Knob linkage permits one-hand control of several operations

Electromechanical device with single knob provides one-hand control of numerous electrical or mechanical functions. The principle of this design may have application to remote-control switching devices

Automating biomedical data science through tree-based pipeline optimization

Over the past decade, data science and machine learning has grown from a mysterious art form to a staple tool across a variety of fields in academia, business, and government. In this paper, we introduce the concept of tree-based pipeline optimization for automating one of the most tedious parts of machine learning---pipeline design. We implement a Tree-based Pipeline Optimization Tool (TPOT) and demonstrate its effectiveness on a series of simulated and real-world genetic data sets. In particular, we show that TPOT can build machine learning pipelines that achieve competitive classification accuracy and discover novel pipeline operators---such as synthetic feature constructors---that significantly improve classification accuracy on these data sets. We also highlight the current challenges to pipeline optimization, such as the tendency to produce pipelines that overfit the data, and suggest future research paths to overcome these challenges. As such, this work represents an early step toward fully automating machine learning pipeline design.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures, to appear in EvoBIO 2016 proceeding

ICPSR Working Paper 2

This report reviews best practices for using data resources from ICPSR, its projects, and its collaborating partners for measuring the impact of epidemics. The report summarizes resources to identify measures of well-being, social connectedness, and other constructs to measure the social and behavioral effects of the COVID-19 epidemic on population health outcomes. The report suggests data resources to identify pre-crisis measures of social distancing, social networks, consumer confidence, unemployment, and the use of social media.https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154682/1/Best Practices Measuring Impact of Epidemics Version April 3, 2020.pdfDescription of Best Practices Measuring Impact of Epidemics Version April 3, 2020.pdf : White pape

Acceptability of Specialist Psychotherapy with Emotion for Anorexia in Kent and Sussex (SPEAKS): A novel intervention for anorexia nervosa

Investigate the acceptability of Specialist Psychotherapy with Emotion for Anorexia in Kent and Sussex (SPEAKS), a novel intervention for anorexia nervosa (AN), conducted as a feasibility trial to provide an initial test of the intervention. SPEAKS therapy lasting 9-12 months was provided to 34 people with AN or atypical AN by eight specialist eating disorder therapists trained in the model across two NHS Trusts in the UK (Kent and Sussex) during a feasibility trial. All participants were offered a post-therapy interview; sixteen patients and six therapists agreed. All patient participants were adult females. Interviews were semi-structured and asked questions around individuals' experience of SPEAKS, the acceptability of the intervention and of the research methods. Interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Key areas explored in line with research questions led to 5 overarching themes and 14 subthemes: (1) shift in treatment focus and experience, (2) balancing resources and treatment outcomes, (3) navigating the online treatment environment, (4) therapist adaptation and professional development, and (5) research processes. SPEAKS was found to be an acceptable intervention for treating AN from the perspective of patients and therapists. The findings provide strong support for delivery of a larger scale randomized control trial. Recommendations for future improvements, particularly pertaining to therapist understanding of the treatment model are detailed, alongside broader clinical implications. We aimed to evaluate the acceptability of a new anorexia nervosa treatment called SPEAKS. Interviews were conducted with patients and therapists involved in the pilot study and responses were analyzed. Results showed that both patients and therapists found SPEAKS to be an acceptable treatment for anorexia nervosa. The study suggests that SPEAKS meets the criteria for moving forward with a larger trial to assess its effectiveness. [Abstract copyright: © 2024 The Authors. International Journal of Eating Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Correlation Between Grip Strength at Various Arm Orientations and Hitting Performance Metrics of Division I Collegiate Baseball Players

