Showing papers by "University of Hertfordshire published in 2008"
Cooper University Hospital1, Rhode Island Hospital2, University of Birmingham3, Stony Brook University4, McMaster University5, University of Jena6, University of Pittsburgh7, St Thomas' Hospital8, University Hospital of Lausanne9, University of Minnesota10, St. Michael's Hospital11, University of Turin12, University of Hertfordshire13, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine14, Harvard University15, NorthShore University HealthSystem16, Houston Methodist Hospital17
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide an update to the original Surviving Sepsis Campaign clinical management guidelines for management of severe sepsis and septic shock, published in 2004.
Abstract: Objective
To provide an update to the original Surviving Sepsis Campaign clinical management guidelines, “Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines for management of severe sepsis and septic shock,” published in 2004.
3,928 citations
Cooper University Hospital1, Rhode Island Hospital2, University of Birmingham3, Stony Brook University4, McMaster University5, University of Jena6, University of Pittsburgh7, St Thomas' Hospital8, University Hospital of Lausanne9, University of Minnesota10, St. Michael's Hospital11, University of Turin12, University of Hertfordshire13, Johns Hopkins University14, Harvard University15, NorthShore University HealthSystem16
TL;DR: The Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system was used to guide assessment of quality of evidence from high to very low and to determine the strength of recommendations.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE
To provide an update to the original Surviving Sepsis Campaign clinical management guidelines, \"Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines for Management of Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock,\" published in 2004.
DESIGN
Modified Delphi method with a consensus conference of 55 international experts, several subsequent meetings of subgroups and key individuals, teleconferences, and electronic-based discussion among subgroups and among the entire committee. This process was conducted independently of any industry funding.
METHODS
We used the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system to guide assessment of quality of evidence from high (A) to very low (D) and to determine the strength of recommendations. A strong recommendation (1) indicates that an intervention's desirable effects clearly outweigh its undesirable effects (risk, burden, cost) or clearly do not. Weak recommendations (2) indicate that the tradeoff between desirable and undesirable effects is less clear. The grade of strong or weak is considered of greater clinical importance than a difference in letter level of quality of evidence. In areas without complete agreement, a formal process of resolution was developed and applied. Recommendations are grouped into those directly targeting severe sepsis, recommendations targeting general care of the critically ill patient that are considered high priority in severe sepsis, and pediatric considerations.
RESULTS
Key recommendations, listed by category, include early goal-directed resuscitation of the septic patient during the first 6 hrs after recognition (1C); blood cultures before antibiotic therapy (1C); imaging studies performed promptly to confirm potential source of infection (1C); administration of broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy within 1 hr of diagnosis of septic shock (1B) and severe sepsis without septic shock (1D); reassessment of antibiotic therapy with microbiology and clinical data to narrow coverage, when appropriate (1C); a usual 7-10 days of antibiotic therapy guided by clinical response (1D); source control with attention to the balance of risks and benefits of the chosen method (1C); administration of either crystalloid or colloid fluid resuscitation (1B); fluid challenge to restore mean circulating filling pressure (1C); reduction in rate of fluid administration with rising filing pressures and no improvement in tissue perfusion (1D); vasopressor preference for norepinephrine or dopamine to maintain an initial target of mean arterial pressure > or = 65 mm Hg (1C); dobutamine inotropic therapy when cardiac output remains low despite fluid resuscitation and combined inotropic/vasopressor therapy (1C); stress-dose steroid therapy given only in septic shock after blood pressure is identified to be poorly responsive to fluid and vasopressor therapy (2C); recombinant activated protein C in patients with severe sepsis and clinical assessment of high risk for death (2B except 2C for postoperative patients). In the absence of tissue hypoperfusion, coronary artery disease, or acute hemorrhage, target a hemoglobin of 7-9 g/dL (1B); a low tidal volume (1B) and limitation of inspiratory plateau pressure strategy (1C) for acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS); application of at least a minimal amount of positive end-expiratory pressure in acute lung injury (1C); head of bed elevation in mechanically ventilated patients unless contraindicated (1B); avoiding routine use of pulmonary artery catheters in ALI/ARDS (1A); to decrease days of mechanical ventilation and ICU length of stay, a conservative fluid strategy for patients with established ALI/ARDS who are not in shock (1C); protocols for weaning and sedation/analgesia (1B); using either intermittent bolus sedation or continuous infusion sedation with daily interruptions or lightening (1B); avoidance of neuromuscular blockers, if at all possible (1B); institution of glycemic control (1B), targeting a blood glucose < 150 mg/dL after initial stabilization (2C); equivalency of continuous veno-veno hemofiltration or intermittent hemodialysis (2B); prophylaxis for deep vein thrombosis (1A); use of stress ulcer prophylaxis to prevent upper gastrointestinal bleeding using H2 blockers (1A) or proton pump inhibitors (1B); and consideration of limitation of support where appropriate (1D). Recommendations specific to pediatric severe sepsis include greater use of physical examination therapeutic end points (2C); dopamine as the first drug of choice for hypotension (2C); steroids only in children with suspected or proven adrenal insufficiency (2C); and a recommendation against the use of recombinant activated protein C in children (1B).
