Higher Criticism Statistic: Detecting and Identifying Non-Gaussianity in the WMAP First Year Data

Higher Criticism is a recently developed statistic for non-Gaussian detection, proposed in Donoho & Jin 2004. We find that Higher Criticism is useful for two purposes. First, Higher Criticism has competitive detection power, and non-Gaussianity is detected at the level 99% in the first year WMAP data. We find that the Higher Criticism value of WMAP is outside the 99% confidence region at a wavelet scale of 5 degrees (99.46% of Higher Criticism values based on simulated maps are below the values for WMAP). Second, Higher Criticism offers a way to locate a small portion of data that accounts for the non-Gaussianity. Using Higher Criticism, we have successfully identified a ring of pixels centered at (l\approx 209 deg, b\approx -57 deg), which seems to account for the observed detection of non-Gaussianity at the wavelet scale of 5 degrees. Note that the detection is achieved in wavelet space first. Second, it is always possible that a fraction of pixels within the ring might deviate from Gaussianity even if they do not appear to be above the 99% confidence level in wavelet space. The location of the ring coincides with the cold spot detected in Vielva et al. 2004 and Cruz et al. 2005.Comment: submitted to MNRA

The Design of Pumpjets for Hydrodynamic Propulsion

A procedure for use in the design of a wake adapted pumpjet mounted on the aft end of a body of revolution is presented. To this end, a pumpjet is designed for the Akron airship. The propulsor mass flow is selected to minimize kinetic energy losses through the duct and in the discharge jet. The shaft speed and disk size are selected to satisfy specified limits of cavitation performance and to provide acceptable blade loading. The streamtubes which pass through a propulsor mounted on a tapered afterbody follow essentially conical surfaces. A method is provided for defining these surfaces as a function of shroud geometry, rotor head distribution, and the energy distribution of the ingested mass flow. The three-dimensional effects to which the conical flow subjects the cylindrical blade design sections are described and a technique is presented which permits incorporation of these effects in the blade design procedure

Ornamental plants, 1979: a summary of research

An analysis of production costs for containerized nursery products / David E. Hahn, Jerry L. Robertson, and Elton M. Smith -- Monoterpene investigations with creeping juniper cultivars (Juniperus horizontalis Moench.) / Thomas A. Fretz -- Woody flora in Hokkaido adaptable to the north central United States / Makoto Kawase -- An evaluation of microfoam on plant quality following overwintering of container-grown woody ornamentals / Christopher F. Rizzo, Elton M. Smith, and Thomas A. Fretz -- Evaluation of winter barrels as a heat source in woody ornamental winter storage structures / Christopher F. Rizzo, Elton M. Smith, and Thomas A. Fretz_ -- Effective utilization of applied fertilizer in relation to multiple flushes of growth on 'Helleri' holly / C. H. Gilliam and R. D. Wright -- Tissue nitrogen changes during a growth flush on 'Helleri' holly / C. H. Gilliam and R. D. Wright -- Controlling winter annual and perennial weeds in field-grown Cotoneaster divaricata / Elton M. Smith and Sharon A. Treaster -- Evaluation of oxadiazon for weed control in container-grown nursery stock / Thomas A. Fretz and Wendy J. Sheppard -- A 10-year evaluation of flowering crabapple susceptibility to apple scab in Ohio / Elton M. Smith -- Fungicides for the control of diseases of ornamental plants: results of 1977 trials / C. C. Powell and James A. Chatfield -- An evaluation of fungicides on container-grown woody ornamentals during winter storage under microfoam / Christopher F. Rizzo, Elton M. Smith, and Thomas A. Fretz -- Resistance of maple cultivars and species to verticillium wilt: a preliminary report / H. A. J. Hoitink, T. D. Sydnor, and C. L. Wilso

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among Nigerian Physiotherapists

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Physiotherapists are known to be prone to Work- related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs) but its prevalence among physiotherapists in Nigeria has not been reported. This study investigated the prevalence and work factors of WRMDs among physiotherapists in Nigeria.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross- sectional survey was administered to physiotherapists in different parts of Nigeria using a 2- part questionnaire with items adopted from questionnaires used for similar studies around the world. Two hundred and seventeen copies of the questionnaire were distributed for self administration but 126 physiotherapists returned completed surveys for a 58.1% response. The data were analyzed using SPPS version 10 at alpha level of 0.05. Descriptive statistics of frequency and percentages and inferential statistics of <it>x</it>²were used as appropriate for data analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Reported 12- month prevalence of WRMDs among Nigerian physiotherapists was 91.3%. Prevalence of WRMDs was significantly higher in female physiotherapists (p = 0.007) and those with lower body mass index (p = 0.045). The low back (69.8%) was the most commonly affected body part, followed by the neck (34.1%). Fifty percent of the physiotherapists first experienced their WRMDs within five years of graduation and the highest prevalence (61.7%) was found among physiotherapists younger than 30 years. Treating large number of patients in a day was cited by most (83.5%) of the respondents as the most important work factor for their WRMDs. The most commonly adopted coping strategy identified was for the therapists to modify their position and/or the patient's position (64.3%). Majority of the respondents (87.0%) did not leave the profession but 62.6% changed and/or modified their treatment because of their WRMDs.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The prevalence of WRMDs among physiotherapists in Nigeria is higher than most values reported for their counterparts around the world. The coping strategies and work factors of WRMDs among Nigerian physiotherapists are mostly similar to those of their counterparts elsewhere.</p

High prevalence of shoulder girdle muscles with myofascial trigger points in patients with shoulder pain

Background: Shoulder pain is reported to be highly prevalent and tends to be recurrent or persistent despite medical treatment. The pathophysiological mechanisms of shoulder pain are poorly understood. Furthermore, there is little evidence supporting the effectiveness of current treatment protocols. Although myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) are rarely mentioned in relation to shoulder pain, they may present an alternative underlying mechanism, which would provide new treatment targets through MTrP inactivation. While previous research has demonstrated that trained physiotherapists can reliably identify MTrPs in patients with shoulder pain, the percentage of patients who actually have MTrPs remains unclear. The aim of this observational study was to assess the prevalence of muscles with MTrPs and the association between MTrPs and the severity of pain and functioning in patients with chronic non-traumatic unilateral shoulder pain. Methods: An observational study was conducted. Subjects were recruited from patients participating in a controlled trial studying the effectiveness of physical therapy on patients with unilateral non-traumatic shoulder pain. Sociodemographic and patient-reported symptom scores, including the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) Questionnaire, and Visual Analogue Scales for Pain were compared with other studies. To test for differences in age, gender distribution, and education level between the current study population and the populations from Dutch shoulder studies, the one sample T-test was used. One observer examined all subjects (n = 72) for the presence of MTrPs. Frequency distributions, means, medians, standard deviations, and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for descriptive purposes. The Spearman's rank-order correlation (rho) was used to test for association between variables. Results: MTrPs were identified in all subjects. The median number of muscles with MTrPs per subject was 6 (active MTrPs) and 4 (latent MTrPs). Active MTrPs were most prevalent in the infraspinatus (77%) and the upper trapezius muscles (58%), whereas latent MTrPs were most prevalent in the teres major (49%) and anterior deltoid muscles (38%). The number of muscles with active MTrPs was only moderately correlated with the DASH score. Conclusion: The prevalence of muscles containing active and latent MTrPs in a sample of patients with chronic non-traumatic shoulder pain was high