PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “built environment”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Information integration across saccadic eye movements.

The visual world contains more information than can be perceived in a single glance. Consequently, one's perceptual representation of the environment is built up via the integration of information across saccadic eye movements. The properties of transsaccadic integration were investigated in six experiments. Subjects viewed a random-dot pattern in one fixation, then judged whether a second dot pattern viewed in a subsequent fixation was identical to or different from the first. Interpattern interval, pattern complexity, and pattern displacement were varied in order to determined the duration, capacity, and representational format of transsaccadic memory. The experimental results indicated that transsaccadic memory is an undetailed, limited-capacity, long-lasting memory that is not strictly tied to absolute spatial position. In all these respects it is similar to, and perhaps identical with, visual short-term memory. The implication of these results for theories of perceptual stability across saccades are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Double-blind evaluation and benchmarking of survival models in a multi-centre study.

Accurate modelling of time-to-event data is of particular importance for both exploratory and predictive analysis in cancer, and can have a direct impact on clinical care. This study presents a detailed double-blind evaluation of the accuracy in out-of-sample prediction of mortality from two generic non-linear models, using artificial neural networks benchmarked against a partial logistic spline, log-normal and COX regression models. A data set containing 2880 samples was shared over the Internet using a purpose-built secure environment called GEOCONDA (www.geoconda.com). The evaluation was carried out in three parts. The first was a comparison between the predicted survival estimates for each of the four survival groups defined by the TNM staging system, against the empirical estimates derived by the Kaplan-Meier method. The second approach focused on the accurate prediction of survival over time, quantified with the time dependent C index (C(td)). Finally, calibration plots were obtained over the range of follow-up and tested using a generalization of the Hosmer-Lemeshow test. All models showed satisfactory performance, with values of C(td) of about 0.7. None of the models showed a systematic tendency towards over/under estimation of the observed survival at tau=3 and 5 years. At tau=10 years, all models underestimated the observed survival, except for COX regression which returned an overestimate. The study presents a robust and unbiased benchmarking methodology using a bespoke web facility. It was concluded that powerful, recent flexible modelling algorithms show a comparative predictive performance to that of more established methods from the medical and biological literature, for the reference data set.

Benchmarking↗
PubMed2006

Improving health through neighbourhood environmental change: are we speaking the same language? A qualitative study of views of different stakeholders.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the perspectives of four groups of stakeholders to proposed improvements to the built environment-a neighbourhood renewal consisting of a home zone development and an extension of the National Cycle Network (NCN). Design Qualitative focus group study. Setting A deprived neighbourhood. Sample Four focus groups were conducted with 10 residents from the neighbourhood undergoing change, nine pupils from a local primary school, 10 students and tutors from a local further education college and three local authority planners overseeing the developments. RESULTS: We identified four main themes relating to the impact of environmental change. These were safety, space, antisocial behaviour and physical activity and health, the latter being the least important to all groups. A mismatch regarding environmental change emerged in perspectives between different stakeholders. The residents were most concerned about home and car (parking) safety and in particular felt that the new cycle/walk way would reduce their safety, whereas the planners felt that the environmental change would provide a safer and healthier environment for the residents. CONCLUSION: The assumption that planned provision of supportive environments will improve levels of physical activity, health and lifestyle may not be true if the developments do not take account of community concerns regarding personal safety.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Application of confocal laser microscopy and three-dimensional Voronoi diagrams for volume and surface estimates of interphase chromosomes.

This study demonstrates the use of Voronoi tessellation procedures to obtain quantitative morphological data for chromosome territories in the cell nucleus. As a model system, chromosomes 7 and X were visualized in human female amniotic fluid cell nuclei by chromosomal in situ suppression hybridization with chromosome-specific composite probes. Light optical serial sections of 18 nuclei were obtained with a confocal scanning laser fluorescence microscope. A three-dimensional (3-D) tessellation of the image volumes defined by the stack of serial sections was then performed. For this purpose a Voronoi diagram, which consists of convex polyhedra structured in a graph environment, was built for each nucleus. The chromosome territories were extracted by applying the Delaunay graph, the dual of the Voronoi diagram, which describes the neighbourhood in the Voronoi diagram. The chromosome territories were then described by three morphological parameters, i.e. volume, surface area and a roundness factor (shape factor). The complete evaluation of a nucleus, including the calculation of the Voronoi diagram, 3-D visualization of extracted territories using computer graphic methods and parameterization was carried out on a Silicon Graphics workstation and was generally completed within 5 min. The geometric information obtained by this procedure revealed that both X- and 7-chromosome territories were similar in volume. Roundness factors indicated a pronounced variability in interphase shape for both pairs of chromosomes. Surface estimates showed a significant difference between the two X-territories but not between chromosome 7-territories.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed2006

Design of a health-promoting neighborhood intervention.

