Atomic Force Microscopy

The goal of this experiment is to use the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) to get images of selected items and determine some distances of the characteristics of each sample. The ultimate goal is to measure the length of a nanotube, but unfortunately there were none left on the slide that was supposed to contain them. From the results of the lab and the lab manual of “companies” with possible lengths for each sample, Lindaas-Lahti Industries seems to have the best fit overall

Atomic Force Microscopy

The goal of this experiment is to use the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) to get images of selected items and determine some distances of the characteristics of each sample. The ultimate goal is to measure the length of a nanotube, but unfortunately there were none left on the slide that was supposed to contain them. From the results of the lab and the lab manual of “companies” with possible lengths for each sample, Lindaas-Lahti Industries seems to have the best fit overall

DSP Synthesis Algorithm for Generating Florida Scrub Jay Calls

A prototype digital signal processing (DSP) algorithm has been developed to approximate Florida scrub jay calls. The Florida scrub jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens), believed to have been in existence for 2 million years, living only in Florida, has a complicated social system that is evident by examining the spectrograms of its calls. Audio data was acquired at the Helen and Allan Cruickshank Sanctuary, Rockledge, Florida during the 2016 mating season using three digital recorders sampling at 44.1 kHz. The synthesis algorithm is a first step at developing a robust identification and call analysis algorithm. Since the Florida scrub jay is severely threatened by loss of habitat, it is important to develop effective methods to monitor their threatened population using autonomous means

Calibration of the Barnes-Evans relation using interferometric observations of Cepheid variables

Direct diameter measurements of Cepheid variables are used to calibrate the Barnes-Evans Cepheid surface brightness relation. More than 50 separate Cepheid diameter measurements from four different optical interferometers are used to calculate surface brightnesses as a function of magnitude and color. For two Cepheids, η Aquilae and ζ Geminorum, high precision diameter measurements as a function of pulsation phase are available from the Palomar Testbed Interferometer (PTI). Relations using only these diameters are found for each individual Cepheid in order to search for differences between Cepheids of different pulsation period. In all cases the best-fit relations are simple linear relations between surface brightness and color with the constraint that for a spectral type A0 star (where all colors equal zero) all relations must yield the same surface brightness (i.e., there must be a common zero-point). The derived relations found using interferometric Cepheid diameters are consistent with functions in the literature found using interferometric observations of non-variable giant and supergiant stars. In addition, while the separate relations for η Aquilae and ζ Geminorum are marginally consistent within the errors they do differ in the direction predicted for Cepheids of differing pulsation period. Using these new surface brightness relations the distance is calculated to the nearby Cepheid δ Cephei for which a new distance has been found using trigonometric parallax with the Hubble Space Telescope. These distances are well within the errors of the distance derived from trigonometric parallax

Conducting health survey research in a deep rural South African community: challenges and adaptive strategies

BACKGROUND:In many parts of the developing world, rural health requires focused policy attention, informed by reliable, representative health data. Yet there is surprisingly little published material to guide health researchers who face the unique set of hurdles associated with conducting field research in remote rural areas. METHODS: In this paper we provide a detailed description of the key challenges encountered during health survey field research carried out in 2010 in a deep rural site in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The aim of the field research was to collect data on the health of children aged 10 to 17 years old, and their primary adult caregivers, as part of a larger national health survey; the research was a collaboration between several South African and foreign universities, South African national government departments, and various NGO partners. In presenting each of the four fieldwork challenges encountered on this site, we describe the initial planning decisions made, the difficulties faced when implementing these in the field, and the adaptive strategies we used to respond to these challenges. We reflect on learnings of potential relevance for the research community. RESULTS: Our four key fieldwork challenges were scarce research capacity, staff relocation tensions, logistical constraints, and difficulties related to community buy-in. Addressing each of these obstacles required timely assessment of the situation and adaptation of field plans, in collaboration with our local NGO partner. Adaptive strategies included a greater use of local knowledge; the adoption of tribal authority boundaries as the smallest geopolitical units for sampling; a creative developmental approach to capacity building; and planned, on-going engagement with multiple community representatives. CONCLUSIONS: We argue that in order to maintain high scientific standards of research and manage to 'get the job done' on the ground, it is necessary to respond to fieldwork challenges that arise as a cohesive team, with timely, locally-relevant, and often creative, solutions. Budgeting sufficient time and project resources for capacity building and community buy-in processes is also essential when working in remote communities unaccustomed to research. Documenting and sharing field experiences can provide valuable information for other researchers planning to conduct fieldwork in similar contexts

Nutrition impacts the prevalence of peripheral arterial disease in the United States

