Jenseits der Homosexualität? Zur Zukunft der HIV-Prävention für schwule Männer

"Im April 2005 veranstalte die Forschungsgruppe Public Health in Kooperation mit der Alice-Salomon-Fachhochschule Berlin ein Symposium unter dem Titel 'Jenseits der Homosexualität? Zur Zukunft der HIV-Prävention für schwule Männer'. Vor dem Hintergrund zunehmender HIV-Infektionen in Deutschland vor allem unter homosexuellen Männern ging diese Veranstaltung der Frage nach, ob die gängige Präventionspraxis in Deutschland und den USA nach einem zu engen Konzept der Sexualität arbeite und dadurch eine wesentliche Dimension der Sinnhaftigkeit des sexuellen Handelns vernachlässige, nämlich den Wunsch nach 'transzendentalen Erfahrungen'. Im hier gedruckten Hauptreferat argumentiert Prof. Dr. James I. Martin von der New York University anhand zahlreicher Beispiele, dass der Wunsch nach Transzendenz einen zentralen Aspekt der Sexualität darstelle, der bis heute von Gesundheitswissenschaftlern und Präventionsfachkräften ignoriert worden sei. Durch eine explizite Bezugnahme auf diesen Aspekt würden Präventionsmaßnahmen von homosexuellen Männern stärker wahrgenommen werden, weil wichtige Beweggründe für das Eingehen eines Infektionsrisikos angesprochen wären. In der im Anschluss erscheinenden Replik von Dr. Michael T. Wright wird die Grundthese einer möglichen Transzendenz im theologischen Sinne durch sexuelles Erleben nicht in Frage gestellt. Dieses als Thema oder sogar als Schwerpunkt der Prävention wird jedoch kategorisch abgelehnt, weil eine solche Diskussion weit über den Auftrag der Präventionseinrichtungen hinausgehe und deshalb erhebliche ethische Probleme bereite, ohne absehbar zur Verbesserung der Präventionsmaßnahmen beizutragen. Wright beschreibt den aktuellen Stand der Präventionsarbeit bei homosexuellen Männern in Deutschland und zeigt Entwicklungsmöglichkeiten auf, die den Wunsch nach Transzendenz respektieren, ohne einen expliziten Bezug darauf nehmen zu müssen." (Autorenreferat)"In April 2005 the Research Group Public Health held a symposium in cooperation with the Alice-Salomon-Fachhochschule Berlin entitled, 'Beyond Homosexuality? On the Future of Prevention for Gay Men.' Given the rising number of new infections of HIV among homosexual men in Germany, the purpose of the symposium was to consider whether the current concept of sexuality used in prevention programs in Germany and the US is too narrow. Particularly the 'transcendental' aspects of sexual experience were examined. James I. Martin, PhD from New York University argues that the desire for transcendence is an important aspect of sexuality. By explicitly speaking to this desire, prevention programs could be more effective in reaching homosexual men whose risk-taking behaviour is in part a search for ecstasy. In his response Dr. Michael T. Wright supports the premise that transcendence through sexual experience is possible. However, he rejects categorically that this aspect should be incorporated into prevention interventions. According to Wright the topic of transcendence far exceeds the mandate of public health and thus poses serious ethical problems as a focus for prevention activity. Wright outlines the current state of prevention in Germany for homosexual men and makes recommendations for the further development of interventions which respect the experience of transcendence, but which do not incorporate this topic into prevention programming." (author's abstract

Predicting outcomes of smoking cessation interventions in novel scenarios using ontology-informed, interpretable machine learning

