A taxonomy of explanations in a general practitioner clinic for patients with persistent “medically unexplained” physical symptoms

MSS1 and MSS2 were supported by grants from the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government (references CZG/2/412 and CZH/4/945). We are grateful to the general practitioners and patients who participated in these studies.Peer reviewedPostprin

Alternate Phrase Suggestions from Voice Input

Techniques to improve the process of correcting text transcription of a voice input are described. Words or phrases of the voice input that are not recognized with sufficient confidence are identified and displayed in a manner that distinguishes such phrases from the rest of the transcribed text. Alternatives for the low confidence terms are determined and displayed as suggestions. The user can view and select one or more of the alternative suggestions to replace the low confidence terms

Near-infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) Measurements in Cold Water Immersion.

One of the most popular recovery strategies utilised by elite and amateur athletes is a form of cryotherapy called cold-water immersion (CWI). CWI is suggested to augment recovery from exercise induced muscle damage (EIMD) through temperature induced reductions in microvascular blood flow and tissue metabolism. However, a review of CWI literature highlights a lack of physiologic data regarding muscle blood flow and muscle metabolic responses to its application (Chapter 1). In addition, an overview of the near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technique and measurements is then discussed, highlighting its ability to measure muscle blood flow and tissue metabolism during CWI. Subsequently, a systematic review investigates the application of NIRS measurements during CWI (Chapter 2). Contrasting changes in local muscle blood volume (ΔtHb) were reported during and following post-exercise CWI, with an increase in tHb explained as a cold-induced vasodilatory response whilst a decrease in tHb suggested the occurrence of peripheral vasoconstriction. The measurement of local muscle oxygen saturation (ΔTSI %) was also common during and following post-exercise CWI but arguably was inadequate for providing useful insight into muscle metabolic activity as there tended to be no change in TSI (%), or it was reported as a standalone measure. An experimental study using male university level long distance runners (n = 11) investigated the utility of a NIRS occlusion procedure to quantify measures of muscle blood flow (mBF) and muscle oxygen consumption (mVO2) (Chapter 3). Measures were obtained pre- and post-CWI at two different temperatures (10 ° and 15 °C). By performing arterial occlusion, a similar reduction in mVO2 was shown in both CWI temperatures. This is consistent with the notion that CWI is capable of reducing muscle metabolism. NIRS derived mBF and mVO2 extends current findings and understanding of the muscle physiological response to CWI

La description graphique. Dessins et photographies dans les carnets de terrain et le travail de conservateur de Henry Balfour

Cet article explore les échanges fluides entre le dessin et la photographie dans le travail du premier conservateur du Pitt Rivers Museum de l’université d’Oxford, Henry Balfour (1863-1939). En étudiant de près deux carnets de terrain compilés dans les années 1920 par Balfour lors de missions dans le nord-est de l’Inde et en Afrique de l’Est, j’examine les usages distincts et complémentaires du dessin et de la photographie, tant sur le terrain que dans le document plus formel du carnet. Il s’agit plus généralement de mettre en lien le rapport de Balfour au document visuel avec sa formation aux sciences naturelles reçue dans les années 1880, et de comprendre sa pratique au regard des approches anthropologiques du xixe siècle et de la manière dont, à cette époque, étaient envisagées les relations entre la collecte de données textuelles, dessinées et photographiques et leur présentation dans le musée.This article considers the fluid interchange between drawing and photography in the work of the first curator of the University of Oxford’s Pitt Rivers Museum, Henry Balfour (1863–1939). By examining in detail two 1920s fieldwork journals compiled by Balfour in Northeast India and East Africa, the article discusses the complementary and differentiated use of drawing and photography by Balfour in the field as well as in the more formal journal document. Moving beyond, the article examines Balfour’s approach to visual evidence more broadly, situating him in the context of his training in natural sciences in the 1880s, as well as wider 19th century anthropological understandings of the relationship between textual, artistic, and photographic data gathering and presentation in the museum setting

Development of Preventive Measures to Reduce Mortalities for Holding Live Wild-caught Flounder in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems

A substantial high-value market exists for wild-caught live summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus). An important component of accessing this market is the ability to hold wild-caught flounder in land based recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). A major constraint to holding summer flounder in land-based RAS is fish mortalities associated with the ectoparasite argulus spp. Very little information exists that provides a live flounder holding facility with FDA approved treatment options to prevent introduction of argulus from wild caught fish into holding systems. The project objective was to test the available FDA approved chemotherapeutics for treatment of ectoparasite infections in summer flounder. To validate treatment efficacy, 8 infected individuals were treated with bath treatments according to maximum recommended doses (250ppm formalin for 60 m; 200 ppm hydrogen peroxide for 30 m; and freshwater for 20 m) and then transferred to separate RAS to monitor for two weeks. Daily observations were made to determine if treatments were lethal to the attached argulus. Following the two week monitoring period, fish from all treatments showed no sign of a reduction in attached argulus. According to the findings of this study, there are currently no FDA approved treatments for argulus infections on summer flounder. It is recommended that a live wild flounder holding facility visually inspect all incoming fish for the presence of argulus and maintain fish in a quarantine system prior to holding in a RAS

Global Journalist: The future of space exploration: United States, Russia, and China

On this February 12, 2004 program of Global Journalist, science journalists discuss the ambitions of space programs between the United States, Russia, China, and how they all occupy in the same realm of space exploration. Host: Stuart Loory. Guests: Christopher Bodeen, Michael Cabbage, Oliver Morton, Simon Saradzhyan. Producers: Renata Johnson, Pareetha George (?), Unta Kon (?). Directors: Pat Akers

An indirect Raman spectroscopy method for the quantitative measurement of respirable crystalline silica collected on filters inside respiratory equipment

This article describes the development of an analytical method to measure respirable crystalline silica (RCS) collected on filters by a miniature sampler placed behind respirators worn by workers to evaluate their ‘true’ exposure. Test samples were prepared by aerosolising a calibration powder (Quin B) and by pipetting aliquots from suspensions of bulk material (NIST 1878a and Quin B) onto filters. Samples of aerosolised RCS collected onto polyvinyl chloride PVC filters were ashed and their residue was suspended in isopropanol and filtered into a 10 mm diameter area onto silver filters. Samples were also collected by the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) miniature sampler from within the facepiece of a respirator on a breathing manikin during a simulated work activity. Results obtained using Raman spectroscopy were compared with X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements, which was used as a reference method and a linear relationship was obtained. Raman has similar estimates of uncertainty when compared with the XRD methods over the measurement range from 5 to 50 mg and obtained the lowest limit of detection (LOD) of 0.26 mg when compared with XRD and Fourier Transform Infrared FTIR methods. A significant intercept and slope coefficient greatly influenced the higher LOD for indirect XRD method. The level of precision and low LOD for Raman spectroscopy will potentially enable workplace measurements at lower concentrations below the Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL) than are achieved using current analytical instrumentation. Different inward leakage ratio (ILR) measurement approaches were compared using six aerosolised sandstone dust tests. For the three highest inward leakage ratios the Portacount® obtained higher values than the RCS mass or the miniWRAS ratios, the latter of which reporting both particle number and quartz mass concentration. However, these limited ILR data were insufficient to establish statistical correlations between the measurement methods