CONCLUSIONS
There was strong agreement among a large cohort of international experts regarding many level 1 recommendations for the best current care of patients with severe sepsis. Evidenced-based recommendations regarding the acute management of sepsis and septic shock are the first step toward improved outcomes for this important group of critically ill patients.
2,924 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a review of the sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the environment is presented, where various approaches including diagnostic ratio (DR) and principal component analysis (PCA) are discussed in detail.
2,093 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the star formation efficiency (SFE) per unit of gas in 23 nearby galaxies and compare it with expectations from proposed star formation laws and thresholds was measured, and the authors interpreted this decline as a strong dependence of giant molecular cloud (GMC) formation on environment.
Abstract: We measure the star formation efficiency (SFE), the star formation rate (SFR) per unit of gas, in 23 nearby galaxies and compare it with expectations from proposed star formation laws and thresholds. We use H I maps from The H I Nearby Galaxy Survey (THINGS) and derive H2 maps of CO measured by HERA CO-Line Extragalactic Survey and Berkeley-Illinois-Maryland Association Survey of Nearby Galaxies. We estimate the SFR by combining Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) far-ultraviolet maps and the Spitzer Infrared Nearby Galaxies Survey (SINGS) 24 ?m maps, infer stellar surface density profiles from SINGS 3.6 ?m data, and use kinematics from THINGS. We measure the SFE as a function of the free fall and orbital timescales, midplane gas pressure, stability of the gas disk to collapse (including the effects of stars), the ability of perturbations to grow despite shear, and the ability of a cold phase to form. In spirals, the SFE of H2 alone is nearly constant at (5.25 ? 2.5) ? 10?10 yr?1 (equivalent to an H2 depletion time of 1.9 ? 109 yr) as a function of all of these variables at our 800 pc resolution. Where the interstellar medium (ISM) is mostly H I, however, the SFE decreases with increasing radius in both spiral and dwarf galaxies, a decline reasonably described by an exponential with scale length 0.2r 25-0.25r 25. We interpret this decline as a strong dependence of giant molecular cloud (GMC) formation on environment. The ratio of molecular-to-atomic gas appears to be a smooth function of radius, stellar surface density, and pressure spanning from the H2-dominated to H I-dominated ISM. The radial decline in SFE is too steep to be reproduced only by increases in the free-fall time or orbital time. Thresholds for large-scale instability suggest that our disks are stable or marginally stable and do not show a clear link to the declining SFE. We suggest that ISM physics below the scales that we observe?phase balance in the H I, H2 formation and destruction, and stellar feedback?governs the formation of GMCs from H I.
1,888 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between star formation rate surface density and gas surface density at sub-kpc resolution in a sample of 18 nearby galaxies and investigate how the star formation law differs between the H2 dominated centers of spiral galaxies, their H I dominated outskirts and the H I rich late-type/dwarf galaxies.
