526 research outputs found
Test of the gravitational redshift with stable clocks in eccentric orbits: application to Galileo satellites 5 and 6
The Einstein Equivalence Principle (EEP) is one of the foundations of the
theory of General Relativity and several alternative theories of gravitation
predict violations of the EEP. Experimental constraints on this fundamental
principle of nature are therefore of paramount importance. The EEP can be split
in three sub-principles: the Universality of Free Fall (UFF), the Local Lorentz
Invariance (LLI) and the Local Position Invariance (LPI). In this paper we
propose to use stable clocks in eccentric orbits to perform a test of the
gravitational redshift, a consequence of the LPI. The best test to date was
performed with the Gravity Probe A (GP-A) experiment in 1976 with an
uncertainty of . Our proposal considers the opportunity of
using Galileo satellites 5 and 6 to improve on the GP-A test uncertainty. We
show that considering realistic noise and systematic effects, and thanks to a
highly eccentric orbit, it is possible to improve on the GP-A limit to an
uncertainty around after one year of integration of
Galileo 5 and 6 data.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures, accepted in Classical and Quantum Gravity as a
Fast Track Communicatio
With the Iowa State Home Economics Association
Des Moines, Dubuque and Sioux City High Schools are each starting Home Economics Clubs and have sent in reports of progress. Other clubs may have started, but no reports have been received of their activities. We will be glad to have reports from all Home Economics Clubs in High Schools and Colleges in Iowa and ocher states so that we may print them in the Homemaker. By this exchange of ideas we can strengthen our work
Extended Fermi coordinates
We extend the notion of Fermi coordinates to a generalized definition in
which the highest orders are described by arbitrary functions. From this
definition rises a formalism that naturally gives coordinate transformation
formulae. Some examples are developped in which the extended Fermi coordinates
simplify the metric components.Comment: 16 pages, 1 figur
The role of religiousness on substance-use disorder treatment outcomes: a comparison of black and white adolescents
This study compares 41 Black and 124 White adolescents at intake and discharge from a residential treatment program for substance-use disorders. Study data were obtained as part of a larger study (N = 195) that sought to assess the relationship of helping behavior and addiction recovery. This post-hoc analysis aims to identify cultural strengths that may be associated with recovery from substance-use disorders among Black adolescents. Using regression analyses and controlling for the severity of substance use and background variables that distinguish racial groups, religious practices and behaviors at intake were examined. Specifically, Black youth and White youth were compared on treatment outcomes, including alcohol or drug use during treatment, drug craving, 12-Step work, and 12-Step helping. The burden of health and socioeconomic disparities at intake did not disproportionately disfavor Black adolescents. Outcomes related to 12-Step measures were similar between Black and White youth. White adolescents reported higher craving scores at discharge, and Black adolescents were more likely to use drugs during treatment. High levels of religiousness at treatment intake were linked to greater 12-Step work and greater 12-Step helping at discharge. High levels of religiousness at intake were not related to drug use during treatment or to craving scores at discharge. The relationship between intake levels of religiousness and treatment-related outcomes did not differ by race.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3437261/Accepted manuscrip
Calibration of individual-based models to epidemiological data : a systematic review
Individual-based models (IBMs) informing public health policy should be calibrated to data and provide estimates of uncertainty. Two main components of model-calibration methods are the parameter-search strategy and the goodness-of-fit (GOF) measure; many options exist for each of these. This review provides an overview of calibration methods used in IBMs modelling infectious disease spread. We identified articles on PubMed employing simulation-based methods to calibrate IBMs informing public health policy in HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria epidemiology published between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2018. Articles were included if models stored individual-specific information, and calibration involved comparing model output to population-level targets. We extracted information on parameter-search strategies, GOF measures, and model validation. The PubMed search identified 653 candidate articles, of which 84 met the review criteria. Of the included articles, 40 (48%) combined a quantitative GOF measure with an algorithmic parameter-search strategy–either an optimisation algorithm (14/40) or a sampling algorithm (26/40). These 40 articles varied widely in their choices of parameter-search strategies and GOF measures. For the remaining 44 (52%) articles, the parameter-search strategy could either not be identified (32/44) or was described as an informal, non-reproducible method (12/44). Of these 44 articles, the majority (25/44) were unclear about the GOF measure used; of the rest, only five quantitatively evaluated GOF. Only a minority of the included articles, 14 (17%) provided a rationale for their choice of model-calibration method. Model validation was reported in 31 (37%) articles. Reporting on calibration methods is far from optimal in epidemiological modelling studies of HIV, malaria and TB transmission dynamics. The adoption of better documented, algorithmic calibration methods could improve both reproducibility and the quality of inference in model-based epidemiology. There is a need for research comparing the performance of calibration methods to inform decisions about the parameter-search strategies and GOF measures
La observación sistemática de vecindarios: el caso de Chile y sus perspectivas para trabajo social
El estudio acerca de las caracterÃsticas de los vecindarios y sus efectos sobre las personas ha llegado a ser un área de creciente atención por parte de investigadores de diversas disciplinas en paÃses desarrollados. Aunque actualmente existen diversas metodologÃas para estudiar efectos del vecindario, una de las más utilizadas es la Observación Sistemática de Vecindarios –Systematic Social Observation SSO, en inglés—porque permite recolectar información acerca de diversas caracterÃsticas del entorno fÃsico, social, ambiental y económico de los vecindarios donde se aplica. El objetivo de este artÃculo es (i) dar a conocer sumariamente algunas investigaciones influyentes sobre efectos del vecindario en Estados Unidos, ii) describir cómo se diseñó e implementó la Observación Sistemática de Vecindarios en la ciudad de Santiago de Chile, iii) señalar algunos facilitadores y obstaculizadores de la implementación del proyecto y, finalmente iv) enunciar posibles contribuciones y limitaciones que esta metodologÃa ofrecerÃa al trabajo social en Chile.The study of neighborhood characteristics and their effects on individuals has become an area of increasing attention by scholars from various disciplines in developed countries. Although there are various methods to study neighborhoods and their impact on human populations, one of the most used is the Systematic Social Observation –Observación Sistemática de Vecindarios (OSV), in Spanish—because it allows the collection of information about various features of the physical, social, environmental and economic characteristics of neighborhoods. The purpose of this article is to (i) briefly present some research on neighborhood effects influential in the U.S., ii) describe how they Systematic Social Observation was designed and implemented in the city of Santiago,
Chile, iii) discuss some facilitators and obstacles of the implementation process and, finally iv) list possible contributions and limitations this approach would offer the profession of social work in Chile.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4004073/Accepted manuscrip
How to Make Epidemiological Training Infectious
In this fun, interactive exercise, students simulate an infectious disease outbreak among themselves that conceptually integrates two historically distinct fields in epidemiology
Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections in women attending antenatal care in Tete province, Mozambique
Objective. To determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis
(CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and syphilis in pregnant
women.
Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted among women
attending antenatal care clinics (ANCs). Blood samples were
tested for syphilis using the rapid plasma reagin (RPR) and
treponemal haemagglutination (TPHA) tests; CT and NG
were diagnosed using a manual polymerase chain reaction
assay on first-void urine samples. A socio-demographic
questionnaire was completed. Results were compared with
previous published data on sexually transmitted infection (STI)
prevalence in Mozambique.
Results. Blood and urine samples were collected from 1 119
and 835 women, respectively. The prevalence of CT was 4.1%,
and that of NG 2.5%. The RPR test was positive in 5.2% of the
women, and 7.1% had a positive TPHA test. Active syphilis
was found in 4.7%. In univariate analysis, CT was associated
with having had any level of education (
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