Screening for health risks: A social science perspective

Health screening promises to reduce risks to individuals via probabilistic sifting of populations for medical conditions. The categorisation and selection of 'conditions' such as cardiovascular events, dementia and depression for screening itself requires prior interpretive labour which usually remains unexamined. Screening systems can take diverse organisational forms and varying relationships to health status, as when purported disease precursors, for example 'pre-cancerous' polyps, or supposed risk factors, such as high cholesterol themselves, become targets for screening. Screening at best yields small, although not necessarily unworthwhile, net population health gains. It also creates new risks, leaving some individuals worse-off than if they had been left alone. The difficulties associated with attempting to measure small net gains through randomised controlled trials are sometimes underestimated. Despite endemic doubts about its clinical utility, bibliometric analysis of published papers shows that responses to health risks are coming to be increasingly thought about in terms of screening. This shift is superimposed on a strengthening tendency to view health through the lens of risk. It merits further scrutiny as a societal phenomenon

The Filing and Briefing of Cross-Motions in State and Federal Court

Misunderstandings regarding the definition of a crossmotion often lead to problems during the filing and briefing of cross-motions in state and federal courts. This article focuses on defining and illustrating the elements of a proper cross-motion, identifying and illustrating common problems caused by the filing and briefing of improper crossmotions, and offering solutions to those problems. As most commonly understood by judges and practitioners, a cross-motion in state or federal court possesses three elements: (1) it is filed against the originally moving party; (2) it is filed by a party against whom the original motion was filed; and (3) it requests an order similar to that requested by the originally moving party against the cross-moving party. Common problems posed by the filing and briefing of improper cross-motions in state and federal court include (1) a violation of the action’s motion-filing deadline, (2) a violation of the court’s proscription against the filing of replies on cross-motions, (3) a violation of the court’s proscription against the filing of sur-replies on dispositive motions, and (4) a violation of the court’s page limitation on memoranda of law. Possible solutions to those common problems include (1) filing a motion before the opposing party files its motion, (2) requesting leave to depart from the action’s scheduling order or the court’s local rules, (3) moving to strike the improper cross-motion, and (4) in the context of pleading amendments, filing a timely amended complaint rather than a cross-motion for leave to file an amended complaint in response to a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim

InSb charge coupled infrared imaging device: The 20 element linear imager

The design and fabrication of the 8585 InSb charge coupled infrared imaging device (CCIRID) chip are reported. The InSb material characteristics are described along with mask and process modifications. Test results for the 2- and 20-element CCIRID's are discussed, including gate oxide characteristics, charge transfer efficiency, optical mode of operation, and development of the surface potential diagram

A practical guide for the study of human and murine sebaceous glands in situ

The skin of most mammals is characterised by the presence of sebaceous glands (SGs), whose predominant constituent cell population is sebocytes, that is, lipid-producing epithelial cells, which develop from the hair follicle. Besides holocrine sebum production (which contributes 90% of skin surface lipids), multiple additional SG functions have emerged. These range from antimicrobial peptide production and immunomodulation, via lipid and hormone synthesis/metabolism, to the provision of an epithelial progenitor cell reservoir. Therefore, in addition to its involvement in common skin diseases (e.g. acne vulgaris), the unfolding diversity of SG functions, both in skin health and disease, has raised interest in this integral component of the pilosebaceous unit. This practical guide provides an introduction to SG biology and to relevant SG histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques, with emphasis placed on in situ evaluation methods that can be easily employed. We propose a range of simple, established markers, which are particularly instructive when addressing specific SG research questions in the two most commonly investigated species in SG research, humans and mice. To facilitate the development of reproducible analysis techniques for the in situ evaluation of SGs, this methods review concludes by suggesting quantitative (immuno-)histomorphometric methods for standardised SG evaluation

In Emerging Adulthood, Perceived Stress is Linked to Poor Diet Quality

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Determining concentric and eccentric force–velocity profiles during squatting.

The force–velocity relationship of muscular contraction has been extensively studied. However, previous research has focussed either on isolated muscle or single-joint movements, whereas human movement consists of multi-joint movements (e.g. squatting). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the force–velocity relationship of isovelocity squatting. Fifteen male participants (24±2 years, 79.8±9.1 kg, 177.5±6 cm) performed isovelocity squats on a novel motorised isovelocity device (Kineo Training System) at three concentric (0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 m s−1) and three eccentric velocities (−0.25, −0.5, and −0.75 m s−1). Peak vertical ground reaction forces, that occurred during the isovelocity phase, were collected using dual force plates (2000 Hz) (Kistler, Switzerland). The group mean squat force–velocity profile conformed to the typical in vivo profile, with peak vertical ground reaction forces during eccentric squatting being 9.5 ± 19% greater than isometric (P = 0.037), and occurring between −0.5 and −0.75 m s−1. However, large inter-participant variability was identified (0.84–1.62 × isometric force), with some participants being unable to produce eccentric forces greater than isometric. Sub-group analyses could not identify differences between individuals who could/could not produce eccentric forces above isometric, although those who could not tended to be taller. These finding suggest that variability exists between participants in the ability to generate maximum eccentric forces during squatting, and the magnitude of eccentric increase above isometric cannot be predicted solely based on a concentric assessment. Therefore, an assessment of eccentric capabilities may be required prior to prescribing eccentric-specific resistance training