Abstract: We present a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between star formation rate surface density, ΣSFR, and gas surface density, Σgas, at sub-kpc resolution in a sample of 18 nearby galaxies. We use high-resolution H I data from The H I Nearby Galaxy Survey, CO data from HERACLES and the BIMA Survey of Nearby Galaxies, 24 μm data from the Spitzer Space Telescope, and UV data from the Galaxy Evolution Explorer. We target seven spiral galaxies and 11 late-type/dwarf galaxies and investigate how the star formation law differs between the H2 dominated centers of spiral galaxies, their H I dominated outskirts and the H I rich late-type/dwarf galaxies. We find that a Schmidt-type power law with index N = 1.0 ± 0.2 relates ΣSFR and ΣH2 across our sample of spiral galaxies, i.e., that H2 forms stars at a constant efficiency in spirals. The average molecular gas depletion time is ~2 × 109 years. The range of ΣH2 over which we measure this relation is ~3-50 M ☉ pc–2, significantly lower than in starburst environments. We find the same results when performing a pixel-by-pixel analysis, averaging in radial bins, or when varying the star formation tracer used. We interpret the linear relation and constant depletion time as evidence that stars are forming in giant molecular clouds with approximately uniform properties and that ΣH2 may be more a measure of the filling fraction of giant molecular clouds than changing conditions in the molecular gas. The relationship between total gas surface density (Σgas) and ΣSFR varies dramatically among and within spiral galaxies. Most galaxies show little or no correlation between ΣHI and ΣSFR. As a result, the star formation efficiency (SFE), ΣSFR/Σgas, varies strongly across our sample and within individual galaxies. We show that this variation is systematic and consistent with the SFE being set by local environmental factors: in spirals the SFE is a clear function of radius, while the dwarf galaxies in our sample display SFEs similar to those found in the outer optical disks of the spirals. We attribute the similarity to common environments (low density, low metallicity, H I dominated) and argue that shear (which is typically absent in dwarfs) cannot drive the SFE. In addition to a molecular Schmidt law, the other general feature of our sample is a sharp saturation of H I surface densities at ΣHI ≈ 9 M ☉ pc–2 in both the spiral and dwarf galaxies. In the case of the spirals, we observe gas in excess of this limit to be molecular.
1,842 citations
Cooper University Hospital1, Rhode Island Hospital2, University of Birmingham3, Stony Brook University4, McMaster University5, University of Jena6, University of Pittsburgh7, St Thomas' Hospital8, University Hospital of Lausanne9, University of Minnesota10, St. Michael's Hospital11, University of Turin12, University of Hertfordshire13, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine14, Harvard University15, NorthShore University HealthSystem16, Houston Methodist Hospital17
TL;DR: An update to the original Surviving Sepsis Campaign clinical management guidelines, “SurvivingSepsis Campaign Guidelines for Management of Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock,” published in 2004 is provided.
Abstract: Objective:To provide an update to the original Surviving Sepsis Campaign clinical management guidelines, “Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines for Management of Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock,” published in 2004.Design:Modified Delphi method with a consensus conference of 55 international experts, s
1,507 citations
TL;DR: The HI Nearby Galaxy Survey (THINGS) as discussed by the authors is a high spectral (≤52kms −1 ) and spatial (∼ 6 ′′ ) resolution survey of HI emission in 34 nearby galaxies obtained using the NRAO Very Large Array (VLA).
Abstract: We present “The HI Nearby Galaxy Survey (THINGS)”, a high spectral (≤52kms −1 ) and spatial (∼ 6 ′′ ) resolution survey of HI emission in 34 nearby galaxies obtained using the NRAO Very Large Array (VLA) The overarching scientific goal of THINGS is to investigate fundamental characteristics of the interstellar medium (ISM) related to galaxy morphology, star formation and mass distribution across the Hubble sequence Unique characteristics of the THINGS database are the homogeneous sensitivity as well as spatial and velocity resolution of the HI data which is at the limit of what can be achieved with the VLA for a significant number of galaxies A sample of 34 objects at distances 2 < D <15 Mpc (resulting in linear resolutions of ∼100 to 500pc) are targeted in THINGS, covering a wide range of star formation rates (∼ 10 −3 to 6 M⊙ yr −1 ), total HI masses MHI (001 to 14×10 9 M⊙), absolute luminosities MB (–115 to –217mag) and metallicities (75 to 92 in units of 12+log[O/H]) We describe the setup of the VLA observations, the data reduction procedures and the creation of the final THINGS data products We present an atlas of the integrated HI maps, the velocity fields, the second moment (velocity dispersion) maps and individual channel maps of each THINGS galaxy The THINGS data products are made publicly available through a dedicated webpage Accompanying THINGS papers address issues such as the small–scale structure of the ISM, the (dark) matter distribution in THINGS galaxies, and the processes leading to star formation Subject headings: surveys — galaxies: structure — galaxies: ISM — ISM: general — ISM: atoms — radio lines: galaxies
1,354 citations
TL;DR: In this article, rotation curves of 19 galaxies from the H I Nearby Galaxy Survey (THINGS) were used to derive the geometric and dynamical parameters using H I data alone and the rotation curves were combined with 3.6 μm data from the Spitzer Infrared Nearby Galaxies Survey to construct mass models.
