The built environment, cognition and the image: towards an architectural epistemology

Man is increasingly assuming conscious control over his physical environment. The impact of rapidly accelerating scientific and technological progress has resulted in the environment being increasingly man-made and man-influenced. The growing urban population has necessitated building at a rate and quantity greater than ever before. Enormous resources, both human and material, are being channelled on an unprecedented scale into the planning, designing and construction of new environments for human use. Whilst this tide of energy and activity continues to surge forward, creating vast urban and suburban. developments, very little energy and resources have, by comparison, been directed towards critically assessing the impact that these built environments have on people, and the extent to which they are responsive to human needs and aspirations. It has become critical for the architect to be made fully aware of the human implications of the physical environment he is creating. Concern for the human element has been eclipsed by the current pre-occupation of the design profession with technology and economics which have become the dominant design imperatives

Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs and Behaviors Regarding Fruits and Vegetables among Cost-Offset Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) Applicants, Purchasers, and a Comparison Sample

Data were collected in August, amid the summer CSA season, when shares include many of the summer FV preferred by low-income caregivers and their children [33], which may have contributed to the magnitude of the differences in children’s FV consumption that we observed. Because resources to support the CO-CSA were limited and offsets were awarded on a first-come first-served basis, and because almost all KABs were equivalent for purchaser and non-purchaser sub-groups, selection bias into the purchaser sub-group is an unlikely explanation for differences observed between CO-CSA purchasers and non-purchasers. [...]the inclusion of some CO-CSA applicants who participated in a longitudinal study regarding CO-CSA may have biased upwards estimates of KAB and self-efficacy with respect to FV consumption in the applicant sample. [...]although selection of adults into the comparison group used similar eligibility criteria, they were not comparable to CO-CSA applicants who were older, more educated, and more often lived in food-secure households. [...]sample sizes were too small to permit exploration of observed associations in a multivariate context that controlled for key sample differences such as age, educational attainment, or self-efficacy for eating and cooking FV. 5

The Production of Nitric Oxide, IL-6, and TNF-Alpha in Palmitate-Stimulated PBMNCs Is Enhanced through Hyperglycemia in Diabetes

We examined nitric oxide (NO), IL-6, and TNF-α secretion from cultured palmitate-stimulated PBMNCs or in the plasma from type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2MD) patients or nondiabetic (ND) controls. Free fatty acids (FFA) have been suggested to induce chronic low-grade inflammation, activate the innate immune system, and cause deleterious effects on vascular cells and other tissues through inflammatory processes. The levels of NO, IL-6, TNF-α, and MDA were higher in supernatant of palmitate stimulated blood cells (PBMNC) or from plasma from patients. The results obtained in the present study demonstrated that hyperglycemia in diabetes exacerbates in vitro inflammatory responses in PBMNCs stimulated with high levels of SFA (palmitate). These results suggest that hyperglycemia primes PBMNCs for NO, IL-6, and TNF-alpha secretion under in vitro FFA stimulation are associated with the secretion of inflammatory biomarkers in diabetes. A combined therapy targeting signaling pathways activated by hyperglycemia in conjunction with simultaneous control of hyperglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia would be suggested for controlling the progress of diabetic complications

Personalized Nutrition as a Key Contributor to Improving Radiation Response in Breast Cancer

Understanding metabolic and immune regulation inherent to patient populations is key to improving the radiation response for our patients. To date, radiation therapy regimens are prescribed based on tumor type and stage. Patient populations who are noted to have a poor response to radiation such as those of African American descent, those who have obesity or metabolic syndrome, or senior adult oncology patients, should be considered for concurrent therapies with radiation that will improve response. Here, we explore these populations of breast cancer patients, who frequently display radiation resistance and increased mortality rates, and identify the molecular underpinnings that are, in part, responsible for the radiation response and that result in an immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment. The resulting immune phenotype is discussed to understand how antitumor immunity could be improved. Correcting nutrient deficiencies observed in these populations should be considered as a means to improve the therapeutic index of radiation therapy

Growing Opportunities for Equitable, Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Food Systems Education: A Review of Food Systems Education at Land-Grant Institutions and Development of Open-Access Materials

