The cultural geography of rural cemeteries: Saunders County, Nebraska

Rural cemeteries reflect local culture history. Cultural preferences and attitudes are expressed in the fixtures of cemeteries, tombstones, tombstone arrangement, and cemetery landscaping. The pattern of rural cemeteries can reveal the dynamics of population and settlement, and cultural origins and dispersals. The rural cemeteries of Saunders County, Nebraska, were studied in the summer of 1978 in order to 1) map the relative location of the cemeteries; 2) determine the pattern of growth and development of the cemeteries; 3) establish a working taxonomic system of cemetery size and character; 4) interpret the cultural phenomena related to rural cemeteries; 5) determine distinctive landscape features of rural cemeteries; and 6) to fill a gap in geographic research. The result of such intensive study of the geography of rural cemeteries is a better feel for the larger cultural landscape in which rural cemeteries are embedded

Glycerol-induced hyperhydration

Maintenance of euhydration is essential for maximum work performance. Environments which induce hypohydration reduce plasma volume and cardiovascular performance progressively declines as does work capacity. Hyperhydration prior to exposure to dehydrating environments appears to be a potential countermeasure to the debilitating effects of hypohydration. The extravascular fluid space, being the largest fluid compartment in the body, is the most logical space by which significant hyperhydration can be accomplished. Volume and osmotic receptors in the vascular space result in physiological responses which counteract hyperhydration. Our hypothesis is that glycerol-induced hyperhydration (GIH) can accomplish extravascular fluid expansion because of the high solubility of glycerol in lipid and aqueous media. A hypertonic solution of glycerol is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, results in mild increases in plasma osmolality and is distributed to 65 percent of the body mass. A large volume of water ingested within minutes after glycerol intake results in increased total body water because of the osmotic action and distribution of glycerol. The resulting expanded extravascular fluid space can act as a reservoir to maintain plasma volume during exposure to dehydrating environments. The fluid shifts associated with exposure to microgravity result in increased urine production and is another example of an environment which induces hypohydration. Our goal is to demonstrate that GIH will facilitate maintenance of euhydration and cardiovascular performance during space flight and upon return to a 1 g environment

Site-selective characterisation of electron trapping centres in relation to chemistry, structural state and mineral phases present in single crystal alkali feldspars

Feldspars are ubiquitous natural dosimeters widely used in luminescence dating. Despite decades of research, the lattice defects as well as the mechanisms involved in luminescence production in feldspars remain poorly understood. The recently developed method of infrared photoluminescence (IRPL) excitation-emission spectroscopy has revealed the presence of two electron trapping centres emitting IRPL at 1.3 eV and 1.41 eV (IRPL1.3 and IRPL1.41 centres), and it enables detailed investigations into the ground and excited state energies of these centres. Here we make measurements of a range of single crystal alkali feldspars to understand the effects of feldspar chemical composition, crystal structure and framework disorder on the physical characteristics of IRPL1.3 and IRPL1.41 electron trapping centres. Measurements of our sample suite reveals IRPL and IR-radioluminescence (RL) emissions at 1.41 eV, 1.3 eV and, for the first time, at 1.2 eV. Our results show that whilst the IRPL1.3 trapping centre is unaffected by the M site cation occupancy, the presence of IRPL1.41 trapping centres seems to be linked to the presence of K+ ions on M sites. However, no clear trends in IRPL and IR-RL emission energies and signal intensities with chemical composition of the samples were found. Exploring the effect of framework disorder on IRPL1.3 and IRPL1.41 emissions revealed no significant changes to IRPL and IR-RL emission energies or ground state energies of the trapping centres, suggesting that the corresponding defects are not located on bridging O ions. Variations in ground state energies across the whole sample suite range from 2.04 eV to 2.20 eV for the IRPL1.3 centre and from 2.16 eV to 2.46 eV for the IRPL1.41 centre. Variations in trap depth seem to be driven by other factors than sample chemistry, degree of Al3+disorder and number of phases present in a single crystal feldspar. Interestingly, the IR resonance peak is invariant between samples. Regarding the use of IRPL in luminescence dating, we show that optical resetting differs for the three different emissions, with the emission at ∼1.41 eV not being reset in some samples even after 18 h of solar bleaching

Enhancing the social issues components in our computing curriculum: Computing for the social good

The acceptance and integration of social issues into computing curricula is still a work in progress twenty years after it was first incorporated into the ACM Computing Curricula. Through an international survey of computing instructors, this paper corroborates prior work showing that most institutions include the societal impact of ICT in their programs. However, topics often concentrate on computer history, codes of ethics and intellectual property, while neglecting broader issues of societal impact. This paper explores how these neglected topics can be better developed through a subtle change of focus to the significant role that ICT plays in addressing the needs of the community. Drawing on the survey and a set of implementation cases, the paper provides guidance by means of examples and resources to empower teaching teams to engage students in the application of ICT to bring about positive social outcomes – computing for the social good

