2,234 research outputs found
Professor Leila Brammer
No full textThis image shows Leila Brammer, professor of Communication Studies and winner of the 2010 Edgar M. Carlson Award for Distinguished Teaching
Genética da resistência de planta adulta à ferrugem da folha em trigo - cultivar Toropi.
No full textOrientadora: Sandra Patussi Brammer
Anlagenentwicklung der Abfallbehandlung und -entsorgung
No full textBrammer F, Herbold R. Anlagenentwicklung der Abfallbehandlung und -entsorgung. In: Herbold R, Krohn W, Vorwerk V, Timmermeister M, eds. Unterwegs zur Kreislaufwirtschaft. Interdisziplinäre Beiträge. Bielefeld; 1997: 47-58
Thin-film solar cells with periodic grating coupler
No full textSenoussaoui N, Krause M, Müller J, Bunte E, Brammer T, Stiebig H. Thin-film solar cells with periodic grating coupler. Thin solid films. 2004;451-452:397-401
Cannabis users are less sensitive to the acute psychotomimetic effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol administration
No full textImportance: verbal learning and memory have been suggested to be the most consistently impaired cognitive functions after both acute and chronic cannabis exposure [1]. Cannabis can induce acute psychotic symptoms [2], and its chronic use may increase the risk of schizophrenia [3] and its relapse [4]. However, no study has investigated its acute effects on psychotic symptoms, human brain function and related verbal memory behaviour depending on previous history of cannabis use. This investigation might help understanding brain function and behaviour upon repeated cannabis exposure in humans. Objective: To examine the neurocognitive effect of acuteadministrationof(−)-trans-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC, the main active ingredient of cannabis) and its modulation by the extent of previous cannabis exposure, with relevance to the psychotic symptoms manifestation. Design: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, repeated-measures, within-subject, acute pharmacologicalchallengedesignwasused,withcounterbalanced order of drug administration [5]. On 2 occasions, after administration of Δ9-THC or placebo, volunteers were studied using event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging while performing a verbal paired associate learning task that involved an encoding and a recall condition. Setting: University center. Participants: Twenty-four healthy men with different levels of lifetime cannabis use. Main outcome and measures: Symptom ratings, task performance, and brain activation. Results: compared to non-users, abstinent users (N= 12) showed slower learning process (N=12; P=0.047) and greater right caudate and parahippocampal gyrus activation. Δ9-THC acutely produced anxiety and psychotic symptoms (all P≤0.02), the latter being more pronounced in non-users (P=0.040). In non-users under the placebo condition (control group), the encoding was associated with activation in the right superior temporal gyrus, inferior parietal lobule and precuneus, and deactivation in the parahippocampal gyrus bilaterally, left thalamus, and right posterior cingulate. There was an opposite pattern in non-users exposed to Δ9THC (only acute effect) and in abstinent users under placebo (only residual effect). Users under Δ9-THC (residual and acute cannabis effects) showed brain activity patterns intermediate between the control group and the only residual/only acute effect groups. In nonusers, the Δ9-THC-induced left parahippocampal activation positively correlated with the Δ9-THC-induced psychotic symptoms severity (P=0.036) and learning slowness (P=0.028). Conclusions and relevance: this study has investigated for the very first time whether individuals respond differently to the acute effects of Δ9-THC at a clinical, behavioral, and neurophysiological level depending on their background of cannabis use. Cannabis users may have some residual effect of their cannabis exposure in terms of slower learning and inefficient related brain activity. Also, they seem to have a more blunted response to the acute effects of Δ9-THC administration compared to non-users at both the behavioral and neurophysiological levels. Finally, this study suggests an involvement of the left parahippocampal gyrus in the Δ9-THC-induced psychotic symptoms and cognitive dysfunction among non-users
Do cannabis users develop tolerance for the psychoactive effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol? An fMRI study
No full textIntroduction.– Cannabis can induce transient psychotic and anxiety symptoms and long-lasting disorders. The acute psychoactive effects of the main active ingredient in cannabis, (−)-trans-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (9-THC), may be modulated by previous cannabis exposure. Objectives.– To test whether modest previous cannabis exposure modulates the acute effects of 9-THC on attentional salience and emotional processing and their neurophysiological substrates. Methods.– Twenty-four healthy men participated in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, repeated-measures, within-subject, 9-THC challenge study using an fMRI paradigm. Results.– Compared to non-users (n= 12; < 5 lifetime cannabis joints smoked), abstinent modest cannabis users (n= 12; 24.5±9 lifetime cannabis joints smoked) showed less efficient attentional salience processing, also recruiting different/additional brain areas to process both attentional salient and emotional stimuli (all P≤0.01). 9-THC challenge disrupted attentional salience and emotional processing-related brain activity, also inducing transient anxiety and psychotic symptoms (all P≤0.02). However, 9-THC-induced psychotic symptoms and attentional salience behavioral impairment were more pronounced in non-users compared to users (all P≤0.04). Intriguingly, while non-users under 9-THC shifted towards recruitment of other brain areas to perform the tasks, cannabis users were less affected by the acute challenge, showing a neurophysiological pattern similar to that of non-users under placebo. Only in non-users, the 9-THC-induced psychotic symptom and cognitive impairment severity was associated with a more pronounced neurophysiological alteration (all P≤0.048). Conclusions.– Abstinent modest cannabis users display residual effects of cannabis exposure but more blunted responses to the acute symptomatic, behavioral, and neurophysiological effects of 9-THC, which are more marked in people who have never used cannabis
