Measurement of the diameter of Mercury by the Hertzsprung method on November 7, 1960

Measurement of Mercury /planet/ diameter by Hertzsprung metho

Assessing suicide ideation among older adults: a systematic review of screening and measurement tools

Objectives: Rates of suicide in older adults may be higher than reported due to poor understandings of presentation of suicide ideation in this group. The objectives of this paper were to (i) review current measurement tools designed for older adults to detect suicide ideation and (ii) assess their psychometric properties. Design: We used a systematic review approach to identify measurement tools developed specifically for older adults without cognitive decline or impairment. Results: Ten articles that reported on a total of seven different measurement tools were identified. These included tools that focused on resiliency to suicide and those that measured risk of suicide behavior. There was wide variation across the articles: some were adaptations of existing scales to suit older populations, others were developed by authors; they varied in length from four to 69 items; a range of settings was used, and there was a mix of self-report and clinician-administered measures. Most displayed good psychometric properties, with both approaches showing similar quality. Limitations in terms of samples, settings, and measurement design are discussed. Conclusion: The case for specific measures for older adults is clear from this review. There appear to be unique factors that should be considered in understanding suicide ideation and behavior among older adults that may not be directly assessed in non-specific measurements. However, there is a need to expand the diversity of individuals included in measurement development to ensure they are appropriate across gender, culture and minority status, and for the views of professionals to be considered

GpABC: a Julia package for approximate Bayesian computation with Gaussian process emulation

Motivation Approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) is an important framework within which to infer the structure and parameters of a systems biology model. It is especially suitable for biological systems with stochastic and nonlinear dynamics, for which the likelihood functions are intractable. However, the associated computational cost often limits ABC to models that are relatively quick to simulate in practice. Results We here present a Julia package, GpABC, that implements parameter inference and model selection for deterministic or stochastic models using i) standard rejection ABC or ABC-SMC, or ii) ABC with Gaussian process emulation. The latter significantly reduces the computational cost. Availability and Implementation https://github.com/tanhevg/GpABC.jl Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online

A scoping review exploring the 'grey area' of suicide-related expression in later life: developing a conceptual framework for professional engagement

As the body of research on suicide in later life has developed, so has its vocabulary. This has generated a high level of overlap in concepts and terminology used to articulate suicide and how it might present, as well as ‘grey area’ behavioural terms that are both specific to older adults and less well-defined (e.g. ‘hastening of death’ or ‘completed life’). A better understanding of individual experiences and pathways to suicide can help to inform assessment and interventions, and increase the potential to relate any theoretical concepts to the implementation of such. Here, we adopted a scoping review to search systematically literature on specific presentation, features, circumstances and outcomes of these grey areas of suicide in later life. Fifty-three articles (quantitative, qualitative and theoretical) were reviewed. A narrative approach was used to merge and translate this body of knowledge into a new conceptual framework based on four key themes: (a) a sense of completed life or existential loneliness; (b) death thoughts, wishes and ideation; (c) death-hastening behaviour and advanced directives; and (d) self-destructive or self-injurious behaviour. We discuss the importance of integrating this understanding into current knowledge and suicide prevention strategies for older adults. Recommendations are made for unifying research with policy themes on healthy ageing, person-centredness within service provision and citizen participation

Recent Studies of the Cosmic-Ray Latitude Effect at High Altitudes

With an improved Geiger counter telescope, having an angular aperture of about ±15° from its axis, a series of balloon flights was made in August and September, 1947, at seven stations extending from San Antonio, Texas, to Saskatoon, Canada. The axis of the telescope in all cases was oriented in a vertical direction. All sets of equipment were compared with a standard to reduce all results to a common basis. The standard sets, in turn, were compared with an accurately constructed telescope which had been used to make an absolute determination of cosmic-ray intensity at the vertical in Pasadena. Two flights were made from each of the seven stations. The agreement between flights made within a few hours of each other at a given station is very good. Results from two flights made at a given station several days apart are not in general as consistent. Likewise, no monotonic increase of the radiation with increase of latitude was observed. Evidence is presented for rather large fluctuations at high altitudes of the lower energy components of cosmic rays. Some of the reasons for these fluctuations are discussed

