283 research outputs found
America\u27s Energy Policy: Budget Bargain or Close-out Sale;Special White Center Project: Examining the Impact of Reagan Budget Reductions
America\u27s Energy Policy: Budget Bargain or Close-out Sale;Special White Center Project: Examining the Impact of Reagan Budget Reductions
Internet-Based Photoaging Within Australian Pharmacies to Promote Smoking Cessation: Randomized Controlled Trial
Background: Tobacco smoking leads to death or disability and a drain on national resources. The literature suggests that cigarette smoking continues to be a major modifiable risk factor for a variety of diseases and that smokers aged 18-30 years are relatively resistant to antismoking messages due to their widely held belief that they will not be lifelong smokers. Objective: To conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a computer-generated photoaging intervention to promote smoking cessation among young adult smokers within a community pharmacy setting. Methods: A trial was designed with 80% power based on the effect size observed in a published pilot study; 160 subjects were recruited (80 allocated to the control group and 80 to the intervention group) from 8 metropolitan community pharmacies located around Perth city center in Western Australia. All participants received standardized smoking cessation advice. The intervention group participants were also digitally photoaged by using the Internet-based APRIL Face Aging software so they could preview images of themselves as a lifelong smoker and as a nonsmoker. Due to the nature of the intervention, the participants and researcher could not be blinded to the study. The main outcome measure was quit attempts at 6-month follow-up, both self-reported and biochemically validated through testing for carbon monoxide (CO), and nicotine dependence assessed via the Fagerström scale.Results: At 6-month follow-up, 5 of 80 control group participants (6.3%) suggested they had quit smoking, but only 1 of 80 control group participants (1.3%) consented to, and was confirmed by, CO validation. In the intervention group, 22 of 80 participants (27.5%) reported quitting, with 11 of 80 participants (13.8%) confirmed by CO testing. This difference in biochemically confirmed quit attempts was statistically significant (χ21=9.0, P=.003). A repeated measures analysis suggested the average intervention group smoking dependence score had also significantly dropped compared to control participants (P<.001). These differences remained statistically significant after adjustment for small differences in gender distribution and nicotine dependence between the groups. The mean cost of implementing the intervention was estimated at AU 46 per additional quitter. The mean cost that participants indicated they were willing to pay for the digital aging service was AU $20.25 (SD 15.32). Conclusions: Demonstrating the detrimental effects on facial physical appearance by using a computer-generated simulation may be both effective and cost-effective at persuading young adult smokers to quit
Large creep events on the Imperial fault, California
During September 1975, three creepmeters were installed across the Imperial
fault and one across the southern end of the Brawley fault, two members of the San
Andreas fault system in the Imperial Valley of southeastern California. These
supplement earlier installations in the Imperial Valley of one dial-gauge creepmeter
and six alignment arrays (Figure 1 and Table 1). Each creepmeter uses either an
invar or a stainless steel wire suspended in a horizontally buried pipe, and crosses
the fault at an angle of about 45°. Those at Heber Road and Tuttle Ranch are of
the design described by Yamashita and Burford (1973), using a linear variable
differential transformer as the displacement transducer, and are 20 m long. The
three more northerly creepmeters are similar in design to that described by Smith
and Wyss (1968), and are between 12 and 15 m in length. Those at Harris Road and
Ross Road use a potentiometer in a bridge circuit as the displacement transducer
for continuous recording. The Superstition Hills creepmeter is equipped with a dial-gauge
micrometer, which is read periodically
QCD Sum Rule Analysis of the Decays and
We use QCD sum rules to calculate the hadronic matrix elements governing the
rare decays and induced by
the flavour changing neutral current transition. We also study
relations among semileptonic and rare decay form factors. The
analysis of the invariant mass distribution of the lepton pair in and of the angular asymmetry in provides us with interesting tests of the Standard Model and its
extensions.Comment: 26 pages REVTEX + 7 figures. Some typos corrected, figure 5 and 7
modified. This version will appear on Physical Review
Combined effects of franchise management strategies and employee service performance on customer loyalty: a multilevel perspective
Although franchisee performance is likely to be influenced by franchisors’ management strategies, little is known about whether and how franchisors’ strategies affect franchisee employees’ performance. This study examines the combined effects of three franchisor management strategies, namely innovative culture, support services and autonomy on service performance of the franchisee store employees and the loyalty of their customers. Data were collected from a total of 38 employees and 679 customers of 25 franchisee stores. The study employs multilevel analysis on a nested data-set created by matching customer data with employee data for each store. The results reveal that customer loyalty of a franchisee store is positively influenced by the service performance of its employees and the support services received by the employees of the store from its franchisor. On the other hand, it has been found that franchisor management strategy such as innovative culture and autonomy negatively influence customer loyalty of the franchisee store. The paper discusses relevant theoretical and managerial implications of the findings
Do images of a personalised future body shape help with weight loss? A randomised controlled study
Background: This randomised controlled study evaluated a computer-generated future self-image as a personalised, visual motivational tool for weight loss in adults.
