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2-Dimensional finger gesture based mobile robot control using touch screen
The purpose of this study was to present a reliable
mean for human-computer interfacing based on finger gestures made in two dimensions, which could be interpreted and adequately used in controlling a remote robot's movement. The gestures were captured and interpreted using an algorithm based on trigonometric functions, in calculating the angular displacement from one point of touch to another as the userâs finger moved within a time interval; thereby allowing for pattern spotting of the captured gesture. In this paper the design and implementation of such a gesture based user interface was presented, utilizing the aforementioned algorithm. These techniques were then used to control a remote mobile robot's movement. A resistive touch screen was selected as the gesture sensor, then utilizing a programmed microcontroller to interpret them respectively
Knowledge of risk behaviors of persons seeking HIV antibody testing at a community site
People seeking HIV antibody testing at a community-based AIDS service organization (N = 342) were asked to complete a self- report questionnaire to determine knowledge of HIV transmission, source(s) of HIV-related knowledge, and recent risk behaviors. The overall knowledge level of risk for transmitting HIV associated with 16 related behaviors was relatively high. Yet, 69% of the participants reported engaging in unsafe sex during the previous six months. Poorly informed subjects tended to overestimate their level of knowledge. In a multiple regression analysis, knowledge, age, and gender were the only significant predictors of engaging in unsafe sex in this cohort. Nurses must be on the forefront in developing (1) strategies to reach people at high risk for HIV infection and H1V transmission, (2) culturally relevant and sensitive education, and (3) interventions that will enable people to make appropriate choices concerning high-risk behaviors
Participatory Evaluation of Cultural Heritage Based Programming to Empower Communities: A Quantitative Analysis
A survey conducted at six Florida regions examines participantsâ perceptions of public archaeology outreach programs on cultural heritage preservation. The findings for participantsâ perceptions showed that the Florida Public Archaeology Network is reaching the organizational goal in creating appreciation and awareness for cultural heritage. Statistical analysis demonstrated a correlation between the programs being educational and changing participantsâ perceptions in archaeology, and participantsâ perceptions being changed and creating a love for cultural heritage and archaeology. These responses will information how public archaeology programs are impacting Floridaâs cultural heritage through citizen science programs focused on preserving the past
Incidence and correlates of violence among HIV-infected women at risk for pregnancy in the southeastern United States
To identify the incidence and correlates of physical and sexual violence among HIV-infected women at risk for pregnancy, a cross-sectional examination was conducted within a longitudinal study of reproductive decision making. Participants consisted of 275 HIVinfected women 17 to 49 years of age (mean = 30.1 years).Women were predominantly African American (87%) and single (82%), with annual incomes of $10,000 or less (66%). Overall, 68% of the women reported experiencing lifetime physical and/or sexual violence. Before becoming HIV infected, 65% of the women reported having been physically or sexually abused. After HIV diagnosis, 33% of the women reported experiencing physical or sexual abuse. Women reporting greater violence were more likely to disclose their HIV-seropositive status to their sex partner. Using logistic regression, greater intent to get pregnant (odds ratio [OR] = 0.933), decreased present life satisfaction (OR = 1.048), having three or more children (OR = 0.474), and history of drug use (OR = 0.794) significantly distinguished between women who reported physical and/or sexual violence and those who did not
Dietary Sodium Restriction Reverses Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction in Middle-Aged/Older Adults With Moderately Elevated Systolic Blood Pressure
ObjectivesThis study sought to determine the efficacy of dietary sodium restriction (DSR) for improving vascular endothelial dysfunction in middle-aged/older adults with moderately elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) (130â159 mm Hg) and the associated physiological mechanisms.BackgroundVascular endothelial dysfunction develops with advancing age and elevated SBP, contributing to increased cardiovascular risk. DSR lowers BP, but its effect on vascular endothelial function and mechanisms involved are unknown.MethodsSeventeen subjects (11 men and 6 women; mean age, 62 ± 7 years) completed a, randomized crossover study of 4 weeks of both low (DSR) and normal sodium intake. Vascular endothelial function (endothelium-dependent dilation; EDD), nitric oxide (NO)/tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) bioavailability, and oxidative stress-associated mechanisms were assessed following each condition.ResultsUrinary sodium excretion was reduced by âŒ50% (to 70 ± 30 mmol/day), and conduit (brachial artery flow-mediated dilation [FMDBA]) and resistance (forearm blood flow responses to acetylcholine [FBFACh]) artery EDD were 68% and 42% (peak FBFACh) higher following DSR (p < 0.005). Low sodium markedly enhanced NO-mediated EDD (greater ÎFBFACh with endothelial NO synthase inhibition) without changing endothelial NO synthase expression/activation (Ser 1177 phosphorylation), restored BH4 bioactivity (less ÎFMDBA with acute BH4), abolished tonic superoxide suppression of EDD (less ÎFMDBA and ÎFBFACh with ascorbic acid infusion), and increased circulating superoxide dismutase activity (all p < 0.05). These effects were independent of ÎSBP. Other subject characteristics/dietary factors and endothelium-independent dilation were unchanged.ConclusionsDSR largely reversed both macro- and microvascular endothelial dysfunction by enhancing NO and BH4 bioavailability and reducing oxidative stress. Our findings support the emerging concept that DSR induces âvascular protectionâ beyond that attributable to its BP-lowering effects
