Association between diverticular disease and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: a 13-year nationwide population-based cohort study.

PubMed

Leganger, Julie; Søborg, Marie-Louise Kulas; Mortensen, Laura Quitzau; Gregersen, Rasmus; Rosenberg, Jacob; Burcharth, Jakob

2016-12-01

The aim of this study was to examine occurrence and consequences of diverticular disease in patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) compared with a matched cohort. This nationwide population-based cohort study was conducted using data from medical registers in Denmark from year 2000 to 2012. The EDS cohort was identified using the specific diagnosis code for EDS and was randomly matched in a ratio of 1:20 by sex and date of birth (±1 year) with persons from the Danish general population. The occurrence of diverticular disease and the clinical characteristics of the initial diverticular event were compared between the EDS cohort and the comparison cohort. The first admission with diverticulitis was identified, and severity of diverticulitis, treatment, colonoscopies, length of stay, and 30-day mortality were investigated. We identified 1336 patients with EDS and matched a control cohort of 26,720 patients. The occurrence of diverticular disease in the EDS cohort (2.0 %) and the comparison cohort (0.68 %) differed significantly (p < 0.001). At the first diverticular event, the majority of patients were women (85 % for EDS and 87 % for the comparison cohort). Mean age, localization, and type of contact did not differ significantly. Admission with diverticulitis (1.0 % for EDS and 0.34 % for the comparison cohort) differed significantly (p < 0.001). We found no significant difference in severity of diverticulitis, treatment, length of stay, or 30-day mortality between the EDS and the comparison cohorts. Patients with EDS had an increased occurrence of overall diverticular events and admissions with diverticulitis compared with the general population.

Quality of life in Arab Muslim cancer survivors following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: comparison with matched healthy group.

PubMed

Alaloul, Fawwaz; Brockopp, Dorothy Y; Andrykowski, Michael A; Hall, Lynne A; Al Nusairat, Taghreed S

2015-07-01

The aims of this study were to determine if quality of life (QOL) among Arab Muslim hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) survivors differs from that of a healthy matched comparison group and to examine the relationships of demographic and medical variables and perceived social support with post-HSCT QOL. HSCT survivors (n = 63) were recruited from the King Hussein Cancer Center outpatient clinic. A matched (age, gender, education), healthy comparison group (n = 63) was recruited through public advertisements. Participants completed the EORTC-30 QOL scale and the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey. Differences were found between the Arab Muslim HSCT survivor and healthy comparison groups for physical functioning (p < .0001), role functioning (p < .01), social functioning (p < .0001) QOL domains, and an overall symptom score (p = .003) with the HSCT group reporting poorer status than the healthy comparison group. Effect sizes for the three QOL domains ranged from .50 (role functioning) to 1.20 (social functioning). No significant difference was noted between the Arab Muslim HSCT and comparison groups in emotional and cognitive QOL domains. Higher overall symptom scores were significantly associated with poorer QOL across all QOL domains. Similar to prior research with HSCT survivors, results suggest that HSCT has a significant negative impact on QOL. However, despite this general similarity, results suggest that the needs and experience of Muslim Arab HSCT survivors might differ from those of Western HSCT survivors in the social and emotional QOL domains. Given growing numbers of Arab and Muslim cancer survivors in the USA and other Western countries, future research is warranted.

Comparison of Histograms for Use in Cloud Observation and Modeling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Green, Lisa; Xu, Kuan-Man

2005-01-01

Cloud observation and cloud modeling data can be presented in histograms for each characteristic to be measured. Combining information from single-cloud histograms yields a summary histogram. Summary histograms can be compared to each other to reach conclusions about the behavior of an ensemble of clouds in different places at different times or about the accuracy of a particular cloud model. As in any scientific comparison, it is necessary to decide whether any apparent differences are statistically significant. The usual methods of deciding statistical significance when comparing histograms do not apply in this case because they assume independent data. Thus, a new method is necessary. The proposed method uses the Euclidean distance metric and bootstrapping to calculate the significance level.

Neuropsychological Comparison of Children with Heavy Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and an IQ-Matched Comparison Group

PubMed Central

Vaurio, Linnea; Riley, Edward P.; Mattson, Sarah N.

2012-01-01

An objective in current research on children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) is to determine neurobehavioral profiles to identify affected individuals. Deficits observed when children with FASD are compared to typically developing controls may be confounded by lower IQ scores in the subjects with FASD. To determine if prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with neurobehavioral deficits after controlling for IQ differences, multivariate analyses were conducted to compare alcohol-exposed (ALC) subjects to a comparison group closely matched on IQ (IQC). The initial analysis included a broad neuropsychological battery with measures of language, executive function, visual–motor integration, motor ability, and academic achievement. Additional, in depth comparisons focused on visual sustained attention, verbal learning and memory and parent/guardian-reported behavior problems. Group differences (ALC < IQC) were found on verbal learning and parent-rated behavior problems. Group differences were marginally significant (measures within the broad neuropsychological comparison) or not significant (visual attention, retention of verbal material) on the remaining comparisons. Therefore, some deficits (e.g., verbal learning and behavior problems) in children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure cannot be explained by the lower FSIQ observed in the population. These areas of relative weakness could be useful in distinguishing children with FASD from other children with lowered IQ. PMID:21349236

Construct and Compare Gene Coexpression Networks with DAPfinder and DAPview.

PubMed

Skinner, Jeff; Kotliarov, Yuri; Varma, Sudhir; Mine, Karina L; Yambartsev, Anatoly; Simon, Richard; Huyen, Yentram; Morgun, Andrey

2011-07-14

DAPfinder and DAPview are novel BRB-ArrayTools plug-ins to construct gene coexpression networks and identify significant differences in pairwise gene-gene coexpression between two phenotypes. Each significant difference in gene-gene association represents a Differentially Associated Pair (DAP). Our tools include several choices of filtering methods, gene-gene association metrics, statistical testing methods and multiple comparison adjustments. Network results are easily displayed in Cytoscape. Analyses of glioma experiments and microarray simulations demonstrate the utility of these tools. DAPfinder is a new friendly-user tool for reconstruction and comparison of biological networks.

What works with worked examples: Extending self-explanation and analogical comparison to synthesis problems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Badeau, Ryan; White, Daniel R.; Ibrahim, Bashirah; Ding, Lin; Heckler, Andrew F.

2017-12-01

The ability to solve physics problems that require multiple concepts from across the physics curriculum—"synthesis" problems—is often a goal of physics instruction. Three experiments were designed to evaluate the effectiveness of two instructional methods employing worked examples on student performance with synthesis problems; these instructional techniques, analogical comparison and self-explanation, have previously been studied primarily in the context of single-concept problems. Across three experiments with students from introductory calculus-based physics courses, both self-explanation and certain kinds of analogical comparison of worked examples significantly improved student performance on a target synthesis problem, with distinct improvements in recognition of the relevant concepts. More specifically, analogical comparison significantly improved student performance when the comparisons were invoked between worked synthesis examples. In contrast, similar comparisons between corresponding pairs of worked single-concept examples did not significantly improve performance. On a more complicated synthesis problem, self-explanation was significantly more effective than analogical comparison, potentially due to differences in how successfully students encoded the full structure of the worked examples. Finally, we find that the two techniques can be combined for additional benefit, with the trade-off of slightly more time on task.

The Comparison of Relationship Beliefs and Couples Burnout in women who apply for Divorce and Women Who Want to Continue their Marital Life

PubMed Central

Adibrad, Nastaran; Sedgh poor, Bahram Saleh

2010-01-01

Objective The aim of this study was to examine the comparison of relationship beliefs and couples burnout in women who apply for divorce and women who want to continue their marital life. Method for this study, 50 women who referred to judicial centers and 50 women who claimed they wanted to continue their marital life were randomly selected. Participants were asked to complete the relationship beliefs inventory and marital burnout questionnaires. In this study, descriptive statistical methods such as standard deviation, mean, t- students for independent groups, correlation, multi-variable regression and independent group's correlation difference test were used. Results The comparison between the relationship beliefs of the 2 groups (those wanting to divorce and women wanting to continue their marital life) was significantly different (p<0/1). In addition, the comparison of marital burnout was significantly different in the 2 groups (p<0/1). Discussion Women who were about to divorce were significantly different from those who wanted to continue their marital relationship in the general measure of the relationship beliefs and factors of “believing that disagreement is destructive and their partners can not change their undesirable behaviors”. In other words, women who were applying for divorce had more unreasonable thoughts and burnout compared to those who wanted to continue their marital life. PMID:22952488

Weighting of the data and analytical approaches may account for differences in overcoming the inadequate representativeness of the respondents to the third wave of a cohort study.

PubMed

Taylor, Anne W; Dal Grande, Eleonora; Grant, Janet; Appleton, Sarah; Gill, Tiffany K; Shi, Zumin; Adams, Robert J

2013-04-01

Attrition in cohort studies can cause the data to be nonreflective of the original population. Although of little concern if intragroup comparisons are being made or cause and effect assessed, the assessment of bias was undertaken in this study so that intergroup or descriptive analyses could be undertaken. The North West Adelaide Health Study is a chronic disease and risk factor cohort study undertaken in Adelaide, South Australia. In the original wave (1999), clinical and self-report data were collected from 4,056 adults. In the third wave (2008-2010), 2,710 adults were still actively involved. Comparisons were made against two other data sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics Estimated Residential Population and a regular conducted chronic disease and risk factor surveillance system. Comparisons of demographics (age, sex, area, education, work status, and income) proved to be statistically significantly different. In addition, smoking status, body mass index, and general health status were statistically significant from the comparison group. No statistically significant differences were found for alcohol risk. Although the third wave of this cohort study is not representative of the broader population on the variables assessed, weighting of the data and analytical approaches can account for differences. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Arrival in the labour ward in second stage of labour--any prognostic significance?

PubMed

Nkyekyer, K

1998-05-01

A comparative descriptive study was carried out to determine whether, in uncomplicated term pregnancies with the foetus in vertex presentation, there were any differences in maternal or foetal outcome between women who arrived in the labour ward in second stage of labour and those who arrived in early active phase. There were two hundred and seventeen women each in the study and comparison groups. There were no significant differences between the two groups as regards age, parity, marital status and level of education. Women in the comparison group were better antenatal clinic attendants. Those in the study group were more likely to have indicated that they had problems with transportation. They also had considerably shorter labours and all achieved spontaneous vaginal deliveries; a significant proportion (10.6%) of the comparison group had interventional deliveries. The incidence of episiotomies, lower genital tract injuries, manual removal of placenta and postpartum haemorrhage after vaginal delivery were not different between the two groups. Babies born to mothers in the study group were significantly lighter, by about 170 gms, and had a lower incidence of low one-minute Apgar scores. There were no significant differences in the rates of admission to the neonatal intensive care unit or in early neonatal deaths. Arrival in the labour ward in second stage of labour prognosticates non-interventional delivery without any increased risk of adverse outcome to the mother or her baby.

[The development of legal guardianship and involuntary treatment in a Bavarian catchment area in comparison to trends at the federal state and the federal level between 1999 and 2009].

PubMed

Valdes-Stauber, Juan; Putzhammer, Albert; Kilian, Reinhold

2011-05-01

In this study trends in legal guardianship and involuntary treatment in a Bavarian catchment area in comparison to trends at federal state and federal level between 1999 and 2009 will be examined. Data from the federal department of justice, from the federal health monitoring system and data from a district court were used to compute rates, quotas and quotients. Regression analyses were conducted to analyse associations between time series. In comparison to the federal state and the federal level the target region shows a significantly higher rate of new guardianships but a lower rate of judicial ordered mobility restrictions and at least in comparison to the federal state level a significantly lower rate of involuntary admissions according to guardianship law. The obtained differences indicate significant differences in the legal guardianship and involuntary admission practise which cannot be explained by epidemiological developments. Therefore it is necessary to investigate potential socio-cultural and socioeconomic sources for these varieties. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

A lower-extremities kinematic comparison of deep-water running styles and treadmill running.

PubMed

Killgore, Garry L; Wilcox, Anthony R; Caster, Brian L; Wood, Terry M

2006-11-01

The purpose of this investigation was to identify a deep-water running (DWR) style that most closely approximates terrestrial running, particularly relative to the lower extremities. Twenty intercollegiate distance runners (women, N = 12; men, N = 8) were videotaped from the right sagittal view while running on a treadmill (TR) and in deep water at 55-60% of their TR VO(2)max using 2 DWR styles: cross-country (CC) and high-knee (HK). Variables of interest were horizontal (X) and vertical (Y) displacement of the knee and ankle, stride rate (SR), VO(2), heart rate (HR), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Multivariate omnibus tests revealed statistically significant differences for RPE (p < 0.001). The post hoc pairwise comparisons revealed significant differences between TR and both DWR styles (p < 0.001). The kinematic variables multivariate omnibus tests were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.001 to p < 0.019). The post hoc pairwise comparisons revealed significant differences in SR (p < 0.001) between TR (1.25 +/- 0.08 Hz) and both DWR styles and also between the CC (0.81 +/- 0.08 Hz) and HK (1.14 +/- 0.10 Hz) styles of DWR. The CC style of DWR was found to be similar to TR with respect to linear ankle displacement, whereas the HK style was significantly different from TR in all comparisons made for ankle and knee displacement. The CC style of DWR is recommended as an adjunct to distance running training if the goal is to mimic the specificity of the ankle linear horizontal displacement of land-based running, but the SR will be slower at a comparable percentage of VO(2)max.

Grant Success for Early-Career Faculty in Patient-Oriented Research: Difference-in-Differences Evaluation of an Interdisciplinary Mentored Research Training Program.

PubMed

Libby, Anne M; Hosokawa, Patrick W; Fairclough, Diane L; Prochazka, Allan V; Jones, Pamela J; Ginde, Adit A

2016-12-01

Since 2004, the Clinical Faculty Scholars Program (CFSP) at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus has provided intensive interdisciplinary mentoring and structured training for early-career clinical faculty from multiple disciplines conducting patient-oriented clinical and outcomes research. This study evaluated the two-year program's effects by comparing grant outcomes for CFSP participants and a matched comparison cohort of other junior faculty. Using 2000-2011 institutional grant and employment data, a cohort of 25 scholars was matched to a cohort of 125 comparison faculty (using time in rank and pre-period grant dollars awarded). A quasi-experimental difference-in-differences design was used to identify the CFSP effect on grant outcomes. Grant outcomes were measured by counts and dollars of grant proposals and awards as principal investigator. Outcomes were compared within cohorts over time (pre- vs. post-period) and across cohorts. From pre- to post-period, mean annual counts and dollars of grant awards increased significantly for both cohorts, but mean annual dollars increased significantly more for the CFSP than for the comparison cohort (delta $83,427 vs. $27,343, P < .01). Mean annual counts of grant proposals also increased significantly more for the CFSP than for the comparison cohort: 0.42 to 2.34 (delta 1.91) versus 0.77 to 1.07 (delta 0.30), P < .01. Institutional investment in mentored research training for junior faculty provided significant grant award gains that began after one year of CFSP participation and persisted over time. The CFSP is a financially sustainable program with effects that are predictable, significant, and enduring.

Can a clinical placement influence stigma? An analysis of measures of social distance.

PubMed

Moxham, Lorna; Taylor, Ellie; Patterson, Christopher; Perlman, Dana; Brighton, Renee; Sumskis, Susan; Keough, Emily; Heffernan, Tim

2016-09-01

The way people who experience mental illness are perceived by health care professionals, which often includes stigmatising attitudes, can have a significant impact on treatment outcomes and on their quality of life. To determine whether stigma towards people with mental illness varied for undergraduate nursing students who attended a non-traditional clinical placement called Recovery Camp compared to students who attended a 'typical' mental health clinical placement. Quasi-experimental. Seventy-nine third-year nursing students were surveyed; n=40 attended Recovery Camp (intervention), n=39 (comparison group) attended a 'typical' mental health clinical placement. All students completed the Social Distance Scale (SDS) pre- and post-placement and at three-month follow-up. Data analysis consisted of a one-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) exploring parameter estimates between group scores across three time points. Two secondary repeated measures ANOVAs were performed to demonstrate the differences in SDS scores for each group across time. Pairwise comparisons demonstrated the differences between time intervals. A statistically significant difference in ratings of stigma between the intervention group and the comparison group existed. Parameter estimates revealed that stigma ratings for the intervention group were significantly reduced post-placement and remained consistently low at three-month follow-up. There was no significant difference in ratings of stigma for the comparison group over time. Students who attended Recovery Camp reported significant decreases in stigma towards people with a mental illness over time, compared to the typical placement group. Findings suggest that a therapeutic recreation based clinical placement was more successful in reducing stigma regarding mental illness in undergraduate nursing students compared to those who attended typical mental health clinical placements. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Is lower IQ in children with epilepsy due to lower parental IQ? A controlled comparison study

PubMed Central

Walker, Natalie M; Jackson, Daren C; Dabbs, Kevin; Jones, Jana E; Hsu, David A; Stafstrom, Carl E; Sheth, Raj D; Koehn, Monica A; Seidenberg, Michael; Hermann, Bruce P

2012-01-01

Aim The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between parent and child full-scale IQ (FSIQ) in children with epilepsy and in typically developing comparison children and to examine parent–child IQ differences by epilepsy characteristics. Method The study participants were 97 children (50 males, 47 females; age range 8–18y; mean age 12y 3mo, SD 3y.1mo) with recent-onset epilepsy including idiopathic generalized (n=43) and idiopathic localization-related epilepsies (n=54); 69 healthy comparison children (38 females, 31 males; age range 8–18y; mean age 12y 8mo, SD 3y 2mo), and one biological parent per child. All participants were administered the Wechsler Abbreviated Intelligence Scale. FSIQ was compared in children with epilepsy and typically developing children; FSIQ was compared in the parents of typically developing children and the parents of participants with epilepsy; parent–child FSIQ differences were compared between the groups. Results FSIQ was lower in children with epilepsy than in comparison children (p<0.001). FSIQ of parents of children with epilepsy did not differ from the FSIQ of the parents of typically developing children. Children with epilepsy had significantly lower FSIQ than their parents (p<0.001), whereas comparison children did not. The parent–child IQ difference was significantly higher in the group with epilepsy than the comparison group (p=0.043). Epilepsy characteristics were not related to parent–child IQ difference. Interpretation Parent–child IQ difference appears to be a marker of epilepsy impact independent of familial IQ, epilepsy syndrome, and clinical seizure features. This marker is evident early in the course of idiopathic epilepsies and can be tracked over time. PMID:23216381

International comparison of observation-specific spatial buffers: maximizing the ability to estimate physical activity.

PubMed

Frank, Lawrence D; Fox, Eric H; Ulmer, Jared M; Chapman, James E; Kershaw, Suzanne E; Sallis, James F; Conway, Terry L; Cerin, Ester; Cain, Kelli L; Adams, Marc A; Smith, Graham R; Hinckson, Erica; Mavoa, Suzanne; Christiansen, Lars B; Hino, Adriano Akira F; Lopes, Adalberto A S; Schipperijn, Jasper

2017-01-23

Advancements in geographic information systems over the past two decades have increased the specificity by which an individual's neighborhood environment may be spatially defined for physical activity and health research. This study investigated how different types of street network buffering methods compared in measuring a set of commonly used built environment measures (BEMs) and tested their performance on associations with physical activity outcomes. An internationally-developed set of objective BEMs using three different spatial buffering techniques were used to evaluate the relative differences in resulting explanatory power on self-reported physical activity outcomes. BEMs were developed in five countries using 'sausage,' 'detailed-trimmed,' and 'detailed,' network buffers at a distance of 1 km around participant household addresses (n = 5883). BEM values were significantly different (p < 0.05) for 96% of sausage versus detailed-trimmed buffer comparisons and 89% of sausage versus detailed network buffer comparisons. Results showed that BEM coefficients in physical activity models did not differ significantly across buffering methods, and in most cases BEM associations with physical activity outcomes had the same level of statistical significance across buffer types. However, BEM coefficients differed in significance for 9% of the sausage versus detailed models, which may warrant further investigation. Results of this study inform the selection of spatial buffering methods to estimate physical activity outcomes using an internationally consistent set of BEMs. Using three different network-based buffering methods, the findings indicate significant variation among BEM values, however associations with physical activity outcomes were similar across each buffering technique. The study advances knowledge by presenting consistently assessed relationships between three different network buffer types and utilitarian travel, sedentary behavior, and leisure-oriented physical activity outcomes.

Should I Stay or Should I Go? A Comparison Study of Intention to Leave among Public Child Welfare Systems with High and Low Turnover Rates

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Strolin-Goltzman, Jessica

2008-01-01

This comparison study analyzes the commonalties, similarities, and differences on supervisory and organizational factors between a group of high turnover systems and a group of low turnover systems. Significant differences on organizational factors, but not on supervisory factors, emerged from the statistical analysis. Additionally, this study…

Comparison of benthos and plankton for Waukegan Harbor Area of Concern, Illinois, and Burns Harbor-Port of Indiana non-Area of Concern, Indiana, in 2015

USGS Publications Warehouse

Eikenberry, Barbara C. Scudder; Olds, Hayley T.; Burns, Daniel J.; Dobrowolski, Edward G.; Schmude, Kurt L.

