A systematic review of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender health in the West Midlands region of the UK compared to published UK research

It is estimated that approximately 3-8% of the UK population identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans (LGBT). Until now, most health research on gay and bisexual men has been around HIV, AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases and for trans people has been on the transitioning process only. However, it has been apparent to the LGBT community that that there are a wide variety of other physical and mental health issues that are also important and that the proportion of gay and bisexual men who have HIV/AIDS is relatively small. Very little general LGBT health research has been published so far and there are very few health services that specifically address the general health concerns of the LGBT community. This systematic review presents all available research conducted in the West Midlands on LGBT health since 2000. Local health research is compared to UK national, peer reviewed and published LGBT health research in order to determine whether the local results are unusual compared to national LGBT data, and to routinely collected data on the UK population, where appropriate, in order to determine whether and where the LGBT population differ from the general population. Only UK research has been included because there was no previous UK specific systematic review so it was unclear how generalisable foreign research would be to the UK

A model balancing cooperation and competition explains our right-handed world and the dominance of left-handed athletes

An overwhelming majority of humans are right-handed. Numerous explanations for individual handedness have been proposed, but this population-level handedness remains puzzling. Here we use a minimal mathematical model to explain this population-level hand preference as an evolved balance between cooperative and competitive pressures in human evolutionary history. We use selection of elite athletes as a test-bed for our evolutionary model and account for the surprising distribution of handedness in many professional sports. Our model predicts strong lateralization in social species with limited combative interaction, and elucidates the rarity of compelling evidence for "pawedness" in the animal world.Comment: 5 pages of text and 3 figures in manuscript, 8 pages of text and two figures in supplementary materia

Rotorcraft digital advanced avionics system (RODAAS) functional description

A functional design of a rotorcraft digital advanced avionics system (RODAAS) to transfer the technology developed for general aviation in the Demonstration Advanced Avionics System (DAAS) program to rotorcraft operation was undertaken. The objective was to develop an integrated avionics system design that enhances rotorcraft single pilot IFR operations without increasing the required pilot training/experience by exploiting advanced technology in computers, busing, displays and integrated systems design. A key element of the avionics system is the functionally distributed architecture that has the potential for high reliability with low weight, power and cost. A functional description of the RODAAS hardware and software functions is presented

Multilocus genetic models of handedness closely resemble single-locus models in explaining family data and are compatible with genome-wide association studies.

Right- and left-handedness run in families, show greater concordance in monozygotic than dizygotic twins, and are well described by single-locus Mendelian models. Here we summarize a large genome-wide association study (GWAS) that finds no significant associations with handedness and is consistent with a meta-analysis of GWASs. The GWAS had 99% power to detect a single locus using the conventional criterion of P < 5 × 10(-8) for the single locus models of McManus and Annett. The strong conclusion is that handedness is not controlled by a single genetic locus. A consideration of the genetic architecture of height, primary ciliary dyskinesia, and intelligence suggests that handedness inheritance can be explained by a multilocus variant of the McManus DC model, classical effects on family and twins being barely distinguishable from the single locus model. Based on the ENGAGE meta-analysis of GWASs, we estimate at least 40 loci are involved in determining handedness

Cross-comparison of MRCGP & MRCP(UK) in a database linkage study of 2,284 candidates taking both examinations: assessment of validity and differential performance by ethnicity.

MRCGP and MRCP(UK) are the main entry qualifications for UK doctors entering general [family] practice or hospital [internal] medicine. The performance of MRCP(UK) candidates who subsequently take MRCGP allows validation of each assessment. In the UK, underperformance of ethnic minority doctors taking MRCGP has had a high political profile, with a Judicial Review in the High Court in April 2014 for alleged racial discrimination. Although the legal challenge was dismissed, substantial performance differences between white and BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) doctors undoubtedly exist. Understanding ethnic differences can be helped by comparing the performance of doctors who take both MRCGP and MRCP(UK)

How Efficient is Market Pricing: Can Investors Beat the Market? Further, are Prices Always Right as Stated in the Efficient Market Hypothesis?

The Efficient Market Hypothesis is a widely accepted economic theory developed by economist Eugene Fama. The theory states that at any given time, an asset’s price reflects all available public information and will always trade at fair value. The motivation for this research is derived from the content taught in undergraduate finance courses. In undergraduate academia finance students are introduced to the idea of market efficiency, as it is a building block for future theory and application. However, this theory is rarely questioned in the world of undergraduate academia, rather just taken as fact by students. The underlying research in this paper attempts to answer a key question in the investment world of “are asset prices always right as stated in the EMH?”. If asset prices are always trading at fair value, individuals cannot achieve a return on investment that is higher than the market average, rendering active management useless. This research has concluded that there are times where assets are not priced to fair value. This is not to say that the EMH is wrong, but rather ‘not right’ 100% of the time. Market inefficiency is driven by three main factors that will be mentioned in this paper: (1) Investor cognitive error (2) Market disruptions and illiquidity (3) Investor emotions (fear & greed). Throughout the paper there will be examples of both extremely efficient & inefficient market pricing. This paper will prove useful for any finance student or recreational investor who has never challenged the EMH and is attempting to form their own opinion on market efficiency

Relationships between scores on the Jefferson Scale of physician empathy, patient perceptions of physician empathy, and humanistic approaches to patient care: a validity study.

BACKGROUND: Empathy is the backbone of a positive physician-patient relationship. Physician empathy and the patient\u27s awareness of the physician\u27s empathic concern can lead to a more positive clinical outcome. MATERIAL/METHODS: The Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (JSPE) was completed by 36 physicians in the Family Medicine residency program at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, and 90 patients evaluated these physicians by completing the Jefferson Scale of Patient Perceptions of Physician Empathy (JSPPPE), and a survey about physicians\u27 humanistic approaches to patient care. RESULTS: A statistically significant correlation was found between scores of the JSPE and JSPPPE (r=0.48, p CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide further support for the validity of the JSPE. Implications for the assessments of empathy in the physician-patient relationship as related to clinical outcomes are discussed

Evaluation of the Department of Planning and Infrastructure's Bike to Work Breakfast 2005

The Metropolitan Transport Strategy (1995) proposed moving from a transport system which was dominated by low occupancy car use, to a more balanced transport system of public transport and non-motorised transport options. Creating this change requires initiatives that create critical mass awareness, in work organisations and the community. The Bike to Work Breakfast is an example of such an initiative. This year it was held on Friday 11 March, 2005 and aimed to increase awareness of, and promote cycling as an alternative mode of transport to and from work. A free healthy breakfast was provided to everyone who cycled on the day. A total of 1232 participants who attended the 2005 Bike to Work Breakfast completed questionnaires. The majority of respondents were male (69%, n=845). The age of respondents varied, with the most common age group being 31-40 years (29%, n=353) followed by 41-50 years (26%, n=324). Respondents cited a number of different reasons for cycling. The majority indicated improved fitness (84%, n=1035) and enjoyment (63%, n=777) as the main reasons for cycling. Almost half of respondents (43%, n=535) cycled on a daily basis whilst a further 42% (n=524) reported cycling 2-3 times per week. Fifty three percent of respondents (n=5595) lived less than 13 kilometres from work and almost one quarter (24%, n=266) lived less than eight kilometres from their workplace. Respondents suggested they would ride to work more often if there were showers at work (34%, n=422), more on road facilities (29%, n=360) and lockers at work (24%, n=293). Of the 1232 participants who completed questionnaires, sixty eight percent (n=843) had attended the Bike to Work Breakfast previously