326 research outputs found
Satisfaction with democracy and voter turnout
Numerous studies conclude that countries in which citizens express higher levels of satisfaction with democracy also tend to display higher levels of voter turnout in national elections. Yet it is difficult to draw causal inferences from this positive cross-sectional relationship, because democracies feature many historical, cultural, and institutional differences that are not easily controlled for in cross-sectional comparisons. We apply an alternative, temporal approach to this issue by asking the question: Are over-time declines (increases) in aggregate levels of satisfaction within democracies associated with increases (declines) in levels of voter turnout within these democracies? Our temporal analysis of this relationship in 12 democracies over the period 1976–2011 reveals a pattern that is the opposite of that suggested by previous cross-sectional studies: namely, we find that over-time increases in citizens’ satisfaction with democracy are associated with significant decreases in voter turnout in national elections in these countries. </jats:p
Impact of mental health problems on case fatality in male cancer patients
Background: Although mortality rates are elevated in psychiatric patients relative to their healthy counterparts, little is known about the impact of mental health on survival in people with cancer. / Methods and results: Among 16 498 Swedish men with cancer, survival was worse in those with a history of psychiatric hospital admissions: multiply-adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) comparing cancer mortality in men with and without psychiatric admissions: 1.59 (1.39, 1.83). / Conclusion: Survival in cancer patients is worse among those with a history of psychiatric disease. The mechanisms underlying this association should be further explored
Model-Independent Diagnostics of Highly Reddened Milky Way Star Clusters: Age Calibration
The next generation near- and mid-infrared Galactic surveys will yield a
large number of new highly obscured star clusters. Detailed characterization of
these new objects with spectroscopy is time-consuming. Diagnostic tools that
will be able to characterize clusters based only on the available photometry
will be needed to study large samples of the newly found objects. The
brightness difference between the red clump and the main-sequence turn-off
point have been used as a model-independent age calibrator for clusters with
ages from a few 10 to 10 yr in the optical. Here we apply for the
first time the method in the near-infrared. We calibrated this difference in
-band, which is likely to be available for obscured clusters, and we apply
it to a number of test clusters with photometry comparable to the one that will
be yielded by the current or near-future surveys. The new calibration yields
reliable ages over the range of ages for which the red clump is present in
clusters. The slope of the relation is smoother than that of the corresponding
-band relation, reducing the uncertainty in the age determinations with
respect to the optical ones.Comment: 5 pages, 5 eps figure, accepted for publication in Astronomy and
Astrophysic
Clinicians' perspectives on supporting individuals with severe anorexia nervosa in specialist eating disorder intensive treatment settings
BACKGROUND: Admissions to intensive treatment (i.e., inpatient [IP] and/or day patient [DP]) for individuals with severe anorexia nervosa (AN) are common. Growing literature indicates potential risks and benefits of each intensive treatment approach; however, existing research has focused on patient and carer perspectives of these treatments. Also, there is scant empirical evidence available for guiding the parameters of intensive treatments for AN. We therefore explored clinicians' perspectives and experience of supporting adults with severe AN in intensive settings. METHODS: We conducted twenty one semi-structured interviews with clinicians who deliver intensive treatments (i.e., IP and/or DP) for individuals with severe AN across four specialist Eating Disorder Services in the United Kingdom between May 2020 and June 2021. We asked clinicians about their views and experiences of supporting individuals with severe AN in intensive treatment settings and the challenges and opportunities associated with IP and DP treatment. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis supported by NVivo software. RESULTS: Five broad and interrelated themes were identified: (1) Intensive Support; (2) The Severity of Patients' Illnesses; (3) Hope and Recovery; (4) Which Treatment When; (5) Limited Resources; and (6) Carer Burden. We identified various similarities between the two intensive treatment approaches, including the value of intensive and multidisciplinary support and carer involvement, and the challenge of managing complex and unique needs in resource-limited intensive settings. We also found differences in the relationship of treatment to patients' home environments, the necessity of patient motivation, and the management of risk. CONCLUSIONS: Both intensive treatment settings are valued by clinicians; however, there are unique challenges and opportunities for supporting individuals with severe AN within each. Our findings suggest DP treatment may be used as an alternative to IP treatment for individuals with severe AN. However, clear questions remain over which intensive treatment setting is best suited to which patient when and should be the focus of future research
Autopsy of a failed trial part 1: A qualitative investigation of clinician's views on and experiences of the implementation of the DAISIES trial in UK-based intensive eating disorder services
Objective: The DAISIES trial, comparing inpatient and stepped-care day patient treatment for adults with severe anorexia nervosa was prematurely terminated in March 2022 due to poor recruitment. This qualitative study seeks to understand the difficulties faced during the trial by investigating stakeholders' views on and experiences of its implementation. / Method: Semi-structured interview and focus group transcripts, and trial management and oversight group meeting minutes from May 2020-June 2022 were analysed using thematic analysis. Participants were 47 clinicians and co-investigators involved with the DAISIES trial. The Non-Adoption, Abandonment, Scale-up, Spread, and Sustainability (NASSS) framework was applied to the interpretive themes to classify barriers and facilitators to implementation. / Results: Five themes were identified: incompatible participation interests; changing standard practice; concerns around clinical management; systemic capacity and capability issues; and Covid-19 disrupting implementation. Applying the NASSS framework indicated the greatest implementation challenges to arise with the adopters (e.g. patients, clinicians), the organisational systems (e.g. service capacity), and the wider socio-political context (e.g. Covid-19 closing services). / Conclusions: Our findings emphasise the top-down impact of systemic-level research implementation challenges. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic accentuated pre-existing organisational barriers to trial implementation within intensive eating disorder services, further limiting the capacity for research
