Sexual orientation health inequality: Evidence from Understanding Society , the UK Longitudinal Household Study

Few studies from the United Kingdom have fully investigated inequalities between members of different sexual minority groups and heterosexuals over range of health outcomes. Using data from over 40,000 individuals, this study explores the health inequalities of sexual minority UK adults. We include respondents who identify as other and those who prefer not to say (PNS). Data come from wave three (2011–2012) of the nationally-representative Understanding Society, the UK Household Longitudinal Study. Sexual orientation was asked in the self-completion portion of the study. Markers of health include physical and mental functioning, minor psychological distress, self-rated health, substance use and disability. Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses tested for differences in markers of health between sexual orientation groups. Overall, heterosexual respondents had the best health while bisexual respondents had the worst. Gay and lesbian respondents reported poorer health than heterosexuals, specifically with regards to mental functioning, distress and illness status. The other and PNS respondents were most similar to each other and generally experienced fewer health inequalities than gay and lesbian respondents; they were less likely to use tobacco or alcohol. In sum, sexual minorities experience health inequality. The inclusion of other and PNS respondents has not been done in other studies and shows that while they may be healthier than gay/lesbian and bisexual respondents they still experiences poorer health than heterosexuals. Health promotion interventions are needed for these other and PNS individuals, who might not participate in interventions targeted toward known sexual minority groups

Student Perceptions of Hybrid Courses in Higher Education

Online open-ended and closed-ended surveys were conducted in 2014-2016 among 191 students at a small, private university located in South Florida. Our main goals were to evaluate student perceptions of in-class and out-of-class assignments in hybrid courses, determine what students value most about these modes of learning, and recommend ways to maximize advantages and minimize disadvantages of each. We discovered that students value instant feedback and interacting with their peers when they are in class as in-class assignments were rated significantly higher than out-of-class assignments (p \u3c 0.05) and higher ratings were significantly associated with responses associated with student-student interaction (p \u3c0.05). However, the time and place constraints of in-class work limits their ability to formulate their thoughts. Out-of-class assignments were appreciated for their flexibility of pace, time, and place, although students reported time-management problems as well. Like for in-class work, students valued the opportunity of reading their peers’ answers as higher assignment ratings for out-ofclass assignments were significantly associated with students’ ability to read the responses of others. Although participants did not report an effect from specific learning differences, having to write for out-of-class work (as opposed to speaking in class) was reported as a hurdle. We discuss strategies for improving in-class and out-of-class assignments based on our study results

A Dense Gas Trigger for OH Megamasers

HCN and CO line diagnostics provide new insight into the OH megamaser (OHM) phenomenon, suggesting a dense gas trigger for OHMs. We identify three physical properties that differentiate OHM hosts from other starburst galaxies: (1) OHMs have the highest mean molecular gas densities among starburst galaxies; nearly all OHM hosts have = 10^3-10^4 cm^-3 (OH line-emitting clouds likely have n(H2) > 10^4 cm^-3). (2) OHM hosts are a distinct population in the nonlinear part of the IR-CO relation. (3) OHM hosts have exceptionally high dense molecular gas fractions, L(HCN)/L(CO)>0.07, and comprise roughly half of this unusual population. OH absorbers and kilomasers generally follow the linear IR-CO relation and are uniformly distributed in dense gas fraction and L(HCN), demonstrating that OHMs are independent of OH abundance. The fraction of non-OHMs with high mean densities and high dense gas fractions constrains beaming to be a minor effect: OHM emission solid angle must exceed 2 pi steradians. Contrary to conventional wisdom, IR luminosity does not dictate OHM formation; both star formation and OHM activity are consequences of tidal density enhancements accompanying galaxy interactions. The OHM fraction in starbursts is likely due to the fraction of mergers experiencing a temporal spike in tidally driven density enhancement. OHMs are thus signposts marking the most intense, compact, and unusual modes of star formation in the local universe. Future high redshift OHM surveys can now be interpreted in a star formation and galaxy evolution context, indicating both the merging rate of galaxies and the burst contribution to star formation.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, 1 table, accepted by ApJ Letter

