The Impact of Shape on the Perception of Euler Diagrams

Euler diagrams are often used for visualizing data collected into sets. However, there is a significant lack of guidance regarding graphical choices for Euler diagram layout. To address this deficiency, this paper asks the question `does the shape of a closed curve affect a user's comprehension of an Euler diagram?' By empirical study, we establish that curve shape does indeed impact on understandability. Our analysis of performance data indicates that circles perform best, followed by squares, with ellipses and rectangles jointly performing worst. We conclude that, where possible, circles should be used to draw effective Euler diagrams. Further, the ability to discriminate curves from zones and the symmetry of the curve shapes is argued to be important. We utilize perceptual theory to explain these results. As a consequence of this research, improved diagram layout decisions can be made for Euler diagrams whether they are manually or automatically drawn

Reduced glycogen availability is associated with increased AMPKα2 activity, nuclear AMPKα2 protein abundance, and GLUT4 mRNA expression in contracting human skeletal muscle

Glycogen availability can influence glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) expression in skeletal muscle through unknown mechanisms. The multisubstrate enzyme AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has also been shown to play an important role in the regulation of GLUT4 expression in skeletal muscle. During contraction, AMPK [alpha]2 translocates to the nucleus and the activity of this AMPK isoform is enhanced when skeletal muscle glycogen is low. In this study, we investigated if decreased pre-exercise muscle glycogen levels and increased AMPK [alpha]2 activity reduced the association of AMPK with glycogen and increased AMPK [alpha]2 translocation to the nucleus and GLUT4 mRNA expression following exercise. Seven males performed 60 min of exercise at ~70% [VO.sub.2] peak on 2 occasions: either with normal (control) or low (LG) carbohydrate pre-exercise muscle glycogen content. Muscle samples were obtained by needle biopsy before and after exercise. Low muscle glycogen was associated with elevated AMPK [alpha]2 activity and acetyl-CoA carboxylase [beta] phosphorylation, increased translocation of AMPK [alpha]2 to the nucleus, and increased GLUT4 mRNA. Transfection of primary human myotubes with a constitutively active AMPK adenovirus also stimulated GLUT4 mRNA, providing direct evidence of a role of AMPK in regulating GLUT4 expression. We suggest that increased activation of AMPK [alpha]2 under conditions of low muscle glycogen enhances AMPK [alpha]2 nuclear translocation and increases GLUT4 mRNA expression in response to exercise in human skeletal muscle. <br /

Fractionation of polydisperse systems: multi-phase coexistence

The width of the distribution of species in a polydisperse system is employed in a small-variable expansion, to obtain a well-controlled and compact scheme by which to calculate phase equilibria in multi-phase systems. General and universal relations are derived, which determine the partitioning of the fluid components among the phases. The analysis applies to mixtures of arbitrarily many slightly-polydisperse components. An explicit solution is approximated for hard spheres.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur

Cohesion, team mental models, and collective efficacy: Towards an integrated framework of team dynamics in sport

A nomological network on team dynamics in sports consisting of a multi-framework perspective is introduced and tested. The aim was to explore the interrelationship among cohesion, team mental models (TMM), collective-efficacy (CE), and perceived performance potential (PPP). Three hundred and forty college-aged soccer players representing 17 different teams (8 female and 9 male) participated in the study. They responded to surveys on team cohesion, TMM, CE and PPP. Results are congruent with the theoretical conceptualization of a parsimonious view of team dynamics in sports. Specifically, cohesion was found to be an exogenous variable predicting both TMM and CE beliefs. TMM and CE were correlated and predicted PPP, which in turn accounted for 59% of the variance of objective performance scores as measured by teams’ season record. From a theoretical standpoint, findings resulted in a parsimonious view of team dynamics, which may represent an initial step towards clarifying the epistemological roots and nomological network of various team-level properties. From an applied standpoint, results suggest that team expertise starts with the establishment of team cohesion. Following the establishment of cohesiveness, teammates are able to advance team-related schemas and a collective sense of confidence. Limitations and key directions for future research are outlined

Clinicians’ Perceptions of Telemedicine for Conducting Family Conferences Prior to Transfer to a Tertiary Care Center Intensive Care Unit

