated the available evidence on modalities and effectiveness of active case-finding interventions in prisons by searching PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for records on prison and active case finding with no language limit. Conference abstracts and unpublished research reports also were retrieved. We analyzed the findings by testing modality, outcomes, and study quality. The included 90 records—63 peer-reviewed, 26 from gray literature, and 1 systematic review—reported variously on viral hepatitis, human immunodeficiency virus, sexually transmitted infections, and tuberculosis. No records were retrieved for other communicable diseases. Provider-initiated opt-in testing was the most frequently investigated modality. Testing at entry and provider-initiated testing were reported to result in comparatively higher uptake ranges. However, no comparative studies were identified that reported statistically significant differences between testing modalities. Positivity rates among tested inmates ranged broadly but were generally high for all diseases. The evidence on active case finding in correctional facilities is limited, heterogeneous, and of low quality, making it challenging to draw conclusions on the effect of different testing modalities. Scale-up of provider-initiated testing in European correctional facilities could substantially reduce the undiagnosed fraction and, hence, prevent additional disease transmission in both prison settings and the community at large. PMID:29648594

Abnormal findings in peers during skills learning.

PubMed

Wearn, Andy; Nakatsuji, Miriam; Bhoopatkar, Harsh

2017-02-01

Peer physical examination (PPE), where students examine each other, is common in contemporary clinical skills learning. A range of benefits and risks have been explored in the literature. One persistent concern has been the identification and management of abnormal physical findings. Two previous studies have attempted to quantify the risk, one through the discussion of two exemplar cases and the other with a retrospective student survey. Here, we report the first prospective study of the number and type of abnormalities encountered as part of early clinical skills learning in a medical programme. We have a formal written consent process for PPE, which includes the management of abnormal findings through the completion of an event form. Our data come from cohorts undertaking years 2 and 3 of the programme between 2003 and 2014. One persistent concern (of PPE) has been the identification and management of abnormal physical findings RESULTS: Nineteen event forms were completed over this period. The incidence rates per year ranged from 0.23 to 1.05 per cent. Abnormal findings included raised blood pressure, heart murmur, abnormal bedside test values, and eye and skin conditions. The low event rate, along with a feasible process for dealing with this issue, goes some way to reassuring those with concerns. We acknowledge that some abnormalities may have been missed, and that some data may have been lost as a result of incorrect process; however, even the highest annual rate is low in absolute terms. We recommend a formal process for managing abnormalities. Ideally this would be part of an overall PPE written policy, communicated to students, enacted by tutors and approved by the local ethics committee. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Gloss discrimination and eye movements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Phillips, Jonathan B.; Ferwerda, James A.; Nunziata, Ann

2010-02-01

Human observers are able to make fine discriminations of surface gloss. What cues are they using to perform this task? In previous studies, we identified two reflection-related cues-the contrast of the reflected image (c, contrast gloss) and the sharpness of reflected image (d, distinctness-of-image gloss)--but these were for objects rendered in standard dynamic range (SDR) images with compressed highlights. In ongoing work, we are studying the effects of image dynamic range on perceived gloss, comparing high dynamic range (HDR) images with accurate reflections and SDR images with compressed reflections. In this paper, we first present the basic findings of this gloss discrimination study then present an analysis of eye movement recordings that show where observers were looking during the gloss discrimination task. The results indicate that: 1) image dynamic range has significant influence on perceived gloss, with surfaces presented in HDR images being seen as glossier and more discriminable than their SDR counterparts; 2) observers look at both light source highlights and environmental interreflections when judging gloss; and 3) both of these results are modulated by surface geometry and scene illumination.

Molecular vibrations in metal-single-molecule-metal junctions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yokota, Kazumichi; Taniguchi, Masateru; Kawai, Tomoji

2010-03-01

Molecular vibrations in a metal-single-molecule-metal junction were studied based on density functional theory using a single benzenedithiolate molecule connected between gold clusters. We found that the difference in vibrational energy between an isolated benzenedithiol and the single-molecule junction is less than 3% in the energy range above 540 cm -1, where sulfur atoms contribute little to molecular vibrations. The finding implies that we can predict the peak energy in the inelastic electron tunneling spectrum of the single-molecule junction in the high energy range by vibrational analyses of isolated molecules.

Ellsworth Range

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-12-08

Ice on the Ellsworth Range in Antarctica as seen from the IceBridge DC-8 on Oct. 22, 2012. NASA's Operation IceBridge is an airborne science mission to study Earth's polar ice. For more information about IceBridge, visit: www.nasa.gov/icebridge NASA image use policy. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission. Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Find us on Instagram

Bottomonium above deconfinement in lattice nonrelativistic QCD.

PubMed

Aarts, G; Kim, S; Lombardo, M P; Oktay, M B; Ryan, S M; Sinclair, D K; Skullerud, J-I

2011-02-11

We study the temperature dependence of bottomonium for temperatures in the range 0.4T(c) < T < 2.1T(c), using nonrelativistic dynamics for the bottom quark and full relativistic lattice QCD simulations for Nf = 2 light flavors on a highly anisotropic lattice. We find that the Υ is insensitive to the temperature in this range, while the χb propagators show a crossover from the exponential decay characterizing the hadronic phase to a power-law behavior consistent with nearly free dynamics at T ≃ 2T(c).

Effect of tip radius on the incipient plasticity of chromium studied by nanoindentation

DOE PAGES

Wu, Dong; Morris, James R.; Nieh, T. G.

2014-10-01

The onset of plasticity in Cr was investigated by nanoindentation using indenters with tip radii ranging from 60 to 759 nm. The stress for incipient plasticity was found to increase with decreasing tip radius. We find that the cumulative pop-in probability on load could be described successfully by a combined model over the full range of tip radius, indicating that the incipient plasticity might be triggered either by the homogeneous nucleation of dislocation or by the activation of existing dislocations underneath the indenter.

Appropriate threshold levels of cardiac beat-to-beat variation in semi-automatic analysis of equine ECG recordings.

PubMed

Flethøj, Mette; Kanters, Jørgen K; Pedersen, Philip J; Haugaard, Maria M; Carstensen, Helena; Olsen, Lisbeth H; Buhl, Rikke

2016-11-28

Although premature beats are a matter of concern in horses, the interpretation of equine ECG recordings is complicated by a lack of standardized analysis criteria and a limited knowledge of the normal beat-to-beat variation of equine cardiac rhythm. The purpose of this study was to determine the appropriate threshold levels of maximum acceptable deviation of RR intervals in equine ECG analysis, and to evaluate a novel two-step timing algorithm by quantifying the frequency of arrhythmias in a cohort of healthy adult endurance horses. Beat-to-beat variation differed considerably with heart rate (HR), and an adaptable model consisting of three different HR ranges with separate threshold levels of maximum acceptable RR deviation was consequently defined. For resting HRs <60 beats/min (bpm) the threshold level of RR deviation was set at 20%, for HRs in the intermediate range between 60 and 100 bpm the threshold was 10%, and for exercising HRs >100 bpm, the threshold level was 4%. Supraventricular premature beats represented the most prevalent arrhythmia category with varying frequencies in seven horses at rest (median 7, range 2-86) and six horses during exercise (median 2, range 1-24). Beat-to-beat variation of equine cardiac rhythm varies according to HR, and threshold levels in equine ECG analysis should be adjusted accordingly. Standardization of the analysis criteria will enable comparisons of studies and follow-up examinations of patients. A small number of supraventricular premature beats appears to be a normal finding in endurance horses. Further studies are required to validate the findings and determine the clinical significance of premature beats in horses.

Find Pairs: The Module for Protein Quantification of the PeakQuant Software Suite

PubMed Central

Eisenacher, Martin; Kohl, Michael; Wiese, Sebastian; Hebeler, Romano; Meyer, Helmut E.

2012-01-01

Abstract Accurate quantification of proteins is one of the major tasks in current proteomics research. To address this issue, a wide range of stable isotope labeling techniques have been developed, allowing one to quantitatively study thousands of proteins by means of mass spectrometry. In this article, the FindPairs module of the PeakQuant software suite is detailed. It facilitates the automatic determination of protein abundance ratios based on the automated analysis of stable isotope-coded mass spectrometric data. Furthermore, it implements statistical methods to determine outliers due to biological as well as technical variance of proteome data obtained in replicate experiments. This provides an important means to evaluate the significance in obtained protein expression data. For demonstrating the high applicability of FindPairs, we focused on the quantitative analysis of proteome data acquired in 14N/15N labeling experiments. We further provide a comprehensive overview of the features of the FindPairs software, and compare these with existing quantification packages. The software presented here supports a wide range of proteomics applications, allowing one to quantitatively assess data derived from different stable isotope labeling approaches, such as 14N/15N labeling, SILAC, and iTRAQ. The software is publicly available at http://www.medizinisches-proteom-center.de/software and free for academic use. PMID:22909347

High-resolution manometry findings in patients with an intrathoracic stomach.

PubMed

Martinelo, Vanderlei; Mardiros Herbella, Fernando Augusto; Patti, Marco G

2015-04-01

Intrathoracic stomach is a rare finding. The real value of the high-resolution manometry (HRM) in the preoperative evaluation of these patients has not yet being fully tested. This study aims to evaluate: 1) the HRM pattern of patients with an intrathoracic stomach; and 2) HRM findings as predictors for prosthetic reinforcement of the hiatus. We reviewed 33 patients (27 women, mean age 66 years) with an intrathoracic stomach who underwent HRM. Fifteen patients did the HRM as part of preoperative workup and were operated on in our institution. All patients were submitted to a laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication. HRM results show that the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) was transposed in all patients. Hiatal hernia was diagnosed in 21 (63%) patients. The length of the hernia was 4 ± 2 cm (range, 1 to 9 cm). LES oscillation was observed in 23 (69%) patients with a mean of 1 ± 0.4 cm (range, 0.4 to 2 cm). Hiatal mesh reinforcement was necessary in five (33%) of the operated patients. HRM findings did not predict hiatal mesh reinforcement. Our results show that: 1) HRM has a poor sensibility for hiatal hernia diagnosis; 2) half of the patients with an intrathoracic stomach have a normal HRM; and 3) HRM does not predict mesh hiatal hernia repair.

Wolf (Canis lupus) Generation Time and Proportion of Current Breeding Females by Age.

PubMed

Mech, L David; Barber-Meyer, Shannon M; Erb, John

2016-01-01

Information is sparse about aspects of female wolf (Canis lupus) breeding in the wild, including age of first reproduction, mean age of primiparity, generation time, and proportion of each age that breeds in any given year. We studied these subjects in 86 wolves (113 captures) in the Superior National Forest (SNF), Minnesota (MN), during 1972-2013 where wolves were legally protected for most of the period, and in 159 harvested wolves from throughout MN wolf range during 2012-2014. Breeding status of SNF wolves were assessed via nipple measurements, and wolves from throughout MN wolf range, by placental scars. In the SNF, proportions of currently breeding females (those breeding in the year sampled) ranged from 19% at age 2 to 80% at age 5, and from throughout wolf range, from 33% at age 2 to 100% at age 7. Excluding pups and yearlings, only 33% to 36% of SNF females and 58% of females from throughout MN wolf range bred in any given year. Generation time for SNF wolves was 4.3 years and for MN wolf range, 4.7 years. These findings will be useful in modeling wolf population dynamics and in wolf genetic and dog-domestication studies.

Wolf (Canis lupus) generation time and proportion of current breeding females by age

USGS Publications Warehouse

Mech, L. David; Barber-Meyer, Shannon M.; Erb, John

2016-01-01

Information is sparse about aspects of female wolf (Canis lupus) breeding in the wild, including age of first reproduction, mean age of primiparity, generation time, and proportion of each age that breeds in any given year. We studied these subjects in 86 wolves (113 captures) in the Superior National Forest (SNF), Minnesota (MN), during 1972–2013 where wolves were legally protected for most of the period, and in 159 harvested wolves from throughout MN wolf range during 2012–2014. Breeding status of SNF wolves were assessed via nipple measurements, and wolves from throughout MN wolf range, by placental scars. In the SNF, proportions of currently breeding females (those breeding in the year sampled) ranged from 19% at age 2 to 80% at age 5, and from throughout wolf range, from 33% at age 2 to 100% at age 7. Excluding pups and yearlings, only 33% to 36% of SNF females and 58% of females from throughout MN wolf range bred in any given year. Generation time for SNF wolves was 4.3 years and for MN wolf range, 4.7 years. These findings will be useful in modeling wolf population dynamics and in wolf genetic and dog-domestication studies.

Satisfactory knee function after single-stage posterolateral corner reconstruction in the multi-ligament injured/dislocated knee using the anatomic single-graft technique.

PubMed

Sanders, Thomas L; Johnson, Nick R; Pareek, Ayoosh; Krych, Aaron J; Marx, Robert G; Stuart, Michael J; Levy, Bruce A

2018-04-01

Increasing importance has been placed on the posterolateral corner (PLC) in maintaining varus and rotational stability of the knee. The goal of this study was to evaluate knee function and clinical stability following a single-graft PLC reconstruction technique and identify factors associated with poor knee function. This study identified patients with a multi-ligament knee injury between 2006 and 2013. Patients who received a single-graft fibular collateral ligament and PLC reconstruction with a single-stage surgery during the study period and had a minimum follow-up of 2 years after surgery were included. Functional outcomes were assessed using Lysholm and IKDC scores. Varus and rotational knee laxity and range of motion were assessed using physical examination. The final study cohort included 61 patients who underwent PLC reconstruction using a single-graft technique. The mean IKDC score was 74.1 (± 22.3) and the mean Lysholm score was 80.3 (± 21.8) at mean follow-up of 3.8 years (range 2-9 years). Mean range of motion at final follow-up measured from 0° to 126° [range flexion: 95-145, range extension: 0-5]. Fifty-eight patients (95%) had grade 0 varus laxity in full knee extension, and 54 patients (88.5%) had grade 0 varus laxity at 30° of knee flexion. Female gender was associated with a lower postoperative IKDC score (p = 0.04). Surgical treatment of the PLC using a single-graft technique can result in satisfactory knee function and stable physical examination findings at minimum 2 years after surgery. Female gender was predictive of poor knee function after PLC reconstruction. Surgical treatment of PLC injuries should be individualized based on the timing of surgery, specific injured knee structures, and physical examination findings. This study helps validate the use of a single-graft technique for PLC reconstruction and can be used to help counsel patients about expected knee function after surgical treatment of PLC injuries. Level of evidence IV.

Female judgment of male attractiveness and desirability for relationships: role of waist-to-hip ratio and financial status.

PubMed

Singh, D

1995-12-01

Two studies were conducted to examine the role of male body shape (as defined by waist-to-hip ratio [WHR]) in female mate choice. In Study 1, college-age women judged normal-weight male figures with WHR in the typical male range as most attractive, healthy, and possessing many positive personal qualities. In Study 2, 18-69-year-old women rated normal-weight male figures with differing WHRs and purported income for casual (having coffee) to most-committed (marriage) relationships. All women, regardless of their age, education level, or family income, rated figures with WHRs in the typical male range and higher financial status more favorably. These findings are explained within an evolutionary mate selection context.

Echinostomes in Felid Coprolites from Brazil.

PubMed

Sianto, L; Duarte, A N; Borba, V H; Magalhães, J G; de Souza, S M; Chame, M

2016-06-01

The first record of Echinostoma (Trematoda: Echinostomatidae) in coprolites was from a mummified human body in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The finding raised questions on this parasite's incidence in prehistoric populations and the natural hosts of each species in remote times. Echinostomes occur worldwide and, despite the wide range of hosts, there is no record of Echinostomatidae in felines in Brazil. This study reports the finding of Echinostomatidae eggs in felid coprolites in the Furna do Estrago Archaeological Site, located in Pernambuco State in the Brazilian semiarid. Despite the possibility of false parasitism, the finding expands the distribution of this Digenea in remote times and raises the hypothesis of other cases of echinostomiasis in pre-Colombian populations.

Hydrodynamic interactions in dense active suspensions: From polar order to dynamical clusters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoshinaga, Natsuhiko; Liverpool, Tanniemola B.

2017-08-01

We study the role of hydrodynamic interactions in the collective behavior of collections of microscopic active particles suspended in a fluid. We introduce a calculational framework that allows us to separate the different contributions to their collective dynamics from hydrodynamic interactions on different length scales. Hence we are able to systematically show that lubrication forces when the particles are very close to each other play as important a role as long-range hydrodynamic interactions in determining their many-body behavior. We find that motility-induced phase separation is suppressed by near-field interactions, leading to open gel-like clusters rather than dense clusters. Interestingly, we find a globally polar ordered phase appears for neutral swimmers with no force dipole that is enhanced by near-field lubrication forces in which the collision process rather than long-range interaction dominates the alignment mechanism.

Quantum molecular dynamics of warm dense iron and a five-phase equation of state

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sjostrom, Travis; Crockett, Scott

2018-05-01

Through quantum molecular dynamics (QMD), utilizing both Kohn-Sham (orbital-based) and orbital-free density functional theory, we calculate the equation of state of warm dense iron in the density range 7 -30 g/cm 3 and temperatures from 1 to 100 eV. A critical examination of the iron pseudopotential is made, from which we find a significant improvement at high pressure to the previous QMD calculations of Wang et al. [Phys. Rev. E 89, 023101 (2014), 10.1103/PhysRevE.89.023101]. Our results also significantly extend the ranges of density and temperature that were attempted in that prior work. We calculate the shock Hugoniot and find very good agreement with experimental results to pressures over 20 TPa. These results are then incorporated with previous studies to generate a five-phase equation of state for iron.

Temporal Structure of Volatility Fluctuations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Fengzhong; Yamasaki, Kazuko; Stanley, H. Eugene; Havlin, Shlomo

Volatility fluctuations are of great importance for the study of financial markets, and the temporal structure is an essential feature of fluctuations. To explore the temporal structure, we employ a new approach based on the return interval, which is defined as the time interval between two successive volatility values that are above a given threshold. We find that the distribution of the return intervals follows a scaling law over a wide range of thresholds, and over a broad range of sampling intervals. Moreover, this scaling law is universal for stocks of different countries, for commodities, for interest rates, and for currencies. However, further and more detailed analysis of the return intervals shows some systematic deviations from the scaling law. We also demonstrate a significant memory effect in the return intervals time organization. We find that the distribution of return intervals is strongly related to the correlations in the volatility.

Spatial correlation analysis of cascading failures: Congestions and Blackouts

PubMed Central

Daqing, Li; Yinan, Jiang; Rui, Kang; Havlin, Shlomo

2014-01-01

Cascading failures have become major threats to network robustness due to their potential catastrophic consequences, where local perturbations can induce global propagation of failures. Unlike failures spreading via direct contacts due to structural interdependencies, overload failures usually propagate through collective interactions among system components. Despite the critical need in developing protection or mitigation strategies in networks such as power grids and transportation, the propagation behavior of cascading failures is essentially unknown. Here we find by analyzing our collected data that jams in city traffic and faults in power grid are spatially long-range correlated with correlations decaying slowly with distance. Moreover, we find in the daily traffic, that the correlation length increases dramatically and reaches maximum, when morning or evening rush hour is approaching. Our study can impact all efforts towards improving actively system resilience ranging from evaluation of design schemes, development of protection strategies to implementation of mitigation programs. PMID:24946927

Avian genomics lends insights into endocrine function in birds.

PubMed

Mello, C V; Lovell, P V

2018-01-15

The genomics era has brought along the completed sequencing of a large number of bird genomes that cover a broad range of the avian phylogenetic tree (>30 orders), leading to major novel insights into avian biology and evolution. Among recent findings, the discovery that birds lack a large number of protein coding genes that are organized in highly conserved syntenic clusters in other vertebrates is very intriguing, given the physiological importance of many of these genes. A considerable number of them play prominent endocrine roles, suggesting that birds evolved compensatory genetic or physiological mechanisms that allowed them to survive and thrive in spite of these losses. While further studies are needed to establish the exact extent of avian gene losses, these findings point to birds as potentially highly relevant model organisms for exploring the genetic basis and possible therapeutic approaches for a wide range of endocrine functions and disorders. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

One-dimensional continuum electronic structure with the density-matrix renormalization group and its implications for density-functional theory.

PubMed

Stoudenmire, E M; Wagner, Lucas O; White, Steven R; Burke, Kieron

2012-08-03

We extend the density matrix renormalization group to compute exact ground states of continuum many-electron systems in one dimension with long-range interactions. We find the exact ground state of a chain of 100 strongly correlated artificial hydrogen atoms. The method can be used to simulate 1D cold atom systems and to study density-functional theory in an exact setting. To illustrate, we find an interacting, extended system which is an insulator but whose Kohn-Sham system is metallic.

Study of high momentum eta' production in B --> eta'Xs.

PubMed

Aubert, B; Barate, R; Boutigny, D; Couderc, F; Gaillard, J-M; Hicheur, A; Karyotakis, Y; Lees, J P; Tisserand, V; Zghiche, A; Palano, A; Pompili, A; Chen, J C; Qi, N D; Rong, G; Wang, P; Zhu, Y S; Eigen, G; Ofte, I; Stugu, B; Abrams, G S; Borgland, A W; Breon, A B; Brown, D N; Button-Shafer, J; Cahn, R N; Charles, E; Day, C T; Gill, M S; Gritsan, A V; Groysman, Y; Jacobsen, R G; Kadel, R W; Kadyk, J; Kerth, L T; Kolomensky, Yu G; Kukartsev, G; LeClerc, C; Levi, M E; Lynch, G; Mir, L M; Oddone, P J; Orimoto, T J; Pripstein, M; Roe, N A; Ronan, M T; Shelkov, V G; Telnov, A V; Wenzel, W A; Ford, K; Harrison, T J; Hawkes, C M; Morgan, S E; Watson, A T; Watson, N K; Fritsch, M; Goetzen, K; Held, T; Koch, H; Lewandowski, B; Pelizaeus, M; Peters, K; Schmuecker, H; Steinke, M; Boyd, J T; Chevalier, N; Cottingham, W N; Kelly, M P; Latham, T E; Mackay, C; Wilson, F F; Abe, K; Cuhadar-Donszelmann, T; Hearty, C; Mattison, T S; McKenna, J A; Thiessen, D; Kyberd, P; McKemey, A K; Teodorescu, L; Blinov, V E; Bukin, A D; Golubev, V B; Ivanchenko, V N; Kravchenko, E A; Onuchin, A P; Serednyakov, S I; Skovpen, Yu I; Solodov, E P; Yushkov, A N; Best, D; Bruinsma, M; Chao, M; Eschrich, I; Kirkby, D; Lankford, A J; Mandelkern, M; Mommsen, R K; Roethel, W; Stoker, D P; Buchanan, C; Hartfiel, B L; Gary, J W; Layter, J; Shen, B C; Wang, K; del Re, D; Hadavand, H K; Hill, E J; MacFarlane, D B; Paar, H P; Rahatlou, Sh; Sharma, V; Berryhill, J W; Campagnari, C; Dahmes, B; Levy, S L; Long, O; Lu, A; Mazur, M A; Richman, J D; Verkerke, W; Beck, T W; Beringer, J; Eisner, A M; Heusch, C A; Lockman, W S; Schalk, T; Schmitz, R E; Schumm, B A; Seiden, A; Spradlin, P; Walkowiak, W; Williams, D C; Wilson, M G; Albert, J; Chen, E; Dubois-Felsmann, G P; Dvoretskii, A; Erwin, R J; Hitlin, D G; Narsky, I; Piatenko, T; Porter, F C; Ryd, A; Samuel, A; Yang, S; Jayatilleke, S; Mancinelli, G; Meadows, B T; Sokoloff, M D; Abe, T; Blanc, F; Bloom, P; Chen, S; Clark, P J; Ford, W T; Nauenberg, U; Olivas, A; Rankin, P; Roy, J; Smith, J G; van Hoek, W C; Zhang, L; Harton, J L; Hu, T; Soffer, A; Toki, W H; Wilson, R J; Zhang, J; Altenburg, D; Brandt, T; Brose, J; Colberg, T; Dickopp, M; Feltresi, E; Hauke, A; Lacker, H M; Maly, E; Müller-Pfefferkorn, R; Nogowski, R; Otto, S; Schubert, J; Schubert, K R; Schwierz, R; Spaan, B; Bernard, D; Bonneaud, G R; Brochard, F; Grenier, P; Thiebaux, Ch; Vasileiadis, G; Verderi, M; Bard, D J; Khan, A; Lavin, D; Muheim, F; Playfer, S; Andreotti, M; Azzolini, V; Bettoni, D; Bozzi, C; Calabrese, R; Cibinetto, G; Luppi, E; Negrini, M; Piemontese, L; Sarti, A; Treadwell, E; Baldini-Ferroli, R; Calcaterra, A; de Sangro, R; Finocchiaro, G; Patteri, P; Piccolo, M; Zallo, A; Buzzo, A; Capra, R; Contri, R; Crosetti, G; Lo Vetere, M; Macri, M; Monge, M R; Passaggio, S; Patrignani, C; Robutti, E; Santroni, A; Tosi, S; Bailey, S; Morii, M; Won, E; Dubitzky, R S; Langenegger, U; Bhimji, W; Bowerman, D A; Dauncey, P D; Egede, U; Gaillard, J R; Morton, G W; Nash, J A; Taylor, G P; Grenier, G J; Lee, S-J; Mallik, U; Cochran, J; Crawley, H B; Lamsa, J; Meyer, W T; Prell, S; Rosenberg, E I; Yi, J; Davier, M; Grosdidier, G; Höcker, A; Laplace, S; Le Diberder, F; Lepeltier, V; Lutz, A M; Petersen, T C; Plaszczynski, S; Schune, M H; Tantot, L; Wormser, G; Brigljević, V; Cheng, C H; Lange, D J; Simani, M C; Wright, D M; Bevan, A J; Coleman, J P; Fry, J R; Gabathuler, E; Gamet, R; Kay, M; Parry, R J; Payne, D J; Sloane, R J; Touramanis, C; Back, J J; Harrison, P F; Mohanty, G B; Brown, C L; Cowan, G; Flack, R L; Flaecher, H U; George, S; Green, M G; Kurup, A; Marker, C E; McMahon, T R; Ricciardi, S; Salvatore, F; Vaitsas, G; Winter, M A; Brown, D; Davis, C L; Allison, J; Barlow, N R; Barlow, R J; Hart, P A; Hodgkinson, M C; Lafferty, G D; Lyon, A J; Williams, J C; Farbin, A; Hulsbergen, W D; Jawahery, A; Kovalskyi, D; Lae, C K; Lillard, V; Roberts, D A; Blaylock, G; Dallapiccola, C; Flood, K T; Hertzbach, S S; Kofler, R; Koptchev, V B; Moore, T B; Saremi, S; Staengle, H; Willocq, S; Cowan, R; Sciolla, G; Taylor, F; Yamamoto, R K; Mangeol, D J J; Patel, P M; Robertson, S H; Lazzaro, A; Palombo, F; Bauer, J M; Cremaldi, L; Eschenburg, V; Godang, R; Kroeger, R; Reidy, J; Sanders, D A; Summers, D J; Zhao, H W; Brunet, S; Cote-Ahern, D; Taras, P; Nicholson, H; Cartaro, C; Cavallo, N; De Nardo, G; Fabozzi, F; Gatto, C; Lista, L; Paolucci, P; Piccolo, D; Sciacca, C; Baak, M A; Raven, G; Wilden, L; Jessop, C P; LoSecco, J M; Gabriel, T A; Allmendinger, T; Brau, B; Gan, K K; Honscheid, K; Hufnagel, D; Kagan, H; Kass, R; Pulliam, T; Ter-Antonyan, R; Wong, Q K; Brau, J; Frey, R; Igonkina, O; Potter, C T; Sinev, N B; Strom, D; Torrence, E; Colecchia, F; Dorigo, A; Galeazzi, F; Margoni, M; Morandin, M; Posocco, M; Rotondo, M; Simonetto, F; Stroili, R; Tiozzo, G; Voci, C; Benayoun, M; Briand, H; Chauveau, J; David, P; de la Vaissière, Ch; Del Buono, L; Hamon, O; John, M J J; Leruste, Ph; Ocariz, J; Pivk, M; Roos, L; T'Jampens, S; Therin, G; Manfredi, P F; Re, V; Behera, P K; Gladney, L; Guo, Q H; Panetta, J; Anulli, F; Biasini, M; Peruzzi, I M; Pioppi, M; Angelini, C; Batignani, G; Bettarini, S; Bondioli, M; Bucci, F; Calderini, G; Carpinelli, M; Del Gamba, V; Forti, F; Giorgi, M A; Lusiani, A; Marchiori, G; Martinez-Vidal, F; Morganti, M; Neri, N; Paoloni, E; Rama, M; Rizzo, G; Sandrelli, F; Walsh, J; Haire, M; Judd, D; Paick, K; Wagoner, D E; Danielson, N; Elmer, P; Lu, C; Miftakov, V; Olsen, J; Smith, A J S; Varnes, E W; Bellini, F; Cavoto, G; Faccini, R; Ferrarotto, F; Ferroni, F; Gaspero, M; Mazzoni, M A; Morganti, S; Pierini, M; Piredda, G; Safai Tehrani, F; Voena, C; Christ, S; Wagner, G; Waldi, R; Adye, T; De Groot, N; Franek, B; Geddes, N I; Gopal, G P; Olaiya, E O; Xella, S M; Aleksan, R; Emery, S; Gaidot, A; Ganzhur, S F; Giraud, P-F; Hamel de Monchenault, G; Kozanecki, W; Langer, M; Legendre, M; London, G W; Mayer, B; Schott, G; Vasseur, G; Yeche, Ch; Zito, M; Purohit, M V; Weidemann, A W; Yumiceva, F X; Aston, D; Bartoldus, R; Berger, N; Boyarski, A M; Buchmueller, O L; Convery, M R; Cristinziani, M; Dong, D; Dorfan, J; Dujmic, D; Dunwoodie, W; Elsen, E E; Field, R C; Glanzman, T; Gowdy, S J; Hadig, T; Halyo, V; Hryn'ova, T; Innes, W R; Kelsey, M H; Kim, P; Kocian, M L; Leith, D W G S; Libby, J; Luitz, S; Luth, V; Lynch, H L; Marsiske, H; Messner, R; Muller, D R; O'Grady, C P; Ozcan, V E; Perazzo, A; Perl, M; Petrak, S; Ratcliff, B N; Roodman, A; Salnikov, A A; Schindler, R H; Schwiening, J; Simi, G; Snyder, A; Soha, A; Stelzer, J; Su, D; Sullivan, M K; Va'vra, J; Wagner, S R; Weaver, M; Weinstein, A J R; Wisniewski, W J; Wright, D H; Young, C C; Burchat, P R; Edwards, A J; Meyer, T I; Petersen, B A; Roat, C; Ahmed, M; Ahmed, S; Alam, M S; Ernst, J A; Saeed, M A; Saleem, M; Wappler, F R; Bugg, W; Krishnamurthy, M; Spanier, S M; Eckmann, R; Kim, H; Ritchie, J L; Satpathy, A; Schwitters, R F; Izen, J M; Kitayama, I; Lou, X C; Ye, S; Bianchi, F; Bona, M; Gallo, F; Gamba, D; Borean, C; Bosisio, L; Cossutti, F; Della Ricca, G; Dittongo, S; Grancagnolo, S; Lanceri, L; Poropat, P; Vitale, L; Vuagnin, G; Panvini, R S; Banerjee, Sw; Brown, C M; Fortin, D; Jackson, P D; Kowalewski, R; Roney, J M; Band, H R; Dasu, S; Datta, M; Eichenbaum, A M; Johnson, J R; Kutter, P E; Li, H; Liu, R; Di Lodovico, F; Mihalyi, A; Mohapatra, A K; Pan, Y; Prepost, R; Sekula, S J; von Wimmersperg-Toeller, J H; Wu, J; Wu, S L; Yu, Z; Neal, H