Safeguarding Adults
No full textWorking to safeguard adults is a complex area of practice that requires careful balancing of autonomy, protection and risk. In order to make good, lawful judgements about when and how to intervene, practitioners therefore need to have a comprehensive understanding of how the law applies to safeguarding adults.In this text book best-selling author Alison Brammer brings together the many strands of adult safeguarding to provide a succinct guide to the legal framework. Designed to equip practitioners with the relevant knowledge for practice, it lays out the current legislation and guidance and applies it to different areas of adult safeguarding, including defining 'abuse', assessing capacity and dealing with cases of criminal law. The book goes on to analyse key examples of serious case reviews, including the cases of Steve Hoskin and Michael Gilbert.Whether taking a module on Social Work Law or Safeguarding, or a qualified Social Worker, this concise guide to a key aspect of practise is essential reading
Analysis of the Utilisation of Herbaceous Biomass Streams for Small-Scale Combined Heat and Power Systems: A Comparative Study of UK and Pakistan
No full textThe project scope combined the author`s interest, those of her industrial research partner Biogen Systems Ltd., and those of Professor John Brammer of the University of Chester, UK. The project`s main aim was to find a cost-effective, yet sustainable strategy to upgrade the quality of low-quality herbaceous biomass streams to feed Biogen`s BCHP units without any ash-related problems such as ash melting and clinker formation. This involved pursuing a theoretical understanding and lab-scale combustion experimental investigation of the ash melting characteristics of herbaceous biomass streams of significant interest (grass cuttings, miscanthus, corn cobs, and mango stones) with different additive streams in two country locations which reflect the affiliations of the author, and which are quite different: namely Pakistan and the UK. SEM-EDS and XRD techniques were used with ternary-phase diagrams for determination of elemental and crystalline phase composition analysis of combusted ash
residues. Investigations revealed that the formation of low-melting eutectic mixtures of phosphates and silicates is the primary underlying reason for ash melting of non-woody biomass streams which can be avoided by the addition of anti-sintering additives. Furthermore, eggshells can successfully replace Ca-based commercially available additives when in raw and calcined form. Another main objective of this work was to develop an Excel-base financial business model to present a framework that would improve the profitability of Biogen`s BCHP units’ deployment in the UK and Pakistan. For this, different scenarios were studied, and the effects of main logistic variables were quantified on the profitability of Biogen`s units. Results of the financial model indicate that for the UK-based operation of Biogen`s BCHP units, wood chips would serve as the most economically beneficial feedstock, followed by miscanthus pellets, while for Pakistan, waste grass pellets would be the most financially suitable feedstock, followed by corn stover pellets. Food processing companies in Pakistan can generate electricity that is cheaper than the grid-sourced power by Biogen`s E3 BCHP units by utilising on-site available free-cost fruit waste (such as corn cobs and mango waste). Accordingly, the potential contribution of this research is the elimination of the technoeconomic
barriers faced by the mass-scale deployment of high-temperature biomass-fuelled thermochemical systems by identification of eggshells as a potential anti-sintering additive and investigation of the effect of cost estimates for different feedstocks for E3 operation. There is a strong need for further research to be done focusing on the gaseous emissions encompassing the utilisation of grass and its mixtures with additives and other biofuels at high-temperature thermochemical systems.European Regional Development Fund (Eco-Innovation Cheshire and Warrington project
Discontinuation of the GRE at the University of Michigan
No full textA major focus of Rackham Graduate School’s DEI Strategic plan is the development of policy changes and practices
that substantively address inequities in the graduate admissions process and, in doing so, strengthen the diversity
and excellence of Rackham programs. One such opportunity arose upon examination of the use of the Graduate
Record Examination (GRE) general test in the graduate admissions process at the University of Michigan (U-M).
We examined the data regarding the efficacy of the GRE as an assessment instrument, the inequities inherent to
the test, and the impact of cost and access on applicants. In all categories, the preponderance of evidence
supports the characterization of the GRE as an ineffective assessment tool and one that has a disproportionately
negative impact on the inclusion of non-whites, females, and international applicants in graduate education.
Indeed, the majority of Rackham doctoral programs have already discontinued the use of the GRE as part of
holistic efforts to support excellence and equity in their respective fields, with substantive success. Taken
together, the data indicate that discontinuation of the GRE in doctoral admissions is an effective action to
promote equity and excellence across the scholarly enterprise.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/176766/1/gre-white-paper-brammer-mapp-september-2021.pdfSEL
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