Variability of Millennial-Scale Trends in the Geomagnetic Axial Dipole

The historical trend in the axial dipole is sufficient to reverse the field in less than 2 kyr. Assessing the prospect of an imminent polarity reversal depends on the probability of sustaining the historical trend for long enough to produce a reversal. We use a stochastic model to predict the variability of trends for arbitrary time windows. Our predictions agree well with the trends computed from paleomagnetic models. Applying these predictions to the historical record shows that the current trend is likely due to natural variability. Furthermore, an extrapolation of the current trend for the next 1 to 2 kyr is highly unlikely. Instead, we compute the trend and time window needed to reverse the field with a specified probability. We find that the dipole could reverse in the next 20 kyr with a probability of 2%

Critical Exhibition Methods in Museums

Art and anthropology are intimately intertwined as art is an extension of culture which falls under the purview of anthropology. Utilizing interdisciplinary methodology that incorporates both anthropology\u27s considerations for culture and art\u27s consideration of aesthetic creates the best possible methodology for exhibition in museums. Art museums have enough aesthetic and could benefit from the considerations an anthropology\u27s school of thought

First Offender Drug Diversion: An Alternative to Zero Tolerance

In this presentation, participants will gain hands on knowledge about implementing a school district modified drug intervention service for students receiving their first zero-tolerance drug offense. This initiative, in its seventh year, aims to decrease drug offense expulsions and the risks associated with drug use

Needs Assessment: Northeast Philly Opioid Epidemic

Introduction: Philadelphia has the 3rd highest rate of opioid-related overdoses in the nation. This crisis is worsening in Northeast Philadelphia and the Department of Public Health lacks necessary information to intervene in an informed manner. Objective: This study aims to better understand the crisis in this community and to provide key information to guide future harm reduction interventions in the Northeast Philadelphia region. Methods: Using a designed discussion guide, qualitative interviews were completed with key stakeholders and community members. Information regarding personal experiences and opinions about the epidemic was gathered and interviews were analyzed using narrative analysis. In addition, needle counts were completed in public spaces. These counts were used to measure the free needle burden in this community. The findings of this study will be reported to the Department of Public Health. Results: Community member and stakeholder interviews produced a spectrum of opinions surrounding this issue. Major themes include the need for better access to needle exchange services and the idea that the harm reduction needed in this community differs from what would be accepted by its community members. The needle counts reveal that there is not a serious burden in the community, suggesting little need for further needle disposal kiosks in the area. Conclusion: In conclusion, future interventions should be centered around increasing needle exchange services and improving access and visibility of treatment centers in this community. Furthermore, further action should be taken to address the stigma of substance abuse in this community

The Need for Tobacco Education: Studies of Collegiate Dental Hygiene Patients and Faculty

The need for inclusion of comprehensive tobacco control education/training for health care providers continues to be stressed in publications addressing cessation services. The dental appointment presents an excellent opportunity to provide tobacco interventions to basically healthy people on regular intervals. The purpose of this study was twofold: 1) to assess the need (stage of change and concomitant need for tobacco cessation intervention) of dental hygiene patients at a Midwest dental hygiene clinic, and 2) to assess and compare the level of tobacco intervention education currently being offered by dental hygiene educators in a Midwestern state. Patients (n=426) of a collegiate dental health clinic completed a survey that assessed the level and type of tobacco cessation intervention patients might require. A statewide sample of dental hygiene faculty (n=97) were surveyed to determine the attitudes, perceived barriers, and current practices in tobacco education offered in their programs. Of patients who currently smoked (34.5 percent), 24.7 percent indicated being in the Action stage of change; 14.2 percent were in Preparation; 22.2 percent were in Contemplation; and 29 percent were in Precontemplation. Although faculty indicated tobacco education was very important (5.03 on 1-6 scale), they felt only moderately confident delivering tobacco education (3.18 on a 1-5 scale). Only 16 percent to 35 percent of faculty reported that their curriculum included brief motivational interviewing, pharmacotherapies, or setting-up a private practice tobacco control program. The results strongly suggest the need for a comprehensive, competency-based tobacco curriculum to enhance and expand existing dental hygiene programs

Evaluation of a Comprehensive Tobacco Cessation Curriculum for Dental Hygiene Programs

