Intolerance and Adult Perceptions of Antisocial Behaviour: Focus Group Evidence from Disadvantaged Neighbourhoods of Glasgow

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The Velocity Distribution of Solar Photospheric Magnetic Bright Points

We use high spatial resolution observations and numerical simulations to study the velocity distribution of solar photospheric magnetic bright points. The observations were obtained with the Rapid Oscillations in the Solar Atmosphere instrument at the Dunn Solar Telescope, while the numerical simulations were undertaken with the MURaM code for average magnetic fields of 200 G and 400 G. We implemented an automated bright point detection and tracking algorithm on the dataset, and studied the subsequent velocity characteristics of over 6000 structures, finding an average velocity of approximately 1 km/s, with maximum values of 7 km/s. Furthermore, merging magnetic bright points were found to have considerably higher velocities, and significantly longer lifetimes, than isolated structures. By implementing a new and novel technique, we were able to estimate the background magnetic flux of our observational data, which is consistent with a field strength of 400 G.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJL, 12 pages, 2 figure

Electron density in the quiet solar coronal transition region from SoHO/SUMER measurements of S VI line radiance and opacity

Context: The sharp temperature and density gradients in the coronal transition region are a challenge for models and observations. Aims: We set out to get linearly- and quadratically-weighted average electron densities in the region emitting the S VI lines, using the observed opacity and the emission measure of these lines. Methods: We analyze SoHO/SUMER spectroscopic observations of the S VI lines, using the center-to-limb variations and radiance ratios to derive the opacity. We also use the Emission Measure derived from radiance at disk center. Results: We get an opacity at S VI line center of the order of 0.05. The resulting average electron density is 2.4 10^16 m^-3 at T = 2 10^5 K. This value is higher than the values obtained from radiance measurements. Conversely, taking a classical value for the density leads to a too high value of the thickness of the emitting layer. Conclusions: The pressure derived from the Emission Measure method compares well with previous determinations and implies a low opacity of 5 10^-3 to 10^-2. The fact that a direct derivation leads to a much higher opacity remains unexplained, despite tentative modeling of observational biases. Further measurements need to be done, and more realistic models of the transition region need to be used.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figure

Decision systems redux

Looking forward, the goal of this article is to stimulate discussion and encourage novel thinking about computerized systems. Looking back 60 years, this article reviews definitions and research related to the decision system concept and associated terms like automated decision system (ADS) and decision support system (DSS). This historical perspective differentiates and expands the phenomenon of a decision system to create a modern context for future applied and scholarly research and development. Looking forward, more automated decision systems will make and implement decisions. Analytics will be embedded in decision systems, decision support will proliferate, and decision systems will be part of ambient intelligent environments. This article expands the horizon for decision-making research by reviving the concept of a decision system. Perhaps this article will lead researchers to study decision systems more comprehensively

Damned if they do, damned if they don't: negotiating the tricky context of anti-social behaviour and keeping safe in disadvantaged urban neighbourhoods

Young people's relationship with anti-social behaviour (ASB) is complicated. While their behaviours are often stereotyped as anti-social (e.g. ‘hanging about’), they also experience ASB in their neighbourhood. In this study, we explore young people's own perspectives on ASB, comparing results from ‘go-along’ interviews and focus groups conducted in disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Glasgow, Scotland. This article discusses how young people's everyday experience of ASB was contextualised by social factors such as cultural stereotyping of marginalised groups, poor social connectivity and spatial marginalisation within their neighbourhood. Furthermore, we found that these social factors were mutually reinforcing and interacted in a way that appeared to leave young people in a ‘no-win’ situation regarding their association with ASB. Participation in ASB and attempts to avoid such involvement were seen to involve negative consequences: participation could entail violence and spatial restrictions linked to territoriality, but avoidance could lead to being ostracised from their peer group. Regardless of involvement, young people felt that adults stereotyped them as anti-social. Our findings therefore provide support for policies and interventions aimed at reducing ASB (perpetrated by residents of all ages); in part by better ensuring that young people have a clear incentive for avoiding such behaviours

Illustrating potential efficiency gains from using cost-effectiveness evidence to reallocate Medicare expenditures

This article is available open access through the publisher’s website at the linke below. Copyright @ 2013, International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR).This article has been made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund.Objectives - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services does not explicitly use cost-effectiveness information in national coverage determinations. The objective of this study was to illustrate potential efficiency gains from reallocating Medicare expenditures by using cost-effectiveness information, and the consequences for health gains among Medicare beneficiaries. Methods - We included national coverage determinations from 1999 through 2007. Estimates of cost-effectiveness were identified through a literature review. For coverage decisions with an associated cost-effectiveness estimate, we estimated utilization and size of the “unserved” eligible population by using a Medicare claims database (2007) and diagnostic and reimbursement codes. Technology costs originated from the cost-effectiveness literature or were estimated by using reimbursement codes. We illustrated potential aggregate health gains from increasing utilization of dominant interventions (i.e., cost saving and health increasing) and from reallocating expenditures by decreasing investment in cost-ineffective interventions and increasing investment in relatively cost-effective interventions. Results - Complete information was available for 36 interventions. Increasing investment in dominant interventions alone led to an increase of 270,000 quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and savings of $12.9 billion. Reallocation of a broader array of interventions yielded an additional 1.8 million QALYs, approximately 0.17 QALYs per affected Medicare beneficiary. Compared with the distribution of resources prior to reallocation, following reallocation a greater proportion was directed to oncology, diagnostic imaging/tests, and the most prevalent diseases. A smaller proportion of resources went to cardiology, treatments (including drugs, surgeries, and medical devices, as opposed to nontreatments such as preventive services), and the least prevalent diseases. Conclusions - Using cost-effectiveness information has the potential to increase the aggregate health of Medicare beneficiaries while maintaining existing spending levels.The Commonwealth Fun