Development of Lumped Element Kinetic Inductance Detectors for NIKA

Lumped-element kinetic inductance detectors(LEKIDs) have recently shown considerable promise as direct absorption mm-wavelength detectors for astronomical applications. One major research thrust within the N\'eel Iram Kids Array (NIKA) collaboration has been to investigate the suitability of these detectors for deployment at the 30-meter IRAM telescope located on Pico Veleta in Spain. Compared to microwave kinetic inductance detectors (MKID), using quarter wavelength resonators, the resonant circuit of a LEKID consists of a discrete inductance and capacitance coupled to a feedline. A high and constant current density distribution in the inductive part of these resonators makes them very sensitive. Due to only one metal layer on a silicon substrate, the fabrication is relatively easy. In order to optimize the LEKIDs for this application, we have recently probed a wide variety of individual resonator and array parameters through simulation and physical testing. This included determining the optimal feed-line coupling, pixel geometry, resonator distribution within an array (in order to minimize pixel cross-talk), and resonator frequency spacing. Based on these results, a 144-pixel Aluminum array was fabricated and tested in a dilution fridge with optical access, yielding an average optical NEP of ~2E-16 W/Hz^1/2 (best pixels showed NEP = 6E-17 W/Hz^1/2 under 4-8 pW loading per pixel). In October 2010 the second prototype of LEKIDs has been tested at the IRAM 30 m telescope. A new LEKID geometry for 2 polarizations will be presented. Also first optical measurements of a titanium nitride array will be discussed.Comment: 5 pages, 12 figures; ISSTT 2011 Worksho

Recent Trends in the Management of Bladder Exstrophy: The Gordian Knot Has Not Yet Been Cut

Although enormous effort has been made to further improve the operative techniques worldwide, the management of bladder exstrophy (BE) remains one of the most significant challenges in pediatric urology. Today it is universally agreed that successful and gentle initial bladder closure is decisive for favorable long-term outcome with regard to bladder capacity, renal function and continence. Due to a number of reasons, including a lack of comparable multicenter studies, a range of concepts is currently used to achieve successful primary closure. We review the literature of the last 15 years on the current concepts of bladder exstrophy repair with regard to the time of primary closure (initial vs. delayed closure), the concepts of primary closure (single-stage vs. staged approach; without osteotomy vs. osteotomy) and their outcomes. There is a worldwide lack of multicenter outcome studies with adequate patient numbers and precisely defined outcome parameters, based on the use of validated instruments. The modern staged repair (MRSE) in different variations, the complete primary reconstruction of exstrophy (CPRE), and the radical soft-tissue mobilization (RSTM) had been the most extensively studied and reported procedures. These major concepts are obligatory stable now for more than 20 years. Nevertheless, there are still a lot of open-ended questions e.g., on the potential for development of the bladder template, on continence, on long-term orthopedic outcome, on sexuality and fertility and on quality of life. Management of BE remains difficult and controversial. Further, clinical research should focus on multi-institutional collaborative trials to determine the optimal approach

Lesão Linfo-epiteliar Benigna da Parótida

Lesão Linfo-epiteliar Benigna da Parótid

Cosmic-ray effects from solar flares and magnetic storms

Cosmic-ray data taken during the period of a solar flare and the magnetic storm that followed 26.5 hours later during July, 1946, are reported. The results following the flare agree with those of other investigators and, in addition, serve to establish the fact that the start of the cosmic-ray effect and the visual part of the solar flare were simultaneous. It is pointed out that increases of cosmic rays during solar flares suggest a mode of origin of the rays. The lack of effect of most solar flares on cosmic-ray intensity is noted and differences in intensity of the flares given as a possible reason. A high altitude balloon flight with an electroscope during the magnetic storm gave results in agreement with the current-sheet hypothesis of such storms but a serious objection to this hypothesis is given

Physical education as Olympic education

Introduction In a recent paper (Parry, 1998, p. 64), I argued that the justification of PE activities lies in their capacity to facilitate the development of certain human excellences of a valued kind. Of course, the problem now lies in specifying those ‘human excellences of a valued kind’, and (for anyone) this task leads us into the area of philosophical anthropology. I suggested that the way forward for Physical Education lies in the philosophical anthropology (and the ethical ideals) of Olympism, which provide a specification of a variety of human values and excellences which: •have been attractive to human groups over an impressive span of time and space •have contributed massively to our historically developed conceptions of ourselves •have helped to develop a range of artistic and cultural conceptions that have defined Western culture. •have produced a range of physical activities that have been found universally satisfying and challenging. Although physical activities are widely considered to be pleasurable, their likelihood of gaining wide acceptance lies rather in their intrinsic value, which transcends the simply hedonic or relative good. Their ability to furnish us with pleasurable experiences depends upon our prior recognition in them of opportunities for the development and expression of valued human excellences. They are widely considered to be such opportunities for the expression of valued human excellences because, even when as local instantiations, their object is to challenge our common human propensities and abilities. I claimed that Olympic ideals may be seen not merely as inert ‘ideals’, but living ideas which have the power to remake our notions of sport in education, seeing sport not as mere physical activity but as the cultural and developmental activity of an aspiring, achieving, well-balanced, educated and ethical individual. This paper seeks to make good that claim by trying to develop a case for Physical Education as Olympic Education. I begin by setting out various accounts and conceptions of the Olympic Idea; then I suggest a unifying and organising account of the philosophical anthropology of Olympism; and this is followed by the practical application of that account in two examples of current ethical issues. Finally, I seek to present an account of Physical Education as Olympic Education