A sceptic looks at "housing theory"

A sceptic looks at "housing theory

Laboratory and field-based data collection (Quantitative)

Rigorous assessment of sport and exercise measures is a requirement for any scientist aiming to answer a research question. Sport and exercise scientists may strive to answer questions such as, "Does caffeine improve an athlete’s performance?”, "What are the physiological determinants of endurance running?" and "When can an athlete return to training after injury?". Researchers aim to answer these questions through data collection in experimental studies that are designed to test a hypothesis and provide robust evidence on a topic. This is pertinent as the replicability of findings in sport and exercise research has been questioned (Mesquida et al., 2022). By prioritizing methodological quality in research, researchers can enhance the credibility and trustworthiness of their findings and, in turn, promote the replicability of research findings in the field of sport and exercise science. To help researchers design their studies, there are several guidelines that offer recommendations on appropriate reporting (Consolidated Standards Of Reporting Trials, CONSORT) with some more specific to exercise nutrition (Proper Reporting of Evidence in Sport and Exercise Nutrition Trials, PRESENT) (Betts et al., 2020). While these provide excellent considerations to ensure reporting of the scientific method is complete, they can also be used as guidelines implemented prior to data collection to ensure that the study results are robust. Quantitative data collection in sport and exercise research can include different methods including surveys and questionnaires, biomechanical and physiological measures and exercise capacity and performance measures. These data can be obtained in controlled laboratory environments or in an applied setting (e.g., during a race) depending upon the specific research question. Here we aim to focus primarily on practical data collection, such as obtaining measures of physiological responses and exercise performance. Furthermore, fundamental to this is the use of randomised controlled trials, which are often regarded as the cornerstone of any data collection researchers conduct across the field of science. Below, we provide an overview of the essential components that researchers should consider both in the laboratory and field, with emphasis given to collecting data during randomised controlled trials

Bayes-X: a Bayesian inference tool for the analysis of X-ray observations of galaxy clusters

We present the first public release of our Bayesian inference tool, Bayes-X, for the analysis of X-ray observations of galaxy clusters. We illustrate the use of Bayes-X by analysing a set of four simulated clusters at z=0.2-0.9 as they would be observed by a Chandra-like X-ray observatory. In both the simulations and the analysis pipeline we assume that the dark matter density follows a spherically-symmetric Navarro, Frenk and White (NFW) profile and that the gas pressure is described by a generalised NFW (GNFW) profile. We then perform four sets of analyses. By numerically exploring the joint probability distribution of the cluster parameters given simulated Chandra-like data, we show that the model and analysis technique can robustly return the simulated cluster input quantities, constrain the cluster physical parameters and reveal the degeneracies among the model parameters and cluster physical parameters. We then analyse Chandra data on the nearby cluster, A262, and derive the cluster physical profiles. To illustrate the performance of the Bayesian model selection, we also carried out analyses assuming an Einasto profile for the matter density and calculated the Bayes factor. The results of the model selection analyses for the simulated data favour the NFW model as expected. However, we find that the Einasto profile is preferred in the analysis of A262. The Bayes-X software, which is implemented in Fortran 90, is available at http://www.mrao.cam.ac.uk/facilities/software/bayesx/.Comment: 22 pages, 11 figure

Intergalactic Photon Spectra from the Far IR to the UV Lyman Limit for 0<z<60 < z < 6 and the Optical Depth of the Universe to High Energy Gamma-Rays