Abstract: We present rotation curves of 19 galaxies from The H I Nearby Galaxy Survey (THINGS). The high spatial and velocity resolution of THINGS make these the highest quality H I rotation curves available to date for a large sample of nearby galaxies, spanning a wide range of H I masses and luminosities. The high quality of the data allows us to derive the geometric and dynamical parameters using H I data alone. We do not find any declining rotation curves unambiguously associated with a cut-off in the mass distribution out to the last measured point. The rotation curves are combined with 3.6 μm data from the Spitzer Infrared Nearby Galaxies Survey to construct mass models. Our best-fit dynamical disk masses, derived from the rotation curves, are in good agreement with photometric disk masses derived from the 3.6 μm images in combination with stellar population synthesis arguments and two different assumptions for the stellar initial mass function (IMF). We test the cold dark matter (CDM) motivated cusp model, and the observationally motivated central density core model and find that (independent of IMF) for massive, disk-dominated galaxies, all halo models fit apparently equally well; for low-mass galaxies, however, a core-dominated halo is clearly preferred over a cusp-like halo. The empirically derived densities of the dark matter halos of the late-type galaxies in our sample are half of what is predicted by CDM simulations, again independent of the assumed IMF.
948 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors show that, even at zero temperature, transport of excitations across dissipative quantum networks can be enhanced by local dephasing noise and suggest that the presence of entanglement does not play an essential role for energy transport and may even hinder it.
Abstract: Transport phenomena are fundamental in physics. They allow for information and energy to be exchanged between individual constituents of communication systems, networks or even biological entities. Environmental noise will generally hinder the efficiency of the transport process. However, and contrary to intuition, there are situations in classical systems where thermal fluctuations are actually instrumental in assisting transport phenomena. Here we show that, even at zero temperature, transport of excitations across dissipative quantum networks can be enhanced by local dephasing noise. We explain the underlying physical mechanisms behind this phenomenon and propose possible experimental demonstrations in quantum optics. Our results suggest that the presence of entanglement does not play an essential role for energy transport and may even hinder it. We argue that Nature may be routinely exploiting dephasing noise and show that the transport of excitations in simplified models of light harvesting molecules does benefit from such noise assisted processes. These results point toward the possibility for designing optimized structures for transport, for example in artificial nanostructures, assisted by noise.
941 citations
TL;DR: The data highlights that songwriting is frequently employed in developmental disability and ASD practice, with reports on songwriting with these diagnostic groups being underrepresented in the music therapy literature.
Abstract: Songwriting as a therapeutic intervention has received increasing attention in the field of music therapy over the past decade however much of the publications focus on clinical outcomes rather than methods of practice. This paper, part of a two-part research report into trends in the clinical practice of songwriting, aims to describe the most frequently employed goal areas across a range of clinical populations and compare these findings with the published literature. Responses to a 21-question online survey were obtained from 477 professional music therapists practicing in 29 countries which focused on approaches to songwriting within their practice with a single clinical population. Chi–square or comparable Exact tests (Fisher-Freeman-Halton) were applied to the data and significant associations were found according to different clinical populations particularly with respect to the aims of songwriting in clinical practice and the frequency with which songwriting is employed in practice. The data highli...
792 citations
TL;DR: The results suggest that the majority of children still have difficulties with motor co‐ordination, have poor self‐concept and are experiencing problems of various kinds in school, but there are individual differences in the extent to which the children have learned to cope with their continuing difficulties.
Abstract: The question of whether problems of motor co-ordination in early childhood recede with age has rarely been addressed. This paper reports the findings from a follow-up study of 17 children, identified by their teachers as having poor motor co-ordination at age six. Now age 16, these children and their matched controls completed a battery of assessments. The results suggest that the majority of children still have difficulties with motor co-ordination, have poor self-concept and are experiencing problems of various kinds in school. However, there are individual differences in the extent to which the children have learned to cope with their continuing difficulties over the years.
