2,288 research outputs found
Recent atmospheric neutrino results from Soudan 2
An updated measurement of the atmospheric nu_mu/nu_e ratio-of-ratios,
0.68+-0.11+-0.06, has been obtained using a 4.6-kty exposure of the Soudan-2
iron tracking calorimeter. The L/E distributions have been analyzed for effects
of nu_mu -> nu_x oscillations, and an allowed region in the Delta m^2 vs. sin^2
2 theta plane has been determined.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figures; presented at TAUP99, the 6th Int. Workshop on
Topics in Astroparticle and Underground Physics, Sept. 6-10, 1999, College de
France, Paris, Franc
Perceptions of a self-management intervention for adolescents with sickle cell disease
Objective: Individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at increased risk for complications from their disease during their adolescent and young adult (AYA) years. The risk of morbidity in AYAs with SCD can be decreased with improved self-management. Existing self-management interventions typically focus on one aspect of self-management (e.g., adherence) and do not address factors that activate patients (knowledge, motivation, self-efficacy, and social support) to self-manage. Sickle Cell Thrive (SCThrive) is a mixed in-person/online, technology-enhanced (use of a mobile app), group self-management intervention that targets patient activation. To determine the most clinically significant intervention components, a qualitative study was conducted. Method: Participants were 19 AYAs (Mage = 17.05) with SCD who participated in individual semistructured phone interviews after completing SCThrive. Interview content was coded using a grounded-theory approach to generate themes related to SCThriveâs feasibility, acceptability, and motivation for and impact on self-management. Results: SCThrive was reported to be highly feasible due to the mixed in-person/online format and acceptable because they learned skills to manage SCD in a group of AYAs with SCD. Action planning and pain/mood tracking appeared to be key factors in motivating AYAs for self-management. Participants reported continuing to use self-management skills post-SCThrive (self-efficacy) including applying them to other domains of their lives (e.g., educational/vocational). Conclusions: Study results provide data that can be leveraged to enhance the feasibility, acceptability, and impact of SCThrive and other self-management interventions. Findings can also inform clinical and mobile health interventions to increase self-management in this population
Mobile Health Use Predicts Self-Efficacy and Self-Management in Adolescents with Sickle Cell Disease
symmetric non-selfadjoint operators, diagonalizable and non-diagonalizable, with real discrete spectrum
Consider in , , the operator family . \ds
H_0= a^\ast_1a_1+... +a^\ast_da_d+d/2 is the quantum harmonic oscillator with
rational frequencies, a symmetric bounded potential, and a real
coupling constant. We show that if , being an explicitly
determined constant, the spectrum of is real and discrete. Moreover we
show that the operator \ds H(g)=a^\ast_1 a_1+a^\ast_2a_2+ig a^\ast_2a_1 has
real discrete spectrum but is not diagonalizable.Comment: 20 page
The Role of Polar Pili in the Adherence of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa to Injured Canine Tracheal Cells: A Semiquantitative Morphologic Study
Pseudomonas aeruginosa adheres to respiratory epithelial cells in a highly specific fashion. In order to study the role of P. aeruginosa polar pili in the adherence process we conducted a quantitative morphological electron microscopic examination of P. aeruginosa adherence to SO2 injured canine tracheal cells in vitro. A pilin lacking background strain of P. aeruginosa PAK (BLP2) was constructed using a gene replacement and it in turn was engineered to express either the pilin gene of P. aeruginosa PAO, PAK , or no pilin gene . After 30 minutes incubation of these bacterial strains with injured canine tracheal rings the P. aeruginosa strains expressing pili adhered quantitatively more to the injured tracheal cells than did the pili lacking strains. PAO bearing strains adhered in greater numbers than PAK bearing strains. Healthy tracheal cells did not have any bacteria bound to their surfaces. The bacteria bound to the cilia and lateral edge of the exfoliating tracheal cells. Invasion of tracheal cells by piliated P. aeruginosa bacteria and penetration into the submucosa was also demonstrated. These data confirm the role of pili as important adhesins to injured tracheal cells. The difference in the adherence characteristics of pilin types PAK versus PAO may relate to the differences in the primary structure of these two pilin molecules
