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Papers by David Craig

All Days, 2008

In an effort to examine well and reservoir connectivity for wells drilled through multiple low-pe... more In an effort to examine well and reservoir connectivity for wells drilled through multiple low-permeability stacked lenticular reservoirs, we present case histories from the Piceance basin of Western Colorado. We review the completion and subsequent abandonment of an air-drilled high-angle slant hole through the Williams Fork sandstones in Grand Valley field as well as a high-angle slant hole drilled through and completed in two Williams Fork Mesaverde sandstones. We also review a case history describing single-entry-point fracture treatments in vertical wells designed to "frac into" sandstones near the entry point, and we describe a post-frac evaluation of propped fracture communication with sandstones adjacent to the single entry point. Lastly, we present a case history showing the results of a refracture-candidate evaluation and isolated-layer restimulation pilot program in the Piceance Basin where it is known that between 10% and 30% of the Meseverde layers targeted fo...

Studies in Political Economy, 2005

We recognise that all parents want to do the very best for their children and that working parent... more We recognise that all parents want to do the very best for their children and that working parents, whatever their income, face the daily challenge of combining their work and family commitments ... The government sees support for parents as a key part of the social development strategy. Support for families, particularly families in work, is a good and necessary investment in New Zealand's future. Pathways to Opportunity: Nga ara whai orange, From Social Welfare to Social Development] The central paradox of the modern state thus resembles a central paradox of modern masculiniry: its power and privilege operate increasingly through disavowal of potency, repudiation of responsibility, and diffusion of sites and operations of control.

Cancer Research, 2013

The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) and the Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMR... more The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) and the Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC) have pioneered efforts towards understanding the genomic underpinnings of multiple myeloma. The MMRC centers have submitted over 1900 tumor samples to the MMRC tissue bank, from which >400 have been used in the Multiple Myeloma Genomics Initiative (MMGI), which is a multi-institutional comprehensive study to unveil the complete genomic blueprint of myeloma with public data access. In the initial phase 238 myeloma tumors were analyzed for somatic copy number alterations using array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) and array-based gene expression profiling (GEP). The large majority of this reference collection was also analyzed by array-based methylation profiling. We have also performed whole genome or exome sequencing on >200 normal/tumor pairs. These studies led to several key discoveries including global hypomethylation, homozygous deletion of UTX, novel mutation...

The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, 2005

The behavioral and psychological symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are associated with sig... more The behavioral and psychological symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are associated with significant patient and caregiver distress and increased likelihood of institutionalization. We attempted to characterize in detail these symptoms and the distress they cause to caregivers. Patients with probable AD were assessed with the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), Functional Assessment Staging (FAST), and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory With Caregiver Distress (NPI-D). Four hundred and thirty-five patients were recruited. Neuropsychiatric symptoms of all types were highly prevalent. The most common and most persistent symptom was apathy (75%). Delusional symptoms were the least persistent. Depressive and apathetic symptoms were the earliest to appear, and hallucinations, elation/euphoria, and aberrant motor behavior were the latest symptoms to emerge. Hallucinations were significantly more common in severe dementia. Symptoms of irritability were most prevalent in early disease. Total Ne...

2007 IEEE International Conference on Automation Science and Engineering, 2007

... design of home based care Alberto Rugnone, Chris D. Nugent, Member, IEEE, Mark Donnelly, Stud... more ... design of home based care Alberto Rugnone, Chris D. Nugent, Member, IEEE, Mark Donnelly, Student Member, IEEE, David Craig, Cristiano Paggetti, Member, IEEE, Elena Tamburini, Enrico Vicario, Member, IEEE A Proceedings ...

Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 2004

A The UK house-building industry has often been criticized for the quality of its products... more A The UK house-building industry has often been criticized for the quality of its products. Its business drivers are less focused on the needs of customers compared with much of the manufacturing sector. A recent survey revealed considerable dissatisfaction among buyers of newly built homes, particularly with the after-sales service provided by vendors. However, this cannot be viewed in isolation from the general business culture that prevails. This paper examines existing practices in the industry that act as barriers to a change in culture and discusses the steps that are being taken in a major house-building company to overcome them. Work on implementation of the policy through a balanced set of performance measures as the drivers for change and a participative programme for its deployment is presented. The objective is the development of a customer-focused culture that views service and product quality as contributing to future sales and profitability, instead of simply in terms of costs.