University of Hertfordshire1, University of Leeds2, UK Astronomy Technology Centre3, University of Leicester4, University of Florida5, Chinese Academy of Sciences6, University of Sheffield7, University of Kent8, University of Oxford9, University of Arizona10, University of Southampton11, Macquarie University12, University of Cambridge13, University of Edinburgh14, Cardiff University15
TL;DR: The definitive version of this paper is available at www.blackwellsynergy.com.' Copyright Blackwell Publishing DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.13924.x as mentioned in this paper
Abstract: 'The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.com .' Copyright Blackwell Publishing DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2008.13924.x
Pennsylvania State University1, Special Astrophysical Observatory2, University of Hertfordshire3, Purple Mountain Observatory4, Brera Astronomical Observatory5, University College London6, Liverpool John Moores University7, Goddard Space Flight Center8, University of Leicester9, University of Warsaw10, University of Nevada, Las Vegas11, Universities Space Research Association12, University of Milan13, University of Amsterdam14, Marshall Space Flight Center15, Hebrew University of Jerusalem16, University of Bologna17, Spanish National Research Council18, European Southern Observatory19, Space Telescope Science Institute20, Swinburne University of Technology21, ASTRON22, Leiden University23, University of Ljubljana24, Warsaw University of Technology25, INAF26, University of Warwick27, Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences28, Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe29, University of California, Santa Cruz30, University of Perugia31
TL;DR: Observations of the extraordinarily bright prompt optical and γ-ray emission of GRB 080319B that provide diagnostics within seconds of its formation, followed by broadband observations of the afterglow decay that continued for weeks.
Abstract: Long-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) release copious amounts of energy across the entire electromagnetic spectrum, and so provide a window into the process of black hole formation from the collapse of massive stars Previous early optical observations of even the most exceptional GRBs (990123 and 030329) lacked both the temporal resolution to probe the optical flash in detail and the accuracy needed to trace the transition from the prompt emission within the outflow to external shocks caused by interaction with the progenitor environment Here we report observations of the extraordinarily bright prompt optical and gamma-ray emission of GRB 080319B that provide diagnostics within seconds of its formation, followed by broadband observations of the afterglow decay that continued for weeks We show that the prompt emission stems from a single physical region, implying an extremely relativistic outflow that propagates within the narrow inner core of a two-component jet
TL;DR: This article aims to prepare nurses for conducting semi-structured research interviews with a focus on nurses involved in qualitative research.
Abstract: Nurses are increasingly involved in research, particularly qualitative research. This article aims to prepare nurses for conducting semi-structured research interviews.
TL;DR: The landscape of current reported knowledge in terms of what motivates developers, what de-motivates them and how existing models address motivation is plotted to indicate that there is no clear understanding of the Software Engineers' job, how they are motivated, or the outcome and benefits of motivating Software Engineers.
Abstract: Objective: In this paper, we present a systematic literature review of motivation in Software Engineering. The objective of this review is to plot the landscape of current reported knowledge in terms of what motivates developers, what de-motivates them and how existing models address motivation. Methods: We perform a systematic literature review of peer reviewed published studies that focus on motivation in Software Engineering. Systematic reviews are well established in medical research and are used to systematically analyse the literature addressing specific research questions. Results: We found 92 papers related to motivation in Software Engineering. Fifty-six percent of the studies reported that Software Engineers are distinguishable from other occupational groups. Our findings suggest that Software Engineers are likely to be motivated according to three related factors: their 'characteristics' (for example, their need for variety); internal 'controls' (for example, their personality) and external 'moderators' (for example, their career stage). The literature indicates that de-motivated engineers may leave the organisation or take more sick-leave, while motivated engineers will increase their productivity and remain longer in the organisation. Aspects of the job that motivate Software Engineers include problem solving, working to benefit others and technical challenge. Our key finding is that the published models of motivation in Software Engineering are disparate and do not reflect the complex needs of Software Engineers in their career stages, cultural and environmental settings. Conclusions: The literature on motivation in Software Engineering presents a conflicting and partial picture of the area. It is clear that motivation is context dependent and varies from one engineer to another. The most commonly cited motivator is the job itself, yet we found very little work on what it is about that job that Software Engineers find motivating. Furthermore, surveys are often aimed at how Software Engineers feel about 'the organisation', rather than 'the profession'. Although models of motivation in Software Engineering are reported in the literature, they do not account for the changing roles and environment in which Software Engineers operate. Overall, our findings indicate that there is no clear understanding of the Software Engineers' job, what motivates Software Engineers, how they are motivated, or the outcome and benefits of motivating Software Engineers.
TL;DR: The HRI trials studied the participants’ preferences for various features of robot appearance and behavior, as well as their personality attributions towards the robots compared to their own personalities, finding that participants tended to prefer robots with more human-like appearance and attributes.
Abstract: This article presents the results of video-based Human Robot Interaction (HRI) trials which investigated people's perceptions of different robot appearances and associated attention-seeking features and behaviors displayed by robots with different appearance and behaviors. The HRI trials studied the participants' preferences for various features of robot appearance and behavior, as well as their personality attributions towards the robots compared to their own personalities. Overall, participants tended to prefer robots with more human-like appearance and attributes. However, systematic individual differences in the dynamic appearance ratings are not consistent with a universal effect. Introverts and participants with lower emotional stability tended to prefer the mechanical looking appearance to a greater degree than other participants. It is also shown that it is possible to rate individual elements of a particular robot's behavior and then assess the contribution, or otherwise, of that element to the overall perception of the robot by people. Relating participants' dynamic appearance ratings of individual robots to independent static appearance ratings provided evidence that could be taken to support a portion of the left hand side of Mori's theoretically proposed `uncanny valley' diagram. Suggestions for future work are outlined.
TL;DR: In this article, a semi-empirical simulation of the extragalactic radio continuum sky is presented for aiding the design of next generation radio interferometers such as the Square Kilometre Array (SKA).
Abstract: We have developed a semi-empirical simulation of the extragalactic radio continuum sky suitable for aiding the design of next generation radio interferometers such as the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). The emphasis is on modelling the large-scale cosmological distribution of radio sources rather than the internal structure of individual galaxies. Here we provide a description of the simulation to accompany the online release of a catalogue of similar or equal to 320 million simulated radio sources. The simulation covers a sky area of 20x20 deg^2 - a plausible upper limit to the instantaneous field of view attainable with future (e.g. SKA) aperture array technologies - out to a cosmological redshift of z=20, and down to flux density limits of 10 nJy at 151, 610 MHz, 1.4, 4.86 and 18 GHz. Five distinct source types are included: radio-quiet active galactic nuclei (AGN), radio-loud AGN of the Fanaroff-Riley type I (FR I) and FR II structural classes, and star-forming galaxies, the latter split into Populations of quiescent and starbursting galaxies.
TL;DR: In this paper, a review of the last three decades of kinetics of selective hydrogenation of ethyne in ethene-rich streams on palladium catalysts is presented.
Abstract: Developments in the last three decades of kinetics of selective hydrogenation of ethyne in ethene‐rich streams on palladium catalysts are reviewed. Most of the studies can be described comprehensively by a model that assumes carbonaceous deposits (i) create irreversibly on the palladium surface small A types of active site (selective to ethene) and large E types of active site (selective to ethane), and (ii) are involved in hydrogenation of ethene on E s sites on the support. The relative importance of these sites, with varying (i) reaction conditions, (ii) palladium dispersion, (iii) process modifiers, and (iv) promoters, is discussed.
TL;DR: Telling smokers their lung age significantly improves the likelihood of them quitting smoking, but the mechanism by which this intervention achieves its effect is unclear.
Abstract: Objective To evaluate the impact of telling patients their estimated spirometric lung age as an incentive to quit smoking. Design Randomised controlled trial. Setting Five general practices in Hertfordshire, England. Participants 561 current smokers aged over 35. Intervention All participants were offered spirometric assessment of lung function. Participants in intervention group received their results in terms of “lung age” (the age of the average healthy individual who would perform similar to them on spirometry). Those in the control group received a raw figure for forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV1). Both groups were advised to quit and offered referral to local NHS smoking cessation services. Main outcome measures The primary outcome measure was verified cessation of smoking by salivary cotinine testing 12 months after recruitment. Secondary outcomes were reported changes in daily consumption of cigarettes and identification of new diagnoses of chronic obstructive lung disease. Results Follow-up was 89%. Independently verified quit rates at 12 months in the intervention and control groups, respectively, were 13.6% and 6.4% (difference 7.2%, P=0.005, 95% confidence interval 2.2% to 12.1%; number needed to treat 14). People with worse spirometric lung age were no more likely to have quit than those with normal lung age in either group. Cost per successful quitter was estimated at £280 (€366, $556). A new diagnosis of obstructive lung disease was made in 17% in the intervention group and 14% in the control group; a total of 16% (89/561) of participants. Conclusion Telling smokers their lung age significantly improves the likelihood of them quitting smoking, but the mechanism by which this intervention achieves its effect is unclear. Trial registration National Research Register N0096173751.
TL;DR: The results are discussed in the context of the well accepted association of type 2 diabetes and overweight and obesity and because obesity has reached epidemic proportions in developed and developed countries.
