3,601 research outputs found
Individual Control of Risk: Seat Belt Use, Subjective Norms and the Theory of Reasoned Action
When faced with a risk for which an inexpensive solution is available, individuals often choose the risk rather than the solution. Protection from certain kinds of risks, e.g., using seat belts or condoms or insulating against radon, is largely under personal control, but individuals often choose not to comply with behaviors which would reduce the risk. The Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) has been used to predict when individuals will comply. The authors attempted to validate aspects of the TRA by the use of scenarios. Factor analysis of their data supports the theory that intention is a major determinate of behavior but fails to establish the influence of scenarios on subjects\u27 intention to wear seat belts
Metabolomic profiling of macrophages determines the discrete metabolomic signature and metabolomic interactome triggered by polarising immune stimuli
Priming and activating immune stimuli have profound effects on macrophages, however, studies generally evaluate stimuli in isolation rather than in combination. In this study we have investigated the effects of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory stimuli either alone or in combination on macrophage metabolism. These stimuli include host factors such as IFNγ and ovalbumin-immunoglobulin immune complexes, or pathogen factors such as LPS. Untargeted LC-MS based metabolomics provided an in-depth profile of the macrophage metabolome, and revealed specific changes in metabolite abundance upon either individual stimuli or combined stimuli. Here, by factoring in an interaction term in the linear model, we define the metabolome interactome. This approach allowed us to determine whether stimuli interact in a synergistic or antagonistic manner. In conclusion this study demonstrates a robust approach to interrogate immune-metabolism, especially systems that model host-pathogen interactions
Population Structure in The Brown Tube Sponge (agelas Conifera) in The Florida Reef Tract And Caribbean
Sponges are broadly distributed, occur in a wide range of habitats, and comprise a substantial amount of the biomass and macro-biodiversity on coral reefs. Despite their ubiquity in reef ecosystems, their dispersal dynamics are largely unknown. Here we report on gene flow and population structure for the common brown tube sponge, Agelas conifera (Demospongiae, Poecilosclerida) in the Florida reef tract and Caribbean. Over 300 samples collected from ten geographically distinct locations throughout Florida and the Caribbean are being analyzed for variation at eight microsatellite loci. Preliminary results from screening four loci in 295 individuals from eight locations indicated significant population structure overall (FST = 0.072; P = 0.0018) with a significant heterozygosity deficit (FIS = 0.310; P = 0.001). Lower FST values occurred within the Florida reef tract sites compared to those between Caribbean island locations suggesting relatively greater gene flow within the Florida reef system. Significant isolation by distance was not found to occur Caribbean-wide (r = 0.25; P = 0.14), nor within the Florida reef tract (r = 0.39; P = 0.10). Fine scale population structure occurred among sites separated by \u3c1 km around the islands of Utila (Honduras) and St. Croix (USVI) suggesting A. conifera recruitment in these areas is highly local source dependant. In contrast, no structure was observed among sites around Grand Cayman (Cayman Islands). Only populations within St. Croix showed a significant isolation by distance pattern (r = 0.74; P \u3c 0.001). The strong overall and in some instances even highly localized genetic structure observed is consistent with the typically short larval durations known for sponges generally; suggesting recruitment in these important reef biomass components may be driven mainly from local sources
The Premammillary Nucleus of the Hypothalamus Is Not Necessary for Photoperiodic Timekeeping in Female Turkeys (\u3cem\u3eMeleagris gallopavo\u3c/em\u3e)
In birds, seasonal reproduction is regulated by day length, with long days in the spring activating the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and reproductive behaviors. The photoreceptors mediating this process remain unknown, but recently, the premammillary nucleus (PMM) of the hypothalamus has been implicated as the site of photoperiodic signaling in turkeys. We performed electrolytic lesions of the PMM to elucidate its role in the photoactivation and maintenance of egg production in female turkeys. Our results show that ablation of the PMM does not alter the normal lay cycle. No differences were found between lesioned birds and sham controls in the latency to lay following photostimulation, nor in subsequent egg production over a period of 29 weeks. No differences in the incidence of gonadal regression were found, indicating that the PMM is not essential for the termination of breeding. We conclude that any role of the PMM in photoperiodic regulation, if it exists, is redundant with other components of the system
Detection of Helium in the Atmosphere of the Exo-Neptune HAT-P-11b
The helium absorption triplet at a wavelength of 10,833 \AA\ has been
proposed as a way to probe the escaping atmospheres of exoplanets. Recently
this feature was detected for the first time using Hubble Space Telescope (HST)
WFC3 observations of the hot Jupiter WASP-107b. We use similar HST/WFC3
observations to detect helium in the atmosphere of the hot Neptune HAT-P-11b at
the confidence level. We compare our observations to a grid of 1D
models of hydrodynamic escape to constrain the thermospheric temperatures and
mass loss rate. We find that our data are best fit by models with high mass
loss rates of - g s. Although we do
not detect the planetary wind directly, our data are consistent with the
prediction that HAT-P-11b is experiencing hydrodynamic atmospheric escape.