Ablation of Left Atrial Tachycardia following Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation: 12-Month Success Rates

The treatment of atrial tachycardia following catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation is often challenging. Electrophysiological studies using high-resolution 3D mapping systems have contributed significantly to their understanding, and new ablation approaches have shown high rates of acute terminations with low recurrences for the clinical AT. However, patient populations are very heterogeneous, and long-term data of the freedom from any atrial tachycardia or any arrhythmia are still sparse. To evaluate long-term success, a unified patient population and predefined ablation strategies are preferred. In this study, we present 12-month success and mean 30 month follow-up data of catheter ablation of left atrial tachycardia. All 35 patients had a history of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), 71% of which had a previous substrate modification. A total of 54 ATs, with a mean cycle length 297 ± 86 ms, 31 macro-reentries, and 4 localized reentries, were targeted. The ablation strategy to be used was given by the study protocol, depending on the type of reentry and the number of critical isthmuses. All available ablation strategies were included: standard (anatomical) lines, individual lines, critical isthmuses, and focal ablation. All ATs were terminated by ablation. A total of 91% terminated upon the first ablation strategy. Freedom from any AT after 12 months was 82%, and from any arrhythmia, it was 77%. The multi-procedure success after 30 months was 65% for any AT and 55% for any arrhythmia. In conclusion, individual ablation strategies based on the reentry mechanism and the number of critical isthmuses seems promising and demonstrates a high long-term clinical success. Tachycardia comprising a single critical isthmus can be ablated by critical isthmus ablation only. These patients present with the highest 12-month and long-term success rates

Avalanches in Breakdown and Fracture Processes

We investigate the breakdown of disordered networks under the action of an increasing external---mechanical or electrical---force. We perform a mean-field analysis and estimate scaling exponents for the approach to the instability. By simulating two-dimensional models of electric breakdown and fracture we observe that the breakdown is preceded by avalanche events. The avalanches can be described by scaling laws, and the estimated values of the exponents are consistent with those found in mean-field theory. The breakdown point is characterized by a discontinuity in the macroscopic properties of the material, such as conductivity or elasticity, indicative of a first order transition. The scaling laws suggest an analogy with the behavior expected in spinodal nucleation.Comment: 15 pages, 12 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. E, corrected typo in authors name, no changes to the pape

Growth Reponse of Loblolly Pine to Intermediate Treatment of Fire, Herbicide, and Fertilizer: Preliminary Results

Crown area is an important factor in determining stem development. This study examined the changes in stem diameter per unit area of crown due to treatment with fire, herbicide, fertilizer, and tree-thinning practice. The experimental sites were mid-rotation loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantations that were thinned one year before treatment. Site 1 was strictly row-thinned and Site 2 was thinned by and within each row. Five replicates were installed on each site. Each replicate consisted of 8 subplots (0.1 ha) containing a central 0.04 ha measurement plot. A randomized-block split-plot design was used at each site, with fertilizer as the whole-plot factor and vegetation control treatment as the subplot factor. The herbicide treatment (approximately 4.5 L ha-1 Chopper?, 2.5 L ha-1 Accord?, 11.2 L ha-1 Sun-It II oil, and 76.7 L ha-1 water) was applied in October, 1999. Prescribed burning was performed in March, 2000, and fertilizer (224 kg ha-1 N and 28 kg ha-1 P) was applied in April following the burn. The height and diameter of each tree was measured at plot establishment (1999) and in December, 2000. Individual tree crown area was measured in June, 2000. A leaves-to-tree (LT) metric, defined as the ratio of a tree\u27s diameter (cm) in December, 2000 to crown area (m?) in June, 2000 was used to examine the impact of the various factors. Herbicide affected growth differently at the two sites; growth was increased at Site 1, but decreased at Site 2, relative to their respective controls. The results were unaffected by the use of fertilizer. Fire had a negligible effect on growth at both sites, with and without fertilizer. Herbicide and fire were additive at Site 2 but antagonistic at Site 1. The results suggest that thinning practices can significantly alter the impact of herbicides and fire on tree growth. Data from the second (and final) year of the study will be available in December, 2001