318 research outputs found
A research on the effects of +gz acceleration on lung diffusion capacity
No full textEarlier years of research on GLOC were focussed on cardiovascular responses in high acceleration environment where cerebral blood flow and pressure were the main determinants of GLOC. However in the past years, there has been growing research which demonstrates that cerebral oxygen content can be a feasible predictor of GLOC within a certain percentage error.
Hence the author decided to focus his research on improving the accuracy of using cerebral oxygen content as a determinant in +Gz studies by investigating factors affecting oxygen transport in the circulatory system leading to the brain. It was determined that blood flow and lung diffusion capacity were the two factors most likely to affect oxygen transport in +Gz stress.
A theory was proposed that by finding out the relationship of diffusion capacity in lung under +Gz acceleration, it would be possible to produce more accurate models to measure changes in cerebral oxygen content under +Gz stress. Not only will the model be able to make accurate estimations in cerebral oxygen content, it would also provide a more complete description of the physiological effects of increased +Gz stress.
The aim was to use diffusion capacity as a variable in a model to determine GLOC based on cerebral oxygen levels. Such a model is predicted to provide more accurate and complete description of the physiological effects of increased +Gz acceleration.
An attempt was made to construct a mathematical model to demonstrate the effects of +Gz on diffusion capacity to improve the accuracy of GLOC predictive models which uses cerebral oxygen content as a determinant. However, due to lack of information on lung diffusion capacity under +Gz acceleration conditions, the model could not be completed.
The author believes that even though the attempt to build a model which incorporated lung diffusion capacity as a variable in +Gz studies was unsuccessful, it is not a clear result or indication that the theory suggested by the author is invalid.Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering
Child maltreatment, cognitive functions and the mediating role of mental health problems among maltreated children and adolescents in Uganda
No full textAinamani HE, Rukundo GZ, Nduhukire T, Ndyareba E, Hecker T. Child maltreatment, cognitive functions and the mediating role of mental health problems among maltreated children and adolescents in Uganda. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health. 2021;15(1): 22.**Background**
Child maltreatment poses high risks to the mental health and cognitive functioning of children not only in childhood but also in later life. However, it remains unclear whether child maltreatment is directly associated with impaired cognitive functioning or whether this link is mediated by mental health problems. Our study aimed at examining this research question among children and adolescents in Uganda.
**Methods**
A sample of 232 school-going children and adolescents with a mean age of 14.03 (SD = 3.25) was assessed on multiple forms of maltreatment using the Maltreatment and Abuse Chronology Exposure—Pediatric Version (pediMACE). Executive functions were assessed by the Tower of London task and working memory by the Corsi Block Tapping task, while mental health problems were assessed using theChild PTSD Symptom Scale for PTSD and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scalefor Children (CES-DC).
**Results**
In total, 232 (100%) of the participant reported to have experienced at least one type of maltreatment in their lifetime including emotional, physical, and sexual violence as well as neglect. We found a negative association between child maltreatment and executive functions (β = − 0.487,p p = 0.001). Mental health problems did not mediate this relationship.
**Conclusions**
Child maltreatment seems to be related to lower working memory and executive functioning of affected children and adolescents even after controlling for potential cofounders. Our study indicates that child maltreatment the affects children’s cognitive functionality beyond health and well-being
User-author centered multimedia building blocks
No full textThe advances of multimedia models and tools popularized the access and production of multimedia contents: in this new scenario, there is no longer a clear distinction between authors and end-users of a production. These user-authors often work in a collaborative way. As end-users, they collectively participate in interactive environments, consuming multimedia artifacts. In their authors' role, instead of starting from scratch, they often reuse others' productions, which can be decomposed, fusioned and transformed to meet their goals. Since the need for sharing and adapting productions is felt by many communities, there has been a proliferation of standards and mechanisms to exchange complex digital objects, for distinct application domains. However, these initiatives have created another level of complexity, since people have to define which share/ reuse solution they want to adopt, and may even have to resort to programming tasks. They also lack effective strategies to combine these reused artifacts. This paper presents a solution to this demand, based on a user-author centered multimedia building block model-the digital content component (DCC). DCCs upgrade the notion of digital objects to digital components, as they homogenously wrap any kind of digital content (e.g., multimedia artifacts, software) inside a single component abstraction. The model is fully supported by a software infrastructure, which exploits the model's semantic power to automate low level technical activities, thereby freeing user-authors to concentrate on creative tasks. Model and infrastructure improve recent research initiatives to standardize the means of sharing and reuse domain specific digital contents. The paper's contributions are illustrated using examples implemented in a DCC-based authoring tool, in real life situations.124176340342
Internal Facilitation by Health Assistants for the “WHO Lay Health Worker Dementia Care” in Rural Uganda: A Formative Evaluation