2004-08-06

We measure the branching fraction for the charmless semi-inclusive process B --> eta'Xs, where the eta' meson has a momentum in the range 2.0 to 2.7 GeV/c in the upsilon4S center-of-mass frame and Xs represents a system comprising a kaon and zero to four pions. We find B(B --> eta'Xs) = [3.9 +/- 0.8(stat) +/- 0.5(syst) +/- 0.8(model)] x 10(-4). We also obtain the Xs mass spectrum and find that it fits models predicting high masses.

Experimental game theory and behavior genetics.

PubMed

Cesarini, David; Dawes, Christopher T; Johannesson, Magnus; Lichtenstein, Paul; Wallace, Björn

2009-06-01

We summarize the findings from a research program studying the heritability of behavior in a number of widely used economic games, including trust, dictator, and ultimatum games. Results from the standard behavior genetic variance decomposition suggest that strategies and fundamental economic preference parameters are moderately heritable, with estimates ranging from 18 to 42%. In addition, we also report new evidence on so-called "hyperfair" preferences in the ultimatum game. We discuss the implications of our findings with special reference to current efforts that seek to understand the molecular genetic architecture of complex social behaviors.

Growth and profitability in small privately held biotech firms: preliminary findings.

PubMed

Brännback, Malin; Carsrud, Alan; Renko, Maija; Ostermark, Ralf; Aaltonen, Jaana; Kiviluoto, Niklas

2009-06-01

This paper reports on preliminary findings on a study of the relationship of growth and profitability among small privately held Finnish Life Science firms. Previous research results concerning growth and profitability are mixed, ranging from strongly positive to a negative relationship. The conventional wisdom states that growth is a prerequisite for profitability. Our results suggest that the reverse is the case. A high profitability-low growth biotech firm is more probably to make the transition to high profitability-high growth than a firm that starts off with low profitability and high growth.

The Space Tug economic analysis study - What we learned

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hopkins, C. V.

1975-01-01

This paper summarizes the scope, analytical methods, and principal findings of a recently performed Space-Tug economic analysis. Both the Shuttle/Tug transportation system and its unmanned payloads were modeled in this study. A variety of upper-stage concepts capable of fulfilling the Tug mission were evaluated against this model, and the 'best' Tug concepts were identified for a range of economic measures.

The Platinum Bullet: An Experimental Evaluation of CUNY's Accelerated Study in Associate Program (ASAP)--New Three-Year Impacts, Cost Analyses, and Implementation Findings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weiss, Michael; Scrivener, Susan; Fresques, Hannah; Ratledge, Alyssa; Rudd, Tim; Sommo, Colleen

2014-01-01

The City University of New York's (CUNY's) Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) combines many of the ideas from a range of programs into a comprehensive model that requires students to attend school full-time, and provides supports and incentives for three years. ASAP's financial aid reforms, enhanced student services, and scheduling…

Theory and Practice in In-Service Teacher Learning: Teachers' Reconceptualisation of Curriculum in History Lessons

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moyo, Nathan; Modiba, Maropeng

2014-01-01

This paper reports on the findings of a qualitative interpretive study that was undertaken to determine how in-service teachers at Great Zimbabwe University were able (or not) to translate a theory that they were exposed to into practice during history lessons. Drawing on a range of data, the study explored how the teachers, who were purposively…

Apollo/Skylab suit program-management systems study, volume 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcniff, M.

1974-01-01

A management systems study for future spacesuit programs was conducted to assess past suit program requirements and management systems in addition to new and modified systems in order to identify the most cost effective methods for use during future spacesuit programs. The effort and its findings concerned the development and production of all hardware ranging from crew protective gear to total launch vehicles.

Antenatal depression case-finding by community health workers in South Africa: feasibility of a mobile phone application

PubMed Central

Tsai, Alexander C.; Tomlinson, Mark; Dewing, Sarah; le Roux, Ingrid M.; Harwood, Jessica M.; Chopra, Mickey; Rotheram-Borus, Mary Jane

2014-01-01

Purpose Randomised controlled trials conducted in resource-limited settings have shown that once women with depressed mood are evaluated by specialists and referred for treatment, lay health workers can be trained to effectively administer psychological treatments. We sought to determine the extent to which community health workers could also be trained to conduct case finding using short and ultra-short screening instruments programmed into mobile phones. Methods Pregnant, Xhosa-speaking women were recruited independently in two cross-sectional studies (N=1,144 and N=361) conducted in Khayelitsha, South Africa and assessed for antenatal depression. In the smaller study, community health workers with no training in human subjects research were trained to administer the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) during the routine course of their community-based outreach. We compared the operating characteristics of 4 short and ultra-short versions of the EPDS with the criterion standard of probable depression, defined as an EPDS-10 ≥13. Results The prevalence of probable depression (475/1144 [42%] and 165/361 [46%]) was consistent across both samples. The 2-item subscale demonstrated poor internal consistency (Cronbach’s α ranged from 0.55-0.58). All 4 subscales demonstrated excellent discrimination, with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values ranging from 0.91-0.99. Maximal discrimination was observed for the 7-item depressive symptoms subscale: at the conventional screening threshold of ≥10, it had 0.97 sensitivity and 0.76 specificity for detecting probable antenatal depression. Conclusions The comparability of the findings across the two studies suggests that it is feasible to use community health workers to conduct case finding for antenatal depression. PMID:24682529

Antenatal depression case finding by community health workers in South Africa: feasibility of a mobile phone application.

PubMed

Tsai, Alexander C; Tomlinson, Mark; Dewing, Sarah; le Roux, Ingrid M; Harwood, Jessica M; Chopra, Mickey; Rotheram-Borus, Mary Jane

2014-10-01

Randomized controlled trials conducted in resource-limited settings have shown that once women with depressed mood are evaluated by specialists and referred for treatment, lay health workers can be trained to effectively administer psychological treatments. We sought to determine the extent to which community health workers could also be trained to conduct case finding using short and ultrashort screening instruments programmed into mobile phones. Pregnant, Xhosa-speaking women were recruited independently in two cross-sectional studies (N = 1,144 and N = 361) conducted in Khayelitsha, South Africa and assessed for antenatal depression. In the smaller study, community health workers with no training in human subject research were trained to administer the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) during the routine course of their community-based outreach. We compared the operating characteristics of four short and ultrashort versions of the EPDS with the criterion standard of probable depression, defined as an EPDS-10 ≥ 13. The prevalence of probable depression (475/1144 [42 %] and 165/361 [46 %]) was consistent across both samples. The 2-item subscale demonstrated poor internal consistency (Cronbach's α ranged from 0.55 to 0.58). All four subscales demonstrated excellent discrimination, with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values ranging from 0.91 to 0.99. Maximal discrimination was observed for the 7-item depressive symptoms subscale: at the conventional screening threshold of ≥10, it had 0.97 sensitivity and 0.76 specificity for detecting probable antenatal depression. The comparability of the findings across the two studies suggests that it is feasible to use community health workers to conduct case finding for antenatal depression.

Politeness, emotion, and gender: A sociophonetic study of voice pitch modulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuasa, Ikuko

The present dissertation is a cross-gender and cross-cultural sociophonetic exploration of voice pitch characteristics utilizing speech data derived from Japanese and American speakers in natural conversations. The roles of voice pitch modulation in terms of the concepts of politeness and emotion as they pertain to culture and gender will be investigated herein. The research interprets the significance of my findings based on the acoustic measurements of speech data as they are presented in the ERB-rate scale (the most appropriate scale for human speech perception). The investigation reveals that pitch range modulation displayed by Japanese informants in two types of conversations is closely linked to types of politeness adopted by those informants. The degree of the informants' emotional involvement and expressions reflected in differing pitch range widths plays an important role in determining the relationship between pitch range modulation and politeness. The study further correlates the Japanese cultural concept of enryo ("self-restraint") with this phenomenon. When median values were examined, male and female pitch ranges across cultures did not conspicuously differ. However, sporadically occurring women's pitch characteristics which culturally differ in width and height of pitch ranges may create an 'emotional' perception of women's speech style. The salience of these pitch characteristics appears to be the source of the stereotypically linked sound of women's speech being identified as 'swoopy' or 'shrill' and thus 'emotional'. Such women's salient voice characteristics are interpreted in light of camaraderie/positive politeness. Women's use of conspicuous paralinguistic features helps to create an atmosphere of camaraderie. These voice pitch characteristics promote the establishment of a sense of camaraderie since they act to emphasize such feelings as concern, support, and comfort towards addressees, Moreover, men's wide pitch ranges are discussed in view of politeness (rather than gender). Japanese men's use of wide pitch ranges during conversations with familiar interlocutors demonstrate the extent to which male speakers can increase their pitch ranges if there is an authentic socio-cultural inspiration (other than a gender-related one) to do so. The findings suggest the necessity of interpreting research data in consideration of how the notion of gender interacts with other socio-cultural behavioral norms.

Sensitivity Analysis in RIPless Compressed Sensing

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-10-01

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: The compressive sensing framework finds a wide range of applications in signal processing and analysis. Within this...Analysis of Compressive Sensing Solutions Report Title The compressive sensing framework finds a wide range of applications in signal processing and...compressed sensing. More specifically, we show that in a noiseless and RIP-less setting [11], the recovery process of a compressed sensing framework is

Attractive but guilty: deliberation and the physical attractiveness bias.

PubMed

Patry, Marc W

2008-06-01

The current study examined the effect of jury deliberation on the tendency for mock jurors to find attractive defendants guilty less often. It was expected that there would be an interaction between group deliberation (yes or no) and defendant's appearance (plain-looking or attractive). It was hypothesized that mock jurors who did not deliberate would be more likely to find a plain-looking defendant guilty and that deliberation would mitigate this effect. The study was a 2 x 2 between-subjects factorial design. Participants were assigned randomly to one of four conditions: attractive defendant/deliberation, attractive defendant/no deliberation, plain-looking defendant/deliberation, and plain-looking defendant/no deliberation. A total of 172 undergraduates from a small, rural college in Vermont contributed to this study: mock jurors were 70 men and 52 women, ages ranged from 18 to 52 years (M=20.5, SD=4.9). The hypothesis was supported. Mock jurors who did not deliberate were more likely to find the plain-looking defendant guilty, whereas mock jurors who deliberated were more likely to find the attractive defendant guilty.

Evaluation of the Triple Code Model of numerical processing-Reviewing past neuroimaging and clinical findings.

PubMed

Siemann, Julia; Petermann, Franz

2018-01-01

This review reconciles past findings on numerical processing with key assumptions of the most predominant model of arithmetic in the literature, the Triple Code Model (TCM). This is implemented by reporting diverse findings in the literature ranging from behavioral studies on basic arithmetic operations over neuroimaging studies on numerical processing to developmental studies concerned with arithmetic acquisition, with a special focus on developmental dyscalculia (DD). We evaluate whether these studies corroborate the model and discuss possible reasons for contradictory findings. A separate section is dedicated to the transfer of TCM to arithmetic development and to alternative accounts focusing on developmental questions of numerical processing. We conclude with recommendations for future directions of arithmetic research, raising questions that require answers in models of healthy as well as abnormal mathematical development. This review assesses the leading model in the field of arithmetic processing (Triple Code Model) by presenting knowledge from interdisciplinary research. It assesses the observed contradictory findings and integrates the resulting opposing viewpoints. The focus is on the development of arithmetic expertise as well as abnormal mathematical development. The original aspect of this article is that it points to a gap in research on these topics and provides possible solutions for future models. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Retrospective study of sonographic findings in bone involvement associated with rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy: preliminary results of a case series*

PubMed Central

Nogueira-Barbosa, Marcello H.; Gregio-Junior, Everaldo; Lorenzato, Mario Muller

2015-01-01

Objective The present study was aimed at investigating bone involvement secondary to rotator cuff calcific tendonitis at ultrasonography. Materials and Methods Retrospective study of a case series. The authors reviewed shoulder ultrasonography reports of 141 patients diagnosed with rotator cuff calcific tendonitis, collected from the computer-based data records of their institution over a four-year period. Imaging findings were retrospectively and consensually analyzed by two experienced musculoskeletal radiologists looking for bone involvement associated with calcific tendonitis. Only the cases confirmed by computed tomography were considered for descriptive analysis. Results Sonographic findings of calcific tendinopathy with bone involvement were observed in 7/141 (~ 5%) patients (mean age, 50.9 years; age range, 42-58 years; 42% female). Cortical bone erosion adjacent to tendon calcification was the most common finding, observed in 7/7 cases. Signs of intraosseous migration were found in 3/7 cases, and subcortical cysts in 2/7 cases. The findings were confirmed by computed tomography. Calcifications associated with bone abnormalities showed no acoustic shadowing at ultrasonography, favoring the hypothesis of resorption phase of the disease. Conclusion Preliminary results of the present study suggest that ultrasonography can identify bone abnormalities secondary to rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy, particularly the presence of cortical bone erosion. PMID:26811551

Retrospective study of sonographic findings in bone involvement associated with rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy: preliminary results of a case series.

PubMed

Nogueira-Barbosa, Marcello H; Gregio-Junior, Everaldo; Lorenzato, Mario Muller

2015-01-01

The present study was aimed at investigating bone involvement secondary to rotator cuff calcific tendonitis at ultrasonography. Retrospective study of a case series. The authors reviewed shoulder ultrasonography reports of 141 patients diagnosed with rotator cuff calcific tendonitis, collected from the computer-based data records of their institution over a four-year period. Imaging findings were retrospectively and consensually analyzed by two experienced musculoskeletal radiologists looking for bone involvement associated with calcific tendonitis. Only the cases confirmed by computed tomography were considered for descriptive analysis. Sonographic findings of calcific tendinopathy with bone involvement were observed in 7/141 (~ 5%) patients (mean age, 50.9 years; age range, 42-58 years; 42% female). Cortical bone erosion adjacent to tendon calcification was the most common finding, observed in 7/7 cases. Signs of intraosseous migration were found in 3/7 cases, and subcortical cysts in 2/7 cases. The findings were confirmed by computed tomography. Calcifications associated with bone abnormalities showed no acoustic shadowing at ultrasonography, favoring the hypothesis of resorption phase of the disease. Preliminary results of the present study suggest that ultrasonography can identify bone abnormalities secondary to rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy, particularly the presence of cortical bone erosion.

Global-scale relationships between colonization ability and range size in marine and freshwater fish.

PubMed

Strona, Giovanni; Galli, Paolo; Montano, Simone; Seveso, Davide; Fattorini, Simone

2012-01-01

Although fish range sizes are expected to be associated with species dispersal ability, several studies failed to find a clear relationship between range size and duration of larval stage as a measure of dispersal potential. We investigated how six characteristics of the adult phase of fishes (maximum body length, growth rate, age at first maturity, life span, trophic level and frequency of occurrence) possibly associated with colonization ability correlate with range size in both freshwater and marine species at global scale. We used more than 12 million point records to estimate range size of 1829 freshwater species and 10068 marine species. As measures of range size we used both area of occupancy and extent of occurrence. Relationships between range size and species traits were assessed using Canonical Correlation Analysis. We found that frequency of occurrence and maximum body length had a strong influence on range size measures, which is consistent with patterns previously found (at smaller scales) in several other taxa. Freshwater and marine fishes showed striking similarities, suggesting the existence of common mechanisms regulating fish biogeography in the marine and freshwater realms.

A study of coherence of soft gluons in hadron jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akrawy, M. Z.; Alexander, G.; Allison, J.; Allport, P. P.; Anderson, K. J.; Armitage, J. C.; Arnison, G. T. J.; Ashton, P.; Azuelos, G.; Baines, J. T. M.; Ball, A. H.; Banks, J.; Barker, G. J.; Barlow, R. J.; Batley, J. R.; Becker, J.; Behnke, T.; Bell, K. W.; Bella, G.; Bethke, S.; Biebel, O.; Binder, U.; Bloodworth, I. J.; Bock, P.; Breuker, H.; Brown, R. M.; Brun, R.; Buijs, A.; Burckhart, H. J.; Capiluppi, P.; Carnegie, R. K.; Carter, A. A.; Carter, J. R.; Chang, C. Y.; Charlton, D. G.; Chrin, J. T. M.; Clarke, P. E. L.; Cohen, I.; Collins, W. J.; Conboy, J. E.; Couch, M.; Coupland, M.; Cuffiani, M.; Dado, S.; Dallavalle, G. M.; Debu, P.; Deninno, M. M.; Dieckmann, A.; Dittmar, M.; Dixit, M. S.; Duchovni, E.; Duerdoth, I. P.; Dumas, D. J. P.; El Mamouni, H.; Elcombe, P. A.; Estabrooks, P. G.; Etzion, E.; Fabbri, F.; Farthouat, P.; Fischer, H. M.; Fong, D. G.; French, M. T.; Fukunaga, C.; Gaidot, A.; Ganel, O.; Gary, J. W.; Gascon, J.; Geddes, N. I.; Gee, C. N. P.; Geich-Gimbel, C.; Gensler, S. W.; Gentit, F. X.; Giacomelli, G.; Gibson, V.; Gibson, W. R.; Gillies, J. D.; Goldberg, J.; Goodrick, M. J.; Gorn, W.; Granite, D.; Gross, E.; Grunhaus, J.; Hagedorn, H.; Hagemann, J.; Hansroul, M.; Hargrove, C. K.; Harrus, I.; Hart, J.; Hattersley, P. M.; Hauschild, M.; Hawkes, C. M.; Heflin, E.; Hemingway, R. J.; Heuer, R. D.; Hill, J. C.; Hillier, S. J.; Ho, C.; Hobbs, J. D.; Hobson, P. R.; Hochman, D.; Holl, B.; Homer, R. J.; Hou, S. R.; Howarth, C. P.; Hughes-Jones, R. E.; Humbert, R.; Igo-Kemenes, P.; Ihssen, H.; Imrie, D. C.; Jawahery, A.; Jeffreys, P. W.; Jeremie, H.; Jimack, M.; Jobes, M.; Jones, R. W. L.; Jovanovic, P.; Karlen, D.; Kawagoe, K.; Kawamoto, T.; Kellogg, R. G.; Kennedy, B. W.; Kleinwort, C.; Klem, D. E.; Knop, G.; Kobayashi, T.; Kokott, T. P.; Köpke, L.; Kowalewski, R.; Kreutzmann, H.; Kroll, J.; Kuwano, M.; Kyberd, P.; Lafferty, G. D.; Lamarche, F.; Larson, W. J.; Layter, J. G.; Le Du, P.; Leblanc, P.; Lee, A. M.; Lehto, M. H.; Lellouch, D.; Lennert, P.; Lessard, L.; Levinson, L.; Lloyd, S. L.; Loebinger, F. K.; Lorah, J. M.; Lorazo, B.; Losty, M. J.; Ludwig, J.; Ma, J.; Macbeth, A. A.; Mannelli, M.; Marcellini, S.; Maringer, G.; Martin, A. J.; Martin, J. P.; Mashimo, T.; Mättig, P.; Maur, U.; McMahon, T. J.; McNutt, J. R.; McPherson, A. C.; Meijers, F.; Menszner, D.; Merritt, F. S.; Mes, H.; Michelini, A.; Middleton, R. P.; Mikenberg, G.; Miller, D. J.; Milstene, C.; Minowa, M.; Mohr, W.; Montanari, A.; Mori, T.; Moss, M. W.; Murphy, P. G.; Murray, W. J.; Nellen, B.; Nguyen, H. H.; Nozaki, M.; O'Dowd, A. J. P.; O'Neale, S. W.; O'Neill, B. P.; Oakham, F. G.; Odorici, F.; Ogg, M.; Oh, H.; Oreglia, M. J.; Orito, S.; Pansart, J. P.; Patrick, G. N.; Pawley, S. J.; Pfister, P.; Pilcher, J. E.; Pinfold, J. L.; Plane, D. E.; Poli, B.; Pouladdej, A.; Pritchard, T. W.; Quast, G.; Raab, J.; Redmond, M. W.; Rees, D. L.; Regimbald, M.; Riles, K.; Roach, C. M.; Robins, S. A.; Rollnik, A.; Roney, J. M.; Rossberg, S.; Rossi, A. M.; Routenburg, P.; Runge, K.; Runolfsson, O.; Sanghera, S.; Sansum, R. A.; Sasaki, M.; Saunders, B. J.; Schaile, A. D.; Schaile, O.; Schappert, W.; Scharff-Hansen, P.; Schreiber, S.; Schwarz, J.; Shapira, A.; Shen, B. C.; Sherwood, P.; Simon, A.; Singh, P.; Siroli, G. P.; Skuia, A.; Smith, A. M.; Smith, T. J.; Snow, G. A.; Springer, R. W.; Sproston, M.; Stephens, K.; Stier, H. E.; Ströhmer, R.; Strom, D.; Takeda, H.; Takeshita, T.; Tsukamoto, T.; Turner, M. F.; Tysarczyk-Niemeyer, G.; Van den plas, D.; VanDalen, G. J.; Vasseur, G.; Virtue, C. J.; von der Schmitt, H.; von Krogh, J.; Wagner, A.; Wahl, C.; Ward, C. P.; Ward, D. R.; Waterhouse, J.; Watkins, P. M.; Watson, A. T.; Watson, N. K.; Weber, M.; Weisz, S.; Wells, P. S.; Wermes, N.; Weymann, M.; Wilson, G. W.; Wilson, J. A.; Wingerter, I.; Winterer, V.-H.; Wood, N. C.; Wotton, S.; Wuensch, B.; Wyatt, T. R.; Yaari, R.; Yang, Y.; Yekutieli, G.; Yoshida, T.; Zeuner, W.; Zorn, G. T.; OPAL Collaboration

1990-09-01

We study the inclusive momentum distribution of charged particles in multihadronic events produced in e +e - annihilations at ECM∼ M(Z 0). We find agreement with the analytical formulae for gluon production that include the phenomena of soft gluon interference. Using data from CM energies between 14 and 91 GeV, we study the dependence of the inclusive momentum distribution on the centre of momentum energy. We find that the analytical formulae describe the data over the entire energy range. Both the momentum distribution at a fixed energy and the change with energy are described by QCD shower Monte Carlo's which include either coherent gluon branchings or string fragmentation. Simple incoherent models with independent fragmentation fail to reproduce the energy dependence and momentum spectra.

The "Wallpaper Effect" Revisited: Divergent Findings on the Effects of Intergroup Contact on Attitudes in Diverse Versus Nondiverse Contexts.

PubMed

Schmid, Katharina; Wölfer, Ralf; Swart, Herman; Christ, Oliver; Al Ramiah, Ananthi; Vertovec, Steven; Hewstone, Miles

2017-09-01

This article reexamines the so-called "wallpaper effect" of intergroup contact, which contends that for minority group members living in areas more densely populated by majority group members, intergroup contact fails to reduce prejudice. We tested this claim in five studies, using data from five countries, two types of contexts, a range of measures, and involving different minority versus majority groups. Using multilevel cross-level interaction models, we considered whether effects of contact on outgroup attitudes were moderated by relative outgroup size. Results failed to replicate the previously reported findings, revealing, by and large, nonsignificant cross-level moderation effects; instead, we witnessed consistent positive contact effects on attitudes. Findings are discussed against the backdrop of recent research on the consequences of diversity, as well as context-based considerations regarding minority versus majority constellations. We also discuss some exceptions to our findings that emerged for some respondent groups and contexts across the five studies.

Beta-hydroxybutyrate Concentrations in Dogs with Acute Pancreatitis and Without Diabetes Mellitus.

PubMed

Hurrell, F E; Drobatz, K J; Hess, R S

2016-05-01

β-hydroxybutyrate (BOHB) concentrations have not been quantified in dogs with acute pancreatitis (AP). The aim of this study was to investigate BOHB concentrations in dogs with AP. A total of 154 client-owned dogs without DM. Prospective clinical study. Dogs were enrolled into 1 of 3 groups: AP, sick without an AP diagnosis, or fasted. Dogs were diagnosed with AP (44) if they had vomiting or anorexia, and either ultrasonographic findings consistent with AP or increased pancreatic lipase. Sick dogs without AP (68) had vomiting or anorexia but a diagnosis of AP was either not suspected or was excluded based on ultrasonographic findings or a normal pancreatic lipase. Dogs without anorexia or vomiting that were fasted for over 10 hours for a procedure were also enrolled (42). BOHB was measured on whole blood with a portable ketone meter. The Kruskal-Wallis test was performed to compare BOHB in the 3 groups. Pair-wise comparisons were performed using the Mann-Whitney test and Bonferroni corrected P-values are reported. Median BOHB concentration was significantly higher in dogs with AP (0.3 mmol/L, range 0-2.9 mmol/L) compared to sick dogs without AP (0.20 mmol/L, range 0-0.9 mmol/L, P = .007) and fasted dogs (0.1 mmol/L, range 0-0.4 mmol/L, P = .0001). Median BOHB concentration was significantly higher in sick dogs without AP compared to fasted dogs (P = .0002). In dogs without DM, BOHB is significantly higher in dogs with AP compared to other dogs. The diagnostic utility of this finding remains to be investigated. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Relationships between duplex findings and quality of life in long-term follow-up of patients treated for chronic venous disease.