Post-secondary coursework related to agriculture and the food supply has been at the core of the United States' land-grant system for more than 150 years. However, as the complexity of food systems has grown, so too have critiques that the education provided in these programs is too narrow to adequately prepare graduates to address pressing food systems issues. In response, some higher education institutions have developed degrees in food systems. To support development of this burgeoning field, we created, tested, and refined four evidence-informed, interdisciplinary, equity-oriented, open-access teaching modules. These modules are based on our experience conducting a multi-site, multi-year transdisciplinary investigation of subsidized, or “cost-offset”, community supported agriculture and a survey asking instructors at land-grant institutions (n = 66) about topic offerings and current unmet needs for instructional materials. Our collaboration illuminated the potential and challenges of food systems research; underscored the value of transdisciplinary research teams; and identified several equity-oriented topics related to the design, implementation, and evaluation of local food initiatives suitable for advancing sustainable foods systems education. Instructors reported that the most helpful teaching aids would be case studies, lesson plans with active learning components, and reference lists with relevant peer-reviewed publications. The final modules seek to shed light on the complexity of food systems projects and build knowledge, vocabularies, and skills across disciplines engaged with food systems. Per instructor-defined needs, each module features a case study, active-learning activities, and references. We anticipate that the adaptable modules will be suitable for a wide range of students and courses

Locomotive Horn Detectability at Closely-Spaced Highway-Rail Grade Crossings

DTFR5317X00026Researchers assessed the feasibility of altering the locomotive horn sounding pattern of repetition at each crossing in a series of closely-spaced grade crossings by exploring the specific geometries and warning requirements for motorists in advance of such crossings. Acoustic modeling on five example scenarios showed that the locomotive horn would meet the auditory detection criteria out to a minimum of 1200 ft downstream of the primary crossing in those scenarios. The results from this analysis confirm that further exploration is needed on this topic, including assessing the feasibility and effectiveness for both detectability and driver response, to only sounding the locomotive horn prior to arriving at the first in a series of closely-spaced grade crossings

A structured telephone-delivered intervention to reduce problem alcohol use (Ready2Change): study protocol for a parallel group randomised controlled trial

Background: Current population surveys suggest around 20% of Australians meet diagnostic criteria for an alcohol use disorder. However, only a minority seek professional help due to individual and structural barriers, such as low health literacy, stigma, geography, service operating hours and wait lists. Telephone-delivered interventions are readily accessible and ideally placed to overcome these barriers. We will conduct a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to examine the efficacy of a standalone, structured telephone-delivered intervention to reduce alcohol consumption, problem severity and related psychological distress among individuals with problem alcohol use. Methods/design: This is a single site, parallel group, two-arm superiority RCT. We will recruit 344 participants from across Australia with problem alcohol use. After completing a baseline assessment, participants will be randomly allocated to receive either the Ready2Change (R2C) intervention (n = 172, four to six sessions of structured telephone-delivered intervention, R2C self-help resource, guidelines for alcohol consumption and stress management pamphlets) or the control condition (n = 172, four phone check-ins < 5 min, guidelines for alcohol consumption and stress management pamphlets). Telephone follow-up assessments will occur at 4-6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months post-baseline. The primary outcome is the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) score administered at 3 months post-baseline. Secondary outcomes include change in AUDIT score (6 and 12 months post-baseline), change in number of past-month heavy drinking days, psychological distress, health and wellbeing, quality of life, client treatment evaluation and cost effectiveness. Discussion: This study will be one of the first RCTs conducted internationally to examine the impact of a standalone, structured telephone-delivered intervention to address problem alcohol use and associated psychological morbidity. The proposed intervention is expected to contribute to the health and wellbeing of individuals who are otherwise unlikely to seek treatment through mainstream service models, to reduce the burden on specialist services and primary care providers and to provide an accessible and proportionate response, with resulting cost savings for the health system and broader community. Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12618000828224. Pre-registered on 16 May 2018

Effects of African dust deposition on phytoplankton in the western tropical Atlantic Ocean off Barbados

Bioassay incubation experiments conducted with nutrients and local atmospheric aerosol amendments indicate that phosphorus (P) availability limited phytoplankton growth in the low-nutrient low-chlorophyll (LNLC) ocean off Barbados. Atmospheric deposition provides a relatively large influx of new nutrients and trace metals to the surface ocean in this region in comparison to other nutrient sources. However, the impact on native phytoplankton is muted due to the high ratio of nitrogen (N) to P (NO3:SRP > 40) and the low P solubility of these aerosols. Atmospheric deposition induces P limitation in this LNLC region by adding more N and iron (Fe) relative to P. This favors the growth of Prochlorococcus, a genus characterized by low P requirements and highly efficient P acquisition mechanisms. A global three-dimensional marine ecosystem model that includes species-specific phytoplankton elemental quotas/stoichiometry and the atmospheric deposition of N, P, and Fe supports this conclusion. Future increases in aerosol N loading may therefore influence phytoplankton community structure in other LNLC areas, thereby affecting the biological pump and associated carbon sequestration