Wichita State University

About: Wichita State University is a education organization based out in Wichita, Kansas, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 4988 authors who have published 9563 publications receiving 253824 citations. The organization is also known as: WSU & Fairmount College.

Range of motion of the wrist: implications for designing computer input devices for the elderly

Abstract: Purpose : The purpose of this study was to report normative values of the amplitude of joint wrist motions and grip strength for older age groups. Method : Volunteers, (N = 147) were divided into four age groups, 60-69, 70-79, 80-89 and 90+ years, with a total of 62 men and 85 women. Maximum range motion values were obtained for wrist flexion, extension and ulnar deviation. In addition, grip strength measures were obtained for each participant. Results : In general, the strength and ROM values for the oldest participants in this study were lower than those of the younger age group (age 60 to 69) and significantly lower than those published for subjects between 25 and 54 years of age. Furthermore, across all age groups males were significantly stronger than females. However, females tended to have greater ROM than males, particularly for wrist extension and ulnar deviations. Joint ROM and grip strength declined significantly with age for both males and females. Comparisons with published data for younger s...

Increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables in the school cafeteria: the influence of active choice

Abstract: This study evaluated a setting-level intervention designed to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables among low-socioeconomic status elementary and middle school students participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). The NSLP provides students with access to fruits and vegetables; however, food served does not necessarily equal food consumed. High rates of waste, especially of fruits and vegetables, are well documented. The current, low-cost intervention altered the choice architecture of the cafeteria by introducing an active, forced choice into the school lunch service. Consumption was measured by observing (n=2,064) and weighing (n=84) student plate waste over two 10-day periods pre-intervention and during implementation. Results show an average daily 15% increase in consumption of both fruits and vegetables during the intervention period. These findings suggest that local schools can actively encourage students to take advantage of fruits and vegetables offered through the NSLP by implementing setting-level changes to the cafeteria environment.

Wireless AMI application and security for controlled home area networks

Abstract: Compared to the conventional grid, the smart grid requires active participation of consumers to improve the quality and reliability of power delivery. Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), commonly known as the smart meter, which has the capability of supporting various functions beyond that of recording energy usage, will facilitate this expected increase in consumer participation. Another primary benefit of AMI is load and cost management for the utility. AMI requires a reliable communication system between the smart meter and consumer equipment. This paper identifies wireless networking solutions such as ZigBee as the best mode for such communication. Due to the shared nature of the wireless medium, however, these deployments face security challenges and interference issues. These must be addressed, taking into account the interests of both the utility and the consumer. This paper takes a comprehensive look at wireless security in the AMI based home-area network by identifying a wide range of possible vulnerabilities. Countermeasures that can be used by both the utility company as well as the customer are developed.

Effects of neonatal administration of diethylstilbestrol in male hamsters: disruption of reproductive function in adults after apparently normal pubertal development.

Abstract: Prenatal and neonatal exposure to natural and synthetic estrogens induces developmental abnormalities in the male and female reproductive systems in several species. In hamsters, a single injection of diethylstilbestrol (DES) on the day of birth induces teratogenic and neoplastic changes throughout the female reproductive tract, apparently via a direct mechanism. The present study investigated the extent and specificity of this phenomenon in the male reproductive system. Male golden hamsters received injections of DES or estradiol-17beta (E2; 100 microg/ animal) on the day of birth and were then killed at 42 (pubertal) and 90 (adults) days of age. Blood was collected for serum testosterone analysis, and the testes and accessory organs were weighed and examined histologically. At the pubertal stage, testicular and accessory organ weights plus serum testosterone levels were similar in untreated animals and in both groups of estrogen-treated animals. Also at the pubertal stage, initiation of spermatogenesis appeared normal in both groups of estrogen-treated animals. In contrast, 100% of the DES-treated animals (n = 22) but none of the E2-treated animals exhibited multiple lesions in the reproductive tract as adults. These DES-induced lesions included cryptorchidism with the testes attached to the abdominal wall, solid testicular tumors, multiple epididymal cysts, and involution of accessory organs. Spermatogenesis was disrupted in the seminiferous tubules, with no developing germ cells, and the interstitial cells were organized as a sheath around the dysfunctional tubules. The epididymis had an involuted epithelial layer with a preponderance of multi-nucleated cells, and seminal vesicle morphology was also abnormal. These DES-specific alterations were not accompanied by any significant change in circulating testosterone levels. We therefore conclude that 1) DES is much more potent that E2 as a neonatal endocrine disrupter in the male hamster, and 2) the DES-specific lesions in the adult male reproductive tract may represent a permanently altered androgen responsiveness in the affected target tissues.