PubMed

Huang, Ying; Gloviczki, Peter

2016-03-01

Relationships between duplex findings and data on health-related quality of life (QoL) to assess long-term results of treatment of varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) are not well known. The goal of this review was to correlate duplex findings and QoL assessments in clinical studies with long-term follow-up. A review of the English language literature on PUBMED revealed 17 clinical studies, including 9 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 6 prospective, and 2 retrospective studies that included patients with at least 5-year follow-up after endovenous laser ablation (EVLA), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS), and traditional superficial venous surgery. At 5 years, great saphenous vein (GSV) occlusion rate on duplex ultrasound ranged from 66% to 82% for EVLA, from 62% to 92% for RFA, from 41% to 58% for UGFS and from 54% to 85% for surgery. Freedom from GSV reflux rates were 82% and 84%, respectively for EVLA and surgery, and ranged between 84% and 95% for RFA. Significant improvements were observed in several domains of generic QoL and in most domains of venous disease-specific QoL, irrespective of the treatment. In at least one RCT, CIVIQ scores correlated well with abnormal duplex findings in patients who underwent treatment with UGFS. In another RCT, long-term AVVQ was significantly better after surgery as compared with UGFS similar to results of duplex findings. Analysis of the available literature confirmed that all four techniques were effective in the abolishment of reflux or obliteration of the GSV. Moreover, well-designed RCTs with large sample size are needed to produce robust long-term data on clinical outcome after treatment of varicose veins and CVI and to better understand the relationships between duplex-derived data and QoL assessments. © The Author(s) 2016.

Health Literacy and Older Adults

PubMed Central

Chesser, Amy K.; Keene Woods, Nikki; Smothers, Kyle; Rogers, Nicole

2016-01-01

Objective: The objective of this review was to assess published literature relating to health literacy and older adults. Method: The current review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses. Results: Eight articles met inclusion criteria. All studies were conducted in urban settings in the United States. Study sample size ranged from 33 to 3,000 participants. Two studies evaluated health-related outcomes and reported significant associations between low health literacy and poorer health outcomes. Two other studies investigated the impact of health literacy on medication management, reporting mixed findings. Discussion: The findings of this review highlight the importance of working to improve health care strategies for older adults with low health literacy and highlight the need for a standardized and validated clinical health literacy screening tool for older adults. PMID:28138488

Understanding Masculinity in Undergraduate African American Men: A Qualitative Study.

PubMed

Mincey, Krista; Alfonso, Moya; Hackney, Amy; Luque, John

2014-09-01

This study reports findings on views of masculinity with undergraduate Black men, which included interviews and focus groups (N = 46) with participants ranging in age from 18 to 22 years. Specifically, this study explored how Black men define being a man and being a Black man. Undergraduate Black males at a historically Black college and university (N = 25) and a predominately White institution (N = 21) in the Southeastern United States were recruited to participate in this study. Through the use of thematic analysis, findings indicated that three levels of masculinity exist for Black men: what it means to be a man, what it means to be a Black man, and who influences male development. Implications and recommendations for future research and practice are discussed. © The Author(s) 2013.

Magnitude and sign of long-range correlated time series: Decomposition and surrogate signal generation.

PubMed

Gómez-Extremera, Manuel; Carpena, Pedro; Ivanov, Plamen Ch; Bernaola-Galván, Pedro A

2016-04-01

We systematically study the scaling properties of the magnitude and sign of the fluctuations in correlated time series, which is a simple and useful approach to distinguish between systems with different dynamical properties but the same linear correlations. First, we decompose artificial long-range power-law linearly correlated time series into magnitude and sign series derived from the consecutive increments in the original series, and we study their correlation properties. We find analytical expressions for the correlation exponent of the sign series as a function of the exponent of the original series. Such expressions are necessary for modeling surrogate time series with desired scaling properties. Next, we study linear and nonlinear correlation properties of series composed as products of independent magnitude and sign series. These surrogate series can be considered as a zero-order approximation to the analysis of the coupling of magnitude and sign in real data, a problem still open in many fields. We find analytical results for the scaling behavior of the composed series as a function of the correlation exponents of the magnitude and sign series used in the composition, and we determine the ranges of magnitude and sign correlation exponents leading to either single scaling or to crossover behaviors. Finally, we obtain how the linear and nonlinear properties of the composed series depend on the correlation exponents of their magnitude and sign series. Based on this information we propose a method to generate surrogate series with controlled correlation exponent and multifractal spectrum.

Crystals of Janus colloids at various interaction ranges

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

Preisler, Z.; Soft Condensed Matter, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 5, 3584 CC Utrecht; Vissers, T.

We investigate the effect of interaction range on the phase behaviour of Janus particles with a Kern-Frenkel potential. Specifically, we study interaction ranges Δ = 0.1σ, 0.3σ, 0.4σ, 0.5σ with σ the particle diameter, and use variable box shape simulations to predict crystal structures. We found that changing the interaction range beyond 0.2σ drastically increases the variety of possible crystal structures. In addition to close-packed structures, we find body-centered tetragonal and AA-stacked hexagonal crystals, as well as several lamellar crystals. For long interaction ranges and low temperatures, we also observe an extremely large number of metastable structures which compete withmore » the thermodynamically stable ones. These competing structures hinder the detection of the lowest-energy crystal structures, and are also likely to interfere with the spontaneous formation of the ground-state structure. Finally, we determine the gas-liquid coexistence curves for several interaction ranges, and observe that these are metastable with respect to crystallization.« less

Freezing Range, Melt Quality, and Hot Tearing in Al-Si Alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uludağ, Muhammet; Çetin, Remzi; Dispinar, Derya

2018-02-01

In this study, three different aluminum-silicon alloys (A356, A413, and A380) that have different solidification morphology and solidification ranges were examined with an aim to evaluate the hot tearing susceptibility. T-shape mold and Constrained Rod Casting (CRC) mold were used for the characterization. Reduced Pressure Test (RPT) was used to quantify the casting quality by measuring bifilm index. It was found that bifilm index and solidification range have an important role on the hot tearing formation. As it is known, bifilms can cause porosity and in this case, it was shown that porosity formed by bifilms decreased hot tearing tendency. As the freezing range of alloy increases, bifilms find the time to unravel that reduces hot tearing. However, for eutectic alloy (A413), due to zero freezing range, regardless of bifilm content, hot tearing was never observed. A380.1 alloy had the highest tendency for hot tearing due to having the highest freezing range among the alloys investigated in this work.

Spatial Ecology of the Critically Endangered Fijian Crested Iguana, Brachylophus vitiensis, in an Extremely Dense Population: Implications for Conservation

PubMed Central

Morrison, Suzanne F.; Biciloa, Pita; Harlow, Peter S.; Keogh, J. Scott

2013-01-01

The Critically Endangered Fijian crested iguana, Brachylophus vitiensis, occurs at extreme density at only one location, with estimates of >10,000 iguanas living on the 70 hectare island of Yadua Taba in Fiji. We conducted a mark and recapture study over two wet seasons, investigating the spatial ecology and intraspecific interactions of the strictly arboreal Fijian crested iguana. This species exhibits moderate male-biased sexual size dimorphism, which has been linked in other lizard species to territoriality, aggression and larger male home ranges. We found that male Fijian crested iguanas exhibit high injury levels, indicative of frequent aggressive interactions. We did not find support for larger home range size in adult males relative to adult females, however male and female residents were larger than roaming individuals. Males with established home ranges also had larger femoral pores relative to body size than roaming males. Home range areas were small in comparison to those of other iguana species, and we speculate that the extreme population density impacts considerably on the spatial ecology of this population. There was extensive home range overlap within and between sexes. Intersexual overlap was greater than intrasexual overlap for both sexes, and continuing male-female pairings were observed among residents. Our results suggest that the extreme population density necessitates extensive home range overlap even though the underlying predictors of territoriality, such as male biased sexual size dimorphism and high aggression levels, remain. Our findings should be factored in to conservation management efforts for this species, particularly in captive breeding and translocation programs. PMID:24019902

Spatial ecology of the critically endangered Fijian crested iguana, Brachylophus vitiensis, in an extremely dense population: implications for conservation.

PubMed

Morrison, Suzanne F; Biciloa, Pita; Harlow, Peter S; Keogh, J Scott

2013-01-01

The Critically Endangered Fijian crested iguana, Brachylophus vitiensis, occurs at extreme density at only one location, with estimates of >10,000 iguanas living on the 70 hectare island of Yadua Taba in Fiji. We conducted a mark and recapture study over two wet seasons, investigating the spatial ecology and intraspecific interactions of the strictly arboreal Fijian crested iguana. This species exhibits moderate male-biased sexual size dimorphism, which has been linked in other lizard species to territoriality, aggression and larger male home ranges. We found that male Fijian crested iguanas exhibit high injury levels, indicative of frequent aggressive interactions. We did not find support for larger home range size in adult males relative to adult females, however male and female residents were larger than roaming individuals. Males with established home ranges also had larger femoral pores relative to body size than roaming males. Home range areas were small in comparison to those of other iguana species, and we speculate that the extreme population density impacts considerably on the spatial ecology of this population. There was extensive home range overlap within and between sexes. Intersexual overlap was greater than intrasexual overlap for both sexes, and continuing male-female pairings were observed among residents. Our results suggest that the extreme population density necessitates extensive home range overlap even though the underlying predictors of territoriality, such as male biased sexual size dimorphism and high aggression levels, remain. Our findings should be factored in to conservation management efforts for this species, particularly in captive breeding and translocation programs.

Factors Influencing Household Uptake of Improved Solid Fuel Stoves in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Qualitative Systematic Review

PubMed Central

Debbi, Stanistreet; Elisa, Puzzolo; Nigel, Bruce; Dan, Pope; Eva, Rehfuess

2014-01-01

Household burning of solid fuels in traditional stoves is detrimental to health, the environment and development. A range of improved solid fuel stoves (IS) are available but little is known about successful approaches to dissemination. This qualitative systematic review aimed to identify factors that influence household uptake of IS in low- and middle-income countries. Extensive searches were carried out and studies were screened and extracted using established systematic review methods. Fourteen qualitative studies from Asia, Africa and Latin-America met the inclusion criteria. Thematic synthesis was used to synthesise data and findings are presented under seven framework domains. Findings relate to user and stakeholder perceptions and highlight the importance of cost, good stove design, fuel and time savings, health benefits, being able to cook traditional dishes and cleanliness in relation to uptake. Creating demand, appropriate approaches to business, and community involvement, are also discussed. Achieving and sustaining uptake is complex and requires consideration of a broad range of factors, which operate at household, community, regional and national levels. Initiatives aimed at IS scale up should include quantitative evaluations of effectiveness, supplemented with qualitative studies to assess factors affecting uptake, with an equity focus. PMID:25123070

Modeling and analysis of biomagnetic blood Carreau fluid flow through a stenosis artery with magnetic heat transfer: A transient study

PubMed Central

Abdollahzadeh Jamalabadi, Mohammad Yaghoub; Daqiqshirazi, Mohammadreza; Nasiri, Hossein; Nguyen, Truong Khang

2018-01-01

We present a numerical investigation of tapered arteries that addresses the transient simulation of non-Newtonian bio-magnetic fluid dynamics (BFD) of blood through a stenosis artery in the presence of a transverse magnetic field. The current model is consistent with ferro-hydrodynamic (FHD) and magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) principles. In the present work, blood in small arteries is analyzed using the Carreau-Yasuda model. The arterial wall is assumed to be fixed with cosine geometry for the stenosis. A parametric study was conducted to reveal the effects of the stenosis intensity and the Hartman number on a wide range of flow parameters, such as the flow velocity, temperature, and wall shear stress. Current findings are in a good agreement with recent findings in previous research studies. The results show that wall temperature control can keep the blood in its ideal blood temperature range (below 40°C) and that a severe pressure drop occurs for blockages of more than 60 percent. Additionally, with an increase in the Ha number, a velocity drop in the blood vessel is experienced. PMID:29489852

Bars in Field and Cluster Galaxies at Intermediate Redshifts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barazza, F. D.; Jablonka, P.; Ediscs Collaboration

2009-12-01

We present the first study of large-scale bars in clusters at intermediate redshifts (z=0.4-0.8). We compare the properties of the bars and their host galaxies in the clusters with those of a field sample in the same redshift range. We use a sample of 945 moderately inclined disk galaxies drawn from the EDisCS project. The morphological classification of the galaxies and the detection of bars are based on deep HST/ACS F814W images. The total optical bar fraction in the redshift range z=0.4-0.8, averaged over the entire sample, is 25%. This is lower than found locally, but in good agreement with studies of bars in field environments at intermediate redshifts. For the cluster and field subsamples, we measure bar fractions of 24% and 29%, respectively. In agreement with local studies, we find that disk-dominated galaxies have a higher bar fraction than bulge-dominated galaxies. We also find, based on a small subsample, that bars in clusters are on average longer than in the field and preferentially found close to the cluster center, where the bar fraction is somewhat higher than at larger distances.

Factors influencing household uptake of improved solid fuel stoves in low- and middle-income countries: a qualitative systematic review.

PubMed

Debbi, Stanistreet; Elisa, Puzzolo; Nigel, Bruce; Dan, Pope; Eva, Rehfuess

2014-08-13

Household burning of solid fuels in traditional stoves is detrimental to health, the environment and development. A range of improved solid fuel stoves (IS) are available but little is known about successful approaches to dissemination. This qualitative systematic review aimed to identify factors that influence household uptake of IS in low- and middle-income countries. Extensive searches were carried out and studies were screened and extracted using established systematic review methods. Fourteen qualitative studies from Asia, Africa and Latin-America met the inclusion criteria. Thematic synthesis was used to synthesise data and findings are presented under seven framework domains. Findings relate to user and stakeholder perceptions and highlight the importance of cost, good stove design, fuel and time savings, health benefits, being able to cook traditional dishes and cleanliness in relation to uptake. Creating demand, appropriate approaches to business, and community involvement, are also discussed. Achieving and sustaining uptake is complex and requires consideration of a broad range of factors, which operate at household, community, regional and national levels. Initiatives aimed at IS scale up should include quantitative evaluations of effectiveness, supplemented with qualitative studies to assess factors affecting uptake, with an equity focus.

Fractality Evidence and Long-Range Dependence on Capital Markets: a Hurst Exponent Evaluation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oprean, Camelia; Tănăsescu, Cristina

2014-07-01

Since the existence of market memory could implicate the rejection of the efficient market hypothesis, the aim of this paper is to find any evidence that selected emergent capital markets (eight European and BRIC markets, namely Hungary, Romania, Estonia, Czech Republic, Brazil, Russia, India and China) evince long-range dependence or the random walk hypothesis. In this paper, the Hurst exponent as calculated by R/S fractal analysis and Detrended Fluctuation Analysis is our measure of long-range dependence in the series. The results reinforce our previous findings and suggest that if stock returns present long-range dependence, the random walk hypothesis is not valid anymore and neither is the market efficiency hypothesis.

A Pilot Study of the Normative Range of Overnight Urinary Free Cortisol Corrected for Creatinine in Children.

PubMed

Wolthers, Ole D; Mersmann, Sabine; Dissanayake, Sanjeeva

2018-04-01

For more than a decade, urinary free cortisol corrected for creatinine (OUFCC) has been used to assess the systemic bioactivity of inhaled corticosteroids in children with asthma. Paediatric normative ranges, however, have not been established. The aim of the present study was to define a preliminary range for OUFCC in Tanner stage 1 children. A post hoc analysis was performed of 26 Tanner stage one children (aged 5-11 years) with mild asthma only requiring prn (pro re nata) treatment with short-acting β 2 -agonists, who participated in a 3-way cross-over knemometry study. The study comprised a run-in, two washout periods and three treatment periods (2 weeks each). Urine was collected at the end of each period. A normative range was derived using the 95% prediction interval for the geometric mean OUFCC, calculated from run-in and washout periods. Twenty-six children contributed 41 OUFCC values. The geometric mean OUFCC was 9.0 nmol/mmol (95% PI: 3.6, 22.7 nmol/mmol). The OUFCC preliminary normative range was 3.6 to 22.7 nmol/mmol in Tanner stage one children. A larger study in healthy children is warranted to confirm these findings and to assess potential differences in OUFCC across developmental stages and age groups, and by gender and race. 2013-004719-32, CLINICALTRIALS. NCT02063139.

The Rate of Beneficial Mutations Surfing on the Wave of a Range Expansion

PubMed Central

Lehe, Rémi; Hallatschek, Oskar; Peliti, Luca

2012-01-01

Many theoretical and experimental studies suggest that range expansions can have severe consequences for the gene pool of the expanding population. Due to strongly enhanced genetic drift at the advancing frontier, neutral and weakly deleterious mutations can reach large frequencies in the newly colonized regions, as if they were surfing the front of the range expansion. These findings raise the question of how frequently beneficial mutations successfully surf at shifting range margins, thereby promoting adaptation towards a range-expansion phenotype. Here, we use individual-based simulations to study the surfing statistics of recurrent beneficial mutations on wave-like range expansions in linear habitats. We show that the rate of surfing depends on two strongly antagonistic factors, the probability of surfing given the spatial location of a novel mutation and the rate of occurrence of mutations at that location. The surfing probability strongly increases towards the tip of the wave. Novel mutations are unlikely to surf unless they enjoy a spatial head start compared to the bulk of the population. The needed head start is shown to be proportional to the inverse fitness of the mutant type, and only weakly dependent on the carrying capacity. The precise location dependence of surfing probabilities is derived from the non-extinction probability of a branching process within a moving field of growth rates. The second factor is the mutation occurrence which strongly decreases towards the tip of the wave. Thus, most successful mutations arise at an intermediate position in the front of the wave. We present an analytic theory for the tradeoff between these factors that allows to predict how frequently substitutions by beneficial mutations occur at invasion fronts. We find that small amounts of genetic drift increase the fixation rate of beneficial mutations at the advancing front, and thus could be important for adaptation during species invasions. PMID:22479175

Making the Case for Specialized Caseloads among Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors Working with Ex-Offenders: A Pilot Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bates-Maves, Julie K.; O'Sullivan, Deirdre

2017-01-01

Purpose: This article outlines findings from a sample of 137 vocational rehabilitation counselors regarding their stigmatizing attitudes, burnout levels, work experience, caseload composition, and working alliance with clients who have a range of disabilities and a criminal history. Method: Electronic surveys were sent to vocational rehabilitation…

Dose Range-Finding Developmental Toxicity (Segment II) Study of WR242511 in Rabbits

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-07-26

NA = Not applicable R = Right NK = Neck PT = Protruded tongue CP = Cleft palate N = No visible L = Left HL = Hind limb SB = Spina bifida CL = Cleft ... lip abnormalities M = Male FL = Fore limb SUBQ = Subcutaneous HT = Hematoma A = Alive F = Female DI = Digit P = Petechial EX = Exophthalmos D

Towards a Relationally-Orientated Approach to Therapy: Empirical Support and Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cooper, Mick

2004-01-01

Drawing on contemporary evidence in the counselling and psychotherapy research field, this paper argues that there is growing support for a relationship-orientated approach to therapeutic practice. The paper reviews findings from a range of meta-analytical and individual studies which provide strong evidence for the centrality of relational…

Coordinated California Corrections: Institutions. Correctional System Study. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

California State Human Relations Agency, Sacramento. Board of Corrections.

This series of comprehensive task force reports on jails, prisons, and juvenile institutions presents overviews of corrective institutions in California, models, survey findings about the current systems, and a wide range of general and specific recommendations. Various tables and charts illustrate the data, which were collected by a review of the…

Robots and Rodents: Children's Inferences about Living and Nonliving Kinds

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jipson, Jennifer L.; Gelman, Susan A.

2007-01-01

This study tests the firm distinction children are said to make between living and nonliving kinds. Three, 4-, and 5-year-old children and adults reasoned about whether items that varied on 3 dimensions (alive, face, behavior) had a range of properties (biological, psychological, perceptual, artifact, novel, proper names). Findings demonstrate…

Apples and Oranges and Bananas

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bracey, Gerald W.

2008-01-01

Private high schools have higher test scores than public schools. Does this mean they are better? Most studies of public versus private schools have explored the full range of income and achievement, one recently finding little if any difference that could not be accounted for by demographic differences. In this article, the author discusses the…

Why Youth Mentoring Relationships End. Research in Action. Issue 5

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Spencer, Renee

2007-01-01

Recognizing that some early endings are unavoidable, the author maintains that many mentor-mentee relationships quickly dissolve due to factors that may be avoidable, such as disappointment and dissatisfaction with the relationship. Findings from a range of research studies are offered. Higher levels of program support may be required for matches…

Interactive Drawing Therapy and Chinese Migrants with Gambling Problems

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zhang, Wenli; Everts, Hans

2012-01-01

Ethnic Chinese migrants in a country like New Zealand face a range of well-documented challenges. A proportion of such migrants find that recreational gambling turns into a pernicious gambling problem. This issue is addressed through illustrated case studies of Interactive Drawing Therapy, a drawing-based modality of therapy that facilitates…

Ramadan, Fasting and Educational Outcomes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Oosterbeek, Hessel; van der Klaauw, Bas

2013-01-01

Using a difference-in-differences framework, we estimate the impact of Ramadan on educational outcomes of Muslim students living in a non-Muslim country. For identification we exploit that the number of Ramadan weeks during the course that we study, varies from year to year, ranging from zero to four. Our main finding is that Ramadan observance…

50 CFR 218.8 - Renewal of Letters of Authorization and adaptive management.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... TAKING AND IMPORTING OF MARINE MAMMALS Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to U.S. Navy Training in the... Complex or other locations). (2) Findings of the Monitoring Workshop that the Navy will convene in 2011... VACAPE Range Complex Study Area or other locations, and involving coincident explosives training or not...

50 CFR 218.108 - Renewal of Letters of Authorization and adaptive management.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... Mariana Islands Training Range Complex (MIRC) § 218.108 Renewal of Letters of Authorization and adaptive... previous year (either from the MIRC Study Area or other locations). (2) Findings of the Monitoring Workshop.../HFAS or explosives training or not involving coincident use). (5) Results from the Long Term...

50 CFR 218.108 - Renewal of Letters of Authorization and adaptive management.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... Mariana Islands Training Range Complex (MIRC) § 218.108 Renewal of Letters of Authorization and adaptive... previous year (either from the MIRC Study Area or other locations). (2) Findings of the Monitoring Workshop.../HFAS or explosives training or not involving coincident use). (5) Results from the Long Term...

50 CFR 218.108 - Renewal of Letters of Authorization and adaptive management.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... Mariana Islands Training Range Complex (MIRC) § 218.108 Renewal of Letters of Authorization and adaptive... previous year (either from the MIRC Study Area or other locations). (2) Findings of the Monitoring Workshop.../HFAS or explosives training or not involving coincident use). (5) Results from the Long Term...

50 CFR 218.108 - Renewal of Letters of Authorization and adaptive management.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... Mariana Islands Training Range Complex (MIRC) § 218.108 Renewal of Letters of Authorization and adaptive... previous year (either from the MIRC Study Area or other locations). (2) Findings of the Monitoring Workshop.../HFAS or explosives training or not involving coincident use). (5) Results from the Long Term...

50 CFR 218.8 - Renewal of Letters of Authorization and adaptive management.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... TAKING AND IMPORTING OF MARINE MAMMALS Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to U.S. Navy Training in the... Complex or other locations). (2) Findings of the Monitoring Workshop that the Navy will convene in 2011... VACAPE Range Complex Study Area or other locations, and involving coincident explosives training or not...

50 CFR 218.108 - Renewal of Letters of Authorization and adaptive management.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... Mariana Islands Training Range Complex (MIRC) § 218.108 Renewal of Letters of Authorization and adaptive... previous year (either from the MIRC Study Area or other locations). (2) Findings of the Monitoring Workshop.../HFAS or explosives training or not involving coincident use). (5) Results from the Long Term...

50 CFR 218.8 - Renewal of Letters of Authorization and adaptive management.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... TAKING AND IMPORTING OF MARINE MAMMALS Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to U.S. Navy Training in the... Complex or other locations). (2) Findings of the Monitoring Workshop that the Navy will convene in 2011... VACAPE Range Complex Study Area or other locations, and involving coincident explosives training or not...

50 CFR 218.8 - Renewal of Letters of Authorization and adaptive management.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... TAKING AND IMPORTING OF MARINE MAMMALS Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to U.S. Navy Training in the... Complex or other locations). (2) Findings of the Monitoring Workshop that the Navy will convene in 2011... VACAPE Range Complex Study Area or other locations, and involving coincident explosives training or not...

Math Talk and Student Strategy Trajectories: The Case of Two First Grade Classrooms

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Murata, Aki; Siker, Jody; Kang, Bona; Baldinger, Evra M.; Kim, Hee-Jeong; Scott, Mallika; Lanouette, Kathryn

2017-01-01

This study investigated different math-talk facilitations, and conceptualized the teachers' talk moves for productive student mathematics discussions. Our findings suggest that students' strategy development is supported by talk moves coordinating a wide range of student strategies, representations and discussions that are at a process-level and…

Experiences of Stress in a Trauma Treatment Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shannon, Patricia J.; Simmelink-McCleary, Jennifer; Im, Hyojin; Becher, Emily; Crook-Lyon, Rachel E.

2014-01-01

This study explores the reactions of social work students in a course on trauma treatment and how those reactions changed over time. Consensual qualitative research methods were used to analyze 17 participant journals submitted at 4 times during the course. Findings indicate that students experienced a range of responses to traumatic material,…

Action Learning in Postgraduate Research Training

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marchand, Trevor

2017-01-01

This account of practice explores the benefits and challenges of using Action Learning (AL) with junior researchers. Findings are grounded in an AL set of six doctoral students, organised and convened by the author. The case study reveals the range of emotional and structural hurdles that Ph.D. candidates typically face in completing their…

Genetics at School Level: Addressing the Difficulties

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chu, Yu-Chien; Reid, Norman

2012-01-01

Background: A wide range of studies has offered suggestions why genetics is difficult and some of their key findings are summarised. Underpinning all of this is the way the brain works when handling information. The limitations of working memory capacity offer an interpretation of these difficulties. Purpose: The aim is to confirm that working…

Employee Benefits for Illinois Public Higher Education Faculty and Staff.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Illinois State Board of Higher Education, Springfield.

This report focuses on the group benefits available to Illinois public higher education employees. The study provides a perspective on the range of benefits and the differences in the administration of institutional benefits. Findings reveal the availability of retirement annuities that increase with each 10 years of service; optional retirement…

Are Digital Natives a Myth or Reality? University Students' Use of Digital Technologies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Margaryan, Anoush; Littlejohn, Allison; Vojt, Gabrielle

2011-01-01

This study investigated the extent and nature of university students' use of digital technologies for learning and socialising. The findings show that students use a limited range of mainly established technologies. Use of collaborative knowledge creation tools, virtual worlds, and social networking sites was low. "Digital natives" and students of…

Corpus Callosum Area in Children and Adults with Autism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Prigge, Molly B. D.; Lange, Nicholas; Bigler, Erin D.; Merkley, Tricia L.; Neeley, E. Shannon; Abildskov, Tracy J.; Froehlich, Alyson L.; Nielsen, Jared A.; Cooperrider, Jason R.; Cariello, Annahir N.; Ravichandran, Caitlin; Alexander, Andrew L.; Lainhart, Janet E.