Background Systematic reviews of effectiveness estimate the relative average effects of interventions and comparators in a set of existing studies e.g., using rate ratios. However, policymakers, planners and practitioners require predictions about outcomes in novel scenarios where aspects of the interventions, populations or settings may differ. This study aimed to develop and evaluate an ontology-informed, interpretable machine learning algorithm to predict smoking cessation outcomes using detailed information about interventions, their contexts and evaluation study methods. This is the second of two linked papers on the use of machine learning in the Human Behaviour-Change Project. Methods The study used a corpus of 405 reports of randomised trials of smoking cessation interventions from the Cochrane Library database. These were annotated using the Behaviour Change Intervention Ontology to classify, for each of 971 study arms, 82 features representing details of intervention content and delivery, population, setting, outcome, and study methodology. The annotated data was used to train a novel machine learning algorithm based on a set of interpretable rules organised according to the ontology. The algorithm was evaluated for predictive accuracy by performance in five-fold 80:20 cross-validation, and compared with other approaches. Results The machine learning algorithm produced a mean absolute error in prediction percentage cessation rates of 9.15% in cross-validation, outperforming other approaches including an uninterpretable ‘black-box’ deep neural network (9.42%), a linear regression model (10.55%) and a decision tree-based approach (9.53%). The rules generated by the algorithm were synthesised into a consensus rule set to create a publicly available predictive tool to provide outcome predictions and explanations in the form of rules expressed in terms of predictive features and their combinations. Conclusions An ontologically-informed, interpretable machine learning algorithm, using information about intervention scenarios from reports of smoking cessation trials, can predict outcomes in new smoking cessation intervention scenarios with moderate accuracy.</ns3:p

Seasonal and ontogenetic variation in depth use by a critically endangered benthic elasmobranch and its implications for spatial management

The project was undertaken through the Movement Ecology of the Flapper skate project at St Andrews and received support from the Ecology and Conservation Group, Marine Scotland Science, and Marine Scotland Planning & Policy and NatureScot. It was funded by Marine Scotland projects SP004 and SP02B0 and NatureScot project 015960.Seasonal and ontogenetic variation in depth use by benthic species are often concomitant with changes in their spatial distribution. This has implications for the efficacy of spatial conservation measures such as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The critically endangered flapper skate (Dipturus intermedius) is the designation feature of an MPA in Scotland. This species is generally associated with deeper waters >100 m; however, little is known about its seasonal or ontogenetic variation in habitat use. This study used archival depth data from 25 immature and mature flapper skate tagged in the MPA over multiple years. Time series ranged from 3 to 772 (mean = 246) days. Generalised additive mixed models and highest density intervals were used to identify home (95%) and core (50%) highest density depth regions (HDDRs) to quantify depth use in relation to time of year and body size. Skate used a total depth range of 1 – 312 m, but home HDDRs typically occurred between 20 – 225 m. Core HDDRs displayed significant seasonal and ontogenetic variation. Summer core HDDRs (100 – 150 m) suggest high occupancy of the deep trenches in the region by skate of most size classes. There was an inverse relationship between body size and depth use, and a seasonal trend of skate moving into shallow water over winter months. These results suggest flapper skate are not solely associated with deep water, as skate, especially large females, are frequently found in shallow waters (25 – 75 m). The current management, which protects the entire depth range, is appropriate for the protection of flapper skate through much of its life-history. This research demonstrates why collecting data across seasonal scales and multiple ontogenetic stages is needed to assess the effectiveness of spatial management.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Demonstration of a switchable damping system to allow low-noise operation of high-Q low-mass suspension systems

Low mass suspension systems with high-Q pendulum stages are used to enable quantum radiation pressure noise limited experiments. Utilising multiple pendulum stages with vertical blade springs and materials with high quality factors provides attenuation of seismic and thermal noise, however damping of these high-Q pendulum systems in multiple degrees of freedom is essential for practical implementation. Viscous damping such as eddy-current damping can be employed but introduces displacement noise from force noise due to thermal fluctuations in the damping system. In this paper we demonstrate a passive damping system with adjustable damping strength as a solution for this problem that can be used for low mass suspension systems without adding additional displacement noise in science mode. We show a reduction of the damping factor by a factor of 8 on a test suspension and provide a general optimisation for this system.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

