Dodecatheon cylindrocarpum Rydb.

https://thekeep.eiu.edu/herbarium_specimens_byname/20922/thumbnail.jp

Climate-responsive design:

In climate-responsive design the building becomes an intermediary in its own energy housekeeping, forming a link between the harvest of climate resources and low energy provision of comfort. Essential here is the employment of climate-responsive building elements, defined as structural and architectural elements in which the energy infrastructure is far-reaching integrated. This thesis presents the results of research conducted on what knowledge is needed in the early stages of the design process and how to transfer and transform that knowledge to the field of the architect in order for them to successfully implement the principles of climate-responsive design. The derived content, form and functional requirements provide the framework for a design decision support tool. These requirements were incorporated into a concept tool that has been presented to architects in the field, in order to gain their feedback. Climate-responsive design makes the complex task of designing even more complex. Architects are helped when sufficient information on the basics of climate-responsive design and its implications are provided as informative support during decision making in the early design stages of analysis and energy concept development. This informative support on climate-responsive design should address to different design styles in order to be useful to any type of architects. What is defined as comfortable has far-reaching implications for the way buildings are designed and how they operate. This in turn gives an indication of the energy used for maintaining a comfortable indoor environment. Comfort is not a strict situation, but subjective. Diversity is appreciated and comfort is improved when users have the ability to exert influence on their environment. Historically, the provision of comfort has led to the adoption of mechanical climate control systems that operate in many cases indifferent from the building space and mass and its environment. Climate-responsive design restores the context of local climate and environment as a design parameter. Many spatial, functional and comfort-related boundary conditions that have an effect on the energy design concept have been distinguished. There are many low-graded energy sources that can be put to use in the built environment, with local climate as the primary component. When exploring the potential of local climate, urban context needs to be taken into account since it heavily affects the actual potential. Since buildings are typically build to last for decades, consideration of changing climate and its expected effect on the energy potential is an important factor in the strategy to follow. The study of the energy potential of local climate resulted in a set of climate-related and context-related boundary conditions. The principles of climate-responsive design - the conceptual relations between energy source, energy treatment and comfort demand - can be translated into various design solutions, the contextual, architectural and technical implementation of these principles into an actual design. The design solutions can be divided into six categories- site planning, building form and layout, skin, structure, finish and (integrated)building service - that cover various dimensions in planning and construction. In this thesis a non-exhaustive list of design principles and solutions is presented using different matrices. In order to design using climate-responsive design principles the architect should be given an overview of the comfort contribution and energy performance of design solutions. Furthermore, the identification of collaborations and conflicts when using multiple design principles together is essential. The generation of a satisfying design is more than just stacking solutions upon each other. It should also be made clear what a possible energy function of a building element is besides its primary function. This is where comfort and energy related design objectives of climate-responsive design meet other objectives (i.e. spatial, functional and structural). Finally, the impact of climatere sponsive building elements on the appearance of design is relevant to concept orientated architects. Together this can be considered as the content requirements of the design-decision support tool. In the early stages of the design process climate-responsive design is about the generation of energy concepts. In this phase accessible guidelines and the option to compare alternatives is more important than to assess absolute performance. The conceptual design phase is dynamic and has many iterations. Informative, context specific knowledge reduces the number of iterations before the architect has generated a satisfying number of design options from which it can continue to the next design phase of assessment. Functional requirements for the framework of the design decision support tool are the inclusion of a knowledge base with expert knowledge and best practice examples, the provision of informative, context-specific knowledge, the provision of accessible guidelines, the provision of an option to compare alternatives, the inclusion of the ability to inform during and assist in decision-making (i.e. intelligence) and the limitation of complexity and the generation of easy to interpret output. The tool is primarily developed for the architect so it needs to blend in the architect’s workflow enabling the architect’s creativity and guiding his intuition. Other form requirements of the design-decision support tool are the presence of customisation options and custom navigation patterns, all presented in a visual style. A concept of the web-based tool has been developed in order to illustrate what a climate-responsive design-decision support tool could look like. The heart of the tool is formed by the knowledge base, constructed from items grouped into one of four categories: principles, solutions, projects and guidelines. Relationships between items are incorporated within the knowledge base as hyperlinks, which makes it easy to navigate from one item to another. The stored information is presented in numerous ways. Info sheets provide the most detailed presentation style containing all available information for an item, while catalogues, matrices and a gallery provide quick overviews and reveal direct relationships with other items. In order to become a true design-decision support tool, the presented tool needs to be further developed. This includes the use of a more context-specific presentation style and the inclusion of more context-specific knowledge, the addition of layers in which the knowledge is presented varying from more general to practical, the development and implementation of performance indicators and a more direct and visual approach to pinpoint synergetic and conflicting effects. By using the tool, architects can access relevant knowledge in different ways that suit their method of working. It enables the presentation of complex relationships in a clear way and by doing so unlocking a much broader part of the content to them. That will help speeding up the process of design iteration before the energy concept can be assessed in the successive phase of the design process

