Recovering cores and cusps in dark matter haloes using mock velocity field observations

We present mock DensePak Integral Field Unit (IFU) velocity fields, rotation curves and halo fits for disc galaxies formed in spherical and triaxial cuspy dark matter haloes and spherical cored dark matter haloes. The simulated galaxies are ‘observed' under a variety of realistic conditions to determine how well the underlying dark matter halo can be recovered and to test the hypothesis that cuspy haloes can be mistaken for cored haloes. We find that the appearance of the velocity field is distinctly different depending on the underlying halo type. We also find that we can successfully recover the parameters of the underlying dark matter halo. Cuspy haloes appear cuspy in the data and cored haloes appear cored. Our results suggest that the cores observed using high-resolution velocity fields in real dark matter dominated galaxies are genuine and cannot be ascribed to systematic errors, halo triaxiality or non-circular motion

Evaluating Library Instruction at 2-Year and 4-Year Institutions

Research Study Checklist to accompany the Association of College and Research Libraries Project Outcome webinar Evaluating Library Instruction at 2-Year and 4-Year Institutions . This webinar outlined how to use Project Outcome as a catalyst for research. Librarians from Seminole State College of Florida and University of Central Florida discussed using the Project Outcome for Academic Libraries toolkit to investigate the similarities and differences in the perceived student satisfaction/value of library instruction at a two-year and a four-year institution

Evaluating Library Instruction at 2-Year and 4-Year Institutions: Findings and Data Analysis

Presentation slides from Association of College & Research Libraries Project Outcome webinar on April 25, 2023. Join us as we share our experience using Project Outcome for analysis of our cross-institutional research project. We\u27ll discuss our process, methodology, and the findings from this research. Using our experience as a case study, we hope to generate ideas for others interested in exploring Project Outcome for other research projects. This may include identifying opportunities, planning and implementation considerations, and analyzing results

Mastitis among lactating women: Occurrence and risk factors

Puerperal mastitis is a potentially serious illness among lactating women which traditionally has been thought to be associated with primiparity, stress, improper nursing technique, and incomplete emptying of the breast. However, none of these putative associations has been examined analytically in recent years. Further, the incidence of mastitis in the United States has not been estimated since 1975, although the prevalence of breastfeeding has increased dramatically since then. In this retrospective cohort study of 966 lactating women, the cumulative incidence of mastitis in the first seven weeks postpartum was 2.9%. This incidence was associated with professional, technical, or managerial occupation in both parents (rate RATIO = 12.29; 95% CI: 1.62, 93.43) and with giving birth in the hospital delivery room, rather than the labor room (rate RATIO = 4.05; 95% CI: 0.92, 17.83). Parity was not associated with risk of mastitis in this sample.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/29639/1/0000728.pd

Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Interventions to Reduce Diarrhoea in Less Developed Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

The authors developed a comprehensive research strategy designed to identify all peer-reviewed articles, in any language, that presented water, sanitation, or hygiene interventions. Out of 2,120 publications, ultimately 40 studies were judged to contain relevant evidence. Most of the studies confined their study groups to children aged under 5 or 6 years. The identified studies were done in a wide range of settings, in many countries, and over many years. All of the interventions studied were found to reduce significantly the risks of diarrheal illness. The results generally agree with those from previous reviews, but water quality interventions (point-of-use water treatment) were found to be more effective than previously thought, and multiple interventions (consisting of combined water, sanitation, and hygiene measures) were not more effective than interventions with a single focus

Quantification of coronary artery calcium by electron beam computed tomography for determination of severity of angiographic coronary artery disease in younger patients

Objectives.This study attempted to 1) evaluate five quantitative measures of coronary artery calcium and determine which best agreed with coronary artery disease severity at angiography; and 2) determine optimal quantity cutpoints to distinguish among no, mild and significant disease.Background.Coronary artery calcium identified noninvasively by electron beam computed tomography is a sensitive marker for atherosclerosis. Quantitative assessments of calcium could distinguish among patients with no, mild and significant disease in clinical, screening and research settings.Methods.One hundred sixty patients, 23 to 59 years old, underwent coronary angiography and electron beam computed tomography. Coronary artery calciumwas defined as dense (> 130 Hounsfield units) foci ≥2 mm2on the tomogram. Regression and receiver operating characteristic analyses were used to evaluate five quantitative measures of calcium as predictors of the largest stenosis in the coronary arteries and to identify optimal cutpoints for distinguishing among disease categories. No diseasewas defined as no stenosis, mild diseaseas 10% to 49% diameter stenosis in one or more major branches and significant diseaseas ≥ 50% diameter stenosis in one or more major branches.Results.All measures evaluated performed well. With calcific area as the quantitative measure, the best cutpoint for discriminating between patients with and without disease was the presence of calcium: sensitivity 81%, specificity 86% and overall accuracy 83%. The best cutpoint for discriminating between patients with and without significant disease was 18 mm2: sensitivity 86%, specificity 81% and accuracy 83%.Conclusions.Because the ranges of calcium quantity overlapped across disease categories, no cutpoints would distinguish among categories with absolute certainty. However, selected cutpoints could rule out disease in most healthy subjects and identify most patients with significant disease

Graph model for multiple scattering in lithium niobate on insulator integrated photonic networks

We present a graph-based model for multiple scattering of light in integrated lithium niobate on insulator (LNOI) networks, which describes an open network of single-mode integrated waveguides with tunable scattering at the network nodes. We first validate the model at small scale with experimental LNOI resonator devices and show consistent agreement between simulated and measured spectral data. Then, the model is used to demonstrate a novel platform for on-chip multiple scattering in large-scale optical networks up to few hundred nodes, with tunable scattering behaviour and tailored disorder. Combining our simple graph-based model with material properties of LNOI, this platform creates new opportunities to control randomness in large optical networks

Medicaid Coverage for Tobacco Dependence Treatments in Massachusetts and Associated Decreases in Smoking Prevalence

Approximately 50% of smokers die prematurely from tobacco-related diseases. In July 2006, the Massachusetts health care reform law mandated tobacco cessation coverage for the Massachusetts Medicaid population. The new benefit included behavioral counseling and all medications approved for tobacco cessation treatment by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Between July 1, 2006 and December 31, 2008, a total of 70,140 unique Massachusetts Medicaid subscribers used the newly available benefit, which is approximately 37% of all Massachusetts Medicaid smokers. Given the high utilization rate, the objective of this study is to determine if smoking prevalence decreased significantly after the initiation of tobacco cessation coverage.Smoking prevalence was evaluated pre- to post-benefit using 1999 through 2008 data from the Massachusetts Behavioral Risk Factor Survey (BRFSS). The crude smoking rate decreased from 38.3% (95% C.I. 33.6%–42.9%) in the pre-benefit period compared to 28.3% (95% C.I.: 24.0%–32.7%) in the post-benefit period, representing a decline of 26 percent. A demographically adjusted smoking rate showed a similar decrease in the post-benefit period. Trend analyses reflected prevalence decreases that accrued over time. Specifically, a joinpoint analysis of smoking prevalence among Massachusetts Medicaid benefit-eligible members (age 18–64) from 1999 through 2008 found a decreasing trend that was coincident with the implementation of the benefit. Finally, a logistic regression that controlled for demographic factors also showed that the trend in smoking decreased significantly from July 1, 2006 to December 31, 2008.These findings suggest that a tobacco cessation benefit that includes coverage for medications and behavioral treatments, has few barriers to access, and involves broad promotion can significantly reduce smoking prevalence