Mobile health use predicts self-efficacy and self-management in adolescents with sickle cell disease
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is associated with significant health challenges that often worsen during adolescence. Living with SCD requires a substantial amount of self-management and mobile health (mHealth) holds considerable promise for assessing and changing behaviors to improve health outcomes. We integrated a mobile app as an adjunct to a group intervention (SCThrive) and hypothesized that more engagement with the mHealth app would increase self-management and self-efficacy for adolescents and young adults (AYA) with SCD. Twenty-six AYA ages 13â21 years (54% female; 46% HbSS genotype; all African-American/Black) received six weekly group sessions (three in-person, three online). Participants were provided with the mobile app (iManage for SCD) to record progress on their self-management goals and log pain and mood symptoms. The Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire (TRAQ-5) assessed self-management skills and the Patient Activation Measure (PAM-13) assessed self-efficacy at baseline and post-treatment. Logging on to the app more frequently was associated higher mood ratings (r = .54, CI[.18, .77], p = .006) and lower pain ratings (r = â.48, CI[â.77, â.02], p = .04). Regression analyses demonstrated that after controlling for scores at baseline, the number of logins to the app predicted self-management skills (p = .05, η2 = .17) and possibly self-efficacy (p = .08, η2 = .13). Our study findings indicate that it can be challenging to maintain engagement in mHealth for AYA with SCD, but for those who do engage, there are significant benefits related to self-management, self-efficacy, and managing pain and mood
Initial psychological responses to influenza A, H1N1 ("Swine flu")
Background
The outbreak of the pandemic flu, Influenza A H1N1 (Swine Flu) in early 2009, provided a major challenge to health services around the world. Previous pandemics have led to stockpiling of goods, the victimisation of particular population groups, and the cancellation of travel and the boycotting of particular foods (e.g. pork). We examined initial behavioural and attitudinal responses towards Influenza A, H1N1 ("Swine flu") in the six days following the WHO pandemic alert level 5, and regional differences in these responses.
Methods
328 respondents completed a cross-sectional Internet or paper-based questionnaire study in Malaysia (N = 180) or Europe (N = 148). Measures assessed changes in transport usage, purchase of preparatory goods for a pandemic, perceived risk groups, indicators of anxiety, assessed estimated mortality rates for seasonal flu, effectiveness of seasonal flu vaccination, and changes in pork consumption
Results
26% of the respondents were 'very concerned' about being a flu victim (42% Malaysians, 5% Europeans, p < .001). 36% reported reduced public transport use (48% Malaysia, 22% Europe, p < .001), 39% flight cancellations (56% Malaysia, 17% Europe, p < .001). 8% had purchased preparatory materials (e.g. face masks: 8% Malaysia, 7% Europe), 41% Malaysia (15% Europe) intended to do so (p < .001). 63% of Europeans, 19% of Malaysians had discussed the pandemic with friends (p < .001). Groups seen as at 'high risk' of infection included the immune compromised (mentioned by 87% respondents), pig farmers (70%), elderly (57%), prostitutes/highly sexually active (53%), and the homeless (53%). In data collected only in Europe, 64% greatly underestimated the mortality rates of seasonal flu, 26% believed seasonal flu vaccination gave protection against swine flu. 7% had reduced/stopped eating pork. 3% had purchased anti-viral drugs for use at home, while 32% intended to do so if the pandemic worsened.