Empowerment of Residents for Intraprofessional Collaboration: the Role of Context, Culture and Power Dynamics

Contains fulltext : 285008.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access)Radboud University, 29 november 2022Promotores : Fluit, C.R.M.G., Graaf, J. de, Scherpbier-de Haan, N.D.233 p

Diet, nutrient status and gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most common metabolic complications during pregnancy and prevalence has continued to increase worldwide. As BMI is one of the most important risk factors for development of GDM, prevention of GDM has focused on modifiable factors including diet. A range of dietary factors has been investigated, but results per dietary factor are limited and inconclusive (chapter 1). This thesis aims to provide more insight into dietary intake and nutrient status before and during pregnancy and into the association of dietary intake and nutrient status with risk of GDM. In addition, two methodological topics are addressed: the development of an index reflecting adherence to the Dutch dietary guidelines of 2015 and the effect of combining food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and 24-hour recall (24hR) data on bias in diet-disease associations. In chapter 2, the development and evaluation of the Dutch Healthy Diet 2015 (DHD15) index score is described. The DHD15 index score assesses adherence to the Dutch dietary guidelines of 2015 and consists of 15 components representing the 15 food-based dietary guidelines. Per component the score ranges between zero and ten, resulting in a total score between zero (no adherence) and 150 (complete adherence). We evaluated the DHD15 index based on data from two 24hR and one FFQ from 885 men and women, aged 20-70 years, participating in the longitudinal NQplus study. A higher DHD15 index score was inversely associated with BMI, smoking, and intakes of energy, total fat, and saturated fat and positively associated with energy-adjusted micronutrient intakes. We concluded that the DHD15 index is a good marker of diet quality. Measurement error in dietary intakes leads to biased diet-disease associations. If dietary intake is assessed with a second method, regression calibration (RC) or enhanced regression calibration (ERC) can be used to combine dietary intakes. This could result in less biased associations. In chapter 3, we investigated the effect of combining dietary intakes obtained with two methods (24hR and FFQ) on diet-disease associations using data from 236 participants of the NQplus study. We observed that combining FFQ and 24hR data with RC and ERC for protein and potassium resulted in empirical attenuation factors approaching 1, indicating less biased diet-disease associations. In chapter 4, the prevalence of common delivery-related adverse pregnancy outcomes was compared between women with normal glucose tolerance during pregnancy (NGT), women with treated GDM and women with untreated borderline GDM (BGDM). BGDM was defined as women with an abnormal 50-grams glucose challenge test and a normal 75-grams oral glucose tolerance test. Medical file data were used from 1049 women who had undergone GDM screening and had given birth in hospital Gelderse Vallei Ede in the period 2010-2014. Women with treated GDM had a higher risk of laceration and women with untreated BGDM had a higher risk of laceration and (unscheduled) Caesarean section as compared to women with NGT. Furthermore, we observed that associations between glucose tolerance and adverse pregnancy outcomes were not mediated by macrosomia (birth weight >4000 gram). In chapter 5, the associations between pre-pregnancy dietary carbohydrate quantity and quality with risk of GDM were investigated in women of reproductive age in an Australian cohort. A total of 3,607 women aged 25-30 years were followed-up for self-reported GDM development from 2003 till 2015. Pre-pregnancy dietary intake was assessed with a FFQ in 2003 and 2009. Carbohydrate quantity was assessed based on total carbohydrate intake and the low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) score. Carbohydrate quality was assessed by studying fibre intake, total sugar intake, glycaemic index, glycaemic load and intake of carbohydrate-rich food groups. A relatively low carbohydrate and high fat and protein intake as expressed by the LCD score and a higher