Reconstructing Risk: Policing and the Use of Force in the Age of “COPS”

The training of new police recruits emphasizes the ability and willingness to use force in many different situations. Although the use of force is viewed as a given attribute of police work in North America, little attention is given to the process by which recruits are formally and informally trained to manage potentially volatile use of force situations. Through the use of a cultural criminological perspective this study examines the crime and policing related discourses presented in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police\u27s Incident Management/Intervention Model (IM/IM) use of force training module. Following, this the study discusses the potential role that the images presented in the reality television program COPS may have on the construction and interpretation of crime, criminality, risk and situations that may ultimately shape or influence how force is deployed by police officers in Canada. Furthermore, this study delves into the apparent discursive relation between COPS and the IM/M and discusses some possible repercussions of shaping use of force interactions based on the media-generated images of risk, crime discourses, the criminal, criminalization, the police, the public and the suspect

Fundamental Limitations of Cavity-assisted Atom Interferometry

Atom interferometers employing optical cavities to enhance the beam splitter pulses promise significant advances in science and technology, notably for future gravitational wave detectors. Long cavities, on the scale of hundreds of meters, have been proposed in experiments aiming to observe gravitational waves with frequencies below 1 Hz, where laser interferometers, such as LIGO, have poor sensitivity. Alternatively, short cavities have also been proposed for enhancing the sensitivity of more portable atom interferometers. We explore the fundamental limitations of two-mirror cavities for atomic beam splitting, and establish upper bounds on the temperature of the atomic ensemble as a function of cavity length and three design parameters: the cavity g-factor, the bandwidth, and the optical suppression factor of the first and second order spatial modes. A lower bound to the cavity bandwidth is found which avoids elongation of the interaction time and maximizes power enhancement. An upper limit to cavity length is found for symmetric two-mirror cavities, restricting the practicality of long baseline detectors. For shorter cavities, an upper limit on the beam size was derived from the geometrical stability of the cavity. These findings aim to aid the design of current and future cavity-assisted atom interferometers.Comment: 11 pages, 12 figure

Comparison of Post-Activation Potentiating Stimuli on Jump and Sprint Performance

Post-activation potentiation (PAP) is a phenomenon characterized by improved muscle performance based on the previous contractile activity of the muscle. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of different potentiating stimuli on jump and sprint performance in 13 resistance trained, college-aged men and women. After determining back squat 1 repetition max, subjects returned for testing on separate days to complete one of four interventions (dynamic resistance, weighted plyometric, isometric, or control) in a randomized order. A standardized warmup was performed, followed by a baseline countermovement jump (CMJ) and 20m sprint. Following warm-up and baseline measurements, subjects performed one of the four experimental conditions. CMJ and 20m sprint measurements were completed again at 20-seconds, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20-minutes. Results revealed significantly faster 0-20m sprint times (p \u3c .05) at the 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20-minute time points compared to baseline and 20-second time points. Significantly faster 0-20m sprint times (p \u3c .05) were also shown for the squat intervention compared to control at 4-minutes, the plyometric and squat intervention compared to control at 8-minutes, the isometric intervention compared to control at 12 and 16- minutes, and the isometric intervention compared to the squat at 20-minutes. These findings indicate that while all PAP stimuli utilized can be effective at improving sprint performance, specific optimal time points may exist

Population pulsation resonances of excitons in monolayer MoSe2 with sub 1 {\mu}eV linewidth

Monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides, a new class of atomically thin semiconductors, possess optically coupled 2D valley excitons. The nature of exciton relaxation in these systems is currently poorly understood. Here, we investigate exciton relaxation in monolayer MoSe2 using polarization-resolved coherent nonlinear optical spectroscopy with high spectral resolution. We report strikingly narrow population pulsation resonances with two different characteristic linewidths of 1 {\mu}eV and <0.2 {\mu}eV at low-temperature. These linewidths are more than three orders of magnitude narrower than the photoluminescence and absorption linewidth, and indicate that a component of the exciton relaxation dynamics occurs on timescales longer than 1 ns. The ultra-narrow resonance (<0.2 {\mu}eV) emerges with increasing excitation intensity, and implies the existence of a long-lived state whose lifetime exceeds 6 ns.Comment: (PRL, in press

Summary of the workshop on methodologies for environmental public health tracking of air pollution effects

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention established the Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) program to support state and local projects that characterize the impact of the environment on health. The projects involve compiling, linking, analyzing, and disseminating environmental and health surveillance information, thereby engaging stakeholders and guiding actions to improve public health. One of the EPHT objectives is to track the public health impact of ambient air pollution with analyses that are timely and relevant to state and local stakeholders. To address methodological issues relevant to this objective, in January 2008, government officials and researchers from the USA, Canada, and Europe gathered in Baltimore, Maryland for a 2-day workshop. Using commissioned papers and presentations on key methodological issues as well as examples of previous air pollution impact assessments, work group discussions produced a set of consensus recommendations for the EPHT program. These recommendations noted the need for data that will encourage local stakeholders to support continued progress in air pollution control. The limitations of using only local data for analyses were also noted. To improve local estimates of air pollution health impacts, methods were recommended that “borrow strength” from other evidence. An incremental approach to implementing such methods was recommended. The importance and difficulty of communicating uncertainties in local health impact assessments was emphasized, as was the need for coordination among different agencies conducting health impact assessments