SP701-A-Growing and Harvesting Switchgrass for Ethanol Production in Tennessee
Switchgrass is a warm-season perennial grass native to North America. The plant can reach heights up to 10 feet with an extensive root system. Once established, switchgrass well-managed for biomass should have a productive life of 10-20 years. Within the stand, switchgrass is an extremely strong competitor. However, it is not considered an invasive plant. Switchgrass adapts well to a variety of soil and climatic conditions. It is most productive on moderately well to well-drained soils of medium fertility and a soil pH at 5.0 or above. The high cellulosic content of switchgrass makes it a favorable feedstock for ethanol production. It is anticipated that switchgrass can yield sufficient biomass to produce approximately 500 gallons of ethanol per acre. While the Tennessee Biofuels Initiative includes a demonstration plant to make ethanol from switchgrass, the market for switchgrass as an energy crop remains limited. Producers will likely need to be located within 30 to 50 miles of a cellulosic ethanol plant. Producing switchgrass for energy generally occurs under some form of contractual arrangement with the end-user. To reap potential benefits from using switchgrass for cellulosic ethanol production, the system of production must be profitable for farmers and energy producers, as well as cost effective for consumers
Impact of socioeconomic deprivation on rate and cause of death in severe mental illness
Background:
Socioeconomic status has important associations with disease-specific mortality in the general population. Although individuals with Severe Mental Illnesses (SMI) experience significant premature mortality, the relationship between socioeconomic status and mortality in this group remains under investigated.<p></p>
Aims:
To assess the impact of socioeconomic status on rate and cause of death in individuals with SMI (schizophrenia and bipolar disorder) relative to the local (Glasgow) and wider (Scottish) populations.<p></p>
Methods:
Cause and age of death during 2006-2010 inclusive for individuals with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder registered on the Glasgow Psychosis Clinical Information System (PsyCIS) were obtained by linkage to the Scottish General Register Office (GRO). Rate and cause of death by socioeconomic status, measured by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD), were compared to the Glasgow and Scottish populations.<p></p>
Results:
Death rates were higher in people with SMI across all socioeconomic quintiles compared to the Glasgow and Scottish populations, and persisted when suicide was excluded. Differences were largest in the most deprived quintile (794.6 per 10,000 population vs. 274.7 and 252.4 for Glasgow and Scotland respectively). Cause of death varied by socioeconomic status. For those living in the most deprived quintile, higher drug-related deaths occurred in those with SMI compared to local Glasgow and wider Scottish population rates (12.3% vs. 5.9%, p = <0.001 and 5.1% p = 0.002 respectively). A lower proportion of deaths due to cancer in those with SMI living in the most deprived quintile were also observed, relative to the local Glasgow and wider Scottish populations (12.3% vs. 25.1% p = 0.013 and 26.3% p = <0.001). The proportion of suicides was significantly higher in those with SMI living in the more affluent quintiles relative to Glasgow and Scotland (54.6% vs. 5.8%, p = <0.001 and 5.5%, p = <0.001).
Discussion and conclusions:
Excess mortality in those with SMI occurred across all socioeconomic quintiles compared to the Glasgow and Scottish populations but was most marked in the most deprived quintiles when suicide was excluded as a cause of death. Further work assessing the impact of socioeconomic status on specific causes of premature mortality in SMI is needed
Synthesis, Characterization and Magnetic Susceptibility of the Heavy Fermion Transition Metal Oxide LiV_{2}O_{4}
The preparative method, characterization and magnetic susceptibility \chi
measurements versus temperature T of the heavy fermion transition metal oxide
LiV_{2}O_{4} are reported in detail. The intrinsic \chi(T) shows a nearly
T-independent behavior below ~ 30 K with a shallow broad maximum at about 16 K,
whereas Curie-Weiss-like behavior is observed above 50-100 K. Field-cooled and
zero-field-cooled magnetization M measurements in applied magnetic fields H =
10 to 100 G from 1.8 to 50 K showed no evidence for spin-glass ordering.
Crystalline electric field theory for an assumed cubic V point group symmetry
is found insufficient to describe the observed temperature variation of the
effective magnetic moment. The Kondo and Coqblin-Schrieffer models do not
describe the magnitude and T dependence of \chi with realistic parameters. In
the high T range, fits of \chi(T) by the predictions of high temperature series
expansion calculations provide estimates of the V-V antiferromagnetic exchange
coupling constant J/k_{B} ~ 20 K, g-factor g ~ 2 and the T-independent
susceptibility. Other possible models to describe the \chi(T) are discussed.
The paramagnetic impurities in the samples were characterized using isothermal
M(H) measurements with 0 < H <= 5.5 Tesla at 2 to 6 K. These impurities are
inferred to have spin S_{imp} ~ 3/2 to 4, g_{imp} ~ 2 and molar concentrations
of 0.01 to 0.8 %, depending on the sample.Comment: 19 typeset RevTeX pages, 16 eps figures included, uses epsf; to be
published in Phys. Rev.
First Results from The GlueX Experiment
The GlueX experiment at Jefferson Lab ran with its first commissioning beam
in late 2014 and the spring of 2015. Data were collected on both plastic and
liquid hydrogen targets, and much of the detector has been commissioned. All of
the detector systems are now performing at or near design specifications and
events are being fully reconstructed, including exclusive production of
, and mesons. Linearly-polarized photons were
successfully produced through coherent bremsstrahlung and polarization transfer
to the has been observed.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, Invited contribution to the Hadron 2015
Conference, Newport News VA, September 201
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