A Note on Solid-State Maxwell Demon

Starting from 2002, at least two kinds of laboratory-testable, solid-state Maxwell demons have been proposed that utilize the electric field energy of an open-gap n-p junction and that seem to challenge the validity of the Second Law of Thermodynamics. In the present paper we present some arguments against the alleged functioning of such devices.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures. Foundations of Physics, forthcoming. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1101.505

Using a smartphone app to identify signs of pre-eclampsia and/or worsening blood pressure

Background Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy complicate 10% of pregnancies and can have serious consequences. Aims To explore the experiences of pregnant women with a history of hypertension using an innovative home blood pressure monitoring device. Methods A qualitative study using a grounded theory approach was undertaken. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Women were given a blood pressure machine to monitor their blood pressure daily. They inserted their blood pressure results on a smartphone app and answered questions for signs of pre-eclampsia. Participants were followed up every 2 weeks. Findings The results suggested that women wanted a holistic care pathway for the management of hypertension in pregnancy. Three subcategories (‘empowerment’, ‘comparison of care pathways’ and ‘continuity of care’) were also identified. Conclusions The traditional management of hypertension in pregnancy is not holistic. The home blood pressure service was accepted by women and incorporated elements of holistic care but more is required to meet the standard of care that women need

An evaluation of self-administering arithmetic enrichment activities for grades 4, 5, and 6

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

Enumeration in Alzheimer's disease and other late life psychiatric syndromes

Previous studies suggest that visual enumeration is spared in normal aging but impaired in abnormal aging (late stage Alzheimer's disease, AD), raising the task's potential as a marker of dementia. Experiment 1 compared speeded enumeration of 1–9 random dots in early stage AD, vascular dementia (VAD), depression, and age-matched controls. Previous deficits were replicated but they were not specific to AD, with the rate of counting larger numerosities similarly slowed relative to controls by both AD and VAD. Determination of subitizing span was complicated by the surprisingly slower enumeration of one than of two items, especially in AD patients. Experiment 2 showed that AD patients’ relative difficulty with one item persisted with further practice and extended to the enumeration of targets among distractors. However, it was abolished when pattern recognition was possible (enumerating dots on a die). Although an enumeration test is unlikely to help differentiate early AD from other common dementias, the unexpected pattern of patients’ performance challenges current models of enumeration and requires further investigation

The effects of feedback referent and content upon self-determination, rated task interest, and intrinsic motivation

This study was an attempt to determine if verbal feedback could be used to convey information about feedback referent and feedback content to individuals in an experimental setting, and if so, if that information would influence their perceptions of perceived task competence, self-determination, task-interest, and intrinsic motivation. Eighty subjects were used from psychology classes. The majority were college freshmen or sophomores. Results showed that subjects did attend to the feedback referent, but that the referent had no subsequent influence on any of the dependent variables. Additionally, the feedback content manipulation did not produce the predicted effects upon the dependent variables. Problems with the design of the feedback manipulation were responsible for the lack of conclusive results

The inner reality in the dramatic works of Benavente

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University.An investigation of critics representing each of the six decades during which Benavente wrote his plays reveals a fundamental dichotomy of opinion regarding the dramatist's attitude toward human existence. One group, including Pio Baroja, Manuel Bueno, Perez de Ayala, Diaz Plaja and others, maintains that Benavente demonstrates a generally consistent pessimistic and cynical view of man and society. Some among this group believe that this attitude emanates from a materialistic, amoral and even atheistic philosophy on the part of Benavente. The other group of critics, including Gonzalez Blanco, Onis, Lazaro, Valbuena Prat and others, believe that despite an initial pessimism and cynicism, Benavente gradually develops an interest in the inner world of human existence, and moves toward a more idealistic view. The present study establishes and defines the existence of the two opposing schools of Benavente criticism referred to above, and attempts to reconcile them. Our own study, based on an investigation of the complete dramatic and non-dramatic works of Benavente, reveals that the dramatist has a two-fold view of the human condition: 1) "External Reality", or man's environment, presents him with an essentially tragic existence which man cannot alter. 2) "Inner Reality", or man's spiritual and imaginative resources provide him with the means to find refuge, consolation or escape from the tragedy of his environment. [TRUNCATED

Review: Popular television drama: critical perspectives

Review of: Jonathan Bignell and Stephen Lacey (eds), Popular Television Drama: Critical Perspectives. Manchester and New York: Manchester University Press, 2005. 230 pp

Nucleic acid-based approaches to investigate microbial-related cheese quality defects

peer-reviewedThe microbial profile of cheese is a primary determinant of cheese quality. Microorganisms can contribute to aroma and taste defects, form biogenic amines, cause gas and secondary fermentation defects, and can contribute to cheese pinking and mineral deposition issues. These defects may be as a result of seasonality and the variability in the composition of the milk supplied, variations in cheese processing parameters, as well as the nature and number of the non-starter microorganisms which come from the milk or other environmental sources. Such defects can be responsible for production and product recall costs and thus represent a significant economic burden for the dairy industry worldwide. Traditional non-molecular approaches are often considered biased and have inherently slow turnaround times. Molecular techniques can provide early and rapid detection of defects that result from the presence of specific spoilage microbes and, ultimately, assist in enhancing cheese quality and reducing costs. Here we review the DNA-based methods that are available to detect/quantify spoilage bacteria, and relevant metabolic pathways in cheeses and, in the process, highlight how these strategies can be employed to improve cheese quality and reduce the associated economic burden on cheese processors.This work was funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the Food Institutional Research Measure. Daniel J. O’Sullivan is in receipt of a Teagasc Walsh Fellowship, Grant Number:2012205