We calculate the intergalactic photon density as a function of both energy and redshift for 0 < z < 6 for photon energies from .003 eV to the Lyman limit cutoff at 13.6 eV in a Lambda-CDM universe with $\Omega_{\Lambda} = 0.7$ and $\Omega_{m} = 0.3$. Our galaxy evolution model gives results which are consistent with Spitzer deep number counts and the spectral energy distribution of the extragalactic background radiation. We use our photon density results to extend previous work on the absorption of high energy gamma-rays in intergalactic space owing to interactions with low energy photons and the 2.7 K cosmic background radiation. We calculate the optical depth of the universe, tau, for gamma-rays having energies from 4 GeV to 100 TeV emitted by sources at redshifts from ~0 to 5. We also give an analytic fit with numerical coefficients for approximating $\tau(E_{\gamma}, z)$. As an example of the application of our results, we calculate the absorbed spectrum of the blazar PKS 2155-304 at z = 0.117 and compare it with the spectrum observed by the H.E.S.S. air Cherenkov gamma-ray telescope array.Comment: final version to be published in Ap

Homogeneous variational problems: a minicourse

A Finsler geometry may be understood as a homogeneous variational problem, where the Finsler function is the Lagrangian. The extremals in Finsler geometry are curves, but in more general variational problems we might consider extremal submanifolds of dimension $m$. In this minicourse we discuss these problems from a geometric point of view.Comment: This paper is a written-up version of the major part of a minicourse given at the sixth Bilateral Workshop on Differential Geometry and its Applications, held in Ostrava in May 201

An Empirically Based Calculation of the Extragalactic Infrared Background

Using the excellent observed correlations among various infrared wavebands with 12 and 60 micron luminosities, we calculate the 2-300 micron spectra of galaxies as a function of luminosity. We then use 12 micron and 60 micron galaxy luminosity functions derived from IRAS data, together with recent data on the redshift evolution of galaxy emissivity, to derive a new, empirically based IR background spectrum from stellar and dust emission in galaxies. Our best estimate for the IR background is of order 2-3 nW/m^2/sr with a peak around 200 microns reaching 6-8 nW/m^2/sr. Our empirically derived background spectrum is fairly flat in the mid-IR, as opposed to spectra based on modeling with discrete temperatures which exhibit a "valley" in the mid-IR. We also derive a conservative lower limit to the IR background which is more than a factor of 2 lower than our derived flux.Comment: 14 pages AASTeX, 2 .ps figures, the Astrophysical Journal, in pres

Tackling the workforce crisis in district nursing: can the Dutch Buurtzorg model offer a solution and a better patient experience? A mixed methods case study.

Despite policy intentions for more healthcare out of hospital, district nursing services face multiple funding and staffing challenges, which compromise the care delivered and policy objectives. OBJECTIVES: What is the impact of the adapted Buurtzorg model on feasibility, acceptability and effective outcomes in an English district nursing service? DESIGN: Mixed methods case study. SETTING: Primary care. PARTICIPANTS: Neighbourhood nursing team (Buurtzorg model), patients and carers, general practitioners (GPs), other health professionals, managers and conventional district nurses. RESULTS: The adapted Buurtzorg model of community nursing demonstrated feasibility and acceptability to patients, carers, GPs and other health professionals. For many patients, it was preferable to previous experiences of district nursing in terms of continuity in care, improved support of multiple long-term conditions (encompassing physical, mental and social factors) and proactive care. For the neighbourhood nurses, the ability to make operational and clinical decisions at team level meant adopting practices that made the service more responsive, accessible and efficient and offered a more attractive working environment. Challenges were reported by nurses and managers in relation to the recognition and support of the concept of self-managing teams within a large bureaucratic healthcare organisation. While there were some reports of clinical effectiveness and efficiency, this was not possible to quantify, cost or compare with the standard district nursing service. CONCLUSIONS: The adapted Buurtzorg model of neighbourhood nursing holds potential for addressing issues of concern to patients, carers and staff in the community. The two interacting innovations, that is, a renewed focus on patient and carer-centred care and the self-managing team, were implemented in ways that patients, carers, other health professionals and nurses could identify difference for both the nursing care and also the nurses' working lives. It now requires longer term investigation to understand both the mechanism for change and also the sustainability