Dystrophin is required for the formation of stable muscle attachments in the zebrafish embryo

A class of recessive lethal zebrafish mutations has been identified in which normal skeletal muscle differentiation is followed by a tissue-specific degeneration that is reminiscent of the human muscular dystrophies. Here, we show that one of these mutations, sapje, disrupts the zebrafish orthologue of the X-linked human Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) gene. Mutations in this locus cause Duchenne or Becker muscular dystrophies in human patients and are thought to result in a dystrophic pathology through disconnecting the cytoskeleton from the extracellular matrix in skeletal muscle by reducing the level of dystrophin protein at the sarcolemma. This is thought to allow tearing of this membrane, which in turn leads to cell death. Surprisingly, we have found that the progressive muscle degeneration phenotype of sapje mutant zebrafish embryos is caused by the failure of embryonic muscle end attachments. Although a role for dystrophin in maintaining vertebrate myotendinous junctions (MTJs) has been postulated previously and MTJ structural abnormalities have been identified in the Dystrophin-deficient mdx mouse model, in vivo evidence of pathology based on muscle attachment failure has thus far been lacking. This zebrafish mutation may therefore provide a model for a novel pathological mechanism of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and other muscle diseases

Sex differences in visuospatial abilities persist during induced hypogonadism

Despite well-established sex differences in the performance on tests of several cognitive domains (e.g., visuospatial ability), few studies in humans have evaluated if these sex differences are evident both in the presence of circulating sex hormones and during sex steroid hormonal suppression. Sex differences identified in the relative absence of circulating levels of estradiol and testosterone suggest that differences in brain structure or function exist independent of current hormonal environment and are more likely a reflection of differing developmental exposures and/or genetic substrates

Unilateral thoracoscopic surgical approach for diffuse emphysema

AbstractWe evaluated the use of a lateral thoracoscopic approach for lung reduction surgery in patients with diffuse emphysema. Sixty-seven patients with a mean age of 61.9 years underwent operation. Operative side was determined by preoperative imaging. The procedures were laser ablation in 10 patients and stapler resection in 57 patients. Ten patients, including six of the 10 patients in the laser-only group had poor outcome (death or hospitalization longer than 30 days), leading us to abandon the laser technique. Of the remaining 57 patients undergoing primary stapled resection, duration of chest tube placement averaged 13 days (range 3 to 53 days) with a mean hospital stay of 17 days (range 6 to 99 days). Seven patients required ventilation for longer than 72 hours, six patients underwent conversion of the procedure to open thoracotomy, four patients acquired arrhythmias, and three patients were treated for empyema. There was one early death (1.7%), from cardiopulmonary failure. Forty patients returned for 3-month evaluation. Significant ( p < 0.0001) improvements were seen in forced vital capacity (2.69 L after vs 2.26 L before) and forced expiration volume in 1 second (1.04 L after vs 0.82 L before), with 25 of 40 patients (63%) showing an improvement of more than 20%. Lung volume measures, in particular residual volume, fell significantly. Arterial blood gas analysis revealed that carbon dioxide tension fell significantly in patients with preoperative hypercapnia (carbon dioxide tension >45 mm Hg, p = 0.018). Six-minute walk test results improved (894 feet after vs 784 feet before, p = 0.002), and symptomatic benefit was confirmed by significant improvement in the dyspnea index. The combination of both hypercapnia and reduced single-breath diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide was significantly more frequent ( p = 0.0026) and was 86% specific (5 of 6 patients) in predicting serious postoperative risk. We conclude that the lateral thoracoscopic surgical approach to diffuse emphysema offers significant improvement in pulmonary mechanics and functional impairment. Patients with a combination of hypercapnia and reduced single-breath diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide should not be considered for this procedure because of significant perioperative risk. (J THORAC CARDIOVASC SURG 1996;111:308-16

Cadherin-Mediated Differential Cell Adhesion Controls Slow Muscle Cell Migration in the Developing Zebrafish Myotome

AbstractSlow-twitch muscle fibers of the zebrafish myotome undergo a unique set of morphogenetic cell movements. During embryogenesis, slow-twitch muscle derives from the adaxial cells, a layer of paraxial mesoderm that differentiates medially within the myotome, immediately adjacent to the notochord. Subsequently, slow-twitch muscle cells migrate through the entire myotome, coming to lie at its most lateral surface. Here we examine the cellular and molecular basis for slow-twitch muscle cell migration. We show that slow-twitch muscle cell morphogenesis is marked by behaviors typical of cells influenced by differential cell adhesion. Dynamic and reciprocal waves of N-cadherin and M-cadherin expression within the myotome, which correlate precisely with cell migration, generate differential adhesive environments that drive slow-twitch muscle cell migration through the myotome. Removing or altering the expression of either protein within the myotome perturbs migration. These results provide a definitive example of homophilic cell adhesion shaping cellular behavior during vertebrate development