28 research outputs found
Effects of the Transcendental Meditation Program on Substance Use among University Students
No full textA randomized wait-list controlled trial (=295 university students) of the effects of the Transcendental Meditation program was conducted in an urban setting. Substance use was assessed by self-report at baseline and 3 months later. For smoking and illicit drug use, there were no significant differences between conditions. For alcohol use, sex X intervention condition interactions were significant; TM instruction lowered drinking rates among male but not female students. TM instruction could play a valuable role in reducing alcohol use among male university students. Limitations are noted, along with suggestions for further research
Direct TEM observation of α/γ interface migration during cyclic partial phase transformations at intercritical temperatures in an Fe-0.1C −0.5Mn alloy
No full textThe kinetic behaviour of austenite/ferrite interfaces in a low carbon – 0.5 mass% Mn containing steel during Cyclic Partial Phase Transformation (CPPT) experiments has been investigated using hot stage Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Individual interfaces were observed to display behaviour typical of CPPT experiments as recorded in macroscopic dilatometry experiments and demonstrated i) the “normal”, ii) inverse transformations and iii) a stagnant stage in which the interface migrates at a very low velocity as a result of the interface passing through a Mn enriched zone due to the preceding transformation. The length of the stagnant stage determined from the TEM observations shows excellent agreement with that measured from dilatometry and kinetic modelling, whilst the distance migrated from the interface shows some disparities which are primarily attributed to differences in assumptions about grain geometry and nucleation. No special interface features were observed when the interface changed direction and passed through the previously Mn-enriched zones. General observations on the interaction of the transformation interface with microstructural features are also reported
Horizontal resistance insolanum tuberosum to colorado potato beetle (leptinotarsa decemlineata say)
No full textAnalysis of the Critical Success Factors for ERP Systems Implementation in U.S. Federal Offices
No full textDetailed In Situ Hot Stage Transmission Electron Microscope Observations of the Localized Pinning of a Mobile Ferrite-Austenite Interface in a Fe-C-Mn Alloy by a Single Oxidic Particle
No full textThe current study reports the detailed analysis of an observation of the local pinning of a slowly moving austenite-ferrite interface by a single nanosized oxidic particle. The observations were made during an in situ cyclic partial phase transformation experiment on a Fe-0.1C-1.0Mn alloy close to the inversion stage at which the interface migrates at a rather low velocity. The low velocity allowed capturing the interface pinning effect over a period of no less than 16 seconds. From our observations, it was possible to follow the progression of the pinning effect from the initial stages all the way through to the release of the interface. The pinning force exerted by the individual particle having a diameter of 140 nm on the austenite-ferrite interface was estimated as 175 nJ m−1, while the maximum pinning length was approximately 750 nm to either side of the particle, leading to an interface line tension of 170 nJ m−1. The observed pinning behavior is compared with the most relevant models in the literature.Novel Aerospace Material
In situ TEM observations of the growth of bainitic ferrite in an Fe-0.3C-3Mn-1.5Si-0.15Mo steel
No full textThe current study reports in situ TEM observations of the growth of bainitic ferrite in an Fe-0.3C-3Mn-1.5Si-0.15Mo steel held isothermally at 300 °C with a higher spatio-temporal resolution than in previous studies. Significant variations were found in the lengthening rate, with the highest being in excess of 30,000 nm.s−1 while more common lengthening rates of 10–1000 nm.s−1 provided the highest quality observations. Both sheaves with visible sub units and individual laths were observed during growth with the lengthening behaviour of sheaves found to be discontinuous - in the most favourably oriented sheave this could be linked to sub unit behaviour. The transformation behaviour was comparable to that of HT-LSCM observations of bainitic ferrite growth for the most comparable steel compositions and to ‘textbook’ descriptions of the formation of bainite sheaves. In addition, other relevant phenomena were recorded, including the generation and movement of dislocations in the austenite during transformation, the interaction of laths with twin boundaries and the initially slow growth of bainitic ferrite laths.Team Maria Santofimia NavarroNovel Aerospace Material
Giving Mom a Break: The Impact of Higher EITC Payments on Maternal Health
No full textThe 1993 expansions of the Earned Income Tax Credit created the first meaningful separation in the benefit level for families based on the number of children, with families containing two or more children now receiving substantially more in benefits. If income is protective of health, we should see improvements over time in the health for mothers eligible for the EITC with two or more children compared to those with only one child. Using data from the Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance Survey, we find in difference-in-difference models that for low-educated mothers of two or more children, the number of days with poor mental health and the fraction reporting excellent or very good health improved relative to the mothers with only one child. Using data from the National Health Examination and Nutrition Survey, we find evidence that the probability of having risky levels of biomarkers fell for these same low-educated women impacted more by the 1993 expansions, especially biomarkers that indicate inflammation.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Stress Reduction for Hypertension in Older African Americans
No full textEffects of cardiac rehabilitation with and without meditation on myocardial blood flow using quantitative positron emission tomography: A pilot study.
No full textBACKGROUND: Psychosocial stress is recognized as a risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). High rates of CHD in African-Americans may be related to psychosocial stress. However, standard cardiac rehabilitation (CR) usually does not include a systematic stress-reduction technique. Previous studies suggest that the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique may reduce CHD risk factors and clinical events. This pilot study explored the effects of standard CR with and without TM on a measure of CHD in African-American patients.
METHODS: Fifty-six CHD patients were assigned to CR, CR + TM, TM alone, or usual care. Testing was done at baseline and after 12 weeks. The primary outcome was myocardial flow reserve (MFR) assessed by
RESULTS: For 37 patients who completed posttesting, there were MFR improvements in the CR + TM group (+20.7%; ES = 0.64) and the TM group alone (+12.8%; ES = 0.36). By comparison, the CR-alone and usual care groups showed modest changes (+ 5.8%; ES = 0.17 and - 10.3%; ES = - 0.31), respectively. For the combined TM group, MFR increased (+ 14%, ES = 0.56) compared to the combined non-TM group (- 2.0%, ES = - 0.08).
CONCLUSIONS: These pilot data suggest that adding the TM technique to standard cardiac rehabilitation or using TM alone may improve the myocardial flow reserve in African-American CHD patients. These results may be applied to the design of controlled clinical trials to definitively test these effects.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov registration # NCT01810029
Effects of Group Practice of the Transcendental Meditation Program on Preventing Violent Crime in Washington, D.C.: Results of the National Demonstration Project, June--July 1993
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