Imaging of vibrating objects using speckle subtraction

A simple method for imaging vibrational motion is proposed. The process consists of capturing two speckled images of a region illuminated by coherent radiation. One of the images is captured before the onset of motion and the other during motion. If the mean speckle intensity is below the threshold for detection or above the saturation intensity of the detector, subtracting the two images produces a high contrast image of the moving region. A theory is shown to agree well with experimental data

A Simple and Inexpensive Optical Technique to Help Students Visualize Mode Shapes

An imaging technique is introduced that is suitable for visualizing the mode shapes of vibrating structures in an educational setting. The method produces images similar to those obtained using electronic speckle pattern interferometry (ESPI) but it can be implemented for less than 1=10 the cost of a commercial ESPI system, and the apparatus is simple enough that it can be constructed by undergraduate students. This technique allows for real-time visualization of the normal modes and detection shapes of harmonically vibrating structures, including those with shapes that make generating Chladni patterns with sand or powder impossible. The theory of operation and construction details are discussed

Options for Breast Cancer Prevention in High-Risk Patients

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed non-skin cancer in women, and one in eight women will develop breast cancer within their Iifetimes. Unfortunately, the strongest risk factors for breast cancer (i.e. age, family history, hormonal factors) are not easily modified. There is some evidence that chemopreventative drugs may be able to prevent breast cancer in high-risk patients. Tamoxifen and raloxifene have been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer in high-risk women but may be associated with several serious adverse events. Clinical trials are currently in progress to determine if aromatase inhibitors are a viable alternative for breast cancer prevention, as they may be considered effective in the early treatment of breast cancer. For patients with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations, a bilateral prophylactic mastectomy may be an option. This article discusses the risks and benefits of available treatment options for breast cancer prevention in high-risk patients

Hidden links: Trait anxiety and the hostile attribution bias

The hostile attribution bias (HAB) is a tendency to interpret malevolent intentions when confronted by ambiguous actions of others. This project examines the relationship between HAB and trait anxiety and whether a metacognitive manipulation reduces HAB. In Study 1, our results showed that trait anxiety and HAB had a positive correlation using both methods of detecting hostility, even when negative affect was accounted for. In Study 2, overall analyses revealed that compared to a true control condition, the metacognition manipulation reduced the link between trait anxiety and HAB. This study needs to be replicated before we can definitively draw conclusions, but still guides us to a potential new method for reducing HAB in anxious individuals

A Little Blue Bird Told Me: Sentiment Change on Orphanage Tourism

This study examined Twitter conversations to understand the changes in the sentiments related to orphanage tourism between 2009 and 2019. Past research on orphanage tourism mostly took a qualitative approach, which provided profound knowledge but was limited to a single time and those directly involved. This study fills the gap by analyzing the tweets posted by different parties, including the individuals that have participated or are willing to participate in orphanage tourism, institutions that have campaigned against the phenomenon, and organizations that have promoted orphanage volunteering. Analysis of 109,723 tweets using lexicons and supervised learning—Support Vector Machine, Random Forest, Naive Bayes, and Logistic regression—revealed that the year 2014 marked a turning point for orphanage tourism conversations as the number of posts dropped significantly, and the messages against orphanage tourism received attention. However, the positive sentiment still prevailed throughout the decade when all tweets were considered

Energy-dense snacks can have the same expected satiation as sugar-containing beverages

AbstractSugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are thought to be problematic for weight management because energy delivered in liquid form may be less effective at suppressing appetite than solid foods. However, little is known about the relative ‘expected satiation’ (anticipated fullness) of SSBs and solid foods. This is relevant because expected satiation is an important determinant of portion selection and energy intake. Here, we used a method of constant stimuli to assess the expected satiation of test meals that were presented in combination with different caloric and non-caloric beverages (500 ml) (Experiment 1 and 2), as well as with high-energy solid snack foods (Experiment 2). All energy-containing beverages and snack foods were presented in 210 kcal portions. Both experiments found that expected satiation was greater for meals containing caloric versus non-caloric beverages (201.3 ± 17.3 vs. 185.4 ± 14.1 kcal in Experiment 2; p < 0.05). Further, Experiment 2 showed that this difference was greater in participants who were familiar with our test beverages, indicating a role for learning. Notably, we failed to observe a significant difference in expected satiation between any of the caloric beverages and snack foods in Experiment 2 (range: 192.5–205.2 kcal; p = 0.87). This finding suggests that it may be more appropriate to consider beverages and solid foods on the same continuum, recognizing that the expected satiation of some solid foods is as weak as some beverages

Systematic review of arts and culture-based interventions for people living with dementia and their caregivers

Aims: To explore and summarize studies investigating the effect of arts and culture interventions for people living with dementia and their caregivers on the well-being and cognition of the person living with dementia and, caregiver strain. Methods: We carried out a systematic search of five electronic databases (PubMed, PsychINFO, Embase, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library).  We included original research published in peer-reviewed journals including both qualitative and quantitative studies.  We assessed quality of included studies using the Cochrane Collaboration’s Risk of Bias tools.   A narrative synthesis was conducted of all included studies. Results Of the 4827 articles screened, 34 articles met inclusion criteria. A variety of interventions were identified, with more than half taking place in a museum or gallery. Five RCTs showed improvements in wellbeing outcomes but no cognitive improvements except in some subscales in a music intervention. Most non-randomised studies reported cognitive improvements and well-being improvements for people living with dementia  and their caregivers. Studies primarily focused on individuals with mild to moderate dementia. Conclusions: The use of arts and culture interventions may provide benefits for people living with dementia and their caregivers. However, heterogeneity of the interventions and outcome measures prevented generalization of the results. Further research of arts and culture interventions for people living with dementia and their caregivers should utilize larger controlled trials, standardized outcome measures and include individuals with moderate to severe dementia