J. A. Leo Lemay (1935–2008), A Remembrance

My first semester in graduate school at the University of Delaware I took J. A. Leo Lemay’s Edgar Allan Poe seminar. Writing a seminar paper on the subject of Poe’s use of frontier imagery in his short fiction, I happened to read Prof. Lemay’s essay “The Frontiersman from Lout to Hero” (Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society 88 [1978]: 187-223). In terms of its breadth of knowledge and depth of insight, I found this essay astonishing. As an undergraduate I had read much about the American frontier, a special interest of mine, but Prof. Lemay’s essay was the single best treatment on the subject I had ever read. I started reading more of his work and realized that the frontiersman essay was typical of Prof. Lemay’s approach: to pick a topic; put it within its historical, literary, and cultural contexts; and treat it exhaustively. In the coming semesters I would take several more classes from Prof. Lemay; his writings would form a sizeable part of my personal library

A COMPARISON OF HAND FORCE AND STARTING BLOCK-BASED RESPONSE TIMES IN THE SPRINT START

This study provided a method comparison of sprint start response times (RTs) obtained using a custom designed hand force plate with block response-times (RT) from anInternational Association of Athletic Federation (IAAF) approved automatic start control system (IAAF RT). Twenty national and international sprinters completed sprint trials under simulated race conditions. The athletes’ hand forces were obtained using the hand force plate, which was electronically synchronised with the IAAF approved system. The results showed that in all trials, the hand plate RT occurred significantly before the IAAF RT with an average difference of 64 ms. The consistent differences in RT’s suggested that the two systems measured separate events. A re-evaluation of false start detection technology based on measuring hand RT is recommended

A METHOD COMPARISON STUDY OF ACCELEROMETER BASED BLOCK RESPONSE TIMES IN SPRINTING

This study aimed to provide a method comparison of a rail mounted accelerometer for detection of block response-times (RT) with an International Association of Athletic Federation (IAAF) approved automatic start control system (IAAF RT). Twenty national and international sprinters completed sprint trials under simulated race conditions. An accelerometer was placed on the block rail of blocks and RT was determined using visual inspection of the accelerometer signal and using a 3SD threshold method. On average, the visual method detected the RT event 7 ms before, and the 3SD method detected RT 1 ms after the IAAF RT. The results indicated close agreement between the 3SD threshold method and the IAAF RT, however, this highlights the need for further re-examination of threshold-based detection algorithms which may delay the detection of the RT event

Stable incidence rates of tuberculosis (TB) among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative South African gold miners during a decade of epidemic HIV-associated TB.

During the last decade, annual tuberculosis (TB) case-notification rates increased 4-fold, to >4000 cases/100000 person-years, in the study workforce, among whom prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was 30% in 2000. Three separate cohort studies, totalling 6454 HIV-negative participants, were combined and analyzed for time trends. Observed incidence of TB varied between 962 (1991-1994) and 1589 (1999-2000) cases/100000 person-years (P=.17, test for trend). There was, however, a progressive increase in age, and, for each period, older age was associated with increased incidence rates of TB (P<.001). Having adjusted for age differences, there was no significant association between incidence of TB and calendar period (P=.81, test for trend). Relative to 1991-1994, multivariate-adjusted incidence-rate ratios were 0.94, for 1995-1997, 0.96, for 1998-1999, and 1.05, for 1999-2000. Preventing a secondary epidemic of TB among HIV-negative individuals may be achievable with conventional means, even in settings with a high burden of HIV-associated TB

FUNCTIONAL DATA ANALYSIS OF THE KINEMATICS OF GAIT IN SUBJECTS WITH A HISTORY OF ACHILLES TENDON INJURY

Clinical biomechanics research aims to understand the mechanisms of injury to improve prediction, prevention and rehabilitation. Dynamical systems theory suggests that coordination and variability may be key issues in the development of injuries. Traditional analysis has relied on a multivariate approach using discrete measures during stance. This essentially discards kinematic data obtained throughout the entire stance phase. Functional data analysis is an established statistical technique that is now emerging in biomechanics. It views the data as a function, thus using the entire time series data and determines which factors contribute to the variation. The purpose of this study was to examine the predictions of dynamical systems theory on angular kinematic data in subjects with Achilles tendon injury using a functional data analysis approach

A True Stories Campaign Uniformly Increased Awareness of State-Assisted Smoking Cessation Programs in Massachusetts

Background: Media campaigns increase awareness of public health programs that assist smoking cessation (e.g. telephone quitline and insurance benefits). The True Stories Campaign launched in Massachusetts (MA) from Nov-Dec 2006 promoted the use of the telephone quitline and a new Medicaid insurance benefit that provided low-cost cessation treatment as part of Health Care Reform. Objective: We evaluated the effectiveness of the True Stories Campaign on awareness of 1) the state telephone quitline and 2) the Mass Health smoking cessation benefit among the target population and by select demographic characteristics. Methods & Analyses: MA adults age 18-98 were surveyed at baseline (n=3,000) and 2 months later (post-campaign, n=3,000). Awareness of the quitline and MassHealth benefit prior to and post-campaign were estimated and compared using proportion tests and logistic regression models. Results:Awareness of the quitline increased from 26.6% at baseline to 52.5% after the campaign (Odds Ratio (OR) = 3.1, p Conclusions: The brief media campaign increased awareness of the state telephone quitline and the insurance benefit in the target population. It was effective across several demographic groups, suggesting the applicability to the general adult population and potential cost-effectiveness of a larger campaign

Ultra-brief non-expert-delivered defusion and acceptance exercises for food cravings: A partial replication study

Food cravings are a common barrier to losing weight. This paper presents a randomised comparison of non-expert group-delivered ultra-brief defusion and acceptance interventions against a distraction control. Sixty-three participants were asked to carry a bag of chocolates for a week whilst trying to resist the temptation to eat them. A behavioural rebound measure was administered. Each intervention out-performed control in respect of consumption, but not cravings. These techniques may have a place in the clinical management of food cravings. We provide tentative evidence that the mechanism of action is through decreased reactivity to cravings, not through reduced frequency of cravings

Predicting length of treatment for neonatal abstinence syndrome in methadone-exposed neonates.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to identify maternal variables predicting length of treatment for neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study of infants treated for NAS during 2000-2006 whose mothers were on methadone maintenance at delivery. Mixed-effects linear regression was used to examine the interaction of maternal and neonatal variables with length of treatment. RESULTS: Of 204 neonates born to methadone exposed mothers, the average dose at delivery was 127 mg daily (25-340 mg) with median length of treatment 32 days (1-122 days). Trimester of initial exposure (P = .33), methadone dose at delivery (P = .198), body mass index (P = .31), antidepressant use (P = .40), cigarette use (P = .76), race (P = .78), and maternal age (P = .84) did not predict length of treatment. In the multivariate analysis, gestational age at delivery and benzodiazepine use were significant predictors of length of treatment. CONCLUSION: Later gestational age and concomitant benzodiazepine use were associated with longer treatment