2013-01-01

Despite repeated findings of abnormal corpus callosum structure in autism, the developmental trajectories of corpus callosum growth in the disorder have not yet been reported. In this study, we examined corpus callosum size from a developmental perspective across a 30-year age range in a large cross-sectional sample of individuals with autism…

Language and Motor Speech Skills in Children with Cerebral Palsy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pirila, Silja; van der Meere, Jaap; Pentikainen, Taina; Ruusu-Niemi, Pirjo; Korpela, Raija; Kilpinen, Jenni; Nieminen, Pirkko

2007-01-01

The aim of the study was to investigate associations between the severity of motor limitations, cognitive difficulties, language and motor speech problems in children with cerebral palsy. Also, the predictive power of neonatal cranial ultrasound findings on later outcome was investigated. For this purpose, 36 children (age range 1 year 10 months…

A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Multi-Dose Bystander Intervention Program Using Peer Education Theater

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McMahon, Sarah; Winter, Samantha C.; Palmer, Jane E.; Postmus, Judy L.; Peterson, N. Andrew; Zucker, Sharon; Koenick, RuthAnne

2015-01-01

This article reports findings from a longitudinal, experimental evaluation of a peer education theater program, Students Challenging Realities and Educating Against Myths (SCREAM) Theater. This study examines the impact of SCREAM Theater on a range of bystander-related outcomes (i.e. bystander intentions, bystander efficacy, perception of friend…

Auditory Learning Using a Portable Real-Time Vocoder: Preliminary Findings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Casserly, Elizabeth D.; Pisoni, David B.

2015-01-01

Purpose: Although traditional study of auditory training has been in controlled laboratory settings, interest has been increasing in more interactive options. The authors examine whether such interactive training can result in short-term perceptual learning, and the range of perceptual skills it impacts. Method: Experiments 1 (N = 37) and 2 (N =…

Unanticipated Effects of Children with Learning Disabilities on Their Families

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dyson, Lily

2010-01-01

This study examined the unanticipated effects that children with learning disabilities have on the life of their families. Eleven parents of students aged 8 to 16 years old participated in two separate focus group interviews. Findings showed that children with learning disabilities had a range of effects on their families. These included family…

What's in a Disruptive Disorder? Temperamental Antecedents of Oppositional Defiant Disorder: Findings from the Avon Longitudinal Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stringaris, Argyris; Maughan, Barbara; Goodman, Robert

2010-01-01

Objective: Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is classified as a disruptive disorder, but shows a wide range of associations with other psychopathology, including internalizing problems. The reasons for these associations are unclear. Here we test the hypothesis that two distinct early temperamental precursors--emotionality and activity--underlie…

Social-Emotional Problems in Early Childhood and the Development of Depressive Symptoms in School-Age Children

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Meagher, Susan M.; Arnold, David H.; Doctoroff, Greta L.; Dobbs, Jennifer; Fisher, Paige H.

2009-01-01

Research Findings: The present longitudinal study investigated whether a range of social-emotional difficulties in early childhood predict the development of depressive symptoms in middle childhood. Participants were 56 children and their teachers. Teachers' reports of internalizing and externalizing behaviors were obtained during preschool, and…

Piezoelectric substrate effect on electron-acoustic phonon scattering in bilayer graphene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ansari, Mohd Meenhaz; Ashraf, SSZ

2018-05-01

We have studied the effect of piezoelectric scattering as a function of electron temperature and distance between the sample and the substrate on electron-acoustic phonon scattering rate in Bilayer Graphene sitting on a piezoelectric substrate. We obtain approximate analytical result by neglecting the chiral nature of carriers and then proceed to obtain unapproximated numerical results for the scattering rate incorporating chirality of charge carriers. We find that on the incorporation of full numerical computation the magnitude as well as the power exponent both is affected with the power exponent changed from T3 to T3.31 in the low temperature range and to T6.98 dependence in the temperature range (>5K). We also find that the distance between the sample and substrate begins to strongly affect the scattering rate at temperatures above 10K. These calculation not only suggest the influencing effect of piezoelectric substrate on the transport properties of Dirac Fermions at very low temperatures but also open a channel to study low dimension structures by probing piezoelectric acoustical phonons.

Anhedonia in substance use disorders: a systematic review of its nature, course and clinical correlates.

PubMed

Garfield, Joshua B B; Lubman, Dan I; Yücel, Murat

2014-01-01

There is growing evidence that anhedonia is a commonly experienced symptom among substance-using populations. This systematic review synthesises findings across a range of substances to address questions regarding the time course of anhedonia, how anhedonia relates to other symptoms of substance dependence and whether it is similarly prevalent across all addictive drugs. A literature search was conducted on PubMed, PsycINFO and MEDLINE, yielding 32 studies that used self-report measures of anhedonia among participants with a history of a substance abuse, dependence or long-term daily use of addictive substances. Findings from these studies indicate that anhedonia (1) is elevated in samples dependent on a range of substances; (2) typically appears as a consequence of substance abuse or dependence, and diminishes with abstinence; and (3) predicts increased drug cravings and the likelihood of relapse in those attempting abstinence. The common experience of anhedonia in substance-dependent populations, and its relationship to relapse, emphasises the importance of developing therapeutic interventions that specifically target anhedonia in the treatment of all substance use disorders.

Temperature dependent droplet impact dynamics on flat and textured surfaces

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

Azar Alizadeh; Vaibhav Bahadur; Sheng Zhong

Droplet impact dynamics determines the performance of surfaces used in many applications such as anti-icing, condensation, boiling and heat transfer. We study impact dynamics of water droplets on surfaces with chemistry/texture ranging from hydrophilic to superhydrophobic and across a temperature range spanning below freezing to near boiling conditions. Droplet retraction shows very strong temperature dependence especially for hydrophilic surfaces; it is seen that lower substrate temperatures lead to lesser retraction. Physics-based analyses show that the increased viscosity associated with lower temperatures can explain the decreased retraction. The present findings serve to guide further studies of dynamic fluid-structure interaction at variousmore » temperatures.« less

Conversion from bipolar disorder not otherwise specified (BP-NOS) to bipolar I or II in youth with family history as a predictor of conversion.

PubMed

Martinez, Molly S; Fristad, Mary A

2013-06-01

Bipolar disorder-not otherwise specified (BD-NOS) is an imprecise, heterogeneous diagnosis that is unstable in youth. This study reports rates of conversion from BD-NOS to BD-I or II in children aged 8-12, and investigates the impact of family history of bipolar disorder and depression on conversion. As part of the Multi-Family Psychoeducational Psychotherapy (MF-PEP) study, 27 children (6-12 years of age) diagnosed with BD-NOS at baseline were reassessed every 6 months over an 18-month period. Family history of bipolar disorder and depression was assessed at baseline. One-third of the sample converted from BD-NOS to BD-I or II over 18-months. Having a first-degree relative with symptoms of bipolar disorder and having a loaded pedigree for diagnosis of depression each were associated with conversion from BD-NOS to BD-I or II (odds ratio range: 1.09-3.14; relative risk range: 1.06-2.34). This study had very low power (range: 10-45) given the small sample size, precluding statistical significance of non-parametric Fisher's Exact test findings. This study replicates the previous finding of a high rate of conversion from BD-NOS to BD-I or II among youth, and suggests conversion is related to symptoms of bipolar disorder or depression diagnoses in the family history. Additional research is warranted in a larger sample with a longer follow-up period. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Physical, mental and social consequences in civilians who have experienced war-related sexual violence: a systematic review (1981-2014).

PubMed

Ba, I; Bhopal, R S

2017-01-01

To identify the health outcomes of sexual violence on civilians in conflict zones between 1981 and 2014. Systematic review. For the purpose of this study, we defined sexual violence as sexual torture including, individual rape, gang rape, and sexual slavery. All types of conflicts were included (intrastate, interstate, and internationalized intrastate). Quantitative and mixed-method studies, reporting any physical, mental, and social consequences, were retrieved from Medline, Embase, Global Health, Global Health Library, WHOLIS, Popline, and Web of Sciences (n = 3075) and from checking reference lists and personal communications (n = 359). Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and MetaXL. Given inherent variation, the means derived from combining studies were misleading; thus, we focused on the range of values. The 20 studies were from six countries, five in Africa (18 studies), and especially in Democratic Republic of Congo (12 studies). The number of subjects varied from 63 to 20,517, with 17 studies including more than 100 subjects. Eight studies included males. Gang rape, rape, and abduction were the most commonly reported types of sexual violence. Sixteen studies provided data on physical outcomes of which the most common were pregnancy (range 3.4-46.3%), traumatic genital injuries/tears (range 2.1-28.7%), rectal and vaginal fistulae (range 9.0-40.7%), sexual problems/dysfunction (range 20.1-56.7%), and sexually transmitted diseases (range 4.6-83.6%). Mental health outcomes were reported in 14 studies, the most frequent being post-traumatic stress disorder (range 3.1-75.9%), anxiety (range 6.9-75%), and depression (range 8.8-76.5%). Eleven studies provided social outcomes, the most common being rejection by family and/or community (range of 3.5-28.5%) and spousal abandonment (range 6.1-64.7%). Wartime sexual violence is highly traumatic, causing multiple, long-term negative outcomes. The number and quality of studies published does not match the significance of the problem. The findings highlight the need for care of the survivors and their relatives and raise concerns about how they and their children will be affected in the long term. Copyright © 2016 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Incidental findings in youths volunteering for brain MRI research.

PubMed

Gur, R E; Kaltman, D; Melhem, E R; Ruparel, K; Prabhakaran, K; Riley, M; Yodh, E; Hakonarson, H; Satterthwaite, T; Gur, R C

2013-10-01

MRIs are obtained in research in healthy and clinical populations, and incidental findings have been reported. Most studies have examined adults with variability in parameters of image acquisition and clinical measures available. We conducted a prospective study of youths and documented the frequency and concomitants of incidental findings. Youths (n = 1400) with an age range from 8-23 years were imaged on the same 3T scanner, with a standard acquisition protocol providing 1.0 mm(3) isotropic resolution of anatomic scans. All scans were reviewed by an experienced board-certified neuroradiologist and were categorized into 3 groups: 1) normal: no incidental findings; 2) coincidental: incidental finding(s) were noted, further reviewed with an experienced pediatric neuroradiologist, but were of no clinical significance; 3) incidental findings that on further review were considered to have potential clinical significance and participants were referred for appropriate clinical follow-up. Overall, 148 incidental findings (10.6% of sample) were noted, and of these, 12 required clinical follow-up. Incidental findings were not related to age. However, whites had a higher incidence of pineal cysts, and males had a higher incidence of cavum septum pellucidum, which was associated with psychosis-related symptoms. Incidental findings, moderated by race and sex, occur in approximately one-tenth of participants volunteering for pediatric research, with few requiring follow-up. The incidence supports a 2-tiered approach of neuroradiologic reading and clinical input to determine the potential significance of incidental findings detected on research MR imaging scans.

Scaling behavior of online human activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Zhi-Dan; Cai, Shi-Min; Huang, Junming; Fu, Yan; Zhou, Tao

2012-11-01

The rapid development of the Internet technology enables humans to explore the web and record the traces of online activities. From the analysis of these large-scale data sets (i.e., traces), we can get insights about the dynamic behavior of human activity. In this letter, the scaling behavior and complexity of human activity in the e-commerce, such as music, books, and movies rating, are comprehensively investigated by using the detrended fluctuation analysis technique and the multiscale entropy method. Firstly, the interevent time series of rating behaviors of these three types of media show similar scaling properties with exponents ranging from 0.53 to 0.58, which implies that the collective behaviors of rating media follow a process embodying self-similarity and long-range correlation. Meanwhile, by dividing the users into three groups based on their activities (i.e., rating per unit time), we find that the scaling exponents of the interevent time series in the three groups are different. Hence, these results suggest that a stronger long-range correlations exist in these collective behaviors. Furthermore, their information complexities vary in the three groups. To explain the differences of the collective behaviors restricted to the three groups, we study the dynamic behavior of human activity at the individual level, and find that the dynamic behaviors of a few users have extremely small scaling exponents associated with long-range anticorrelations. By comparing the interevent time distributions of four representative users, we can find that the bimodal distributions may bring forth the extraordinary scaling behaviors. These results of the analysis of the online human activity in the e-commerce may not only provide insight into its dynamic behaviors but may also be applied to acquire potential economic interest.

Loneliness among very old Mexican Americans: Findings from the Hispanic established populations epidemiologic studies of the elderly

PubMed Central

Gerst-Emerson, Kerstin; Shovali, Tamar E.; Markides, Kyriakos S.

2015-01-01

Increasing numbers of researchers are finding that loneliness is a significant risk factor for morbidity and mortality, and several of variables have been found to be closely related to the experience of loneliness among elders. However, much of the research has focused on the general older population, with no research to date focusing on minority populations. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and the correlates of loneliness among a community-dwelling older Mexican American population. This study used a three-item loneliness scale to determine prevalence of loneliness. Pearson’s correlation and linear regression analyses were used to determine the cross-sectional association between sociodemographic, interpersonal relationship and health variables with the scale. Data used came from the most recent wave (2011) of the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (H-EPESE). A total of 873 Mexican Americans completed the loneliness scale. The age range was from 80 to 102, with a majority (65%) female. The mean score on the scale was 4.05 (range 3–9), indicating relatively low levels of loneliness. Regression results indicate that depressive symptoms, cognitive status, and living alone were significantly associated with higher loneliness scores. Being married and having a confidante were significantly associated with lower loneliness. Age, number of close relatives and frequency of contact were not associated with loneliness. Findings suggest that among community-dwelling Mexican American older adults, loneliness has multiple determinants. Loneliness is a significant public health topic and clinicians should be aware of the various factors that can affect loneliness. PMID:24582944

Competition between crystallization and glassification for particles with short-ranged attraction. Possible applications to protein crystallization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zaccarelli, E.; Sciortino, F.; Tartaglia, P.; Foffi, G.; McCullagh, G. D.; Lawlor, A.; Dawson, K. A.

2002-11-01

We discuss the phase behaviour of spherical hard-core particles, with an attractive potential, as described by a hard-core Yukawa model. The ratio of the range of the attraction to the diameter of the particles is an important control parameter of the problem. Upon decreasing the range of the attraction, the phase diagram changes quite significantly, with the liquid-gas transition becoming metastable, and the crystal being in equilibrium with the fluid, with no intervening liquid. We also study the glass transition lines and, crucially, find that the situation, being very simple for pure repulsive potentials, becomes much richer in competition between glass and crystal phases for short-range attractions. Also a transition between attractive and repulsive glass appears somewhat in analogy with the isostructural equilibrium transition between two crystals.

Inter- and intra-rater reliability and agreement in determining subcutaneous tumour margins in dogs.

PubMed

Ranganathan, B; Milovancev, M; Leeper, H; Townsend, K L; Bracha, S; Curran, K

2018-03-01

The objective of this prospective study was to evaluate agreement and reliability of calliper-based measurements of locally invasive subcutaneous malignant tumours in dogs. Four raters measured the longest diameter of 12 subcutaneous tumours (7 soft tissue sarcomas and 5 mast cell tumours) from 11 client-owned dogs during 3 randomized, blinded measurement trials, both pre- and post-sedation. Inter- and intra-rater reliability was evaluated using intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and agreement was evaluated using Bland-Altman plots. Inter- and intra-rater reliability was good (ICC range of 0.8694-0.89520) and excellent (ICC range of 0.9720-0.9966), respectively. For agreement calculations, an a priori clinically relevant limit of agreement of 10 mm was set. Inter- and intra-rater agreement was unacceptable with inter-rater limits of agreement ranging from 15.9 to 55.6 mm and intra-rater limit of agreement ranging from 11.9 to 28.1 mm. Review of the measurement trial photographs revealed that calliper orientation changes were frequent, occurring in 9/12 (75%) and 8/12 (67%) pre- and post-sedation cases. No significant correlation was found between inter-rater measurement standard deviations and calliper orientation changes or dog body condition score. These findings suggest veterinarians may have poor agreement in determining the gross edge of tumours, which is expected to introduce bias and inconsistency in tumour staging, assessing response to therapy, and surgical margin planning. Due to the potential consequences for veterinary cancer patients, future studies are needed to validate the present findings. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

How Well Is CHIP Addressing Health Care Access and Affordability for Children?

PubMed

Clemans-Cope, Lisa; Kenney, Genevieve; Waidmann, Timothy; Huntress, Michael; Anderson, Nathaniel

2015-01-01

We examine how access to care and care experiences under the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) compared to private coverage and being uninsured in 10 states. We report on findings from a 2012 survey of CHIP enrollees in 10 states. We examined a range of health care access and use measures among CHIP enrollees. Comparisons of the experiences of established CHIP enrollees to the experiences of uninsured and privately insured children were used to estimate differences in children's health care. Children with CHIP coverage had substantially better access to care across a range of outcomes, other things being equal, particularly compared to those with no coverage. Compared to being uninsured, CHIP enrollees were more likely to have specialty and mental health visits and to receive prescription drugs; and their parents were much more likely to feel confident in meeting the child's health care needs and were less likely to have trouble finding providers. CHIP enrollees were less likely to have unmet needs, but 1 in 4 had at least 1 unmet need. Compared to being privately insured, CHIP enrollees had generally similar health care use and unmet needs. Additionally, CHIP enrollees had lower financial burden related to their health care needs. The findings were generally robust with respect to alternative specifications and subgroup analyses, and they corroborated findings of previous studies. Enrolling more of the uninsured children who are eligible for CHIP improved their access to a range of care, including specialty and mental health services, and reduced the financial burden of meeting their health care needs; however, we found room for improvement in CHIP enrollees' access to care. Copyright © 2015 Academic Pediatric Association. All rights reserved.

Electron Capture Supernovae from Close Binary Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Poelarends, Arend J. T.; Wurtz, Scott; Tarka, James; Cole Adams, L.; Hills, Spencer T.

2017-12-01

We present the first detailed study of the Electron Capture Supernova Channel (ECSN Channel) for a primary star in a close binary star system. Progenitors of ECSN occupy the lower end of the mass spectrum of supernova progenitors and are thought to form the transition between white dwarf progenitors and core-collapse progenitors. The mass range for ECSN from close binary systems is thought to be wider than the range for single stars, because of the effects of mass transfer on the helium core. Using the MESA stellar evolution code, we explored the parameter space of initial primary masses between 8 and 17 {M}⊙ , using a large grid of models. We find that the initial primary mass and the mass transfer evolution are important factors in the final fate of stars in this mass range. Mass transfer due to Roche lobe overflow during and after carbon burning causes the core to cool down so that it avoids neon ignition, even in helium-free cores with masses up to 1.52 {M}⊙ , which in single stars would ignite neon. If the core is able to contract to high enough densities for electron captures to commence, we find that, for the adopted Ledoux convection criterion, the initial mass range for the primary to evolve into an ECSN is between 13.5 and 17.6 {M}⊙ . The mass ratio, initial period, and mass-loss efficiency only marginally affect the predicted ranges.

Using short-range and long-range functional connectivity to identify schizophrenia with a family-based case-control design.

PubMed

Guo, Wenbin; Liu, Feng; Chen, Jindong; Wu, Renrong; Li, Lehua; Zhang, Zhikun; Chen, Huafu; Zhao, Jingping

2017-06-30

Abnormal short-range and long-range functional connectivities (FCs) have been implicated in the neurophysiology of schizophrenia. This study was conducted to examine the potential of short-range and long-range FCs for differentiating the patients from the controls with a family-based case-control design. Twenty-eight first-episode, drug-naive patients with schizophrenia, 28 unaffected siblings of the patients (family-based controls, FBCs), and 40 healthy controls (HCs) underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans. The data were analyzed by short-range and long-range FC analyses, receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and support vector machine (SVM). Compared with the FBCs/HCs, the patients exhibit increased short-range positive FC strength (spFCS) and/or long-range positive FC strength (lpFCS) in the default-mode network (DMN) and decreased spFCS and lpFCS in the sensorimotor circuits. Furthermore, a combination of the spFCS values in the right superior parietal lobule and the lpFCS values in the left fusiform gyrus/cerebellum VI can differentiate the patients from the FBCs with high sensitivity and specificity. The findings highlight the importance of the DMN and sensorimotor circuits in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Combining with family-based case-control design may be a viable option to limit the confounding effects of environmental risk factors in neuroimaging studies of schizophrenia. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Short-term occupancy and abundance dynamics of the Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) across its core range

USGS Publications Warehouse

Adams, Michael J.; Pearl, Christopher A.; Mccreary, Brome; Galvan, Stephanie

2014-01-01

The Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) occupies only a fraction of its original range and is listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act. We surveyed 93 sites in a rotating frame design (2010–13) in the Klamath and Deschutes Basins, Oregon, which encompass most of the species’ core extant range. Oregon spotted frogs are declining in abundance and probability of site occupancy. We did not find an association between the probability that Oregon spotted frogs disappear from a site (local extinction) and any of the variables hypothesized to affect Oregon spotted frog occupancy. This 4-year study provides baseline data, but the 4-year period was too short to draw firm conclusions. Further study is essential to understand how habitat changes and management practices relate to the status and trends of this species.

Factors that influence sexual arousal in men: a focus group study.

PubMed

Janssen, Erick; McBride, Kimberly R; Yarber, William; Hill, Brandon J; Butler, Scott M

2008-04-01

The goal of this study was to improve our understanding of men's sexual response and its components as well as the factors or types of situations that men describe as facilitating or interfering with sexual arousal. Six focus groups, involving 50 mostly white, heterosexual men (M age = 35.2 years; range, 18-70), were conducted. As it was previously found in women (Graham, Sanders, Milhausen, & McBride, Archives of Sexual Behavior, 33, 527-538, 2004), men described a wide range of physical (genital as well as nongenital) and cognitive/affective cues for sexual arousal. Also, men described the relationship between sexual desire and arousal as being variable and complex, presented a wide range of factors that increased or decreased sexual arousal, and showed substantial variability in both the importance and direction of their effects. The findings may help further development of models of sexual response and inform discussions about gender differences in sexual desire and arousal.

A New Desalination Pump Helps Define the pH of Ocean Worlds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Levi, A.; Sasselov, D.

2018-04-01

We study ocean exoplanets, for which the global surface ocean is separated from the rocky interior by a high-pressure ice mantle. We describe a mechanism that can pump salts out of the ocean, resulting in oceans of very low salinity. Here we focus on the H2O–NaCl system, though we discuss the application of this pump to other salts as well. We find our ocean worlds to be acidic, with a pH in the range of 2–4. We discuss and compare between the conditions found within our studied oceans and the conditions in which polyextremophiles were discovered. This work focuses on exoplanets in the super-Earth mass range (∼2 M ⊕), with water composing at least a few percent of their mass. However, the principle of the desalination pump might extend beyond this mass range.

Mapping Indigenous land management for threatened species conservation: An Australian case-study.

PubMed

Renwick, Anna R; Robinson, Catherine J; Garnett, Stephen T; Leiper, Ian; Possingham, Hugh P; Carwardine, Josie

2017-01-01

Much biodiversity lives on lands to which Indigenous people retain strong legal and management rights. However this is rarely quantified. Here we provide the first quantitative overview of the importance of Indigenous land for a critical and vulnerable part of biodiversity, threatened species, using the continent of Australia as a case study. We find that three quarters of Australia's 272 terrestrial or freshwater vertebrate species listed as threatened under national legislation have projected ranges that overlap Indigenous lands. On average this overlap represents 45% of the range of each threatened species while Indigenous land is 52% of the country. Hotspots where multiple threatened species ranges overlap occur predominantly in coastal Northern Australia. Our analysis quantifies the vast potential of Indigenous land in Australia for contributing to national level conservation goals, and identifies the main land management arrangements available to Indigenous people which may enable them to deliver those goals should they choose to do so.

Move-by-move dynamics of the advantage in chess matches reveals population-level learning of the game.

PubMed

Ribeiro, Haroldo V; Mendes, Renio S; Lenzi, Ervin K; del Castillo-Mussot, Marcelo; Amaral, Luís A N

2013-01-01

The complexity of chess matches has attracted broad interest since its invention. This complexity and the availability of large number of recorded matches make chess an ideal model systems for the study of population-level learning of a complex system. We systematically investigate the move-by-move dynamics of the white player's advantage from over seventy thousand high level chess matches spanning over 150 years. We find that the average advantage of the white player is positive and that it has been increasing over time. Currently, the average advantage of the white player is 0.17 pawns but it is exponentially approaching a value of 0.23 pawns with a characteristic time scale of 67 years. We also study the diffusion of the move dependence of the white player's advantage and find that it is non-Gaussian, has long-ranged anti-correlations and that after an initial period with no diffusion it becomes super-diffusive. We find that the duration of the non-diffusive period, corresponding to the opening stage of a match, is increasing in length and exponentially approaching a value of 15.6 moves with a characteristic time scale of 130 years. We interpret these two trends as a resulting from learning of the features of the game. Additionally, we find that the exponent [Formula: see text] characterizing the super-diffusive regime is increasing toward a value of 1.9, close to the ballistic regime. We suggest that this trend is due to the increased broadening of the range of abilities of chess players participating in major tournaments.

A rule-based, dose-finding design for use in stroke rehabilitation research: methodological development.

PubMed

Colucci, E; Clark, A; Lang, C E; Pomeroy, V M

2017-12-01

Dose-optimisation studies as precursors to clinical trials are rare in stroke rehabilitation. To develop a rule-based, dose-finding design for stroke rehabilitation research. 3+3 rule-based, dose-finding study. Dose escalation/de-escalation was undertaken according to preset rules and a mathematical sequence (modified Fibonacci sequence). The target starting daily dose was 50 repetitions for the first cohort. Adherence was recorded by an electronic counter. At the end of the 2-week training period, the adherence record indicated dose tolerability (adherence to target dose) and the outcome measure indicated dose benefit (10% increase in motor function). The preset increment/decrease and checking rules were then applied to set the dose for the subsequent cohort. The process was repeated until preset stopping rules were met. Participants had a mean age of 68 (range 48 to 81) years, and were a mean of 70 (range 9 to 289) months post stroke with moderate upper limb paresis. A custom-built model of exercise-based training to enhance ability to open the paretic hand. Repetitions per minute of extension/flexion of paretic digits against resistance. Usability of the preset rules and whether the maximally tolerated dose was identifiable. Five cohorts of three participants were involved. Discernibly different doses were set for each subsequent cohort (i.e. 50, 100, 167, 251 and 209 repetitions/day). The maximally tolerated dose for the model training task was 209 repetitions/day. This dose-finding design is a feasible method for use in stroke rehabilitation research. Copyright © 2017 Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. All rights reserved.

[Radiographic findings in 4 cows with traumatic reticuloperitonitis caused by a nonmagnetic copper wire].

PubMed

Braun, U; Gansohr, B; Flückiger, M

2003-04-01

The goal of this study was to describe the findings in four cows with non-magnetic reticular foreign bodies composed of copper. The cows were referred to our clinic because of reduced appetite and a marked decrease in milk production. Based on the clinical findings, a tentative diagnosis of traumatic reticuloperitonitis was made in all cows. The reticulum of all cows was then examined ultrasonographically and radiographically. In all cows, radiographs of the reticulum showed wire-shaped foreign bodies, ranging from 3 to 7 cm in length, which appeared to have penetrated the reticular wall. Two cows (No. 3, 4) had a magnet in the reticulum close to the foreign body but there was no direct contact between the two. A magnet was administered to cows No. 1 and 2, and radiography of the reticulum was performed for a second time the following day. The magnets were observed in the reticulum; however, they did not contact the foreign bodies. Because all the magnets were correctly placed in the reticulum yet, despite close proximity, did not contact the foreign bodies, the latter were thought to be non-magnetic. Cow No. 1 was slaughtered. Left flank laparoruminotomy was performed in the remaining three cows. In all cows, copper foreign bodies ranging in length from 3.0 to 7.0 cm, were found in the reticulum. They had penetrated the reticular wall and were not attached to magnets. The radiographic findings described in the present study are strongly indicative of a non-magnetic foreign body. Ruminotomy is the treatment of choice but slaughter may also be considered.

Move-by-Move Dynamics of the Advantage in Chess Matches Reveals Population-Level Learning of the Game

PubMed Central

Ribeiro, Haroldo V.; Mendes, Renio S.; Lenzi, Ervin K.; del Castillo-Mussot, Marcelo; Amaral, Luís A. N.