Dominate and non-dominate grip strength (GS) significantly correlated with bat speed (BS) in the sport of baseball. Various arm orientations occur throughout the swing; moreover, additional metrics beyond BS are indicative of baseball hitting performance. The correlation between various GS and hitting outcomes have not been empirically examined. PURPOSE: The aim of the current investigation was to examine the relationship of GS at various arm angles to various hitting performance metrics. METHODS: Division I collegiate baseball players (n = 17; height: 180.92 ± 5.61 cm; weight: 82.1 ± 11.12 kg) performed dominate and non-dominate maximal GS at five different arm and forearm orientations utilizing the Jamar Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer: 90-degree elbow flexion with (1) neutral (NDN), (2) supinated (NDS), and (3) pronated (NDP) forearm placement, as well as 120-degree elbow extension with 90-degree shoulder abduction with (4) supinated (AS) and (5) neutral (AN) forearm grips. At each angle, three attempts were permitted to exert maximal force, recorded in kg. Hitting metrics were gathered via Blast Motion Bat Sensors and Yakkertek Ball-Tracking System - metrics included: BS, peak hand speed (PHS), vertical bat angle (VBA), time to contact (TTC), attack angle (AA), power (PW), on plane efficiency (OPE), plane score (PS), rotational acceleration (RA), early connection (EC), connection at impact (CAI), as well as average exit-velocity (AEV), peak exit-velocity (PEV), hard hit percentage (HHP), damage percentage (DP), and average launch angle (ALA). A Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient (p \u3c .05) was employed to assess the relationship between GS and hitting performance. RESULT: Positive significant correlations were recognized between the following variables: dominate NDN and HHP (r = .559, p = .02), DP (r = .647, p = .007), and BS (r = .515, p = .034); non-dominate NDP and HHP (r = .497, p = .042), DP (r = .664, p = .005), and TTC (r = .519, p = .033); and non-dominate NDS and DP (r = .770, p \u3c .001), PS (r = .515, p = .035), OPE (r = .510, p = .036). A negative significant relationship was identified between non-dominate NDS and EC (r = -.629, p = -.007), and CAI (r = -.587, p = -.013). CONCLUSION: Supporting previous investigations, these results suggest dominate NDN, non-dominate NDP, and non-dominate NDS yielded the greatest influence on hitting performance among the tested GS positions; thus, potentially providing coaches with arm orientation specific GS training recommendation for baseball hitters

Silvopastoral Agroforestry in Upland and Lowland UK Grassland: Tree Growth and Animal Performance

Trees, individually protected from herbivore damage using plastic shelters, were planted at two densities (100 and 400 stems/ha) into sheepgrazed pasture in upland and lowland UK grassland sites in 1988. Tree and animal performance were compared with conventional forestry (no sheep) and pasture (no tree) systems. Effects on tree growth and survival are highly species and site dependent although some treatment effects did emerge. Tree shelters encouraged rapid early height growth compared to forestry controls although in some cases tree form was also adversely affected. Generally tree performance within agroforestry treatments was better at the higher planting density. Eight years after planting there has been no reduction in animal production despite interception of up to 10% of total photosynthetically active radiation by the developing tree canopy

Effects of rolling on the ductility of 80% tungsten heavy alloy

Relations between transverse tensile ductility and rolling and annealing schedules were investigated for solid-state sintered and annealed 80%W8%Ni-2%Fe heavy alloy rolled at 900C or 1150C with varying reductions between anneals at either 1150C or 1400C. Final anneals and a solution heat treatment were employed prior to tensile testing. Metallographic and fractographic analyses were performed to determine relations between microstructure and physical properties. Multiple 1400C intermediate anneals with a maximum 60% rolling reduction produced higher transverse tensile elongations than rolled with a higher final reduction, 86%. Tensile elongation differences were attributed to the recrystallized intra-particle W grain sizes achieved during the final anneal. Materials given a maximum of 60% reduction before final anneal had fewer intra-particle W grains and therefore higher ductilities. For materials rolled at 900C or 1150C, no differences in transverse tensile elongation were observed. 1150C intermediate anneals had consistently lower ductility. 900C rolling produced slightly higher elongations than 1150C rolling, but only when the material was annealed at 1455C. Tensile yield and ultimate strengths did not vary greatly with rolling and intermediate annealing conditions. The edge cracking correlated with observed lateral spread and the material softness

Preliminary dose comparisons for the MRS Systems Study

This report provides preliminary information on the radiological doses to the public and the workers for alternative system configurations proposed in the MRS Systems Study. Information published in the MRS Environmental Assessment (DOE 1986) was used as a basis for this analysis. The risk differences between alternative configurations were found to be small and should not be viewed as a major factor in selecting alternative configurations. 1 ref

Assessing satisfaction with a nurse-led clinical trials clinic

This article reports the results of a patient satisfaction questionnaire used to evaluate a newly established gastrointestinal cancer clinical trials nurse-led clinic. The service was set up to accommodate the increased clinical trials portfolio at Great Western Hospital, Swindon (Winter et al 2011). While patients were overwhelmingly positive about the clinic and the practitioner providing it, the survey indicated areas for improvement, which include offering the option of seeing a doctor or nurse, changes in allocated clinic times to avoid delays and the need to address patients’ anxiety

Identifying four phytoplankton functional types from space: An ecological approach

Deriving maps of phytoplankton taxa based on remote sensing data using bio-optical properties of phytoplankton alone is challenging. A more holistic approach was developed using artificial neural networks, incorporating ecological and geographical knowledge together with ocean color, bio-optical characteristics, and remotely sensed physical parameters. Results show that the combined remote sensing approach could discriminate four major phytoplankton functional types (diatoms, dinoflagellates, coccolithophores, and silicoflagellates) with an accuracy of more than 70%. Models indicate that the most important information for phytoplankton functional type discrimination is spatio-temporal information and sea surface temperature. This approach can supply data for large-scale maps of predicted phytoplankton functional types, and an example is shown