Abstract: In March 2008 the latest American Diabetes Association (ADA) commissioned economic study of the costs of diabetes in 2007 was published. The economic burden of diabetes was quantified in terms of its increased healthcare resource use (direct costs) and lost productivity (indirect costs) and provided a detailed breakdown of the costs attributed to diabetes. In the five years since the ADA published a similar analysis, the number of Americans with diagnosed diabetes has risen from 12.1 to 17.1 million and the economic cost has risen from $132 billion (equivalent to $153 billion in 2007 dollars) to $174 billion. This major analysis is reviewed and the implications for Europe are considered. The findings are similar to those described in earlier US studies and also landmark European economic studies in diabetes. The results are also discussed in the context of the well accepted association of type 2 diabetes and overweight and obesity and because obesity has reached epidemic proportions in developed and devel...
TL;DR: In this paper, a review of the TiC-TiB2 equilibrium system and its possible influence on the processing and properties of the composite is presented, taking into account the resulting effects on the microstructure and the mechanical properties.
Abstract: Ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs) based on TiC–TiB2 have attracted enormous interest during recent years because, in comparison to single-phase ceramics, they exhibit superior properties including high hardness, good wear resistance and high fracture toughness. This paper begins with a review of the TiC–TiB2 equilibrium system and its possible influence on the processing and properties of the composite. The application of TiC–TiB2 composites has been limited due to the fact that they have been difficult to process. Much of the research effort has therefore focused on the synthesis, processing and fabrication of TiC–TiB2 and is based primarily on self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) and its derivatives, high-energy milling and sintering. The performance of SHS under the application of pressure has been the subject of particular investigation. These developments are the main subject of this review that also takes into account the resulting effects on the microstructure and the mechanical properties of TiC–TiB2. The influence of the reaction parameters like reactant composition, reactant particle size and green density on the microstructure and properties is also reported.
TL;DR: An algorithm called TESS is described that automatically derives 3D templates from structures deposited in the Brookhaven Protein Data Bank that may help to identify the function of new protein structures, if unknown, as well as to design proteins with specific functions.
Abstract: It is well established that sequence templates such as those in the PROSITE and PRINTS databases are powerful tools for predicting the biological function and tertiary structure for newly derived protein sequences. The number of X-ray and NMR protein structures is increasing rapidly and it is apparent that a 3D equivalent of the sequence templates is needed. Here, we describe an algorithm called TESS that automatically derives 3D templates from structures deposited in the Brookhaven Protein Data Bank. While a new sequence can be searched for sequence patterns, a new structure can be scanned against these 3D templates to identify functional sites. As examples, 3D templates are derived for enzymes with an O-His-O "catalytic triad" and for the ribonucleases and lysozymes. When these 3D templates are applied to a large data set of nonidentical proteins, several interesting hits are located. This suggests that the development of a 3D template database may help to identify the function of new protein structures, if unknown, as well as to design proteins with specific functions.
TL;DR: Foliar application of GA 3 counteracted some of the adverse effects of NaCl salinity with the accumulation of proline which maintained membrane permeability and increased macro and micronutrient levels.
TL;DR: The accumulation of Na in roots indicates a possible mechanism whereby bread wheat copes with salinity in the rooting medium and/or may indicate the existence of an inhibition mechanism of Na transport to leaves.
TL;DR: In this paper, a new method was proposed to remove the impact of random and small-scale noncircular motions from H I velocity fields in (dwarf) galaxies in order to better constrain the dark matter properties for these objects.
Abstract: We present a new method to remove the impact of random and small-scale noncircular motions from H I velocity fields in (dwarf) galaxies in order to better constrain the dark matter properties for these objects. This method extracts the circularly rotating velocity components from the H I data cube and condenses them into a so-called bulk velocity field. We derive high-resolution (~0.2 kpc) rotation curves of IC 2574 and NGC 2366 based on bulk velocity fields derived from The H I Nearby Galaxy Survey obtained at the Very Large Array. We compare the bulk velocity field rotation curves with those derived from the traditional intensity-weighted mean velocity fields and find significant differences. The bulk velocity field rotation curves are significantly less affected by noncircular motions and constrain the dark matter distribution in our galaxies, allowing us to address the discrepancy between the inferred and predicted dark matter distribution in galaxies (the "cusp/core" problem). Spitzer Infrared Nearby Galaxies Survey 3.6 μm data, which are largely unaffected by dust in these systems, as well as ancillary optical information, are used to separate the contribution of the baryons from the total matter content. Using stellar population synthesis models, assuming various sets of metallicity and star-formation histories, we compute stellar mass-to-light ratios for the 3.6 μm and 4.5 μm bands. Using our predicted value for the 3.6 μm stellar mass-to-light ratio, we find that the observed dark matter distributions of IC 2574 and NGC 2366 are inconsistent with the cusp-like dark matter halo predicted by Λ Cold Dark Matter models, even after corrections for noncircular motions. This result also holds for other assumptions about the stellar mass-to-light ratio. The distribution of dark matter within our sample galaxies is best described by models with a kpc-sized constant-density core.