Dental health care providers continue to offer inconsistent and limited tobacco use cessation (TUC) interventions even though smoking-related morbidity and mortality continue to be a substantial health concern. Our purpose was to conduct a comprehensive, three-year (2003-06) TUC curriculum evaluation that included assessment of existing TUC education offered; dental hygiene educators\u27 readiness to incorporate TUC education into the curriculum; and development of a pre-test/post-test assessment instrument and faculty development program. This curriculum study was carried out alongside a research study to evaluate the effectiveness of a peer-reviewed tobacco curriculum (Tobacco Free! Curriculum). Faculty members (baseline n=97; third-year n=42) from the twelve dental hygiene associate degree programs in Illinois participated in the study, which included a pre-treatment survey, six hours of on-site TUC curriculum training, and a post-treatment survey to determine the attitudes, perceived barriers, and current practices in tobacco education. Results showed an average increase of eighty-five minutes spent on tobacco education in the dental hygiene curriculum, a large positive increase in the percentage of faculty members who formally assessed the use of 5As and 5Rs (21 percent to 88 percent), and a dramatic increase (+100) in the percentage of faculty members who taught or included most of the thirteen TUC content areas following the introduction of the curriculum and training program

City of Brotherly Love? Understanding the Awareness and Perception of Anti-Homeless Architecture Among Philadelphians

Anti-homeless architecture is a term used to describe designs that are put in place to prevent individuals from sitting or lying somewhere. These designs are referred to as “anti-homeless” because they disproportionately affect those who are unhoused and looking for places in public to rest. This architecture can make it more difficult for unhoused persons to get the rest and sleep that is vital to their physical, mental, and emotional health. In order to understand what Philadelphians know about and think of anti-homeless architecture, intercept interviews were conducted in the Center City area of Philadelphia, PA. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and open coded. At that point, a codebook was created, and the data was analyzed. Of the 25 people interviewed, 8 were unfamiliar with anti-homeless architecture. Once given the definition of the architecture and shown examples, 22 of the 25 interviewees had negative feelings about the use of this architecture, while 3 had mixed feelings. The codebook informed the creation of an explanatory model. The model is an adaptation of the social ecological model and organizes the codes into 4 levels: individual, interpersonal, community, and city government/policy. These categories represent how participants felt the architecture was perceived at different levels. While only some people were initially familiar with anti-homeless architecture, once they were informed, most participants had negative feelings about the use of the architecture. This illustrates a need for greater awareness about the use of these designs in Philadelphia

Probabilistic Guarded P Systems, A New Formal Modelling Framework

Multienvironment P systems constitute a general, formal framework for modelling the dynamics of population biology, which consists of two main approaches: stochastic and probabilistic. The framework has been successfully used to model biologic systems at both micro (e.g. bacteria colony) and macro (e.g. real ecosystems) levels, respectively. In this paper, we extend the general framework in order to include a new case study related to P. Oleracea species. The extension is made by a new variant within the probabilistic approach, called Probabilistic Guarded P systems (in short, PGP systems). We provide a formal definition, a simulation algorithm to capture the dynamics, and a survey of the associated software.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad TIN2012- 37434Junta de Andalucía P08-TIC-0420

Advanced prostate cancer experimental radioactive treatment-clinical trial decision making: patient experiences.

ObjectivesNested qualitative studies within clinical trials provide the opportunity to better understand participant experiences of participation and identify areas where improved support is required. The purpose of this qualitative study is to describe the lived experiences of men with advanced prostate cancer participating in the TheraP trial; a randomised trial of 177Lu-PSMA-617 compared with cabazitaxel chemotherapy.MethodsFifteen men with advanced prostate cancer were recruited from the TheraP clinical trial and interviewed at three time points during the trial. Interviews were inductively analysed using thematic analysis. This research paper reports the results from the baseline interview at commencement of the trial, focusing specifically on participants' enrolment experiences.ResultsFour themes were identified representing the lived experiences of men with advanced prostate cancer deciding to participate in the TheraP trial: (1) hoping to survive; (2) needing to feel informed; (3) choosing to participate and (4) being randomised. The process of deciding to enrol in a clinical trial is filled with indecision, emotional difficulties and focused on a desire to live.ConclusionsFor men with advanced prostate cancer, the experience of deciding to enrol in a clinical trial is principally driven by a desire to survive but interlinked with the need to make an informed decision as participants in this study expressed a preference for allocation to the experimental arm. Men seeking to enrol in clinical trials of new prostate cancer treatments would benefit from improved informational and decision support.Trial registration numberNCT03392428, ANZUP1603