Structure, 2004

crevice located between the ␣ v and ␤ 3 subunit of the integrin head (Xiong et al., 2002). Atomic... more crevice located between the ␣ v and ␤ 3 subunit of the integrin head (Xiong et al., 2002). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and optical tweezers show that substantial force is required to detach RGD-containing proteins, such as those found in fibronectin type III modules or

Social Science & Medicine, 2011

By Devi Sridhar and David Craig; Analysing global health assistance: The reach for ethnographic, ... more By Devi Sridhar and David Craig; Analysing global health assistance: The reach for ethnographic, institutional and political economic scope. ... Analysing global health assistance: The reach for ethnographic, institutional and political economic scope. Devi Sridhar and David Craig. ...

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2001

The structural changes accompanying stretch-induced early unfolding events were investigated for ... more The structural changes accompanying stretch-induced early unfolding events were investigated for the four type III fibronectin (FN-III) modules, FN-III 7 , FN-III 8 , FN-III 9 , and FN-III 10 by using steered molecular dynamics. Simulations revealed that two main energy barriers, I and II, have to be overcome to initiate unraveling of FN-III's tertiary structure. In crossing the first barrier, the two opposing β-sheets of FN-III are rotated against each other such that the β-strands of both β-sheets align parallel to the force vector (aligned state). All further events in the unfolding pathway proceed from this intermediate state. A second energy barrier has to be overcome to break the first major cluster of hydrogen bonds between adjacent β-strands. Simulations revealed that the height of barrier I varied significantly among the four modules studied, being largest for FN-III 7 and lowest for FN-III 10 , whereas the height of barrier II showed little variation. Key residues affe...

Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, 2003

Factors influencing the use of neuroleptic and other CNS-acting medications (&amp... more Factors influencing the use of neuroleptic and other CNS-acting medications ('antidepressants' and 'hypnotics/anxiolytics') were examined in different elderly populations (> 65 years): long-stay care hospital subjects (n = 381), nursing home subjects (n = 1247), private residential home subjects (n = 321), statutory residential home subjects (n = 525), old age psychiatry facility subjects (n = 48), community dwellers (n = 97), in different geographical areas (urban n = 1223 and rural n = 1396). Neuroleptics were prescribed in 28% of the individuals, hypnotics/anxiolytics in 33% and antidepressants in 12%. Prescription of neuroleptics was significantly predicted by institutional placement (other than long-stay care hospital facility), lower cognitive function and rural geographical area. Age greater than 75 years and lower functional score (lower dependency) significantly decreased the likelihood of receipt of neuroleptics. Antidepressant use was significantly less likely in male subjects, patients with cognitive impairment and patients greater than 85 years. Institutional placement (other than long-stay care hospital facility and old age psychiatry facility) and rural locality predicted increased likelihood of antidepressant prescription. Institutional placement (other than long-stay care hospital facility) and geographical (rural) location were significant independent predictors of hypnotic/anxiolytic use. Prescription of hypnotic/anxiolytic drug class was significantly less likely in those individuals with lower cognitive status. In this representative elderly cohort, patient characteristics: age, sex, cognitive score, functional score, place of residence and geographical location markedly influenced drug utilisation.

Neurobiology of Aging, 2009

Levels of tumor necrosis factor-␣ (TNF-␣) are increased in the brain in Alzheimer's disease (AD).... more Levels of tumor necrosis factor-␣ (TNF-␣) are increased in the brain in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The TNF-␣/TNF-R signaling pathways involve complex interactions between several proteins, including TNF-receptor-associated factor-2 (TRAF-2). We have examined the distribution and levels of TRAF-2 in AD and control brains and also whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TRAF-2 gene are associated with AD and influence TRAF-2 expression. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated TRAF-2 in AD and control cortex in neurons, within plaque-associated neurites and some neurofibrillary tangles. Western blots revealed a band of the expected apparent molecular mass (∼50 kDa) for TRAF-2, in homogenates of AD and control cortex. RT-PCR showed the levels of TRAF-2 mRNA to be significantly higher in the frontal cortex of AD than control brains (p = 0.015). TRAF-2 mRNA expression was not linked to any SNPs. The 3 UTR SNP (rs7852970) GG allele was significantly protective against AD (p = 0.030). Our findings suggest that the TRAF-2 pathway is involved AD. The mechanisms are currently unclear and need further examination.