Biophysical Modulations of Functional Connectivity

Resting-state low frequency oscillations have been detected in many functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies and appear to be synchronized between functionally related areas. Converging evidence from MRI and other imaging modalities suggest that this activity has an intrinsic neuronal origin. Multiple consistent networks have been found in large populations, and have been shown to be stable over time. Further, these patterns of functional connectivity have been shown to be altered in healthy controls under various physiological challenges. This review will present the biophysical characterization of functional connectivity, and examine the effects of physical state manipulations (such as anesthesia, fatigue, and aging) in healthy controls.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90432/1/brain-2E2011-2E0039.pd

Variability in stream discharge and temperature: a preliminary assessment of the implications for juvenile and spawning Atlantic salmon

This study focuses on understanding the temporal variability in hydrological and thermal conditions in a small mountain stream and its potential implication for two life stages of Atlantic salmon (<I>Salmo salar</I>) &ndash; stream resident juveniles and returning adult spawners. Stream discharge and temperature in the Girnock Burn, NE Scotland, were characterised over ten hydrological years (1994/1995&ndash;2003/2004). Attention was focussed on assessing variations during particular ecologically 'sensitive' time periods when selected life-stages of salmon behaviour may be especially influenced by hydrological and thermal conditions. <P style='line-height: 20px;'> Empirical discharge data were used to derive hydraulic parameters to predict the Critical Displacement Velocity (CDV) of juvenile salmon. This is the velocity above which fish may no longer be able to hold station in the water column and thus can be used as an index of time periods where feeding behaviour might be constrained. In the Girnock Burn, strong inter- and intra-annual variability in hydrological and thermal conditions may have important implications for feeding opportunities for juvenile fish; both during important growth periods in late winter and early spring, and the emergence of fry in the late spring. Time periods when foraging behaviour of juvenile salmon may be constrained by hydraulic conditions were assessed as the percentage time when CDV for 0+ and 1+ fish were exceeded by mean daily stream velocities. Clear seasonal patterns of CDV were apparent, with higher summer values driven by higher stream temperatures and fish length. Inter-annual variability in the time when mean stream velocity exceeded CDV for 0+ fish ranged between 29.3% (1997/1998) and 44.7% (2000/2001). For 1+ fish mean stream velocity exceeded CDV between 14.5% (1997/1998) and 30.7% (2000/2001) of the time. <P style='line-height: 20px;'> The movement of adult spawners into the Girnock Burn in preparation for autumn spawning (late October to mid-November) exhibited a complex relationship with hydrological variability with marked inter-annual contrasts. In years when discharge in the period prior to spawning was low, fish movement was increasingly triggered by suboptimal flow increases as spawning time approached. In contrast, wet years with numerous events allowed a much more even distribution of fish entry. Elucidating links between discharge/temperature variability and foraging opportunities and upriver migration of adult Atlantic salmon have the potential to contribute to the improvement of conservation strategies in both regulated and unregulated rivers

Partner Bereavement and Detection of Dementia: A UK-Based Cohort Study Using Routine Health Data

BACKGROUND: In the UK, an estimated one third of people with dementia have not received a diagnosis. Good evidence suggests that dementia risk is increased among widowed individuals; however, it is not clear if they are being diagnosed in routine primary care. // OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate if bereavement influenced the probability of having received a dementia diagnosis. // METHODS: A population-based cohort study using UK electronic health records, between 1997 and 2017, among 247,586 opposite-sex partners. Those experiencing partner bereavement were matched (age, sex, and date of bereavement) to a non-bereaved person living in a partnership. Multivariate cox regression was performed. // RESULTS: Partner bereavement was associated with an increased risk of receiving a diagnosis of dementia in the first three months (hazard ratio (HR) 1.43, 95% CI 1.20-1.71) and first six months (HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.09-1.41), while there was a small reduced risk of getting a dementia diagnosis over all follow-up (HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.89-0.98). // CONCLUSIONS: Partner bereavement appears to lead to a short-term increased risk of the surviving partner receiving a diagnosis of dementia, suggesting that bereavement unmasks existing undiagnosed dementia. Over the longer term, however, bereaved individuals are less likely to have a diagnosis of dementia in their health records than non-bereaved individuals