Exploring sources of variation in thermoluminescence emissions and anomalous fading in alkali feldspars

Alkali feldspar is routinely used in retrospective dosimetry using luminescence methods. However there is a signal loss over time, termed ‘anomalous fading’, which results in age underestimation if uncorrected. Although significant improvements have been made in recent years, luminescence dating of feldspars remains challenging. This paper investigates the relationships between chemistry, structural state and the scale of exsolution with thermoluminescence (TL) emission spectra and infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) fading rates. We measure TL emission spectra, where possible linking the recombination site to physical features of the feldspar crystals. We show that fading rates are lowest in ordered end-member Na- and K-feldspars but significantly greater in disordered end-members, showing that Al–Si order influences fading. As well as having very low fading rates, ordered end-member samples have distinctive TL emission spectra, with the yellow-green emission dominant, while all other samples have a dominant blue emission. Perthite, i.e. exsolved members of the (Na,K)-feldspar solid solution, show greater fading than disordered end-members and fading is greatest in semi-coherent macroperthite. We propose that the state of Al–Si-order, and the occurrence of defects and dislocations at the perthite lamellar interfaces influence anomalous fading rates in feldspar

"It's a can of worms": understanding primary care practitioners' behaviours in relation to HPV using the Theoretical Domains Framework

Background: The relationship between infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer is transforming cervical cancer prevention. HPV tests and vaccinations have recently become available. In Ireland, as elsewhere, primary care practitioners play a key role in prevention. ATHENS (A Trial of HPV Education and Support) aims to develop a theorybased intervention to support primary care practitioners in their HPV-related practice. This study, the first step in the intervention development process, aimed to: identify HPV-related clinical behaviours that the intervention will target; clarify general practitioners’ (GPs’) and practice nurses’ roles and responsibilities; and determine factors that potentially influence clinical behaviour. A secondary objective was to informally assess the utility of the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) in understanding clinical behaviours in an area with an evolving evidence-base. Methods: In-depth semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with GPs and practice nurses. The topic guide, which contained open questions and HPV-related clinical scenarios, was developed through literature review and clinical experience. Interview transcripts were content-analysed using the TDF as the coding framework. Results: 19 GPs and 14 practice nurses were interviewed. The major HPV-related clinical behaviours were: initiating a discussion about HPV infection with female patients; offering/recommending HPV vaccination to appropriate patients; and answering patients’ questions about HPV testing. While the responsibility for taking smears was considered a female role, both male and female practitioners dealt with HPV-related issues. All 12 theoretical domains arose in relation to HPV infection; the domains judged to be most important were: knowledge, emotion, social influences, beliefs about capabilities and beliefs about consequences. Eleven domains emerged in relation to HPV vaccination, with beliefs about consequences, social influences, knowledge and environmental context and resources judged to be the most important. Nine domains were relevant to HPV testing, with knowledge and beliefs about capabilities judged to be the most important. Conclusions: The findings confirm the need for an intervention to support primary care practitioners around HPV and suggest it should target a range of theoretical domains. The TDF proved valuable in analysing qualitative data collected using a topic guide not specifically designed to capture TDF domains and understanding clinical behaviours in an area with an evolving evidence-base

Possible Interruption of Malaria Transmission, Highland Kenya, 2007–2008

Annual insecticide spraying and artemisinin combination therapy may stop transmission

Human papillomavirus and vaccination: knowledge, attitudes, and behavioural intention in adolescents and young women in Italy

This study assesses knowledge, attitudes, and behavioural intention towards human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and vaccination in a random sample of 1348 adolescents and young women aged 14–24 years in Italy. A self-administered anonymous questionnaire covered demographics; knowledge about HPV infection, cervical cancer, and HPV vaccine; the perceived risk for contracting HPV infection and/or for developing cervical cancer, the perceived benefits of a vaccination to prevent cervical cancer, and willingness to receive an HPV vaccine. Only 23.3% have heard that HPV is an infection of the genital mucosa and about cervical cancer. Those older, with at least one parent who is a health care professional, with personal, familiar, or friendly history of cervical cancer, and having underwent a health checkup in the last year with information about HPV vaccination were significantly more knowledgeable. Risk perception scores (range: 1–10) of contracting HPV infection and of developing cervical cancer were 5.8 and 6.5. Older age, not having a parent who is a health care professional, having had a personal, familiar, or friendly history of cervical cancer, and need of additional information were predictors of the perceived susceptibility of developing cervical cancer. The vast majority professed intent to receive an HPV vaccine and the significant predictors were having at least one parent who is a health care professional, a high perceived risk of contracting HPV infection and of developing cervical cancer, and a high belief towards the utility of a vaccination for preventing cervical cancer. Knowledge about HPV infection and cervical cancer should be improved with more attention to the benefit of HPV vaccination