Molecular Psychiatry, 2010

Matrix Biology, 2002

The synergy site on fibronectin's FN-III module, located approximately 32 A away from the RGD-loo... more The synergy site on fibronectin's FN-III module, located approximately 32 A away from the RGD-loop on FN-III , greatly 9 10 enhances integrin a b mediated cell binding. Since fibronectin is exposed to mechanical forces acting on the extracellular matrix 5 1 in vivo, we used steered molecular dynamics to study how mechanical stretching of FN-III affects the relative distance 9-10 between these two synergistic sites. Our simulations predict the existence of an intermediate state prior to unfolding. In this state, the synergy-RGD distance is increased from 32 A to approximately 55 A, while the conformations of both sites remainů nperturbed. This distance is too large for both sites to co-bind the same receptor, as indicated by experiments that confirm that increasing the length of the linker chain between FN-III and FN-III reduces a b binding. Our simulations thus suggest that 9 1 0 51 increased a b-binding attributed to the synergy site, along with the associated downstream cell-signaling events, can be turned 5 1 off mechanically by stretching FN-III into this intermediate state. The potential physiological implications are discussed. ᮊ 9-10 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. and International Society of Matrix Biology. All rights reserved.

Journal of Mass Media Ethics, 1999

... Society By David A. Craig University of Oklahoma ... Craig ... Oates (1973), focusing on a ye... more ... Society By David A. Craig University of Oklahoma ... Craig ... Oates (1973), focusing on a year's newsmagazine coverage of heart transplantation beginning with Dr. Christiaan Barnard's operation in 1967, pointed the way to the framework proposed here in that he noted the lack of ...

Neuroscience letters, Jan 8, 2010

The apolipoprotein (APOE) epsilon4 allele is a genetic risk factor for the development of Alzheim... more The apolipoprotein (APOE) epsilon4 allele is a genetic risk factor for the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). It has also been associated with vascular dementia (VaD) in some but not all studies. Previous studies have examined the role of APOE in predicting performance on cognitive tests in both demented and non-demented populations. In cognitively intact individuals, statistically significant group differences between APOE epsilon4 carriers and non-carriers have been demonstrated for several cognitive domains. In AD studies of the impact of APOE epsilon4 on cognition have been conflicting while no previous study has assessed cognition and impact of APOE epsilon4 in VaD. In this study we investigated the impact of APOE epsilon4 on performance in neuropsychological tests including information processing speed in patients with mild-moderate AD and VaD. We incorporated both computerized and pen and paper tests to ensure a sensitive method of assessing cognition. 109 patients...

Optometry (St. Louis, Mo.), 2011

Genetic epidemiology is of topical and increasingly practical relevance. The subject attempts to ... more Genetic epidemiology is of topical and increasingly practical relevance. The subject attempts to answer 2 questions: (1) is there a genetic component to a disease, and (2) what genes are involved? This article summarizes genetic epidemiologic methods, describing family- and population-based methods used to locate and identify genes and the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. Health care professionals are faced with more and more genetic information, both from interested patients and from the media, and understanding the principles underlying genetic studies allows such information to be placed in context.

