2,251 research outputs found
Are Asians comfortable with discussing death in health valuation studies? A study in multi-ethnic Singapore
BACKGROUND
To characterize ease in discussing death (EID) and its influence on health valuation in a multi-ethnic Asian population and to determine the acceptability of various descriptors of death and "pits"/"all-worst" in health valuation.
METHODS
In-depth interviews (English or mother-tongue) among adult Chinese, Malay and Indian Singaporeans selected to represent both genders and a wide range of ages/educational levels. Subjects rated using 0–10 visual analogue scales (VAS): (1) EID, (2) acceptability of 8 descriptors for death, and (3) appropriateness of "pits" and "all-worst" as descriptors for the worst possible health state. Subjects also valued 3 health states using VAS followed by time trade-off (TTO). The influence of sociocultural variables on EID and these descriptors was studied using univariable analyses and multiple linear regression (MLR). The influence of EID on VAS/TTO utilities with adjustment for sociocultural variables was assessed using MLR.
RESULTS
Subjects (n = 63, 35% Chinese, 32% Malay, median age 44 years) were generally comfortable with discussing death (median EID: 8.0). Only education significantly influenced EID (p = 0.045). EID correlated weakly with VAS/TTO scores (range: VAS: -0.23 to 0.07; TTO: -0.14 to 0.11). All subjects felt "passed away", "departed" and "deceased" were most acceptable (median acceptability: 8.0) while "sudden death" and "immediate death" were least acceptable (median acceptability: 5.0). Subjects clearly preferred "all-worst" to "pits" (63% vs. 19%, p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
Singaporeans were generally comfortable with discussing death and had clear preferences for several descriptors of death and for "all-worst". EID is unlikely to influence health preference measurement in health valuation studies
The activation energy for GaAs/AlGaAs interdiffusion
Copyright 1997 American Institute of Physics. This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the American Institute of Physics. This article appeared in Journal of Applied Physics 82, 4842 (1997) and may be found at
An optical study of interdiffusion in ZnSe/ZnCdSe
Copyright 1996 American Institute of Physics. This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the American Institute of Physics. This article appeared in Applied Physics Letters 69, 1579 (1996) and may be found at
Transition from columnar to point pinning in coated conductors: critical currents, that are independent of magnetic field direction
We identify a phase transition in the vortex system of a high-temperature
superconductor with nano-columnar stacks of precipitates as strong vortex
pinning centers. Above a particular, temperature-dependent field the
vortex response is no longer determined by the nano-columns, and is instead
determined by point-like pinning. This phase transition leads to the change in
the measured critical current density as a function of angle between the
applied magnetic field and the nano-columns. Below the unbinding, there is a
strong maximum in when field is aligned parallel to the columns. Above
the unbinding, there is a minimum for this orientation.Comment: Formatted for AP
Structural Characterization of Rapid Thermal Oxidized Si\u3csub\u3e1−x−y\u3c/sub\u3eGe\u3csub\u3ex\u3c/sub\u3eC\u3csub\u3ey\u3c/sub\u3e Alloy Films Grown by Rapid Thermal Chemical Vapor Deposition
The structural properties of as-grown and rapid thermal oxidized Si1−x−yGexCy epitaxial layers have been examined using a combination of infrared, x-ray photoelectron, x-ray diffraction, secondary ion mass spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy techniques. Carbon incorporation into the Si1−x−yGexCy system can lead to compressive or tensile strain in the film. The structural properties of the oxidized Si1−x−yGexCy film depend on the type of strain (i.e., carbon concentration) of the as-prepared film. For compressive or fully compensated films, the oxidation process drastically reduces the carbon content so that the oxidized films closely resemble to Si1−xGex films. For tensile films, two broad regions, one with carbon content higher and the other lower than that required for full strain compensation, coexist in the oxidized films
One-dimensional collision carts computer model and its design ideas for productive experiential learning
We develop an Easy Java Simulation (EJS) model for students to experience the
physics of idealized one-dimensional collision carts. The physics model is
described and simulated by both continuous dynamics and discrete transition
during collision. In the field of designing computer simulations, we discuss