Design and implementation of health-promoting community interventions can advance public health and community well-being; however, realization of such programs is often challenging. Even more challenging is the implementation of ecologic interventions to revitalize built urban environments. A structured intervention entitled ;Intersection Repair; was devised in Portland, Oregon, by a non-profit organization, to implement urban gathering places in the public right of way; specific steps included situation analysis, community outreach, asset mapping, design workshops, construction permitting, building workshops, and process evaluation. The community created human-scale urban landscapes with interactive art installations to encourage social interactions. Such aesthetic improvements, which included painted street murals, information kiosks, hanging gardens, water fountains, benches, and so on, were intended to strengthen social networks and social capital by providing places for residents to engage in conversation. Community engagement in neighborhood design benefits the public at multiple levels, by promoting a healthier lifestyle, over and above urban landscape improvements.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Dwelling disparities: how poor housing leads to poor health.

In recent years, environmental health science has broadened the scope of its inquiries, expanding its investigations beyond the effects of single pollutants on individuals to incorporate the entire panorama of external factors that may affect people's health. Consideration of the health impacts of the built environment-the human-modified places where we live, work, play, shop, and more-has been a key element in the ongoing evolution of the field of environmental health.

Environment Design↗
PubMed1998

An immersive environment for the direct visualization and segmentation of volumetric data sets.

This paper describes a software environment for visualizing and segmenting volumetric data sets such as CT, MRI and the Visible Human data set. The goal is to produce an intuitive environment where the expert knowledge of the end user can be employed to directly guide visualization and segmentation of the data. The environment is built around the Fakespace Immersive Workbench (TM), which provides the user with the illusion that the data set volume resides in the space directly above the workbench surface. Using a position/orientation-tracked probe the user is able to interact with the visualization algorithm and segment the data set to expose features of interest. Segmentation can be performed in either the ray space of the volume rendering algorithm or the coordinate space of the data volume itself. The segmentation results can be saved and used for other purposes including the construction of polygonal models.

Anatomy, Cross-Sectional↗
PubMed2005

[Dynamic observation of lung metastasis model of adenoid cystic carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To form ACC-M-GFP cells by transfecting pEGFP-1 into ACC-M cells, and to build up lung metastasis model of adenoid cystic carcinoma for dynamic observation in simulated lung environment. METHODS: pEGFP-1 was prepared and then transfected into ACC-M cell lines by using cationic lipid-based gene transfer technique. After successive selection, the ACC-M-GFP cells were collected and inoculated in BALB/C mice. The simulated lung environment was built up, and dynamic observation was performed by laser confocal microscopy within four weeks after transfection. RESULTS: The amount of fluorescent tumor cell colonies and the intensity of fluorescence gradually increased from the second week to the forth week after transfection. In the meantime, only a very small number of tumor cells had the ability to form clones. CONCLUSIONS: We successfully built up a lung metastasis model of adenoid cystic carcinoma for dynamic observation. The model is suitable for capturing and analyzing metastatic tumor cells in early stage.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

[Comprehensive assessment on environmental quality in vulnerable ecotone of Tarim River Basin].

Tarim River Basin (TRB) is one of ecological environment vulnerable areas. Due to the matching of material and energy existed in some problems, the different fragility characteristics occurred obviously. According to related principles of ecological environment quality assessment, combined with ecological environment situation of Tarim River Basin, 20 indexes were selected, and the indicator system for synthetically ecological environment assessment was built. Moreover, ecological fragility index was set up, which can be used to indicate the degree of ecological environment quality in Tarim River Basin. The results were as follows: Aksu River Basin belongs to improved area. Yerkart River Basin and the upper reaches of TRB belongs to balance areas and Hetian River Basin and the middle reaches of TRB belongs to maladjustment areas. The lower reaches of TRB belongs to severe damage area. The assessment results are consonant with actual situation, which play an important function in ecological environment construction.