Conclusion
Initial responses to Influenza A show large regional differences in anxiety, with Malaysians more anxious and more likely to reduce travel and to buy masks and food. Discussions with family and friends may reinforce existing anxiety levels. Particular groups (homosexuals, prostitutes, the homeless) are perceived as at greater risk, potentially leading to increased prejudice during a pandemic. Europeans underestimated mortality of seasonal flu, and require more information about the protection given by seasonal flu inoculation
Patient engagement with antibiotic messaging in secondary care: a qualitative feasibility study of the âreview & reviseâ experience
Background: We aimed to investigate and optimise the acceptability and usefulness of a patient leaflet about antibiotic prescribing decisions made during hospitalisation, and to explore individual patient experiences and preferences regarding the process of antibiotic prescription âreview & reviseâ which is a key strategy to minimise antibiotic overuse in hospitals.
Methods: In this qualitative study, run within the feasibility study of a large, cluster-randomised stepped wedge trial of 36 hospital organisations, a series of semi-structured, think-aloud telephone interviews were conducted and data were analysed using thematic analysis. Fifteen adult patients who had experienced a recent acute medical hospital admission during which they had been prescribed antimicrobials and offered a patient leaflet about antibiotic prescribing were recruited to the study.
Results: Participants reacted positively to the leaflet, reporting that it was both an accessible and important source of information which struck the appropriate balance between informing and reassuring. Participants all valued open communication with clinicians, and were keen to be involved in antibiotic prescribing decisions, with individuals reporting positive experiences regarding antibiotic prescription changes or stopping. Many participants had prior experience or knowledge of antibiotics and resistance, and generally welcomed efforts to reduce antibiotic usage. Overall, there was a feeling that healthcare professionals (HCPs) are trusted experts providing the most appropriate treatment for individual patient conditions.
Conclusions: This study offers novel insights into how patients within secondary care are likely to respond to messages advocating a reduction in the use of antibiotics through the âreview & reviseâ approach. Due to the level of trust that patients place in their care provider, encouraging HCPs within secondary care to engage patients with greater communication and information provision could provide great advantages in the drive to reduce antibiotic use. It may also be beneficial for HCPs to view patient experiences as cumulative events that have the potential to impact future behaviour around antibiotic use. Finally, pre-testing messages about antibiotic prescribing and resistance is vital to dispelling any misconceptions either around effectiveness of treatment for patients, or perceptions of how messages may be received
Topological-phase effects and path-dependent interference in microwave structures with magnetic-dipolar-mode ferrite particles
Different ways exist in optics to realize photons carrying nonzero orbital
angular momentum. Such photons with rotating wave fronts are called twisted
photons. In microwaves, twisted fields can be produced based on small ferrite
particles with magnetic-dipolar-mode (MDM) oscillations. Recent studies showed
strong localization of the electric and magnetic energies of microwave fields
by MDM ferrite disks. For electromagnetic waves irradiating MDM disks, these
small ferrite samples appear as singular subwavelength regions with time and
space symmetry breakings. The fields scattered by a MDM disk are characterized
by topologically distinctive power-flow vortices and helicity structures. In
this paper we analyze twisted states of microwave fields scattered by MDM
ferrite disks. We show that in a structure of the fields scattered by MDM
particles, one can clearly distinguish rotating topological-phase dislocations.
Specific long-distance topological properties of the fields are exhibited
clearly in the effects of path-dependent interference with two coupled MDM
particles. Such double-twisted scattering is characterized by topologically
originated split-resonance states. Our studies of topological-phase effects and
path-dependent interference in microwave structures with MDM ferrite particles
are based on numerical analysis and recently developed analytical models. We
present preliminary experimental results aimed to support basic statements of
our studies.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev.
E835 at FNAL: Charmonium Spectroscopy in Annihilations
I present preliminary results on the search for in its
and decay modes. We observe an excess of \eta_c\gamma{\cal P} \sim 0.001M=3525.8 \pm 0.2 \pm 0.2
\Gamma\leq10.6\pm 3.7\pm3.4(br) <
\Gamma_{\bar{p}p}B_{\eta_c\gamma} < 12.8\pm 4.8\pm4.5(br) J/\psi\pi^0$ mode.Comment: Presented at the 6th International Conference on Hyperons, Charm and
Beauty Hadrons (BEACH 2004), Chicago(Il), June 27-July 3,200
- âŠ