International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 2009

This is an original work which has not been published elsewhere or submitted for publication else... more This is an original work which has not been published elsewhere or submitted for publication elsewhere. A paper on attention deficits in the same cohort of patients has been accepted to JNNP and is currently in print (McGuinness et al.). There is however no overlap between the neuropsychological tests used and it has been referenced in the discussion. Objective: To compare performance of patients with mild-moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) on tests of executive functioning and working memory. Methods: Patients with AD (n ¼ 76) and VaD (n ¼ 46) were recruited from a memory clinic along with dementia free participants (n ¼ 28). They underwent specific tests of working memory from the Cognitive Drug Research (CDR) battery and pen and paper tests of executive function including CLOX 1 & 2, EXIT25 and a test of verbal fluency (COWAT). All patients had a CT brain scan which was independently scored for white matter change/ischaemia. Results: The AD and VaD groups were significantly impaired on all measures of working memory and executive functioning compared to the disease free group. There were no significant differences between the AD and VaD groups on any measure. Z-scores confirmed the pattern of impairment in executive functioning and working memory was largely equivalent in both patient groups. Small to moderate correlations were seen between the MMSE and the neurocognitive scores in both patient groups and the pattern of correlations was also very similar in both patient groups. Conclusions: This study demonstrates sizeable executive functioning and working memory impairments in patients with mild-moderate AD and VaD but no significant differences between the disease groups.

Foundations of Physics, 2010

We illustrate the crucial role played by decoherence (consistency of quantum histories) in extrac... more We illustrate the crucial role played by decoherence (consistency of quantum histories) in extracting consistent quantum probabilities for alternative histories in quantum cosmology. Specifically, within a Wheeler-DeWitt quantization of a flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker cosmological model sourced with a free massless scalar field, we calculate the probability that the univese is singular in the sense that it assumes zero volume. Classical solutions of this model are a disjoint set of expanding and contracting singular branches. A naive assessment of the behavior of quantum states which are superpositions of expanding and contracting universes may suggest that a "quantum bounce" is possible i.e. that the wave function of the universe may remain peaked on a non-singular classical solution throughout its history. However, a more careful consistent histories analysis shows that for arbitrary states in the physical Hilbert space the probability of this Wheeler-DeWitt quantum universe encountering the big bang/crunch singularity is equal to unity. A quantum Wheeler-DeWitt universe is inevitably singular, and a "quantum bounce" is thus not possible in these models.

All Days, 2008

In an effort to examine well and reservoir connectivity for wells drilled through multiple low-pe... more In an effort to examine well and reservoir connectivity for wells drilled through multiple low-permeability stacked lenticular reservoirs, we present case histories from the Piceance basin of Western Colorado. We review the completion and subsequent abandonment of an air-drilled high-angle slant hole through the Williams Fork sandstones in Grand Valley field as well as a high-angle slant hole drilled through and completed in two Williams Fork Mesaverde sandstones. We also review a case history describing single-entry-point fracture treatments in vertical wells designed to "frac into" sandstones near the entry point, and we describe a post-frac evaluation of propped fracture communication with sandstones adjacent to the single entry point. Lastly, we present a case history showing the results of a refracture-candidate evaluation and isolated-layer restimulation pilot program in the Piceance Basin where it is known that between 10% and 30% of the Meseverde layers targeted fo...

Studies in Political Economy, 2005

We recognise that all parents want to do the very best for their children and that working parent... more We recognise that all parents want to do the very best for their children and that working parents, whatever their income, face the daily challenge of combining their work and family commitments ... The government sees support for parents as a key part of the social development strategy. Support for families, particularly families in work, is a good and necessary investment in New Zealand's future. Pathways to Opportunity: Nga ara whai orange, From Social Welfare to Social Development] The central paradox of the modern state thus resembles a central paradox of modern masculiniry: its power and privilege operate increasingly through disavowal of potency, repudiation of responsibility, and diffusion of sites and operations of control.

Cancer Research, 2013

The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) and the Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMR... more The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) and the Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC) have pioneered efforts towards understanding the genomic underpinnings of multiple myeloma. The MMRC centers have submitted over 1900 tumor samples to the MMRC tissue bank, from which >400 have been used in the Multiple Myeloma Genomics Initiative (MMGI), which is a multi-institutional comprehensive study to unveil the complete genomic blueprint of myeloma with public data access. In the initial phase 238 myeloma tumors were analyzed for somatic copy number alterations using array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) and array-based gene expression profiling (GEP). The large majority of this reference collection was also analyzed by array-based methylation profiling. We have also performed whole genome or exome sequencing on >200 normal/tumor pairs. These studies led to several key discoveries including global hypomethylation, homozygous deletion of UTX, novel mutation...