ObjectiveTraditional recommendations for peripheral arterial disease (PAD) risk factor reduction include smoking cessation, low-fat/low-salt diet, exercise, and optimal medical management of chronic disease. Little attention has been paid to the role of dietary supplementation of specific nutrients in the prevention of PAD.MethodsThis cross-sectional study used the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to determine specific nutrients that are associated with prevalent PAD in the United States (US) population. NHANES data include nationwide sampling of the US population, using physical examination, questionnaire, and laboratory testing. PAD status was defined by an ankle-brachial index (ABI) of <0.9. Nutritional information was collected by 24-hour dietary recall using the US Department of Agriculture dietary collection instrument. Data were linked to a database of foods and their nutrient composition. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate associations between specific nutrient intake and the presence of PAD. Multivariate models adjusted for the effects of age, gender, hypertension, coronary vascular disease, diabetes, and smoking.ResultsNHANES data for 1999 to 2004 included 7203 lower extremity examinations, of which 422 individuals had prevalent PAD (5.9%). Examinees with PAD had significantly higher rates of hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes, and smoking than those without PAD. Univariate analysis revealed that consumption of all nutrients considered were associated with lower odds of PAD, including antioxidants (vitamins A, C, and E), folate, other B vitamins (B6, B12), fiber, and polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids. After adjustment for traditional risk factors, nutrients associated with reduced prevalence of PAD were vitamin A (odds ratio [OR], 0.79; P = .036), vitamin C (OR, 0.84; P < .001), vitamin E (OR, 0.78; P = .011), vitamin B6 (OR, 0.71; P = .023), fiber (OR, 0.65; P < .001), folate (OR, 0.67; P = .006), and ω-3 (α-linolenic) fatty acid (OR, 0.79; P = .028).ConclusionsImproved nutrition is associated with a reduced prevalence of PAD in the US population. Higher consumption of specific nutrients, including antioxidants (vitamin A, C, and E), vitamin B6, fiber, folate, and ω-3 fatty acids have a significant protective effect, irrespective of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. These findings suggest specific dietary supplementation may afford additional protection, above traditional risk factor modification, for the prevention of PAD

Calibration of the Barnes-Evans relation using interferometric observations of Cepheid variables

Direct diameter measurements of Cepheid variables are used to calibrate the Barnes-Evans Cepheid surface brightness relation. More than 50 separate Cepheid diameter measurements from four different optical interferometers are used to calculate surface brightnesses as a function of magnitude and color. For two Cepheids, η Aquilae and ζ Geminorum, high precision diameter measurements as a function of pulsation phase are available from the Palomar Testbed Interferometer (PTI). Relations using only these diameters are found for each individual Cepheid in order to search for differences between Cepheids of different pulsation period. In all cases the best-fit relations are simple linear relations between surface brightness and color with the constraint that for a spectral type A0 star (where all colors equal zero) all relations must yield the same surface brightness (i.e., there must be a common zero-point). The derived relations found using interferometric Cepheid diameters are consistent with functions in the literature found using interferometric observations of non-variable giant and supergiant stars. In addition, while the separate relations for η Aquilae and ζ Geminorum are marginally consistent within the errors they do differ in the direction predicted for Cepheids of differing pulsation period. Using these new surface brightness relations the distance is calculated to the nearby Cepheid δ Cephei for which a new distance has been found using trigonometric parallax with the Hubble Space Telescope. These distances are well within the errors of the distance derived from trigonometric parallax

Economic evaluation of access to musculoskeletal care: The case of waiting for total knee arthroplasty

BACKGROUND: The projected demand for total knee arthroplasty is staggering. At its root, the solution involves increasing supply or decreasing demand. Other developed nations have used rationing and wait times to distribute this service. However, economic impact and cost-effectiveness of waiting for TKA is unknown. METHODS: A Markov decision model was constructed for a cost-utility analysis of three treatment strategies for end-stage knee osteoarthritis: 1) TKA without delay, 2) a waiting period with no non-operative treatment and 3) a non-operative treatment bridge during that waiting period in a cohort of 60 year-old patients. Outcome probabilities and effectiveness were derived from the literature. Costs were estimated from the societal perspective with national average Medicare reimbursement. Effectiveness was expressed in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained. Principal outcome measures were average incremental costs, effectiveness, and quality-adjusted life years; and net health benefits. RESULTS: In the base case, a 2-year wait-time both with and without a non-operative treatment bridge resulted in a lower number of average QALYs gained (11.57 (no bridge) and 11.95 (bridge) vs. 12.14 (no delay). The average cost was $1,660 higher for TKA without delay than wait-time with no bridge, but$1,810 less than wait-time with non-operative bridge. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio comparing wait-time with no bridge to TKA without delay was $2,901/QALY. When comparing TKA without delay to waiting with non-operative bridge, TKA without delay produced greater utility at a lower cost to society. CONCLUSIONS: TKA without delay is the preferred cost-effective treatment strategy when compared to a waiting for TKA without non-operative bridge. TKA without delay is cost saving when a non-operative bridge is used during the waiting period. As it is unlikely that patients waiting for TKA would not receive non-operative treatment, TKA without delay may be an overall cost-saving health care delivery strategy. Policies aimed at increasing the supply of TKA should be considered as savings exist that could indirectly fund those strategies