449 research outputs found
Microlens Parallax Measurements with a Warm Spitzer
Because Spitzer is an Earth-trailing orbit, losing about 0.1 AU/yr, it is
excellently located to perform microlens parallax observations toward the
Magellanic Clouds (LMC/SMC) and the Galactic bulge. These yield the so-called
``projected velocity'' of the lens, which can distinguish statistically among
different populations. A few such measurements toward the LMC/SMC would reveal
the nature of the lenses being detected in this direction (dark halo objects,
or ordinary LMC/SMC stars). Cool Spitzer has already made one such measurement
of a (rare) bright red-clump source, but warm (presumably less oversubscribed)
Spitzer could devote the extra time required to obtain microlens parallaxes for
the more common, but fainter, turnoff sources. Warm Spitzer could observe bulge
microlenses for 38 days per year, which would permit up to 24 microlens
parallaxes per year. This would yield interesting information on the disk mass
function, particularly old brown dwarfs, which at present are inaccessible by
other techniques. Target-of-Opportunity (TOO) observations should be divided
into RTOO/DTOO, i.e., ``regular'' and ``disruptive'' TOOs, as pioneered by the
Space Interferometry Mission (SIM). LMC/SMC parallax measurements would be
DTOO, but bulge measurements would be RTOO, i.e., they could be scheduled in
advance, without knowing exactly which star was to be observed.Comment: 6 pages + 1 Figure, To be presented at The Warm Spitzer Mission
Workshop, 4-5 June 2007, Pasaden
Mad Cows, Offended Emus, and Old Eggs: Perishable Product Disparagement Laws and Free Speech
In the wake of the 1989 controversy over Alar use on apples, several states enacted laws providing a civil cause of action to producers damaged by false statements disparaging the safety of their perishable food products. Commentators have suggested that these laws are unconstitutional and contrary to the First Amendment\u27s free speech protections. This Comment argues that the majority of state laws either meet or exceed the constitutional protections established by the U.S. Supreme Court\u27s defamation cases. However, these laws are unlikely to be used widely in the future because of their stringent proof requirements and because such suits often create greater public awareness of the disparaging statements the plaintiff seeks to redress
Story Theatre Playbill
Providence College Department of Theatre, Dance & Film
Blackfriars Theatre
Story Theatre
Thursday - Sunday, April 28 - May 1, 1983, 8PM
Cast: Little Peasant, Cock, Parson, Foxy Woxy, Old Man, Eldest Son - Tony Alix; Peasant\u27s Wife, Cat, Miller\u27s Daughter, Mother - Mary Ellen Baxter; Miller, Master Thief, Fisherman, Second Son - Ralph Brancaccio; Cowherd, Hound, Milton, Wife, Venus, Narrator - Patty Carver; Old Woman, Henny Penny, Soldier, Crow, Sexton - Maureen Cox; Farmer\u27s Wife, Morris, Turkey Lurkey, Cat, Simpleton - Mary Donovan; Parson, Robber, Robber Bridegroom, Soldier, Man, Crow, Parson - John Healy; Farmer, Ass, Sexton, Cocky Locky, Count, Flounder, Princess - Joe Henderson; Robber, Parson, King - David Llewellyn; Goosey Poosey, Countess, Second Daughter - Mary Patricia Papini; Mayor/Judge, Soldier, Fisherman\u27s Wife, Eldest Daughter - Alicia Roy; Ducky Daddles, Clerk, Little Grey Man - Nancy Shaughnessyhttps://digitalcommons.providence.edu/storytheatre_1983_pubs/1007/thumbnail.jp
Quantity and quality of interaction between staff and older patients in UK hospital wards: A descriptive study
AbstractBackgroundThe quality of staff-patient interactions underpins the overall quality of patient experience and can affect other important outcomes. However no studies have been identified that comprehensively explore both the quality and quantity of interactions in general hospital settings.Aims & objectivesTo quantify and characterise the quality of staff-patient interactions and to identify factors associated with negative interaction ratings.SettingData were gathered at two acute English NHS hospitals between March and April 2015. Six wards for adult patients participated including medicine for older people (n=4), urology (n=1) and orthopaedics (n=1).MethodsEligible patients on participating wards were randomly selected for observation. Staff-patient interactions were observed using the Quality of Interactions Schedule. 