352 research outputs found
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in Healthcare Facilities in the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Case of Water Mission Mexico
Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in healthcare facilities (HCFs) are critical for infection prevention and control, however, these services are often lacking in hospitals and clinics around the world. Water Mission is a nonprofit that designs, builds, and implements safe water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions in various contexts, including healthcare facilities. Two staff members from the Water Mission headquarters in Charleston, SC interviewed the Water Mission Mexico country director, Johnny Bermudez, to share about the role of WASH in HCFs in Mexico and speak on Water Missionâs response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Domain Growth, Wetting and Scaling in Porous Media
The lattice Boltzmann (LB) method is used to study the kinetics of domain
growth of a binary fluid in a number of geometries modeling porous media.
Unlike the traditional methods which solve the Cahn-Hilliard equation, the LB
method correctly simulates fluid properties, phase segregation, interface
dynamics and wetting. Our results, based on lattice sizes of up to , do not show evidence to indicate the breakdown of late stage dynamical
scaling, and suggest that confinement of the fluid is the key to the slow
kinetics observed. Randomness of the pore structure appears unnecessary.Comment: 13 pages, latex, submitted to PR
Effects of pressure on spin fluctuations and the exchange interaction in La2CuO4 as determined by twoâmagnon Raman scattering (abstract)
We have measured the twoâmagnon Raman scattering spectrum of magnetic La2CuO4 at pressures of up to 100 kbar. Analysis of the moments of the twoâmagnon line shape indicates that the renormalization parameters resulting from spin fluctuations are essentially pressure independent in this pressure range. Our results provide the first direct determination of the pressure dependence of the inâplane exchange coupling constant J. The pressure dependence of J is compared with that of the NĂ©el temperature and discussed in the context of recent theories for quasiâtwoâdimensional magnetic systems.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/71024/2/JAPIAU-69-8-5392-1.pd
A Practical Guide to Calculating Cohenâs f2, a Measure of Local Effect Size, from PROC MIXED
Reporting effect sizes in scientific articles is increasingly widespread and encouraged by journals; however, choosing an effect size for analyses such as mixed-effects regression modeling and hierarchical linear modeling can be difficult. One relatively uncommon, but very informative, standardized measure of effect size is Cohenâs f2, which allows an evaluation of local effect size, i.e., one variableâs effect size within the context of a multivariate regression model. Unfortunately, this measure is often not readily accessible from commonly used software for repeated-measures or hierarchical data analysis. In this guide, we illustrate how to extract Cohenâs f2 for two variables within a mixed-effects regression model using PROC MIXED in SASÂź software. Two examples of calculating Cohenâs f2 for different research questions are shown, using data from a longitudinal cohort study of smoking development in adolescents. This tutorial is designed to facilitate the calculation and reporting of effect sizes for single variables within mixed-effects multiple regression models, and is relevant for analyses of repeated-measures or hierarchical/multilevel data that are common in experimental psychology, observational research, and clinical or intervention studies
Probing Internal Stress and Crystallinity in Wet Foam via Raman Spectroscopy
In this article, we correlate the internal stress and the characteristics of
a vibrational mode in wet foam. Using microscope images, we estimate the
average size of the bubbles in wet foam, at specific time intervals, over a
duration of twenty four hours. Raman spectra are also recorded at the same time
intervals, over the same time frame. We show that the internal stress,
originated from the macroscopic structural change of foam with ageing, can be
related to the observed Raman shift of the low frequency methylene rocking mode
of the constituent surfactant molecules in foam. In this report we also show
the capability of the Raman spectroscopy to reveal the crystallinity in foamy
materials, when studied for a longer period of time.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figure
Evidence for Two Superconducting Gaps in
We have measured the Raman spectra of polycrystalline MgB from 25 {\cm}
to 1200 {\cm}. When the temperature was decreased below the superconducting
transition temperature , we observed a superconductivity-induced
redistribution in the electronic Raman continuum. Two pair-breaking peaks
appear in the spectra, suggesting the presence of two superconducting gaps.
Furthermore, we have analyzed the measured spectra using a quasi
two-dimensional model in which two s-wave superconducting gaps open on two
sheets of Fermi surface. For the gap values we have obtained (2.7 meV) and (6.2 meV). Our results suggest
that a conventional phonon-mediated pairing mechanism occurs in the planar
boron bands and is responsible for the superconductivity of MgB.Comment: 3 figure
Homotopic functional connectivity disruptions in glioma patients are associated with tumor malignancy and overall survival
BACKGROUND: Gliomas exhibit widespread bilateral functional connectivity (FC) alterations that may be associated with tumor grade. Limited studies have examined the connection-level mechanisms responsible for these effects. Given the typically strong FC observed between mirroring/homotopic brain regions in healthy subjects, we hypothesized that homotopic connectivity (HC) is altered in low-grade and high-grade glioma patients and the extent of disruption is associated with tumor grade and predictive of overall survival (OS) in a cohort of
METHODS: We used a mirrored FC-derived cortical parcellation to extract blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signals and to quantify FC differences between homotopic pairs in normal-appearing brain in a retrospective cohort of glioma patients and healthy controls.
RESULTS: Fifty-nine glioma patients (WHO grade 2,
CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate an association between tumor grade and HC alterations that may underlie global FC changes and provide prognostic information
The OptiMine feasibility study: a novel implementation strategy to electronically screen and signpost patients to health behaviour apps
Background:
Behavior change apps have the potential to provide individual support on a population scale at low cost, but they face numerous barriers to implementation. Electronic health records (EHRs) in acute care hospitals provide a valuable resource for identifying patients at risk, who may benefit from behavior change apps. A novel, emerging implementation strategy is to use digital technologies not only for providing support to help-seeking individuals but also for signposting patients at risk to support services (also called proactive referral in the United States).