The Kiloparsec-Scale Kinematics of High-Redshift Star-Forming Galaxies

We present the results of a spectroscopic survey of the kinematic structure of star-forming galaxies at redshift z ~ 2 - 3 using Keck/OSIRIS integral field spectroscopy. Our sample is comprised of 12 galaxies between redshifts z ~ 2.0 and 2.5 and one galaxy at z ~ 3.3 which are well detected in either HAlpha or [O III] emission. These observations were obtained in conjunction with the Keck laser guide star adaptive optics system, with a typical angular resolution after spatial smoothing ~ 0.15" (approximately 1 kpc at the redshift of the target sample). At most five of these 13 galaxies have spatially resolved velocity gradients consistent with rotation while the remaining galaxies have relatively featureless or irregular velocity fields. All of our galaxies show local velocity dispersions ~ 60 - 100 km/s, suggesting that (particularly for those galaxies with featureless velocity fields) rotation about a preferred axis may not be the dominant mechanism of physical support. While some galaxies show evidence for major mergers such evidence is unrelated to the kinematics of individual components (one of our strongest merger candidates also exhibits unambiguous rotational structure), refuting a simple bimodal disk/merger classification scheme. We discuss these data in light of complementary surveys and extant UV-IR spectroscopy and photometry, concluding that the dynamical importance of cold gas may be the primary factor governing the observed kinematics of z ~ 2 galaxies. We conclude by speculating on the importance of mechanisms for accreting low angular-momentum gas and the early formation of quasi-spheroidal systems in the young universe.(abridged)Comment: 34 pages, 13 figures. Revised version accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal. Version with full-resolution figures is available at http://www.astro.ucla.edu/~drlaw/Papers/OSIRIS_data2.pd

RESULTS FROM THE U.S. DOE 2006 SAVE ENERGY NOW ASSESSMENT INITIATIVE: DOE's Partnership with U.S. Industry to Reduce Energy Consumption, Energy Costs, and Carbon Dioxide Emissions

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina and other severe storms in 2005, natural gas supplies were restricted, prices rose, and industry sought ways to reduce its natural gas use and costs. In October 2005, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Secretary Bodman launched his Easy Ways to Save Energy campaign with a promise to provide energy assessments to 200 of the largest U.S. manufacturing plants. A major thrust of the campaign was to ensure that the nation's natural gas supplies would be adequate for all Americans, especially during home heating seasons. In a presentation to the National Press Club on October 3, 2005, Secretary Bodman said: 'America's businesses, factories, and manufacturing facilities use massive amounts of energy. To help them during this period of tightening supply and rising costs, our Department is sending teams of qualified efficiency experts to 200 of the nation's most energy-intensive factories. Our Energy Saving Teams will work with on-site managers on ways to conserve energy and use it more efficiently.' DOE's Industrial Technologies Program (ITP) responded to the Secretary's campaign with its Save Energy Now initiative, featuring a new and highly cost-effective form of energy assessments. The approach for these assessments drew heavily on the existing resources of ITP's Technology Delivery component. Over the years, ITP-Technology Delivery had worked with industry partners to assemble a suite of respected software decision tools, proven assessment protocols, training curricula, certified experts, and strong partnerships for deployment. Because of the program's earlier activities and the resources that had been developed, ITP was prepared to respond swiftly and effectively to the sudden need to promote improved industrial energy efficiency. Because of anticipated supply issues in the natural gas sector, the Save Energy Now initiative strategically focused on natural gas savings and targeted the nation's largest manufacturing plants--those that consume a total of 1 trillion British thermal units (Btu) or more annually. The approximately 6800 U.S. facilities that fall into this category collectively account for about 53% of all energy consumed by industry in the United States. The 2006 Save Energy Now energy assessments departed from earlier DOE plant assessments by concentrating solely on steam and process heating systems, which are estimated to account for approximately 74% of all natural gas use for manufacturing. The assessments also integrated a strong training component designed to teach industrial plant personnel how to use DOE's steam or process heating opportunity assessment software tools. This approach had the advantages of promoting strong buy-in of plant personnel for the assessment and its outcomes and preparing them better to independently replicate the assessment process at the company's other facilities. The Save Energy Now initiative also included provisions to help plants that applied for but did not qualify for assessments (based on the 1 trillion Btu criterion). Services offered to these plants included (1) an assessment by one of DOE's 26 university-based Industrial Assessment Centers (IACs), (2) a telephone consultation with a systems expert at the DOE's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Information Center, or (3) other technical materials and services available through ITP (e.g., the Save Energy Now CD). By the end of 2006, DOE had completed all 200 of the promised assessments, identifying potential natural gas savings of more than 50 trillion Btu and energy cost savings of about $500 million. These savings, if fully implemented, could reduce CO2 emissions by 4.04 million metric tons annually. These results, along with the fact that a large percentage of U.S. energy is used by a relatively small number of very large plants, clearly suggest that assessments are an expedient and cost-effective way to significantly affect large amounts of energy use. Building on the success of the 2006 initiative, ITP has expanded the effort in 2007 with the goal of conducting 250 more assessments in large U.S. industrial plants. The 2007 assessments are addressing not only steam and process heating, but also pumping, compressed air, and fan systems. The full report reviews the tools and resources developed by the DOE ITP program before 2006, which are the foundation and catalyst for the Save Energy Now assessment efforts. The report describes the process by which industrial plants applied to obtain assessments in 2006 and the overall process and philosophy of conducting assessments. A comprehensive review of the results from the 2006 assessments is presented, along with a summary of key accomplishments and findings