2017-06-06

During two seasonal sampling events in spring (June) and fall (August) of 2015, the U.S. Geological Survey collected benthos (benthic invertebrates) and plankton (zooplankton and phytoplankton) at three sites each in the Waukegan Harbor Area of Concern (AOC) in Illinois and in Burns Harbor-Port of Indiana, a non-AOC comparison site in Indiana. The study was done in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Samples were collected concurrently for physical and chemical parameters (specific conductance, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll-a, total and volatile suspended solids in water samples; particle size and volatile-on-ignition solids of sediment in dredge samples). The purpose of the study was to assess whether or not aquatic communities at the AOC were degraded in comparison to communities at the non-AOC, which was presumed to be less impaired than the AOC. Benthos were collected by using Hester-Dendy artificial substrate samplers and a Ponar® dredge sampler to collect composited grabs of bottom sediment; zooplankton were collected by using tows from depth to the surface with a 63-micrometer mesh plankton net; phytoplankton were collected by using whole water samples composited from set depth intervals. Aquatic communities at the AOC and the non-AOC were compared by use of univariate statistical analyses with metrics such as taxa richness (number of unique taxa), diversity, and a multimetric Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI, for artificial-substrate samples only) as well as by use of multivariate statistical analyses of taxa relative abundances.Although benthos communities at Waukegan Harbor AOC were not rated as degraded in comparison to the non-AOC, metrics for zooplankton and phytoplankton communities did show some impairment for the 2015 sampling. Across seasons, benthos richness and diversity were significantly higher and rated as less degraded at the AOC compared to the non-AOC; however, benthos IBIs were not significantly different. Multivariate comparisons revealed that the benthos communities in the AOC and non-AOC were significantly different, but these comparisons do not address current degradation in either harbor. The dominant taxa in dredge samples were oligochaete worms in both harbors, but there were differences in the relative abundances of Dreissena as well as oligochaete and midge taxa. Although zooplankton richness and diversity in the AOC were lower and rated as more degraded in spring, these metrics were rated as less degraded in fall compared to the non-AOC, effectively balancing out so that there was no difference across seasons. Multivariate comparisons also indicated that zooplankton communities in the AOC were significantly different from those in the non-AOC for spring only but not across seasons, possibly because of lower water temperatures in spring at Waukegan Harbor than at the non-AOC site. The spring zooplankton community in Waukegan Harbor was dominated in density and biomass by the rotifer Synchaeta. Across seasons, diatom richness was significantly higher and rated as less degraded in the AOC than the non-AOC because of spring values, whereas soft algae richness was significantly lower and rated as more degraded in the AOC because of fall values. Spring richness of combined phytoplankton (soft algae and diatoms) was significantly higher in the AOC than in the non-AOC. Neither diatom diversity nor soft algae diversity differed significantly between the harbors, but combined phytoplankton diversity across seasons, if replicates were included, was significantly lower and rated as more degraded in the AOC than in the non-AOC. Multivariate tests indicated that the combined phytoplankton communities in the harbors were not significantly different across seasons. Significant differences were not found between harbors for chlorophyll-a, suspended solids, algal densities, or biomass.

Vedolizumab Compared with Certolizumab in the Therapy of Crohn Disease: A Systematic Review and Indirect Comparison.

PubMed

Kawalec, Paweł; Moćko, Pawel; Pilc, Andrzej; Radziwon-Zalewska, Maria; Malinowska-Lipień, Iwona

2016-08-01

The increasing prevalence of Crohn disease (CD) underscores the need to identify new effective drugs, which is particularly important for patients who do not respond or do not tolerate standard biologic therapies. The purpose of this analysis was to compare the efficacy and safety of vedolizumab and certolizumab pegol in patients with active moderate to severe CD. This analysis was prepared according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A systematic literature search of Medline (PubMed), Embase, and the Cochrane Library was conducted through March 5, 2016. Studies included were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that enrolled patients treated for CD with vedolizumab or certolizumab pegol. All studies were critically appraised; indirect comparison was performed with the Bucher method. Eight RCTs were identified, and four were homogeneous enough to be included in the indirect comparison of the induction phase of treatment. No statistically significant differences were found in clinical response (relative risk [RR] 1.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.81-1.88) or remission (RR 1.35, 95% CI 0.89-2.07) between vedolizumab and certolizumab pegol in the overall population. Similar nonstatistically significant differences in response and remission were noted in a subgroup analysis of anti-tumor necrosis factor-naive patients (RR 1.10, 95% CI 0.72-1.66 and RR 1.98, 95% CI 0.95-4.11, respectively). In addition, there were no statistically significant differences in safety profiles. This indirect comparison analysis demonstrated no statistically significant differences in efficacy and safety between vedolizumab and certolizumab pegol. © 2016 Pharmacotherapy Publications, Inc.

Sex Differences in the Relationship of Anger and Depression: An Empirical Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Newman, Jody L.; Gray, Elizabeth A.; Fuqua, Dale R.

1999-01-01

A comparison of mean scores on the Beck Depression Inventory and State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory scales revealed that women scored significantly higher than men on depression, whereas there were no significant differences on any of the six anger scales. These findings support further research on functional affective differences between men…

"Parkinson-dementia" diseases: a comparison by double tracer SPECT studies.

PubMed

Rossi, Carlo; Volterrani, Duccio; Nicoletti, Valentina; Manca, Gianpiero; Frosini, Daniela; Kiferle, Lorenzo; Unti, Elisa; De Feo, Paola; Bonuccelli, Ubaldo; Ceravolo, Roberto

2009-12-01

We performed 123I-FP-CIT/SPECT and ECD/SPECT in 30 patients with Parkinson's disease with dementia (PDD) and 30 patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) to evaluate whether presynaptic nigro-striatal function and/or cerebral perfusional pattern is different in these diseases. The striatal uptake of DAT tracer was statistically significantly lower in PDD and DLB with respect to control data (p < 0.0005), however no significant difference was found between PDD and DLB. Patients with PDD and DLB showed a significant reduction of rCBF (p < 0.001) in parieto-occipital and frontal areas, with respect to controls, but the comparison between the two groups did not result in any significant difference by SPM analysis. Finally no correlation was found between any regional perfusional changes and nigro-striatal dysfunction. We conclude that neither studies with 123I-FP-CIT nor ECD/SPECT were able to discriminate between DLB and PDD in vivo.

Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a cost comparison.

PubMed

Love, Katie M; Durham, Christopher A; Meara, Michael P; Mays, Ashley C; Bower, Curtis E

2011-05-01

Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) should not cost more or less than traditional laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Retrospective cost data were collected from the accounting records of a single institution. A direct comparison of LC and SILC was conducted. Data on the SILC cases converted to LC were included. The total operating room (OR) cost (actual cost to the hospital for equipment, time, and personnel) and the total OR charges (total derived from the OR cost plus a margin to cover overhead costs beyond material costs) were examined. The total hospital charges (OR charges plus hospital charges accrued in the perioperative period) also were included. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data, with p values less than 0.05 considered statistically significant. Over a period of 19 months, 116 cases of minimally invasive cholecystectomy were evaluated. Of the 116 patients, 48 underwent LC during the first half of that period, and 68 patients underwent SILC during the second half of that period. Nine of the single-incision procedures were converted to traditional LC, for a 13% conversion rate. The groups were well matched from a demographics standpoint, with no significant differences in age, gender, body mass index (BMI), diagnoses, American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) class, or payment. Comparison of all attempted SILCs, including those converted, with all LCs showed no significant difference in cost category totals. A significant difference among all cost variables was found when SILCs were compared with SILCs that required conversion to LC. A significant difference among the cost variables also was found when LCs were compared with converted SILCs. The cost for SILC did not differ significantly from that for LC when standard materials were used and the duration of the procedure was considered. Converted cases were significantly more expensive than completed SILC and LC cases.

Differences in Activities of Daily Living Performance Between Long-Term Pediatric Sarcoma Survivors and a Matched Comparison Group on Standardized Testing

PubMed Central

Parks, Rebecca; Rasch, Elizabeth K.; Mansky, Patrick J.; Oakley, Frances

2009-01-01

BACKGROUND: In a cross-sectional study examining late effects of pediatric sarcoma therapy, long-term survivors were evaluated on their activities of daily living (ADL) performance. PROCEDURE: Thirty-two persons with Ewing sarcoma family of tumors, rhabdomyosarcoma, and non-rhabdomysarcoma-soft tissue sarcoma enrolled an average of 17 years after treatment. Participants were evaluated using the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS) [1], a standardized observational evaluation of ADL task performance. Means and 95% confidence intervals for ADL motor and ADL process ability measures were calculated for four groups: 1) sarcoma survivors, 2) “well” adults matched for age and gender, 3) “well” adults matched for gender that were 10 years older; and 4) “well” adults matched for gender that were 20 years older. RESULTS: ADL motor ability was significantly lower for sarcoma survivors than for the age and gender matched comparison group (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between ADL motor ability of sarcoma survivors and the comparison group 10 years older, but sarcoma survivors had significantly better ADL motor ability (p<0.05) than the oldest comparison group (20 years older). Sarcoma survivors had significantly worse ADL process ability than the age matched group (p<0.05). There was no difference in ADL process ability between the sarcoma survivors and comparison groups that were 10 and 20 years older. CONCLUSIONS: This first report of a clinical evaluation of ADL limitation in pediatric sarcoma survivors treated with intensive multimodal cancer therapy suggests that influences on performance of daily life activities are more common than previously reported. PMID:19533662

Looking for the best immune-checkpoint inhibitor in pre-treated NSCLC patients: An indirect comparison between nivolumab, pembrolizumab and atezolizumab.

PubMed

Passiglia, Francesco; Galvano, Antonio; Rizzo, Sergio; Incorvaia, Lorena; Listì, Angela; Bazan, Viviana; Russo, Antonio

2018-03-15

Immune-checkpoint inhibitors represent the new standard of care in patients with advanced NSCLC who progressed after first-line treatment. This work aim to assess any difference in both efficacy and safety profiles among Nivolumab, Pembrolizumab and Atezolizumab in pre-treated NSCLC patients. Randomized clinical trials comparing immune-checkpoint inhibitor versus docetaxel in pre-treated patients with advanced NSCLC were included and direct comparison meta-analysis of selected trials have been performed. Subsequently the summary estimates of Nivolumab, Pembrolizumab and Atezolizumab emerging from the direct meta-analysis were selected to provide the pooled estimates of hazard ratio (HR) and relative risk (RR) for the indirect comparisons among these agents. A total of 5 studies met the selection criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. Indirect comparisons for efficacy outcomes showed the RR for ORR nivolumab versus atezolizumab 1.66 (95% CI 1.07-2.58), pembrolizumab versus atezolizumab 1.94 (95% CI 1.30-2.90). No significant differences in both PFS and OS have been observed. Indirect comparisons for safety showed the RR for G3-5 AEs nivolumab versus pembrolizumab 0.41 (95% CI 0.29-0.60), nivolumab versus atezolizumab 0.50 (95% CI 0.35-0.72). No significant differences in both pneumonitis and discontinuation rate have been observed. The results of this work revealed that nivolumab and pembrolizumab are associated with a significant increase of ORR as compared to atezolizumab and nivolumab is associated with a significant lower incidence of G3-5 AEs as compared to the other drugs. These evidences could support the oncologists to select the best drug for each patient. © 2017 UICC.

Effect of implementing instructional videos in a physical examination course: an alternative paradigm for chiropractic physical examination teaching.

PubMed

Zhang, Niu; Chawla, Sudeep

2012-01-01

This study examined the effect of implementing instructional video in ophthalmic physical examination teaching on chiropractic students' laboratory physical examination skills and written test results. Instructional video clips of ophthalmic physical examination, consisting of both standard procedures and common mistakes, were created and used for laboratory teaching. The video clips were also available for student review after class. Students' laboratory skills and written test results were analyzed and compared using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post hoc multiple comparison tests among three study cohorts: the comparison cohort who did not utilize the instructional videos as a tool, the standard video cohort who viewed only the standard procedure of video clips, and the mistake-referenced video cohort who viewed video clips containing both standard procedure and common mistakes. One-way ANOVA suggested a significant difference of lab results among the three cohorts. Post hoc multiple comparisons further revealed that the mean scores of both video cohorts were significantly higher than that of the comparison cohort (p < .001). There was, however, no significant difference of the mean scores between the two video cohorts (p > .05). However, the percentage of students having a perfect score was the highest in the mistake-referenced video cohort. There was no significant difference of written test scores among all three cohorts (p > .05). The instructional video of the standard procedure improves chiropractic students' ophthalmic physical examination skills, which may be further enhanced by implementing a mistake-referenced instructional video.

[Impact of a Senso-Motoric Intervention in COPD-Patients Participating in an Outpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program: A Randomized Controlled Trial].

PubMed

Spielmanns, M; Müller, K; Schott, N; Winkler, A; Polanski, H; Nell, C; Boeselt, T; Koczulla, A R; Storre, J H; Windisch, W; Magnet, F S; Baum, K

2017-06-01

Objective Exercise training provides a cornerstone of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in COPD-patients. However, the components of the training are not yet fully investigated. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to investigate the effectiveness of a sensory-motoric training (SMT) in comparison to a conventional strength training (KT) according to the physical performance. Patients and Methods: 43 COPD patients were randomized and participated either in the intervention group (SMT = 30 minutes SMT per day) or in the control group (KT = 30 minutes KT per day). The SMT was performed as circuit training with five stations. The primary endpoint was the difference between T1 (start of the PR) and T2 (end of the PR) in 5-Times Sit-to-stand test (5-STST) in the intergroup comparison. Secondary endpoints were the intra- and intergroup comparisons of T1 and T2 in the 6-Minute Walk Test (6-MWT), COPD Assessment Test (CAT), St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), Hospital Anxiety- and Depression Scale (HADS) and in lung function. Results No significant differences were seen in the results of the 5-STST between the groups. Likewise, in the 6-MWT, SGRQ, CAT, HADS and lung function. The intragroup comparison between T1 and T2 showed significant differences in 5-STST, 6-MWT, SGRQ, CAT and HADS in both groups. The differences in lung function were not significantly, neither in the inter- nor in the intragroup comparison. Conclusion Similarly to a conventional strength training improvements in exercise capacity could be achieved with a SMT during PR in COPD patients. Further studies are necessary to define the role of the SMT in regards to postural control. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Gender Comparisons of College Students' Attitudes toward Sexual Behavior.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilson, Stephan M.; Medora, Nilufer P.

1990-01-01

Found significant differences between male and female college students' (n=641) attitudes toward premarital sex among casual acquaintances and attitudes toward extramarital, oral-genital, and anal sex, with males expressing more liberal attitudes. Found no significant differences between males' and females' attitudes toward premarital sex when…

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Pubertal Preparedness Program in Terms of Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Pubertal Changes Among Pre-Adolescent Girls.

PubMed

Rani, Manisha; Sheoran, Poonam; Kumar, Yogesh; Singh, Navjyot

2016-09-01

Objective: To compare the knowledge and attitude regarding pubertal changes among pre - adolescent girls before and after the pubertal preparedness program (PPP) in experimental and comparison group. Materials and methods: A Quasi experimental (non- equivalent comparison group pretest posttest) design was adopted with 104pre-adolescentgirls (52 in each experimental and comparison group) of age 12-14years, selected by purposive sampling from two different Government schools of Ambala District. Knowledge and attitude was assessed using structured knowledge questionnaire (KR-20 = 0.74) and 5 point likert scale (Cronbach's alpha = 0.79) respectively. On the same day of pretest, PPP was administered and on 12 th day FAQs reinforcement session was held only for experimental group. After 28 days, posttest was taken. Results: The computed t value of pretest of knowledge and attitude scores of pre-adolescent girls (1.97), (1.95) respectively in experimental and comparison group was found non-significant at 0.05 level of significance which shows that both group didn't differ significantly in their knowledge and attitude before the administration of intervention. Findings of unpaired 't' value of posttest knowledge and attitude scores of pre-adolescent girls (19.77), (17.17) respectively in experimental and comparison group were found significant at 0.05 level of significance, Thus knowledge and attitude of pre-adolescent girls were improved with PPP and FAQs session. Conclusion: Pubertal preparedness program and FAQs reinforcement session are effective in enhancing knowledge and developing favorable attitude among pre-adolescent girls.

Got power? A systematic review of sample size adequacy in health professions education research.

PubMed

Cook, David A; Hatala, Rose

2015-03-01

Many education research studies employ small samples, which in turn lowers statistical power. We re-analyzed the results of a meta-analysis of simulation-based education to determine study power across a range of effect sizes, and the smallest effect that could be plausibly excluded. We systematically searched multiple databases through May 2011, and included all studies evaluating simulation-based education for health professionals in comparison with no intervention or another simulation intervention. Reviewers working in duplicate abstracted information to calculate standardized mean differences (SMD's). We included 897 original research studies. Among the 627 no-intervention-comparison studies the median sample size was 25. Only two studies (0.3%) had ≥80% power to detect a small difference (SMD > 0.2 standard deviations) and 136 (22%) had power to detect a large difference (SMD > 0.8). 110 no-intervention-comparison studies failed to find a statistically significant difference, but none excluded a small difference and only 47 (43%) excluded a large difference. Among 297 studies comparing alternate simulation approaches the median sample size was 30. Only one study (0.3%) had ≥80% power to detect a small difference and 79 (27%) had power to detect a large difference. Of the 128 studies that did not detect a statistically significant effect, 4 (3%) excluded a small difference and 91 (71%) excluded a large difference. In conclusion, most education research studies are powered only to detect effects of large magnitude. For most studies that do not reach statistical significance, the possibility of large and important differences still exists.

The Comparison of Thyroarytenoid Muscle Myectomy and Type II Thyroplasty for Spasmodic Dysphonia.

PubMed

Nomoto, Masaki; Tokashiki, Ryoji; Hiramatsu, Hiroyuki; Konomi, Ujimoto; Motohashi, Rei; Sakurai, Eriko; Toyomura, Fumimasa; Ueda, Yuri; Inoue, Shun; Tsukahara, Kiyoaki; Suzuki, Mamoru

2015-07-01

Surgical treatments for adductor spasmodic dysphonia include bilateral thyroarytenoid muscle myectomy (TAM) and type II thyroplasty (TPII), both of which are commonly performed. The present study aimed to compare the effects of TAM and TPII. Retrospective study. Subjects were 30 and 35 patients who underwent TAM and TPII, between March 2008 and November 2012. Voice quality was evaluated based on "voice handicap index 10 (VHI10)" and auditory impressions before and 6 months after surgery using five parameters: "strangulation," "interruption," "tremor," "grade," and "breathiness." Comparison of the two procedures revealed significant improvements in VHI10, strangulation, interruption, and tremor, and a significant decline in breathiness after surgery. In particular, VHI10 was improved by more than six points in 90% of patients with TAM, and 96% with TPII. No significant difference was observed between the severities of two procedures preoperatively. Comparison of each postoperative score between the two procedures revealed that TAM significantly improved strangulation, interruption, and tremor, and significantly worsened breathiness, with no significant difference in VHI10. Scatter plots (x: preoperative scores; y: postoperative scores) and regression lines of evaluation items demonstrated that TAM is more effective than TPII in severe cases. Compared with TPII, TAM tends to improve strangulation, interruption, and tremor; however, it tends to worsen breathiness postoperatively. Postoperative VHI10 scores did not differ significantly between the two procedures. Given favorable improvement rates, both surgical procedures were considered effective. Copyright © 2015 The Voice Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Effect of a State Department of Education Teacher Mentor Initiative on Science Achievement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pruitt, Stephen L.; Wallace, Carolyn S.

2012-06-01

This study investigated the effectiveness of a southern state's department of education program to improve science achievement through embedded professional development of science teachers in the lowest performing schools. The Science Mentor Program provided content and inquiry-based coaching by teacher leaders to science teachers in their own classrooms. The study analyzed the mean scale scores for the science portion of the state's high school graduation test for the years 2004 through 2007 to determine whether schools receiving the intervention scored significantly higher than comparison schools receiving no intervention. The results showed that all schools achieved significant improvement of scale scores between 2004 and 2007, but there were no significant performance differences between intervention and comparison schools, nor were there any significant differences between various subgroups in intervention and comparison schools. However, one subgroup, economically disadvantaged (ED) students, from high-level intervention schools closed the achievement gap with ED students from no-intervention schools across the period of the study. The study provides important information to guide future research on and design of large-scale professional development programs to foster inquiry-based science.

African American Veterans Storytelling: A Multisite Randomized Trial to Improve Hypertension.

PubMed

Houston, Thomas K; Fix, Gemmae M; Shimada, Stephanie L; Long, Judith A; Gordon, Howard S; Pope, Charlene; Volkman, Julie; Allison, Jeroan J; DeLaughter, Kathryn; Orner, Michelle; Bokhour, Barbara G

2017-09-01

Disparities in hypertension control persist for African American Veterans. To enhance cultural relevance of hypertension control self-management education, in a multisite, stratified randomized trial, we tested an interactive Veteran-to-Veteran storytelling digital video disk (DVD) intervention created with Veteran partners, versus an education-only DVD comparison. At 3 VA facilities, African American Veterans with uncontrolled hypertension were randomized to storytelling DVD intervention or didactic comparison DVD and followed for 6 months. We hypothesized that follow-up blood pressure (BP) would be lower among Veterans in the intervention group. African American Veterans (N=619) were 92% male, 39% over age 65, most had a high-school education, over 50% of both the intervention and comparison group reported a household income of <$20,000, and 40% had less than adequate health literacy. At baseline, mean intervention and comparison group BPs were 138/80 and 139/81 mm Hg, respectively; at 6 months, mean systolic BP (SBP) increased by 0.1 in the intervention group and by 1.9 for the comparison group; diastolic BP fell by 0.1 in the intervention group and rose by 0.2 in the comparison group. No differences between the intervention and control groups were statistically significant (all P>0.3). Site differences were large; at one, the intervention group improved while the comparison groups deteriorated, resulting in 6.3 and 3.9 mm Hg more improvement for the intervention group in SBP and diastolic BP (P=0.06 and 0.04), respectively; at the other 2 sites, there were positive and negative changes, all small, in the 2 measures, with minimal differences-one site favored the comparison group and the other, the intervention (these comparisons did not approach statistical significance (all P>0.20). In a secondary analysis stratified by baseline BP, there was no intervention effect among those with uncontrolled BP, but intervention patients who were in control at baseline were more likely to stay in control, compared with comparison [SBP increase by 6.3 mm Hg (SD=14.4) among intervention, and by 10.9 mm Hg (SD=16.9) in comparison, P=0.02]. In this multisite trial, we did not find a significant overall storytelling intervention effect (Clinicaltrials.gov Reg. #NCT01276197).

Comparison of cefuroxime axetil, cefaclor, and amoxicillin-clavulanate potassium suspensions in acute otitis media in infants and children.

PubMed

Pichichero, M; Aronovitz, G H; Gooch, W M; McLinn, S E; Maddern, B; Johnson, C; Darden, P M

1990-10-01

In this randomized, blinded, multicenter comparison study, 377 infants and children with acute otitis media (AOM) received a 10-day course of an oral suspension of one of the following: cefuroxime axetil (CAE), 30 mg/kg/day; cefaclor (CEC), 40 mg/kg/day; or amoxicillin-clavulanate potassium (AMX-CL), 40 mg/kg/day. Clinical efficacy was determined by pneumatic otoscopy and tympanometric testing 3 to 5, 11 to 14, and 22 to 26 days after the initiation of therapy. There was a statistically significant difference among the three treatment groups with respect to clinical outcome; more patients in the CAE group (62%) than in the CEC group (46%) or the AMX-CL group (52%) had complete resolution of signs and symptoms of AOM (including effusion). Paired comparisons revealed a significant difference in efficacy between CAE and CEC and a nearly significant difference between AMX-CL and CEC. Taste acceptability was highest for CEC and lowest for this formulation of CAE. Significantly more patients in the AMX-CL group than in the CAE or CEC group had a side effect, primarily diarrhea, vomiting, or diaper rash. We conclude that CAE suspension has greater clinical efficacy than CEC and fewer side effects than AMX-CL.

