Computational Content Analysis of Negative Tweets for Obesity, Diet, Diabetes, and Exercise

Social media based digital epidemiology has the potential to support faster response and deeper understanding of public health related threats. This study proposes a new framework to analyze unstructured health related textual data via Twitter users' post (tweets) to characterize the negative health sentiments and non-health related concerns in relations to the corpus of negative sentiments, regarding Diet Diabetes Exercise, and Obesity (DDEO). Through the collection of 6 million Tweets for one month, this study identified the prominent topics of users as it relates to the negative sentiments. Our proposed framework uses two text mining methods, sentiment analysis and topic modeling, to discover negative topics. The negative sentiments of Twitter users support the literature narratives and the many morbidity issues that are associated with DDEO and the linkage between obesity and diabetes. The framework offers a potential method to understand the publics' opinions and sentiments regarding DDEO. More importantly, this research provides new opportunities for computational social scientists, medical experts, and public health professionals to collectively address DDEO-related issues.Comment: The 2017 Annual Meeting of the Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIST

Computational modelling of some problems of elasticity and viscoelasticity with applications to thermoforming process

Copyright @ 2012 Northwestern Polytechnical University and ISCIThe reliability of computational models of physical processes has received much attention and involves issues such as the validity of the mathematical models being used, the error in any data that the models need, and the accuracy of the numerical schemes being used. These issues are considered in the context of elastic, viscoelastic and hyperelastic deformation, when finite element approximations are applied. Goal oriented techniques using specific quantities of interest (QoI) are described for estimating discretisation and modelling errors in the hyperelastic case. The computational modelling of the rapid large inflation of hyperelastic circular sheets modelled as axisymmetric membranes is then treated, with the aim of estimating engineering QoI and their errors. Fine (involving inertia terms) and coarse (quasi-static) models of the inflation are considered. The techniques are applied to thermoforming processes where sheets are inflated into moulds to form thin-walled structures

Optical enhancement of sensitivity in laser Doppler velocity systems

Utilization of optical enhancement techniques prevents loss of light by reflections at the photocathode of a photomultiplier and increases signal detection sensitivity

Health benefits and uncertainty: an experimental analysis of the effects of risk presentation on auction bids for a healthful product

Experimental subjects receive a different presentation of a food product's potential health risk reductions if eaten regularly. They are then asked to bid for the product. Results suggest that the bids vary across the groups that receive differing risk information.

Health Benefits and Uncertainty: An Experimental Analysis of the Effects of Risk Presentation on Auction Bids for a Healthful Product

Experimental subjects receive a different presentation of a food product's potential health risk reductions if people habitually eat it, and then asked to bid for the product. Results suggest that the bids vary across the groups that receive differing risk information.Health risks, experimental economics, auctions, uncertainty, Risk and Uncertainty, D81, I12,

NASA Lewis Research Center's Program on Icing Research

The helicopter and general aviation, light transport, and commercial transport aircraft share common icing requirements: highly effective, lightweight, low power consuming deicing systems, and detailed knowledge of the aeropenalties due to ice on aircraft surfaces. To meet current and future needs, NASA has a broadbased icing research program which covers both research and engineering applications, and is well coordinated with the FAA, DOD, universities, industry, and some foreign governments. Research activity in ice protection systems, icing instrumentation, experimental methods, analytical modeling, and in-flight research are described

Aircraft icing research at NASA

Research activity is described for: ice protection systems, icing instrumentation, experimental methods, analytical modeling for the above, and in flight research. The renewed interest in aircraft icing has come about because of the new need for All-Weather Helicopters and General Aviation aircraft. Because of increased fuel costs, tomorrow's Commercial Transport aircraft will also require new types of ice protection systems and better estimates of the aeropenalties caused by ice on unprotected surfaces. The physics of aircraft icing is very similar to the icing that occurs on ground structures and structures at sea; all involve droplets that freeze on the surfaces because of the cold air. Therefore all icing research groups will benefit greatly by sharing their research information

Metric half-span model support system

A model support system used to support a model in a wind tunnel test section is described. The model comprises a metric, or measured, half-span supported by a nonmetric, or nonmeasured half-span which is connected to a sting support. Moments and forces acting on the metric half-span are measured without interference from the support system during a wind tunnel test

HIV-associated multi-centric Castleman’s disease with multiple organ failure: cuccessful treatment with rituximab

Introduction: Multicentric Castleman's Disease (MCD), a lymphoproliferative disorder associated with Human Herpes Virus-8 (HHV-8) infection, is increasing in incidence amongst HIV patients. This condition is associated with lymphadenopathy, polyclonal gammopathy, hepato-splenomegaly and systemic symptoms. A number of small studies have demonstrated the efficacy of the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, rituximab, in treating this condition. Case presentation: We report the case of a 46 year old Zambian woman who presented with pyrexia, diarrhoea and vomiting, confusion, lymphadenopathy, and renal failure. She rapidly developed multiple organ failure following the initiation of treatment of MCD with rituximab. Following admission to intensive care (ICU), she received prompt multi-organ support. After 21 days on the ICU she returned to the haematology medical ward, and was discharged in remission from her disease after 149 days in hospital. Conclusion: Rituximab, the efficacy of which has thus far been examined predominantly in patients outside the ICU, in conjunction with extensive organ support was effective treatment for MCD with associated multiple organ failure. There is, to our knowledge, only one other published report of its successful use in an ICU setting, where it was combined with cyclophosphamide, adriamycin and prednisolone. Reports such as ours support the notion that critically unwell patients with HIV and haematological disease can benefit from intensive care