2013-01-01

The complexity of chess matches has attracted broad interest since its invention. This complexity and the availability of large number of recorded matches make chess an ideal model systems for the study of population-level learning of a complex system. We systematically investigate the move-by-move dynamics of the white player’s advantage from over seventy thousand high level chess matches spanning over 150 years. We find that the average advantage of the white player is positive and that it has been increasing over time. Currently, the average advantage of the white player is 0.17 pawns but it is exponentially approaching a value of 0.23 pawns with a characteristic time scale of 67 years. We also study the diffusion of the move dependence of the white player’s advantage and find that it is non-Gaussian, has long-ranged anti-correlations and that after an initial period with no diffusion it becomes super-diffusive. We find that the duration of the non-diffusive period, corresponding to the opening stage of a match, is increasing in length and exponentially approaching a value of 15.6 moves with a characteristic time scale of 130 years. We interpret these two trends as a resulting from learning of the features of the game. Additionally, we find that the exponent characterizing the super-diffusive regime is increasing toward a value of 1.9, close to the ballistic regime. We suggest that this trend is due to the increased broadening of the range of abilities of chess players participating in major tournaments. PMID:23382876

Unifying latitudinal gradients in range size and richness across marine and terrestrial systems

PubMed Central

Tomašových, Adam; Kennedy, Jonathan D.; Betzner, Tristan J.; Kuehnle, Nicole Bitler; Edie, Stewart; Kim, Sora; Supriya, K.; White, Alexander E.; Rahbek, Carsten; Huang, Shan; Price, Trevor D.; Jablonski, David

2016-01-01

Many marine and terrestrial clades show similar latitudinal gradients in species richness, but opposite gradients in range size—on land, ranges are the smallest in the tropics, whereas in the sea, ranges are the largest in the tropics. Therefore, richness gradients in marine and terrestrial systems do not arise from a shared latitudinal arrangement of species range sizes. Comparing terrestrial birds and marine bivalves, we find that gradients in range size are concordant at the level of genera. Here, both groups show a nested pattern in which narrow-ranging genera are confined to the tropics and broad-ranging genera extend across much of the gradient. We find that (i) genus range size and its variation with latitude is closely associated with per-genus species richness and (ii) broad-ranging genera contain more species both within and outside of the tropics when compared with tropical- or temperate-only genera. Within-genus species diversification thus promotes genus expansion to novel latitudes. Despite underlying differences in the species range-size gradients, species-rich genera are more likely to produce a descendant that extends its range relative to the ancestor's range. These results unify species richness gradients with those of genera, implying that birds and bivalves share similar latitudinal dynamics in net species diversification. PMID:27147094

Environmental factors associated with disordered weight-control behaviours among youth: a systematic review.

PubMed

Wang, Monica L; Peterson, Karen E; McCormick, Marie C; Austin, S Bryn

2014-07-01

Environmental factors may be very important in the development of disordered weight-control behaviours (DWCB) among youth, yet no study to date has conducted a review that synthesizes these findings. The purpose of the present study was to systematically review existing literature on environmental influences on DWCB among youth and to identify conceptual and methodological gaps in the literature. Systematic review. Studies were identified through a systematic search using PubMed, PsycINFO, Google Scholar and secondary references. Inclusion criteria included observational studies published in peer-reviewed journals from 1994 to 2012 that examined environmental exposure(s) associated with DWCB among youth. Ninety-three studies, the majority of which utilized a cross-sectional design (75 %; n 70), were identified. Longitudinal studies' follow-up time ranged from 8 months to 10 years. Parental, peer and media influences have been extensively studied as factors associated with DWCB among youth. Fewer studies have examined behavioural settings (i.e. homes, schools, neighbourhoods) or sectors of influence other than the media on DWCB. No studies utilized multilevel methods to parse out environmental influences on DWCB. Most studies (69 %, n 64) did not explicitly utilize a theory or model to guide the research. Findings indicate that exploring a wider range of environmental influences on DWCB, specifically behavioural settings and sectors of influence, using diverse study samples and multilevel methodology is needed to advance the field and to inform the design of comprehensive prevention programmes that target DWCB and other weight-related behaviours.

Does the range of IMF affect rise and fall trend in fragmentation?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharma, Sakshi; Kumar, Rohit; Puri, Rajeev K.

2018-05-01

We study the rise and fall behavior in the multiplicity of intermediate mass fragments produced in the asymmetric reactions of 36S+ 198Pt using isospin-dependent quantum molecular dynamics model. We use different definitions of intermediate mass fragments according to various experimental studies. We find that the use of one or the other definition of intermediate mass fragments does not alter results significantly.

Four Week Oral Dose Range-Finding Study of WR242511 in Dogs

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-03-09

internal parasites were performed. All dogs had been previously vaccinated against canine distemper , infectious canine hepatitis, leptospirosis...examination will elapse before the animal is used on a study. All dogs will have been vaccinated against canine distemper , infectious canine hepatitis... Canine Diet No. 5007 (PMI Feeds Inc., St. Louis, MO), approximately 400 g, was provided daily from arrival until termination. Exactly 400 g were provided

An audit of the toxicology findings in 555 medico-legal autopsies finds manner of death changed in 5 cases.

PubMed

Langlois, Neil E I; Gilbert, John D; Heath, Karen J; Winskog, Calle; Kostakis, Chris

2013-03-01

An audit of toxicological analysis in Coronial autopsies performed at Forensic Science South Australia was conducted on the cases of three pathologists. Toxicological analysis had been performed in 555 (68 %) from a total of 815 autopsies. It was found that the proffered manner of death was changed from the provisional report (provided immediately after the post-mortem examination) in five cases (just under 1 %) as a consequence of the toxicological findings. This is a limited study as it is retrospective, not all cases had toxicological analysis and the findings are constrained by the range of the substances that could be detected. Nonetheless, the audit supports the application of toxicological analysis in medico-legal death investigation and suggests that an inclusive policy should be adopted.

Making a molecular gas in the quantum regime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ni, Kang-Kuen

2017-04-01

Ultracold molecules are exciting systems for a large range of scientific explorations including studies of novel phases of matter and precision measurement. In this talk, I will present a brief story of the first quantum gas of molecules, KRb, created under my PhD advisor, Deborah Jin, in 2008. A complete surprise was finding ultracold chemistry in such a system through measurements of reactant losses. In particular, long-range physics that determines KRb reactant collision rates, including van der Waals interactions, quantum statistics, and dipolar interactions, were studied extensively. However, the short-range behavior of these chemical reactions remains unknown. A legacy of her work is carried out in my lab at Harvard, where we are integrating physical chemistry tools with cold atom techniques to study ultracold chemistry with KRb molecules. In particular, we aim to elucidate the four-center reaction 2 KRb ->K2 + Rb2 by detecting the reaction products through ionization - both identify the product species and mapping out their complete quantum states.

Resonances and wave propagation velocity in the subglottal airways.

PubMed

Lulich, Steven M; Alwan, Abeer; Arsikere, Harish; Morton, John R; Sommers, Mitchell S

2011-10-01

Previous studies of subglottal resonances have reported findings based on relatively few subjects, and the relations between these resonances, subglottal anatomy, and models of subglottal acoustics are not well understood. In this study, accelerometer signals of subglottal acoustics recorded during sustained [a:] vowels of 50 adult native speakers (25 males, 25 females) of American English were analyzed. The study confirms that a simple uniform tube model of subglottal airways, closed at the glottis and open at the inferior end, is appropriate for describing subglottal resonances. The main findings of the study are (1) whereas the walls may be considered rigid in the frequency range of Sg2 and Sg3, they are yielding and resonant in the frequency range of Sg1, with a resulting ~4/3 increase in wave propagation velocity and, consequently, in the frequency of Sg1; (2) the "acoustic length" of the equivalent uniform tube varies between 18 and 23.5 cm, and is approximately equal to the height of the speaker divided by an empirically determined scaling factor; (3) trachea length can also be predicted by dividing height by another empirically determined scaling factor; and (4) differences between the subglottal resonances of males and females can be accounted for by height-related differences. © 2011 Acoustical Society of America

Uncovering the real outcomes of active renal stone treatment by utilizing non-contrast computer tomography: a systematic review of the current literature.

PubMed

Tokas, Theodoros; Habicher, Martin; Junker, Daniel; Herrmann, Thomas; Jessen, Jan Peter; Knoll, Thomas; Nagele, Udo

2017-06-01

To evaluate the stone-free rates (SFRs) and stone clearance rates (SCRs) of extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (SWL), retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS), and percutaneous nephrolitholapaxy (PCNL) according to non-contrast computer tomography (NCCT) findings. Original articles were identified from PubMed. After exclusion of ineligible papers, twenty-three studies with 2494 cases were included in the review. Six SWL, five RIRS and eight PCNL studies were selected. Additionally, four comparative articles were identified. SWL presents SFRs ranging 35-61.3 % and SCRs for residuals <4 mm being 43.2-92.9 %. RIRS studies report SFRs of 34.8-59.7 % and SCRs for residuals <4 mm ranging 48-96.7 %. Finally, PCNL presents SFRs of 20.8-100 % and SCRs for residuals <4 mm being 41.5-91.4 %. According to the comparative studies, SFRs are 17-61.3 % for SWL, 50 % for RIRS, and 95-100 % for PCNL. According to NCCT findings, it seems that PCNL provides better SFRs than ESWL and RIRS. However, further research with comparable and complete preoperative parameters and outcomes could reduce the heterogeneity of current data.

Exploring the Limits of Cell Adhesion under Shear Stress within Physiological Conditions and beyond on a Chip.

PubMed

Stamp, Melanie E M; Jötten, Anna M; Kudella, Patrick W; Breyer, Dominik; Strobl, Florian G; Geislinger, Thomas M; Wixforth, Achim; Westerhausen, Christoph

2016-10-21

Cell adhesion processes are of ubiquitous importance for biomedical applications such as optimization of implant materials. Here, not only physiological conditions such as temperature or pH, but also topographical structures play crucial roles, as inflammatory reactions after surgery can diminish osseointegration. In this study, we systematically investigate cell adhesion under static, dynamic and physiologically relevant conditions employing a lab-on-a-chip system. We screen adhesion of the bone osteosarcoma cell line SaOs-2 on a titanium implant material for pH and temperature values in the physiological range and beyond, to explore the limits of cell adhesion, e.g., for feverish and acidic conditions. A detailed study of different surface roughness R q gives insight into the correlation between the cells' abilities to adhere and withstand shear flow and the topography of the substrates, finding a local optimum at R q = 22 nm. We use shear stress induced by acoustic streaming to determine a measure for the ability of cell adhesion under an external force for various conditions. We find an optimum of cell adhesion for T = 37 °C and pH = 7.4 with decreasing cell adhesion outside the physiological range, especially for high T and low pH. We find constant detachment rates in the physiological regime, but this behavior tends to collapse at the limits of 41 °C and pH 4.

Brain magnetic resonance imaging findings in young patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni without overt symptoms.

PubMed

Manzella, Adonis; Borba-Filho, Paulo; Brandt, Carlos T; Oliveira, Keyla

2012-06-01

The purpose of this study was to describe the brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in young patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni without overt neurologic manifestations. This study included 34 young persons (age range = 9-25 years) with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni who had been previously treated. Patients were scanned on a 1.5-T system that included multiplanar pre-contrast and post-contrast sequences, and reports were completed by two radiologists after a consensus review. Twenty (58.8%) patients had MRI signal changes that were believed to be related to schistosomiasis mansoni. Twelve of the 20 patients had small focal hyperintensities on T2WI in the cerebral white matter, and eight patients had symmetric hyperintense basal ganglia on T1WI. There was a high frequency of brain MRI signal abnormalities in this series. Although not specific, these findings may be related to schistosomiasis.

High altitude flights by ruddy shelduck Tadorna ferruginea during trans-Himalayan migrations

USGS Publications Warehouse

Parr, N.; Bearhop, S.; Douglas, David C.; Takekawa, J.Y.; Prosser, Diann J.; Newman, S.H.; Perry, W.M.; Balachandran, S.; Witt, M.J.; Hou, Y.; Luo, Z.; Hawkes, L.A.

2017-01-01

Birds that migrate across high altitude mountain ranges are faced with the challenge of maintaining vigorous exercise in environments with limited oxygen. Ruddy shelducks are known to use wintering grounds south of the Tibetan Plateau at sea level and breeding grounds north of Himalayan mountain range. Therefore, it is likely these shelducks are preforming high altitude migrations. In this study we analyse satellite telemetry data collected from 15 ruddy shelduck from two populations wintering south of the Tibetan Plateau from 2007 to 2011. During north and south migrations ruddy shelduck travelled 1481 km (range 548–2671 km) and 1238 km (range 548–2689 km) respectively. We find mean maximum altitudes of birds in flight reached 5590 m (range of means 4755–6800 m) and mean maximum climb rates of 0.45 m s–1 (range 0.23–0.74 m s–1). The ruddy shelduck is therefore an extreme high altitude migrant that has likely evolved a range of physiological adaptations in order to complete their migrations.

Tremor and hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) in road maintenance workers.

PubMed

Bast-Pettersen, Rita; Ulvestad, Bente; Færden, Karl; Clemm, Thomas Aleksander C; Olsen, Raymond; Ellingsen, Dag Gunnar; Nordby, Karl-Christian

2017-01-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate postural and rest tremor among workers using vibrating hand tools, taking into account the possible effects of toxicants such as alcohol and tobacco. A further aim was to study workers diagnosed with hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) at the time of examination. This study comprises 103 road maintenance workers, 55 exposed to vibrating hand tools (age 41.0 years; range 21-62) and 48 referents (age 38.5 years; range 19-64). They were examined with the CATSYS Tremor Pen ® . Exposure to vibrating tools and serum biomarkers of alcohol and tobacco consumption were measured. Cumulative exposure to vibrating tools was associated with increased postural (p < 0.01) and rest tremor (p < 0.05) and with a higher Center Frequency of postural tremor (p < 0.01) among smokers and users of smokeless tobacco. Rest tremor Center Frequency was higher than postural tremor frequency (p < 0.001). The main findings indicate an association between cumulative exposure to hand-held vibrating tools, tremor parameters and consumption of tobacco products. The hand position is important when testing for tremor. Rest tremor had a higher Center Frequency. Postural tremor was more strongly associated with exposure than rest tremor. The finding of increased tremor among the HAVS subjects indicated that tremor might be a part of the clinical picture of a HAVS diagnosis. As with all cross-sectional studies, inferences should be made with caution when drawing conclusions about associations between exposure and possible effects. Future research using longitudinal design is required to validate the findings of the present study.

Text-in-Context: A Method for Extracting Findings in Mixed-Methods Mixed Research Synthesis Studies

PubMed Central

Leeman, Jennifer; Knafl, Kathleen; Crandell, Jamie L.

2012-01-01

Aim Our purpose in this paper is to propose a new method for extracting findings from research reports included in mixed-methods mixed research synthesis studies. Background International initiatives in the domains of systematic review and evidence synthesis have been focused on broadening the conceptualization of evidence, increased methodological inclusiveness and the production of evidence syntheses that will be accessible to and usable by a wider range of consumers. Initiatives in the general mixed-methods research field have been focused on developing truly integrative approaches to data analysis and interpretation. Data source The data extraction challenges described here were encountered and the method proposed for addressing these challenges was developed, in the first year of the ongoing (2011–2016) study: Mixed-Methods Synthesis of Research on Childhood Chronic Conditions and Family. Discussion To preserve the text-in-context of findings in research reports, we describe a method whereby findings are transformed into portable statements that anchor results to relevant information about sample, source of information, time, comparative reference point, magnitude and significance and study-specific conceptions of phenomena. Implications for nursing The data extraction method featured here was developed specifically to accommodate mixed-methods mixed research synthesis studies conducted in nursing and other health sciences, but reviewers might find it useful in other kinds of research synthesis studies. Conclusion This data extraction method itself constitutes a type of integration to preserve the methodological context of findings when statements are read individually and in comparison to each other. PMID:22924808

Differential sensitivity of polyhydroxyalkanoate producing bacteria to fermentation inhibitors and comparison of polyhydroxybutyrate production from Burkholderia cepacia and Pseudomonas pseudoflava

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background The aim of this study is determine the relative sensitivity of a panel of seven polyhydroxyalkanoate producing bacteria to a panel of seven lignocellulosic-derived fermentation inhibitors representing aliphatic acids, furans and phenolics. A further aim was to measure the polyhydroxybutyrate production of select organisms on lignocellulosic-derived monosaccharides arabinose, xylose, glucose and mannose. Findings We examined the sensitivity of seven polyhydroxyalkanoate producing bacteria: Azohydromonas lata, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus cereus, Burkholderia cepacia, Pseudomonas olevorans, Pseudomonas pseudoflava and Ralstonia eutropha, against seven fermentation inhibitors produced by the saccharification of lignocellulose: acetic acid, levulinic acid, coumaric acid, ferulic acid, syringaldehyde, furfural, and hyroxymethyfurfural. There was significant variation in the sensitivity of these microbes to representative phenolics ranging from 0.25-1.5 g/L coumaric and ferulic acid and between 0.5-6.0 g/L syringaldehyde. Inhibition ranged from 0.37-4 g/L and 0.75-6 g/L with acetic acid and levulinic acid, respectively. B. cepacia and P. pseudoflava were selected for further analysis of polyhydroxyalkanoate production. Conclusions We find significant differences in sensitivity to the fermentation inhibitors tested and find these variations to be over a relevant concentration range given the concentrations of inhibitors typically found in lignocellulosic hydrolysates. Of the seven bacteria tested, B. cepacia demonstrated the greatest inhibitor tolerance. Similarly, of two organisms examined for polyhydroxybutyrate production, B. cepacia was notably more efficient when fermenting pentose substrates. PMID:23734728

Bringing loyalty to e-Health: theory validation using three internet-delivered interventions.

PubMed

Crutzen, Rik; Cyr, Dianne; de Vries, Nanne K

2011-09-24

Internet-delivered interventions can effectively change health risk behaviors, but the actual use of these interventions by the target group once they access the website is often very low (high attrition, low adherence). Therefore, it is relevant and necessary to focus on factors related to use of an intervention once people arrive at the intervention website. We focused on user perceptions resulting in e-loyalty (ie, intention to visit an intervention again and to recommend it to others). A background theory for e-loyalty, however, is still lacking for Internet-delivered interventions. The objective of our study was to propose and validate a conceptual model regarding user perceptions and e-loyalty within the field of eHealth. We presented at random 3 primary prevention interventions aimed at the general public and, subsequently, participants completed validated measures regarding user perceptions and e-loyalty. Time on each intervention website was assessed by means of server registrations. Of the 592 people who were invited to participate, 397 initiated the study (response rate: 67%) and 351 (48% female, mean age 43 years, varying in educational level) finished the study (retention rate: 88%). Internal consistency of all measures was high (Cronbach alpha > .87). The findings demonstrate that the user perceptions regarding effectiveness (beta(range) .21-.41) and enjoyment (beta(range) .14-.24) both had a positive effect on e-loyalty, which was mediated by active trust (beta(range) .27-.60). User perceptions and e-loyalty had low correlations with time on the website (r(range) .04-.18). The consistent pattern of findings speaks in favor of their robustness and contributes to theory validation regarding e-loyalty. The importance of a theory-driven solution to a practice-based problem (ie, low actual use) needs to be stressed in view of the importance of the Internet in terms of intervention development. Longitudinal studies are needed to investigate whether people will actually revisit intervention websites and whether this leads to changes in health risk behaviors.

Global Warming in Schools: An Inquiry about the Competing Conceptions of High School Social Studies and Science Curricula and Teachers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meehan, Casey R.

Despite the scientific consensus supporting the theory of anthropogenic (human-induced) global warming, whether global warming is a serious problem, whether human activity is the primary cause of it, and whether scientific consensus exists at all are controversial questions among the U.S. lay-public. The cultural theory of risk perception (Schwarz and Thompson, 1990) serves as the theoretical framework for this qualitative analysis in which I ask the question how do U.S. secondary school curricula and teachers deal with the disparity between the overwhelming scientific consensus and the lay-public's skepticism regarding global warming? I analyzed nine widely used social studies and science textbooks, eight sets of supplemental materials about global warming produced by a range of not-for-profit and governmental organizations, and interviewed fourteen high school teachers who had experience teaching formal lessons about global warming in their content area. Findings suggest: 1) the range of global warming content within social studies and science textbooks and supplemental curricula reflects the spectrum of conceptualizations found among members of the U.S. public; 2) global warming curricula communicate only a narrow range of strategies for dealing with global warming and its associated threats; and 3) social studies and science teachers report taking a range of stances about global warming in their classroom, but sometimes the stance they put forth to their students does not align with their personal beliefs about global warming. The findings pose a troubling conundrum. Some of the global warming curricula treat the cause of global warming--a question that is not scientifically controversial--as a question with multiple and competing "right" answers. At the same time, much of curricula position how we should address global warming--a question that is legitimately controversial--as a question with one correct answer despite there being many reasonable responses. Finally, I present the implications this conundrum has for teaching about global warming in a politically polarized atmosphere.

Evidence that bisphenol A (BPA) can be accurately measured without contamination in human serum and urine, and that BPA causes numerous hazards from multiple routes of exposure

PubMed Central

vom Saal, Frederick S.; Welshons, Wade V.

2016-01-01

There is extensive evidence that bisphenol A (BPA) is related to a wide range of adverse health effects based on both human and experimental animal studies. However, a number of regulatory agencies have ignored all hazard findings. Reports of high levels of unconjugated (bioactive) serum BPA in dozens of human biomonitoring studies have also been rejected based on the prediction that the findings are due to assay contamination and that virtually all ingested BPA is rapidly converted to inactive metabolites. NIH and industry-sponsored round robin studies have demonstrated that serum BPA can be accurately assayed without contamination, while the FDA lab has acknowledged uncontrolled assay contamination. In reviewing the published BPA biomonitoring data, we find that assay contamination is, in fact, well controlled in most labs, and cannot be used as the basis for discounting evidence that significant and virtually continuous exposure to BPA must be occurring from multiple sources. PMID:25304273

Alkaline earth lead and tin compounds Ae2Pb, Ae2Sn, Ae = Ca, Sr, Ba, as thermoelectric materials

PubMed Central

Parker, David; Singh, David J

2013-01-01

We present a detailed theoretical study of three alkaline earth compounds Ca2Pb, Sr2Pb and Ba2Pb, which have undergone little previous study, calculating electronic band structures and Boltzmann transport and bulk moduli using density functional theory. We also study the corresponding tin compounds Ca2Sn, Sr2Sn and Ba2Sn. We find that these are all narrow band gap semiconductors with an electronic structure favorable for thermoelectric performance, with substantial thermopowers for the lead compounds at temperature ranges from 300 to 800 K. For the lead compounds, we further find very low calculated bulk moduli—roughly half of the values for the lead chalcogenides, suggestive of soft phonons and hence low lattice thermal conductivity. All these facts indicate that these materials merit experimental investigation as potential high performance thermoelectrics. We find good potential for thermoelectric performance in the environmentally friendly stannide materials, particularly at high temperature. PMID:27877610

On the predictability of extreme events in records with linear and nonlinear long-range memory: Efficiency and noise robustness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bogachev, Mikhail I.; Bunde, Armin

2011-06-01

We study the predictability of extreme events in records with linear and nonlinear long-range memory in the presence of additive white noise using two different approaches: (i) the precursory pattern recognition technique (PRT) that exploits solely the information about short-term precursors, and (ii) the return interval approach (RIA) that exploits long-range memory incorporated in the elapsed time after the last extreme event. We find that the PRT always performs better when only linear memory is present. In the presence of nonlinear memory, both methods demonstrate comparable efficiency in the absence of white noise. When additional white noise is present in the record (which is the case in most observational records), the efficiency of the PRT decreases monotonously with increasing noise level. In contrast, the RIA shows an abrupt transition between a phase of low level noise where the prediction is as good as in the absence of noise, and a phase of high level noise where the prediction becomes poor. In the phase of low and intermediate noise the RIA predicts considerably better than the PRT, which explains our recent findings in physiological and financial records.

Diagnosis of Meningococcal Meningitis by Broad-Range Bacterial PCR with Cerebrospinal Fluid

PubMed Central

Kotilainen, Pirkko; Jalava, Jari; Meurman, Olli; Lehtonen, Olli-Pekka; Rintala, Esa; Seppälä, Olli-Pekka; Eerola, Erkki; Nikkari, Simo

1998-01-01

We used broad-range bacterial PCR combined with DNA sequencing to examine prospectively cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients with suspected meningitis. Fifty-six CSF samples from 46 patients were studied during the year 1995. Genes coding for bacterial 16S and/or 23S rRNA genes could be amplified from the CSF samples from five patients with a clinical picture consistent with acute bacterial meningitis. For these patients, the sequenced PCR product shared 98.3 to 100% homology with the Neisseria meningitidis sequence. For one patient, the diagnosis was initially made by PCR alone. Of the remaining 51 CSF samples, for 50 (98.0%) samples the negative PCR findings were in accordance with the negative findings by bacterial culture and Gram staining, as well as with the eventual clinical diagnosis for the patient. However, the PCR test failed to detect the bacterial rRNA gene in one CSF sample, the culture of which yielded Listeria monocytogenes. These results invite new research efforts to be focused on the application of PCR with broad-range bacterial primers to improve the etiologic diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. In a clinical setting, Gram staining and bacterial culture still remain the cornerstones of diagnosis. PMID:9665992

Assessing the completeness of the fossil record using brachiopod Lazarus taxa

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gearty, W.; Payne, J.

2012-12-01

Lazarus taxa, organisms that disappear from the fossil record only to reappear later, provide a unique opportunity to assess the completeness of the fossil record. In this study, we apply logistic regression to quantify the associations of body size, geographic extent, and species diversity with the probability of being a Lazarus genus using the Phanerozoic fossil record of brachiopods. We find that both the geographic range and species diversity of a genus are inversely associated with the probability of being a Lazarus taxon in the preceding or succeeding stage. In contrast, body size exhibits little association with the probability of becoming a Lazarus taxon. A model including species diversity and geographic extent as predictors performs best among all combinations examined, whereas a model including only shell size as a predictor performs the worst - even worse than a model that assumes Lazarus taxa are randomly drawn from all available genera. These findings suggest that geographic range and species richness data can be used to improve estimates of extensions on the observed fossil ranges of genera and, thereby, better correct for sampling effects in estimates of taxonomic diversity change through the Phanerozoic.

Holocene distribution of woody taxa at the westernmost limit of the Circumboreal/Mediterranean boundary: Evidence from wood remains

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rubiales, Juan M.; Ezquerra, Javier; Muñoz Sobrino, Castor; Génova, María M.; Gil, Luis; Ramil-Rego, Pablo; Gómez Manzaneque, Fernando

2012-02-01

Macrofossils and megafossils of different genera, which were found in twelve localities in the mountains of northwest Iberia, provide spatially precise evidence of their distribution in the region during the Holocene. Macrofossils were recovered from mires, eroded peat bogs and lakes, identified by their wood anatomy and dated using radiocarbon methods. Conifers (Pinus), deciduous trees (Betula, Salix, Quercus) and shrubs (Erica, Fabaceae) were identified. The findings of Pinus gr. sylvestris/nigra have special biogeographical significance. The available palaeoecological data from the Cantabrian Range and nearby mountains (Ancares and Courel) indicate that pines have grown during the Holocene over the highlands of the western part of the Cantabrian Range area as a natural vegetation element. Nevertheless, Pinus sylvestris is the only pine species that is currently present in the Cantabrian Mountains, and its natural distribution area is now limited to a few enclaves. In this study, we provide a number of conclusive findings demonstrating that the past distribution of Pinus gr. sylvestris/nigra in this region suffered an important range contraction during the last two millennia. Historical data also support this idea, as they strongly suggest that this species survived well into the historical period.

STS-8 atomic oxygen effects experiment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Visentine, J. T.; Leger, L. J.; Kuminecz, J. F.; Spiker, I. K.