Effects of Schroth and Pilates exercises on the Cobb angle and weight distribution of patients with scoliosis.

PubMed

Kim, Gichul; HwangBo, Pil-Neo

2016-03-01

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of Schroth and Pilates exercises on the Cobb angle and body weight distribution of patients with idiopathic scoliosis. [Subjects] Twenty-four scoliosis patients with a Cobb angle of ≥20° were divided into the Schroth exercise group (SEG, n = 12) and the Pilates exercise group (PEG, n = 12). [Methods] The SEG and PEG performed Schroth and Pilates exercises, respectively, three times a week for 12 weeks. The Cobb angle was measured in the standing position with a radiography apparatus, and weight load was measured with Gait View Pro 1.0. [Results] In the intragroup comparison, both groups showed significant changes in the Cobb angle. For weight distribution, the SEG showed significant differences in the total weight between the concave and convex sides, but the PEG did not show significant differences. Furthermore, in the intragroup comparison, the SEG showed significant differences in the changes in the Cobb angle and weight distribution compared with the PEG. [Conclusion] Both Schroth and Pilates exercises were effective in changing the Cobb angle and weight distribution of scoliosis patients; however, the intergroup comparison showed that the Schroth exercise was more effective than the Pilates exercise.

Upper esophageal sphincter (UES) metrics on high-resolution manometry (HRM) differentiate achalasia subtypes.

PubMed

Blais, P; Patel, A; Sayuk, G S; Gyawali, C P

2017-12-01

The upper esophageal sphincter (UES) reflexively responds to bolus presence within the esophageal lumen, therefore UES metrics can vary in achalasia. Within consecutive patients undergoing esophageal high-resolution manometry (HRM), 302 patients (58.2±1.0 year, 57% F) with esophageal outflow obstruction were identified, and compared to 16 asymptomatic controls (27.7±0.7 year, 56% F). Esophageal outflow obstruction was segregated into achalasia subtypes 1, 2, and 3, and esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction (EGJOO with intact peristalsis) using Chicago Classification v3.0. UES and lower esophageal sphincter (LES) metrics were compared between esophageal outflow obstruction and normal controls using univariate and multivariate analysis. Linear regression excluded multicollinearity of pressure metrics that demonstrated significant differences across individual subtype comparisons. LES integrated relaxation pressure (IRP) had utility in differentiating achalasia from controls (P<.0001), but no utility in segregating between subtypes (P=.27). In comparison to controls, patients collectively demonstrated univariate differences in UES mean basal pressure, relaxation time to nadir, recovery time, and residual pressure (UES-RP) (P≤.049). UES-RP was highest in type 2 achalasia (P<.0001 compared to other subtypes and controls). In multivariate analysis, only UES-RP retained significance in comparison between each of the subgroups (P≤.02 for each comparison). Intrabolus pressure was highest in type 3 achalasia; this demonstrated significant differences across some but not all subtype comparisons. Nadir UES-RP can differentiate achalasia subtypes within the esophageal outflow obstruction spectrum, with highest values in type 2 achalasia. This metric likely represents a surrogate marker for esophageal pressurization. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Effect of formative evaluation using direct observation of procedural skills in assessment of postgraduate students of obstetrics and gynecology: Prospective study.

PubMed

Kumar, Naina; Singh, Namit Kant; Rudra, Samar; Pathak, Swanand

2017-01-01

Direct Observation of Procedural Skills (DOPS) is a way of evaluating procedural skills through observation in the workplace. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of DOPS in teaching and assessment of postgraduate students and to know the effect of repeated DOPS on improvement of the skills and confidence of the students. In both phases, significant difference was observed between the two groups on first DOPS comparison (1st phase: p=0.000; 2nd phase: p=0.002), with simulation group performing better. Comparison of sixth DOPS in the two groups revealed no difference in both phases, but significant difference on first and sixth DOPS comparison in each group (p=0.000). Repeated DOPS results in improved skills and confidence of students in managing real life obstetric emergencies irrespective of the teaching modality. Repeated DOPS results in improved skills and confidence of students in managing real life obstetric emergencies irrespective of the teaching modality.

[Digital vs. analog hearing aids for children. Is there a method for making an objective comparison possible?].

PubMed

Prinz, I; Nubel, K; Gross, M

2002-09-01

Until now, the assumed benefits of digital hearing aids are reflected only in subjective descriptions by patients with hearing aids, but cannot be documented adequately by routine diagnostic methods. Seventeen schoolchildren with moderate severe bilateral symmetrical sensorineural hearing loss were examined in a double-blinded crossover study. Differences in performance between a fully digital hearing aid (DigiFocus compact/Oticon) and an analogous digitally programmable two-channel hearing aid were evaluated. Of the 17 children, 13 choose the digital and 4 the analogous hearing aid. In contrast to the clear subjective preferences for the fully digital hearing aid, we could not obtain any significant results with routine diagnostic methods. Using the "virtual hearing aid," a subjective comparison and speech recognition performance task yielded significant differences. The virtual hearing aid proved to be suitable for a direct comparison of different hearing aids and can be used for double-blind testing in a pediatric population.

Applications of Psychophysiological Measures in Uninhabited Air Vehicle Tasks

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-06-01

POMS (McNair, Lorr, and Droppleman, 1981). The POMS is a 65-item questionnaire which measures affect or mood on 6 scales: 1) tension- anxiety , 2...bottom). The tension/ anxiety , depression/dejection, and anger scales were not significantly affected by the time of testing. 35    Figure 10: The...comparison to the other sessions. All other comparisons were significantly different except the ones between 0155, 0455 and 1055. The anxiety

Behavioral health insurance parity for federal employees.

PubMed

Goldman, Howard H; Frank, Richard G; Burnam, M Audrey; Huskamp, Haiden A; Ridgely, M Susan; Normand, Sharon-Lise T; Young, Alexander S; Barry, Colleen L; Azzone, Vanessa; Busch, Alisa B; Azrin, Susan T; Moran, Garrett; Lichtenstein, Carolyn; Blasinsky, Margaret

2006-03-30

To improve insurance coverage of mental health and substance-abuse services, the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program offered mental health and substance-abuse benefits on a par with general medical benefits beginning in January 2001. The plans were encouraged to manage care. We compared seven FEHB plans from 1999 through 2002 with a matched set of health plans that did not have benefits on a par with mental health and substance-abuse benefits (parity of mental health and substance-abuse benefits). Using a difference-in-differences analysis, we compared the claims patterns of matched pairs of FEHB and control plans by examining the rate of use, total spending, and out-of-pocket spending among users of mental health and substance-abuse services. The difference-in-differences analysis indicated that the observed increase in the rate of use of mental health and substance-abuse services after the implementation of the parity policy was due almost entirely to a general trend in increased use that was observed in comparison health plans as well as FEHB plans. The implementation of parity was associated with a statistically significant increase in use in one plan (+0.78 percent, P<0.05) a significant decrease in use in one plan (-0.96 percent, P<0.05), and no significant difference in use in the other five plans (range, -0.38 percent to +0.23 percent; P>0.05 for each comparison). For beneficiaries who used mental health and substance-abuse services, spending attributable to the implementation of parity decreased significantly for three plans (range, -201.99 dollars to -68.97 dollars; P<0.05 for each comparison) and did not change significantly for four plans (range, -42.13 dollars to +27.11 dollars; P>0.05 for each comparison). The implementation of parity was associated with significant reductions in out-of-pocket spending in five of seven plans. When coupled with management of care, implementation of parity in insurance benefits for behavioral health care can improve insurance protection without increasing total costs.

A SAS(®) macro implementation of a multiple comparison post hoc test for a Kruskal-Wallis analysis.

PubMed

Elliott, Alan C; Hynan, Linda S

2011-04-01

The Kruskal-Wallis (KW) nonparametric analysis of variance is often used instead of a standard one-way ANOVA when data are from a suspected non-normal population. The KW omnibus procedure tests for some differences between groups, but provides no specific post hoc pair wise comparisons. This paper provides a SAS(®) macro implementation of a multiple comparison test based on significant Kruskal-Wallis results from the SAS NPAR1WAY procedure. The implementation is designed for up to 20 groups at a user-specified alpha significance level. A Monte-Carlo simulation compared this nonparametric procedure to commonly used parametric multiple comparison tests. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ultra-trace analysis of 41Ca in urine by accelerator mass spectrometry: an inter-laboratory comparison

PubMed Central

Jackson, George S.; Hillegonds, Darren J.; Muzikar, Paul; Goehring, Brent

2013-01-01

A 41Ca interlaboratory comparison between Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and the Purdue Rare Isotope Laboratory (PRIME Lab) has been completed. Analysis of the ratios assayed by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) shows that there is no statistically significant difference in the ratios. Further, Bayesian analysis shows that the uncertainties reported by both facilities are correct with the possibility of a slight under-estimation by one laboratory. Finally, the chemistry procedures used by the two facilities to produce CaF2 for the cesium sputter ion source are robust and don't yield any significant differences in the final result. PMID:24179312

An analysis of regional cerebral blood flow in impulsive murderers using single photon emission computed tomography.

PubMed

Amen, Daniel G; Hanks, Chris; Prunella, Jill R; Green, Aisa

2007-01-01

The authors explored differences in regional cerebral blood flow in 11 impulsive murderers and 11 healthy comparison subjects using single photon emission computed tomography. The authors assessed subjects at rest and during a computerized go/no-go concentration task. Using statistical parametric mapping software, the authors performed voxel-by-voxel t tests to assess significant differences, making family-wide error corrections for multiple comparisons. Murderers were found to have significantly lower relative rCBF during concentration, particularly in areas associated with concentration and impulse control. These results indicate that nonemotionally laden stimuli may result in frontotemporal dysregulation in people predisposed to impulsive violence.

Electron microscopic quantification of collagen fibril diameters in the rabbit medial collateral ligament: a baseline for comparison.

PubMed

Frank, C; Bray, D; Rademaker, A; Chrusch, C; Sabiston, P; Bodie, D; Rangayyan, R

1989-01-01

To establish a normal baseline for comparison, thirty-one thousand collagen fibril diameters were measured in calibrated transmission electron (TEM) photomicrographs of normal rabbit medial collateral ligaments (MCL's). A new automated method of quantitation was used to compare statistically fibril minimum diameter distributions in one midsubstance location in both MCL's from six animals at 3 months of age (immature) and three animals at 10 months of age (mature). Pooled results demonstrate that rabbit MCL's have statistically different (p less than 0.001) mean minimum diameters at these two ages. Interanimal differences in mean fibril minimum diameters were also significant (p less than 0.001) and varied by 20% to 25% in both mature and immature animals. Finally, there were significant differences (p less than 0.001) in mean diameters and distributions from side-to-side in all animals. These mean left-to-right differences were less than 10% in all mature animals but as much as 62% in some immature animals. Statistical analysis of these data demonstrate that animal-to-animal comparisons using these protocols require a large number of animals with appropriate numbers of fibrils being measured to detect small intergroup differences. With experiments which compare left to right ligaments, far fewer animals are required to detect similarly small differences. These results demonstrate the necessity for rigorous control of sampling, an extensive normal baseline and statistically confirmed experimental designs in any TEM comparisons of collagen fibril diameters.

Comparison of Critical Thinking in Undergraduates and Graduates in Special Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zascavage, Victoria; Masten, William G.; Schroeder-Steward, Jennifer; Nichols, Christopher

2007-01-01

This study assessed overall critical thinking ability in graduate and undergraduate students in special education at a southwestern university. A comparison of the two groups resulted in significant differences on the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Form Short (WGCTA-FS) subscales for Inference, Recognition of Assumption, Deduction, and…

Autonomic Dysregulation during Sensory Stimulation in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schaaf, Roseann C.; Benevides, Teal W.; Leiby, Benjamin E.; Sendecki, Jocelyn A.

2015-01-01

Autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity during sensory stimulation was measured in 59 children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) ages 6-9 in comparison to 30 typically developing controls. Multivariate comparisons revealed significant differences between groups in the respiratory sinus arrhythmia (parasympathetic measure) vector of means across…

Effects of music aerobic exercise on depression and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in community dwelling women.

PubMed

Yeh, Shu-Hui; Lin, Li-Wei; Chuang, Yu Kuan; Liu, Cheng-Ling; Tsai, Lu-Jen; Tsuei, Feng-Shiou; Lee, Ming-Tsung; Hsiao, Chiu-Yueh; Yang, Kuender D

2015-01-01

A randomized clinical trial was utilized to compare the improvement of depression and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels between community women with and without music aerobic exercise (MAE) for 12 weeks. The MAE group involved 47 eligible participants, whereas the comparison group had 59 participants. No significant differences were recorded in the demographic characteristics between the participants in the MAE group and the comparison group. Forty-one participants in the MAE group and 26 in the comparison group completed a pre- and posttest. The MAE group displayed significant improvement in depression scores (p = 0.016), decreased depression symptoms in crying (p = 0.03), appetite (p = 0.006), and fatigue (p = 0.011). The BDNF levels of the participants significantly increased after the 12-week MAE (p = 0.042). The parallel comparison group revealed no significant changes in depression scores or BDNF levels. In summary, the 12-week MAE had a significant impact on the enhancement of BDNF levels and improvement of depression symptoms. Middle-aged community women are encouraged to exercise moderately to improve their depression symptoms and BDNF levels.

A Comparison of Senior Student Affairs Officer and Student Affairs Preparatory Program Faculty Expectations of Entry-Level Professionals' Competencies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dickerson, Amy M.; Hoffman, John L.; Anan, Baramee Peper; Brown, Kelsey F.; Vong, Linda K.; Bresciani, Marilee J.; Monzon, Reynaldo; Oyler, Jessica

2011-01-01

This survey research project compared and contrasted faculty and SSAO expectations for discrete new professional competencies. Findings revealed few significant differences. This study further examined differences between expected and perceived levels of new professional competency. Significant gaps emerged for fiscal management, planning,…

Blood loss associated with Ring uncemented total knee replacement: comparison between continuous and intermittent suction drainage.

PubMed Central

Wittmann, F W; Ring, P A

1984-01-01

In a retrospective comparison of blood loss following uncemented total knee replacement, in which either continuous or intermittent suction drainage was used, measured blood loss was significantly greater with continuous drainage. However, a method of calculating actual blood loss demonstrated no significant difference. With intermittent drainage, more blood remains undetected around the knee joint; this technique should therefore be abandoned in favour of continuous suction drainage. PMID:6747978

Chest compression quality management and return of spontaneous circulation: a matched-pair registry study.

PubMed

Lukas, Roman-Patrik; Gräsner, Jan Thorsten; Seewald, Stephan; Lefering, Rolf; Weber, Thomas Peter; Van Aken, Hugo; Fischer, Matthias; Bohn, Andreas

2012-10-01

Investigating the effects of any intervention during cardiac arrest remains difficult. The ROSC after cardiac arrest score was introduced to facilitate comparison of rates of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) between different ambulance services. To study the influence of chest compression quality management (including training, real-time feedback devices, and debriefing) in comparison with conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), a matched-pair analysis was conducted using data from the German Resuscitation Registry, with the calculated ROSC after cardiac arrest score as the baseline. Matching for independent ROSC after cardiac arrest score variables yielded 319 matched cases from the study period (January 2007-March 2011). The score predicted a 45% ROSC rate for the matched pairs. The observed ROSC increased significantly with chest compression quality management, to 52% (P=0.013; 95% CI, 46-57%). No significant differences were seen in the conventional CPR group (47%; 95% CI, 42-53%). The difference between the observed ROSC rates was not statistically significant. Chest compression quality management leads to significantly higher ROSC rates than those predicted by the prognostic score (ROSC after cardiac arrest score). Matched-pair analysis shows that with conventional CPR, the observed ROSC rate was not significantly different from the predicted rate. Analysis shows a trend toward a higher ROSC rate for chest compression quality management in comparison with conventional CPR. It is unclear whether a single aspect of chest compression quality management or the combination of training, real-time feedback, and debriefing contributed to this result. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Nanoparticles of selenium as species with stronger physiological effects in sheep in comparison with sodium selenite.

PubMed

Sadeghian, Sirous; Kojouri, Gholam Ali; Mohebbi, Abdonnaser

2012-06-01

The present study was designed to compare the effects of nano red selenium and sodium selenite on the antioxidative activities of neutrophils and the hematological parameters in sheep. Fifteen sheep were randomly allocated into three groups. Groups 1 and 2 received selenium nanoparticles orally at 1 mg/kg and sodium selenite at 1 mg Se/kg for 10 consecutive days; group 3 served as the control. To assess the degrees of oxidative stress and of lipid peroxidation of the cellular membranes, the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were determined in serum samples that were collected at different supplementation intervals, i.e., after 0, 10, 20, and 30 days. In addition, hematological parameters in the serum samples were measured by routine procedures. It was found that TBARS levels in groups 1 and 2 were significantly higher on days 20 and 30 compared to the basal level on day 0. It was also found that on day 30, the TBARS activities in both treated groups were significantly higher than those of the controls (P < 0.05). These findings may explain the seemingly paradoxical effects of supplemental selenium on the indicators of oxidative stress, as the levels of TBARS were generally expected to decrease in the presence of selenium. There were no significant differences between the PCV and RBC values in the three groups. The white blood cell count (WBC) in group 1 showed a significant increase on days 20 and 30 in comparison with the control group. However, in group 2, there was a significant increase of the WBC value just on day 20 in comparison with the control group. Also, there were significant increases of the neutrophil counts and significant decreases of the lymphocyte counts on day 10 in group 1, in comparison with those in group 2 and controls, and on days 20 and 30 in groups 1 and 2 in comparison with those in the control group.

Which soft lens power is better for piggyback in keratoconus? Part II.

PubMed

Romero-Jiménez, Miguel; Santodomingo-Rubido, Jacinto; González-Meijóme, Jose-Manuel; Flores-Rodriguez, Patricia; Villa-Collar, Cesar

2015-02-01

To evaluate how soft lens power affects rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lens power and visual acuity (VA) in piggyback fittings for keratoconus. Sixteen keratoconus subjects (30 eyes) were included in the study. Piggyback contact lens fittings combining Senofilcon-A soft lenses of -6.00, -3.00, +3.00 and +6.00 D with Rose K2 RGP contact lenses were performed. Corneal topography was taken on the naked eye and over each soft contact lens before fitting RGP lenses. Mean central keratometry, over-refraction, RGP back optic zone radius (BOZR) and estimated final power as well as VA were recorded and analyzed. In comparison to the naked eye, the mean central keratometry flattened with both negative lens powers (p<0.05 in all cases), did not change with the +3.00 soft lens power (p=1.0); and steepened with the +6.00 soft lens power (p=0.02). Rigid gas-permeable over-refraction did not change significantly between different soft lens powers (all p>0.05). RGP's BOZR decreased significantly with both positive in comparison with both negative soft lens powers (all p<0.001), but no significant differences were found among negative- or positive-powers separately (both p>0.05). Estimated RGP's final power increased significantly with positive in comparison with negative lens powers (all p<0.001), but no significant differences were found among negative or positive lens powers separately (both p>0.05). Visual acuity did not change significantly between the different soft lens powers assessed (all p>0.05). The use of negative-powered soft lenses in piggyback fitting reduces RGP lens power without impacting VA in keratoconus subjects. Copyright © 2014 British Contact Lens Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Analysis of RANKL gene polymorphism (rs9533156 and rs2277438) in Iranian patients with chronic periodontitis and periimplantitis.

PubMed

Kadkhodazadeh, Mahdi; Ebadian, Ahmad Reza; Gholami, Gholam Ali; Khosravi, Alireza; Tabari, Zahra Alizadeh

2013-05-01

RANK/OPG/RANKL pathway plays a significant role in osteoclastogenesis, osteoclast activation, and regulation of bone resorption. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of RANKL gene polymorphisms (rs9533156 and rs2277438) with chronic periodontitis and peri-implantitis in an Iranian population. 77 patients with chronic periodontitis, 40 patients with peri-implantitis and 89 periodontally healthy patients were enrolled in this study. 5cc of blood was obtained from the cephalic vein of subjects arms and transferred into tubes containing EDTA. Genomic DNA was extracted using Miller's Salting Out technique. The DNA was transferred into 96 division plates, transported to Kbioscience Institute in United Kingdom and analyzed using the Kbioscience Competitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) technique. Differences in the frequencies of genotypes and alleles in the disease and control groups were analyzed using Chi-square and Fisher's exact statistical tests. Comparison of frequency of alleles in SNP rs9533156 of RANKL gene between the chronic periodontitis group with the control and peri-implantitis groups revealed statistically significant differences (P=0.024 and P=0.027, respectively). Comparison of genotype expression of SNP rs9533156 on RANKL gene between the peri-implantitis group with chronic periodontitis and control groups revealed statistically significant differences (P=0.001); the prevalence of CT genotype was significantly higher amongst the chronic periodontitis group. Regarding SNP rs2277438 of RANKL gene, comparison of prevalence of genotypes and frequency of alleles did not reveal any significant differences (P=0.641/P=0.537, respectively). The results of this study indicate that CT genotype of rs9533156 RANKL gene polymorphism was significantly associated with peri-implantitis, and may be considered as a genetic determinant for peri-implantitis. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparison promotes learning and transfer of relational categories.

PubMed

Kurtz, Kenneth J; Boukrina, Olga; Gentner, Dedre

2013-07-01

We investigated the effect of co-presenting training items during supervised classification learning of novel relational categories. Strong evidence exists that comparison induces a structural alignment process that renders common relational structure more salient. We hypothesized that comparisons between exemplars would facilitate learning and transfer of categories that cohere around a common relational property. The effect of comparison was investigated using learning trials that elicited a separate classification response for each item in presentation pairs that could be drawn from the same or different categories. This methodology ensures consideration of both items and invites comparison through an implicit same-different judgment inherent in making the two responses. In a test phase measuring learning and transfer, the comparison group significantly outperformed a control group receiving an equivalent training session of single-item classification learning. Comparison-based learners also outperformed the control group on a test of far transfer, that is, the ability to accurately classify items from a novel domain that was relationally alike, but surface-dissimilar, to the training materials. Theoretical and applied implications of this comparison advantage are discussed. PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved.