China↗
PubMed2005

The Edinburgh Electronic Veterinary Curriculum: an online program-wide learning and support environment for veterinary education.

The Edinburgh Electronic Veterinary Curriculum (EEVeC) is a purpose-built virtual learning support environment for the veterinary medicine program at the University of Edinburgh. It is Web based and adapted from a system developed for the human medical curriculum. It is built around a set of databases and learning objects and incorporates features such as course materials, personalized timetables, staff and student contact pages, a notice board, and discussion forums. The EEVeC also contains global or generic resources such as information on quality enhancement and research options. Many of these features contribute to the aim of building a learning community, but a challenge has been to introduce specific features that enhance student learning. One of these is a searchable lecture database in which learning activities such as quizzes and computer-aided learning exercises (CALs) can be embedded to supplement a synopsis of the lecture and address the key needs of integration and reinforcement of learning. Statistics of use indicate extensive student activity during evenings and weekends, with a pattern of increased usage over the years as more features become available and staff and students progressively engage with the system. An essential feature of EEVeC is its flexibility and the way in which it is evolving to meet the changing needs of the teaching program.

Curriculum↗
PubMed2004

Healing spaces: elements of environmental design that make an impact on health.

The "ambiance" of a space has an effect on people using the space. In recent years, design for health care environments has begun to include esthetic enhancements in an attempt to reduce stress and anxiety, increase patient satisfaction, and promote health and healing. In this paper, the authors survey the existing research on those elements of the built and natural environment most often asserted by proponents as being inherently healing or promoting health. We postulate a hierarchy of effect of environmental elements ranging from simply nontoxic to safe (both physically and psychologically) to "providing a positive context" to being actively salutogenic. Most relevant research has been concentrated on a limited number of settings and is inadequate to inform the creation of design guidelines for the physical elements of an optimal healing environment. Opportunities exist to make meaningful contributions in this area that are likely to make a significant impact on health outcomes of human beings.

Anxiety↗
PubMed2005

An ecological framework for cancer communication: implications for research.

The field of cancer communication has undergone a major revolution as a result of the Internet. As recently as the early 1990s, face-to-face, print, and the telephone were the dominant methods of communication between health professionals and individuals in support of the prevention and treatment of cancer. Computer-supported interactive media existed, but this usually required sophisticated computer and video platforms that limited availability. The introduction of point-and-click interfaces for the Internet dramatically improved the ability of non-expert computer users to obtain and publish information electronically on the Web. Demand for Web access has driven computer sales for the home setting and improved the availability, capability, and affordability of desktop computers. New advances in information and computing technologies will lead to similarly dramatic changes in the affordability and accessibility of computers. Computers will move from the desktop into the environment and onto the body. Computers are becoming smaller, faster, more sophisticated, more responsive, less expensive, and--essentially--ubiquitous. Computers are evolving into much more than desktop communication devices. New computers include sensing, monitoring, geospatial tracking, just-in-time knowledge presentation, and a host of other information processes. The challenge for cancer communication researchers is to acknowledge the expanded capability of the Web and to move beyond the approaches to health promotion, behavior change, and communication that emerged during an era when language- and image-based interpersonal and mass communication strategies predominated. Ecological theory has been advanced since the early 1900s to explain the highly complex relationships among individuals, society, organizations, the built and natural environments, and personal and population health and well-being. This paper provides background on ecological theory, advances an Ecological Model of Internet-Based Cancer Communication intended to broaden the vision of potential uses of the Internet for cancer communication, and provides some examples of how such a model might inform future research and development in cancer communication.

Communication↗
PubMed1997

The perception of spatial layout in real and virtual worlds.

