Gluing Life Together. Computer Simulation in the Life Sciences: An Introduction

Over the course of the last three decades, computer simulations have become a major tool of doing science and engaging with the world, not least in an effort to predict and intervene in a future to come. Born in the context of the Second World War and the discipline of physics, simulations have long spread into most diverse fields of enquiry and technological application. This paper introduces a topical collection focussing on simulations in the life sciences. Echoing the current state of tinkering, fast developments, segmentation of knowledge and interdisciplinary collaboration, and in an effort to bridge the science-humanities divide, the contributors to this collection come from multiple disciplinary backgrounds, including information studies, cognitive sciences, philosophy and biology. The ambiguous character of simulations, their cutting across scientific disciplines, analysis and prediction, understanding and doing, gave rise to their success in contemporary life sciences and has been the object of much scientific debate. One of the main aims of this topical collection, by contrast, is to call into question the assumption of an obvious use and easy transfer of methods between fields of knowledge as diverse as, e.g. physics and biology. The collection presents historical case studies from various biological sub-fields. The articles study how simulations are used and the ways they contribute specifically to our understanding of life. Taking up Sergio Sismondo’s description of simulations as “compromises” and “glue”, they also critically engage with the question of what exactly the life sciences have been gluing together over the last two decades

Body Image [brochure and video]

Every person has a view of their body image. However, some people’s views of their body image are more skewed than others. College students are no exception to this, in fact, college students may be at a higher risk than any other group of people to have a skewed body image. The student project completed on the subject showed that as the definition of body image upholds everyone looks at their bodies differently. Having a skewed body image can lead to: working out in excess, never being relaxed about his/her body, putting him/herself down a lot, checking weight more than once per day, constantly looking in the mirror, and a change in eating patterns which could also lead to eating disorders. There is almost no way to escape a person wanting to change his/her body image. However, one must be realistic about their body and set realistic goals for what they want to change

Secondary analysis of an RCT on Emergency Department-Initiated Tobacco Control: Repeatedly assessed point-prevalence abstinence up to 12 months and extension of results through a 10-year follow-up.

INTRODUCTION:Emergency departments (EDs) are opportune places for tobacco control interventions. The 'Tobacco Control in an Urban Emergency Department' (TED) study, ISRCTN41527831, originally evaluated the effect of motivational interviewing on-site plus up to four booster telephone calls on 12-month abstinence. This study's aim was to evaluate the effect of the intervention on 7-day point-prevalence abstinence at 10 years follow-up (primary outcome) as well as on repeated point-prevalence abstinence at 1, 3, 6, 12 months and at 10 years (continual smoking abstinence, secondary outcome). METHODS:At the 10 years follow-up and after informed consent, study participants responded to a mailed questionnaire. The primary outcome was analyzed in observed-only and in all-cases analyses. The secondary outcomes were analyzed using a multiple adjusted GLMM for binary outcomes. RESULTS:Out of 1012 TED-study participants, 986 (97.4%) were alive and 231 (23.4% of 986) responded to the follow-up at 10 years. For observed-only and all-cases analyses, the effect of the baseline intervention on 7-day point-prevalence abstinence at the 10 years follow-up was statistically non-significant. However, when taking into account all repeated measures, the intervention significantly influenced continual abstinence with odds ratio 1.32 (95% CI: 1.01-1.73; p=0.042). Baseline motivation, perceived self-efficacy to stop smoking, and nicotine dependency were independently associated with long-term continual smoking abstinence (all p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:A conventional analysis failed to confirm a significant effect of the ED-initiated tobacco control intervention on the point-prevalence abstinence at 10 years. Results from a more integrative analysis nonetheless indicated an enduring intervention effect on continual abstinence among smokers first encountered in the emergency department setting 10 years earlier

On the sensitivity of HeI singlet lines to the FeIV model atom in O stars

Recent calculations and analyses of O star spectra have revealed discrepancies between theory and observations, and between different theoretical calculations, for the strength of optical HeI singlet transitions.We investigate the source of these discrepancies. Using a non-LTE radiative transfer code we have undertaken detailed test calculations for a range of O star properties. Our principal test model has parameters similar to those of the O9V star, 10 Lac. We show that the discrepancies arise from uncertainties in the radiation field in the HeI resonance transition near 584Angs. The radiation field at 584Angs. is influenced by model assumptions, such as the treatment of line-blanketing and the adopted turbulent velocity, and by the FeIV atomic data. It isshown that two FeIV transitions near 584Angs can have a substantial influence on the strength of the HeI singlet transitions. Because of the difficulty of modeling the HeI singlet lines, particularly in stars with solar metalicity, the HeI triplet lines should be preferred in spectral analyses. These lines are much less sensitive to model assumptions.Comment: 7 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in A&