cereal intake were significantly associated with higher risk of GDM, whereas higher fibre, fruit and fruit juice intakes were associated with lower risk of GDM. Chapter 6 describes the prevalence of inadequate micronutrient intakes and the association of pre-pregnancy micronutrient adequacy with risk of GDM in the same Australian cohort of women of reproductive age. We used a summary measure of adequate micronutrient intake across 13 micronutrients, i.e. the mean adequacy ratio (MAR). Prevalence of inadequate dietary micronutrient intake was more than 50% for the micronutrients calcium, potassium, magnesium, vitamin E and folate, indicating suboptimal pre-pregnancy micronutrient intakes. A higher overall micronutrient adequacy (i.e. MAR) was associated with a lower risk of developing GDM. In chapter 7, changes in folate, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin D and iron intake, their status markers and diet quality from preconception to the second trimester of pregnancy are described. In addition, associations of these micronutrient intakes, their status markers and diet quality with glucose tolerance during pregnancy were examined. Data from 91 Dutch women at increased risk of GDM, aged 18-40 years, and with either a wish to get pregnant or less than 24 weeks pregnant was collected longitudinally. Data was collected at preconception (n=67), 12 weeks of pregnancy (n=47) and 24 weeks of pregnancy (n=55). At each time point women underwent a fasting venipuncture and a 75-grams oral glucose tolerance test. Dietary intake was assessed at each time point with a validated FFQ and two non-consecutive 24hR. We observed significant changes in total micronutrient intakes throughout pregnancy, due to changes in supplemental intakes, whereas dietary micronutrient intakes and diet quality remained stable. Nutrient status levels changed significantly from preconception to the second trimester of pregnancy. For folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin D this could be partly explained by changes in intake. In general, no associations between fasting and 2-hour glucose levels and HbA1c levels with diet quality, micronutrient intake or status levels were observed; except for a weak inverse association of folate intake with 2-hour glucose levels, and a weak positive association between ferritin and 2-hour glucose levels. Diet quality was inversely associated with fasting glucose in a sensitivity analysis, excluding data from participants with only one measurement. Using data from the same study collected at preconception from the same study (n=66), main dietary sources of folate, vitamin D, and the n-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were determined in chapter 8. Additionally, associations of these intakes with their blood levels were examined. A large proportion of women did not meet the Dutch recommended intakes of folate (50%), vitamin D (67%), and EPA+DHA (52%). Vegetables were the main contributor of dietary folate intake (25%), oils and fats of dietary vitamin D intake (39%), and fish of dietary EPA and DHA intake (69%). Fourteen percent had an inadequate folate status and 23% an inadequate vitamin D status. Supplemental folate intake, supplemental and dietary vitamin D intake and dietary EPA+DHA intake were significantly associated with their blood levels. In chapter 9, the main findings of this thesis were summarized and a reflection on methodological aspects was given. Considering results described in this thesis and associations reported by other studies, it is probable that a healthy diet can reduce risk of developing GDM. Most convincing evidence was observed for diet in the pre-pregnancy period. More research is needed to understand which foods and nutrients drive diet-GDM associations, and to unravel underlying mechanisms. Diet in the pre-pregnancy period was considered suboptimal and intakes of several vital micronutrients, including folate, were below recommended intakes for a large proportion of women in two different studies. Although the Health Council of the Netherlands already called upon the provision of proper and adequate preconception care a decade ago, more action is needed to improve intake and status of essential micronutrients in the preconception period.</p

Molecular Population Genetics And Systematics Of Alaska Brown Bear (Ursus Arctos L.)