The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, 2005

The behavioral and psychological symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are associated with sig... more The behavioral and psychological symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are associated with significant patient and caregiver distress and increased likelihood of institutionalization. We attempted to characterize in detail these symptoms and the distress they cause to caregivers. Patients with probable AD were assessed with the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), Functional Assessment Staging (FAST), and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory With Caregiver Distress (NPI-D). Four hundred and thirty-five patients were recruited. Neuropsychiatric symptoms of all types were highly prevalent. The most common and most persistent symptom was apathy (75%). Delusional symptoms were the least persistent. Depressive and apathetic symptoms were the earliest to appear, and hallucinations, elation/euphoria, and aberrant motor behavior were the latest symptoms to emerge. Hallucinations were significantly more common in severe dementia. Symptoms of irritability were most prevalent in early disease. Total Ne...

2007 IEEE International Conference on Automation Science and Engineering, 2007

... design of home based care Alberto Rugnone, Chris D. Nugent, Member, IEEE, Mark Donnelly, Stud... more ... design of home based care Alberto Rugnone, Chris D. Nugent, Member, IEEE, Mark Donnelly, Student Member, IEEE, David Craig, Cristiano Paggetti, Member, IEEE, Elena Tamburini, Enrico Vicario, Member, IEEE A Proceedings ...

Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 2004

A The UK house-building industry has often been criticized for the quality of its products... more A The UK house-building industry has often been criticized for the quality of its products. Its business drivers are less focused on the needs of customers compared with much of the manufacturing sector. A recent survey revealed considerable dissatisfaction among buyers of newly built homes, particularly with the after-sales service provided by vendors. However, this cannot be viewed in isolation from the general business culture that prevails. This paper examines existing practices in the industry that act as barriers to a change in culture and discusses the steps that are being taken in a major house-building company to overcome them. Work on implementation of the policy through a balanced set of performance measures as the drivers for change and a participative programme for its deployment is presented. The objective is the development of a customer-focused culture that views service and product quality as contributing to future sales and profitability, instead of simply in terms of costs.

Structure, 2004

crevice located between the ␣ v and ␤ 3 subunit of the integrin head (Xiong et al., 2002). Atomic... more crevice located between the ␣ v and ␤ 3 subunit of the integrin head (Xiong et al., 2002). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and optical tweezers show that substantial force is required to detach RGD-containing proteins, such as those found in fibronectin type III modules or

Social Science & Medicine, 2011

By Devi Sridhar and David Craig; Analysing global health assistance: The reach for ethnographic, ... more By Devi Sridhar and David Craig; Analysing global health assistance: The reach for ethnographic, institutional and political economic scope. ... Analysing global health assistance: The reach for ethnographic, institutional and political economic scope. Devi Sridhar and David Craig. ...

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2001

The structural changes accompanying stretch-induced early unfolding events were investigated for ... more The structural changes accompanying stretch-induced early unfolding events were investigated for the four type III fibronectin (FN-III) modules, FN-III 7 , FN-III 8 , FN-III 9 , and FN-III 10 by using steered molecular dynamics. Simulations revealed that two main energy barriers, I and II, have to be overcome to initiate unraveling of FN-III's tertiary structure. In crossing the first barrier, the two opposing β-sheets of FN-III are rotated against each other such that the β-strands of both β-sheets align parallel to the force vector (aligned state). All further events in the unfolding pathway proceed from this intermediate state. A second energy barrier has to be overcome to break the first major cluster of hydrogen bonds between adjacent β-strands. Simulations revealed that the height of barrier I varied significantly among the four modules studied, being largest for FN-III 7 and lowest for FN-III 10 , whereas the height of barrier II showed little variation. Key residues affe...

Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, 2003

Factors influencing the use of neuroleptic and other CNS-acting medications (&amp... more Factors influencing the use of neuroleptic and other CNS-acting medications ('antidepressants' and 'hypnotics/anxiolytics') were examined in different elderly populations (> 65 years): long-stay care hospital subjects (n = 381), nursing home subjects (n = 1247), private residential home subjects (n = 321), statutory residential home subjects (n = 525), old age psychiatry facility subjects (n = 48), community dwellers (n = 97), in different geographical areas (urban n = 1223 and rural n = 1396). Neuroleptics were prescribed in 28% of the individuals, hypnotics/anxiolytics in 33% and antidepressants in 12%. Prescription of neuroleptics was significantly predicted by institutional placement (other than long-stay care hospital facility), lower cognitive function and rural geographical area. Age greater than 75 years and lower functional score (lower dependency) significantly decreased the likelihood of receipt of neuroleptics. Antidepressant use was significantly less likely in male subjects, patients with cognitive impairment and patients greater than 85 years. Institutional placement (other than long-stay care hospital facility and old age psychiatry facility) and rural locality predicted increased likelihood of antidepressant prescription. Institutional placement (other than long-stay care hospital facility) and geographical (rural) location were significant independent predictors of hypnotic/anxiolytic use. Prescription of hypnotic/anxiolytic drug class was significantly less likely in those individuals with lower cognitive status. In this representative elderly cohort, patient characteristics: age, sex, cognitive score, functional score, place of residence and geographical location markedly influenced drug utilisation.

Neurobiology of Aging, 2009

Levels of tumor necrosis factor-␣ (TNF-␣) are increased in the brain in Alzheimer's disease (AD).... more Levels of tumor necrosis factor-␣ (TNF-␣) are increased in the brain in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The TNF-␣/TNF-R signaling pathways involve complex interactions between several proteins, including TNF-receptor-associated factor-2 (TRAF-2). We have examined the distribution and levels of TRAF-2 in AD and control brains and also whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TRAF-2 gene are associated with AD and influence TRAF-2 expression. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated TRAF-2 in AD and control cortex in neurons, within plaque-associated neurites and some neurofibrillary tangles. Western blots revealed a band of the expected apparent molecular mass (∼50 kDa) for TRAF-2, in homogenates of AD and control cortex. RT-PCR showed the levels of TRAF-2 mRNA to be significantly higher in the frontal cortex of AD than control brains (p = 0.015). TRAF-2 mRNA expression was not linked to any SNPs. The 3 UTR SNP (rs7852970) GG allele was significantly protective against AD (p = 0.030). Our findings suggest that the TRAF-2 pathway is involved AD. The mechanisms are currently unclear and need further examination.

Molecular Psychiatry, 2010

Matrix Biology, 2002

The synergy site on fibronectin's FN-III module, located approximately 32 A away from the RGD-loo... more The synergy site on fibronectin's FN-III module, located approximately 32 A away from the RGD-loop on FN-III , greatly 9 10 enhances integrin a b mediated cell binding. Since fibronectin is exposed to mechanical forces acting on the extracellular matrix 5 1 in vivo, we used steered molecular dynamics to study how mechanical stretching of FN-III affects the relative distance 9-10 between these two synergistic sites. Our simulations predict the existence of an intermediate state prior to unfolding. In this state, the synergy-RGD distance is increased from 32 A to approximately 55 A, while the conformations of both sites remainů nperturbed. This distance is too large for both sites to co-bind the same receptor, as indicated by experiments that confirm that increasing the length of the linker chain between FN-III and FN-III reduces a b binding. Our simulations thus suggest that 9 1 0 51 increased a b-binding attributed to the synergy site, along with the associated downstream cell-signaling events, can be turned 5 1 off mechanically by stretching FN-III into this intermediate state. The potential physiological implications are discussed. ᮊ 9-10 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. and International Society of Matrix Biology. All rights reserved.

Journal of Mass Media Ethics, 1999

... Society By David A. Craig University of Oklahoma ... Craig ... Oates (1973), focusing on a ye... more ... Society By David A. Craig University of Oklahoma ... Craig ... Oates (1973), focusing on a year's newsmagazine coverage of heart transplantation beginning with Dr. Christiaan Barnard's operation in 1967, pointed the way to the framework proposed here in that he noted the lack of ...

