954 research outputs found
Evolution in cluster cores since z~1
A large fraction of the stellar mass in galaxy clusters is thought to be
contained in the diffuse low surface brightness intracluster light (ICL). Being
bound to the gravitational potential of the cluster rather than any individual
galaxy, the ICL contains much information about the evolution of its host
cluster and the interactions between the galaxies within. However due its low
surface brightness it is notoriously difficult to study. We present the first
detection and measurement of the flux contained in the ICL at z~1. We find that
the fraction of the total cluster light contained in the ICL may have increased
by factors of 2-4 since z~1, in contrast to recent findings for the lack of
mass and scale size evolution found for brightest cluster galaxies. Our results
suggest that late time buildup in cluster cores may occur more through
stripping than merging and we discuss the implications of our results for
hierarchical simulations.Comment: To appear in the Proceedings of IAU Symposium 295 - The intriguing
life of massive galaxie
Extinction of Species Due to Deterministic and Stochastic Interactions in Food Webs
Previous research on the extinctions that occur in niche model food webs with deterministic and stochastic dynamics has shown that the structure of the food web can play an important role in extinction cascades. In this thesis, other types of synthetic food web models are considered, namely the cascade and generalized cascade models, and the extinction cascades of these food webs are compared with previous findings on the extinction cascades from the niche model. It was found that there are many similarities in the results for all three models, which prompted a closer analysis using food webs with deterministic dynamics. We developed a method to theoretically predict the survival or extinction of species in two- and three-species food webs, and compared the predictions with numerical results
Investigating the Effects of Body Weight Fluctuations on Insulin Resistance in Adults: a NHANES Study
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a history of weight cycling on insulin resistance (IR) utilizing the 2015-2020 NHANES database. A value greater than 3.2 for homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was used to define IR. No study to date has examined the weight cycling question since its application in the NHANES 2015-2016 cycle year. RESULTS 53% of the total 4100 participants reported weight cycling at least once and 33% of the total were classified as having IR. Prevalence of IR and obesity were highest amongst those who weight cycled 3 times or more, and diabetics were more likely to weight cycle than non-diabetics. A positive association was found for history of weight cycling and average BMI, maximum historical BMI, waist circumference, HOMA-IR, and fasting insulin levels. Simple logistic regression showed that weight cycling 3 times or more substantially increased the odds of becoming obese (OR 4.42, P
Self-monitoring Lifestyle Behavior in Overweight and Obese Pregnant Women: Qualitative Findings
Background: Excessive maternal gestational weight gain increases pregnancy and infant complications. Self-monitoring has been shown to be an effective strategy in weight management. Literature, however, is limited in describing pregnant women’s engagement in self-monitoring.
Aim: This qualitative study explored the experiences of overweight and obese pregnant women who self-monitored their eating, walking, and weight as participants in an intervention for excessive gestational weight gain prevention.
Methods: Thirteen overweight and obese pregnant women participated in semistructured interviews. Reflexive iteration data analysis was conducted.
Findings: Five themes were identified: making self-monitoring a habit, strategies for self-monitoring, barriers to self-monitoring, benefits of self-monitoring, and drawbacks of self-monitoring. The women viewed self-monitoring as a “habit” that could foster a sense of self-control and mindfulness. Visual or tracing aids were used to maintain the self-monitoring habit. Forgetting, defective tracking aids, complexities of food monitoring, and life events could impede self-monitoring. Being unable to keep up with self-monitoring or to achieve goals created stress.