120h of care were observed with each 2h observation session determined from a balanced random schedule (Monday-Friday, 08:00-22:00h). Multilevel logistic regression models were used to determine factors associated with negative interactions.Results1554 interactions involving 133 patients were observed. The median length of interaction was 36s with a mean of 6 interactions per patient per hour. Seventy three percent of interactions were categorized as positive, 17% neutral and 10% negative. Forty percent of patients had at least one negative interaction (95% confidence interval 32% to 49%). Interactions initiated by the patient (adjusted Odds Ratio [OR] 5.30), one way communication (adjusted OR 10.70), involving two or more staff (adjusted OR 5.86 for 2 staff, 6.46 for 3+ staff), having a higher total number of interactions (adjusted OR 1.09 per unit increase), and specific types of interaction content were associated with increased odds of negative interaction (p<0.05). In the full multivariable model there was no significant association with staff characteristics, skill mix or staffing levels. Patient agitation at the outset of interaction was associated with increased odds of negative interaction in a reduced model. There was no significant association with gender, age or cognitive impairment. There was substantially more variation at ward level (variance component 1.76) and observation session level (3.49) than at patient level (0.09).ConclusionThese findings present a unique insight into the quality and quantity of staff-patient interactions in acute care. While a high proportion of interactions were positive, findings indicate that there is scope for improvement. Future research should focus on further exploring factors associated with negative interactions, such as workload and ward culture
A study of concept options for the evolution of Space Station Freedom
Two conceptual evolution configurations for Space Station Freedom, a research and development configuration, and a transportation node configuration are described and analyzed. Results of pertinent analyses of mass properties, attitude control, microgravity, orbit lifetime, and reboost requirements are provided along with a description of these analyses. Also provided are brief descriptions of the elements and systems that comprise these conceptual configurations
Assessing whether early attention of very preterm infants can be improved by an omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid intervention: a follow-up of a randomised controlled tria
Introduction Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) accumulates
in the frontal lobes (responsible for higher-order cognitive
skills) of the fetal brain during the last trimester of
pregnancy. Infants born preterm miss some of this in utero
provision of DHA, and have an increased risk of suboptimal
neurodevelopment. It is thought that supplementing infants
born preterm with DHA may improve developmental
outcomes. The aim of this follow-up is to determine
whether DHA supplementation in infants born preterm can
improve areas of the brain associated with frontal lobe
function, namely attention and distractibility.
Methods and analysis We will assess a subset
of children from the N-3 (omega-3) Fatty Acids
for Improvement in Respiratory Outcomes (N3RO)
multicentre double-blind randomised controlled trial
of DHA supplementation. Infants born <29 weeks’
completed gestation were randomised to receive an
enteral emulsion containing 60 mg/kg/day of DHA or a
control emulsion from within the first 3 days of enteral
feeding until 36 weeks’ postmenstrual age. Children will
undergo multiple measures of attention at 18 months’
corrected age. The primary outcome is the average time
to be distracted when attention is focused on a toy.
Secondary outcomes are other aspects of attention, and
(where possible) an assessment of cognition, language
and motor development with the Bayley Scales of Infant
and Toddler Development, Third Edition. A minimum of
72 children will be assessed to ensure 85% power to
detect an effect on the primary outcome. Families, and
research personnel are blinded to group assignment. All
analyses will be conducted according to the intentionto-treat principal.
Ethics and dissemination All procedures were approved
by the relevant institutional ethics committees prior to
commencement of the study. Results will be disseminated
in peer-reviewed journal publications and academic
presentations.
Trial registration number ACTRN12612000503820; Preresults
NASA Light Emitting Diode Medical Applications from Deep Space to Deep Sea
This work is supported and managed through the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center-SBIR Program. LED-technology developed for NASA plant growth experiments in space shows promise for delivering light deep into tissues of the body to promote wound healing and human tissue growth. We present the results of LED-treatment of cells grown in culture and the effects of LEDs on patients’ chronic and acute wounds. LED-technology is also biologically optimal for photodynamic therapy of cancer and we discuss our successes using LEDs in conjunction with light-activated chemotherapeutic drugs
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