Contrast enhanced computed tomography findings in 105 horse distal extremities

The poor soft tissue conspicuity of CT can be improved by using intra-arterial CT Angiography (CTA), and intra-articular and intra-bursal contrast enhanced CT (CTAR). This retrospective study describes a combination protocol of CT and CTA of the horse's foot, and CTAR of the distal interphalangeal joint and navicular bursa. It is hypothesized this would provide a comprehensive overview of the range and severity of distal limb pathology. Radiology reports of all horses admitted for distal limb CT over a 5 year period were reviewed. All horses with a complete four stage CT examination and radiology report with lameness isolated to the foot were included. Twenty seven imaging findings using a four grade semiquantitative severity scoring system contributing towards six main diagnostic categories were described. One hundred and five examinations on 56 horses revealed a diagnosis of navicular bone disease in 64%, deep digital flexor tendinopathy in 43%, distal interphalangeal osteoarthritis in 35%, navicular bursitis in 31%, distal interphalangeal collateral ligament desmopathy in 26%, and hoof capsule and distal phalanx pathology in 10%. Only 25% of the navicular bone disease cases were considered clinically significant. The majority of deep digital flexor tendon lesions (77%) and distal interphalangeal joint osteoarthritis (51%) were considered significant. Approximately one third of navicular bursa (37%) and collateral ligament (33%) abnormalities were considered significant. Navicular bursa abnormalities were associated with navicular bone and deep digital flexor tendon lesions. The findings support the hypothesis and the use of this protocol for evaluation of foot lameness

Overview of the University of Pennsylvania CORE System Standard Graphics Package Implementation

The CORE System is a proposed standard for a device-independent graphics system. The concept of a device-independent system was first developed in 1977 by the Graphics Standards Planning Committee (GSPC) of ACM Siggraph and later refined in 1979 [1,2]. The CORE System design has received favorable reviews and has been implemented by various vendors at several universities, and other computing facilities (e.g. [3,7]). The main objectives of the CORE System are to provide uniformity, compatibility, and flexibility in graphics software. Three advantages that the CORE system provides over non-standard graphics systems are device independence, program portability, and functional completeness. A large number of different graphics hardware devices currently exist with a wide range of available functions. The CORE System provides device independence by shielding the applications programmer from specific hardware characteristics. The shielding is at the functional level: the device-independent (DI) system uses internal routines to convert the application programmer\u27s functional commands to specific commands for the selected hardware device driver (DD). The progammer describes a graphical world to the CORE System in device-independent normalized device coordinates. The programmer also specifies the viewport on the logical view surface (output device) where a picture segment is to be placed. As the CORE System becomes the accepted standard graphics package, program portability will become more feasible. Program portability means the ability to transport application programs between two sites without requiring structural modifications. The CORE System was designed for functional completeness so that any graphics function a programmer desires is either included within the system or can be easily built on top of CORE System routines

Complementary patterns of direct amygdala and hippocampal projections to the macaque prefrontal cortex

The projections from the amygdala and hippocampus (including subiculum and presubiculum) to prefrontal cortex were compared using anterograde tracers injected into macaque monkeys (Macaca fascicularis, Macaca mulatta). Almost all prefrontal areas were found to receive some amygdala inputs. These connections, which predominantly arose from the intermediate and magnocellular basal nucleus, were particularly dense in parts of the medial and orbital prefrontal cortex. Contralateral inputs were not, however, observed. The hippocampal projections to prefrontal areas were far more restricted, being confined to the ipsilateral medial and orbital prefrontal cortex (within areas 11, 13, 14, 24a, 32, and 25). These hippocampal projections principally arose from the subiculum, with the fornix providing the sole route. Thus, while the lateral prefrontal cortex essentially receives only amygdala inputs, the orbital prefrontal cortex receives both amygdala and hippocampal inputs, though these typically target different areas. Only in medial prefrontal cortex do direct inputs from both structures terminate in common sites. But, even when convergence occurs within an area, the projections predominantly terminate in different lamina (hippocampal inputs to layer III and amygdala inputs to layers I, II, and VI). The resulting segregation of prefrontal inputs could enable the parallel processing of different information types in prefrontal cortex