Neuroscience letters, Jan 8, 2010

The apolipoprotein (APOE) epsilon4 allele is a genetic risk factor for the development of Alzheim... more The apolipoprotein (APOE) epsilon4 allele is a genetic risk factor for the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). It has also been associated with vascular dementia (VaD) in some but not all studies. Previous studies have examined the role of APOE in predicting performance on cognitive tests in both demented and non-demented populations. In cognitively intact individuals, statistically significant group differences between APOE epsilon4 carriers and non-carriers have been demonstrated for several cognitive domains. In AD studies of the impact of APOE epsilon4 on cognition have been conflicting while no previous study has assessed cognition and impact of APOE epsilon4 in VaD. In this study we investigated the impact of APOE epsilon4 on performance in neuropsychological tests including information processing speed in patients with mild-moderate AD and VaD. We incorporated both computerized and pen and paper tests to ensure a sensitive method of assessing cognition. 109 patients...

Optometry (St. Louis, Mo.), 2011

Genetic epidemiology is of topical and increasingly practical relevance. The subject attempts to ... more Genetic epidemiology is of topical and increasingly practical relevance. The subject attempts to answer 2 questions: (1) is there a genetic component to a disease, and (2) what genes are involved? This article summarizes genetic epidemiologic methods, describing family- and population-based methods used to locate and identify genes and the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. Health care professionals are faced with more and more genetic information, both from interested patients and from the media, and understanding the principles underlying genetic studies allows such information to be placed in context.

International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 2009

This is an original work which has not been published elsewhere or submitted for publication else... more This is an original work which has not been published elsewhere or submitted for publication elsewhere. A paper on attention deficits in the same cohort of patients has been accepted to JNNP and is currently in print (McGuinness et al.). There is however no overlap between the neuropsychological tests used and it has been referenced in the discussion. Objective: To compare performance of patients with mild-moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) on tests of executive functioning and working memory. Methods: Patients with AD (n ¼ 76) and VaD (n ¼ 46) were recruited from a memory clinic along with dementia free participants (n ¼ 28). They underwent specific tests of working memory from the Cognitive Drug Research (CDR) battery and pen and paper tests of executive function including CLOX 1 & 2, EXIT25 and a test of verbal fluency (COWAT). All patients had a CT brain scan which was independently scored for white matter change/ischaemia. Results: The AD and VaD groups were significantly impaired on all measures of working memory and executive functioning compared to the disease free group. There were no significant differences between the AD and VaD groups on any measure. Z-scores confirmed the pattern of impairment in executive functioning and working memory was largely equivalent in both patient groups. Small to moderate correlations were seen between the MMSE and the neurocognitive scores in both patient groups and the pattern of correlations was also very similar in both patient groups. Conclusions: This study demonstrates sizeable executive functioning and working memory impairments in patients with mild-moderate AD and VaD but no significant differences between the disease groups.

Foundations of Physics, 2010

We illustrate the crucial role played by decoherence (consistency of quantum histories) in extrac... more We illustrate the crucial role played by decoherence (consistency of quantum histories) in extracting consistent quantum probabilities for alternative histories in quantum cosmology. Specifically, within a Wheeler-DeWitt quantization of a flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker cosmological model sourced with a free massless scalar field, we calculate the probability that the univese is singular in the sense that it assumes zero volume. Classical solutions of this model are a disjoint set of expanding and contracting singular branches. A naive assessment of the behavior of quantum states which are superpositions of expanding and contracting universes may suggest that a "quantum bounce" is possible i.e. that the wave function of the universe may remain peaked on a non-singular classical solution throughout its history. However, a more careful consistent histories analysis shows that for arbitrary states in the physical Hilbert space the probability of this Wheeler-DeWitt quantum universe encountering the big bang/crunch singularity is equal to unity. A quantum Wheeler-DeWitt universe is inevitably singular, and a "quantum bounce" is thus not possible in these models.