What do we need for robust and quantitative health impact assessment?

Health impact assessment (HIA) aims to make the health consequences of decisions explicit. Decision-makers need to know that the conclusions of HIA are robust. Quantified estimates of potential health impacts may be more influential but there are a number of concerns. First, not everything that can be quantified is important. Second, not everything that is being quantified at present should be, if this cannot be done robustly. Finally, not everything that is important can be quantified; rigorous qualitative HIA will still be needed for a thorough assessment. This paper presents the first published attempt to provide practical guidance on what is required to perform robust, quantitative HIA. Initial steps include profiling the affected populations, obtaining evidence from for postulated impacts, and determining how differences in subgoups' exposures and suscepibilities affect impacts. Using epidemiological evidence for HIA is different from carrying out a new study. Key steps in quantifying impacts are mapping the causal pathway, selecting appropriate outcome measures and selecting or developing a statistical model. Evidence from different sources is needed. For many health impacts, evidence of an effect may be scarce and estimates of the size and nature of the relationship may be inadequate. Assumptions and uncertainties must therefore be explicit. Modelled data can sometimes be tested against empirical data but sensitivity analyses are crucial. When scientific problems occur, discontinuing the study is not an option, as HIA is usually intended to inform real decisions. Both qualitative and quantitative elements of HIA must be performed robustly to be of value

Light Quark Resonances in pbar p Annihilations at 5.2 GeV/c

Data from the Fermilab E835 experiment have been used to study the reaction pbar p -> eta eta pi0 at 5.2 GeV/c. A sample of 22 million six photons events has been analyzed to construct the Dalitz plot containing ~80k eta eta pi0 events. A partial wave analysis of the data has been done. Six f_J-states decaying into eta eta and five a_J-states decaying into eta pi0 are identified in the mass region ~1.3 and 2.4 GeV, and their masses, widths and spins are determined by maximum likelihood analysis of the data. Two f_0 states are identified with the popular candidates for the lightest scalar glueball, f_0(1500) and f_0(1710).Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

1/Nc1/N_c Rotational Corrections to gAg_A and Isovector Magnetic Moment of the Nucleon

The $1/N_c$ rotational corrections to the axial vector constant and the isovector magnetic moment of the nucleon are studied in the Nambu -- Jona-Lasinio model. We follow a semiclassical quantization procedure in terms of path integrals in which we can include perturbatively corrections in powers of angular velocity $\Omega \sim \frac 1{N_c}$. We find non-zero $1/N_c$ order corrections from both the valence and the Dirac sea quarks. These corrections are large enough to resolve the long-standing problem of a strong underestimation of both $g_A$ and $\mu^{IV}$ in the leading order. The axial constant $g_A$ is well reproduced, whereas the isovector magnetic moment $\mu^{IV}$ is still underestimated by 25 \%.Comment: (Revtex), 10 pages (3 figures available on request), report RUB-TPII-53/9

Position related differences in physiological measures of collegiate rugby union players

Position related differences have previously been identified in elite rugby union players however similar research into non-elite rugby union players is limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences due to playing position in physiological measures of collegiate rugby union players

Study of χ_{bJ}(1P) Properties in the Radiative Υ(2S) Decays

We report a study of radiative decays of \chi_{bJ}(1P)(J=0,1,2) mesons into 74 hadronic final states comprising charged and neutral pions, kaons, protons; out of these, 41 modes are observed with at least 5 standard deviation significance. Our measurements not only improve the previous measurements by the CLEO Collaboration but also lead to first observations in many new modes. The large sample allows us to probe the total decay width of the \chi_{b0}(1P). In the absence of a statistically significant result, a 90% confidence-level upper limit is set on the width at \Gamma_{total}\u3c 2.4 MeV. Our results are based on 24.7 fb^{-1} of e+e- collision data recorded by the Belle detector at the \Upsilon(2S) resonance, corresponding to (157.8\pm3.6)\times10^6 \Upsilon(2S) decays

Intrusive memories following disaster: Relationship with peritraumatic responses and later affect

Cognitive theories of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) suggest that intrusive memories result from disrupted information processing during traumatic memory encoding and are characterized by fear, helplessness, and horror at recall. Existing naturalistic studies are limited by the absence of direct comparisons between specific moments that do and do not correspond to intrusive memories. We tested predictions from cognitive theories of PTSD by comparing peritraumatic responses during moments experienced as intrusive memories versus distressing moments of the same traumatic event from the same individual not experienced as intrusive memories. A further comparison was with highly distressing moments experienced during the same event by individuals without intrusive memories. We utilized a psychometrically generated model to distinguish different peritraumatic reactions. Moments experienced as intrusive memories were characterized by higher peritraumatic distress, immobility, cognitive overload, and somatic dissociation when compared both to distressing moments from the same individual that did not intrude and to the most distressing memories of individuals without intrusions. Exploratory analyses indicated that at recall, intrusive memories were characterized by higher levels of primary traumatic emotions such as anxiety, fear, and helplessness in comparison with nonintrusive memories. Findings from this novel naturalistic design support predictions made by cognitive theories of PTSD and have implications for research and preventative interventions targeting intrusive memories. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)

Towards many colors in FISH on 3D-preserved interphase nuclei

The article reviews the existing methods of multicolor FISH on nuclear targets, first of all, interphase chromosomes. FISH proper and image acquisition are considered as two related components of a single process. We discuss (1) M-FISH (combinatorial labeling + deconvolution + widefield microscopy); (2) multicolor labeling + SIM (structured illumination microscopy); (3) the standard approach to multicolor FISH + CLSM (confocal laser scanning microscopy; one fluorochrome - one color channel); (4) combinatorial labeling + CLSM; (5) non-combinatorial labeling + CLSM + linear unmixing. Two related issues, deconvolution of images acquired with CLSM and correction of data for chromatic Z-shift, are also discussed. All methods are illustrated with practical examples. Finally, several rules of thumb helping to choose an optimal labeling + microscopy combination for the planned experiment are suggested. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel