5,330 research outputs found
Telephone or video? A review of telemedicine consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic in a spinal MSK service
A service evaluation of the move to virtual appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic
The Personnel Matters Exception to the Mississippi Open Meetings Act - A Cloud over the Sunshine Law - Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, et al. v. Mississippi Publishers Corp.
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GERMINATION OF ELEPHANT GRASS (PENNISETUM PURPUREUM SCHUM.)
GERMINATION OF ELEPHANT GRASS (PENNISETUM PURPUREUM SCHUM.
Selective self-categorization: Meaningful categorization and the in-group persuasion effect
Research stemming from self-categorization theory (Turner et al., 1987) has demonstrated that individuals are typically more persuaded by messages from their in-group than by messages from the out-group. The present research investigated the role of issue relevance in moderating these effects. In particular, it was predicted that in-groups would only be more persuasive when the dimension on which group membership was defined was meaningful or relevant to the attitude issue. In two studies, participants were presented with persuasive arguments from either an in-group source or an out-group source, where the basis of the in-group/out-group distinction was either relevant or irrelevant to the attitude issue. Participants' attitudes toward the issue were then measured. The results supported the predictions: Participants were more persuaded by in-group sources than out-group sources when the basis for defining the group was relevant to the attitude issue. However, when the defining characteristic of the group was irrelevant to the attitude issue, participants were equally persuaded by in-group and out-group sources. These results support the hypothesis that the fit between group membership and domain is an important moderator of self-categorization effects
Ground State of the Hydrogen Atom via Dirac Equation in a Minimal Length Scenario
In this work we calculate the correction to the ground state energy of the
hydrogen atom due to contributions arising from the presence of a minimal
length. The minimal length scenario is introduced by means of modifying the
Dirac equation through a deformed Heisenberg algebra (kempf algebra). With the
introduction of the Coulomb potential in the new Dirac energy operator, we
calculate the energy shift of the ground state of the hydrogen atom in first
order of the parameter related to the minimal length via perturbation theory.Comment: 11 page
Relation of modifiable neighborhood attributes to walking
Abstract Background There is a paucity of research examining associations between walking and environmental attributes that are more modifiable in the short term, such as car parking availability, access to transit, neighborhood traffic, walkways and trails, and sidewalks. Methods Adults were recruited between April 2004 and September 2006 in the Minneapolis-St Paul metropolitan area and in Montgomery County, Maryland using similar research designs in the two locations. Self-reported and objective environmental measures were calculated for participants\u27 neighborhoods. Self-reported physical activity was collected through the long form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-LF). Generalized estimating equations were used to examine adjusted associations between environmental measures and transport and overall walking. Results Participants (n = 887) averaged 47 years of age (SD = 13.65) and reported 67 min/week (SD = 121.21) of transport walking and 159 min/week (SD = 187.85) of non-occupational walking. Perceived car parking difficulty was positively related to higher levels of transport walking (OR 1.41, 95%CI: 1.18, 1.69) and overall walking (OR 1.18, 95%CI: 1.02, 1.37). Self-reported ease of walking to a transit stop was negatively associated with transport walking (OR 0.86, 95%CI: 0.76, 0.97), but this relationship was moderated by perceived access to destinations. Walking to transit also was related to non-occupational walking (OR 0.85, 95%CI: 0.73, 0.99). Conclusions Parking difficulty and perceived ease of access to transit are modifiable neighborhood characteristics associated with self-reported walking
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The adaptor protein CRK is a pro-apoptotic transducer of endoplasmic reticulum stress.
Excessive demands on the protein-folding capacity of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) cause irremediable ER stress and contribute to cell loss in a number of cell degenerative diseases, including type 2 diabetes and neurodegeneration. The signals communicating catastrophic ER damage to the mitochondrial apoptotic machinery remain poorly understood. We used a biochemical approach to purify a cytosolic activity induced by ER stress that causes release of cytochrome c from isolated mitochondria. We discovered that the principal component of the purified pro-apoptotic activity is the proto-oncoprotein CRK (CT10-regulated kinase), an adaptor protein with no known catalytic activity. Crk(-/-) cells are strongly resistant to ER-stress-induced apoptosis. Moreover, CRK is cleaved in response to ER stress to generate an amino-terminal M(r)~14K fragment with greatly enhanced cytotoxic potential. We identified a putative BH3 (BCL2 homology 3) domain within this N-terminal CRK fragment, which sensitizes isolated mitochondria to cytochrome c release and when mutated significantly reduces the apoptotic activity of CRK in vivo. Together these results identify CRK as a pro-apoptotic protein that signals irremediable ER stress to the mitochondrial execution machinery
Precision Test of Quark Mass Textures: A Model Independent Approach
Using a Monte Carlo method, we have directly extracted from the available
measurements, the hierarchies among the different elements of the quark mass
matrices. To do that, we have first introduced a model independent
parameterization for two generic class of models: those based on Abelian
symmetries and those inspired by a U(2) horizontal symmetry. So, matrix entries
are proportional to some epsilon^t, with epsilon<<1 and the t's are different
free exponents that we determine from the data through a statistically well
defined procedure. We have found that the experimental data poorly constrain
the Abelian scenarios. Instead, in non Abelian scenarios, these t-exponents are
strongly constrained by the present data. We have found that contrary to a
naive U(2) horizontal symmetry expectation, quark mass matrices turn out to be
not symmetric. Two solutions emerge: one with M_{32}^{{down}}>> M_{23}^{down}}
and M_{21}^{up}>> M_{12}^{{up}}; and a second one with slight asymmetries only
in the light quark sector, namely M_{21}^{up} < M_{12}^{up} and
M_{21}^{down}>M_{12}^{down}.Comment: 26 pages, 7 figure
Targets and self monitoring in hypertension: randomised controlled trial and cost effectiveness analysis
Objectives: To assess whether blood pressure control in primary care could be improved with the use of patient held targets and self monitoring in a practice setting, and to assess the impact of these on health behaviours, anxiety, prescribed antihypertensive drugs, patients’ preferences, and costs. \ud
Design: Randomised controlled trial. \ud
Setting: Eight general practices in south Birmingham. \ud
Participants: 441 people receiving treatment in primary care for hypertension but not controlled below the target of < 140/85 mm Hg. \ud
Interventions: Patients in the intervention group received treatment targets along with facilities to measure their own blood pressure at their general practice; they were also asked to visit their general practitioner or practice nurse if their blood pressure was repeatedly above the target level. Patients in the control group received usual care (blood pressure monitoring by their practice). \ud
Main outcome measures: Primary outcome: change in systolic blood pressure at six months and one year in both intervention and control groups. Secondary outcomes: change in health behaviours, anxiety, prescribed antihypertensive drugs, patients’ preferences of method of blood pressure monitoring, and costs. \ud
Results: 400 (91%) patients attended follow up at one year. Systolic blood pressure in the intervention group had significantly reduced after six months (mean difference 4.3 mm Hg (95% confidence interval 0.8 mm Hg to 7.9 mm Hg)) but not after one year (mean difference 2.7 mm Hg (-ï€ 1.2 mm Hg to 6.6 mm Hg)). No overall difference was found in diastolic blood pressure, anxiety, health behaviours, or number of prescribed drugs. Patients who self monitored lost more weight than controls (as evidenced by a drop in body mass index), rated self monitoring above monitoring by a doctor or nurse, and consulted less often. Overall, self monitoring did not cost significantly more than usual care (£251 ($437; 364 euros) (95% confidence interval £233 to £275) versus £240 (£217 to £263). \ud
Conclusions: Practice based self monitoring resulted in small but significant improvements of blood pressure at six months, which were not sustained after a year. Self monitoring was well received by patients, anxiety did not increase, and there was no appreciable additional cost. Practice based self monitoring is feasible and results in blood pressure control that is similar to that in usual care. \u
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