Methods to Monitor and Simulate Existing Residences: Analyzing and Improving Energy and Comfort for Native Hawaiian Homeowners

To support the State of Hawaii’s goals of improving energy performance of buildings and reducing dependence on fossil fuels, this study develops design recommendations that could improve the energy efficiency and thermal comfort of hundreds of existing and future homes for native Hawaiian families. This poster shares the methods and learning objectives used by faculty, researchers, and a team of architecture, electrical and mechanical engineering, and computer science students to chart a path to net-zero site energy use in residences in sub-tropical climates by monitoring and simulating existing houses. The faculty from Architecture and Sea Grant structured the research project into multiple phases over two years: 1) Monitor Existing Buildings; 2) Calibrate Simulated Whole Building Energy Models; 3) Simulate Potential Design for Future Energy Code; 4) Simulate Potential Energy Efficiency Improvements; 5) Estimate Potential Renewable Energy Production and; 6) Communicate Recommendations to Developers and Residents. In this study, three existing house typologies are studied: naturally ventilated (no air conditioning); partially air-conditioned; and centrally air-conditioned. Student and senior researcher teams monitor and manage data for temperature, humidity, and sub-metered for electricity in nine houses for one year. Air conditioning comprises a larger portion of the monitored houses’ total energy use as compared to national hot-humid climate residential averages. The monitored data shows most occupants chose to use air conditioning year round despite the mild climate and high electricity rates. In addition, monitored data shows plug loads vary between houses by more than a factor of two. Student researchers using computational building performance simulation in NREL’s BEopt with Energy Plus find that the most effective energy efficiency measures are 1) improving the air conditioning SEER rating and 2) increasing the thermostat cooling setpoint while using ceiling fans with occupancy sensors. The team graphically communicates recommendations and presents them to developers and homeowners for potential incorporation into the next hundreds of homes planned for construction

Night-time neuronal activation of Cluster N in a day- and night-migrating songbird.

Magnetic compass orientation in a night-migratory songbird requires that Cluster N, a cluster of forebrain regions, is functional. Cluster N, which receives input from the eyes via the thalamofugal pathway, shows high neuronal activity in night-migrants performing magnetic compass-guided behaviour at night, whereas no activation is observed during the day, and covering up the birds' eyes strongly reduces neuronal activation. These findings suggest that Cluster N processes light-dependent magnetic compass information in night-migrating songbirds. The aim of this study was to test if Cluster N is active during daytime migration. We used behavioural molecular mapping based on ZENK activation to investigate if Cluster N is active in the meadow pipit (Anthus pratensis), a day- and night-migratory species. We found that Cluster N of meadow pipits shows high neuronal activity under dim-light at night, but not under full room-light conditions during the day. These data suggest that, in day- and night-migratory meadow pipits, the light-dependent magnetic compass, which requires an active Cluster N, may only be used during night-time, whereas another magnetosensory mechanism and/or other reference system(s), like the sun or polarized light, may be used as primary orientation cues during the day

Print information to inform decisions about mammography screening participation in 16 countries with population-based programs

OBJECTIVE: To profile and compare the content and presentation of written communications related to informed decision-making about mammography. METHODS: Materials from 16 screening programs organized at the national or regional level were analyzed according to five major information domains suggested by the international literature. RESULTS: A majority of countries provided information on the program (interval, cost and quality). There was considerable variability in comprehensiveness of elements in the domains, e.g., test characteristics (false positive/negative) and pros and cons of screening. The majority noted the likelihood of recall for further tests, few commented on the risks of additional tests or finding unimportant tumors. The audit also found variation in presentation (words and pictures). CONCLUSIONS: Presentation of comprehensive, but balanced information on screening benefits and risks is complex and daunting. Issues such as framing effects, coupled with debate about screening efficacy are challenging to the design of effective information tools. The objective of increasing screening prevalence at the population level must be balanced with objectively presenting complete and clear information. Additional research is needed on how information (and mode of presentation) impact screening decisions. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Public health officials need to articulate their objectives and review written communication according to important decision-making domains. [Authors]]]> Decision Making ; Informed Consent ; Mammography ; Mass Screening ; Patient Acceptance of Health Care ; Patient Education as Topic oai:serval.unil.ch:BIB_E228BFDB52E0 2022-05-07T01:28:47Z openaire documents urnserval <oai_dc:dc xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:oai_dc="http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/oai_dc/" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/oai_dc/ http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/oai_dc.xsd"> https://serval.unil.ch/notice/serval:BIB_E228BFDB52E0 Evaluation médico-économique de la thrombolyse de l'accident vasculaire cérébral hyperaigu par le rtPA (Actilyse) http://www.chuv.ch/bdfm/cdsp/MemoireBonvin.pdf Bonvin, Marielle Université de Lausanne, Faculté des hautes études commerciales masterthesis 2003 <![CDATA[L'AVC (accident vasculaire cérébral) représente la troisième cause de mortalité et la première cause de handicap fonctionnel chronique dans la population adulte occidentale. Son fardeau économique compte parmi les plus élevés de toutes les maladies. Ce mémoire a pour objet d'étudier l'impact économique d'une nouvelle procédure d'intervention, la thrombolyse des infarctus cérébraux par le rtPA, sur les coûts du Centre hospitalier universitaire vaudois. [Table des matières] 1. Introduction. 2. Physiopathologie et traitement de l'accident vasculaire cérébral : 2.1 Mécanismes de la coagulation sanguine 2.2 L'athérosclérose. 2.3 L'infarctus cérébral. 2.4 Les traitements de l'AVC. 2.5 La controverse. 2.6 La situation au CHUV. 2.7 Les enjeux économiques. 3. Méthodologie. 4. Tableaux : caractéristiques de l'échantillon et résultats. 5. Discussion. 6. Limites de l'étude. 7. Conclusion