Reducing representativeness and sampling errors in radio occultation-radiosonde comparisons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gilpin, Shay; Rieckh, Therese; Anthes, Richard

2018-05-01

Radio occultation (RO) and radiosonde (RS) comparisons provide a means of analyzing errors associated with both observational systems. Since RO and RS observations are not taken at the exact same time or location, temporal and spatial sampling errors resulting from atmospheric variability can be significant and inhibit error analysis of the observational systems. In addition, the vertical resolutions of RO and RS profiles vary and vertical representativeness errors may also affect the comparison. In RO-RS comparisons, RO observations are co-located with RS profiles within a fixed time window and distance, i.e. within 3-6 h and circles of radii ranging between 100 and 500 km. In this study, we first show that vertical filtering of RO and RS profiles to a common vertical resolution reduces representativeness errors. We then test two methods of reducing horizontal sampling errors during RO-RS comparisons: restricting co-location pairs to within ellipses oriented along the direction of wind flow rather than circles and applying a spatial-temporal sampling correction based on model data. Using data from 2011 to 2014, we compare RO and RS differences at four GCOS Reference Upper-Air Network (GRUAN) RS stations in different climatic locations, in which co-location pairs were constrained to a large circle ( ˜ 666 km radius), small circle ( ˜ 300 km radius), and ellipse parallel to the wind direction ( ˜ 666 km semi-major axis, ˜ 133 km semi-minor axis). We also apply a spatial-temporal sampling correction using European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Interim Reanalysis (ERA-Interim) gridded data. Restricting co-locations to within the ellipse reduces root mean square (RMS) refractivity, temperature, and water vapor pressure differences relative to RMS differences within the large circle and produces differences that are comparable to or less than the RMS differences within circles of similar area. Applying the sampling correction shows the most significant reduction in RMS differences, such that RMS differences are nearly identical to the sampling correction regardless of the geometric constraints. We conclude that implementing the spatial-temporal sampling correction using a reliable model will most effectively reduce sampling errors during RO-RS comparisons; however, if a reliable model is not available, restricting spatial comparisons to within an ellipse parallel to the wind flow will reduce sampling errors caused by horizontal atmospheric variability.

Comparison of the shear bond strength of self-adhesive resin cements to enamel and dentin with different protocol of application

PubMed Central

Moghaddas, Mohammad Javad; Hossainipour, Zahra; Majidinia, Sara; Ojrati, Najmeh

2017-01-01

Aim The aim of the present study was to determine the shear bond strength of self-adhesive resin cements to enamel and dentin with and without surface treatments, and compare them with conventional resin cement as the control group. Methods In this experimental study, buccal and lingual surface of the thirty sound human premolars were polished in order to obtain a flat surface of enamel (E) in buccal, and dentin (D) in lingual. Sixty feldspathic ceramic blocks (2×3×3 mm) were prepared and randomly divided into six groups (n=10). Each block was cemented to the prepared surface (30 enamel and 30 dentin surface) according to different protocol: E1 and D1; RelyX ARC as control group, E2, D2; RelyX Unicem, E3, D3; acid etching +RelyX Unicem. The specimens were termocycled and subjected to shear forces by a universal testing machine at a cross head speed of 0.5 mm/min. The mode of fracture were evaluated by stereomicroscope. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistical methods using SPSS version 15. One-way ANOVA, and post hoc Tukey tests were used to compare bond strengths between the groups with different adhesives at α=0.05. Results Statistical analysis showed no significant differences within the enamel subgroups, but there were significant differences within the dentinal subgroups, and statistically significant differences were found between the groups D1and D3 (p=0.02). Comparison between similar enamel and dentinal subgroups showed that there was a significant difference just between the subgroups E3 and D3 (p=0.01). Conclusion Elective etching of enamel did not lead to significant increase in the shear bond strength of RelyX Unicem in comparison to RelyX ARC. On the other hand, elective etching of dentin reduces the bond strength of RelyX Unicem with the dentin. PMID:28979732

Comparison of the shear bond strength of self-adhesive resin cements to enamel and dentin with different protocol of application.

PubMed

Moghaddas, Mohammad Javad; Hossainipour, Zahra; Majidinia, Sara; Ojrati, Najmeh

2017-08-01

The aim of the present study was to determine the shear bond strength of self-adhesive resin cements to enamel and dentin with and without surface treatments, and compare them with conventional resin cement as the control group. In this experimental study, buccal and lingual surface of the thirty sound human premolars were polished in order to obtain a flat surface of enamel (E) in buccal, and dentin (D) in lingual. Sixty feldspathic ceramic blocks (2×3×3 mm) were prepared and randomly divided into six groups (n=10). Each block was cemented to the prepared surface (30 enamel and 30 dentin surface) according to different protocol: E1 and D1; RelyX ARC as control group, E2, D2; RelyX Unicem, E3, D3; acid etching +RelyX Unicem. The specimens were termocycled and subjected to shear forces by a universal testing machine at a cross head speed of 0.5 mm/min. The mode of fracture were evaluated by stereomicroscope. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistical methods using SPSS version 15. One-way ANOVA, and post hoc Tukey tests were used to compare bond strengths between the groups with different adhesives at α=0.05. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences within the enamel subgroups, but there were significant differences within the dentinal subgroups, and statistically significant differences were found between the groups D1and D3 (p=0.02). Comparison between similar enamel and dentinal subgroups showed that there was a significant difference just between the subgroups E3 and D3 (p=0.01). Elective etching of enamel did not lead to significant increase in the shear bond strength of RelyX Unicem in comparison to RelyX ARC. On the other hand, elective etching of dentin reduces the bond strength of RelyX Unicem with the dentin.

Inter-species variation in yolk steroid levels and a cowbird-host comparison

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hahn, D. Caldwell; Hatfield, Jeffrey S.; Abdelnabi, Mahmoud A.; Wu, Julie M.; Igl, Lawrence D.; Ottinger, Mary A.

2005-01-01

We examined variability in yolk hormone levels among songbird species and the role of yolk steroids as a mechanism for enhanced exploitation of hosts by the parasitic Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater. Within-clutch variation in yolk steroids has been found in several avian species in single species studies, but few comparisons have been made among species. We found a large range of differences in yolk testosterone among the seven passerine species examined, with significant differences between those at the high end (Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia , Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus, and House Sparrow, Passer domesticus ) and those at the low end (Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe, and House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus ). We also found that the testosterone level in cowbird eggs was intermediate in relation to host species levels and was significantly lower than that in three common cowbird hosts (Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, and House Sparrow), but not significantly different from three others. Geographical comparisons of yolk testosterone levels in all cowbird subspecies and populations from several regions showed no significant differences, though a trend that deserves further exploration was the pattern of lowest level in the ancestral population of cowbirds in the central prairies and of highest level in the northwestern population where range invasion occurred approximately 40 years ago. The levels of 17 betaestradiol were similar in the seven songbird species examined, which is consistent with current hypotheses that this hormone plays a role in embryonic sexual differentiation. Further investigation is needed to determine whether the large differences observed among species in absolute level of yolk testosterone are the relevant focal point or whether target tissue sensitivity differences mediate the effects of this yolk steroid, particularly between parasitic and non-parasitic species.

[Occupational hazards survey of specially supervised enterprises during 2011-2012 in one district of Shenzhen, China].

PubMed

Zhang, Hongsheng; Zhang, Xianxing; Zhang, Chu; Liu, Song; He, Jian-Feng

2014-04-01

To analyze the results of an occupational hazards survey of specially supervised enterprises (156 enterprise-times) during 2011-2012 in one district of Shenzhen, China and find out the changes in occupational hazards in these enterprises, and to put forward countermeasures for the prevention and control of occupational hazards. Occupational hazards monitoring results for specially supervised enterprises (156 enterprise-times) during 2011-2012 were included. Comparison and analysis were performed between different years, different industries, different occupational hazards, and different sizes of enterprises. A total of 1274 monitoring sites from these specially supervised enterprises were included, of which qualification rate was 73.55% (937/1274), and the noise monitoring sites showed the lowest qualification rate. The overall qualification rate in 2012 (70.37%) was significantly lower than that in 2011 (80.94%) (χ(2) = 15.38, P < 0.01). In electronics industry, the qualification rate in 2012 was significantly lower than that in 2011 (χ2 = 11.27, P = 0.001). Comparison of various hazards in different industries indicated that electronic enterprises and furniture enterprises had the lowest qualification rate in noise monitoring, printing enterprises had the lowest qualification rate in organic solvent monitoring, and furniture enterprises had the lowest qualification rate in dust monitoring. Comparison between different sizes of enterprises indicated that the qualification rate of large and medium enterprises in 2012 was significantly lower than that in 2011, while the qualification rate of small enterprises in 2012 was significantly higher than that in 2011 (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). In the prevention and control of occupational hazards in specially supervised enterprises, special attention should be paid to the control of organic solvents in printing enterprises and noise and dust in furniture enterprises.

Multiple Comparisons of Observation Means--Are the Means Significantly Different?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fahidy, T. Z.

2009-01-01

Several currently popular methods of ascertaining which treatment (population) means are different, via random samples obtained under each treatment, are briefly described and illustrated by evaluating catalyst performance in a chemical reactor.

Do eating habits of the population living in Roma settlements differ from those of the majority population in Slovakia?

PubMed

Hijová, Emília; Gecková, Andrea Madarasová; Babinská, Ingrid

2014-03-01

Living in Roma settlements is associated with worse health in comparison with the majority population; this might be partially explained by socioeconomic disadvantages as well as cultural differences, including lifestyle. Eating habits represent an important part of lifestyle closely related to primary causes of morbidity and mortality, such as cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases or cancers. The eating habits of the population living in Roma settlements in comparison with those of the majority population were explored using the cross-sectional epidemiological HepaMeta study conducted in 2011. A representative sample of Roma (n = 452, mean age = 34.7; 35.2% men) and non-Roma (n = 403, mean age = 33.5; 45.9% men) aged 18-55 years living in the Kosice region were asked about breakfasting and recent consumption of fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meat products, meat, farinaceous dishes, and soft drinks. A logistic regression model was used separately for male and female participants. The population living in Roma settlements reported the recent consumption of fruit, vegetables and dairy products significantly less frequently in comparison with the majority population. Moreover, Roma females, in comparison with non-Roma females, reported significantly more frequently the consumption of meat and soft drinks. No differences were found between Roma and non-Roma in the consumption of meat products and farinaceous dishes. The population living in Roma settlements reported more frequently unhealthy eating habits in comparison with the majority population; this might contribute to worse health status of this population. The differences might be attributed to cultural differences between ethnic as well as socioeconomic groups, reduced availability of certain food items due to segregation or poverty and lower health literacy.

Why are men interested in cosmetic surgery procedures? Examining the role of different forms of peer influence, social comparison, internalization, and body dissatisfaction.

PubMed

Matera, Camilla; Nerini, Amanda; Stefanile, Cristina

2018-06-16

The present research examined the roles of different forms of peer influence, internalization, social comparison, and body dissatisfaction in men's interest in cosmetic surgery. Participants were 204 Italian men (M age  = 34.02, SD = 11.21). Regression analyses showed that appearance conversations with friends and peer attribution were associated with consideration of cosmetic surgery for social reasons, while teasing on muscularity (but not teasing on general body and shape) was linked to interest in cosmetic surgery for intrapersonal motives. Social comparison was significantly and positively associated with men's interest in cosmetic surgery, while internalization was not. Dissatisfaction with body fat was linked to men's consideration of cosmetic surgery for social motivations, while muscularity and height dissatisfaction did not emerge as significant correlates of cosmetic surgery attitudes. These findings highlight the importance of psychosocial factors, such as peer influence, body fat dissatisfaction, and social comparison in men's interest in cosmetic procedures. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparative Effectiveness of Treatments for Binge-Eating Disorder: Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

PubMed

Peat, Christine M; Berkman, Nancy D; Lohr, Kathleen N; Brownley, Kimberly A; Bann, Carla M; Cullen, Katherine; Quattlebaum, Mary J; Bulik, Cynthia M

2017-09-01

Psychological and pharmacological interventions for binge-eating disorder have previously demonstrated efficacy (compared with placebo or waitlist control); thus, we aimed to expand that literature with a review of comparative effectiveness. We searched MEDLINE,® EMBASE,® Cochrane Library, Academic OneFile, CINAHL® for binge-eating disorder treatment articles and selected studies using predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were sufficient for network meta-analysis comparing two pharmacological interventions; psychological interventions were analysed qualitatively. In all, 28 treatment comparisons were included in this review: one pharmacological comparison (second-generation antidepressants versus lisdexamfetamine) and 26 psychological comparisons. Only three statistically significant differences emerged: lisdexamfetamine was better at increasing binge abstinence than second-generation antidepressants; therapist-led cognitive behavioural therapy was better at reducing binge-eating frequency than behavioural weight loss, but behavioural weight loss was better at reducing weight. The majority of other treatment comparisons revealed few significant differences between groups. Thus, patients and clinicians can choose from several effective treatment options. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kelekis, Alexios, E-mail: akelekis@med.uoa.gr; Filippiadis, Dimitrios K., E-mail: dfilippiadis@yahoo.gr; Vergadis, Chrysovalantis, E-mail: valvergadis@yahoo.gr

PurposeThrough a prospective comparison of patients with vertebral fractures and normal population, we illustrate effect of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) upon projection of load distribution changes.MethodsVertebroplasty group (36 symptomatic patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures) was evaluated on an electronic baropodometer registering projection of weight bearing areas on feet. Load distribution between right and left foot (including rear-front of the same foot) during standing and walking was recorded and compared before (group V1) and the day after (group V2) PV. Control group (30 healthy asymptomatic volunteers-no surgery record) were evaluated on the same baropodometer.ResultsMean value of load distribution difference between rear-front ofmore » the same foot was 9.45 ± 6.79 % (54.72–45.28 %) upon standing and 14.76 ± 7.09 % (57.38–42.62 %) upon walking in the control group. Respective load distribution values before PV were 16.52 ± 11.23 and 30.91 ± 19.26 % and after PV were 10.08 ± 6.26 and 14.25 ± 7.68 % upon standing and walking respectively. Mean value of load distribution variation between the two feet was 6.36 and 14.6 % before and 4.62 and 10.4 % after PV upon standing and walking respectively. Comparison of load distribution variation (group V1–V2, group V1-control group) is statistically significant. Comparison of load distribution variation (group V2-control group) is not statistically significant. Comparison of load distribution variation among the two feet is statistically significant during walking but not statistically significant during standing.ConclusionsThere is a statistically significant difference when comparing load distribution variation prior vertebroplasty and that of normal population. After vertebroplasty, this difference normalizes in a statistically significant way. PV is efficient on equilibrium-load distribution improvement as well.« less

Dynamic contrast enhanced MRI of the prostate: comparison of gadobutrol and Gd-DTPA.

PubMed

Durmus, T; Vollnberg, B; Schwenke, C; Kilic, E; Huppertz, A; Taupitz, M; Franiel, T

2013-09-01

To evaluate the enhancement profile of the macrocyclic contrast medium (CM) gadobutrol in comparison to linear CM Gd-DTPA in DCE-MRI of the prostate. In total 53 patients with prostata cancer (PCa) were included, who received a radical prostatectomy after multiparametric MRI of the prostate including DCE-MRI. Using circular regions of interests normal peripheral zone (PZ) and PCa foci > 5 mm in diameter (42 and 34 foci in Gd-DTPA and gadobutrol group, respectively) were analysed in DCE-MRI. Enhancement curves (Type I, II and III) and pharmacokinetic parameters were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively and compared using mixed linear models (two sided p-values < 0.05 were regarded significant). There was no significant difference in frequencies of curve types I, II or III in the normal PZ (p = 0.63) or in PCa foci (p = 0.75). PCa with a Gleason score ≥ 7 had in comparison to Gleason ≤ 6 significantly more often a Wash-Out-curve (Type III) with both CM (p = 0.02). The relative peak enhancement was in the PZ (Gd-DTPA 1.4 a. u. [1.20; 1.59], gadobutrol 1.58 a. u. [1.37; 1.78]) and in PCa foci (Gd-DTPA 1.56 a. u. [1.41; 1.71], gadobutrol 1.76 a. u. [1.59; 1.94]) significantly higher with gadobutrol (p = 0.04). The pharmacokinetic parameters Ktrans und kep were higher in PCa foci than in PZ (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.002, respectively) without significant difference of the parameter values between both CM (p = 0.65). [corrected] This study is the first systematic comparison of gadobutrol and Gd-DTPA in DCE-MRI of the prostate. The relative peak enhancement is higher using gadobutrol compared to Gd-DTPA in DCE-MRI. There was no statistically significant difference in curve types or the pharmacokinetic parameters in PCa or normal PZ between both CM. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Comparison of lipid and calorie loss from donor human milk among 3 methods of simulated gavage feeding: one-hour, 2-hour, and intermittent gravity feedings.

PubMed

Brooks, Christine; Vickers, Amy Manning; Aryal, Subhash

2013-04-01

The objective of this study was to compare the differences in lipid loss from 24 samples of banked donor human milk (DHM) among 3 feeding methods: DHM given by syringe pump over 1 hour, 2 hours, and by bolus/gravity gavage. Comparative, descriptive. There were no human subjects. Twenty-four samples of 8 oz of DHM were divided into four 60-mL aliquots. Timed feedings were given by Medfusion 2001 syringe pumps with syringes connected to narrow-lumened extension sets designed for enteral feedings and connected to standard silastic enteral feeding tubes. Gravity feedings were given using the identical syringes connected to the same silastic feeding tubes. All aliquots were analyzed with the York Dairy Analyzer. Univariate repeated-measures analyses of variance were used for the omnibus testing for overall differences between the feeding methods. Lipid content expressed as grams per deciliter at the end of each feeding method was compared with the prefed control samples using the Dunnett's test. The Tukey correction was used for other pairwise multiple comparisons. The univariate repeated-measures analysis of variance conducted to test for overall differences between feeding methods showed a significant difference between the methods (F = 58.57, df = 3, 69, P < .0001). Post hoc analysis using the Dunnett's approach revealed that there was a significant difference in fat content between the control sample and the 1-hour and 2-hours feeding methods (P < .0001), but we did not find any significant difference in fat content between the control and the gravity feeding methods (P = .3296). Pairwise comparison using the Tukey correction revealed a significant difference between both gravity and 1-hour feeding methods (P < .0001), and gravity and 2-hour feeding method (P < .0001). There was no significant difference in lipid content between the 1-hour and 2-hour feeding methods (P = .2729). Unlike gravity feedings, the timed feedings resulted in a statistically significant loss of fat as compared with their controls. These findings should raise questions about how those infants in the neonatal intensive care unit are routinely gavage fed.

Antisaccade performance in schizophrenia patients, their first-degree biological relatives, and community comparison subjects: data from the COGS study.

PubMed

Radant, Allen D; Dobie, Dorcas J; Calkins, Monica E; Olincy, Ann; Braff, David L; Cadenhead, Kristin S; Freedman, Robert; Green, Michael F; Greenwood, Tiffany A; Gur, Raquel E; Gur, Ruben C; Light, Gregory A; Meichle, Sean P; Millard, Steve P; Mintz, Jim; Nuechterlein, Keith H; Schork, Nicholas J; Seidman, Larry J; Siever, Larry J; Silverman, Jeremy M; Stone, William S; Swerdlow, Neal R; Tsuang, Ming T; Turetsky, Bruce I; Tsuang, Debby W

2010-09-01

The antisaccade task is a widely used technique to measure failure of inhibition, an important cause of cognitive and clinical abnormalities found in schizophrenia. Although antisaccade performance, which reflects the ability to inhibit prepotent responses, is a putative schizophrenia endophenotype, researchers have not consistently reported the expected differences between first-degree relatives and comparison groups. Schizophrenia participants (n=219) from the large Consortium on the Genetics of Schizophrenia (COGS) sample (n=1078) demonstrated significant deficits on an overlap version of the antisaccade task compared to their first-degree relatives (n=443) and community comparison subjects (CCS; n=416). Although mean antisaccade performance of first-degree relatives was intermediate between schizophrenia participants and CCS, a linear mixed-effects model adjusting for group, site, age, and gender found no significant performance differences between the first-degree relatives and CCS. However, admixture analyses showed that two components best explained the distributions in all three groups, suggesting two distinct doses of an etiological factor. Given the significant heritability of antisaccade performance, the effects of a genetic polymorphism is one possible explanation of our results.

Statistical comparison of pooled nitrogen washout data of various altitude decompression response groups

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Edwards, B. F.; Waligora, J. M.; Horrigan, D. J., Jr.

1985-01-01

This analysis was done to determine whether various decompression response groups could be characterized by the pooled nitrogen (N2) washout profiles of the group members, pooling individual washout profiles provided a smooth time dependent function of means representative of the decompression response group. No statistically significant differences were detected. The statistical comparisons of the profiles were performed by means of univariate weighted t-test at each 5 minute profile point, and with levels of significance of 5 and 10 percent. The estimated powers of the tests (i.e., probabilities) to detect the observed differences in the pooled profiles were of the order of 8 to 30 percent.

Effectiveness of motor sequential learning according to practice schedules in healthy adults; distributed practice versus massed practice

PubMed Central

Kwon, Yong Hyun; Kwon, Jung Won; Lee, Myoung Hee

2015-01-01

[Purpose] The purpose of the current study was to compare the effectiveness of motor sequential learning according to two different types of practice schedules, distributed practice schedule (two 12-hour inter-trial intervals) and massed practice schedule (two 10-minute inter-trial intervals) using a serial reaction time (SRT) task. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty healthy subjects were recruited and then randomly and evenly assigned to either the distributed practice group or the massed practice group. All subjects performed three consecutive sessions of the SRT task following one of the two different types of practice schedules. Distributed practice was scheduled for two 12-hour inter-session intervals including sleeping time, whereas massed practice was administered for two 10-minute inter-session intervals. Response time (RT) and response accuracy (RA) were measured in at pre-test, mid-test, and post-test. [Results] For RT, univariate analysis demonstrated significant main effects in the within-group comparison of the three tests as well as the interaction effect of two groups × three tests, whereas the between-group comparison showed no significant effect. The results for RA showed no significant differences in neither the between-group comparison nor the interaction effect of two groups × three tests, whereas the within-group comparison of the three tests showed a significant main effect. [Conclusion] Distributed practice led to enhancement of motor skill acquisition at the first inter-session interval as well as at the second inter-interval the following day, compared to massed practice. Consequentially, the results of this study suggest that a distributed practice schedule can enhance the effectiveness of motor sequential learning in 1-day learning as well as for two days learning formats compared to massed practice. PMID:25931727

Minimum nurse staffing legislation and the financial performance of California hospitals.