Ground Contact Time Imbalances Strongly Related to Impaired Running Economy

Running economy (RE) is defined as the oxygen consumption (VO2) or caloric unit cost required to move at a specific velocity and is an important performance marker. Ground contact time (GCT) has been associated with RE; however, it has not been established how GCT imbalances between feet impact RE. Purpose: Determine the relationship between cadence, GCT, and GCT imbalances and RE. Methods: 11 NCAA Division I distance runners (7 male) completed a graded exercise test on a treadmill to determine lactate threshold (LT) and VO2max. Body composition was also assessed via DEXA. Subjects ran with a heart rate monitor capable of measuring cadence, GCT, and GCT balance between feet. VO2 and respiratory exchange ratio were recorded over the last minute of the 5-minute stages. RE expressed as caloric unit cost (kcal·kg-1· km-1) was calculated for the stage determined to be just below the LT (prior to \u3e 4mmol/L) and was correlated with cadence, GCT, and GCT imbalance by Pearson correlations. Results: Pearson correlations between RE and the running dynamics measures were as follows: cadence (r = -.444, p = .171), GCT (r = .492, p = .125), GCT Imbalance (r = .808, p \u3c .005). An independent t-test revealed greater (p = .023) leg lean mass imbalances in runners with larger GCT imbalances compared to runners with smaller GCT imbalances. Conclusion: GCT imbalances are strongly related to impaired RE. Future research should determine how to improve GCT imbalances and if doing so improves RE

Distribution of roots of random real generalized polynomials

The average density of zeros for monic generalized polynomials, $P_n(z)=\phi(z)+\sum_{k=1}^nc_kf_k(z)$, with real holomorphic $\phi ,f_k$ and real Gaussian coefficients is expressed in terms of correlation functions of the values of the polynomial and its derivative. We obtain compact expressions for both the regular component (generated by the complex roots) and the singular one (real roots) of the average density of roots. The density of the regular component goes to zero in the vicinity of the real axis like $|\hbox{\rm Im}\,z|$. We present the low and high disorder asymptotic behaviors. Then we particularize to the large $n$ limit of the average density of complex roots of monic algebraic polynomials of the form $P_n(z) = z^n +\sum_{k=1}^{n}c_kz^{n-k}$ with real independent, identically distributed Gaussian coefficients having zero mean and dispersion $\delta = \frac 1{\sqrt{n\lambda}}$. The average density tends to a simple, {\em universal} function of $\xi={2n}{\log |z|}$ and $\lambda$ in the domain $\xi\coth \frac{\xi}{2}\ll n|\sin \arg (z)|$ where nearly all the roots are located for large $n$.Comment: 17 pages, Revtex. To appear in J. Stat. Phys. Uuencoded gz-compresed tarfile (.66MB) containing 8 Postscript figures is available by e-mail from [email protected]

Autoimmunity and long-term safety and efficacy of alemtuzumab for multiple sclerosis: Benefit/risk following review of trial and post-marketing data

Alemtuzumab; Product surveillance; Risk assessmentAlemtuzumab; Vigilancia de productos; Evaluación de riesgosAlemtuzumab; Vigilància de productes; Avaluació de riscosDoes preexisting or treatment-emergent autoimmunity increase the risk of subsequent autoimmune disease in individuals with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) after alemtuzumab? In the extended phase 2/3 trials, 34/96 (35.4%) patients with and 395/1120 (35.3%) without preexisting autoimmunity developed non-MS autoimmunity. Thyroid autoimmunity after alemtuzumab courses 1 or 2 did not increase subsequent non-thyroid autoimmune adverse events. Therefore, autoimmune disease before or after alemtuzumab treatment does not predict autoimmunity after further courses, so should not preclude adequate alemtuzumab dosing to control MS. Finally, post-marketing safety data contribute toward a full record of the alemtuzumab benefit/risk profile for the MS field.The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The CAMMS223 and CARE-MS studies, and their extensions, were supported by Sanofi and Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals. Editorial and writing assistance was supported by Sanofi

“Where I am weak, they are strong”: Students’ Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Interprofessional Education

Purpose: Healthcare professionals strive for interprofessional practice to achieve optimal patient care. Extant research suggests that to best prepare students for interprofessional practice, interprofessional education (IPE) should be a key element in curriculum. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to evaluate the impact of an IPE activity on participants’ attitudes and perceptions of IPE across five academic programs. Methods: This study utilized a modified version of the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale Questionnaire (RIPLS) pre and post IPE and reflective essays. Participants included 67 students from nursing, occupational therapy, athletic training, dietetics, and speech-language pathology programs. After reviewing a hypothetical case study, participants collaboratively developed assessment and treatment recommendations. Questionnaires were analyzed using statistical procedures and reflective essays underwent thematic analysis. Results: Collectively, data revealed significant changes in participants’ perceptions, attitudes, and implementation readiness. Occupational therapy student participants had statistically significant increases in the RIPLS composite score, Teamwork and Collaboration, and the Positive Professional Identity components (p≤0.03). Participants with previous IPE experience scored 4-points higher on the RIPLS composite score (p=0.03). The reflective essays revealed the themes of barriers associated with collaboration, a deeper understanding and appreciation of other discipline’s roles and the value of teamwork in achieving optimal patient care. Participants reported beginning the interprofessional education experience with anxiety and uncertainty about not only their involvement but also the roles of other healthcare professionals. Throughout the experience, participants emerged with an increased knowledge of their role, others’ roles, and the value of working together within a professional setting to achieve the same goal, optimal patient care. Conclusions: Our findings reveal the benefits of interprofessional education and the necessity to include several healthcare professionals associated with rehabilitation in interprofessional research and education. With more disciplines represented, students receive a broader, more in-depth understanding of not only patient care but also the roles of multiple disciplines they will collaborate with during actual rehabilitative practice