A new model for magnetoreception

Certain migratory birds can sense the earth's magnetic field. The nature of this process is not yet properly understood. Here we offer a simple explanation according to which birds literally `see' the local magnetic field: Our model relates the well-established radical pair hypothesis to the phenomenon of Haidinger's brush, a capacity to see the polarisation of light. This new picture explains recent surprising experimental data indicating long lifetimes for the radical pair. Moreover there is a clear evolutionary path toward this field sensing mechanism: it is an enhancement of a weak effect that may be present in many species.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, version of final published pape

Hispanic physicians' tobacco intervention practices: a cross-sectional survey study

BACKGROUND: U.S. Hispanic physicians constitute a considerable professional collective, and they may be most suited to attend to the health education needs of the growing U.S. Hispanic population. These educational needs include tobacco use prevention and smoking cessation. However, there is a lack of information on Hispanic physicians' tobacco intervention practices, their level of awareness and use of cessation protocols, and the type of programs that would best address their tobacco training needs. The purpose of this study was to assess the tobacco intervention practices and training needs of Hispanic physicians. METHODS: Data was collected through a validated survey instrument among a cross-sectional sample of self-reported Hispanic physicians. Data analyses included frequencies, descriptive statistics, and factorial analyses of variance. RESULTS: The response rate was 55.5%. The majority of respondents (73.3%) were middle-age males. Less than half of respondents routinely performed the most basic intervention: asking patients about smoking status (44.4%) and advising smoking patients to quit (42.2%). Twenty-five percent assisted smoking patients by talking to them about the health risks of smoking, providing education materials or referring them to cessation programs. Only 4.4% routinely arranged follow-up visits or phone calls for smoking patients. The majority of respondents (64.4%) indicated that they prescribe cessation treatments to less than 20% of smoking patients. A few (4.4%) routinely used behavioral change techniques or programs. A minority (15.6%) indicated that they routinely ask their patients about exposure to tobacco smoke, and 6.7% assisted patients exposed to secondhand smoke in understanding the health risks associated with environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). The most frequently encountered barriers preventing respondents from intervening with patients who smoke included: time, lack of training, lack of receptivity by patients, and lack of reimbursement by third party payers. There was no significant main effect of type of physician, nor was there an interaction effect (gender by type of physician), on tobacco-related practices. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that Hispanic physicians, similarly to U.S. physicians in general, do not meet the level of intervention recommended by health care agencies. The results presented will assist in the development of tobacco training initiatives for Hispanic physicians

Impact of a physician intervention program to increase breast cancer screening

In order to improve compliance with the National Cancer Institute\u27s breast cancer screening guidelines, we developed a multifaceted intervention designed to alter physician screening practice. A pre-post test, two-community design was used. Primary care physicians in one community served as the control. Data were collected by two mailed surveys (1987 and 1990). Response rates were 61% and 64%, respectively. The physician intervention program consisted of a hospital-based continuing medical education program and an outreach component which focused on implementing a reminder system. Outcome measures were self-reported attitudinal, knowledge, and screening practices changes. In spite of an impressive change in comparison community physicians\u27 practice, the difference in change over time in the intervention community physicians\u27 ordering of annual mammography compared to the change in the comparison community physicians\u27 ordering was significant (P = 0.04). The adjusted odds ratio is nearly 8. We conclude that our in-service continuing medical education program was successful in improving breast cancer screening practices among primary care physicians

Correlates of tobacco cessation counseling among Hispanic physicians in the US: a cross-sectional survey study.