No full textEdith K Wakida,1,2 Celestino Obua,2 Godfrey Zari Rukundo,3 Mary Samantha,2 Samuel Maling,4 Christine K Karungi,2 Zohray M Talib,1 Jessica Haberer,5,6 Stephen J Bartels5,6 1Department of Medical Education, California University of Science and Medicine, Colton, California, USA; 2Department of Research and Development, Alpha Center for Research Administration, Mbarara, Uganda; 3Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; 4Department of Psychiatry, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda; 5Department of Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; 6Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USACorrespondence: Edith K Wakida, Email [email protected]: Dementia is characterized by cognitive symptoms like memory loss, difficulty with language, and impaired judgment, alongside behavioral and psychological symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and aggression. Early diagnosis and tailored care are essential for managing these symptoms, improving quality of life, and reducing caregiver burden. Dementia affects a substantial portion of older people globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries like Uganda, where rural healthcare systems face challenges in dementia care access. To address these needs, we gathered key stakeholders’ perspectives on a culturally tailored model employing lay health workers, supported by health assistants as internal facilitators, to implement the World Health Organization dementia toolkit in rural communities.Methods: We conducted a formative qualitative study, utilizing one-on-one interviews with health assistants, district health team members, and primary healthcare providers in rural Uganda. We solicited their perspectives on implementing the World Health Organization dementia toolkit at the village level. The integrated Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (i-PARIHS) framework guided data collection and analysis, focusing on implementation support, process improvement, and practice sustainment.Results: Strong support was found for health assistants’ roles in facilitating lay health worker-led dementia care at the community level. Health assistants’ familiarity with lay health workers and pre-established structures were considered facilitating factors. Key challenges included knowledge gaps in dementia care and limited resources. Participants emphasized the importance of training, mentorship, and standardized reporting tools to enhance the implementation of dementia care. They recommended providing the health assistants with job guides, updated reporting templates to collect dementia indicators, and orientation on what they should do during internal facilitation with the lay health workers using the dementia toolkit.Conclusion: Health assistants’ internal facilitation provides a promising strategy for scaling dementia care in rural Uganda by leveraging community-based lay health workers. Addressing identified knowledge gaps, communication needs, and resource constraints will be essential to sustaining dementia care interventions in these communities.Keywords: dementia care, internal facilitation, lay health workers, Uganda, rural health, i-PARIHS framewor
Fluid overpressures and strength of the sedimentary upper crust
No full textAbstractThe classic crustal strength-depth profile based on rock mechanics predicts a brittle strength σ1−σ3=κ(ρ¯gz−Pf) that increases linearly with depth as a consequence of [1] the intrinsic brittle pressure dependence κ plus [2] an assumption of hydrostatic pore-fluid pressure, Pf = ρwgz. Many deep borehole stress data agree with a critical state of failure of this form. In contrast, fluid pressures greater than hydrostatic ρ¯gz>Pf>ρwgz are normally observed in clastic continental margins and shale-rich mountain belts. Therefore we explore the predicted shapes of strength-depth profiles using data from overpressured regions, especially those dominated by the widespread disequilibrium-compaction mechanism, in which fluid pressures are hydrostatic above the fluid-retention depth zFRD and overpressured below, increasing parallel to the lithostatic gradient ρ¯gz. Both brittle crustal strength and frictional fault strength below the zFRD must be constant with depth because effective stress (ρ¯gz−Pf) is constant, in contrast with the classic linearly increasing profile. Borehole stress and fluid-pressure measurements in several overpressured deforming continental margins agree with this constant-strength prediction, with the same pressure-dependence κ as the overlying hydrostatic strata. The role of zFRD in critical-taper wedge mechanics and jointing is illustrated. The constant-strength approximation is more appropriate for overpressured crust than classic linearly increasing models
Invited review: Changes in the dairy industry affecting dairy cattle health and welfare
No full textThe dairy industry in the developed world has undergone profound changes over recent decades. In this paper, we present an overview of some of the most important recent changes in the dairy industry that affect health and welfare of dairy cows, as well as the science associated with these changes. Additionally, knowledge gaps are identified where research is needed to guide the dairy industry through changes that are occurring now or that we expect will occur in the future. The number of farms has decreased considerably, whereas herd size has increased. As a result, an increasing number of dairy farms depend on hired (nonfamily) labor. Regular professional communication and establishment of farm-specific protocols are essential to minimize human errors and ensure consistency of practices. Average milk production per cow has increased, partly because of improvements in nutrition and management but also because of genetic selection for milk production. Adoption of new technologies (e.g., automated calf feeders, cow activity monitors, and automated milking systems) is accelerating. However, utilization of the data and action lists that these systems generate for health and welfare of livestock is still largely unrealized, and more training of dairy farmers, their employees, and their advisors is necessary. Concurrently, to remain competitive and to preserve their social license to operate, farmers are increasingly required to adopt increased standards for food safety and biosecurity, become less reliant on the use of antimicrobials and hormones, and provide assurances