PubMed

Reiter, Kristin L; Harless, David W; Pink, George H; Mark, Barbara A

2012-06-01

To estimate the effect of minimum nurse staffing ratios on California acute care hospitals' financial performance. Secondary data from Medicare cost reports, the American Hospital Association's (AHA) Annual Survey, and the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) are combined from 2000 to 2006 for 203 hospitals in California and 407 hospitals in 12 comparison states. The study employs a difference-in-difference analytical approach. Hospitals are grouped into quartiles based on pre-regulation nurse staffing levels in adult medical-surgical and pediatric units (quartile 1=lowest staffing). Differences in operating margin, operating expenses per day, and inpatient operating expenses per discharge for California hospitals within a staffing quartile during the period of regulation are compared to differences at hospitals in comparison states during the same period. Hospital data from Medicare cost reports are merged with nurse staffing measures obtained from AHA and from OSPHD. Relative to hospitals in comparison states, operating margins declined significantly for California hospitals in quartiles 2 and 3. Operating expenses increased significantly in quartiles 1, 2, and 3. Implementation of minimum nurse staffing legislation in California put substantial financial pressure on some hospitals. © Health Research and Educational Trust.

Studying cross-cultural differences in the development of infant temperament: People's Republic of China, the United States of America, and Spain.

PubMed

Gartstein, Maria A; Gonzalez, Carmen; Carranza, Jose A; Ahadi, Stephan A; Ye, Renmin; Rothbart, Mary K; Yang, Suh Wen

2006-01-01

Investigated early development of temperament across three cultures: People's Republic of China (PRC), United States of America (US), and Spain, utilizing a longitudinal design (assessments at 3, 6, and 9 months of age). Selection of these countries presented an opportunity to conduct Eastern-Western/Individualistic-Collectivistic comparisons. The greatest number of significant differences (i.e., involving more temperament dimensions) was anticipated for the US (Western/Individualistic) and PRC (Eastern/Collectivistic) comparisons. The US sample included 66, the PRC group 69, and the Spanish sample, 60 mothers, all of whom completed the Infant Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ) 3 times, when their infants were 3, 6, and 9 months of age. Results related to mean group differences were generally consistent with our hypotheses, demonstrating a greater number of significant differences for US versus PRC, with fewer differences observed for US and Spain. Analyses addressing developmental changes in temperament indicated patterns consistent with a priori expectations and cross-cultural differences.

Pigtail catheters used for percutaneous fluid drainage: comparison of performance characteristics.

PubMed

Macha, Douglas B; Thomas, John; Nelson, Rendon C

2006-03-01

To compare the performance characteristics of various single-lumen all-purpose pigtail drainage catheters. The following parameters were compared: flow rates between catheters of the same size, whether changing the fluid viscosity has any effect on catheter comparisons, the effect on flow of leaving an open three-way stopcock in the drainage pathway, the tendency of the catheters to kink, and catheter patency after kinking, as measured according to flow. All-purpose 8.0-, 8.3-, and 8.5-F (collectively referred to as 8-F); 10.0-, 10.2-, and 10.3-F (collectively referred to as 10-F); and 12.0-F pigtail drainage catheters from three manufacturers were evaluated. Data were compared by using two-tailed t tests after normal distributions were confirmed. P < .05 was considered to represent a significant difference. At comparison of the 8-F catheters, the C.R. Bard catheters demonstrated better flow rates than the Cook and Boston Scientific devices. Among the 10-F catheters, there were no significant differences in the flow rates of fluid with viscosity equivalent to that of water between the C.R. Bard and Boston Scientific catheters; however, both these catheter types demonstrated significantly (P < .05) better flow rates than the Cook devices. Among the 12-F catheters, the C.R. Bard catheters demonstrated significantly (P < .05) better flow rates than the other two catheter types. Changing the fluid viscosity caused no changes in comparison results. In all catheter groups, the presence of a stopcock significantly (P < .05) impaired flow. None of the evaluated catheters demonstrated a clear advantage in terms of patency or susceptibility to kinking. At comparison of the in vitro performances of catheters from different manufacturers, the C.R. Bard 8.0-F and Cook 10.2-F catheters had comparable flow rates, and flow rates through the C.R. Bard and Boston Scientific 10.0-F catheters were comparable to flow rates through the Cook and Boston Scientific 12.0-F catheters. Varying viscosity had no effect on comparisons of catheter flow rates; however, a stopcock between the vacuum source and the catheter was noted to impair flow rates in all brands and sizes of evaluated catheters. Copyright RSNA, 2006.

At the core of eating disorders: Overvaluation, social rank, self-criticism and shame in anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder.

PubMed

Duarte, Cristiana; Ferreira, Cláudia; Pinto-Gouveia, José

2016-04-01

This study examined the similarities and differences in eating psychopathology symptoms, overvaluation of body shape, weight and eating, general psychopathology, social comparison, self-criticism and shame, between AN, BN and BED patients. Also, the mediator effect of self-criticism and social comparison on the association between overvaluation and shame, was tested. Participants were 119 patients (34 AN, 34 BN and 51 BED) diagnosed through the Eating Disorder Examination. Results indicated that BED patients are older and present higher BMI. The groups differed regarding eating disorders' symptomatology, but no significant differences were observed in overvaluation, self-criticism, shame and overall psychopathology symptoms. The path model confirmed that overvaluation has a significant indirect association with shame, which is mediated by severe self-criticism and negative social comparisons. The model was fond to be invariant between the clinical groups. These findings contribute for the understanding of the common processes that feed the perpetual cycle of eating psychopathology. Thus, these data have potential implications for transdiagnostic approaches to treatment. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effects of artificial settlement plate materials and methods of deployment on the sessile epibenthic community development in a tropical environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Field, S. N.; Glassom, D.; Bythell, J.

2007-06-01

The choice of substrata and the methods of deployment in analyses of settlement in benthic communities are often driven by the cost of materials and their local availability, and comparisons are often made between studies using different methodologies. The effects of varying artificial substratum, size of replicates and method of deployment were determined on a shallow reef in Eilat, Israel, while the effect of size of replicates was also investigated on a shallow reef in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. When statistical power was high enough, that is, when sufficient numbers of settlers were recorded, significant differences were found between materials used, tile size and methods of deployment. Significant differences were detected in total coral settlement rates and for the two dominant taxonomic groups, acroporids and pocilloporids. Standardisation of tile materials, dimensions, and method of deployment is needed for comparison between coral and other epibiont settlement studies. However, a greater understanding of the effects of these experimental variables on settlement processes may enable retrospective comparisons between studies utilising a range of materials and methods.

Assessment of an in-channel redistribution technique for large woody debris management in Locust Creek, Linn County, Missouri

USGS Publications Warehouse

Heimann, David C.

2017-10-24

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Conservation and Missouri Department of Natural Resources, completed a study to assess a mechanical redistribution technique used for the management of large woody debris (LWD) jams in Locust Creek within Pershing State Park and Fountain Grove Conservation Area, Linn County, Missouri. Extensive LWD jams were treated from 1996 to 2009 using a low-impact technique in which LWD from the jams was redistributed to reopen the channel and to mimic the natural geomorphic process of channel migration and adjustment to an obstruction. The scope of the study included the comparison of selected channel geometry characteristics and bed material particle-size distribution in seven LWD treatment reaches with that of adjacent untreated reaches (unaffected by LWD accumulations) of Locust Creek. A comparison of 1996 and 2015 survey cross sections in treated and untreated reaches and photograph documentation were used to assess channel geomorphic change and the stability of redistributed LWD. The physical characteristics of LWD within jams present in the study reach during 2015–16 also were documented.Based on the general lack of differences in channel metrics between treated and untreated reaches, it can be concluded that the mechanical redistribution technique has been an effective treatment of extensive LWD jams in Locust Creek. Channel alterations, including aggradation, streamflow piracy, and diversions, have resulted in temporal and spatial changes in the Locust Creek channel that may affect future applications of the redistribution technique in Pershing State Park. The redistribution technique was used to effectively manage LWD in Locust Creek at a potentially lower financial cost and reduced environmental disturbance than the complete removal of LWD.A comparison of four channel metrics (bankfull cross-sectional area, channel width, streamflow capacity, and width-depth ratio) for individual treatment reaches with adjacent untreated reaches indicated no statistically significant difference in most comparisons. Where statistically significant differences in channel metrics were determined between individual reaches, the channel metrics in treatment reaches were significantly less than adjacent untreated reaches in some comparisons, and significantly greater than adjacent untreated reaches in others. Without immediate posttreatment cross sections in treated and untreated reaches for comparison, it is impossible to say with certainty that a lack of significant differences in channel metrics is a result of posttreatment channel adjustment or, conversely, that any significant differences that remain are a result of the treatment of LWD.Characteristics of LWD in accumulations sampled within the study area in 2015 indicate that most sampled pieces were in the 1–2 foot diameter size class, the 5–16 foot length class, and the advanced decay class. Most of documented LWD pieces were loose and not buried, about 20 percent on average had a root wad attached, and about 6.5 percent on average were sawn logs. Most of sampled material was less than one-half of the bankfull channel width, indicating it was easily transportable, and the advanced decay class of material entering the study area indicated that it was likely sourced from outside of Pershing State Park.Redistributed LWD associated with treatment seems to be intact in the 1996 treated reaches from direct observation and from inference because there was net channel aggradation between 1996 and 2015 in comparison surveys. The change in channel area resulting from aggradation in time (1996 to 2015) in treated and untreated reaches exceeded the differences in channel characteristics between the treated and untreated channels in 2015 surveys.

Effect of exogenous melatonin and different photoperiods on oxidative status and antioxidant enzyme activity in Chhotanagpuri ewe.

PubMed

Choudhary, Pankaj Kumar; Ishwar, Ajay Kumar; Kumar, Rajesh; Niyogi, Debasish; Kumar, Mukesh

2018-02-01

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of exogenous melatonin under different photoperiods on oxidative status in Chhotanagpuri ewe. A total of 42 non-pregnant, non-lactating Chhotanagpuri ewe, having body weight ranging between 14.11±0.09 and 15.38±0.06 kg, were selected and were isolated from rams 2 months before melatonin administration. The selected animals were allocated randomly into seven groups, namely, Group I (normal control), Group II (long day [LD] control), Group III (LD+melatonin administration orally, 3 mg/day), Group IV (LD+melatonin administration subcutaneously, 1 mg/day), Group V (short day [SD] control), Group VI (SD+melatonin administration orally, 3 mg/day), and Group VII (SD+melatonin administration subcutaneously, 1 mg/day) comprising six animals in each group. Rams were then introduced into each group after completion of exogenous administration of melatonin. Blood samples with anticoagulant in vials were collected from each animal day before the start of the experiment and thereafter every month up to 5 th month. Hemolysate was prepared for estimation of oxidative stress parameters such as malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). It was observed that the level of MDA was significantly (p<0.05) higher in LD groups (Group II, III and IV) in comparison to control and SD groups (VI and VII) at 1 st month. MDA concentration after exogenous administration of melatonin was significantly (p<0.05) decreased in Group IV and VI in comparison to 1 st month. SOD was significantly (p<0.05) higher in SD groups (V, VI, and VII) at the 1 st month in comparison to 0 day. After exogenous administration of melatonin, SOD concentration was significantly (p<0.05) higher in Groups III and IV in comparison to 1 st month. CAT was significantly (p<0.05) higher in SD groups (V, VI, and VII) in comparison to control and LD groups. After exogenous administration of melatonin, CAT concentration was significantly (p<0.05) higher in Groups III, IV, VI, and VIII in comparison to Groups I, II, and V. At the 3 rd month, CAT concentration significantly (p<0.05) decreased in Groups III, IV, VI, and VII in comparison to 2 nd month of experiment. However, a decreasing trend of CAT was observed in all the groups from 3 rd to 5 th month. The present experiment revealed that exogenous melatonin was able to reduce significantly the level of MDA and increased the activity of SOD and CAT in Chhotanagpuri ewe.

Effects of Music Aerobic Exercise on Depression and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels in Community Dwelling Women

PubMed Central

Yeh, Shu-Hui; Lin, Li-Wei; Chuang, Yu Kuan; Liu, Cheng-Ling; Tsai, Lu-Jen; Tsuei, Feng-Shiou; Lee, Ming-Tsung; Hsiao, Chiu-Yueh; Yang, Kuender D.

2015-01-01

A randomized clinical trial was utilized to compare the improvement of depression and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels between community women with and without music aerobic exercise (MAE) for 12 weeks. The MAE group involved 47 eligible participants, whereas the comparison group had 59 participants. No significant differences were recorded in the demographic characteristics between the participants in the MAE group and the comparison group. Forty-one participants in the MAE group and 26 in the comparison group completed a pre- and posttest. The MAE group displayed significant improvement in depression scores (p = 0.016), decreased depression symptoms in crying (p = 0.03), appetite (p = 0.006), and fatigue (p = 0.011). The BDNF levels of the participants significantly increased after the 12-week MAE (p = 0.042). The parallel comparison group revealed no significant changes in depression scores or BDNF levels. In summary, the 12-week MAE had a significant impact on the enhancement of BDNF levels and improvement of depression symptoms. Middle-aged community women are encouraged to exercise moderately to improve their depression symptoms and BDNF levels. PMID:26075212

Obsessive-compulsive disorders and anxiety disorders: A comparison of personality and emotionality patterns.

PubMed

Pelissolo, Antoine; Moukheiber, Albert; Mallet, Luc

2015-10-30

Even though obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD) and anxiety disorders (AD) have been separated in the taxonomy adopted by the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, many issues remain concerning the physiopathological similarities and differences between those categories. Our objective was therefore to explore and compare their personality and emotional features, with the assumption that the distinction of two independent spectrums should imply the existence of two partially distinct temperamental profiles. We used the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI-R) and the Positive and Negative Emotionality (PNE) scale to compare two groups of patients with OCD (n=227) or AD (n=827). The latter group included patients with social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, and generalized anxiety disorder. Most temperament, character and emotionality measures showed no significant differences between both groups. In the personality measures results, only the self-directedness score (TCI-R) was significantly lower in OCD patients but this difference was not significant when the comparison was adjusted for the depressive scale score and age. Only lower PNE positive affects scores were obtained in OCD patients in the adjusted comparisons. These findings suggest that OCD and AD are not really distinguishable from the point of view of associated personality traits. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Decreased external skeletal robustness in schoolchildren--a global trend? Ten year comparison of Russian and German data.

PubMed

Rietsch, Katrin; Godina, Elena; Scheffler, Christiane

2013-01-01

Obesity and a reduced physical activity are global developments. Physical activity affects the external skeletal robustness which decreased in German children. It was assumed that the negative trend of decreased external skeletal robustness can be found in other countries. Therefore anthropometric data of Russian and German children from the years 2000 and 2010 were compared. Russian (2000/2010 n = 1023/268) and German (2000/2010 n = 2103/1750) children aged 6-10 years were investigated. Height, BMI and external skeletal robustness (Frame-Index) were examined and compared for the years and the countries. Statistical analysis was performed by Mann-Whitney-Test. Comparison 2010 and 2000: In Russian children BMI was significantly higher; boys were significantly taller and exhibited a decreased Frame-Index (p = .002) in 2010. German boys showed significantly higher BMI in 2010. In both sexes Frame-Index (p = .001) was reduced in 2010. Comparison Russian and German children in 2000: BMI, height and Frame-Index were different between Russian and German children. German children were significantly taller but exhibited a lower Frame-Index (p<.001). Even German girls showed a significantly higher BMI. Comparison Russian and German children in 2010: BMI and Frame-Index were different. Russian children displayed a higher Frame-Index (p<.001) compared with Germans. In Russian children BMI has increased in recent years. Frame-Index is still higher in Russian children compared with Germans however in Russian boys Frame-Index is reduced. This trend and the physical activity should be observed in the future.

Comparisons of Patient Demographics in Prospective Sports, Shoulder, and National Database Initiatives.

PubMed

Saltzman, Bryan M; Cvetanovich, Gregory L; Bohl, Daniel D; Cole, Brian J; Bach, Bernard R; Romeo, Anthony A

2016-09-01

There has been increased emphasis in orthopaedics on high-quality prospective research to provide evidence-based treatment guidelines, particularly in sports medicine/shoulder surgery. The external validity of these studies has not been established, and the generalizability of the results to clinical practice in the United States is unknown. Comparison of patient demographics in major prospective studies of arthroscopic sports and shoulder surgeries to patients undergoing the same procedures in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database will show substantial differences to question the generalizability and external validity of those studies. Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. This study utilized patients undergoing arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), meniscectomy (MX), rotator cuff repair (RCR), and shoulder stabilization (SS) from the NSQIP database (2005-2013). Two prospective studies (either randomized controlled trials or, in 1 case, a major cohort study) were identified for each of the 4 procedures for comparison. Demographic variables available for comparison in both the identified prospective studies and the NSQIP included age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). From the NSQIP database, 5576 ACLR patients, 18,882 MX patients, 7282 RCR patients, and 993 SS patients were identified. The comparison clinical studies included cohort sizes as follows: ACLR, n = 121 and 2683; MX, n = 146 and 330; RCR, n = 90 and 103; SS, n = 88 and 196. Age differed significantly between the NSQIP and the patients in 6 of the 8 prospective clinical studies. Sex differed significantly between the NSQIP and the patients in 7 of the 8 prospective clinical studies. BMI differed significantly between the NSQIP and the patients of all 4 of the prospective clinical studies that reported this demographic variable. Significant differences exist for patient age, sex, and BMI between patients included in major sports medicine/shoulder prospective studies and corresponding patients undergoing the same procedures in a nationwide database of academic and community centers in the United States. Future work is needed to understand whether major prospective clinical studies-frequently performed in high-volume, specialized practices-are truly indicative of the types of patients treated and expected results in the general orthopaedic practice. This study additionally argues for the importance of initiating a national registry dedicated to patients undergoing orthopaedic procedures in the United States.

Toxicity testing of restorative dental materials using brine shrimp larvae (Artemia salina).

PubMed

Milhem, Manar M; Al-Hiyasat, Ahmad S; Darmani, Homa

2008-01-01

This study investigated the effect of extracts of different composites, glass ionomer cement (GIC)s and compomers on the viability of brine shrimp larvae. Ethanolic extracts of four dental composites (Z-100; Solitaire 2; Filtek P60 and Synergy), a conventional GIC (Ketac-Fil), a resin-modified glass ionomer cement (Vitremer), two compomers (F2000; Dyract AP), and a flowable compomer (Dyract Flow) were prepared from each material. Following evaporation of the ethanol, the extracts were resuspended in distilled water, which was then used to test the effects on the viability of brine shrimp larvae. For the composites, the extract of Synergy was the least toxic (88% viability) followed by the extracts of Solitaire 2, Z100 and P60 (75%, 67.5% and 50% viability, respectively). One-way ANOVA revealed highly significant differences between the resin composite materials (p<0.001). Follow-up comparison between the composite groups by Tukey's pairwise multiple-comparison test (alpha =0.05) showed that the extract of Synergy was significantly less toxic than the extracts of all the other materials except that of Solitaire 2. The compomers showed 100% lethality, while the percentage of viable larvae for the extracts of Ketac-Fil, and Vitremer were 32.3%, and 37.0%, respectively. One-way ANOVA revealed highly significant differences between the groups of materials (p<0.001). Follow-up comparison between the groups by Tukey's test (alpha = 0.05) showed that the toxic effect of the extracts of the compomers were significantly greater than that of Ketac-Fil, and Vitremer. The differences in the toxic effects of Vitremer and Ketac-Fil were not statistically significant. In conclusion, the toxicity of composite materials varied according to their chemical composition. Compomers were the most lethal materials to brine shrimp larvae followed by GICs and then composites.

Distribution of metal concentrations in sediments of the coastal zone of the Gulf of Riga and open part of the Baltic Sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seisuma, Z.; Kulikova, I.

2012-11-01

The comparison of spatial and temporal distribution of Hg, Cd, Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn, Mn and Fe concentrations in sediments from the Gulf of Riga and open Baltic Sea along the coastal zone is presented for the first time. There were considerable differences in Pb, Zn, Mn and Fe levels in sediment at various stations of the Gulf of Riga. A significant difference of Cd, Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn levels was found in sediments of various stations in the open Baltic coast. The amount of Cd, Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn and Fe levels also differed significantly in the sediments of the Gulf of Riga in different years. A considerable yearly difference in amount of Hg, Cd, Pb, Cu, Ni and Mn levels was found in sediments in the open Baltic coast. The essential highest values of Pb and Zn in coastal sediments of the open Baltic Sea are stated in comparison with the Gulf of Riga. The concentrations of other metals have only a tendency to be higher in coastal sediments of the open Baltic Sea in comparison with the Gulf of Riga. Natural and anthropogenic factors were proved to play an important role in determining resultant metals concentrations in the regions.

A Comparison of the Effect of a Hypertension Education Program among Black and White Participants.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Piane, Ginamarie

1990-01-01

Although Blacks face a higher risk of hypertension than other Americans, a comparison between Blacks and Whites participating in a hypertension education series showed no significant differences. The program reduced by 68 percent the number of participants with high blood pressure. Proposes marketing and adherence strategies to attract and retain…

Performance monitoring in hip fracture surgery--how big a database do we really need?

PubMed

Edwards, G A D; Metcalfe, A J; Johansen, A; O'Doherty, D

2010-04-01

Systems for collecting information about patient care are increasingly common in orthopaedic practice. Databases can allow various comparisons to be made over time. Significant decisions regarding service delivery and clinical practice may be made based on their results. We set out to determine the number of cases needed for comparison of 30-day mortality, inpatient wound infection rates and mean hospital length of stay, with a power of 80% for the demonstration of an effect at a significance level of p<0.05. We analysed 2 years of prospectively collected data on 1050 hip fracture patients admitted to a city teaching hospital. Detection of a 10% difference in 30-day mortality would require 14,065 patients in each arm of any comparison, demonstration of a 50% difference would require 643 patients in each arm; for wound infections, demonstration of a 10% difference in incidence would require 23,921 patients in each arm and 1127 patients for demonstration of a 50% difference; for length of stay, a difference of 10% would require 1479 patients and 6660 patients for a 50% difference. This study demonstrates the importance of considering the population sizes before comparisons are made on the basis of basic hip fracture outcome data. Our data also help illustrate the impact of sample size considerations when interpreting the results of performance monitoring. Many researchers will be used to the fact that rare outcomes such as inpatient mortality or wound infection require large sample sizes before differences can be reliably demonstrated between populations. This study gives actual figures that researchers could use when planning studies. Statistically meaningful analyses will only be possible with major multi-centre collaborations, as will be possible if hospital Trusts participate in the National Hip Fracture Database. Copyright (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Effects of a Prenatal Course Including PREP for Effective Family Living on Self-Esteem and Parenting Attitudes of Adolescents: A Brief Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Emmons, Rachelle D.; Nystul, Michael S.