1985-01-01

A flight experiment was performed on the eighth Space Shuttle mission to measure reaction of surfaces with atomic oxygen in the low earth orbital environment. More than 300 individual samples were exposed to ram (normal to surface) conditions for 41.75 hr leading to a total atomic oxygen fluence of 3.5 x 10 to the 20th atoms/sq cm. Reaction rates for surface recession measured primarily by mass change of several organic films were in the range of 3.0 x 10 to the -24th cu cm/atom, and less than 5 x 10 to the -26th cu cm/atom for Teflon. Effects of parameters such as temperature and solar radiation were assessed, as was the importance of atmospheric ionic species on surface recession. In an experiment performed on the fifth Space Shuttle flight, no temperature dependence of reaction rate for the organic films studied was found in the temperature range of 25 to 125 C. Preliminary findings indicate that the reactivity of organic films is not affected by temperature (in the range of 65 to 125 C), solar radiation, or ionic species. Significant surface morphology changes led to a carpet-like appearance also consistent with previous findings.

Spatial Cognition and Range Use in Free-Range Laying Hens

PubMed Central

Campbell, Dana L. M.; Loh, Ziyang A.; Dyall, Tim R.; Lee, Caroline

2018-01-01

Simple Summary Individual free-range laying hens vary in their use of the outdoor range. The outdoor environment is typically more complex and variable than indoor housing and thus range use may be related to differences in spatial abilities. Individual adult hens that never went outside were slower to learn a T-maze task—which requires birds to repeatedly find a food reward in one arm of the maze, compared to outdoor-preferring hens. Pullets that were faster to learn the maze also showed more visits to the range in their first month of range access but only in one of two tested groups. Early enrichment improved learning of the maze but only when the birds were tested before onset of lay. Fear may play a role in inhibiting bird’s spatial learning and their range use. More studies of different enriched rearing treatments and their impacts on fear and learning would be needed to confirm these findings. Overall, these results contribute to our understanding of why some birds choose to never access the outdoor range area. Abstract Radio-frequency identification tracking shows individual free-range laying hens vary in range use, with some never going outdoors. The range is typically more environmentally complex, requiring navigation to return to the indoor resources. Outdoor-preferring hens may have improved spatial abilities compared to indoor-preferring hens. Experiment 1 tested 32 adult ISA Brown hens in a T-maze learning task that showed exclusively-indoor birds were slowest to reach the learning success criterion (p < 0.05). Experiment 2 tested 117 pullets from enriched or non-enriched early rearing treatments (1 pen replicate per treatment) in the same maze at 15–16 or 17–18 weeks. Enriched birds reached learning success criterion faster at 15–16 weeks (p < 0.05) but not at 17–18 weeks (p > 0.05), the age that coincided with the onset of lay. Enriched birds that were faster to learn the maze task showed more range visits in the first 4 weeks of range access. Enriched and non-enriched birds showed no differences in telencephalon or hippocampal volume (p > 0.05). Fear may reduce spatial abilities but further testing with more pen replicates per early rearing treatments would improve our understanding of the relationship between spatial cognitive abilities and range use. PMID:29419742

Klein tunneling in the α -T3 model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Illes, E.; Nicol, E. J.

2017-06-01

We investigate Klein tunneling for the α -T3 model, which interpolates between graphene and the dice lattice via parameter α . We study transmission across two types of electrostatic interfaces: sharp potential steps and sharp potential barriers. We find both interfaces to be perfectly transparent for normal incidence for the full range of the parameter α for both interfaces. For other angles of incidence, we find that transmission is enhanced with increasing α . For the dice lattice, we find perfect, all-angle transmission across a potential step for incoming electrons with energy equal to half of the height of the potential step. This is analogous to the "super", all-angle transmission reported for the dice lattice for Klein tunneling across a potential barrier.

Do published studies of educational outreach provide documentation of potentially important characteristics?

PubMed

Van Hoof, Thomas J; Miller, Nicole E; Meehan, Thomas P

2013-01-01

Educational outreach is a common intervention used to translate research findings into practice; however, the intervention has a mixed effect on changing clinician behavior and improving patient outcomes. Based on a published set of characteristics aimed at standardizing the approach to educational outreach, the authors undertook a careful review of the literature to determine the consistency and completeness of documentation. Using a 25-item abstraction tool, the authors reviewed 68 published studies of a recent Cochrane meta-analysis to determine the extent to which educational outreach studies provide recommended documentation of important characteristics. The results indicate that studies are generally inconsistent (documentation range of 0% to 100% across characteristics) and incomplete (documentation average of 43.1% across studies) in their descriptions. Documentation shortcomings of educational outreach studies make understanding the intervention and interpreting its findings particularly challenging. The authors recommend the creation of a guideline to help improve documentation of educational outreach efforts.

A new method for predicting response in complex linear systems. II. [under random or deterministic steady state excitation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bogdanoff, J. L.; Kayser, K.; Krieger, W.

1977-01-01

The paper describes convergence and response studies in the low frequency range of complex systems, particularly with low values of damping of different distributions, and reports on the modification of the relaxation procedure required under these conditions. A new method is presented for response estimation in complex lumped parameter linear systems under random or deterministic steady state excitation. The essence of the method is the use of relaxation procedures with a suitable error function to find the estimated response; natural frequencies and normal modes are not computed. For a 45 degree of freedom system, and two relaxation procedures, convergence studies and frequency response estimates were performed. The low frequency studies are considered in the framework of earlier studies (Kayser and Bogdanoff, 1975) involving the mid to high frequency range.

Chlamydia pneumoniae antibody titers and cardiac calcifications: a cross-sectional serological-echocardiographic correlative study.

PubMed

Atar, Shaul; Tolstrup, Kirsten; Cercek, Bojan; Siegel, Robert J

2007-07-01

Chlamydia pneumoniae has previously been associated with higher prevalence of valvular and cardiac calcifications. To investigate a possible association of seropositivity for C. pneumoniae and the presence of cardiac calcifications (mitral annular or aortic root calcification, and aortic valve sclerosis). We retrospectively analyzed serological data (immunoglobulin G TWAR antibodies) from the AZACS trial (Azithromycin in Acute Coronary Syndromes), and correlated the serological findings according to titer levels with the presence of cardiac calcifications as detected by transthoracic echocardiography. In 271 patients, age 69 +/- 13 years, who underwent both serological and echocardiographic evaluation, we found no significant association between the "calcification sum score" (on a scale of 0-3) in seropositive compared to seronegative patients (1.56 +/- 1.15 vs.1.35 +/- 1.15, respectively, P = 0.26). The median calcification sum score was 1 (interquartile range 0-3) for the seronegative group, and 2 (interquartile range 0-3) for the seropositive group (P = 0.2757). In addition, we did not find a significant correlation of any of the individual sites of cardiac calcification and C. pneumoniae seropositivity. Our findings suggest that past C. pneumoniae infection may not be associated with the pathogenesis of valvular and cardiac calcifications.

OBSCURED STAR FORMATION AND ENVIRONMENT IN THE COSMOS FIELD

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

Feruglio, C.; Aussel, H.; Le Floc'h, E.

2010-09-20

We investigate the effects of the environment on star formation in a sample of massive luminous and ultra-luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs and ULIRGs) with S(24 {mu}m) >80 {mu}Jy and i {sup +} < 24 in the COSMOS field. We exploit the accurate photometric redshifts in COSMOS to characterize the galaxy environment and study the evolution of the fraction of LIRGs and ULIRGs in different environments in the redshift range z = 0.3-1.2 and in bins of stellar mass. We find that the environment plays a role in the star formation processes and evolution of LIRGs and ULIRGs. We find anmore » overall increase of the ULIRG+LIRG fraction in an optically selected sample with increasing redshift, as expected from the evolution of the star formation rate (SFR) density. We find that the ULIRG+LIRG fraction decreases with increasing density up to z {approx} 1, and that the dependence on density flattens with increasing redshift. We do not observe the reversal of the SFR density relation up to z = 1 in massive LIRGs and ULIRGs, suggesting that such reversal might occur at higher redshift in this infrared luminosity range.« less

Sexual Relationships, Behaviors, and Experiences among Bisexual Men in Mumbai, India.

PubMed

Dodge, Brian; Banik, Swagata; Bowling, Jessamyn; Sivasubramanian, Murugesan; Mengle, Shruta; Schick, Vanessa; Herbenick, Debby; Kavi, Ashok Row; Anand, Vivek

2016-01-01

This exploratory study aimed to assess a range of sexual behaviors, relationships and related factors among a sample of bisexual men in Mumbai, India. Data collection occurred in two separate phases: 1. focus group discussions were facilitated with local community members in order to finalize an interviewer-administered questionnaire, and 2. structured interviews were conducted with a sample of 50 bisexual men using this questionnaire. Participants self-reported a wide range of sexual behaviors and relationships. Findings have implications for future research and practice focusing on bisexual men in India, as well as their partners of all genders.

Sexual Relationships, Behaviors, and Experiences among Bisexual Men in Mumbai, India

PubMed Central

Dodge, Brian; Banik, Swagata; Bowling, Jessamyn; Sivasubramanian, Murugesan; Mengle, Shruta; Schick, Vanessa; Herbenick, Debby; Kavi, Ashok Row; Anand, Vivek

2015-01-01

This exploratory study aimed to assess a range of sexual behaviors, relationships and related factors among a sample of bisexual men in Mumbai, India. Data collection occurred in two separate phases: 1. focus group discussions were facilitated with local community members in order to finalize an interviewer-administered questionnaire, and 2. structured interviews were conducted with a sample of 50 bisexual men using this questionnaire. Participants self-reported a wide range of sexual behaviors and relationships. Findings have implications for future research and practice focusing on bisexual men in India, as well as their partners of all genders. PMID:27073588

Universality and critical behavior of the dynamical Mott transition in a system with long-range interactions

DOE PAGES

Rademaker, Louk; Vinokur, Valerii M.; Galda, Alexey

2017-03-16

Here, we study numerically the voltage-induced breakdown of a Mott insulating phase in a system of charged classical particles with long-range interactions. At half-filling on a square lattice this system exhibits Mott localization in the form of a checkerboard pattern. We find universal scaling behavior of the current at the dynamic Mott insulator-metal transition and calculate scaling exponents corresponding to the transition. Our results are in agreement, up to a difference in universality class, with recent experimental evidence of a dynamic Mott transition in a system of interacting superconducting vortices.

Universality and critical behavior of the dynamical Mott transition in a system with long-range interactions.

PubMed

Rademaker, Louk; Vinokur, Valerii M; Galda, Alexey

2017-03-16

We study numerically the voltage-induced breakdown of a Mott insulating phase in a system of charged classical particles with long-range interactions. At half-filling on a square lattice this system exhibits Mott localization in the form of a checkerboard pattern. We find universal scaling behavior of the current at the dynamic Mott insulator-metal transition and calculate scaling exponents corresponding to the transition. Our results are in agreement, up to a difference in universality class, with recent experimental evidence of a dynamic Mott transition in a system of interacting superconducting vortices.

Stability and change in retrospective reports of childhood experiences over a 5-year period: findings from the Davis Longitudinal Study.

PubMed

Yancura, Loriena A; Aldwin, Carolyn M

2009-09-01

The paths via which childhood experiences influence well-being in adulthood are not well defined because most research relies on retrospective reports. This study examined the influence of demographic characteristics and current mood states on the reliability of reports of childhood experiences. The Child Experiences Scale (CES) was administered in 1996 and 2001 to participants in the Davis Longitudinal Study (N = 571; age range 22-61 years). Responses showed moderate to high cross-time reliability. Males were slightly more likely to change their responses. The influence of mood states was weak and more evident for global ratings of childhood than for specific experiences. These findings support the use of retrospective reports of childhood. (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved.

Clinical Knowledge from Observational Studies: Everything You Wanted to Know but Were Afraid to Ask.

PubMed

Gershon, Andrea S; Jafarzadeh, S Reza; Wilson, Kevin C; Walkey, Allan J

2018-05-07

Well-done randomized trials provide accurate estimates of treatment effect by producing groups that are similar on all measures except for the intervention of interest. However, inferences of efficacy in tightly-controlled experimental settings may not translate into similar effectiveness in real-world settings. Observational studies generally enable inferences over a wider range of patient characteristics and evaluation of a broader range of outcomes over a longer period than randomized trials. However, clinicians are often reluctant to incorporate the findings of observational studies into clinical practice. Reason for uncertainty regarding observational studies include a lack of familiarity with observational research methods, occasional disagreements between results of observational studies and randomized trials, the perceived risk of spurious results from systematic bias, and prior teaching that randomized trials are the most reliable source of medical evidence. We propose that a better understanding of observational research will enhance clinicians' ability to distinguish reliable observational studies from those that are subjected to biases and, therefore, provide more confidence to apply observational research results into clinical practice when appropriate. Herein, we explain why observational studies may be perceived as less conclusive than randomized trials, address situations in which observational research and randomized trials produced different findings, and provide information on observational study design so that quality can be evaluated. We conclude that observational research is a valuable source of medical evidence and that clinical action is strongest when supported by both high quality observational studies and randomized trials.

Lifelong Learning Organisers: Requirements for Tools for Supporting Episodic and Semantic Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vavoula, Giasemi; Sharples, Mike

2009-01-01

We propose Lifelong Learning Organisers (LLOs) as tools to support the capturing, organisation and retrieval of personal learning experiences, resources and notes, over a range of learning topics, at different times and places. The paper discusses general requirements for the design of LLOs based on findings from a diary-based study of everyday…

Design of Higher Education Teaching Models and Carbon Impacts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Caird, Sally; Lane, Andy; Swithenby, Ed; Roy, Robin; Potter, Stephen

2015-01-01

Purpose: This research aims to examine the main findings of the SusTEACH study of the carbon-based environmental impacts of 30 higher education (HE) courses in 15 UK institutions, based on an analysis of the likely energy consumption and carbon emissions of a range of face-to-face, distance, online and information and communication technology…

Condensed Mastery Profile Method for Setting Standards for Diagnostic Assessment Systems

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clark, A. K.; Nash, B.; Karvonen, M.; Kingston, N.

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study was to develop a standard-setting method appropriate for use with a diagnostic assessment that produces profiles of student mastery rather than a single raw or scale score value. The condensed mastery profile method draws from established holistic standard-setting methods to use rounds of range finding and pinpointing to…

Developing Practices in Teachers' Professional Dialogue in England: Using Coaching Dimensions as an Epistemic Tool

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lofthouse, Rachel; Hall, Elaine

2014-01-01

This paper demonstrates how teachers who were working in a range of developmental relationships with researchers used Coaching Dimensions to understand, describe, analyse and improve the quality of their coaching and mentoring conversations. The findings are based on analysis of transcriptions of case studies of one-to-one professional dialogue…

Sexually Inappropriate or Abusive Behaviour among Pupils in Special Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fyson, Rachel

2009-01-01

In this article, Rachel Fyson of the Centre for Social Work in the School of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Nottingham reports the findings of a study into sexually inappropriate or abusive behaviour occurring between pupils in special schools in four local authorities in England. The behaviours identified ranged from relatively…

Global Study of the Simple Pendulum by the Homotopy Analysis Method

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bel, A.; Reartes, W.; Torresi, A.

2012-01-01

Techniques are developed to find all periodic solutions in the simple pendulum by means of the homotopy analysis method (HAM). This involves the solution of the equations of motion in two different coordinate representations. Expressions are obtained for the cycles and periods of oscillations with a high degree of accuracy in the whole range of…

How Technology Shapes Assessment Design: Findings from a Study of University Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bennett, Sue; Dawson, Phillip; Bearman, Margaret; Molloy, Elizabeth; Boud, David

2017-01-01

A wide range of technologies has been developed to enhance assessment, but adoption has been inconsistent. This is despite assessment being critical to student learning and certification. To understand why this is the case and how it can be addressed, we need to explore the perspectives of academics responsible for designing and implementing…

Teachers and Testing: An Investigation into Teachers' Perceptions of Formative Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sach, Elizabeth

2012-01-01

Research conducted within the past decade contributes much to an understanding of the role and potential value of formative assessment in learning. As an Advisory Teacher within a local authority, the researcher was interested to find out how teachers actually perceive formative assessment. This study therefore set out to investigate the range and…

Student Motivation: An Overlooked Piece of School Reform. Summary

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Usher, Alexandra; Kober, Nancy

2012-01-01

This summary report by the Center on Education Policy (CEP) pulls together findings from a wide array of studies on student motivation by scholars in a range of disciplines, as well as lessons from programs around the country intended to increase motivation. It is intended to start a conversation about the importance of motivation and the policies…

Artificial Regeneration of Blue and Coast Live Oaks in the Central Coast

Treesearch

Tim R. Plumb; Bennie Hannah

1991-01-01

The primary goal of this study was to find economical and effective planting techniques that will ensure the establishment and early survival of coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia Née) and blue oak (Q. douglasii H. and A.) in the Central Coast region of California. Eight treatments were evaluated ranging from unprotected seed spots...

A Comparison of Year 1 and Year 6 Students' Conceptions of Evaporation and Condensation: Dimensions of Conceptual Progression.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tytler, Russell

2000-01-01

Describes a study of a range of challenging activities centered on evaporation and condensation done with elementary school children. Analyzes children's explanations in light of the existing literature. Finds that older children display a surer sense of ontological categories, greater epistemological sophistication, greater precision in language…

51st Yearbook of the National Reading Conference (San Antonio, Texas, December 5-8, 2001)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schallert, Diane L., Ed.; Fairbanks, Colleen M., Ed.; Worthy, Jo, Ed.; Maloch, Beth, Ed.; Hoffman, James V., Ed.

2002-01-01

This volume presents the 51st Yearbook of the National Reading Conference. Included in this volume are 28 research reports, six invited and award-winning addresses, and a conference summary by Deborah Dillion. Readers will find quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies throughout the volume about topics ranging from early literacy…

Rural Education and Out-Migration: The Case of a Coastal Community

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Corbett, Michael

2005-01-01

In this article, I report on findings from a case study examining the relationship between formal education and out-migration in a Canadian coastal community from the early 1960s to the late 1990s. Although high rates of village-level out-migration were chronic, most migration trajectories were short-range. Contrary to large-scale quantitative…

Student Experiences of Neurodiversity in Higher Education: Insights from the BRAINHE Project

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Griffin, Edward; Pollak, David

2009-01-01

The number of students with identified learning differences (LDs) of all kinds is increasing in higher education. This qualitative study explored the experiences of 27 current and previous students with a range of specific LDs by means of semi-structured interviews, using a thematic approach. The findings revealed that participants shared many…

Autism Spectrum Symptomatology in Children: The Impact of Family and Peer Relationships

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kelly, Adrian B.; Garnett, Michelle S.; Attwood, Tony; Peterson, Candida

2008-01-01

This study examines the potential impact of family conflict and cohesion, and peer support/bullying on children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). While such impacts have been established for a range of non-ASD childhood disorders, these findings may not generalize to children with ASD because of unique problems in perspective-taking,…

Ethnographic Portraits of Veteran Teachers: Portraits of Survival and Commitment.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cohen, Rosetta Marantz

This paper offers a synopsis of the findings of a full-length ethnographic study which dealt with the phenomenon of the strong, veteran teacher who has succeeded in remaining enthusiastic over the course of a 30-year career. Subjects were five secondary school teachers of varied ethnic backgrounds representing a range of disciplines and teaching…

Image-guided elbow interventions: a literature review of interventional treatment options

PubMed Central

Sorani, Alan

2016-01-01

Over the years, a wide range of image-guided interventional therapies have been used in treating different elbow pathologies, many of which are predominantly based on anecdotal and low-level study findings. This article critically assesses the existing literature and discusses the efficacy of the most commonly utilized interventional procedures for elbow pathology. PMID:26206415

What Preschool Classroom Experiences Are Associated with Whether Children Improve in Visuomotor Integration?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Byers, Anthony I.; Cameron, Claire E.; Ko, Michelle; LoCasale-Crouch, Jennifer; Grissmer, David W.

2016-01-01

Research Findings: This study examined the contribution of several classroom experience measures (classroom characteristics, teacher characteristics, and teacher-child interactions) to preschoolers' improvement in visuomotor integration. Children (N = 467) ranged in age from 3 to 5 years old and were enrolled in 115 classrooms in 5 U.S. states.…

Using Learning Analytics to Assess Student Engagement and Academic Outcomes in Open Access Enabling Programmes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Atherton, Mirella; Shah, Mahsood; Vazquez, Jenny; Griffiths, Zoe; Jackson, Brian; Burgess, Catherine

2017-01-01

Curriculum design, teaching methods, assessments and range of academic support need to be inclusive in Open Access Enabling courses. The findings of this study confirm a correlation between student access to online learning materials and a positive impact on grades in science courses. More specifically, students who frequently use the online…

The Evolution of Software Pricing: From Box Licenses to Application Service Provider Models.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bontis, Nick; Chung, Honsan

2000-01-01

Describes three different pricing models for software. Findings of this case study support the proposition that software pricing is a complex and subjective process. The key determinant of alignment between vendor and user is the nature of value in the software to the buyer. This value proposition may range from increased cost reduction to…

From Research to the General Music Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Madsen, Clifford K.

2011-01-01

One challenge for music educators is to find techniques to help students "listen across time" to the examples they are assigned to study and to stay focused on a piece as they listen. Measurement tools to assess music listening have a long history, ranging from very simple to very complex, and very dated to very recent. This article traces the…

Immigration Research for a New Century: Multidisciplinary Perspective.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Foner, Nancy, Ed.; Rumbaut, Ruben G., Ed.; Gold, Steven J., Ed.

This book presents research on the post-1965 wave of immigrants to the United States by a new generation of immigration scholars. The 20 papers, which come from a 1998 conference, cover groups ranging from high-tech engineers in Silicon Valley to Sudanese Nuer refugees in Minnesota. Many studies report novel findings and fresh interpretations. The…

General Education Development (GED) Recipients' Life Course Experiences: Humanizing the Findings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hartigan, Lacey A.

2017-01-01

This study examines a range of GED recipients' life course contexts and experiences and their relationship with long-term outcomes. Using descriptive comparisons, bivariate tests, and propensity-score matched regression models to analyze data from rounds 1-15 of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1997, analyses aim to examine: (1)…

Oak Woodland Artificial Regeneration - Correlating Soil Moisture to Seedling Survival

Treesearch

Tim R. Plumb; Karl Kraus

1991-01-01

The primary goal of this study was to find economical and effective planting techniques that will ensure the establishment and early survival of coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia Née) and blue oak (Q. douglasii H. and A.) in the Central Coast region of California. Eight treatments were evaluated ranging from unprotected seed spots...

The Impacts of Free Public Internet Access on Public Library Patrons and Communities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bertot, John Carlo; McClure, Charles R.; Jaeger, Paul T.

2008-01-01

Public libraries have evolved into a primary source of Internet access in many communities, generating wide-ranging impacts in the communities that public libraries serve. Based on the findings of the 2007 Public Libraries and the Internet study, this article examines the ways in which the Internet access delivered by public libraries affects…

The Self-Perception and Cultural Dimensions: Cross-Cultural Comparison

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Akande, Adebowale W.

2009-01-01

The present study has been conducted with an aim to compare responses of undergraduates from Swaziland to previously reported findings with similar groups of American, Nepalese, Nigerian and Hong Kong. A total sample of 310 males and females in the age range of 20 and 21 were selected from three universities in South Africa. Self-esteem was…

Review of the Research: Are Therapy Dogs in Classrooms Beneficial?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kropp, Jerri J.; Shupp, Mikaela M.

2017-01-01

Research findings on the presence of a therapy dog in the classroom are summarized. The authors reviewed 30 articles, book chapters, and other sources on the topic of the various uses of dogs in classrooms, published between 2001 and 2017. Ages studied ranged from 3 years to adolescence (high school). In our analysis, three categories of…

Gender Bias in the College Classroom: A Critical Review of the Literature and Implications for Future Research.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brady, Kristine L.; Eisler, Richard M.

1995-01-01

Summarizes eight studies on gender bias in college classrooms, examining the range of variables assessed and adequacy of evidence supporting the existence of bias. Inconsistent findings and significant methodological flaws in existing literature suggest that more empirical research is needed to investigate the existence of gender bias in college…

Effect of Music on Reading Comprehension of Junior High School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anderson, Stacey A.; Fuller, Gerald B.

2010-01-01

This quantitative study was an investigation of the effect of lyrical music on reading comprehension by adolescents. Existing research has produced results that range from concluding such distraction may be detrimental to finding it could be helpful. The reading comprehension subtest of the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Tests, 4th edition (MacGinitie,…

Revisiting "How We Learn" in Academia: Practice-Based Learning Exchanges in Three Australian Universities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hodge, Paul; Wright, Sarah; Barraket, Jo; Scott, Marcelle; Melville, Rose; Richardson, Sarah

2011-01-01

Ideas of "how we learn" in formal academic settings have changed markedly in recent decades. The primary position that universities once held on shaping what constitutes learning has come into question from a range of experience-led and situated learning models. Drawing on findings from a study conducted across three Australian universities, the…

A Development Program for Metropolitan Junior College, Kansas City. Volume One: Executive Summary.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Little (Arthur D.), Inc., San Francisco, CA.

This five-part report provides a summary of the findings and recommendations resulting from a study conducted to determine the most suitable sites for three Metropolitan Junior College (MJC) campuses and to formulate long-range plans for the development of a comprehensive institution. After presenting introductory material, Part I notes problems…

Finding Balance: The Professional Life of a Charter School Teacher

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clark, Marjorie

2010-01-01

This phenomenological study of one charter school teacher sought to answer the question, what is it like to be a teacher in a charter school? Exploring issues of preparation, working conditions, and job satisfaction, this teacher expressed a range of emotions about her chosen work environment. I found that the pervasive stress surrounding her work…

Prevalence of cysts in seminal tract and abnormal semen parameters in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

PubMed

Torra, Roser; Sarquella, Joaquim; Calabia, Jordi; Martí, Jordi; Ars, Elisabet; Fernández-Llama, Patricia; Ballarin, Jose

2008-05-01

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is a systemic disorder with a wide range of extrarenal involvement. The scope of this study was to analyze the prevalence of seminal cysts and to correlate these findings with the sperm parameters in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. A prospective study enrolled 30 adult men with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Of these 30 patients, 22 agreed to provide a semen sample for analysis, and 28 of 30 agreed to undergo an ultrasound rectal examination. Data obtained from the semen tests and from the ultrasound study were compared. Cysts in the seminal tract were present in 10 (43.47%) of 28 individuals. Twenty of 22 patients showed abnormal semen parameters, with asthenozoospermia as the most common finding. No correlation between ultrasound findings and sperm abnormalities was observed. The presence of cysts in the seminal tract is remarkably high (43.47%); however, this finding does not correlate with sperm abnormalities, which are also a frequent finding, especially asthenozoospermia. This semen abnormality is probably related to the abnormal function of polycystins. More attention should be paid to reproductive aspects in the initial evaluation of patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease before their ability to conceive is further impaired by uremia.

The non-equilibrium nature of culinary evolution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kinouchi, Osame; Diez-Garcia, Rosa W.; Holanda, Adriano J.; Zambianchi, Pedro; Roque, Antonio C.

2008-07-01

Food is an essential part of civilization, with a scope that ranges from the biological to the economic and cultural levels. Here, we study the statistics of ingredients and recipes taken from Brazilian, British, French and Medieval cookery books. We find universal distributions with scale invariant behaviour. We propose a copy-mutate process to model culinary evolution that fits our empirical data very well. We find a cultural 'founder effect' produced by the non-equilibrium dynamics of the model. Both the invariant and idiosyncratic aspects of culture are accounted for by our model, which may have applications in other kinds of evolutionary processes.

Molecular dynamics study of melting and fcc-bcc transitions in Xe.

PubMed

Belonoshko, A B; Ahuja, R; Johansson, B

2001-10-15

We have investigated the phase diagram of Xe over a wide pressure-temperature range by molecular dynamics. The calculated melting curve is in good agreement with earlier experimental data. At a pressure of around 25 GPa and a temperature of about 2700 K we find a triple fcc-bcc liquid point. The calculated fcc-bcc boundary is in nice agreement with the experimental points, which, however, were interpreted as melting. This finding suggests that the transition from close-packed to bcc structure might be more common at high pressure and high temperature than was previously anticipated.

Aftermath of Ankle Inversion Injuries: Spectrum of MR Imaging Findings.