As human-machine interfaces grow more immersive and graphically-oriented, virtual environment systems become more prominent as the medium for human-machine communication. Often, virtual environments (VE) are built to provide exact metrical representations of existing or proposed physical spaces. However, it is not known how individuals develop representational models of these spaces in which they are immersed and how those models may be distorted with respect to both the virtual and real-world equivalents. To evaluate the process of model development, the present experiment examined participant's ability to reproduce a complex spatial layout of objects having experienced them previously under different viewing conditions. The layout consisted of nine common objects arranged on a flat plane. These objects could be viewed in a free binocular virtual condition, a free binocular real-world condition, and in a static monocular view of the real world. The first two allowed active exploration of the environment while the latter condition allowed the participant only a passive opportunity to observe from a single viewpoint. Viewing conditions were a between-subject variable with 10 participants randomly assigned to each condition. Performance was assessed using mapping accuracy and triadic comparisons of relative inter-object distances. Mapping results showed a significant effect of viewing condition where, interestingly, the static monocular condition was superior to both the active virtual and real binocular conditions. Results for the triadic comparisons showed a significant interaction for gender by viewing condition in which males were more accurate than females. These results suggest that the situation model resulting from interaction with a virtual environment was indistinguishable from interaction with real objects at least within the constraints of the present procedure.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Macromolecular structural elucidation with solid-state NMR-derived orientational constraints.

The complete structure determination of a polypeptide in a lipid bilayer environment is demonstrated built solely upon orientational constraints derived from solid-state NMR observations. Such constraints are obtained from isotopically labeled samples uniformly aligned with respect to the B(0) field. Each observation constrains the molecular frame with respect to B(0) and the bilayer normal, which are arranged to be parallel. These constraints are not only very precise ( a few tenths of a degree), but also very accurate. This is clearly demonstrated as the backbone structure is assembled sequentially and the i to i + 6 hydrogen bonds in this structure of the gramicidin channel are shown on average to be within 0.5 A of ideal geometry. Similarly, the side chains are assembled independently and in a radial direction from the backbone. The lack of considerable atomic overlap between side chains also demonstrates the accuracy of the constraints. Through this complete structure, solid-state NMR is demonstrated as an approach for determining three-dimensional macromolecular structure.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

A computer-controlled system for post-stimulus time histogram and wind-up studies.

A LabVIEW 2 virtual instrument (VI)-based system is described for stimulation of sensory fibers in peripheral nerves and analysis and storage of electrophysiological data recorded from the spinal cord. The system utilizes a commercially available multifunction data acquisition (input/output; I/O) board, graphical programming environment and custom built VIs. Electrical stimuli are triggered by the I/O board and delivered at C-fiber strength to the receptive field of a multireceptive dorsal horn neuron. The stimulus frequency can be chosen between 0.1 and 1 Hz. Extracellular action potentials are recorded with a compound recording/iontophoresis carbon-fiber microelectrode and sampled by the I/O board. Post-stimulus time histograms (PSTH) are computed to visualize the preferred times of neuronal firing evoked by A- and C-fiber inputs. Responses of the neuron to repetitive stimulation are analyzed by their latency relative to the stimulus and plotted against the stimulus number. Wind-up, the progressive potentiation of C fiber-evoked response per stimulus, is increased by NMDA and decreased by MK-801 when each is applied by microiontophoresis. The system is well suited to perform combined PSTH and wind-up analysis on-line as well as to examine previously recorded data off-line. Principles of operation and diagrams of greater importance are explained in detail. To illustrate system operation, sample recordings, PSTH and wind-up analyses from a dorsal horn neuron are presented. The software is available from the author.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed2004

Physical activity participation among persons with disabilities: barriers and facilitators.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify various barriers and facilitators associated with participation in fitness and recreation programs/facilities among persons with disabilities. METHODS: Focus groups were conducted in ten regions across the United States in 2001 to 2002 with four types of participants: (1) consumers with disabilities, (2) architects, (3) fitness and recreation professionals, and (4) city planners and park district managers. Sessions were tape-recorded and content analyzed; focus group facilitators took notes of identified barriers and facilitators to access. RESULTS: Content analysis of tape recordings revealed 178 barriers and 130 facilitators. The following themes were identified: (1) barriers and facilitators related to the built and natural environment; (2) economic issues; (3) emotional and psychological barriers; (4) equipment barriers; (5) barriers related to the use and interpretation of guidelines, codes, regulations, and laws; (6) information-related barriers; (7) professional knowledge, education, and training issues; (8) perceptions and attitudes of persons who are not disabled, including professionals; (9) policies and procedures both at the facility and community level; and (10) availability of resources. CONCLUSIONS: The degree of participation in physical activity among people with disabilities is affected by a multifactorial set of barriers and facilitators that are unique to this population. Future research should utilize this information to develop intervention strategies that have a greater likelihood of success.

Adult↗