Methods: One hundred and forty-five people (age 18–79 years) with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of at least 25 kg/m2 were randomised to receive a hard copy future self-image at recruitment (early image) or after 8 weeks (delayed image). Participants received general healthy lifestyle information at recruitment and were weighed at 4-weekly intervals for 24 weeks. The image was created using an iPad app called ‘Future Me’. A second randomisation at 16 weeks allocated either an additional future self-image or no additional image.
Results: Seventy-four participants were allocated to receive their image at commencement, and 71 to the delayed-image group. Regarding to weight loss, the delayed-image group did consistently better in all analyses. Twenty-four recruits were deemed non-starters, comprising 15 (21%) in the delayed-image group and 9 (12%) in the early-image group (χ2(1) = 2.1, p = 0.15). At 24 weeks there was a significant change in weight overall (p \u3c 0.0001), and a difference in rate of change between groups (delayed-image group: −0.60 kg, early-image group: −0.42 kg, p = 0.01). Men lost weight faster than women. The group into which participants were allocated at week 16 (second image or not) appeared not to influence the outcome (p = 0.31). Analysis of all completers and withdrawals showed a strong trend over time (p \u3c 0.0001), and a difference in rate of change between groups (delayed-image: −0.50 kg, early-image: −0. 27 kg, p = 0.0008).
Conclusion: One in five participants in the delayed-image group completing the 24-week intervention achieved a clinically significant weight loss, having received only future self-images and general lifestyle advice. Timing the provision of future self-images appears to be significant, and promising for future research to clarify their efficacy.
Trial Registration: Australian Clinical Trials Registry, identifier: ACTRN12613000883718. Registered on 8 August 2013
Autoantibodies to aberrantly glycosylated MUC1 in early stage breast cancer are associated with a better prognosis
Medical students’ preparedness for professional activities in early clerkships
Background Sufficient preparedness is important for transitions to workplace
participation and learning in clinical settings. This study aims to analyse
medical students’ preparedness for early clerkships using a three-dimensional,
socio-cognitive, theory-based model of preparedness anchored in specific
professional activities and their supervision level. Methods Medical students
from a competency-based undergraduate curriculum were surveyed about
preparedness for 21 professional activities and level of perceived supervision
during their early clerkships via an online questionnaire. Preparedness was
operationalized by the three dimensions of confidence to carry out clerkship
activities, being prepared through university teaching and coping with failure
by seeking support. Factors influencing preparedness and perceived stress as
outcomes were analysed through step-wise regression. Results Professional
activities carried out by the students (n = 147; 19.0%) and their supervision
levels varied. While most students reported high confidence to perform the
tasks, the activity-specific analysis revealed important gaps in preparation
through university teaching. Students regularly searched for support in case
of difficulty. One quarter of the variance of each preparedness dimension was
explained by self-efficacy, supervision quality, amount of prior clerkship
experience and nature of professional activities. Preparedness contributed to
predicting perceived stress. Conclusions The applied three-dimensional concept
of preparedness and the task-specific approach provided a detailed and
meaningful view on medical students’ workplace participation and experiences
in early clerkships
Effects of Soil Solarization on Pigeonpea and Chickpea. Information Bulletin No.11
The experience gained with field tests on the effects of soil solarization on pigeonpea(Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.)and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) crops through a multidisciplinary team effort, at ICRISAT Center during 1984-87, is highlighted. The studies were conducted in fields infested wi th fusarium wilt. Solarization was done by covering the soil with transparent polythene sheeting(100μm thick)for 6-8 weeks during summer(Apri l/May). This increased soil temperatures by 6-10°C in the 0-20-cm soil profile. Other changes recorded were increased mineralization of soil nitrogen to nitrate, a decline in populations of fusarium propagules and plant parasitic nematodes, and decreased weed infestation. When the crops were grown, effective control of fusarium wilt disease in the susceptible genotypes of pigeonpea and chickpea was observed along with improved plant growth and yield. Nodulation and N-fixation were adversely affected because of the decline in Rhizobium population with solarization. However, plant growth and yield were not adversely affected probably because of the compensatory effect of increased soil nitrate. Even in wilt-resistant genotypes of both crops, particularly of pigeonpea, there was a significant increase in yield indicating beneficial effects of solarization other than disease control. There was a considerable residual effect of solarization in the second and third seasons on yield of chickpea, but not of pigeonpea. Different techniques and methods employed in applying solarization and in assessing its impact are described. The implications of utilizing solarization for these and other crops are discussed
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