BACKGROUND: Physician advice is an important motivator for attempting to stop smoking. However, physicians\u27 lack of intervention with smokers has only modestly improved in the last decade. Although the literature includes extensive research in the area of the smoking intervention practices of clinicians, few studies have focused on Hispanic physicians. The purpose of this study was to explore the correlates of tobacco cessation counseling practices among Hispanic physicians in the US. METHODS: Data were collected through a validated survey instrument among a cross-sectional sample of self-reported Hispanic physicians practicing in New Mexico, and who were members of the New Mexico Hispanic Medical Society in the year 2001. Domains of interest included counseling practices, self-efficacy, attitudes/responsibility, and knowledge/skills. Returned surveys were analyzed to obtain frequencies and descriptive statistics for each survey item. Other analyses included: bivariate Pearson\u27s correlation, factorial ANOVAs, and multiple linear regressions. RESULTS: Respondents (n = 45) reported a low level of compliance with tobacco control guidelines and recommendations. Results indicate that physicians\u27 familiarity with standard cessation protocols has a significant effect on their tobacco-related practices (r = .35, variance shared = 12%). Self-efficacy and gender were both significantly correlated to tobacco related practices (r = .42, variance shared = 17%). A significant correlation was also found between self-efficacy and knowledge/skills (r = .60, variance shared = 36%). Attitudes/responsibility was not significantly correlated with any of the other measures. CONCLUSION: More resources should be dedicated to training Hispanic physicians in tobacco intervention. Training may facilitate practice by increasing knowledge, developing skills and, ultimately, enhancing feelings of self-efficacy

Mammography messages in popular media: implications for patient expectations and shared clinical decision-making

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75005/1/j.1369-6513.2001.00120.x.pd

Screening Colonoscopy in the US: Attitudes and Practices of Primary Care Physicians

BACKGROUND: Rising colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates in the last decade are attributable almost entirely to increased colonoscopy use. Little is known about factors driving the increase, but primary care physicians (PCPs) play a central role in CRC screening delivery. OBJECTIVE: Explore PCP attitudes toward screening colonoscopy and their associations with CRC screening practice patterns. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of data from a nationally representative survey conducted in 2006-2007. PARTICIPANTS: 1,266 family physicians, general practitioners, general internists, and obstetrician-gynecologists. MAIN MEASURES: Physician-reported changes in the volume of screening tests ordered, performed or supervised in the past 3 years, attitudes toward colonoscopy, the influence of evidence and perceived norms on their recommendations, challenges to screening, and practice characteristics. RESULTS: The cooperation rate (excludes physicians without valid contact information) was 75%; 28% reported their volume of FOBT ordering had increased substantially or somewhat, and the majority (53%) reported their sigmoidoscopy volume decreased either substantially or somewhat. A majority (73%) reported that colonoscopy volume increased somewhat or substantially. The majority (86%) strongly agreed that colonoscopy was the best of the available CRC screening tests; 69% thought it was readily available for their patients; 59% strongly or somewhat agreed that they might be sued if they did not offer colonoscopy to their patients. All three attitudes were significantly related to substantial increases in colonoscopy ordering. CONCLUSIONS: PCPs report greatly increased colonoscopy recommendation relative to other screening tests, and highly favorable attitudes about colonoscopy. Greater emphasis is needed on informed decision-making with patients about preferences for test options

The evaluation of a Taiwanese training program in smoking cessation and the trainees' adherence to a practice guideline

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Taiwanese government began reimbursement for smoking cessation in 2002. Certification from a training program was required for physicians who wanted reimbursement. The program certified 6,009 physicians till 2007. The objective of this study is to evaluate the short- and long term efficacy of the training program.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>For short term evaluation, all trainees in 2007 were recruited. For long term evaluation, computer randomly selected 2,000 trainees who received training from 2002 to 2006 were recruited. Course satisfaction, knowledge, confidence in providing smoking cessation services and the adherence to a practice guideline were evaluated by questionnaires.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Trainees reported high satisfaction with the training program. There was significant difference between pre- and post-test scores in knowledge. Confidence in providing services was lower in the long term evaluation compared to short term evaluation. For adherence to a practice guideline, 86% asked the status of smoking, 88% advised the smokers to quit, 76% assessed the smoker's willingness to quit, 59% assisted the smokers to quit, and 60% arranged follow-up visits for smokers. The incentive of reimbursement was the most significant factor affecting confidence and adherence.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The training program was satisfactory and effective. Adherence to a practice guideline in our study was better than studies without physician training in other countries.</p