1994-01-01

Questionnaires administered to three groups--one treatment, two comparison--of adolescent females indicated no significant difference in self-concept among the three groups. Significant differences were found in parental attitudes, with the treatment group scoring higher on democratic parenting attitudes than the other two groups. (RJM)

A Comparison of Mission Statements of National Blue Ribbon Schools and Unacceptable Texas High Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Perfetto, John Charles; Holland, Glenda; Davis, Rebecca; Fedynich, La Vonne

2013-01-01

This study was conducted to determine the themes present in the context of high schools, to determine any significant differences in themes for high and low performing high schools, and to determine if significant differences were present for the same sample of high schools based on school size. An analysis of the content of mission statements…

Postoperative Pain after Endodontic Treatment of Asymptomatic Teeth Using Rotary Instruments: A Randomized Clinical Trial

PubMed Central

Shahi, Shahriar; Asghari, Vahideh; Rahimi, Saeed; Lotfi, Mehrdad; Samiei, Mohammad; Yavari, Hamidreza; Shakouie, Sahar; Nezafati, Saeed

2016-01-01

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of two different rotary instruments on postoperative pain in teeth with asymptomatic irreversible pulpitis. Methods and Materials: A total of 78 mandibular first and second molars were divided into two groups (n=39) and their root canal preparation was carried out with either RaCe or ProTaper rotary instruments. All the subjects underwent one-visit root canal treatment and the severity of postoperative pain was evaluated using visual analog scale (VAS) at 4-, 12-, 24-, 48- and 72-h and 1-week intervals. In addition, the need for taking analgesics was recorded. Data were analyzed with the repeated-measures ANOVA and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for two-by-two comparison. Statistical significance was set at 0.05. Results: Comparison of mean pain severity between the two groups at various postoperative intervals did not reveal any significant differences (P=0.10). The difference in amount of analgesics taken by each groups was not statistically significant (P=0.25). Conclusion: There were no significant differences in the postoperative pain reported between the two groups; which indicates the clinical acceptability of both systems. PMID:26843876

Personality Disorders in Hypochondriasis: Prevalence and comparison with two anxiety disorders

PubMed Central

Fallon, Brian A.; Harper, Katy M.; Landa, Alla; Pavlicova, Martina; Schneier, Franklin R.; Carson, Amanda; Harding, Kelli; Keegan, Kathryn; Schwartz, Theresa; Liebowitz, Michael R.

2012-01-01

Objective Symptoms of hypochondriasis are sometimes attributed to personality psychopathology by health care providers. The goals of this study were to assess the prevalence of personality disorder comorbidity (PD) in hypochondriasis (HYP) and to compare the PD comorbidity profile of patients with HYP to that found among patients with other disorders characterized by intrusive thoughts and fears. Methods SCID-I and SCID-II were administered to 179 individuals: 62 with HYP, 46 with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and 71 with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). For group contrasts, the samples were “purified” of the comparison comorbid disorders. General linear models were used to test the combined effect of group (HYP, OCD, SAD), age, and gender on the PD outcome variables. Results 59.7% of HYP subjects had no Axis II comorbidity. The most common PDs in HYP were paranoid (19.4%), avoidant (17.7%), and obsessive compulsive (14.5%). HYP significantly differed from SAD in the likelihood of a cluster C disorder, whereas no significant difference was noted for HYP vs OCD. The proportion of subjects having at least two PDs was not significantly different for HYP vs OCD or for HYP vs SAD. Conclusion Although 40% of patients with hypochondriasis have PD comorbidity as assessed by the SCID-II, the amount of PD comorbidity is not significantly different than found among individuals with two comparison anxiety disorders. Therefore, health providers should be aware that PD may complicate the clinical profile of HYP but they should avoid assuming that PD psychopathology is the primary source of hypochondriacal distress. PMID:22658329

Substance Use and Mental Health Stigma in Veterans With Co-Occurring Disorders.

PubMed

Harnish, Autumn; Corrigan, Patrick; Byrne, Thomas; Pinals, Debra A; Rodrigues, Stephanie; Smelson, David

2016-01-01

This pilot study examined whether substance use or mental illness was more stigmatizing among individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse problems. This study included 48 individuals with co-occurring substance use and mental health problems enrolled in a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services funded treatment program. Subjects received a baseline assessment that included addiction, mental health, and stigma measures. The sample consisted primarily of White males with an average age of 38 years. Substance abuse was found to be more stigmatizing than mental illness, F(1, 47) = 14.213, p < .001, and stigma varied across four different levels of stigma (Aware, Agree, Apply, and Harm), F(2.099, 98.675) = 117.883, p < .001. The interaction between type and level of stigma was also significant, F(2.41, 113.284) = 20.250, p < .001, indicating that differences in reported stigma between types varied across levels of stigma. Post hoc tests found a significant difference between all levels of stigma except for the comparison between Apply and Harm. Reported stigma was significantly higher for substance abuse than mental illness at the Aware and Agree levels. In addition, pairwise comparisons found significant differences between all levels of stigma with the exception of the comparison between Apply and Harm, indicating a pattern whereby reported stigma generally decreased from the first level (Aware stage) to subsequent levels. These results have important implications for treatment, suggesting the need to incorporate anti-stigma interventions for individuals with co-occurring disorders with a greater focus on substance abuse.

Comparison of Manual Refraction Versus Autorefraction in 60 Diabetic Retinopathy Patients.

PubMed

Shirzadi, Keyvan; Shahraki, Kourosh; Yahaghi, Emad; Makateb, Ali; Khosravifard, Keivan

2016-07-27

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the comparison of manual refraction versus autorefraction in diabetic retinopathy patients. The study was conducted at the Be'sat Army Hospital from 2013-2015. In the present study differences between two common refractometry methods (manual refractometry and Auto refractometry) in diagnosis and follow up of retinopathy in patients affected with diabetes is investigated. Our results showed that there is a significant difference in visual acuity score of patients between manual and auto refractometry. Despite this fact, spherical equivalent scores of two methods of refractometry did not show a significant statistical difference in the patients. Although use of manual refraction is comparable with autorefraction in evaluating spherical equivalent scores in diabetic patients affected with retinopathy, but in the case of visual acuity results from these two methods are not comparable.

The Effect of an Authentic Acute Physical Education Session of Dance on Elementary Students' Selective Attention

PubMed Central

Stylianou, M.; Dyson, B.; Banville, D.; Dryden, C.; Colby, R.

2018-01-01

There have been calls to test the potential benefits of different forms of physical activity (PA) to executive function, particularly in authentic settings. Hence, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of an acute dance session within an existing physical education class on students' selective attention. The study employed a pre/posttest quasi-experimental design with a comparison group in one Aotearoa, New Zealand, primary school. Participants were 192 students (comparison group = 104 students) in Years 5 and 6. The intervention group participated in a dance-based physical education lesson while the comparison group continued their regular classroom work. PA during the physical education lesson was monitored using accelerometers. Selective attention was assessed at pretest and after the comparison/physical education sessions with the d2 Test of Attention. 2 × 2 ANOVA results suggested a significant time effect for all three measures, no significant group effects for any measures, and significant time by group interactions for TN and CP but not for E%. The intervention group improved significantly more than the comparison group for TN and CP. This study's findings suggest that existing school opportunities focused on cognitively engaging PA, such as dance, can improve aspects of students' selective attention. PMID:29662903

The Effect of an Authentic Acute Physical Education Session of Dance on Elementary Students' Selective Attention.

PubMed

Kulinna, P H; Stylianou, M; Dyson, B; Banville, D; Dryden, C; Colby, R

2018-01-01

There have been calls to test the potential benefits of different forms of physical activity (PA) to executive function, particularly in authentic settings. Hence, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of an acute dance session within an existing physical education class on students' selective attention. The study employed a pre/posttest quasi-experimental design with a comparison group in one Aotearoa, New Zealand, primary school. Participants were 192 students (comparison group = 104 students) in Years 5 and 6. The intervention group participated in a dance-based physical education lesson while the comparison group continued their regular classroom work. PA during the physical education lesson was monitored using accelerometers. Selective attention was assessed at pretest and after the comparison/physical education sessions with the d2 Test of Attention. 2 × 2 ANOVA results suggested a significant time effect for all three measures, no significant group effects for any measures, and significant time by group interactions for TN and CP but not for E %. The intervention group improved significantly more than the comparison group for TN and CP. This study's findings suggest that existing school opportunities focused on cognitively engaging PA, such as dance, can improve aspects of students' selective attention.

Depth of Etch Comparison Between Self-limiting and Traditional Etchant Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-06-18

two different etchants (Ultradent’s Opal Etch 35%, a self-limiting phosphoric acid, or 34% Tooth Conditioning Gel by Dentsply) at varied time... Opal versus Dentsply and there was also a significant difference between etch time. There is no significant difference between the interaction of...etch material and etch time. Conclusion: The depth of etch of Opal etchant was consistently less than Dentsply etchant but continued to etch and

Whole blood selenium levels (WBSL) in patients with prostate cancer (PC), benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and healthy male inhabitants (HMI) and prostatic tissue selenium levels (PTSL) in patients with PC and BPH.

PubMed

Muecke, Ralph; Klotz, Theodor; Giedl, Josef; Buentzel, Jens; Kundt, Guenther; Kisters, Klaus; Prott, Franz-Josef; Micke, Oliver

2009-01-01

The aim of this exploratory study was to evaluate whether significant differences exist between whole blood selenium levels (WBSL) in patients with prostate cancer (PC), benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), healthy male inhabitants (HMI) in northern Bavaria and the normal value. Furthermore, we investigated whether differences exist between prostatic tissue selenium levels (PTSL) in patients with PC, BPH and the benign tissue surrounding the PC. We prospectively evaluated WBSL in 24 patients with PC, 21 patients with BPH, and 21 HMI. Measurements of PTSL were performed in 17 patients with PC and 22 patients with BPH. In 9 cases with PC, measurements were also done in the benign tissue surrounding the carcinoma. Measurements were performed using automated graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. In patients with PC, there is a significantly lower WBSL in comparison to HMI (p=0.04). There is no significant difference in WBSL between BPH-patients and HMI (p=0.13) and between PC- and BPH-patients (p=0.67). In all patients and the HMI, there is a significantly lower WBSL in comparison to the recommended normal value of 85-162 microg/l (p<0.01). There is no significant difference in PTSL between PC and BPH (p=0.49), and between PC and the tissue compartment surrounding the PC (p=0.56). PTSL seemed to be reduced in the compartment surrounding the PC in comparison to BPH (p=0.03). In PC-patients, there is no significant correlation between WBSL and prostate specific antigen (PSA) (? = -0.20; p=0.36), Gleason score (? = 0.32, p=0.13), and T-stage (? = 0.22; p=0.23). Since the WBSL measured in all men with PC and BPH, and in HMI participating in our study were significantly lower than the recommended normal range, our findings may support the recommendation of selenium supplementation.

Comparison of gaseous exhaust indices of the F109 turbofan using three different blends of petroleum-based Jet-A and camelina-based Jet-A

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kozak, Brian John

This research project focused on the collection and comparison of gaseous exhaust emissions of the F109 turbofan engine using petroleum-based Jet-A and two different blends of camelina-based Jet-A. Simulated landing and takeoff cycles were used to collect gaseous exhaust emissions. Unburned hydrocarbon (HC), nitrogen oxide (NOx), and carbon moNOxide (CO) exhaust indices (EIm) were calculated using ICAO Annex 16 Volume II formulae. Statistical analyses were performed on the Elm data. There was no significant difference in HC EIm and CO EI m among the three fuels at takeoff thrust. There were significant differences among the fuels for NOx EIm. 50% Jet-A 50% camelina produced the highest NOx EIm, then 75% Jet-A 25% camelina and finally Jet-A. At climb thrust, both blends of camelina fuel produced higher NOx EIm but no difference in CO EIm and HC EIm as Jet-A. At approach thrust, both blends of camelina fuel produced higher NOx EIm, lower CO EIm, and no difference in HC EIm as Jet-A. At idle thrust, there was no significant difference among the fuels for NOx EIm. There were significant differences among the fuels for HC EIm. Jet-A and 50% Jet-A 50% both produced higher HC EIm as 75% Jet-A 25% camelina. There were significant differences among the fuels for CO EI m. Jet-A produced the highest CO EIm, then 75% Jet-A 25% camelina and finally 50% Jet-A 50% camelina.

Direct and indirect comparison meta-analysis of levetiracetam versus phenytoin or valproate for convulsive status epilepticus.

PubMed

Brigo, Francesco; Bragazzi, Nicola; Nardone, Raffaele; Trinka, Eugen

2016-11-01

The aim of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis of published studies to directly compare intravenous (IV) levetiracetam (LEV) with IV phenytoin (PHT) or IV valproate (VPA) as second-line treatment of status epilepticus (SE), to indirectly compare intravenous IV LEV with IV VPA using common reference-based indirect comparison meta-analysis, and to verify whether results of indirect comparisons are consistent with results of head-to-head randomized controlled trials (RCTs) directly comparing IV LEV with IV VPA. Random-effects Mantel-Haenszel meta-analyses to obtain odds ratios (ORs) for efficacy and safety of LEV versus VPA and LEV or VPA versus PHT were used. Adjusted indirect comparisons between LEV and VPA were used. Two RCTs comparing LEV with PHT (144 episodes of SE) and 3 RCTs comparing VPA with PHT (227 episodes of SE) were included. Direct comparisons showed no difference in clinical seizure cessation, neither between VPA and PHT (OR: 1.07; 95% CI: 0.57 to 2.03) nor between LEV and PHT (OR: 1.18; 95% CI: 0.50 to 2.79). Indirect comparisons showed no difference between LEV and VPA for clinical seizure cessation (OR: 1.16; 95% CI: 0.45 to 2.97). Results of indirect comparisons are consistent with results of a recent RCT directly comparing LEV with VPA. The absence of a statistically significant difference in direct and indirect comparisons is due to the lack of sufficient statistical power to detect a difference. Conducting a RCT that has not enough people to detect a clinically important difference or to estimate an effect with sufficient precision can be regarded a waste of time and resources and may raise several ethical concerns, especially in RCT on SE. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Detecting corpus callosum abnormalities in autism based on anatomical landmarks

PubMed Central

He, Qing; Duan, Ye; Karsch, Kevin; Miles, Judith

2010-01-01

Autism is a severe developmental disorder whose neurological basis is largely unknown. Autism is a subtype of autism that displays more homogeneous features within group. The aim of this study was to identify the shape differences of the corpus callosum between patients with autism and the controls. Anatomical landmarks were collected from mid-sagittal MRI of 25 patients and 18 controls. Euclidean distance matrix analysis and thin-plate spline were used to analyze the landmark forms. Point-by-point shape comparison was performed both globally and locally. A new local shape comparison scheme was proposed which compared each part of the shape in its local coordinate system. Point correspondence was established among individual shapes based on the inherent landmark correspondence. No significant difference was found in the landmark form between patients and controls, but the distance between interior genu and posterior most was found significantly shorter in patients. Thin-plate spline analysis showed significant group difference between the landmark configurations in terms of the deformation from the overall mean configuration. Significant global shape differences were found in the anterior lower body and posterior bottom, and local shape difference existed in the anterior bottom. This study can serve as both clinical reference and a detailed procedure guideline for similar studies in the future. PMID:20620032

Scoring of nonmetric cranial traits: a methodological approach

PubMed Central

GUALDI-RUSSO, E.; TASCA, M. A.; BRASILI, P.

1999-01-01

The purpose of the present study was to analyse the replicability of the scoring of discontinuous traits. This was assessed on a sample of 100 skulls from the Frassetto collection (Dipartimento di Biologia Evoluzionistica Sperimentale of Bologna University) analysed through intraobserver comparisons: the discontinuous traits were determined on the same skulls and by the same observer on 3 separate occasions. The scoring was also assessed through interobserver comparisons: 3 different observers performed an independent survey on the same skulls. The results show that there were no significant differences in the discontinuous trait frequencies between the 3 different scorings by the same observer, but there were sometimes significant differences between different observers. Caution should thus be taken in applying the frequencies of these traits to population research. After an indispensable control of material conditions (subject age included), consideration must be given to standardisation procedures between observers, otherwise this may be an additional source of variability in cranial discontinuous trait scoring. PMID:10634693

Genetic association with low concentrations of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol in a pediatric population of the Middle East and North Africa: the CASPIAN-III study.

PubMed

Kelishadi, Roya; Haghjooy Javanmard, Shaghayegh; Tajadini, Mohammad Hasan; Mansourian, Marjan; Motlagh, Mohammad Esmaeil; Ardalan, Gelayol; Ban, Matthew

2014-11-01

Depressed high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is prevalent the Middle East and North Africa. Some studies have documented associations between HDL-C and several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in candidate gene polymorphisms. We investigated the associations between SNP genotypes and HDL-C levels in Iranian students, aged 10-18 years. Genotyping was performed in 750 randomly selected participants among those with low HDL-C levels (below 5th percentile), intermediate HDL-C levels (5-95th) and high HDL-C levels (above the 95th percentile). Minor allele frequencies (MAFs) of the SNPs of interest were compared between the three HDL-C groups. The vast majority of pairwise comparisons of MAFs between HDL-C groups were significant. Pairwise comparisons between low and high HDL-C groups showed significant between-group differences in MAFs for all SNPs, except for APOC3 rs5128. Pairwise comparisons between low and intermediate HDL-C groups showed significant between-group differences in MAFs for all SNPs, except for APOC3 rs5128 and APOA1 rs2893157. Pairwise comparisons between intermediate and high HDL-C groups showed significant between-group differences in MAFs for all SNPs, except for ABCA1 APOC3 rs5128 and APOA1 rs2893157. After adjustment for confounding factors, including age, sex, body mass index, low physical activity, consumption of saturated fats, and socioeconomic status, ABCA1 r1587K and CETP A373P significantly increased the risk of depressed HDL-C, and CETP Taq1 had a protective role. This study replicated several associations between HDL-C levels and candidate gene SNPs from genome-wide associations with HDL-C in Iranians from the pediatric age group. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Implicit learning in children and adults with Williams syndrome.

PubMed

Don, Audrey J; Schellenberg, E Glenn; Reber, Arthur S; DiGirolamo, Kristen M; Wang, Paul P

2003-01-01

In comparison to explicit learning, implicit learning is hypothesized to be a phylogenetically older form of learning that is important in early developmental processes (e.g., natural language acquisition, socialization)and relatively impervious to individual differences in age and IQ. We examined implicit learning in a group of children and adults (9.49 years of age)with Williams syndrome (WS)and in a comparison group of typically developing individuals matched for chronological age. Participants were tested in an artificial-grammar learning paradigm and in a rotor-pursuit task. For both groups, implicit learning was largely independent of age. Both groups showed evidence of implicit learning but the comparison group outperformed the WS group on both tasks. Performance advantages for the comparison group were no longer significant when group differences in working memory or nonverbal intelligence were held constant.

Comparison of Surface Elevation Changes of the Greenland and Antarctic Ice Sheets from Radar and Laser Altimetry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zwally, H. Jay; Brenner, Anita C.; Barbieri, Kristine; DiMarzio, John P.; Li, Jun; Robbins, John; Saba, Jack L.; Yi, Donghui

2012-01-01

A primary purpose of satellite altimeter measurements is determination of the mass balances of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets and changes with time by measurement of changes in the surface elevations. Since the early 1990's, important measurements for this purpose have been made by radar altimeters on ERS-l and 2, Envisat, and CryoSat and a laser altimeter on ICESat. One principal factor limiting direct comparisons between radar and laser measurements is the variable penetration depth of the radar signal and the corresponding location of the effective depth of the radar-measured elevation beneath the surface, in contrast to the laser-measured surface elevation. Although the radar penetration depth varies significantly both spatially and temporally, empirical corrections have been developed to account for this effect. Another limiting factor in direct comparisons is caused by differences in the size of the laser and radar footprints and their respective horizontal locations on the surface. Nevertheless, derived changes in elevation, dHldt, and time-series of elevation, H(t), have been shown to be comparable. For comparisons at different times, corrections for elevation changes caused by variations in the rate offrrn compaction have also been developed. Comparisons between the H(t) and the average dH/dt at some specific locations, such as the Vostok region of East Antarctic, show good agreement among results from ERS-l and 2, Envisat, and ICESat. However, Greenland maps of dHidt from Envisat and ICESat for the same time periods (2003-2008) show some areas of significant differences as well as areas of good agreement. Possible causes of residual differences are investigated and described.

Generational Differences in Academic Achievement among Immigrant Youths: A Meta-Analytic Review

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Duong, Mylien T.; Badaly, Daryaneh; Liu, Freda F.; Schwartz, David; McCarty, Carolyn A.

2016-01-01

Research on generational differences in immigrant youths' academic achievement has yielded conflicting findings. This meta-analysis reconciles discrepant findings by testing meta-analytic moderators. Fifty-three studies provided 74 comparisons on academic outcomes. First- and second-generation youths did not significantly differ on academic…

Ultrafast Comparison of Personal Genomes via Precomputed Genome Fingerprints.

PubMed

Glusman, Gustavo; Mauldin, Denise E; Hood, Leroy E; Robinson, Max

2017-01-01

We present an ultrafast method for comparing personal genomes. We transform the standard genome representation (lists of variants relative to a reference) into "genome fingerprints" via locality sensitive hashing. The resulting genome fingerprints can be meaningfully compared even when the input data were obtained using different sequencing technologies, processed using different pipelines, represented in different data formats and relative to different reference versions. Furthermore, genome fingerprints are robust to up to 30% missing data. Because of their reduced size, computation on the genome fingerprints is fast and requires little memory. For example, we could compute all-against-all pairwise comparisons among the 2504 genomes in the 1000 Genomes data set in 67 s at high quality (21 μs per comparison, on a single processor), and achieved a lower quality approximation in just 11 s. Efficient computation enables scaling up a variety of important genome analyses, including quantifying relatedness, recognizing duplicative sequenced genomes in a set, population reconstruction, and many others. The original genome representation cannot be reconstructed from its fingerprint, effectively decoupling genome comparison from genome interpretation; the method thus has significant implications for privacy-preserving genome analytics.

Effect of an audience on learning a novel motor skill.

PubMed

Sawyer, D T; Noel, F J

2000-10-01

The purpose of this study was to assess effects of an audience on learning a novel motor skill. Subjects (N=64) were randomly assigned to one of four experimental conditions and administered 15 30-sec. trials with 30 sec. intertrial periods on a pursuit rotor task on two different days. Comparison of Time-on Target performance between conditions indicated that the No Audience condition had significantly higher performance than the Audience condition in Session 1. Comparison of Absolute Retention and Final Retention scores among the four experimental conditions in Session 2 after 48 hr. yielded no significant differences attributable to the presence of an audience, thus supporting the hypothesis that an audience would have no effect on learning.