Objectives: Critically ill patients are often transferred from rural to tertiary care medical centres for further higher levels of care. The transportation process may delay family conferences during which prognosis and goals of care are discussed. These conferences typically occur when family members meet the treating physicians for the first time in person after transport. Telemedicine is a tool that may be used to bridge this gap in communication by enabling these family conferences before transport. There are no data on perceptions of telemedicine used in this setting. We conducted a qualitative study assessing provider perceptions regarding the use of telemedicine for conducting family conferences prior to transport. Methods: Critical care physicians and nurses were invited to view an educational video demonstrating the process of conducting a family conference via telemedicine. Immediately following viewing of the video, physicians and nurses filled out an open-ended questionnaire regarding their thoughts and perceptions of the video and the telemedicine family conference approach. Results: There was a 68% response rate to the surveys. Responses were categorised into two major themes: benefits and barriers. Within the theme of benefits, three sub-themes were identified: satisfaction, knowledge and quality of care. We identified four domains within the theme of barriers: time, perception, technology and logistics. Conclusions: Respondents believe that there may be several benefits including increased satisfaction, improved communication and empowerment of families by dissemination of knowledge. Barriers to the use of this intervention identified include costs, time, technology and negative perceptions of the telemedicine conference

Leukotriene C4 biosynthesis in isolated August rat peritoneal leukocytes

The mixed leukocyte population obtained from the peritoneum of the August rat is a potentially important experimental model of inherent eosinophilia that has not been well characterized. In the present study, isolated cell preparations generated a concentration-dependent release of leukotriene (LT) C4 when exposed to the Ca2+ ionophore A23187, reaching maximal stimulation at 5.0 μM. This response was inhibited by the 5-lipoxygenase activating protein antagonist MK-886 (0.1 μM), nominally Ca2+ and Mg2+-free incubation media and by activation of protein kinase C via phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (50 nM). These findings establish a model system for investigating LTC4 profiles contingent with innate peritoneal eosinophilia and are consistent with the hypothesis that cellular LTC4 biosynthesis is phosphoregulated

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Emergency Department Triage Nurses\u27 Response to Patients With Potential Acute Coronary Syndrome

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic added challenges to patient assessment and triage in the emergency department (ED). Objective: To describe the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on ED triage nurse decisions for patients with potential ACS. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of data from a descriptive, electronic, survey-based study. Participants were asked two questions: whether the COVID-19 pandemic had affected their triage and/or assessment practices for patients with potential ACS and if so, how. Descriptive statistics were used to compare characteristics of participants. A qualitative descriptive approach was used to analyze responses to the open-ended questions about the pandemic’s effect on the triage process. Results: Participants from across the US had a mean age of 41.7 (12.3) years; 358 (80.6%) were women. The participants had a median of 10.0 (IQR 16.0) years of experience as a registered nurse, with a median 7.0 (IQR 11.0) years of ED experience. A total of 180 of 444 (40.5%) participants indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic affected their triage processes and assessment of potential ACS patients; 156 (86.7%) provided a response to the open-ended question. Responses revealed four themes, 1) Delays in Triage and Treatment; 2) Ambiguous Patient Presentation; 3) Heightened Awareness of COVID-19 Complications and Sequalae; and 4) Process Changes. Conclusions: Forty percent of ED triage nurses participating reported that triage processes for patients with potential ACS were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Most expressed barriers that resulted in delayed assessment and treatment of patients and often resulted from overlapping cardiac symptoms and COVID-19

'The smoking toolkit study': a national study of smoking and smoking cessation in England

Background: Up-to-date data tracking of national smoking patterns and cessation-related behaviour is required to evaluate and inform tobacco control strategies. The Smoking Toolkit Study (STS) was designed for this role. This paper describes the methodology of the STS and examines as far as possible the representativeness of the samples.Methods: The STS consists of monthly, cross sectional household interviews of adults aged 16 and over in England with smokers and recent ex-smokers in each monthly wave followed up by postal questionnaires three and six months later. Between November 2006 and December 2010 the baseline survey was completed by 90,568 participants. STS demographic, prevalence and cigarette consumption estimates are compared with those from the Health Survey for England (HSE) and the General Lifestyle Survey (GLF) for 2007-2009.Results: Smoking prevalence estimates of all the surveys were similar from 2008 onwards (e. g 2008 STS = 22.0%, 95% C. I. = 21.4% to 22.6%, HSE = 21.7%, 95% C. I. = 20.9% to 22.6%, GLF = 20.8%, 95% C. I. = 19.7% to 21.9%), although there was heterogeneity in 2007 (chi-square = 50.30, p < 0.001). Some differences were observed across surveys within sociodemographic sub-groups, although largely in 2007. Cigarette consumption was virtually identical in all surveys and years.Conclusion: There is reason to believe that the STS findings (see http://www.smokinginengland.info) are generalisable to the adult population of England