The Development and Trial of Systematic Visual Search: a visual inspection method designed to improve current workplace risk assessment practice

Visual inspection is a core element in hazard identification. However, poorly conducted visual inspections are problematical for workplace inspection practice as observable hazards that should be seen, are often missed. To address this problem, a novel method; systematic visual search, was developed and tested under randomised controlled trial conditions using commercial kitchens as workplaces. A total of 211 participants were recruited and in the control condition, N = 104 conducted their visual inspection as normal. In the experimental condition, N = 107 received training in the use of systematic visual search. Control group participants were only able to identify a circa mean 33% of observable hazards in the kitchens. In contrast experimental group participants, using systematic visual search, observed a circa mean 50% of observable hazards present. This 17% improvement was highly significant, with a large effect size (p ≤ .001, Cohen’s d = 1.85)

Historical Hydroclimatic Change At Theodore Roosevelt National Park: 1895 - 2011

ABSTRACT Although numerous studies have examined hydroclimatic and climatic changes in our national parks, no previous studies have examined historical temperature, precipitation and hydroclimatic changes at Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit). Documenting historical trends in temperature, precipitation and hydroclimatic variables is important for understanding present and future changes in vegetation and wildlife. I used 117 (1895 - 2011) years of temperature and precipitation data obtained from the PRISM data network to construct the historical climatic water budget time series based upon the Thornthwaite water-budget model. Trend lines and descriptive statistics are used to analyze the monthly, seasonal and annual climatic variables. The results reveal positive trends in the mean annual (Tmean) and mean minimum (Tmin) air temperatures at the 95% significance level. The mean annual air temperature increased at a rate of 1.6°C per century, while the mean annual maximum (Tmax) and minimum air temperatures increased at rates of 0.9°C and 2.1°C per century, respectively, over the period of record (P-O-R). On a seasonal basis, a statistically significant positive trend was observed in all seasons for Tmin and three seasons (winter, fall, spring) for Tmean air temperatures. Tmax showed a significant positive trend for the summer and winter seasons. On a monthly basis, all months except June experienced a significant warming trend in the mean minimum air temperature. The various time series reveal a tendency toward climate warming with significantly warmer winter and summer periods. The warming is greater in the mean minimum temperature than in the mean maximum temperature in the time series, resulting in a statistically significant decrease of the diurnal temperature range (DTR). Annual precipitation has decreased at a rate of 13.8 mm per century over the same period, although the trend is not statistically significant. Negative precipitation trends were observed in the summer and winter seasons. The winter season trend was statistically significant with a rate of -11.2 mm per century. The Thornthwaite water balance model output variables indicated a significant increase in the mean annual potential evapotranspiration, and annual moisture deficit, and a statistically significant decrease in annual actual evapotranspiration, annual snow storage and the annual ratio of actual to potential evapotranspiration. The study site\u27s increasing temperature and decreasing precipitation are consistent with global warming projections, which are driving a higher moisture deficit

On classifying the field of medical ethics

Abstract In 2014, the editorial board of BMC Medical Ethics came together to devise sections for the journal that would (a) give structure to the journal (b) help ensure that authors’ research is matched to the most appropriate editors and (c) help readers to find the research most relevant to them. The editorial board decided to take a practical approach to devising sections that dealt with the challenges of content management. After that, we started thinking more theoretically about how one could go about classifying the field of medical ethics. This editorial elaborates and reflects on the practical approach that we took at the journal, then considers an alternative theoretically derived approach, and reflects on the possibilities, challenges and value of classifying the field more broadly

On classifying the field of medical ethics

Abstract In 2014, the editorial board of BMC Medical Ethics came together to devise sections for the journal that would (a) give structure to the journal (b) help ensure that authors’ research is matched to the most appropriate editors and (c) help readers to find the research most relevant to them. The editorial board decided to take a practical approach to devising sections that dealt with the challenges of content management. After that, we started thinking more theoretically about how one could go about classifying the field of medical ethics. This editorial elaborates and reflects on the practical approach that we took at the journal, then considers an alternative theoretically derived approach, and reflects on the possibilities, challenges and value of classifying the field more broadly

Early postoperative hyperglycaemia is not a risk factor for infectious complications and prolonged in-hospital stay in patients undergoing oesophagectomy: a retrospective analysis of a prospective trial

INTRODUCTION: Treating hyperglycaemia in hospitalized patients has proven to be beneficial, particularly in those with obstructive vascular disease. In a cohort of patients undergoing resection for oesophageal carcinoma (a group of patients with severe surgical stress but a low prevalence of vascular disease), we investigated whether early postoperative hyperglycaemia is associated with increased incidence of infectious complications and prolonged in-hospital stay. METHODS: Postoperative glucose values up to 48 hours after surgery were retrieved for 151 patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists class I or II who had been previously included in a randomized trial conducted in a tertiary referral hospital. Multivariate regression analysis was used to define the independent contribution of possible risk factors selected by univariate analysis. RESULTS: In univariate regression analysis, postoperative glucose levels were associated with increased length of in-hospital stay (P < 0.001) but not with infectious complications (P = 0.21). However, postoperative glucose concentration was not found to be an independent risk factor for prolonged in-hospital stay in multivariate analysis (P = 0.20). CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that postoperative hyperglycaemia is more likely to be a risk marker than a risk factor in patients undergoing highly invasive surgery for oesophageal cancer. We hypothesize that patients with a low prevalence of vascular disease may benefit less from intensive insulin therapy

Factors Influencing Pediatric Dental Program Directorsâ Selection of Residents and Demographics of Current Directors