Conclusions: Self-monitoring is a promising approach to weight management for overweight and obese pregnant women. However, healthcare providers should be aware that, although women may identify several benefits to self-monitoring, for some women, consistently trying to track their behaviors is stressful
Emerging Adult Women’s Views-of-Self in Intimate Partner Relationships that are Troubled
The purpose of this study is to describe how emerging adult (EA) women describe their views-of-self in troubled relationships. Fourteen EA women (ages 18–25) wrote four stories about their troubled relationships during a guided-writing intervention. Qualitative descriptive methods and content analysis were used to identify common views-of-self. Four views-of-self in troubled relationships and contrasting views-of-self emerged: (1) silent self-vocal self, (2) sacrificing self-prioritized self, (3) caretaking self-boundary-setting self, and (4) insecure self-secure self. Mental health nurses and other clinicians can use these views-of-self pairs to guide their discussions with EA young women who are involved in troubled relationships
Facilitators of and barriers to successful teamwork during resuscitations in a neonatal intensive care unit
OBJECTIVE:
Effective teamwork is essential in high-risk healthcare delivery environments. In this study, we aimed to identify facilitators of and barriers to successful teamwork during resuscitations in the NICU Study Design: 36 in-situ interprofessional simulation sessions were held in a level 4 NICU. Each session was followed by a debriefing where staff talked about the simulation scenario but also about their prior experiences during resuscitations in the NICU. Using content analysis, we analyzed the transcriptions of debriefings to address the study aims.
RESULT:
Participant responses yielded three major themes: communicating well, getting tasks done well, and working well together. Each main theme had subthemes.
CONCLUSION:
Teamwork is a complex process that is enhanced and hindered by a variety of factors. The factors identified in this study can be used to enhance relationship-based teamwork training programs. Future research is needed to determine which teamwork behaviors are most associated with patient outcomes
Addressing environmental and atmospheric challenges for capturing high-precision thermal infrared data in the field of astro-ecology
Using thermal infrared detectors mounted on drones, and applying techniques
from astrophysics, we hope to support the field of conservation ecology by
creating an automated pipeline for the detection and identification of certain
endangered species and poachers from thermal infrared data. We test part of our
system by attempting to detect simulated poachers in the field. Whilst we find
that we can detect humans hiding in the field in some types of terrain, we also
find several environmental factors that prevent accurate detection, such as
ambient heat from the ground, absorption of infrared emission by the
atmosphere, obscuring vegetation and spurious sources from the terrain. We
discuss the effect of these issues, and potential solutions which will be
required for our future vision for a fully automated drone-based global
conservation monitoring system.Comment: Published in Proceedings of SPIE Astronomical Telescopes and
Instrumentation 2018. 8 pages, 3 figure
A feasibility test of an online intervention to prevention dating violence in emerging adults
Dating violence in emerging adults is a significant problem and few prevention programs based on the developmental needs of this age group have been developed. Our research team developed an online dating violence prevention program called WISER (Writing to Improve Self-in-Relationships) for emerging adults. The program is based on narrative therapy principles and uses structured writing techniques. A single group pre-post feasibility test of WISER was conducted with 14 college women. WISER was demonstrated to be feasible and acceptable and to show promise as an effective program to decrease dating violence in this population
Lessons Learned: Nurses’ Experiences with Errors in Nursing
Background
Health care organizations seek to maximize the reporting of medical errors to improve patient safety.
Purpose
This study explored licensed nurses' decision-making with regard to reporting medical errors.
Methods
Grounded theory methods guided the study. Thirty nurses from adult intensive care units were interviewed, and qualitative analysis was used to develop a theoretical framework based on their narratives.
Discussion
The theoretical model was titled “Learning Lessons from the Error.” The concept of learning lessons was central to the theoretical model. The model included five stages: Being Off-Kilter, Living the Error, Reporting or Telling About the Error, Living the Aftermath, and Lurking in Your Mind.
Conclusion
This study illuminates the unique experiences of licensed nurses who have made medical errors. The findings can inform initiatives to improve error reporting and to support nurses who have made errors
Pathways to a Lung Cancer Diagnosis
Purpose
The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to identify and describe pathways to a lung cancer diagnosis based on narratives of persons diagnosed with the disease.
Data sources
Eleven adults with lung cancer were recruited from an academic thoracic oncology clinic in a large city in the southeastern United States. Moderately structured interviews were conducted by an experienced nurse practitioner (NP) to obtain information regarding the participants’ experiences leading to their diagnosis. Qualitative content analysis was used to develop a typology of pathways.
Conclusions
Findings revealed four distinct pathways: missing opportunities, waiting and seeing, being alarmed, and being blindsided.
Implications for practice
The Pathways to a Lung Cancer Diagnosis Typology has important implications for clinical practice and can be used to inform NPs and other healthcare providers who provide care for patients at risk for or diagnosed with lung cancer
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