PubMed

Meehan, Timothy M; Martinez-Salazar, Edgar Leonardo; Torriani, Martin

2017-02-01

Acute and chronic ankle inversion injuries are a common source of pain and a diagnostic challenge. Several studies have shown a variety of injury patterns after inversion injury both in acute and chronic settings. Although traditional assessment with clinical examination and radiographs is generally accepted for inversion injuries, MR imaging is a useful tool to detect occult injuries and in patients with chronic symptoms. This article examines a range of MR imaging findings that may be present in patients with lateral ankle pain following an acute or chronic inversion injury. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Working memory, short-term memory, and reading disabilities: a selective meta-analysis of the literature.

PubMed

Swanson, H Lee; Xinhua Zheng; Jerman, Olga

2009-01-01

The purpose of the present study was to synthesize research that compares children with and without reading disabilities (RD) on measures of short-term memory (STM) and working memory (WM). Across a broad age, reading, and IQ range, 578 effect sizes (ESs) were computed, yielding a mean ES across studies of -.89 (SD = 1.03). A total of 257 ESs were in the moderate range for STM measures (M = -.61, 95% confidence range of -.65 to -.58), and 320 ESs were in the moderate range for WM measures (M = -.67, 95% confidence range of -.68 to -.64). The results indicated that children with RD were distinctively disadvantaged compared with average readers on (a) STM measures requiring the recall of phonemes and digit sequences and (b) WM measures requiring the simultaneous processing and storage of digits within sentence sequences and final words from unrelated sentences. No significant moderating effects emerged for age, IQ, or reading level on memory ESs. The findings indicated that domain-specific STM and WM differences between ability groups persisted across age, suggesting that a verbal deficit model that fails to efficiently draw resources from both a phonological and executive system underlies RD.

Cerulean Warbler Technical Group: Coordinating international research and conservation

USGS Publications Warehouse

Dawson, D.K.; Wigley, T.B.; Keyser, P.D.

2012-01-01

Effective conservation for species of concern requires interchange and collaboration among conservationists and stakeholders. The Cerulean Warbler Technical Group (CWTG) is a consortium of biologists and managers from government agencies, non-governmental organizations, academia, and industry, who are dedicated to finding pro-active, science-based solutions for conservation of the Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea). Formed in the United States in 2001, CWTG’s scope soon broadened to address the species’ ecology and conservation on both the breeding and non-breeding ranges, in partnership with biologists from South and Central America. In 2004, CWTG launched the Cerulean Warbler Conservation Initiative, a set of activities aimed at addressing information and conservation needs for the species. These include (1) studies in the core breeding range to assess Cerulean Warbler response to forest management practices and to identify mined lands that could be reforested to benefit the species, (2) ecological and demographic studies on the winter range, and (3) surveys of Cerulean Warbler distribution on the breeding and winter ranges and during migration. A rangewide conservation action plan has been completed, along with a more detailed conservation plan for the non-breeding range. CWTG and partners now move forward with on-the-ground conservation, while still addressing unmet information needs.

The use of social networking applications of smartphone and associated sexual risks in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender populations: a systematic review.

PubMed

Choi, E P H; Wong, J Y H; Fong, D Y T

2017-02-01

The use of social networking applications (apps) on smartphones has the potential to impact sexual health and behaviour. This was the first systematic review to critically appraise and summarize the existing literature on the use of social networking apps on smartphones and their associated sexual health and sexual behaviour effects in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender populations. A systematic search was conducted in five databases (CINAHL Plus, PsycINFO, PubMed, SCOPUS and Sociological Abstracts), using controlled terms and keywords. Thirteen articles from 11 studies were included in this review. Studied outcomes included rates of unprotected sexual intercourse, the number of sexual partners, drug/alcohol use prior to/during sexual intercourse, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) testing and the prevalence of STIs. Among app users, the prevalence of unprotected sex ranged from 17.0% to 66.7%. The mean number of sexual partners ranged from 1.4 to 2.9 (last 1-month period), and from 46.2 to 79.6 (lifetime). Two studies found that the prevalence of HIV infection was 1.9% and 11.4%, respectively. The self-reported prevalence of prior diagnosis of STIs other than HIV ranged from 9.1% to 51.0%. It should be noted that the heterogeneity of the study design and outcome measures across different studies hindered the comparison of findings across different studies. Furthermore, the findings in some studies are not reliable due to methodological problems. Our results highlight the need for more research with rigorous methodology to understand the negative impacts of using these apps on sexual health and sexual behaviour. For future studies, the operational definition of outcomes, including social networking app use and unprotected anal intercourse (UAI), should be clearly outlined. The use of validated tools to measure sexual behaviour and biological measures of HIV and other STDs is preferable so that outcomes can be standardized to facilitate comparisons between studies and the pooling of data.

A Household-Based Study of Contact Networks Relevant for the Spread of Infectious Diseases in the Highlands of Peru

PubMed Central

Grijalva, Carlos G.; Goeyvaerts, Nele; Verastegui, Hector; Edwards, Kathryn M.; Gil, Ana I.; Lanata, Claudio F.; Hens, Niel

2015-01-01

Background Few studies have quantified social mixing in remote rural areas of developing countries, where the burden of infectious diseases is usually the highest. Understanding social mixing patterns in those settings is crucial to inform the implementation of strategies for disease prevention and control. We characterized contact and social mixing patterns in rural communities of the Peruvian highlands. Methods and Findings This cross-sectional study was nested in a large prospective household-based study of respiratory infections conducted in the province of San Marcos, Cajamarca-Peru. Members of study households were interviewed using a structured questionnaire of social contacts (conversation or physical interaction) experienced during the last 24 hours. We identified 9015 reported contacts from 588 study household members. The median age of respondents was 17 years (interquartile range [IQR] 4–34 years). The median number of reported contacts was 12 (IQR 8–20) whereas the median number of physical (i.e. skin-to-skin) contacts was 8.5 (IQR 5–14). Study participants had contacts mostly with people of similar age, and with their offspring or parents. The number of reported contacts was mainly determined by the participants’ age, household size and occupation. School-aged children had more contacts than other age groups. Within-household reciprocity of contacts reporting declined with household size (range 70%-100%). Ninety percent of household contact networks were complete, and furthermore, household members' contacts with non-household members showed significant overlap (range 33%-86%), indicating a high degree of contact clustering. A two-level mixing epidemic model was simulated to compare within-household mixing based on observed contact networks and within-household random mixing. No differences in the size or duration of the simulated epidemics were revealed. Conclusion This study of rural low-density communities in the highlands of Peru suggests contact patterns are highly assortative. Study findings support the use of within-household homogenous mixing assumptions for epidemic modeling in this setting. PMID:25734772

Are Key Principles for improved health technology assessment supported and used by health technology assessment organizations?

PubMed

Neumann, Peter J; Drummond, Michael F; Jönsson, Bengt; Luce, Bryan R; Schwartz, J Sanford; Siebert, Uwe; Sullivan, Sean D

2010-01-01

Previously, our group-the International Working Group for HTA Advancement-proposed a set of fifteen Key Principles that could be applied to health technology assessment (HTA) programs in different jurisdictions and across a range of organizations and perspectives. In this commentary, we investigate the extent to which these principles are supported and used by fourteen selected HTA organizations worldwide. We find that some principles are broadly supported: examples include being explicit about HTA goals and scope; considering a wide range of evidence and outcomes; and being unbiased and transparent. Other principles receive less widespread support: examples are addressing issues of generalizability and transferability; being transparent on the link between HTA findings and decision-making processes; considering a full societal perspective; and monitoring the implementation of HTA findings. The analysis also suggests a lack of consensus in the field about some principles--for example, considering a societal perspective. Our study highlights differences in the uptake of key principles for HTA and indicates considerable room for improvement for HTA organizations to adopt principles identified to reflect good HTA practices. Most HTA organizations espouse certain general concepts of good practice--for example, assessments should be unbiased and transparent. However, principles that require more intensive follow-up--for example, monitoring the implementation of HTA findings--have received little support and execution.

Mindful attention and awareness mediate the association between age and negative affect.

PubMed

Raes, An K; Bruyneel, Lynn; Loeys, Tom; Moerkerke, Beatrijs; De Raedt, Rudi

2015-03-01

Later life is often accompanied by experiences of loss and bereavement in several life domains. In spite of this, older adults experience less negative affect than their younger counterparts. Several explanations for this paradoxical finding have been put forward, but the mechanisms underlying the association between age and negative affect remain largely unclear. In the present study, we propose that mindfulness may be an important mediator of this association. A cross-sectional sample of 507 participants (age range 18-85 years) was used to investigate this question. Participants completed a range of self-report questionnaires on demographic variables, mindfulness, affect, quality of life (QoL), and personality. In our mediation analysis, we used an advanced statistical technique called G-estimation to control for the impact of confounding variables such as personality dimensions and QoL. Our findings indicate that the age-related decrease in negative affect is mediated by mindfulness. The results remain significant when we control for QoL and personality. These findings imply that mindfulness skills may be an important link between age and negative affect. Implications of these findings for the understanding of the well-being paradox are discussed. © The Author 2013. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Wolf (Canis lupus) Generation Time and Proportion of Current Breeding Females by Age

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Information is sparse about aspects of female wolf (Canis lupus) breeding in the wild, including age of first reproduction, mean age of primiparity, generation time, and proportion of each age that breeds in any given year. We studied these subjects in 86 wolves (113 captures) in the Superior National Forest (SNF), Minnesota (MN), during 1972–2013 where wolves were legally protected for most of the period, and in 159 harvested wolves from throughout MN wolf range during 2012–2014. Breeding status of SNF wolves were assessed via nipple measurements, and wolves from throughout MN wolf range, by placental scars. In the SNF, proportions of currently breeding females (those breeding in the year sampled) ranged from 19% at age 2 to 80% at age 5, and from throughout wolf range, from 33% at age 2 to 100% at age 7. Excluding pups and yearlings, only 33% to 36% of SNF females and 58% of females from throughout MN wolf range bred in any given year. Generation time for SNF wolves was 4.3 years and for MN wolf range, 4.7 years. These findings will be useful in modeling wolf population dynamics and in wolf genetic and dog-domestication studies. PMID:27258193

The relationship between history and physical examination findings and the outcome of electrodiagnostic testing in patients with sciatica referred to physical therapy.

PubMed

Savage, Nathan J; Fritz, Julie M; Thackeray, Anne

2014-07-01

Cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy study. To investigate the relationship between history and physical examination findings and the outcome of electrodiagnostic testing in patients with sciatica referred to physical therapy. Electrodiagnostic testing is routinely used to evaluate patients with sciatica. Recent evidence suggests that the presence of radiculopathy identified with electrodiagnostic testing may predict better functional outcomes in these patients. While some patient history and physical examination findings have been shown to predict the presence of disc herniation or neurological insult, little is known about their relationship to the results of electrodiagnostic testing. Electrodiagnostic testing was performed on 38 patients with sciatica who participated in a randomized trial that compared different physical therapy interventions. The diagnostic gold standard was the presence or absence of radiculopathy, based on the results of the needle electromyographic examination. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity values were calculated, along with corresponding likelihood ratios, for select patient history and physical examination variables. No significant relationship was found between select patient history and physical examination findings, analyzed individually or in combination, and the outcome of electrodiagnostic testing. Diagnostic sensitivity values ranged from 0.03 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.00, 0.24) to a high of 0.95 (95% CI: 0.72, 0.99), and specificity values ranged from 0.10 (95% CI: 0.02, 0.34) to a high of 0.95 (95% CI: 0.72, 0.99). Positive likelihood ratios ranged from 0.15 (95% CI: 0.01, 2.87) to a high of 2.33 (95% CI: 0.71, 7.70), and negative likelihood ratios ranged from 2.00 (95% CI: 0.35, 11.48) to a low of 0.50 (95% CI: 0.03, 8.10). In this investigation, the relationship between patient history and physical examination findings and the outcome of electrodiagnostic testing among patients with sciatica was not found to be statistically significant or clinically meaningful. However, given the small sample size and corresponding large CIs, these results should be considered with caution, recognizing that some of the history and physical examination variables may prove useful in future research. These findings suggest that electrodiagnostic testing is essential to identify the subgroup of patients with sciatica who have measurable nerve injury consistent with radiculopathy, which may be an important prognostic factor for recovery. Level of Evidence Diagnosis, level 3b-. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2014;44(7):508-517. Epub 22 May 2014. doi:10.2519/jospt.2014.5002.

Spatial working memory load affects counting but not subitizing in enumeration.

PubMed

Shimomura, Tomonari; Kumada, Takatsune

2011-08-01

The present study investigated whether subitizing reflects capacity limitations associated with two types of working memory tasks. Under a dual-task situation, participants performed an enumeration task in conjunction with either a spatial (Experiment 1) or a nonspatial visual (Experiment 2) working memory task. Experiment 1 showed that spatial working memory load affected the slope of a counting function but did not affect subitizing performance or subitizing range. Experiment 2 showed that nonspatial visual working memory load affected neither enumeration efficiency nor subitizing range. Furthermore, in both spatial and nonspatial memory tasks, neither subitizing efficiency nor subitizing range was affected by amount of imposed memory load. In all the experiments, working memory load failed to influence slope, subitizing range, or overall reaction time. These findings suggest that subitizing is performed without either spatial or nonspatial working memory. A possible mechanism of subitizing with independent capacity of working memory is discussed.

Geographic range did not confer resilience to extinction in terrestrial vertebrates at the end-Triassic crisis.

PubMed

Dunhill, Alexander M; Wills, Matthew A

2015-08-11

Rates of extinction vary greatly through geological time, with losses particularly concentrated in mass extinctions. Species duration at other times varies greatly, but the reasons for this are unclear. Geographical range correlates with lineage duration amongst marine invertebrates, but it is less clear how far this generality extends to other groups in other habitats. It is also unclear whether a wide geographical distribution makes groups more likely to survive mass extinctions. Here we test for extinction selectivity amongst terrestrial vertebrates across the end-Triassic event. We demonstrate that terrestrial vertebrate clades with larger geographical ranges were more resilient to extinction than those with smaller ranges throughout the Triassic and Jurassic. However, this relationship weakened with increasing proximity to the end-Triassic mass extinction, breaking down altogether across the event itself. We demonstrate that these findings are not a function of sampling biases; a perennial issue in studies of this kind.

Field dependence of the magnetic correlations of the frustrated magnet SrDy 2 O 4

DOE PAGES

Gauthier, N.; Fennell, A.; Prévost, B.; ...

2017-05-30

Tmore » he frustrated magnet SrDy 2 O 4 exhibits a field-induced phase with a magnetization plateau at 1 / 3 of the saturation value for magnetic fields applied along the b axis. We report here a neutron scattering study of the nature and symmetry of the magnetic order in this field-induced phase. Below ≈ 0.5 K, there are strong hysteretic effects, and the order is short- or long-ranged for zero-field and field cooling, respectively. We find that the long-range ordered magnetic structure within the zigzag chains is identical to that expected for the one-dimensional axial next-nearest neighbor Ising (ANNNI) model in longitudinal fields. he long-range ordered structure in field contrasts with the short-range order found at zero field, and is most likely reached through enhanced quantum fluctuations with increasing fields.« less

Long-range Prethermal Time Crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Machado, Francisco; Meyer, Gregory D.; Else, Dominic; Olund, Christopher; Nayak, Chetan; Yao, Norman Y.

2017-04-01

Driven quantum systems have recently enabled the realization of a discrete time crystal - an intrinsically out-of-equilibrium phase of matter. One strategy to prevent the drive-induced, runaway heating of the time crystal is the presence of strong disorder leading to many-body localization (MBL). A more elegant, disorder-less approach is simply to work in the prethermal regime where time crystalline order can persist to exponentially long times. One key difference between prethermal and MBL time crystals is that the former is prohibited from existing in one dimensional systems with short-range interactions. In this work, we demonstrate that long-range interactions can stabilize a one dimensional prethermal time crystal. By numerically studying the pre-thermal regime, we find evidence for a phase transition out of the time crystal as a function of increasing energy density. Finally, generalizations of previous analytical bounds for the heating time-scale of driven quantum systems to long-range interactions will also be discussed.

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

Tyler, S.C.; Zimmerman, P.R.; Cumberbatch, C.

Ratios of C{sup 13}/C{sup 12} have been measured in methane from a variety of sources in tropical Kenya. Ranges of delta-C{sup 13} in CH{sub 4} for termites (most values range from {minus}56 to {minus}64{per thousand}, one is at {minus}44{per thousand}), one is at approximately {minus}73{per thousand}, rice paddies (range {minus}57 to {minus}63{per thousand}), and wetlands (range-45 to {minus}50{per thousand} for Lake Baringo, approximately {minus}55{per thousand} in the Moloi River, approximately {minus}62{per thousand} and approximately {minus}31{per thousand} in two swamp areas) are presented. The data are interpreted with the help of additional measurements of delta-C{sup 13} of CO{sub 2} gas, andmore » organic carbon in plant material, termite bodies, and termite fungus combs. The implications of these findings are related to the problem of studying the atmospheric methane budget. 40 refs., 2 figs. 5 tabs.« less

Field dependence of the magnetic correlations of the frustrated magnet SrDy2O4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gauthier, N.; Fennell, A.; Prévost, B.; Désilets-Benoit, A.; Dabkowska, H. A.; Zaharko, O.; Frontzek, M.; Sibille, R.; Bianchi, A. D.; Kenzelmann, M.

2017-05-01

The frustrated magnet SrDy2O4 exhibits a field-induced phase with a magnetization plateau at 1 /3 of the saturation value for magnetic fields applied along the b axis. We report here a neutron scattering study of the nature and symmetry of the magnetic order in this field-induced phase. Below T ≈0.5 K, there are strong hysteretic effects, and the order is short- or long-ranged for zero-field and field cooling, respectively. We find that the long-range ordered magnetic structure within the zigzag chains is identical to that expected for the one-dimensional axial next-nearest neighbor Ising (ANNNI) model in longitudinal fields. The long-range ordered structure in field contrasts with the short-range order found at zero field, and is probably reached through enhanced quantum fluctuations with increasing fields.

Properies of the microseism wave field in Australia from three component array data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gal, Martin; Reading, Anya; Ellingsen, Simon; Koper, Keith; Burlacu, Relu; Tkalčić, Hrvoje

2016-04-01

In the last two decades, ambient noise studies in the range of 1-20 seconds have predominantly focused on the analysis of source regions for Rayleigh and P waves. The theoretical excitation of these phases is well understood for primary microseisms (direct coupling of gravity waves in sloping shallow bathymetry) and secondary microseisms (wave-wave interaction) and correlates well with observations. For Love waves, the excitation mechanism in the secondary microseism band is to date unknown. It has been shown, that LQ waves can exhibit larger amplitudes than Rg waves for certain frequencies. Therefore detailed analysis of the wave field are necessary to find indications on the generation mechanism. We analyse data from two spiral-shaped arrays located in Australia, the Pilbara Array (PSAR) in the North-West and an array in South Queensland (SQspa) in the East. The two arrays are different in aperture and allow for the study of primary and secondary microseisms with SQspa and higher secondary microseisms with PSAR. We use a deconvolution enhanced beamforming approach, which is based on the CLEAN algorithm. It allows the accurate detection of weaker sources and the estimation of power levels on each component or wave type. For PSAR we evaluate 1 year of data in the frequency range of 0.35-1 Hz and find fundamental and higher mode Rg and LQ waves. For the low end of the frequency range, we find the strongest fundamental mode Rg waves to originate from multiple direction, but confined to coastline reflectors, i.e. coastlines that are perpendicular to the main swell direction, while higher mode Rg waves are mainly generated in the Great Australian Bight. For higher frequencies, the source locations of Rg waves move toward the north coast, which is closest to the array and we see an increase in the Lg phase. The majority of fundamental LQ waves are generated at the west coast of Australia and we find some agreement between low frequency Rg and LQ source locations, which becomes uncorrelated with increasing frequency. For higher mode LQ waves the generation region is in the south-west, where Australia is exposed to direct swells from the Antarctic. In the case of Rg-to-LQ power ratio, we find a frequency and backazimuth dependence. Results from SQspa allow lower frequency arrivals around the primary and secondary microseism peak to be investigated.

Ranging Behaviour of Commercial Free-Range Laying Hens

PubMed Central

Chielo, Leonard Ikenna; Pike, Tom; Cooper, Jonathan

2016-01-01

Simple Summary Commercial free-range production has become a significant sector of the fresh egg market due to legislation banning conventional cages and consumer preference for products perceived as welfare friendly, as access to outdoor range can lead to welfare benefits such as greater freedom of movement and enhanced behavioural opportunities. This study investigated dispersal patterns, feather condition and activity of laying hens in three distinct zones of the range area; the apron area near shed; enriched zone 10–50 m from shed; and outer range beyond 50 m, in six flocks of laying hens under commercial free-range conditions varying in size between 4000 and 24,000 hens. Each flock was visited for four days to record number of hens in each zone, their behaviour, feather condition and nearest neighbour distances (NND), as well as record temperature and relative humidity during the visit. Temperature and relative humidity varied across the study period in line with seasonal variations and influenced the use of range with fewer hens out of shed as temperature fell or relative humidity rose. On average, 12.5% of the hens were observed on the range and most of these hens were recorded in the apron zone as hen density decreased rapidly with increasing distance from the shed. Larger flocks appeared to have a lower proportion of hens on range. The hens used the range more in the early morning followed by a progressive decrease through to early afternoon. The NND was greatest in the outer range and decreased towards the shed. Feather condition was generally good and hens observed in the outer range had the best overall feather condition. Standing, pecking, walking and foraging were the most commonly recorded behaviours and of these, standing occurred most in the apron whereas walking and foraging behaviours were recorded most in the outer range. This study supported the findings of previous studies that reported few hens in the range and greater use of areas closer to the shed in free-range flocks. This study suggests that hens in the outer range engaged more in walking and foraging activities and showed signs of better welfare than those closer to the shed. Abstract In this study, the range use and behaviour of laying hens in commercial free-range flocks was explored. Six flocks were each visited on four separate days and data collected from their outdoor area (divided into zones based on distance from shed and available resources). These were: apron (0–10 m from shed normally without cover or other enrichments); enriched belt (10–50 m from shed where resources such as manmade cover, saplings and dust baths were provided); and outer range (beyond 50 m from shed with no cover and mainly grass pasture). Data collection consisted of counting the number of hens in each zone and recording behaviour, feather condition and nearest neighbour distance (NND) of 20 birds per zone on each visit day. In addition, we used techniques derived from ecological surveys to establish four transects perpendicular to the shed, running through the apron, enriched belt and outer range. Number of hens in each 10 m × 10 m quadrat was recorded four times per day as was the temperature and relative humidity of the outer range. On average, 12.5% of hens were found outside. Of these, 5.4% were found in the apron; 4.3% in the enriched zone; and 2.8% were in the outer range. This pattern was supported by data from quadrats, where the density of hens sharply dropped with increasing distance from shed. Consequently, NND was greatest in the outer range, least in the apron and intermediate in the enriched belt. Hens sampled in outer range and enriched belts had better feather condition than those from the apron. Standing, ground pecking, walking and foraging were the most commonly recorded activities with standing and pecking most likely to occur in the apron, and walking and foraging more common in the outer range. Use of the outer range declined with lower temperatures and increasing relative humidity, though use of apron and enriched belt was not affected by variation in these measures. These data support previous findings that outer range areas tend to be under-utilized in commercial free-range flocks and suggest positive relationships between range use, feather condition and increased behavioural opportunities and decline in the use of range in cold and/or damp conditions. PMID:27128946

Association of vascular physical examination findings and arteriographic lesions in large vessel vasculitis.

PubMed

Grayson, Peter C; Tomasson, Gunnar; Cuthbertson, David; Carette, Simon; Hoffman, Gary S; Khalidi, Nader A; Langford, Carol A; McAlear, Carol A; Monach, Paul A; Seo, Philip; Warrington, Kenneth J; Ytterberg, Steven R; Merkel, Peter A

2012-02-01

To assess the utility of the vascular physical examination to detect arteriographic lesions in patients with established large vessel vasculitis (LVV), including Takayasu's arteritis (TAK) and giant cell arteritis (GCA). In total, 100 patients (TAK = 68, GCA = 32) underwent standardized physical examination and angiography of the carotid, subclavian, and axillary arteries. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for the association between findings on physical examination focusing on the vascular system (absent pulse, bruit, and blood pressure difference) and arteriographic lesions defined as stenosis, occlusion, or aneurysm. We found 67% of patients had at least 1 abnormality on physical examination (74% TAK, 53% GCA). Arteriographic lesions were seen in 76% of patients (82% TAK, 63% GCA). Individual physical examination findings had poor sensitivity (range 14%-50%) and good-excellent specificity (range 71%-98%) to detect arteriographic lesions. Even when considering physical examination findings in combination, at least 30% of arteriographic lesions were missed. Specificity improved (range 88%-100%) if individual physical examination findings were compared to a broader region of vessels rather than specific anatomically correlated vessels and if ≥ 1 physical examination findings were combined. In patients with established LVV, physical examination alone is worthwhile to detect arterial disease but does not always localize or reveal the full extent of arteriographic lesions. Abnormal vascular system findings on physical examination are highly associated with the presence of arterial lesions, but normal findings on physical examination do not exclude the possibility of arterial disease. Serial angiographic assessment is advisable to monitor arterial disease in patients with established LVV.

Association of Vascular Physical Examination Findings and Arteriographic Lesions in Large Vessel Vasculitis

PubMed Central

GRAYSON, PETER C.; TOMASSON, GUNNAR; CUTHBERTSON, DAVID; CARETTE, SIMON; HOFFMAN, GARY S.; KHALIDI, NADER A.; LANGFORD, CAROL A.; McALEAR, CAROL A.; MONACH, PAUL A.; SEO, PHILIP; WARRINGTON, KENNETH J.; YTTERBERG, STEVEN R.; MERKEL, PETER A.

2013-01-01

Objective To assess the utility of the vascular physical examination to detect arteriographic lesions in patients with established large vessel vasculitis (LVV), including Takayasu’s arteritis (TAK) and giant cell arteritis (GCA). Methods In total, 100 patients (TAK = 68, GCA = 32) underwent standardized physical examination and angiography of the carotid, subclavian, and axillary arteries. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for the association between findings on physical examination focusing on the vascular system (absent pulse, bruit, and blood pressure difference) and arteriographic lesions defined as stenosis, occlusion, or aneurysm. Results We found 67% of patients had at least 1 abnormality on physical examination (74% TAK, 53% GCA). Arteriographic lesions were seen in 76% of patients (82% TAK, 63% GCA). Individual physical examination findings had poor sensitivity (range 14%–50%) and good-excellent specificity (range 71%–98%) to detect arteriographic lesions. Even when considering physical examination findings in combination, at least 30% of arteriographic lesions were missed. Specificity improved (range 88%–100%) if individual physical examination findings were compared to a broader region of vessels rather than specific anatomically correlated vessels and if ≥ 1 physical examination findings were combined. Conclusion In patients with established LVV, physical examination alone is worthwhile to detect arterial disease but does not always localize or reveal the full extent of arteriographic lesions. Abnormal vascular system findings on physical examination are highly associated with the presence of arterial lesions, but normal findings on physical examination do not exclude the possibility of arterial disease. Serial angiographic assessment is advisable to monitor arterial disease in patients with established LVV. PMID:22174204

Anxiety (Low Ago Strength) And Intelligence Among Students Of High School Mathematics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naderi, Habibollah

2008-01-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between anxiety (low ago strength) and intelligence among student's mathematics. All the effects of anxiety were studied within the sample of 112 subjects (boys). 56 of them were regular of students (RS) and 56 were intelligent of students (IS) of high schools. Mean age was (17.1 years), SD (.454) and range age was 16-18 years in 3 classes of regular of high school mathematics was for regular students. For the IS, mean age was (16.75 years), SD (.436) and range age was l6-17 years in 4 classes of students exceptional talent for high school mathematics. The sampling method in this study was the simple randomization method. In this studied, for analysis of method used both descriptive and inference of research, which for description of analysis used Average and analysis of covariance and Variance, also for inference of analysis, used with t-test between two the groups of students. The Cattell of Anxiety Test (1958) (CTAT) has been used in a number of studies for measurement trait anxiety in Iran. In general, the findings were found not statistical significant between the RS and the IS of students in that factorial of low of ago strength (C-). Further research is needed to investigate whether the current findings hold for student populations by others anxiety tests.

