Communitas in YouTube comments : the March 2012 Henryville tornadoes.

This paper serves as a critical case in analyzing the emergence of communitas in online discussions. Although communitas, or the unstructured community that often emerges in the wake of major societal upheavals, has often been documented in a common geographic setting, little research has been done into the emergence of communitas in online or computer-mediated settings. Determining whether or not communitas emerges in the comment streams attached to YouTube videos related to the tornadoes that struck Henryville, Ind., on March 2, 2012, will serve as an indicator that communitas will emerge in other online channels as well. This project consisted of coding those comment streams to identify the emergence of communitas as well as determine the effect of communitas on subsequent indicators of negative and positive emotion. Analysis indicated that communitas did emerge and inhibited indicators of negative emotion

Benchmarking Air Emissions of the 100 Largest Electric Power Producers in the United States

The 2015 Benchmarking report is the eleventh collaborative effort highlighting environmental performance and progress in the nation's electric power sector. The Benchmarking series uses publicly reported data to compare the emissions performance of the 100 largest power producers in the United States. The current report is based on 2013 generation and emissions data.The Benchmarking report facilitates the comparison of emissions performance by combining generation and fuel consumption data compiled by EIA with emissions data on sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon dioxide (CO2) and mercury compiled by EPA; error checking the data; and presenting emissions information for the nation's 100 largest power producers in a graphic format that aids in understanding and evaluating the data. The report is intended for a wide audience, including electric industry executives, environmental advocates, financial analysts, investors, journalists, power plant managers, and public policymakers

The Potential Functions of the Methyl Halides

The problem of the potential functions of the methyl halides is re‐examined in an attempt to find a function which is both adequate and simple. A valence form of potential was tried which contained four constants: k1, the C☒H elongation; c, the C—X elongation; k2, the deformation of the H☒C☒H angle; and k3, the deformation of the X☒C☒H angle. It was found that this simple valence potential must be modified by the inclusion of a cross product term between the X—C distance and the X☒C☒H angle, thus introducing a fifth constant, k4.The constants k1 and k2 were determined from the methane frequencies (k1=4.88×105 and k2=0.443×105) and were taken to be the same for all the methyl halides. By adjusting the three remaining constants it was possible to predict eight quantities, the six fundamental frequencies and two of the fine structure spacings. The agreement with the observed values was satisfactory, the average deviation being less than 1 percent.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/70083/2/JCPSA6-7-7-522-1.pd

Beneficial Use Impairments, Degradation of Aesthetics, and Human Health: A Review

In environmental programs and blue/green space development, improving aesthetics is a common goal. There is broad interest in understanding the relationship between ecologically sound environments that people find aesthetically pleasing and human health. However, to date, few studies have adequately assessed this relationship, and no summaries or reviews of this line of research exist. Therefore, we undertook a systematic literature review to determine the state of science and identify critical needs to advance the field. Keywords identified from both aesthetics and loss of habitat literature were searched in PubMed and Web of Science databases. After full text screening, 19 studies were included in the review. Most of these studies examined some measure of greenspace/bluespace, primarily proximity. Only one study investigated the impacts of making space quality changes on a health metric. The studies identified for this review continue to support links between green space and various metrics of health, with additional evidence for blue space benefits on health. No studies to date adequately address questions surrounding the beneficial use impairment degradation of aesthetics and how improving either environmental quality (remediation) or ecological health (restoration) efforts have impacted the health of those communities

Derivation and Validation of an Inâ Hospital Mortality Prediction Model Suitable for Profiling Hospital Performance in Heart Failure

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142499/1/jah32925_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142499/2/jah32925.pd

Patient recruitment to a randomized clinical trial of behavioral therapy for chronic heart failure

BACKGROUND: Patient recruitment is one of the most difficult aspects of clinical trials, especially for research involving elderly subjects. In this paper, we describe our experience with patient recruitment for the behavioral intervention randomized trial, "The relaxation response intervention for chronic heart failure (RRCHF)." Particularly, we identify factors that, according to patient reports, motivated study participation. METHODS: The RRCHF was a three-armed, randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and cost of a 15-week relaxation response intervention on veterans with chronic heart failure. Patients from the Veterans Affairs (VA) Boston Healthcare System in the United States were recruited in the clinic and by telephone. Patients' reasons for rejecting the study participation were recorded during the screening. A qualitative sub-study in the trial consisted of telephone interviews of participating patients about their experiences in the study. The qualitative study included the first 57 patients who completed the intervention and/or the first follow-up outcome measures. Factors that distinguished patients who consented from those who refused study participation were identified using a t-test or a chi-square test. The reason for study participation was abstracted from the qualitative interview. RESULTS: We successfully consented 134 patients, slightly more than our target number, in 27 months. Ninety-five of the consented patients enrolled in the study. The enrollment rate among the patients approached was 18% through clinic and 6% through telephone recruitment. The most commonly cited reason for declining study participation given by patients recruited in the clinic was 'Lives Too Far Away'; for patients recruited by telephone it was 'Not Interested in the Study'. One factor that significantly distinguished patients who consented from patients who declined was the distance between their residence and the study site (t-test: p < .001). The most frequently reported reason for study participation was some benefit to the patient him/herself. Other reasons included helping others, being grateful to the VA, positive comments by trusted professionals, certain characteristics of the recruiter, and monetary compensation. CONCLUSIONS: The enrollment rate was low primarily because of travel considerations, but we were able to identify and highlight valuable information for planning recruitment for future similar studies

Cardiogenic shock: Inotropes and vasopressors

Cardiogenic shock is characterized by a decrease in myocardial contractility, and presents a high mortality rate. Inotropic and vasopressor agents have been recommended and used for several years in the treatment of patients in shock, but they remain controversial. Despite its beneficial effect on myocardial contractility, the side effects of inotropic therapy (arrhythmias and increased myocardial oxygen consumption) may be associated with increased mortality.The pharmacodynamics of different inotropic agents suggest benefits in specific situations, but these differences have not been reflected in reduced mortality in most studies, making it difficult to formulate recommendations.This review integrates data from different studies on the use of inotropes and vasopressors in patients with cardiogenic shock, proposing a therapeutic scheme for the pharmacological treatment of patients in cardiogenic shock according to the patient's hemodynamic profile. (C) 2016 Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights reserved