Annealing-Induced Changes in the Nature of Point Defects in Sublimation-Grown Cubic Silicon Carbide

In recent years, cubic silicon carbide (3C-SiC) has gained increasing interest as semiconductor material for energy saving and optoelectronic applications, such as intermediate-band solar cells, photoelectrochemical water splitting, and quantum key distribution, just to name a few. All these applications critically depend on further understanding of defect behavior at the atomic level and the possibility to actively control distinct defects. In this work, dopants as well as intrinsic defects were introduced into the 3C-SiC material in situ during sublimation growth. A series of isochronal temperature treatments were performed in order to investigate the temperature-dependent annealing behavior of point defects. The material was analyzed by temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL) measurements. In our study, we found a variation in the overall PL intensity which can be considered as an indication of annealing-induced changes in structure, composition or concentration of point defects. Moreover, a number of dopant-related as well as intrinsic defects were identified. Among these defects, there were strong indications for the presence of the negatively charged nitrogen vacancy complex (NC–VSi)−, which is considered a promising candidate for spin qubits

Dating victimization among chilean university students: Gender roles and christian spirituality

Indexación: Scopus.This correlational-multivariate, cross-sectional quantitative study differentially determined by sex the prevalence of dating victimization by violence, the self-perception of victimization, and the attempt to ask for help to end a problematic relationship, as well as analyzing the explanatory weight of the attitudes to gender roles and Christian spirituality on these variables. The study sample, non-probabilistic and by convenience, was comprised of 759 Chilean university students. 63.9% were women and the average age was 20.5 years (SD=1.69). Men report suffering more physical violence and violence by coercion, and women have more tools to perceive their situation of victimization and to ask for help. Transcendent attitudes are a protective factor, stereotypes a risk factor, and the influence of religion is paradoxical. However, the explanatory power of these variables is low. In conclusion, dating violence is a problem present in the study sample, with the experience of victimization being different for men and women.https://revistas.usb.edu.co/index.php/IJPR/article/view/484

Different no more: Country spreads in advanced and emerging economies

Interest-rate spreads fluctuate widely across time and countries. We illustrate this on the basis of about 3,100 quarterly observations for 21 advanced and 17 emerging economies since the early 1990s. Prior to the financial crisis, spread fluctuations in advanced economies are an order of magnitude smaller than in emerging economies. After 2008 their behavior has largely converged along a number of dimensions. We also provide evidence on the transmission of spread shocks and find it similar across sample periods and country groups. The importance of spread shocks as a source of output fluctuations in advanced economies has increased after 2008

Advanced parametrical modelling of 24 GHz radar sensor IC packaging components

This paper deals with the development of an advanced parametrical modelling concept for packaging components of a 24 GHz radar sensor IC used in automotive driver assistance systems. For fast and efficient design of packages for system-in-package modules (SiP), a simplified model for the description of parasitic electromagnetic effects within the package is desirable, as 3-D field computation becomes inefficient due to the high density of conductive elements of the various signal paths in the package. By using lumped element models for the characterization of the conductive components, a fast indication of the design's signal-quality can be gained, but so far does not offer enough flexibility to cover the whole range of geometric arrangements of signal paths in a contemporary package. This work pursues to meet the challenge of developing a flexible and fast package modelling concept by defining <i>parametric</i> lumped-element models for all basic signal path components, e.g. bond wires, vias, strip lines, bumps and balls

Lung cancer in lifetime nonsmoking men – results of a case-control study in Germany

Epidemiological studies of lung cancer among nonsmoking men are few. This case–control study was conducted among lifetime nonsmoking men between 1990 and 1996 in Germany to examine lung cancer risk in relation to occupation, environmental tobacco smoke, residential radon, family history of cancer and previous lung disease. A total of 58 male cases with confirmed primary lung cancer and 803 male population controls who had never smoked more than 400 cigarettes in their lifetime were personally interviewed by a standardized questionnaire. In addition, 1-year radon measurements in the living and bedroom of the subjects' last dwelling were carried out. Unconditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Having ever worked in a job with known lung carcinogens was associated with a two-fold significantly increased lung cancer risk (OR = 2.2; Cl = 1.0–5.0), adjusted for age and region. The linear trend test for lung-cancer risk associated with radon exposure was close to statistical significance, demonstrating an excess relative risk for an increase in exposure of 100 Bq m−3 of 0.43 (P = 0.052). Nonsignificantly elevated effects of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in public transportation and in social settings were observed. No associations with a family history of cancer or previous lung diseases were found. Our results indicate that occupational carcinogens and indoor radon may play a role in some lung cancers in nonsmoking men. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.co