TL;DR: The authors outlines the types of phenomena to which a generalized Darwinism applies, and upholds that there is no reason to exclude social or economic entities from generalizing the core Darwinian principles to cover the evolution of social entities.
Abstract: Darwin himself suggested the idea of generalizing the core Darwinian principles to cover the evolution of social entities. Also in the nineteenth century, influential social scientists proposed their extension to political society and economic institutions. Nevertheless, misunderstanding and misrepresentation have hindered the realization of the powerful potential in this longstanding idea. Some critics confuse generalization with analogy. Others mistakenly presume that generalizing Darwinism necessarily involves biological reductionism. This essay outlines the types of phenomena to which a generalized Darwinism applies, and upholds that there is no reason to exclude social or economic entities.
TL;DR: The evidence from this review supports the use of general anaesthesia combined with a femoral nerve block for surgery and postoperative analgesia, or alternatively spinal anaesthesia with local anaesthetic plus spinal morphine for total knee arthroplasty.
Abstract: The PROSPECT Working Group, a collaboration of anaesthetists and surgeons, conducts systematic reviews of postoperative pain management for different surgical procedures (http://www.postoppain.org). Evidence-based consensus recommendations for the effective management of postoperative pain are then developed from these systematic reviews, incorporating clinical practice observations, and transferable evidence from other relevant procedures. We present the results of a systematic review of pain and other outcomes following analgesic, anaesthetic and surgical interventions for total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The evidence from this review supports the use of general anaesthesia combined with a femoral nerve block for surgery and postoperative analgesia, or alternatively spinal anaesthesia with local anaesthetic plus spinal morphine. The primary technique, together with cooling and compression techniques, should be supplemented with paracetamol and conventional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or COX-2-selective inhibitors, plus intravenous strong opioids (high-intensity pain) or weak opioids (moderate- to low-intensity pain).
TL;DR: A notion of causal independence based on intervention is used to define a measure for the strength of a causal effect, called "information flow", which is compared with known information flow measures such as transfer entropy.
Abstract: We use a notion of causal independence based on intervention, which is a fundamental concept of the theory of causal networks, to define a measure for the strength of a causal effect. We call this measure "information flow" and compare it with known information flow measures such as transfer entropy.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors conducted a long-slit search for low surface brightness Lyα emitters at redshift 267 < z < 375 and found 27 single line emitters with fluxes of a few × 10^(−18) erg s.
Abstract: We have conducted a long-slit search for low surface brightness Lyα emitters at redshift 267 < z < 375 A 92 hr long exposure with the ESO VLT FORS2 instrument down to a 1σ surface brightness detection limit of 8 × 10^(−20) erg cm^(−2) s^(−1) arcsec^(−2) per arcsec^2 aperture yielded a sample of 27 single line emitters with fluxes of a few × 10^(−18) erg s^(−1) cm^(−2) We present arguments that most objects are indeed Lyα The large comoving number density, 3 × 10^(−2) h^3_(70) Mpc^(−3), the large covering factor, dN/dz ~ 02–1, and the often extended Lyα emission suggest that the emitters can be identified with the elusive host population of damped Lyα systems (DLAS) and high column density Lyman limit systems (LLS) A small inferred star formation rate, perhaps supplemented by cooling radiation, appears to energetically dominate the Lyα emission, and is consistent with the low metallicity, low dust content, and theoretically inferred low masses of DLAS, and with the relative lack of success of earlier searches for their optical counterparts Some of the line profiles show evidence for radiative transfer in galactic outflows Stacking surface brightness profiles, we find emission out to at least 4" The centrally concentrated emission of most objects appears to light up the outskirts of the emitters (where LLS arise) down to a column density where the conversion from UV to Lyα photon becomes inefficient DLAS, high column density LLS, and the emitter population discovered in this survey appear to be different observational manifestations of the same low-mass, protogalactic building blocks of present-day L_* galaxies
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examine the issues emanating from the transition into a new social and cultural environment distant from the home, the context of which is provided by the transition from home to university.