Update to the Vitamin C, Thiamine and Steroids in Sepsis (VICTAS) protocol: statistical analysis plan for a prospective, multicenter, double-blind, adaptive sample size, randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Observational research suggests that combined therapy with Vitamin C, thiamine and hydrocortisone may reduce mortality in patients with septic shock. METHODS AND DESIGN: The Vitamin C, Thiamine and Steroids in Sepsis (VICTAS) trial is a multicenter, double-blind, adaptive sample size, randomized, placebo-controlled trial designed to test the efficacy of combination therapy with vitamin C (1.5 g), thiamine (100 mg), and hydrocortisone (50 mg) given every 6 h for up to 16 doses in patients with respiratory or circulatory dysfunction (or both) resulting from sepsis. The primary outcome is ventilator- and vasopressor-free days with mortality as the key secondary outcome. Recruitment began in August 2018 and is ongoing; 501 participants have been enrolled to date, with a planned maximum sample size of 2000. The Data and Safety Monitoring Board reviewed interim results at N = 200, 300, 400 and 500, and has recommended continuing recruitment. The next interim analysis will occur when N = 1000. This update presents the statistical analysis plan. Specifically, we provide definitions for key treatment and outcome variables, and for intent-to-treat, per-protocol, and safety analysis datasets. We describe the planned descriptive analyses, the main analysis of the primary end point, our approach to secondary and exploratory analyses, and handling of missing data. Our goal is to provide enough detail that our approach could be replicated by an independent study group, thereby enhancing the transparency of the study. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03509350. Registered on 26 April 2018

Direct and indirect effects of mood on risk decision making in safety-critical workers

The study aimed to examine the direct influence of specific moods (fatigue, anxiety, happiness) on risk in safety-critical decision making. It further aimed to explore indirect effects, specifically, the potential mediating effects of information processing assessed using a goodness-of-simulation task. Trait fatigue and anxiety were associated with an increase in risk taking on the Safety-Critical Personal Risk Inventory (S-CPRI), however the effect of fatigue was partialled out by anxiety. Trait happiness, in contrast was related to less risky decision making. Findings concerning the ability to simulate suggest that better simulators made less risky decisions. Anxious workers were generally less able to simulate. It is suggested that in this safety-critical environment happiness had a direct effect on risk decision making while the effect of trait anxiety was mediated by goodness-of-simulation

The Antarctic Submillimeter Telescope and Remote Observatory (AST/RO)

AST/RO, a 1.7 m diameter telescope for astronomy and aeronomy studies at wavelengths between 200 and 2000 microns, was installed at the South Pole during the 1994-1995 Austral summer. The telescope operates continuously through the Austral winter, and is being used primarily for spectroscopic studies of neutral atomic carbon and carbon monoxide in the interstellar medium of the Milky Way and the Magellanic Clouds. The South Pole environment is unique among observatory sites for unusually low wind speeds, low absolute humidity, and the consistent clarity of the submillimeter sky. Four heterodyne receivers, an array receiver, three acousto-optical spectrometers, and an array spectrometer are installed. A Fabry-Perot spectrometer using a bolometric array and a Terahertz receiver are in development. Telescope pointing, focus, and calibration methods as well as the unique working environment and logistical requirements of the South Pole are described.Comment: 57 pages, 15 figures. Submitted to PAS