The primary goal of this study was to examine the criteria that influence rankings of candidates by advanced education program directors in pediatric dentistry. Secondary objectives were to obtain information on the resident selection process and to explore demographics of current program directors. A survey was sent in 2005 to all sixtyâ three program directors of pediatric dentistry residency programs accredited within the United States for the graduating class of 2007. The survey had a response rate of almost 78 percent (49/63). Respondents were requested to rank the importance of eleven factors that are typically included in the selection criteria for pediatric dentistry residents. Factors were rated on a scale of critical, very important, fairly important, somewhat important, and not important. The four highest ranked criteria by program directors were the following, in order: National Board scores, dental school clinical grades, class rank, and grade point average (GPA). Other factors ranked in descending order of perceived importance were the following: dental school basic science grades, experience in pediatric dentistry, extracurricular activities, completion of a general practice residency or advanced education in general dentistry program, the application essay, a publication or professional presentation, and private practice experience. All directors ranked personal interviews as very important to critical. Letters of recommendation from a pediatric dentistry department chairperson or faculty member were viewed more favorably than letters from dental school deans and nonâ pediatric dentistry faculty. Fiftyâ seven percent of the directors responding (28/49) were male, and 81 percent (40/49) were white, nonâ Hispanic. Fiftyâ nine percent of the directors (29/49) graduated from a residency program over twenty years ago, with 39 percent (19/49) having been a director for less than five years.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/153594/1/jddj002203372009733tb04706x.pd

Macroeconomic effects of fiscal adjustment: A tale of two approaches

We investigate the short-term effects of fiscal adjustment on economic activity in 20 OECD countries from 1970 to 2009. We compare two approaches: the traditional approach based on changes in cyclically adjusted primary balance (CAPB) and the narrative approach based on historical records. Proponents of the latter argue that it captures discretionary fiscal adjustment more accurately than the traditional approach. We propose a new definition of CAPB that takes account of fluctuations in asset prices and reflects idiosyncratic features of fiscal policy in individual countries. Using this new definition, we find that fiscal adjustments always have contractionary effects on economic activity in the short term; we find no evidence of expansionary (non-Keynesian) fiscal adjustments. Spending-based fiscal adjustments lead to smaller output losses than tax-based fiscal adjustment. These results are in line with the literature using the narrative approach, suggesting that the CAPB, when correctly specified, can be used as a measure of fiscal adjustments

Fast, scalable, Bayesian spike identification for multi-electrode arrays

We present an algorithm to identify individual neural spikes observed on high-density multi-electrode arrays (MEAs). Our method can distinguish large numbers of distinct neural units, even when spikes overlap, and accounts for intrinsic variability of spikes from each unit. As MEAs grow larger, it is important to find spike-identification methods that are scalable, that is, the computational cost of spike fitting should scale well with the number of units observed. Our algorithm accomplishes this goal, and is fast, because it exploits the spatial locality of each unit and the basic biophysics of extracellular signal propagation. Human intervention is minimized and streamlined via a graphical interface. We illustrate our method on data from a mammalian retina preparation and document its performance on simulated data consisting of spikes added to experimentally measured background noise. The algorithm is highly accurate

Increasing Stability of Lithium-Ion Batteries with Ordered Graphene Silicon Negative Electrodes

Currently, lackluster battery capability is restricting the widespread integration of Smart Grids, limiting the long-term feasibility of alternative, green energy conversion technologies. Silicon nanoparticles have great conductivity for applications in rechargeable batteries, but have degradation issues due to changes in volume during lithiation/delithiation cycles. To combat this, we use electrochemical deposition to uniformly space silicon particles on graphene sheets to create a more stable structure. We found the process of electrochemical deposition degraded the graphene binding in the electrode material, severely reducing charge capacity. But, the usage of mechanically mixing silicon particles with grapheme yielded batteries better than those that are commercially available

Synaptic Transmission from Horizontal Cells to Cones Is Impaired by Loss of Connexin Hemichannels

In the vertebrate retina, horizontal cells generate the inhibitory surround of bipolar cells, an essential step in contrast enhancement. For the last decades, the mechanism involved in this inhibitory synaptic pathway has been a major controversy in retinal research. One hypothesis suggests that connexin hemichannels mediate this negative feedback signal; another suggests that feedback is mediated by protons. Mutant zebrafish were generated that lack connexin 55.5 hemichannels in horizontal cells. Whole cell voltage clamp recordings were made from isolated horizontal cells and cones in flat mount retinas. Light-induced feedback from horizontal cells to cones was reduced in mutants. A reduction of feedback was also found when horizontal cells were pharmacologically hyperpolarized but was absent when they were pharmacologically depolarized. Hemichannel currents in isolated horizontal cells showed a similar behavior. The hyperpolarization-induced hemichannel current was strongly reduced in the mutants while the depolarization-induced hemichannel current was not. Intracellular recordings were made from horizontal cells. Consistent with impaired feedback in the mutant, spectral opponent responses in horizontal cells were diminished in these animals. A behavioral assay revealed a lower contrast-sensitivity, illustrating the role of the horizontal cell to cone feedback pathway in contrast enhancement. Model simulations showed that the observed modifications of feedback can be accounted for by an ephaptic mechanism. A model for feedback, in which the number of connexin hemichannels is reduced to about 40%, fully predicts the specific asymmetric modification of feedback. To our knowledge, this is the first successful genetic interference in the feedback pathway from horizontal cells to cones. It provides direct evidence for an unconventional role of connexin hemichannels in the inhibitory synapse between horizontal cells and cones. This is an important step in resolving a long-standing debate about the unusual form of (ephaptic) synaptic transmission between horizontal cells and cones in the vertebrate retina