ELEVATED LEVELS OF SODIUM IN COMMUNITY DRINKING WATER

EPA Science Inventory

A comparison study of students from towns with differing levels of sodium in drinking water revealed statistically significantly higher blood pressure distributions among the students from the town with high sodium levels. Differences were found in both systolic and diastolic rea...

The effects of exposure to slender and muscular images on male body dissatisfaction.

PubMed

Galioto, Rachel; Crowther, Janis H

2013-09-01

This research examined the effects of appearance-based comparisons to muscular and slender idealized male bodies and the contribution of internalization and social comparison to change in body dissatisfaction. Participants were 111 male undergraduates who completed measures of body dissatisfaction, internalization, and social comparison and viewed images of either muscular or slender men in advertisements or product-only advertisements. Results indicated that exposure to both muscular and slender images was associated with an increase in body dissatisfaction, with no significant differences in the change in body dissatisfaction between the two image conditions. Internalization and trait social comparison were each associated with an increase in body dissatisfaction; however, upward social comparison was only a significant predictor of a change in body dissatisfaction for the males who viewed muscular images. These results highlight the impact of slender models on young men's body dissatisfaction and support the examination of media literacy interventions with this population. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A comparative analysis of family adaptability and cohesion ratings among traumatized urban youth.

PubMed

Bellantuono, Alessandro; Saigh, Philip A; Durham, Katherine; Dekis, Constance; Hackler, Dusty; McGuire, Leah A; Yasik, Anastasia E; Halamandaris, Phill V; Oberfield, Richard A

2018-03-01

Given the need to identify psychological risk factors among traumatized youth, this study examined the family functioning of traumatized youth with or without PTSD and a nonclinical sample. The Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales, second edition (FACES II; Olson, Portner, & Bell, 1982), scores of youth with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; n = 29) were compared with the scores of trauma-exposed youth without PTSD (n = 48) and a nontraumatized comparison group (n = 44). Child diagnostic interviews determined that all participants were free of major comorbid disorders. The FACES II scores of the participants with PTSD were not significantly different from the scores of trauma-exposed youth without PTSD and the nontraumatized comparison group. FACES II scores were also not significantly different between the trauma-exposed youth without PTSD and the nontraumatized comparison group. PTSD and trauma-exposure without PTSD were not associated with variations in the perception of family functioning as measured by the FACES II. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Feasibility of a skills-based substance abuse prevention program following traumatic brain injury.

PubMed

Vungkhanching, Martha; Heinemann, Allen W; Langley, Mervin J; Ridgely, Mary; Kramer, Karen M

2007-01-01

To demonstrate the feasibility of a skills-based substance abuse prevention counseling program in a community setting for adults who sustained traumatic brain injury. Convenience sample of 117 participants (mean age=35 years) with preinjury history of alcohol or other drug use. Intervention group participants (n=36) from 3 vocational rehabilitation programs; a no-intervention comparison group (n=81) from an outpatient rehabilitation service. 12 individual counseling sessions featuring skills-based intervention. Changes in self-reported alcohol and other drug use, coping skillfulness, affect, and employment status from baseline to 9 months postintervention. Significant differences were noted at baseline for the intervention and comparison groups on ethnicity, time postinjury, marital status, and employment (P<.05). At the 9-month follow-up, the intervention group participants achieved a statistically significant decrease in alcohol and drug use (P<.05), increase in coping skillfulness (P<.01), and increased likelihood of maintaining employment (P<.01) relative to the comparison group. Controlling for baseline-adjusted means for the intervention and comparison groups, a statistically significant group difference in adjusted change was noted; the intervention group participants reported lower negative affect at the 9-month follow-up assessment (P<.05). A skills-based intervention provides a promising approach to promoting abstinence from all substances and increasing readiness for employment for adults with traumatic brain injuries in outpatient settings.

Analyses of Disruption of Cerebral White Matter Integrity in Schizophrenia with MR Diffusion Tensor Fiber Tracking Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamamoto, Utako; Kobayashi, Tetsuo; Kito, Shinsuke; Koga, Yoshihiko

We have analyzed cerebral white matter using magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (MR-DTI) to measure the diffusion anisotropy of water molecules. The goal of this study is the quantitative evaluation of schizophrenia. Diffusion tensor images are acquired for patients with schizophrenia and healthy comparison subjects, group-matched for age, sex, and handedness. Fiber tracking is performed on the superior longitudinal fasciculus for the comparison between the patient and comparison groups. We have analysed and compared the cross-sectional area on the starting coronal plane and the mean and standard deviation of the fractional anisotropy and the apparent diffusion coefficient along fibers in the right and left hemispheres. In the right hemisphere, the cross-sectional areas in patient group are significantly smaller than those in the comparison group. Furthermore, in the comparison group, the cross-sectional areas in the right hemisphere are significantly larger than those in the left hemisphere, whereas there is no significant difference in the patient group. These results suggest that we may evaluate the disruption in white matter integrity in schizophrenic patients quantitatively by comparing the cross-sectional area of the superior longitudinal fasciculus in the right and left hemispheres.

The Effect of Intravenous Infiltration Management Program for Hospitalized Children.

PubMed

Park, Soon Mi; Jeong, Ihn Sook; Kim, Kyoung Lae; Park, Kyung Ju; Jung, Moon Ju; Jun, Seong Suk

2016-01-01

This study aimed to identify the effect of IV infiltration management program among hospitalized children. This was a quasi-experimental study with history comparison group design with 2,894 catheters inserted during 3 months comparison phase and 3,651 catheters inserted during 4 months experimental phase. The intervention was composed of seven activities including applying poster, documentation of catheter insertion, parents education, making infiltration report, assessment of vein condition before inserting catheter, appropriate site selection, and documentation of catheter insertion, and assessment of peripheral catheter insertion site every shift. Data were analyzed using of X2-test, Fisher's exact test. The infiltration incidence rate was 0.9% for experimental group and 4.4% for comparison group, which was significantly different (x2=80.42, p<.001). The catheter maintenance period (p=.035) and infiltration state (p=.039) were significantly different among participants with infiltration between comparison and experimental groups. IV Infiltration management program was founded to be effective in reducing the IV infiltration incidence rate and increasing early detection of IV infiltration. Considering the effect of IV Infiltration management program, we recommend that this infiltration management program would be widely used in the clinical settings. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The timing of mandibular tooth formation in two African groups.

PubMed

Elamin, Fadil; Hector, Mark P; Liversidge, Helen M

2017-05-01

Ethnic differences in the timing of human tooth development are unclear. To describe similarities and differences in the timing of tooth formation in two groups of Sudanese children and young adults. The sample consisted of healthy individuals from Khartoum, Sudan, aged 2-23 years. The Northern group was of Arab origin (848 males, 802 females) and the Western group was of African origin (846 males, 402 females). Each mandibular left permanent tooth from first incisor to third molar was assessed from dental radiographs into one of 15 development stages. Mean ages at entry for 306 tooth stages were calculated using probit regression in males/females in each group and compared using a t-test. Mean ages were not significantly different in most tooth stage comparisons between ethnic groups for both males (61/75) and females (56/76), despite a tendency of earlier mean ages in the Western group. Mean ages for most tooth stage comparisons between males and females (137/155) were not significantly different within ethnic groups suggesting low sexual dimorphism. The mean ages of most mandibular tooth formation stages were generally not significantly different between ethnic groups or between males and females in this study.

Comparison between the Laser-Badal and Vernier Optometers.

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-09-01

naval aviators (SNAs). We also measured dark vcrgence in the same sample of SNAs. THE FINDINGS There was no statistically significant difference found...relatively inexperienced operator. 7. The difference between mean scores on the vernier and laser-Badal optometers was statistically significant...thus indicating that test results were reliable within instru- menrts. TAbLE 1. Test and Retest Statistics . Measure Mean SD n t-value Dark vergence

Quantitative evaluation of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration by axial T2* mapping.

PubMed

Huang, Leitao; Liu, Yuan; Ding, Yi; Wu, Xia; Zhang, Ning; Lai, Qi; Zeng, Xianjun; Wan, Zongmiao; Dai, Min; Zhang, Bin

2017-12-01

To quantitatively evaluate the clinical value and demonstrate the potential benefits of biochemical axial T2* mapping-based grading of early stages of degenerative disc disease (DDD) using 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a clinical setting.Fifty patients with low back pain and 20 healthy volunteers (control) underwent standard MRI protocols including axial T2* mapping. All the intervertebral discs (IVDs) were classified morphologically. Lumbar IVDs were graded using Pfirrmann score (I to IV). The T2* values of the anterior annulus fibrosus (AF), posterior AF, and nucleus pulposus (NP) of each lumbar IVD were measured. The differences between groups were analyzed regarding specific T2* pattern at different regions of interest.The T2* values of the NP and posterior AF in the patient group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < .01). The T2* value of the anterior AF was not significantly different between the patients and the controls (P > .05). The mean T2*values of the lumbar IVD in the patient group were significantly lower, especially the posterior AF, followed by the NP, and finally, the anterior AF. In the anterior AF, comparison of grade I with grade III and grade I with grade IV showed statistically significant differences (P = .07 and P = .08, respectively). Similarly, in the NP, comparison of grade I with grade III, grade I with grade IV, grade II with grade III, and grade II with grade IV showed statistically significant differences (P < .001). In the posterior AF, comparison of grade II with grade IV showed a statistically significant difference (P = .032). T2 values decreased linearly with increasing degeneration based on the Pfirrmann scoring system (ρ < -0.5, P < .001).Changes in the T2* value can signify early degenerative IVD diseases. Hence, T2* mapping can be used as a diagnostic tool for quantitative assessment of IVD degeneration. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

Quantitative evaluation of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration by axial T2∗ mapping

PubMed Central

Huang, Leitao; Liu, Yuan; Ding, Yi; Wu, Xia; Zhang, Ning; Lai, Qi; Zeng, Xianjun; Wan, Zongmiao; Dai, Min; Zhang, Bin

2017-01-01

Abstract To quantitatively evaluate the clinical value and demonstrate the potential benefits of biochemical axial T2∗ mapping-based grading of early stages of degenerative disc disease (DDD) using 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a clinical setting. Fifty patients with low back pain and 20 healthy volunteers (control) underwent standard MRI protocols including axial T2∗ mapping. All the intervertebral discs (IVDs) were classified morphologically. Lumbar IVDs were graded using Pfirrmann score (I to IV). The T2∗ values of the anterior annulus fibrosus (AF), posterior AF, and nucleus pulposus (NP) of each lumbar IVD were measured. The differences between groups were analyzed regarding specific T2∗ pattern at different regions of interest. The T2∗ values of the NP and posterior AF in the patient group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < .01). The T2∗ value of the anterior AF was not significantly different between the patients and the controls (P > .05). The mean T2∗values of the lumbar IVD in the patient group were significantly lower, especially the posterior AF, followed by the NP, and finally, the anterior AF. In the anterior AF, comparison of grade I with grade III and grade I with grade IV showed statistically significant differences (P = .07 and P = .08, respectively). Similarly, in the NP, comparison of grade I with grade III, grade I with grade IV, grade II with grade III, and grade II with grade IV showed statistically significant differences (P < .001). In the posterior AF, comparison of grade II with grade IV showed a statistically significant difference (P = .032). T2∗ values decreased linearly with increasing degeneration based on the Pfirrmann scoring system (ρ < −0.5, P < .001). Changes in the T2∗ value can signify early degenerative IVD diseases. Hence, T2∗ mapping can be used as a diagnostic tool for quantitative assessment of IVD degeneration. PMID:29390547

Race and diurnal blood pressure patterns. A review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Profant, J; Dimsdale, J E

1999-05-01

Investigators have reported variable findings regarding the role of race in diurnal blood pressure patterns. We performed a review and meta-analysis of this literature to identify the overall effect of race on circadian blood pressure patterns. Eighteen studies involving 2852 participants were reviewed. Meta-analyses were conducted using effect sizes calculated from the data provided directly in the study reports. Separate meta-analyses were conducted on effect sizes for differences between blacks and whites in daytime and nighttime systolic and diastolic blood pressure and nocturnal dip in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. To evaluate discrepancies in findings from studies involving American versus non-American blacks, overall meta-analyses as well as within-subset meta-analyses of black/white differences were conducted for comparisons involving American and non-American blacks. Results of overall meta-analyses indicate that blacks experience higher levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, both at night and during the day. These differences were significantly greater at night than during the day (P<0.05). Results of within-subset analyses involving American blacks mirrored those for all black/white comparisons, except that the effect of race on nocturnal dip, ie, that American blacks experienced less of a dip in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure at night, was significant (P<0.05). In contrast, the effect of race on nocturnal dip was not significant for comparisons involving non-American blacks. These results suggest a consistent difference in the chronobiology of blood pressure, particularly in American blacks.

Sex-specific substance abuse treatment for female healthcare professionals: implications.

PubMed

Koos, Erin; Brand, Michael; Rojas, Julio; Li, Ji

2014-01-01

Gender plays a significant role in the development and treatment of substance abuse disorders. Sex-specific treatment for girls and women has recurrently proven more effective, with better outcomes than traditional treatment. Research on impaired healthcare professionals (HCPs) has largely focused on men, garnering little attention for women and sex differences. With the increasing numbers of female HCPs, it is imperative to identify potential sex differences that may have implications for treatment. Our study compared a convenience sample of male and female HCPs with substance abuse disorders treated in an outpatient program to identify sex differences that may have implications for treatment. Our sample consisted of 96 HCPs (54 men, 42 women) and 17 non-healthcare professional (N-HCP) women. All of the participants were evaluated using the program's clinical interview and the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI). Chart review data contained categorical variables, qualitative variables, diagnoses, and psychological test scores. A second analysis was conducted through two separate comparisons: the PAI results of comparing impaired female HCPs with impaired male HCPs and the PAI results of comparing impaired female HCPs with impaired female N-HCPs. Statistically significant differences indicated more male participants received prior treatment and more intensive treatment than female participants. More female subjects reported being diagnosed as having a comorbid psychiatric condition and taking psychotropic medications. Several statistically significant differences in the PAI scores were found. Among female HCPs, elevations were found in anxiety, depression, paranoia, and borderline personality disorder. Substantive differences, although not statistically significant, were elevations in somatic complaints and anxiety disorders in female HCPs. In the comparison of female HCPs and N-HCPs, the only statistically significant difference was the significantly higher anxiety score of N-HCPs. The results indicate greater differences between female HCPs and male HCPs than between female HCPs and N-HCPs.

A comparison of patient characteristics and survival in two trauma centres located in different countries.

PubMed

Templeton, J; Oakley, P A; MacKenzie, G; Cook, A L; Brand, D; Mullins, R J; Trunkey, D D

2000-09-01

The aim of the study was to compare patient characteristics and mortality in severely injured patients in two trauma centres located in different countries, allowing for differences in case-mix. It represents a direct bench-marking exercise between the trauma centres at the North Staffordshire Hospital (NSH), Stoke-on-Trent, UK and the Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) Hospital, Portland, Oregon, USA. Patients of all ages admitted to the two hospitals during 1995 and 1996 with an Injury Severity Score >15 were included, except for those who died in the emergency departments. Twenty-three factors were studied, including the Injury Severity Score, Glasgow Coma Score, mechanism of injury and anatomical site of injury. Outcome analysis was based on mortality at discharge. The pattern of trauma differed significantly between Stoke and Portland. Patients from Stoke tended to be older, presented with a lower conscious level and a lower systolic blood pressure and were intubated less frequently before arriving at hospital. Mortality depended on similar factors in both centres, especially age, highest AIS score, systolic blood pressure and Glasgow Coma Score.The crude analysis of mortality showed a highly significant odds-ratio of 1.64 in Stoke compared with Portland. Single-factor adjustments were made for the above four factors, which had a similar influence on mortality in both centres. Adjusting for the first three factors individually did not alter the odds-ratio, which stayed in the range 1.53-1.59 and remained highly significant. Adjusting for the Glasgow Coma Score reduced the odds-ratio to 0.82 and rendered it non-significant. In a multi-factor logistic regression model incorporating all of the factors shown to influence mortality in either centre, the odds-ratio was 1.7 but was not significant. The analysis illustrates the limitations and pitfalls of making crude outcome comparisons between centres. Highly significant differences in crude mortality were rendered non-significant by case-mix adjustments, supporting the null hypothesis that the two centres were equally effective in terms of this short-term indicator of outcome. To achieve a meaningful comparison between centres, adjustments must be made for the factors which affect mortality.

[Comparison of gut microbiotal compositional analysis of patients with irritable bowel syndrome through different bioinformatics pipelines].

PubMed

Zhu, S W; Liu, Z J; Li, M; Zhu, H Q; Duan, L P

2018-04-18

To assess whether the same biological conclusion, diagnostic or curative effects regarding microbial composition of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients could be reached through different bioinformatics pipelines, we used two common bioinformatics pipelines (Uparse V2.0 and Mothur V1.39.5)to analyze the same fecal microbial 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing data. The two pipelines were used to analyze the diversity and richness of fecal microbial 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing data of 27 samples, including 9 healthy controls (HC group), 9 diarrhea IBS patients before (IBS group) and after Rifaximin treatment (IBS-treatment, IBSt group). Analyses such as microbial diversity, principal co-ordinates analysis (PCoA), nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) and linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) were used to find out the microbial differences among HC group vs. IBS group and IBS group vs. IBSt group. (1) Microbial composition comparison of the 27 samples in the two pipelines showed significant variations at both family and genera levels while no significant variations at phylum level; (2) There was no significant difference in the comparison of HC vs. IBS or IBS vs. IBSt (Uparse: HC vs. IBS, F=0.98, P=0.445; IBS vs. IBSt, F=0.47,P=0.926; Mothur: HC vs.IBS, F=0.82, P=0.646; IBS vs. IBSt, F=0.37, P=0.961). The Shannon index was significantly decreased in IBSt; (3) Both workshops distinguished the significantly enriched genera between HC and IBS groups. For example, Nitrosomonas and Paraprevotella increased while Pseudoalteromonadaceae and Anaerotruncus decreased in HC group through Uparse pipeline, nevertheless Roseburia 62 increased while Butyricicoccus and Moraxellaceae decreased in HC group through Mothur pipeline.Only Uparse pipeline could pick out significant genera between IBS and IBSt, such as Pseudobutyricibrio, Clostridiaceae 1 and Clostridiumsensustricto 1. There were taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity differences between the two pipelines, Mothur can get more taxonomic details because the count number of each taxonomic level is higher. Both pipelines could distinguish the significantly enriched genera between HC and IBS groups, but Uparse was more capable to identity the difference between IBS and IBSt groups. To increase the reproducibility and reliability and to retain the consistency among similar studies, it is very important to consider the impact on different pipelines.

Desert Dust Satellite Retrieval Intercomparison

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carboni, E.; Thomas, G. E.; Sayer, A. M.; Siddans, R.; Poulsen, C. A.; Grainger, R. G.; Ahn, C.; Antoine, D.; Bevan, S.; Braak, R.;

Is there an Asian idiom of distress? Somatic symptoms in female Japanese and Korean students.

PubMed

Saint Arnault, Denise; Kim, Oksoo

2008-02-01

The term 'idiom of distress' is used to describe culturally specific experiences of suffering. Most of these studies have been conducted with small groups, making comparison of symptom profiles difficult. Female undergraduate and graduate students in Japan (n = 50) and Korea (n = 61) completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and 7-day daily reports of their experiences of 46 somatic symptoms. Between-culture comparisons revealed that BDI scores did not differ; however, the Korean women had significantly higher somatic distress means than the Japanese women. Despite the higher Korean distress mean, regression analysis showed that somatic distress explained 30% of the variance of BDI score for the Japanese but only 22% of the variance for the Koreans. Within-culture comparisons showed that both high-BDI Japanese and Koreans had 19 somatic distress symptoms with significantly higher means than their low-BDI counterparts; 11 somatic symptoms were shared by the two groups. Multidimensional scaling matrices were used to compare symptom proximities and revealed cultural differences. The problems with using broad racial categories in clinical research, the clinical significance of these findings, and the implications for psychiatric nursing assessment and practice are discussed.

Is there an Asian idiom of distress? Somatic Symptoms in Female Japanese and Korean Students

PubMed Central

Arnault, Denise Saint; Kim, Oksoo

2007-01-01

The term “idiom of distress” is used to describe culturally-specific experiences of suffering. Most of these studies have been conducted with small groups, making comparison of symptom profiles difficult. Female undergraduate and graduate students in Japan (N=50) and Korea (N=61) completed Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and seven-day dairy reports of their experiences of 46 somatic symptoms. Between-culture comparisons revealed that BDI scores did not differ; however, Korean women had significantly higher somatic distress means than the Japanese women. Despite the higher Korean distress mean, regression analysis showed that somatic distress explained 30% of the variance of BDI score for the Japanese, but only 22% of the variance for the Koreans. Within-culture comparisons showed that both the High BDI Japanese and Koreans had 19 somatic distress symptoms with significantly higher means than their Low BDI counterparts; eleven somatic symptoms were shared by the two groups. Multidimensional Scaling matrices were used to compare symptom proximities and revealed cultural differences. The problems with using broad racial categories in clinical research, the clinical significance of these findings, and implications for psychiatric nursing assessment and practice are discussed. PMID:18207054

A Comparison of Scores on the WISC-R and Lorge-Thorndike Intelligence Test for Disadvantaged Black Elementary School Children

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lowe, James D.; Karnes, Frances A.

1976-01-01

It is indicated that, although the scores [obtained on both tests] are significantly correlated, the tests yield significantly different scores with the Lorge-Thorndike consistently overestimating the WISC-R full scale I.Q. (Author)

Remineralization of artificial enamel lesions by theobromine.

PubMed

Amaechi, B T; Porteous, N; Ramalingam, K; Mensinkai, P K; Ccahuana Vasquez, R A; Sadeghpour, A; Nakamoto, T

2013-01-01

This study investigated the remineralization potential of theobromine in comparison to a standard NaF dentifrice. Three tooth blocks were produced from each of 30 teeth. Caries-like lesion was created on each block using acidified gel. A smaller block was cut from each block for baseline scanning electron microscopy imaging and electron-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis for surface Ca level. A tooth slice was cut from each lesion-bearing block for transverse microradiography (TMR) quantification of baseline mineral loss (Δz) and lesion depth (LD). Then baseline surface microhardness (SMH) of each lesion was measured. The three blocks from each tooth were assigned to three remineralizing agents: (1) artificial saliva; (2) artificial saliva with theobromine (0.0011 mol/l), and (3) NaF toothpaste slurry (0.0789 mol/l F). Remineralization was conducted using a pH cycling model with storage in artificial saliva. After a 28-day cycle, samples were analyzed using EDS, TMR, and SMH. Intragroup comparison of pre- and posttest data was performed using t tests (p < 0.05). Intergroup comparisons were performed by post hoc multistep comparisons (Tukey). SMH indicated significant (p < 0.01) remineralization only with theobromine (38 ± 32%) and toothpaste (29 ± 16%). With TMR (Δz/lD), theobromine and toothpaste exhibited significantly (p < 0.01) higher mineral gain relative to artificial saliva. With SMH and TMR, remineralization produced by theobromine and toothpaste was not significantly different. With EDS, calcium deposition was significant in all groups, but not significantly different among the groups (theobromine 13 ± 8%, toothpaste 10 ± 5%, and artificial saliva 6 ± 8%). The present study demonstrated that theobromine in an apatite-forming medium can enhance the remineralization potential of the medium. Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Mechanical scale and load cell underwater weighing: a comparison of simultaneous measurements and the reliability of methods.

