Visuomotor coordination requires both the accurate alignment of spatial information from different sensory streams and the ability to convert these sensory signals into accurate motor commands. Both ...of these processes are highly plastic, as illustrated by the rapid adaptation of goal-directed movements following exposure to shifted visual feedback. Although visual-shift adaptation is a widely used model of sensorimotor learning, the multifaceted adaptive response is typically poorly quantified. We present an approach to quantitatively characterizing both sensory and task-dependent components of adaptation. Sensory aftereffects are quantified with "alignment tests" that provide a localized, two-dimensional measure of sensory recalibration. These sensory effects obey a precise form of "additivity," in which the shift in sensory alignment between vision and the right hand is equal to the vector sum of the shifts between vision and the left hand and between the right and left hands. This additivity holds at the exposure location and at a second generalization location. These results support a component transformation model of sensory coordination, in which eye-hand and hand-hand alignment relies on a sequence of shared sensory transformations. We also ask how these sensory effects compare with the aftereffects measured in target reaching and tracking tasks. We find that the aftereffect depends on both the task performed during feedback-shift exposure and on the testing task. The results suggest the presence of both a general sensory recalibration and task-dependent sensorimotor effect. The task-dependent effect is observed in highly stereotyped reaching movements, but not in the more variable tracking task.
Evidence for a narrow baryon state is found in quasi-real photoproduction on a deuterium target through the decay channel pK0S→pπ+π−. A peak is observed in the pK0S invariant mass spectrum at ...1528±2.6(stat)±2.1(syst) MeV. Depending on the background model, the naive statistical significance of the peak is 4–6 standard deviations and its width may be somewhat larger than the experimental resolution of σ=4.3–6.2 MeV. This state may be interpreted as the predicted S=+1 exotic Θ+(uudds̄) pentaquark baryon. No signal for an hypothetical Θ++ baryon was observed in the pK+ invariant mass distribution. The absence of such a signal indicates that an isotensor Θ is excluded and an isovector Θ is unlikely.
To explore a key outcome of interest for the Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) Regional Teams by examining COVID-19 vaccinations over time in US counties where CEAL teams operated and comparing ...them to demographically similar counties in the same state.
Our evaluation used a nonequivalent control group design. Each county where a CEAL team operated was matched to a unique non-CEAL county in the same state. Components of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Social Vulnerability Index were used as the matching criteria. COVID-19 vaccinations (county-level percentage of residents aged 18 years or older who are fully vaccinated) for CEAL and matched counties were analyzed over time.
The mean percentage of vaccinated adults was significantly higher in CEAL counties than in matched non-CEAL counties. Sensitivity analyses confirmed conclusions did not change depending on the CEAL cohort or closeness of matches.
Our findings support CEAL team efforts to increase COVID-19 vaccinations in target communities and employ community-engaged research more broadly within public health contexts. (
. 2024;114(S1):S124-S127. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307517).
The HERMES polarized atomic beam source Nass, A.; Baumgarten, C.; Braun, B. ...
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
06/2003, Letnik:
505, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The HERMES atomic beam source is used to provide nuclear polarized hydrogen or deuterium atoms for the HERMES target. The setup including the dissociator, the sextupole magnet system and the ...high-frequency transitions is described. Measurements of the hydrogen intensity of up to
6.4×10
16
atoms/
s
in two hyperfine substates and of the deuterium intensity of up to
5.8×10
16
atoms/
s
in three hyperfine substates are presented. A degree of dissociation of 92.8% for H (94.5% for D) at the entrance of the storage cell and a nuclear polarization of around 0.97 (H) and 0.92 (D) have been found constant within a couple of percent over the whole running period of the HERMES experiment.
Flavored electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and tobacco products are associated with the initiation and progression of tobacco use. With recent restrictions around flavored products, it is ...critical to measure both the product and the flavor being used. The Tobacco Centers of Regulatory Science (TCORS) Flavored Tobacco Products Measurement Subcommittee (FTPMS) was established to develop core measures to assess flavored tobacco and ENDS product usage, facilitate data harmonization, replicability, and comparisons across studies.
The FTPMS used a mixed-method approach to inform the development of recommended measures (first use, current use, reasons for use) to assess tobacco and ENDS product flavors. This included reviewing existing surveys, identifying priority areas, developing new measures, cognitive testing, and finalization of recommended measures.
Recommended measures were selected from national surveys (e.g. PATH study) and survey items used in TCORS studies to evaluate first use, current use, and reasons for use of tobacco and ENDS products. Response options were expanded for questions about specific flavors and adapted to allow for assessments relevant to recent federal policies. Supplemental measures were developed for researchers conducting more in-depth research around flavored products.
Using an expert consensus process supplemented with cognitive testing, the FTPMS developed recommendations for core and supplemental measures for flavored tobacco and ENDS products. Harmonizing data on these factors for flavored tobacco and ENDS products are critical for researchers and may provide actionable evidence to federal, state, and local regulators and policymakers, as well as support evaluations of policies restricting flavors in these products.