Nevertheless, the mass loss rate is low enough that the planet has only lost up
to a few percent of its mass over its history, leaving its bulk composition
largely unaffected. This matches the expectation from population statistics,
which indicate that close-in planets with radii greater than 2 R
form and retain H/He-dominated atmospheres. We also confirm the independent
detection of helium in HAT-P-11b obtained with the CARMENES instrument, making
this the first exoplanet with the detection of the same signature of
photoevaporation from both ground- and space-based facilities.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ
Geographic Variation in Pneumonia and Influenza in Long-Term Care Facilities:A National Study
There is large county-level geographic variation in pneumonia and influenza hospitalizations among short-stay and long-stay long-term care facility residents in the United States. Long-term care facilities in counties in the Southern and Midwestern regions had the highest rates of pneumonia and influenza from 2013 to 2015. Future research should identify reasons for these geographic differences
Design and update of a classification system : the UCSD map of science
Global maps of science can be used as a reference system to chart career trajectories, the location of emerging research
frontiers, or the expertise profiles of institutes or nations. This paper details data preparation, analysis, and layout performed
when designing and subsequently updating the UCSD map of science and classification system. The original classification
and map use 7.2 million papers and their references from Elsevier’s Scopus (about 15,000 source titles, 2001–2005) and
Thomson Reuters’ Web of Science (WoS) Science, Social Science, Arts & Humanities Citation Indexes (about 9,000 source
titles, 2001–2004)–about 16,000 unique source titles. The updated map and classification adds six years (2005–2010) of WoS
data and three years (2006–2008) from Scopus to the existing category structure–increasing the number of source titles to
about 25,000. To our knowledge, this is the first time that a widely used map of science was updated. A comparison of the
original 5-year and the new 10-year maps and classification system show (i) an increase in the total number of journals that
can be mapped by 9,409 journals (social sciences had a 80% increase, humanities a 119% increase, medical (32%) and
natural science (74%)), (ii) a simplification of the map by assigning all but five highly interdisciplinary journals to exactly one
discipline, (iii) a more even distribution of journals over the 554 subdisciplines and 13 disciplines when calculating the
coefficient of variation, and (iv) a better reflection of journal clusters when compared with paper-level citation data. When
evaluating the map with a listing of desirable features for maps of science, the updated map is shown to have higher
mapping accuracy, easier understandability as fewer journals are multiply classified, and higher usability for the generation
of data overlays, among others
The KRESCENT Program (2005-2015) : an evaluation of the state of Kidney Research Training in Canada
Background: The Kidney Research Scientist Core Education and National Training (KRESCENT) Program was launched
in 2005 to enhance kidney research capacity in Canada and foster knowledge translation across the 4 themes of health
research.
Objective: To evaluate the impact of KRESCENT on its major objectives and on the careers of trainees after its first 10
years.
Methods: An online survey of trainees (n = 53) who had completed or were enrolled in KRESCENT was conducted in
2015. Information was also obtained from curriculum vitae (CVs). A bibliometric analysis assessed scientific productivity,
collaboration, and impact in comparison with unsuccessful applicants to KRESCENT over the same period. The analysis
included a comparison of Canadian with international kidney research metrics from 2000 to 2014.
Results: Thirty-nine KRESCENT trainees completed the survey (74%), and 44 trainees (83%) submitted CVs. KRESCENT
trainees had a high success rate at obtaining grant funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR; 79%),
and 76% of Post-Doctoral Fellows received academic appointments at the Assistant Professor level within 8 months of
completing training. The majority of trainees reported that KRESCENT had contributed significantly to their success in
securing CIHR funding (90%), and to the creation of knowledge (93%) and development of new methodologies (50%).
Bibliometric analysis revealed a small but steady decline in total international kidney research output from 2000 to 2014, as
a percentage of all health research, although overall impact of kidney research in Canada increased from 2000-2005 to 2009-
2014 compared with other countries. KRESCENT trainees demonstrated increased productivity, multiauthored papers,
impact, and international collaborations after their training, compared with nonfunded applicants.
Conclusions: The KRESCENT Program has fostered kidney research career development and contributed to increased
capacity, productivity, and collaboration. To further enhance knowledge creation and translation in kidney research in
Canada, programs such as KRESCENT should be sustained via long-term funding partnerships.Mise en contexte: Le programme KRESCENT (Kidney Research Scientist Core Education and National Training) a été
lancé en 2005 pour augmenter la capacité de la recherche sur les maladies du rein à travers le Canada, et pour encourager
la transmission des connaissances au sein des quatre axes de recherche en santé.
Objectifs de l’étude: Cette étude avait pour but d’évaluer les répercussions du programme KRESCENT sur ses principaux
objectifs ainsi que des retombées sur la carrière des stagiaires participants, dix ans après sa création.
Méthodologie: Un sondage en ligne a été mené en 2015 auprès des stagiaires (n = 53) ayant été admis ou ayant complété
le programme KRESCENT. Des renseignements ont également été obtenus par la consultation de curriculum vitae (CV).
Une analyse bibliométrique a évalué la productivité scientifique et la collaboration des participants ainsi que les répercussions
de leur participation à KRESCENT sur leur carrière. Les données de cette analyse ont été comparées à celles des candidats
n’ayant pas été retenus au cours de la même période. L’analyse comprenait également une comparaison des données
canadiennes avec celles obtenues en recherche sur les maladies du rein ailleurs dans le monde
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