Vulnerability to bullying in children with a history of specific speech and language difficulties
This is an electronic version of an article published in Lindsay, Geoff and Dockrell, Julie and Mackie, Clare (2008) Vulnerability to bullying in children with a history of specific speech and language difficulties. European Journal of Special Needs Education, 23 (1). pp. 1-16. European Journal of Special Needs Education is available online at: http://www.informaworld.com/10.1080/0885625070179120
Nicotinamide mononucleotide supplementation reverses vascular dysfunction and oxidative stress with aging in mice
We tested the hypothesis that supplementation of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), a key NAD (+) intermediate, increases arterial SIRT1 activity and reverses ageâassociated arterial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Old control mice (OC) had impaired carotid artery endotheliumâdependent dilation (EDD) (60 ± 5% vs. 84 ± 2%), a measure of endothelial function, and nitric oxide (NO)âmediated EDD (37 ± 4% vs. 66 ± 6%), compared with young mice (YC). This ageâassociated impairment in EDD was restored in OC by the superoxide ([Formula: see text]) scavenger TEMPOL (82 ± 7%). OC also had increased aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV, 464 ± 31 cm s(â1) vs. 337 ± 3 cm s(â1)) and elastic modulus (EM, 6407 ± 876 kPa vs. 3119 ± 471 kPa), measures of large elastic artery stiffness, compared with YC. OC had greater aortic [Formula: see text] production (2.0 ± 0.1 vs. 1.0 ± 0.1 AU), nitrotyrosine abundance (a marker of oxidative stress), and collagenâI, and reduced elastin and vascular SIRT1 activity, measured by the acetylation status of the p65 subunit of NFÎșB, compared with YC. Supplementation with NMN in old mice restored EDD (86 ± 2%) and NOâmediated EDD (61 ± 5%), reduced aPWV (359 ± 14 cm s(â1)) and EM (3694 ± 315 kPa), normalized [Formula: see text] production (0.9 ± 0.1 AU), decreased nitrotyrosine, reversed collagenâI, increased elastin, and restored vascular SIRT1 activity. Acute NMN incubation in isolated aortas increased NAD (+) threefold and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) by 50%. NMN supplementation may represent a novel therapy to restore SIRT1 activity and reverse ageârelated arterial dysfunction by decreasing oxidative stress
Event-by-event fluctuations of azimuthal particle anisotropy in Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV
This paper presents the first measurement of event-by-event fluctuations of
the elliptic flow parameter v_2 in Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200GeV as a
function of collision centrality. The relative non-statistical fluctuations of
the v_2 parameter are found to be approximately 40%. The results, including
contributions from event-by-event elliptic flow fluctuations and from azimuthal
correlations that are unrelated to the reaction plane (non-flow correlations),
establish an upper limit on the magnitude of underlying elliptic flow
fluctuations. This limit is consistent with predictions based on spatial
fluctuations of the participating nucleons in the initial nuclear overlap
region. These results provide important constraints on models of the initial
state and hydrodynamic evolution of relativistic heavy ion collisions.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, Published in Phys. Rev. Lett
Non-flow correlations and elliptic flow fluctuations in gold-gold collisions at sqrt(s_NN)= 200 GeV
This paper presents results on event-by-event elliptic flow fluctuations in
Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=200Gev, where the contribution from non-flow
correlations has been subtracted. An analysis method is introduced to measure
non-flow correlations, relying on the assumption that non-flow correlations are
most prominent at short ranges (Delta eta < 2). Assuming that non-flow
correlations are of the order that is observed in p+p collisions for long range
correlations (Delta eta > 2), relative elliptic flow fluctuations of
approximately 30-40% are observed. These results are consistent with
predictions based on spatial fluctuations of the participating nucleons in the
initial nuclear overlap region. It is found that the long range non-flow
correlations in Au+Au collisions would have to be more than an order of
magnitude stronger compared to the p+p data to lead to the observed azimuthal
anisotropy fluctuations with no intrinsic elliptic flow fluctuations.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, Published in Phys. Rev.
Charged-Particle Pseudorapidity Distributions in Au+Au Collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=62.4 GeV
The charged-particle pseudorapidity density for Au+Au collisions at
sqrt(s_NN)=62.4 GeV has been measured over a wide range of impact parameters
and compared to results obtained at other energies. As a function of collision
energy, the pseudorapidity distribution grows systematically both in height and
width. The mid-rapidity density is found to grow approximately logarithmically
between AGS energies and the top RHIC energy. As a function of centrality,
there is an approximate factorization of the centrality dependence of the
mid-rapidity yields and the overall multiplicity scale. The new results at
sqrt(s_NN)=62.4 GeV confirm the previously observed phenomenon of ``extended
longitudinal scaling'' in the pseudorapidity distributions when viewed in the
rest frame of one of the colliding nuclei. It is also found that the evolution
of the shape of the distribution with centrality is energy independent, when
viewed in this reference frame. As a function of centrality, the total charged
particle multiplicity scales linearly with the number of participant pairs as
it was observed at other energies.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. C - Rapid Communication
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