The development of core measures to assess first use, current use, and reasons for use of flavored tobacco and ENDS products will facilitate data harmonization, replicability, and comparisons across studies conducted in different samples or across communities with varying levels of regulation for these products. Use of these standardized measures will allow for a greater understanding of the role of flavors and helps to build a more robust evidence base to inform regulatory decisions to reduce tobacco and ENDS use at the population level.
Opioid Education and Prescribing Practices Price, Simani M; O'Donoghue, Amie C; Rizzo, Lou ...
Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine,
2021 Jul-Aug, Letnik:
34, Številka:
4
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Lack of training among health care providers (HCPs) to safely prescribe opioids is a contributing factor to the opioid crisis. Training and other resources have been developed to educate providers ...about safe and appropriate opioid prescribing practices.
The national survey was conducted with 2000 HCPs representing primary care physicians (PCPs), including family practice, general practice, and internal medicine; specialists (SPs); physician assistants (PAs); and nurse practitioners (NPs), a mix of primary care and specialists. This survey examined exposure to opioid educational information and opioid prescribing.
PCPs reported prescribing opioids for chronic pain to significantly more patients compared with other HCP groups. PCPs (89.8%) and NPs (85.5%) reported significantly greater exposure to opioid educational information compared with both SPs (71.9%) and PAs (78.8%). Overall, HCPs had limited knowledge about abuse-deterrent formulations, but PCPs had greater knowledge than other groups. HCPs had an increased likelihood of prescribing opioids to fewer patients in the last 3 months relative to the prior 12 months if they worked in a state or county clinic vs a solo or group practice type (adjusted odds ratio AOR = 1.97; 95% confidence interval CI, 1.12-3.49) and were exposed to more opioid educational information during the last 12 months (AOR = 1.19; 95% CI, 1.06-1.32).
HCPs' exposure to opioid educational information was associated with less opioid prescribing for chronic pain. Findings indicated a difference in exposure and knowledge gaps across provider groups. More information is needed on the content of opioid educational information provided to HCPs.
Prior U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) surveys with healthcare providers (HCPs) have focused on attitudes toward direct-to-consumer advertising and have not specifically examined ...professionally-targeted prescription drug promotion. Similarly, there are no recent national surveys of HCPs examining their interactions with the pharmaceutical industry.
The goal of this study was to use a national sample of HCPs to examine exposure to professionally-targeted prescription drug promotions and interactions with industry, and knowledge, attitudes and practices related to FDA approval of prescription drugs.
An online national survey was conducted with 2000 HCPs representing primary care physicians (PCPs), specialists (SPs), physician assistants (PAs), and nurse practitioners (NPs). The sample was randomly drawn from WebMD's Medscape subscriber network, stratified by HCP group, and designed to yield target numbers of completed surveys in each group. Weights were computed to correct for unequal selection probabilities, differential response rates, and differential coverage and used to generalize completed surveys to a national population of PCPs, SPs, NPs, and PAs.
Exposure and attention to pharmaceutical promotions and contact with industry were significantly associated with reported increase in pharmaceutical industry influence on decisions about prescription drugs. SPs were significantly more likely to prescribe off-label and serve as opinion leaders for the pharmaceutical industry compared to other provider groups.
Findings indicate pharmaceutical promotions directed at HCPs occur in many forms and are disseminated through multiple channels. By using a nationally representative sample of HCPs, this study provides population-level estimates for exposure and attention to prescription drug promotion and contact with industry and evidence for their influence on prescriber decisions. Findings from this study will help to inform FDA of HCP responses to and impacts of prescription drug promotion.
An atomic beam polarimeter for measurement of the hyperfine population numbers and the absolute polarization of thermal atomic hydrogen (H) and deuterium (D) beams is described. The principle of ...measurement and the method of calibration are given. The polarimeter measures the 4 (6) relative hyperfine population numbers of a thermal H (D) beam in the region of
10
13
atoms
s
−1
to an absolute error of less than 0.01. The polarimeter has been in continuous operation with the internal polarized hydrogen and deuterium gas target used in the HERMES experiment at DESY since 1996.
Public health threats, such as emerging infectious diseases, terrorism, environmental catastrophes, and natural disasters, all require effective communication. Emergency risk communication is a ...critical component of public health emergency planning and response. It is a complex process involving a variety of constructs that interact in dynamic ways over time. While emergency risk communication is generally recognized as an important tool for risk management and emergency response, the specific elements, processes, and outcomes are not well described and have not been systematically assessed. In this article, we describe a conceptual model for public health developed in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We propose using this model to inform practice and to guide evaluations of emergency risk communication. The model was informed by an extensive review of the emergency risk communication literature, interviews with researchers, and discussions with CDC stakeholders. This model can be adapted for a wide range of emergency events and incorporates key constructs to assess internal processes, as well as outcomes of emergency risk communication on audiences. Evaluating internal processes can help identify and correct messaging deficiencies. Outcome constructs describe expected target audience responses to emergency risk communication, such as changes in knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors that may occur over time. This can help public health communicators learn how their various activities contribute to emergency risk communication outcomes.
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