Objective:
The OptiMine study aimed to increase the reach of behavior change apps by implementing electronic signposting for smoking cessation and alcohol reduction in a large, at-risk population that was identified through an acute care hospital EHR.
Methods:
This 3-phase, mixed methods implementation study assessed the acceptability, feasibility, and reach of electronic signposting to behavior change apps by using a hospitalâs EHR system to identify patients who are at risk. Phase 1 explored the acceptability of the implementation strategy among the patients and staff through focus groups. Phase 2 investigated the feasibility of using the hospital EHR to identify patients with target risk behaviors and contact them via SMS text message, email, or patient portal. Phase 3 assessed the impact of SMS text messages sent to patients who were identified as smokers or risky drinkers, which signposted them to behavior change apps. The primary outcome was the proportion of participants who clicked on the embedded link in the SMS text message to access information about the apps. The acceptability of the SMS text messages among the patients who had received them was also explored in a web-based survey.
Results:
Our electronic signposting strategyâusing SMS text messages to promote health behavior change apps to patients at riskâwas found to be acceptable and feasible and had good reach. The hospital sent 1526 SMS text messages, signposting patients to either the National Health Service Smokefree or Drink Free Days apps. A total of 13.56% (207/1526) of the patients clicked on the embedded link to the apps, which exceeded our 5% a priori success criterion. Patients and staff contributed to the SMS text message content and delivery approach, which were perceived as acceptable before and after the delivery of the SMS text messages. The feasibility of the SMS text message format was determined and the target population was identified by mining the EHR.
Conclusions:
The OptiMine study demonstrated the proof of concept for this novel implementation strategy, which used SMS text messages to signpost at-risk individuals to behavior change apps at scale. The level of reach exceeded our a priori success criterion in a nonâhelp-seeking population of patients receiving unsolicited SMS text messages, disconnected from hospital visits.
International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID):
RR2-10.2196/2366
Novel implementation strategy to electronically screen and signpost patients to health behavior apps: Mixed methods implementation study (OptiMine study)
BACKGROUND: Behavior change apps have the potential to provide individual support on a population scale at low cost, but they face numerous barriers to implementation. Electronic health records (EHRs) in acute care hospitals provide a valuable resource for identifying patients at risk, who may benefit from behavior change apps. A novel, emerging implementation strategy is to use digital technologies not only for providing support to help-seeking individuals but also for signposting patients at risk to support services (also called proactive referral in the United States).
OBJECTIVE: The OptiMine study aimed to increase the reach of behavior change apps by implementing electronic signposting for smoking cessation and alcohol reduction in a large, at-risk population that was identified through an acute care hospital EHR.
METHODS: This 3-phase, mixed methods implementation study assessed the acceptability, feasibility, and reach of electronic signposting to behavior change apps by using a hospital\u27s EHR system to identify patients who are at risk. Phase 1 explored the acceptability of the implementation strategy among the patients and staff through focus groups. Phase 2 investigated the feasibility of using the hospital EHR to identify patients with target risk behaviors and contact them via SMS text message, email, or patient portal. Phase 3 assessed the impact of SMS text messages sent to patients who were identified as smokers or risky drinkers, which signposted them to behavior change apps. The primary outcome was the proportion of participants who clicked on the embedded link in the SMS text message to access information about the apps. The acceptability of the SMS text messages among the patients who had received them was also explored in a web-based survey.
RESULTS: Our electronic signposting strategy-using SMS text messages to promote health behavior change apps to patients at risk-was found to be acceptable and feasible and had good reach. The hospital sent 1526 SMS text messages, signposting patients to either the National Health Service Smokefree or Drink Free Days apps. A total of 13.56% (207/1526) of the patients clicked on the embedded link to the apps, which exceeded our 5% a priori success criterion. Patients and staff contributed to the SMS text message content and delivery approach, which were perceived as acceptable before and after the delivery of the SMS text messages. The feasibility of the SMS text message format was determined and the target population was identified by mining the EHR.
CONCLUSIONS: The OptiMine study demonstrated the proof of concept for this novel implementation strategy, which used SMS text messages to signpost at-risk individuals to behavior change apps at scale. The level of reach exceeded our a priori success criterion in a non-help-seeking population of patients receiving unsolicited SMS text messages, disconnected from hospital visits.
INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR2-10.2196/23669
Speckle from phase ordering systems
The statistical properties of coherent radiation scattered from
phase-ordering materials are studied in detail using large-scale computer
simulations and analytic arguments. Specifically, we consider a two-dimensional
model with a nonconserved, scalar order parameter (Model A), quenched through
an order-disorder transition into the two-phase regime. For such systems it is
well established that the standard scaling hypothesis applies, consequently the
average scattering intensity at wavevector _k and time t' is proportional to a
scaling function which depends only on a rescaled time, t ~ |_k|^2 t'. We find
that the simulated intensities are exponentially distributed, with the
time-dependent average well approximated using a scaling function due to Ohta,
Jasnow, and Kawasaki. Considering fluctuations around the average behavior, we
find that the covariance of the scattering intensity for a single wavevector at
two different times is proportional to a scaling function with natural
variables mt = |t_1 - t_2| and pt = (t_1 + t_2)/2. In the asymptotic large-pt
limit this scaling function depends only on z = mt / pt^(1/2). For small values
of z, the scaling function is quadratic, corresponding to highly persistent
behavior of the intensity fluctuations. We empirically establish a connection
between the intensity covariance and the two-time, two-point correlation
function of the order parameter. This connection allows sensitive testing,
either experimental or numerical, of existing theories for two-time
correlations in systems undergoing order-disorder phase transitions. Comparison
between theory and our numerical results requires no adjustable parameters.Comment: 18 pgs RevTeX, to appear in PR
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