regarding animal welfare. Partly because of increasing herd size but also in response to animal welfare regulations in some countries, the proportion of dairy herds housed in tiestalls has decreased considerably. Although in some countries access to pasture is regulated, in countries that traditionally practiced seasonal grazing, fewer farmers let their dairy cows graze in the summer. The proportion of organic dairy farms has increased globally and, given the pressure to decrease the use of antimicrobials and hormones, conventional farms may be able to learn from well-managed organic farms. The possibilities of using milk for disease diagnostics and monitoring are considerable, and dairy herd improvement associations will continue to expand the number of tests offered to diagnose diseases and pregnancy. Genetic and genomic selection for increased resistance to disease offers substantial potential but requires collection of additional phenotypic data. There is every expectation that changes in the dairy industry will be further accentuated and additional novel technologies and different management practices will be adopted in the future
Fast algorithms for determining the linear complexity of period sequences
No full textWe introduce a fast algorithm for determining the linear complexity and the minimal polynomial of a sequence with period p(n) over GF(q), where p is an odd prime, q is a prime and a primitive root modulo p(2); and its two generalized algorithms. One is the algorithm for determining the linear complexity and the minimal polynomial of a sequence with period p(m)q(n) over GF(q), the other is the algorithm for determining the k-error linear complexity of a sequence with period p(n) over GF(q), where p is an odd prime, q is a prime and a primitive root modulo p(2). The algorithm for determining the linear complexity and the minimal polynomial of a sequence with period 2p(n) over GF(q) is also introduced. where p and q are odd prime, and q is a primitive root (mod p(2)). These algorithms uses the fact that in these case the factorization of x(N) - 1 is especially simple for N = p(n), 2p(n), p(n)q(m).Computer Science, Artificial IntelligenceSCI(E)CPCI-S(ISTP)
Barriers and Facilitators to Screening for Kidney Disease Among Older Adults with Hypertension and Diabetes in Mbarara Southwestern Uganda: Healthcare Providers’ Perspective
No full textJudith Owokuhaisa,1 Catherine N Abaasa,2 Rose Muhindo,3 Pius Musinguzi,4 Godfrey Zari Rukundo5 1Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiotherapy, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda; 2Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda; 3Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda; 4Faculty of Medicine, Department of Nursing, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda; 5Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, UgandaCorrespondence: Judith Owokuhaisa, Email [email protected]: Screening for kidney disease (KD) among high-risk patients (patients with hypertension or diabetes) allows early diagnosis, intervention and delayed progression of the disease. In low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), KD screening is still sub-optimal. This study explored the healthcare providers’ perceived barriers and facilitators to KD screening among older adults with hypertension and diabetes in Mbarara southwestern Uganda.Methods: This was a descriptive qualitative study among healthcare providers caring for older adults with diabetes mellitus and hypertension at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) in southwestern Uganda. In-depth interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analyzed to develop themes of barriers and facilitators.Results: We conducted 30 in-depth interviews among healthcare providers. Barriers to screening for kidney disease included patient related factors according to healthcare providers (financial hardships, poor health seeking behavior, limited knowledge and awareness), healthcare factors (work overload, ineffective patient healthcare provider communication) and system/policy related factors (lack of laboratory supplies, lack of guidelines and poor medical record keeping and documentation). With respect to facilitators, we found formation of peer support groups, effective team, and continuous medical education (CME).Conclusion: Healthcare providers encounter substantial but modifiable barriers in screening older adults for KD. The identification of barriers and facilitators in timely KD detection gives us an outlook of the problem in Uganda and leads for proposals of action. Interventions that address these barriers and promote facilitators may improve the healthcare provider’s effectiveness and capacity to care including screening for patients at risk of KD.Keywords: healthcare providers, barriers, facilitators, screening, kidney disease, hypertension, diabetes, older, adult
Strong Z(c)(+)(3900) -> J/psi pi(+); eta c rho(+)decays in QCD
No full textAzizi, Kazem (Dogus Author)The widths of the strong decaysZ(c)(+)(3900) -> J/psi pi(+); and Z(c)(+) (3900) -> are calculated. To this end, the mass and decay constant of the exotic Z(c)(+) (3900) state are computed by means of a two -point sum rule. The obtained results are then used to calculate the strong couplings gz(c)J/psi pi and gz(c)eta(c)p employing QCD sum rules on the light cone supplied by a technique of the soft -meson approximation. We compare our predictions on the mass and decay widths \vith available experimental data and other theoretical results
Dark matter and muon (g−2) in local U(1)Lμ−Lτ-extended Ma model
No full textAbstractWe consider right-handed neutrino dark matter N1 in local U(1)Lμ−Lτ-extended Ma model. With the light U(1)μ−τ gauge boson (mZ′∼O(100) MeV) and small U(1)μ−τ gauge coupling (gZ′∼10−4–10−3) which can accommodate the muon (g−2) anomaly and is still allowed by other experimental constraints, we show that we can get correct relic density of dark matter for wide range of dark matter mass (M1∼10–200 GeV), although the gauge coupling constant gZ′ is small. This is due to the fact that the annihilation cross section of dark matter pair is enhanced by M14/mZ′4 in the processes N1N1→Z′Z′ or N1N1→Z′H2. We also consider the constraints from direct detection, collider searches
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