briefly three pedagogical considerations such as 1) consistent simulation world
view with pen paper representation, 2) data table, scientific graphs and
symbolic mathematical representations for ease of data collection and multiple
representational visualizations and 3) game for simple concept testing that can
further support learning. We also suggest using physical world setup to be
augmented complimentary with simulation while highlighting three advantages of
real collision carts equipment like tacit 3D experience, random errors in
measurement and conceptual significance of conservation of momentum applied to
just before and after collision. General feedback from the students has been
relatively positive, and we hope teachers will find the simulation useful in
their own classes. 2015 Resources added:
http://iwant2study.org/ospsg/index.php/interactive-resources/physics/02-newtonian-mechanics/02-dynamics/46-one-dimension-collision-js-model
http://iwant2study.org/ospsg/index.php/interactive-resources/physics/02-newtonian-mechanics/02-dynamics/195-elastic-collisionComment: 6 pages, 8 figures, 1 table, 1 L. K. Wee, Physics Education 47 (3),
301 (2012); ISSN 0031-912
Using Tracker as a Pedagogical Tool for Understanding Projectile Motion
This paper reports the use of Tracker as a pedagogical tool in the effective
learning and teaching of projectile motion in physics. When computer model
building learning processes is supported and driven by video analysis data,
this free Open Source Physics (OSP) tool can provide opportunities for students
to engage in active inquiry-based learning. We discuss the pedagogical use of
Tracker to address some common misconceptions of projectile motion by allowing
students to test their hypothesis by juxtaposing their mental models against
the analysis of real life videos. Initial research findings suggest that
allowing learners to relate abstract physics concepts to real life through
coupling computer modeling with traditional video analysis could be an
innovative and effective way to learn projectile motion. 2015 Resources:
http://iwant2study.org/ospsg/index.php/interactive-resources/physics/02-newtonian-mechanics/01-kinematics/174-projectile-motionComment: 9 pages, 9 figures; http://iopscience.iop.org/0031-9120/47/4/44
Shared autonomic pathways connect bone marrow and peripheral adipose tissues across the central neuraxis
Bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) is increased in both obesity and anorexia. This is unique relative to white adipose tissue (WAT), which is generally more attuned to metabolic demand. It suggests that there may be regulatory pathways that are common to both BMAT and WAT and also those that are specific to BMAT alone. The central nervous system (CNS) is a key mediator of adipose tissue function through sympathetic adrenergic neurons. Thus, we hypothesized that central autonomic pathways may be involved in BMAT regulation. To test this, we first quantified the innervation of BMAT by tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positive nerves within the metaphysis and diaphysis of the tibia of B6 and C3H mice. We found that many of the TH+ axons were concentrated around central blood vessels in the bone marrow. However, there were also areas of free nerve endings which terminated in regions of BMAT adipocytes. Overall, the proportion of nerve-associated BMAT adipocytes increased from proximal to distal along the length of the tibia (from ~3-5 to ~14-24%), regardless of mouse strain. To identify the central pathways involved in BMAT innervation and compare to peripheral WAT, we then performed retrograde viral tract tracing with an attenuated pseudorabies virus (PRV) to infect efferent nerves from the tibial metaphysis (inclusive of BMAT) and inguinal WAT (iWAT) of C3H mice. PRV positive neurons were identified consistently from both injection sites in the intermediolateral horn of the spinal cord, reticular formation, rostroventral medulla, solitary tract, periaqueductal gray, locus coeruleus, subcoeruleus, Barrington\u27s nucleus, and hypothalamus. We also observed dual-PRV infected neurons within the majority of these regions. Similar tracings were observed in pons, midbrain, and hypothalamic regions from B6 femur and tibia, demonstrating that these results persist across mouse strains and between skeletal sites. Altogether, this is the first quantitative report of BMAT autonomic innervation and reveals common central neuroanatomic pathways, including putative command neurons, involved in coordinating multiple aspects of sympathetic output and facilitation of parallel processing between bone marrow/BMAT and peripheral adipose tissue
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