Thesis (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2006Complete nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b, tRNAproline and tRNA threonine genes of the eight extant species of ursids, as well as 166 brown bears (Ursus arctos L.) from 10 geographic regions of Alaska and elsewhere, are used to generate hypotheses about phylogenetic relationships among ursids and phylogeographic relationships among brown bears. Additional data were obtained from mitochondrial DNA control region from over 200 brown bears among 14 populations in Alaska, to assess structuring among brown bears. Phylogenetic analyses indicate the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) and spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornata) represent basal extant taxa. Ursines, including the sun bear (Helarctos malayanus), sloth bear (Melursus ursinus), Asiatic and American black bears (Ursus thibetanus and U. americanus), brown bear, and polar bear (U. maritimus) apparently experienced rapid radiation during the mid-Pliocene to early Pleistocene. The two black bears appear to be sister taxa; brown and polar bear are the most recently derived of the ursines. Polar bears apparently arose during the Pleistocene from within a clade of brown bears ancestral to populations currently inhabiting islands of the Alexander Archipelago of southeastern Alaska. Thus, brown bears are paraphyletic with respect to polar bears. Parsimony and distance analyses suggest two distinct clades of mtDNA: one (Clade I) composed only of Alexander Archipelago bears, and the other clade comprised of bears inhabiting all other regions of Alaska (Clade II). This latter clade represents bears inhabiting eastern (Clade IIa) and western (Clade IIb) Alaska. Mismatch analysis uncovered a pattern suggestive of recent expansion among some populations comprising Clade IIb. Over 90% of populations in Alaska were significantly differentiated as measured by variance in haplotype frequencies, suggesting limited contemporary female-mediated gene flow and/or shifts in gene frequency through genetic drift. The degree of population genetic differentiation revealed using mtDNA, as well as limited information from comparisons of multilocus microsatellite genotypes from bears representing four Alaska populations, suggests many Alaskan populations are evolving independently. Analyses of molecular variance gave little support for currently accepted subspecies hypotheses. This research has provided new perspectives on processes that drive population structure of brown bears of Alaska and worldwide

The Relationship Between Functional Disability of Chronic Low Back Pain to Depression

This study is proposed for the purpose of determining if a relationship exists between the functional disability of chronic low back pain (LBP) to depression. In the investigation a random sample of 40-50 clients from area back clinics, at Blodgett Memorial Medical Center and Butterworth Hospital will be selected. The clients who have had LBP over six months will be asked to take a modified Dartmouth Pain Questionnaire (DPQ) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The modified DPQ includes two parts relating to the client\u27s self perception and activity level prior to the LBP event. The self-administered BDI which measures the degree of depressive symptoms will be given. The results will be divided into two categories; those clients with great discrepancy in functional disability before and after the LBP event and those with a small discrepancy in functional disability. The BDI scores will be compared to each of these categories to determine if a relationship exists. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.

Predictors of the Use of Respite Services by Caregivers of Alzheimer\u27s Patients: Racial and Generational Differences

This research applies one prominent model of service utilization (the Andersen- Newman Model) to better understand the way in which family care givers utilize respite services when caring for older relatives. Specifically, this research examines racial (black and white) and generational (spouse and adult-child) differences between caregivers of Alzheimer\u27s patients and the volume and type of respite services used. The sample (N= 359) is drawn from six Northeast Ohio programs in a consortium that uses a personal computer-based information system to collect intake, assessment, service use, and program satisfaction data from respite clients. Racial differences are found in client attrition and turnover. Results also show adult-child caregivers are the greatest users of day care. These generational differences persist despite the similarities in patient and caregiver need. Fee subsidy and relationship strain between the caregiver and elder predict the amount of service used. Findings suggest that practitioners need to take into account racial and generational factors in addition to traditional patient and caregiver needs when formulating care plans