Radiographic findings in late-presenting congenital diaphragmatic hernia: helpful imaging findings.

PubMed

Muzzafar, Sofia; Swischuk, Leonard E; Jadhav, Siddharth P

2012-03-01

Imaging findings in delayed presentation of congenital diaphragmatic hernia can be confusing and misleading, resulting in a delay in diagnosis. To evaluate the often puzzling plain film findings of late-presenting CDH in an effort to determine whether any of the findings could be helpful in arriving at an early diagnosis. We reviewed and documented the plain film findings and clinical data in eight patients seen during the last 20 years with late-presenting CDH. IRB exempt status was obtained in this study. There were five boys and three girls. The age range was 4 months to 12 years with a mean of 2.4 years. Five children presented with acute respiratory problems while three presented with acute abdominal pain. Two children presented with both respiratory and abdominal findings and one also presented with hematemesis. Two children had radiographic findings that were not difficult to analyze while the remaining six had findings that posed initial diagnostic problems. Although not common, late-presenting CDH can result in confusing plain film radiographic findings and a delay in diagnosis. We found that the most important finding in analyzing these radiographs is in evaluating the location and position of the gastric bubble with the more common left-side hernias.

Low temperature resistivity studies of SmB6: Observation of two-dimensional variable-range hopping conductivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Batkova, Marianna; Batko, Ivan; Gabáni, Slavomír; Gažo, Emil; Konovalova, Elena; Filippov, Vladimir

2018-05-01

We studied electrical resistance of a single-crystalline SmB6 sample with a focus on the region of the "low-temperature resistivity plateau". Our observations did not show any true saturation of the electrical resistance at temperatures below 3 K down to 70 mK. According to our findings, temperature dependence of the electrical conduction in a certain temperature interval above 70 mK can be decomposed into a temperature-independent term and a temperature-activated term that can be described by variable-range hopping formula for two-dimensional systems, exp [ -(T0 / T) 1 / 3 ]. Thus, our results indicate importance of hopping type of electrical transport in the near-surface region of SmB6.

Middle and late holocene micromammal pathologies from Cueva Tixi (Tandilia Range, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina).

PubMed

Luna, Leandro; Aranda, Claudia; Quintana, Carlos

2017-09-01

Paleopathology in bones of very small mammals has rarely been studied. Different types of osseous lesions of mammals weighing under 0.2kg, recovered from the Holocene strata of Cueva Tixi archaeological and paleontological site (Tandilia range, province of Buenos Aires, Argentina), are described and discussed in this report. Several types of trauma, entheseal changes, degenerative joint diseases, and probable osteomyelitis were identified. The lesions were chronic, indicating that the animals were able to survive a period of convalescence, although in many cases the decreased capacity for locomotion likely was significant. These pathological findings open research avenues for very small mammals that usually are not considered in archaeological disease studies. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

New Trends in Gender and Mathematics Performance: A Meta-Analysis

PubMed Central

Lindberg, Sara M.; Hyde, Janet Shibley; Petersen, Jennifer L.; Linn, Marcia C.

2010-01-01

In this paper, we use meta-analysis to analyze gender differences in recent studies of mathematics performance. First, we meta-analyzed data from 242 studies published between 1990 and 2007, representing the testing of 1,286,350 people. Overall, d = .05, indicating no gender difference, and VR = 1.08, indicating nearly equal male and female variances. Second, we analyzed data from large data sets based on probability sampling of U.S. adolescents over the past 20 years: the NLSY, NELS88, LSAY, and NAEP. Effect sizes for the gender difference ranged between −0.15 and +0.22. Variance ratios ranged from 0.88 to 1.34. Taken together these findings support the view that males and females perform similarly in mathematics. PMID:21038941

A Comparative Study of Some Brands of Tolbutamide Available in Canada

PubMed Central

Lu, F. C.; Rice, W. B.; Mainville, C. W.

1965-01-01

Pharmaceutical analyses were carried out on 26 lots of tolbutamide from 21 manufacturers. All lots were found to be satisfactory with respect to identity and strength. Disintegration time of 24 lots ranged from one to 35 minutes, with 72 and 83 minutes for the other two. The time to 90% dissolution in intestinal solution (pH 7.5) ranged from five to 69 minutes in all except two lots for which the times were 99 and over 120 minutes. While the clinical significance of these findings cannot be ascertained in the absence of data from controlled studies, the evidence does not suggest that most of the non-proprietary products available in Canada would not be satisfactory for the purpose intended. PMID:14289147

Comparison of Children's and Adults' Vocal Ranges and Preferred Tessituras in Singing Familiar Songs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moore, Randall S.

1991-01-01

Tests 90 children's and 100 preservice teachers' singing ranges and tonalities. Finds both sets of subjects have nearly identical singing ranges. Suggests both groups may sing in low tessituras unless reminded to lift their voices. Encourages teacher education programs to recommend that new teachers perform songs in suitable ranges for children.…

Research and emulation of ranging in BPON system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Guangxiang; Tao, Dexin; He, Yan

2005-12-01

Ranging is one of the key technologies in Broadband Passive Optical Network based on the ATM (BPON) system. It is complex for software designers and difficult to test. In order to simplify the ranging procedure, enhance its efficiency, and find an appropriate method to verify it, a new ranging procedure that completely satisfies the requirements specified in ITU-T G.983.1 and one verifying method is proposed in this paper. A kind of ranging procedure without serial number (SN) searching function, called one-by-one ranging are developed under the condition of cold PON, cold Optical Network Termination (ONU). The ranging procedure includes the use of OLT and ONU flow charts respectively. By using the network emulation software OPNET, the BPON system is modeled and the ranging procedure is simulated. The emulation experimental results show that the presented ranging procedure can effectively eliminate the collision of burst mode signals between ONUs, which can be ranged one-by-one under the controlling of OLT, while also enhancing the ranging efficiency. As all of the message formats used in this research conform with the ITU-T G.983.1, the ranging procedure can meet the protocol specifications with good interoperability, and is very compatible with products of other manufacturer. According to the present study of ranging procedures, guidelines and principles are provided, Also some design difficulties are eliminated in the software design.

Local but not long-range microstructural differences of the ventral temporal cortex in developmental prosopagnosia

PubMed Central

Song, Sunbin; Garrido, Lúcia; Nagy, Zoltan; Mohammadi, Siawoosh; Steel, Adam; Driver, Jon; Dolan, Ray J.; Duchaine, Bradley; Furl, Nicholas

2015-01-01

Individuals with developmental prosopagnosia (DP) experience face recognition impairments despite normal intellect and low-level vision and no history of brain damage. Prior studies using diffusion tensor imaging in small samples of subjects with DP (n=6 or n=8) offer conflicting views on the neurobiological bases for DP, with one suggesting white matter differences in two major long-range tracts running through the temporal cortex, and another suggesting white matter differences confined to fibers local to ventral temporal face-specific functional regions of interest (fROIs) in the fusiform gyrus. Here, we address these inconsistent findings using a comprehensive set of analyzes in a sample of DP subjects larger than both prior studies combined (n=16). While we found no microstructural differences in long-range tracts between DP and age-matched control participants, we found differences local to face-specific fROIs, and relationships between these microstructural measures with face recognition ability. We conclude that subtle differences in local rather than long-range tracts in the ventral temporal lobe are more likely associated with developmental prosopagnosia. PMID:26456436

Interpreting magnesium status to enhance clinical care: key indicators.

PubMed

Costello, Rebecca B; Nielsen, Forrest

2017-11-01

To update advances in identifying factors affecting magnesium (Mg) status that assist in providing improved evidence-based clinical decision-making for assessing Mg status. Findings from recent cohort studies, small randomized control trials, and multiple meta-analyses reinforce earlier work that serum Mg concentrations, urinary Mg excretion, and Mg dietary intakes are inversely associated with cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes. These studies indicate that the reference range for serum Mg needs updating, and that individuals with serum Mg in the range of 0.75-0.85 mmol/l and displaying changes in other factors associated with a low Mg status may be Mg deficient. Individuals with serum Mg concentrations below this range most likely are Mg deficient and, above this range, are most likely Mg sufficient. The combined determination of serum Mg concentration, 24-h urinary Mg excretion, and dietary Mg intake is currently the most practical method to obtain a sound assessment of Mg status. The strong correlations of Mg deficiency with increased risk of several chronic diseases, some of which exist as comorbidities, indicate that Mg status should be ascertained in patients presenting such disorder.

Life on the edge: carnivore body size variation is all over the place

PubMed Central

Meiri, Shai; Dayan, Tamar; Simberloff, Daniel; Grenyer, Richard

2009-01-01

Evolutionary biologists have long been fascinated by both the ways in which species respond to ecological conditions at the edges of their geographic ranges and the way that species' body sizes evolve across their ranges. Surprisingly, though, the relationship between these two phenomena is rarely studied. Here, we examine whether carnivore body size changes from the interior of their geographic range towards the range edges. We find that within species, body size often varies strongly with distance from the range edge. However, there is no general tendency across species for size to be either larger or smaller towards the edge. There is some evidence that the smallest guild members increase in size towards their range edges, but results for the largest guild members are equivocal. Whether individuals vary in relation to the distance from the range edges often depends on the way edge and interior are defined. Neither geographic range size nor absolute body size influences the tendency of size to vary with distance from the range edge. Therefore, we suggest that the frequent significant association between body size and the position of individuals along the edge-core continuum reflects the prevalence of geographic size variation and that the distance to range edge per se does not influence size evolution in a consistent way. PMID:19324818

Hair analysis for Δ(9) -tetrahydrocannabinolic acid A (THCA-A) and Δ(9) -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) after handling cannabis plant material.

PubMed

Moosmann, Bjoern; Roth, Nadine; Auwärter, Volker

2016-01-01

A previous study has shown that Δ(9) -tetrahydrocannabinolic acid A (THCA-A), the non-psychoactive precursor of Δ(9) -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the cannabis plant does not get incorporated in relevant amounts into the hair through the bloodstream after repeated oral intake. However, THCA-A can be measured in forensic hair samples in concentrations often exceeding the detected THC concentrations. To investigate whether the handling of cannabis plant material prior to consumption is a contributing factor for THC-positive hair results and also the source for THCA-A findings in hair, a study comprising ten participants was conducted. In this study, the participants rolled a marijuana joint on five consecutive days and hair samples of each participant were obtained. Urine samples were taken to exclude cannabis consumption prior to and during the study. THCA-A and THC could be detected in the hair samples from all participants taken at the end of the exposure period (concentration range: 15-1800 pg/mg for THCA-A and < 10-93 pg/mg for THC). Four weeks after the first exposure, THCA-A could still be detected in the hair samples of nine participants (concentration range: 4-57 pg/mg). Furthermore, THC could be detected in the hair samples of five participants (concentration range: < 10-17 pg/mg). Based on these results, it can be concluded that at least parts of the THC as well as the major part of THCA-A found in routine hair analysis derives from external contamination caused by direct transfer through contaminated fingers. This finding is of particular interest in interpreting THC-positive hair results of children or partners of cannabis users, where such a transfer can occur due to close body contact. Analytical findings may be wrongly interpreted as a proof of consumption or at least passive exposure to cannabis smoke. Such misinterpretation could lead to severe consequences for the people concerned. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The burning issues of motor vehicle radiator scald injuries revisited – a fresh review and changing prevention strategies

PubMed Central

Patel, J.N.; Tan, A.; Frew, Q.; Dziewulski, P.

2016-01-01

Summary A preventable subgroup of burn injuries is scalds sustained from motor vehicle radiators. This study was to determine changes in trends in epidemiology of such injuries and to discuss whether current and other prevention efforts proposed previously require reinforcement. We conducted a retrospective study (February 2007-August 2015) of all motor vehicle-related burn referrals to our regional burns service. 68 cases of motor vehicle radiator burns were identified. Male to female ratio was 65:3. Mean age was 35.1 (range = 9-71). Most cases occurred in the summer months (22/68 = 32.4%). 65 cases (95.6%) involved car radiators. 66% of injuries resulted from actively removing the pressure cap of an overheated radiator in the motor vehicle. Mean total burn surface area (%TBSA) was 2.1% (range = 0.5- 11%). The depths of burn injuries were mostly superficial partial thickness. Face, chest and upper limbs were the most common sites of injury. Mean healing time was 14.2 days (range = 4-60). Following the introduction of safety measures by vehicle manufacturers, motor vehicle radiator burns in this era are mostly minor injuries and can be potentially managed conservatively as an outpatient. This contrasts with findings from previous studies over a decade ago of larger, more significant injuries requiring admission and surgery. Whilst manufacturers have installed safety measures into the design of radiator caps, our findings suggest that re-educating the public to allow a period of cooling prior to opening caps should be reinforced. PMID:28289357

The burning issues of motor vehicle radiator scald injuries revisited - a fresh review and changing prevention strategies.

PubMed

Patel, J N; Tan, A; Frew, Q; Dziewulski, P

2016-12-31

A preventable subgroup of burn injuries is scalds sustained from motor vehicle radiators. This study was to determine changes in trends in epidemiology of such injuries and to discuss whether current and other prevention efforts proposed previously require reinforcement. We conducted a retrospective study (February 2007-August 2015) of all motor vehicle-related burn referrals to our regional burns service. 68 cases of motor vehicle radiator burns were identified. Male to female ratio was 65:3. Mean age was 35.1 (range = 9-71). Most cases occurred in the summer months (22/68 = 32.4%). 65 cases (95.6%) involved car radiators. 66% of injuries resulted from actively removing the pressure cap of an overheated radiator in the motor vehicle. Mean total burn surface area (%TBSA) was 2.1% (range = 0.5- 11%). The depths of burn injuries were mostly superficial partial thickness. Face, chest and upper limbs were the most common sites of injury. Mean healing time was 14.2 days (range = 4-60). Following the introduction of safety measures by vehicle manufacturers, motor vehicle radiator burns in this era are mostly minor injuries and can be potentially managed conservatively as an outpatient. This contrasts with findings from previous studies over a decade ago of larger, more significant injuries requiring admission and surgery. Whilst manufacturers have installed safety measures into the design of radiator caps, our findings suggest that re-educating the public to allow a period of cooling prior to opening caps should be reinforced.

Topological Magnon Bands and Unconventional Superconductivity in Pyrochlore Iridate Thin Films.

PubMed

Laurell, Pontus; Fiete, Gregory A

2017-04-28

We theoretically study the magnetic properties of pyrochlore iridate bilayer and trilayer thin films grown along the [111] direction using a strong coupling approach. We find the ground state magnetic configurations on a mean field level and carry out a spin-wave analysis about them. In the trilayer case the ground state is found to be the all-in-all-out (AIAO) state, whereas the bilayer has a deformed AIAO state. For all parameters of the spin-orbit coupled Hamiltonian we study, the lowest magnon band in the trilayer case has a nonzero Chern number. In the bilayer case we also find a parameter range with nonzero Chern numbers. We calculate the magnon Hall response for both geometries, finding a striking sign change as a function of temperature. Using a slave-boson mean-field theory we study the doping of the trilayer system and discover an unconventional time-reversal symmetry broken d+id superconducting state. Our study complements prior work in the weak coupling limit and suggests that the [111] grown thin film pyrochlore iridates are a promising candidate for topological properties and unconventional orders.

Imaging yield from 133 consecutive patients with prostate cancer and low trigger PSA from a single institution.

PubMed

Shinagare, A B; Keraliya, A; Somarouthu, B; Tirumani, S H; Ramaiya, N H; Kantoff, P W

2016-03-01

To investigate the yield of imaging in patients with relapsed prostate cancer (PC) with a low trigger prostate-specific antigen (PSA). This institutional review board (IRB)-approved, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-compliant retrospective study included all 133 patients (mean age 68 years; range 45-88; median 69 months since original diagnosis; interquartile range [IQR]: 32-139) with hormone-sensitive PC (HSPC, n=28) or castration-resistant PC (CRPC, n=105) and trigger PSA <4 ng/ml, who underwent same-day bone scintigraphy and computed tomography (CT; total 224 time points) at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute from January to December 2013. Clinical and pathological data were obtained by manual review of the electronic medical records. All the included bone scintigraphs and CT images were reviewed by a fellowship-trained oncoradiologist to record the metastatic pattern and any clinically significant non-metastatic findings. Ninety-four of the 133 (71%) patients had metastatic disease (18/28 [64%] with HSPC, 76/105 [72%] with CRPC). Forty-one of the 133 (31%) patients developed new metastatic disease and 23/133 (17%) developed new clinically significant non-metastatic findings. The incidence of osseous, nodal, and visceral metastases, and clinically significant non-metastatic findings was similar across the HSPC and CRPC groups (p>0.05 for all). Fifty-seven of the 133 (43%) patients had findings seen only at CT, of which 37 had new extra-osseous findings. Only 2/133 (2%) had findings at bone scintigraphy not seen at CT, both in areas not covered on CT. Imaging frequently demonstrated new metastatic and non-metastatic findings in patients with a low trigger PSA. CT is valuable in these patients because extra-osseous findings not visible at bone scintigraphy are frequently seen. Copyright © 2015 The Royal College of Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chest CT findings in patients with dysphagia and aspiration: a systematic review

PubMed Central

Scheeren, Betina; Gomes, Erissandra; Alves, Giordano; Marchiori, Edson; Hochhegger, Bruno

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT The objective of this systematic review was to characterize chest CT findings in patients with dysphagia and pulmonary aspiration, identifying the characteristics and the methods used. The studies were selected from among those indexed in the Brazilian Virtual Library of Health, LILACS, Indice Bibliográfico Español de Ciencias de la Salud, Medline, Cochrane Library, SciELO, and PubMed databases. The search was carried out between June and July of 2016. Five articles were included and reviewed, all of them carried out in the last five years, published in English, and coming from different countries. The sample size in the selected studies ranged from 43 to 56 patients, with a predominance of adult and elderly subjects. The tomographic findings in patients with dysphagia-related aspiration were varied, including bronchiectasis, bronchial wall thickening, pulmonary nodules, consolidations, pleural effusion, ground-glass attenuation, atelectasis, septal thickening, fibrosis, and air trapping. Evidence suggests that chest CT findings in patients with aspiration are diverse. In this review, it was not possible to establish a consensus that could characterize a pattern of pulmonary aspiration in patients with dysphagia, further studies of the topic being needed. PMID:28767772

Chest CT findings in patients with dysphagia and aspiration: a systematic review.

PubMed

Scheeren, Betina; Gomes, Erissandra; Alves, Giordano; Marchiori, Edson; Hochhegger, Bruno

2017-01-01

The objective of this systematic review was to characterize chest CT findings in patients with dysphagia and pulmonary aspiration, identifying the characteristics and the methods used. The studies were selected from among those indexed in the Brazilian Virtual Library of Health, LILACS, Indice Bibliográfico Español de Ciencias de la Salud, Medline, Cochrane Library, SciELO, and PubMed databases. The search was carried out between June and July of 2016. Five articles were included and reviewed, all of them carried out in the last five years, published in English, and coming from different countries. The sample size in the selected studies ranged from 43 to 56 patients, with a predominance of adult and elderly subjects. The tomographic findings in patients with dysphagia-related aspiration were varied, including bronchiectasis, bronchial wall thickening, pulmonary nodules, consolidations, pleural effusion, ground-glass attenuation, atelectasis, septal thickening, fibrosis, and air trapping. Evidence suggests that chest CT findings in patients with aspiration are diverse. In this review, it was not possible to establish a consensus that could characterize a pattern of pulmonary aspiration in patients with dysphagia, further studies of the topic being needed.

The Age Conundrum: A Scoping Review of Younger Age or Adolescent and Young Adult as a Risk Factor for Clinical Distress, Depression, or Anxiety in Cancer

PubMed Central

David, Victoria; Giese-Davis, Janine

2015-01-01

This scoping review was conducted to understand the extent, range, and nature of current research on adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer and distress, depression, and anxiety (DDA). This information is necessary to find and aggregate valuable data on the AYA population embedded in generalized studies of DDA. Keyword searches of six relevant electronic databases identified 2156 articles, with 316 selected for abstract review and 40 for full text review. Full-text reviews and data extraction resulted in 34 studies being included, which ranged widely in design, sample size, age-range categorization, analysis methods, DDA measurement tool, overall study rigor, and quality of evidence. Studies very seldom reported using theory to guide their age categorization, with only four studies giving any rationale for their age-group definitions. All 34 studies found a significant association between at least one DDA construct and the younger age group relative to the older age groups at some point along the cancer trajectory. However, age as an independent risk factor for DDA is still unclear, as the relationship could be confounded by other age-related factors. Despite the wide range of definitions and effect sizes in the studies included in this review, one thing is clear: adolescents and young adults, however defined, are a distinct group within the cancer population with an elevated risk of DDA. Widespread adoption of a standard AYA age-range definition will be essential to any future meta-analytical psycho-oncology research in this population. PMID:26697266

The Age Conundrum: A Scoping Review of Younger Age or Adolescent and Young Adult as a Risk Factor for Clinical Distress, Depression, or Anxiety in Cancer.

PubMed

Lang, Michael J; David, Victoria; Giese-Davis, Janine

2015-12-01

This scoping review was conducted to understand the extent, range, and nature of current research on adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer and distress, depression, and anxiety (DDA). This information is necessary to find and aggregate valuable data on the AYA population embedded in generalized studies of DDA. Keyword searches of six relevant electronic databases identified 2156 articles, with 316 selected for abstract review and 40 for full text review. Full-text reviews and data extraction resulted in 34 studies being included, which ranged widely in design, sample size, age-range categorization, analysis methods, DDA measurement tool, overall study rigor, and quality of evidence. Studies very seldom reported using theory to guide their age categorization, with only four studies giving any rationale for their age-group definitions. All 34 studies found a significant association between at least one DDA construct and the younger age group relative to the older age groups at some point along the cancer trajectory. However, age as an independent risk factor for DDA is still unclear, as the relationship could be confounded by other age-related factors. Despite the wide range of definitions and effect sizes in the studies included in this review, one thing is clear: adolescents and young adults, however defined, are a distinct group within the cancer population with an elevated risk of DDA. Widespread adoption of a standard AYA age-range definition will be essential to any future meta-analytical psycho-oncology research in this population.

Detection of passive movement of the arytenoid cartilage in unilateral vocal-fold paralysis by laryngoscopic observation: useful diagnostic findings.

PubMed

Okamoto, Isaku; Tokashiki, Ryoji; Hiramatsu, Hiroyuki; Motohashi, Ray; Suzuki, Mamoru

2012-02-01

In a previous study of patients with unilateral vocal-fold paralysis (UVFP), three-dimensional computed tomography (3DCT) revealed passive movement during phonation, with the arytenoid cartilage on the paralyzed side pushed to the unaffected side and deviated upwards. The present work compares the 3DCT findings with those obtained by 2-dimensional endoscopy to visualize the vertical passive movement of the arytenoid cartilage. The study population consisted of 23 patients with UVFP and two with laryngeal deviation but normal movement of the vocal folds. Two endoscopic findings represented cranial deviation during phonation: posterior deviation of the arytenoid hump and lateral deviation of the muscular process. These two findings were classified into four grades, ranging from 0 (normal) to 3 (severe). Cranial displacement detected by 3DCT was also classified into four grades. Significant correlations were found between the 3DCT-determined grade of cranial displacement of the arytenoid cartilage and the grade assigned based on the two endoscopic findings. Moreover, lateral deviation of the muscular process was more significantly correlated with 3DCT grade than with endoscopic grade. Thus, endoscopic findings may be useful in the diagnosis of vocal-fold paralysis, and passive lateral deviation of the muscular process as an indicator of UVFP.

Strategic activity and financial performance of U.S. rural hospitals: a national study, 1983 to 1988.

PubMed

Mick, S S; Morlock, L L; Salkever, D; de Lissovoy, G; Malitz, F; Wise, C G; Jones, A

1994-01-01

This study examines the effect of 13 strategic management activities on the financial performance of a national sample of 797 U.S. rural hospitals during the period of 1983-1988. Controlled for environment-market, geographic-region, and hospital-related variables, the results show almost no measurable effect of strategic adoption on rural hospital profitability and liquidity. Where statistically significant relationships existed, they were more often negative than positive. These findings were not expected; it was hypothesized that positive effects across a broad range of strategies would emerge, other things being equal. Discussed are possible explanations for these findings as well as their implication for a rural health policy relying on individual rural hospital strategic adaptation to environmental change.

Health and social correlates of Internet use for diabetes information: findings from Australia's Living with Diabetes Study.

PubMed

Lui, Chi-Wai; Col, Joseph R; Donald, Maria; Dower, Jo; Boyle, Frances M

2015-01-01

This study investigated the relationship between online information seeking and a broad range of health and social characteristics among a large sample of Australian adults with type 2 diabetes. One in four participants used the Internet for diabetes-related purposes and Internet searching was associated with high patient activation, poor metabolic control, signs of peripheral nerve damage, a recent diagnosis of diabetes and poorer patient-assessed coordination of care. No relationship was found between Internet use and treatment complexity and the presence of comorbid conditions. The findings underline the importance of providing better online health resources and support to diabetes patients, and of targeting potential intervention points where services and information may be particularly beneficial.

Touch: a nursing strategy in the intensive care unit.

PubMed

Estabrooks, C A

1989-07-01

In this article findings are reported from a qualitative study that examined touch from the perspective of intensive care (ICU) nurses. In-depth interviews with eight experienced ICU nurses and participant observation were used to collect data. Three distinct kinds of touch were identified, as well as normative patterns of touch among ICU nurses. The findings indicate that an understanding of touch is predicated on knowledge about the structural components of touch and the contextual variables and conditions that determine norms of touching. Touch is described as a multipurpose nursing strategy in the ICU. A need was identified to study a wider range of potential therapeutic and nontherapeutic touch meanings for nurses and patients than has previously been reported.

Fractals in biology and medicine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Havlin, S.; Buldyrev, S. V.; Goldberger, A. L.; Mantegna, R. N.; Ossadnik, S. M.; Peng, C. K.; Simons, M.; Stanley, H. E.

1995-01-01

Our purpose is to describe some recent progress in applying fractal concepts to systems of relevance to biology and medicine. We review several biological systems characterized by fractal geometry, with a particular focus on the long-range power-law correlations found recently in DNA sequences containing noncoding material. Furthermore, we discuss the finding that the exponent alpha quantifying these long-range correlations ("fractal complexity") is smaller for coding than for noncoding sequences. We also discuss the application of fractal scaling analysis to the dynamics of heartbeat regulation, and report the recent finding that the normal heart is characterized by long-range "anticorrelations" which are absent in the diseased heart.

Loneliness among very old Mexican Americans: findings from the Hispanic Established Populations Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly.

PubMed

Gerst-Emerson, Kerstin; Shovali, Tamar E; Markides, Kyriakos S

2014-01-01

Increasing numbers of researchers are finding that loneliness is a significant risk factor for morbidity and mortality, and several variables have been found to be closely related to the experience of loneliness among elders. However, much of the research has focused on the general older population, with no research to date focusing on minority populations. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and the correlates of loneliness among a community-dwelling older Mexican American population. This study used a three-item loneliness scale to determine the prevalence of loneliness. Pearson's correlation and linear regression analyses were used to determine the cross-sectional association between sociodemographic, interpersonal relationship and health variables with the scale. Data used came from the most recent wave (2011) of the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly (H-EPESE). A total of 873 Mexican Americans completed the loneliness scale. The age range was from 80 to 102, with a majority (65%) female. The mean score on the scale was 4.05 (range 3-9), indicating relatively low levels of loneliness. Regression results indicate that depressive symptoms, cognitive status, and living alone were significantly associated with higher loneliness scores. Being married and having a confidante were significantly associated with lower loneliness. Age, number of close relatives and frequency of contact were not associated with loneliness. Findings suggest that among community-dwelling Mexican American older adults, loneliness has multiple determinants. Loneliness is a significant public health topic and clinicians should be aware of the various factors that can affect loneliness. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.