PubMed

Moon, Jordan R; Stout, Jeffrey R; Walter, Ashley A; Smith, Abbie E; Stock, Matt S; Herda, Trent J; Sherk, Vanessa D; Young, Kaelin C; Lockwood, Christopher M; Kendall, Kristina L; Fukuda, David H; Graef, Jennifer L; Cramer, Joel T; Beck, Travis W; Esposito, Enrico N

2011-03-01

Both load cell and mechanical scale-based hydrostatic weighing (HW) systems are used for the measurement of underwater weight. However, there has been no direct comparison of the 2 methods. The purpose of the current investigation was to simultaneously compare a load cell and mechanical scale for use in HW. Twenty-seven men and women (mean ± SD, age: 22 ± 2 years) participated in the 2-day investigation. Each subject completed 2 HW assessments 24 hours apart. Single-day comparisons of all trials for both days revealed no significant difference between the mechanical scale and the load cell (mean difference < 0.016 kg, p > 0.05). True underwater weight values were not significantly different between methods for either days (mean difference < 0.014 kg, p > 0.05) and accounted for a mean difference in percent fat (%FAT) of <0.108%. The 95% limits of agreement indicated a maximum difference between methods of 0.53% FAT. Both methods produced similar reliability SEM values (mechanical SEM < 0.72%FAT, load cell SEM < 0.75%FAT). In conclusion, there was no difference between mechanical scale and load cell measurements of underwater weights and the added precision of the load cell only marginally (<0.16%FAT) improved day-to-day reliability. Either a mechanical scale or load cell can be used for HW with similar accuracy and reliability in young adults with a body mass index of 18.7-34.4 (5-25%FAT).

Minimum Nurse Staffing Legislation and the Financial Performance of California Hospitals

PubMed Central

Reiter, Kristin L; Harless, David W; Pink, George H; Mark, Barbara A

2012-01-01

Objective To estimate the effect of minimum nurse staffing ratios on California acute care hospitals’ financial performance. Data Sources/Study Setting Secondary data from Medicare cost reports, the American Hospital Association's (AHA) Annual Survey, and the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) are combined from 2000 to 2006 for 203 hospitals in California and 407 hospitals in 12 comparison states. Study Design The study employs a difference-in-difference analytical approach. Hospitals are grouped into quartiles based on pre-regulation nurse staffing levels in adult medical-surgical and pediatric units (quartile 1 = lowest staffing). Differences in operating margin, operating expenses per day, and inpatient operating expenses per discharge for California hospitals within a staffing quartile during the period of regulation are compared to differences at hospitals in comparison states during the same period. Data Collection/Extraction Methods Hospital data from Medicare cost reports are merged with nurse staffing measures obtained from AHA and from OSPHD. Principal Findings Relative to hospitals in comparison states, operating margins declined significantly for California hospitals in quartiles 2 and 3. Operating expenses increased significantly in quartiles 1, 2, and 3. Conclusions Implementation of minimum nurse staffing legislation in California put substantial financial pressure on some hospitals. PMID:22150627

The effects of alterations in the osseous external auditory canal on perceived sound quality.

PubMed

van Spronsen, Erik; Brienesse, Patrick; Ebbens, Fenna A; Waterval, Jerome J; Dreschler, Wouter A

2015-10-01

To evaluate the perceptual effect of the altered shape of the osseous external auditory canal (OEAC) on sound quality. Prospective study. Twenty subjects with normal hearing were presented with six simulated sound conditions representing the acoustic properties of six different ear canals (three normal ears and three cavities). The six different real ear unaided responses of these ear canals were used to filter Dutch sentences, resulting in six simulated sound conditions. A seventh unfiltered reference condition was used for comparison. Sound quality was evaluated using paired comparison ratings and a visual analog scale (VAS). Significant differences in sound quality were found between the normal and cavity conditions (all P < .001) using both the seven-point paired comparison rating and the VAS. No significant differences were found between the reference and normal conditions. Sound quality deteriorates when the OEAC is altered into a cavity. This proof of concept study shows that the altered acoustic quality of the OEAC after radical cavity surgery may lead to a clearly perceived deterioration in sound quality. Nevertheless, some questions remain about the extent to which these changes are affected by habituation and by other changes in middle ear anatomy and functionality. 4 © 2015 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

[Experiment study on ultrashort wave for treating vascular crisis after rat tail replantation].

PubMed

Tan, Long; Gao, Wenshan; Xi, Ali; Wang, Cong; Chen, Shouying; Zhao, Yanyan; Di, Keqian; Yang, Xincai; Weng, Shengbin

2012-10-01

To explore the effect and mechanism of ultrashort wave (USW) for prevention and treatment of vascular crisis after rat tail replantation. Eighty 3-month old female Sprague Dawley rats (weighing 232.8-289.6 g) were randomly divided into 5 groups. In each group, based on the caudal vein and the coccyx was retained, the tail was cut off. The tail artery was ligated in group A; the tail artery was anastomosed in groups B, C, D, and E to establish the tail replantation model. After surgery, the rats of group B were given normal management; the rats of group C were immediately given intraperitoneal injection (3.125 mL/kg) of diluted papaverine hydrochloride injection (1 mg/mL); the rats of groups D and E were immediately given the local USW treatment (once a day) at anastomotic site for 5 days at the dosage of 3 files and 50 mA for 20 minutes (group D) and 2 files and 28 mA for 20 minutes (group E). The survival rate of the rat tails was observed for 10 days after the tail replantation. The tail skin temperature difference between proximal and distal anastomosis was measured at pre- and post-operation; the change between postoperative and preoperative temperature difference was calculated. The blood plasma specimens were collected from the inner canthus before operation and from the tip of the tail at 8 hours after operation to measure the content of nitric oxide (NO). The survival rates of the rat tails were 0 (0/14), 36.4% (8/22), 57.1% (8/14), 22.2% (4/18), and 75.0% (9/12) in groups A, B, C, D, and E, respectively, showing significant overall differences among 5 groups (chi2 = 19.935, P = 0.001); the survival rate of group E was significantly higher than that of group B at 7 days (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was found between the other groups by pairwise comparison (P > 0.05). At preoperation, there was no significant difference in tail skin temperature difference among 5 groups (P > 0.05); at 8 hours, 5 days, 6 days, and 7 days after operation, significant overall difference was found in the change of the skin temperature difference among groups (P < 0.05); pairwise comparison showed significant differences after operation (P < 0.05): group B > group D at 8 hours, group C > group D at 5 days, groups A, B, and C > group D at 6 days, groups B and C > groups A and E, and group B > group D at 7 days; but no significant difference was found between the other groups at the other time points (P > 0.05). Preoperative plasma NO content between each group had no significant difference (P > 0.05). The overall differences had significance in the NO content at postopoerative 8 hours and in the change of the NO content at pre- and post-operation among groups (P < 0.05). Significant differences were found by pairwise comparison (P < 0.05): group D > groups A, B, and C in the plasma NO content, group D > groups A and B in the change of the NO content at pre- and post-operation; but no significant difference was found between the other groups by pairwise comparison (P > 0.05). Rat tail replantation model in this experiment is feasible. USW therapy can increase the survival rate of replanted rat tails, reduce skin temperature at 7 days, improve blood supply, increase the content of nitric oxide at the early period and prevent vascular crisis.

Comparison of Manual Refraction Versus Autorefraction in 60 Diabetic Retinopathy Patients

PubMed Central

Shirzadi, Keyvan; Shahraki, Kourosh; Yahaghi, Emad; Makateb, Ali; Khosravifard, Keivan

2016-01-01

Aim: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the comparison of manual refraction versus autorefraction in diabetic retinopathy patients. Material and Methods: The study was conducted at the Be’sat Army Hospital from 2013-2015. In the present study differences between two common refractometry methods (manual refractometry and Auto refractometry) in diagnosis and follow up of retinopathy in patients affected with diabetes is investigated. Results: Our results showed that there is a significant difference in visual acuity score of patients between manual and auto refractometry. Despite this fact, spherical equivalent scores of two methods of refractometry did not show a significant statistical difference in the patients. Conclusion: Although use of manual refraction is comparable with autorefraction in evaluating spherical equivalent scores in diabetic patients affected with retinopathy, but in the case of visual acuity results from these two methods are not comparable. PMID:27703289

A study protocol for enriching the interprofessional collaborative competency attainment survey insights.

PubMed

Jackson, Jeffrey B

2017-11-01

The following short report outlines a proposed study designed to evaluate the Interprofessional Collaborative Competency Attainment Survey and its recommended method of administration. This exploratory study seeks to determine if there is a significant difference between two methods of administration, the recommended and validated retrospective pre-test and post-test, and a traditional pre-test and post-test. If a significant difference does exist, this data will provide a means to determine the effect size of that difference. The comparison will be done using repeated measure ANOVA and the subsequent effect size will be evaluated using Cohen's d. As the retrospective design is utilised to evaluate a change in perceived competency, comparison of data from a traditional pre-test with a retrospective pre-test may provide a means for evaluation of the participants' change in understanding of the construct, and thus a more thorough picture of the forces driving changes to scores.

Correlations between the Various Methods of Estimating Prostate Volume: Transabdominal, Transrectal, and Three-Dimensional US

PubMed Central

Kim, Seung Hyup

2008-01-01

Objective To evaluate the correlations between prostate volumes estimated by transabdominal, transrectal, and three-dimensional US and the factors affecting the differences. Materials and Methods The prostate volumes of 94 consecutive patients were measured by both transabdominal and transrectal US. Next, the prostate volumes of 58 other patients was measured by both transrectal and three-dimensional US. We evaluated the degree of correlation and mean difference in each comparison. We also analyzed possible factors affecting the differences, such as the experiences of examiners in transrectal US, bladder volume, and prostate volume. Results In the comparison of transabdominal and transrectal US methods, the mean difference was 8.4 ± 10.5 mL and correlation coefficient (r) was 0.775 (p < 0.01). The experienced examiner for the transrectal US method had the highest correlation (r = 0.967) and the significantly smallest difference (5.4 ± 3.9 mL) compared to the other examiners (the beginner and the trained; p < 0.05). Prostate volume measured by transrectal US showed a weak correlation with the difference (r = 0.360, p < 0.05). Bladder volume did not show significant correlation with the difference (r = -0.043, p > 0.05). The comparison between the transrectal and three-dimensional US methods revealed a mean difference of 3.7 ± 3.4 mL and the correlation coefficient was 0.924 for the experienced examiner. Furthermore, no significant difference existed between examiners (p > 0.05). Prostate volume measured by transrectal US showed a positive correlation with the difference for the beginner only (r = 0.405, p < 0.05). Conclusion In the prostate volume estimation by US, experience in transrectal US is important in the correlation with transabdominal US, but not with three-dimensional US. Also, less experienced examiners' assessment of the prostate volume can be affected by prostate volume itself. PMID:18385560

Statistical differences between relative quantitative molecular fingerprints from microbial communities.

PubMed

Portillo, M C; Gonzalez, J M

2008-08-01

Molecular fingerprints of microbial communities are a common method for the analysis and comparison of environmental samples. The significance of differences between microbial community fingerprints was analyzed considering the presence of different phylotypes and their relative abundance. A method is proposed by simulating coverage of the analyzed communities as a function of sampling size applying a Cramér-von Mises statistic. Comparisons were performed by a Monte Carlo testing procedure. As an example, this procedure was used to compare several sediment samples from freshwater ponds using a relative quantitative PCR-DGGE profiling technique. The method was able to discriminate among different samples based on their molecular fingerprints, and confirmed the lack of differences between aliquots from a single sample.

Neurobehavioral Integrity of Chimpanzee Newborns: Comparisons across groups and across species reveal gene-environment interaction effects

PubMed Central

Bard, Kim A.; Brent, Linda; Lester, Barry; Worobey, John; Suomi, Stephen J.

2014-01-01

The aims of this article are to describe the neurobehavioral integrity of chimpanzee newborns, to investigate how early experiences affect the neurobehavioral organization of chimpanzees, and to explore species differences by comparing chimpanzee newborns to a group of typically developing human newborns. Neurobehavioral integrity related to orientation, motor performance, arousal, and state regulation of 55 chimpanzee (raised in four different settings) and 42 human newborns was measured with the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) a semi-structured 25-minute interactive assessment. Thirty-eight chimpanzees were tested every other day from birth, and analyses revealed significant developmental changes in 19 of 27 NBAS scores. The cross-group and cross-species comparisons were conducted at 2 and 30 days of age. Among the 4 chimpanzee groups, significant differences were found in 23 of 24 NBAS scores. Surprisingly, the cross-species comparisons revealed that the human group was distinct in only 1 of 25 NBAS scores (the human group had significantly less muscle tone than all the chimpanzee groups). The human group was indistinguishable from at least one of the chimpanzee groups in the remaining 24 of 25 NBAS scores. The results of this study support the conclusion that the interplay between genes and environment, rather than genes alone or environment alone, accounts for phenotypic expressions of newborn neurobehavioral integrity in hominids. PMID:25110465

An approach to analyzing a single subject's scores obtained in a standardized test with application to the Aachen Aphasia Test (AAT).

PubMed

Willmes, K

1985-08-01

Methods for the analysis of a single subject's test profile(s) proposed by Huber (1973) are applied to the Aachen Aphasia Test (AAT). The procedures are based on the classical test theory model (Lord & Novick, 1968) and are suited for any (achievement) test with standard norms from a large standardization sample and satisfactory reliability estimates. Two test profiles of a Wernicke's aphasic, obtained before and after a 3-month period of speech therapy, are analyzed using inferential comparisons between (groups of) subtest scores on one test application and between two test administrations for single (groups of) subtests. For each of these comparisons, the two aspects of (i) significant (reliable) differences in performance beyond measurement error and (ii) the diagnostic validity of that difference in the reference population of aphasic patients are assessed. Significant differences between standardized subtest scores and a remarkably better preserved reading and writing ability could be found for both test administrations using the multiple test procedure of Holm (1979). Comparison of both profiles revealed an overall increase in performance for each subtest as well as changes in level of performance relations between pairs of subtests.

Influence of chronic neck pain on cervical joint position error (JPE): Comparison between young and elderly subjects.

PubMed

Alahmari, Khalid A; Reddy, Ravi Shankar; Silvian, Paul; Ahmad, Irshad; Nagaraj, Venkat; Mahtab, Mohammad

2017-11-06

Evaluation of cervical joint position sense in subjects with chronic neck pain has gained importance in recent times. Different authors have established increased joint position error (JPE) in subjects with acute neck pain. However, there is a paucity of studies to establish the influence of chronic neck pain on cervical JPE. The objective of the study was to understand the influence of chronic neck pain on cervical JPE, and to examine the differences in cervical JPE between young and elderly subjects with chronic neck pain. Forty-two chronic neck pain patients (mean age 47.4) were compared for cervical JPE with 42 age-matched healthy subjects (mean age 47.8), using a digital inclinometer. The cervical JPE were measured in flexion, extension, and rotation in right and left movement directions. The comparison of JPE showed significantly larger errors in subjects with chronic neck pain when compared to healthy subjects (p< 0.001). The errors were larger in all of the movement directions tested. Comparison between young and older subjects with chronic neck pain revealed no significant differences (P> 0.05) in cervical JPE. Cervical joint position sense is impaired in subjects with chronic neck pain.

The female advantage: sex as a possible protective factor against emotion recognition impairment following traumatic brain injury.

PubMed

Rigon, Arianna; Turkstra, Lyn; Mutlu, Bilge; Duff, Melissa

2016-10-01

Although moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) leads to facial affect recognition impairments in up to 39% of individuals, protective and risk factors for these deficits are unknown. The aim of the current study was to examine the effect of sex on emotion recognition abilities following TBI. We administered two separate emotion recognition tests (one static and one dynamic) to 53 individuals with moderate to severe TBI (females = 28) and 49 demographically matched comparisons (females = 22). We then investigated the presence of a sex-by-group interaction in emotion recognition accuracy. In the comparison group, there were no sex differences. In the TBI group, however, females significantly outperformed males in the dynamic (but not the static) task. Moreover, males (but not females) with TBI performed significantly worse than comparison participants in the dynamic task. Further analysis revealed that sex differences in emotion recognition abilities within the TBI group could not be explained by lesion location, TBI severity, or other neuropsychological variables. These findings suggest that sex may serve as a protective factor for social impairment following TBI and inform clinicians working with TBI as well as research on the neurophysiological correlates of sex differences in social functioning.

Electrophysiological dynamic brain connectivity during symbolic magnitude comparison in children with different mathematics achievement levels.

PubMed

Gómez-Velázquez, Fabiola R; Vélez-Pérez, Hugo; Espinoza-Valdez, Aurora; Romo-Vazquez, Rebeca; Salido-Ruiz, Ricardo A; Ruiz-Stovel, Vanessa; Gallardo-Moreno, Geisa B; González-Garrido, Andrés A; Berumen, Gustavo

2017-02-08

Children with mathematical difficulties usually have an impaired ability to process symbolic representations. Functional MRI methods have suggested that early frontoparietal connectivity can predict mathematic achievements; however, the study of brain connectivity during numerical processing remains unexplored. With the aim of evaluating this in children with different math proficiencies, we selected a sample of 40 children divided into two groups [high achievement (HA) and low achievement (LA)] according to their arithmetic scores in the Wide Range Achievement Test, 4th ed.. Participants performed a symbolic magnitude comparison task (i.e. determining which of two numbers is numerically larger), with simultaneous electrophysiological recording. Partial directed coherence and graph theory methods were used to estimate and depict frontoparietal connectivity in both groups. The behavioral measures showed that children with LA performed significantly slower and less accurately than their peers in the HA group. Significantly higher frontocentral connectivity was found in LA compared with HA; however, when the connectivity analysis was restricted to parietal locations, no relevant group differences were observed. These findings seem to support the notion that LA children require greater memory and attentional efforts to meet task demands, probably affecting early stages of symbolic comparison.

Description, instructions, and verification for Basinsoft, a computer program to quantify drainage- basin characteristics

USGS Publications Warehouse

Harvey, Craig A.; Eash, David A.

1996-01-01

Statistical comparison tests indicate Basinsoft quantifications are not significantly different from manual topographic-map measurements for 9 of 10 basin characteristics tested. The results also indicate that elevation contours generated by ARC/INFO from l:250,000-scale digital elevation model (DEM) data are over-generalized when compared to elevation contours shown on l:250,000-scale topographic maps, and that quantification of basin-slope thus is underestimated using DEM data. A qualitative comparison test indicated that the Basinsoft module used to quantify basin slope is valid and that differences in the quantification of basin slope are due to sourcedata differences.

Educational Differences in Marital Dissolution: Comparison of White and African American Women

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kim, Jeounghee

2012-01-01

Although the trend of marital dissolution has diverged by education in recent decades, literature was not clear about whether African Americans experienced a significant educational difference in marital dissolution. This study hypothesized that educational differences within the African American community have emerged and that the growth in this…

Cycle regimens for frozen-thawed embryo transfer.

PubMed

Ghobara, T; Vandekerckhove, P

2008-01-23

Pregnancy rates following frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) treatment have always been found to be lower than following embryo transfer using fresh embryos. Nevertheless, FET increases the (cumulative) pregnancy rate, reduces cost, is relatively simple to undertake and can be accomplished in a shorter time period compared to repeated 'fresh' cycles. FET is performed using different cycle regimens: spontaneous ovulatory cycles, cycles in which ovulation is induced by drugs and cycles in which the endometrium is artificially prepared by oestrogen (O) and progesterone (P) hormones, with or without a gonadotrophin releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa). To determine whether there is a difference in outcome between natural cycle FET, artificial cycle FET and ovulation induction cycle FET. Our search included CENTRAL,DARE, MEDLINE (1950 to 2007), EMBASE (1980 to 2007) and CINAHL (1982 to 2007). Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the various cycle regimens and different methods used to prepare the endometrium during FET in assisted reproductive technology (ART). The two authors independently extracted data. Dichotomous outcomes results (e.g. clinical pregnancy rate) were expressed as an odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for each study. Continuous outcome results (endometrial thickness) were expressed as weighted mean difference (WMD). Where suitable, results were combined for meta-analysis with RevMan software using the Peto-modified Mantel-Haenszel method. Seven randomised controlled studies assessing six comparisons and including 1120 women in total were included in this review.1) O + P FET versus natural cycle FET: this comparison demonstrated no significant differences in outcomes but confidence intervals remain wide, and therefore moderate differences in either direction remain possible (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.40 to 2.80, P 0.91).2) GnRHa + O + P FET versus O + P FET: this comparison showed that the live birth rate per woman was significantly higher in the former group (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.84, P 0.02). The clinical pregnancy rate was also higher but not significantly so (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.52 to 1.10, P 0.14).3) O + P FET versus follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) FET, 4) O + P FET versus clomiphene FET and 5) GnRHa + O + P FET versus clomiphene FET: there were no differences in the outcomes in the comparison of these cycle regimens.6) Clomiphene + human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) FET versus HMG FET: in a comparison of two ovulation induction regimes the pregnancy rate was found to be significantly higher in the HMG group (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.92). There were also fewer cycle cancellations and a lower multiple pregnancy rate when HMG was used without clomiphene but these did not reach statistical significance. At the present time there is insufficient evidence to support the use of one intervention in preference to another.

A Preliminary Study of Temperament Among Malnourished Mayan Children.

PubMed

Galler, J R; Cervera, M D; Harrison, R H

1998-01-01

Temperament ratings using a modified Carey Infant Temperament Questionnaire were assessed in marginally malnourished and healthy comparison infants aged 7-13 months. The children were selected from a total of 81 children in this age range living in a rural region of southern Yucatan, Mexico. Eleven marginally malnourished infants whose weights fell between one-half and two standard deviations below local means and 14 comparison children whose weights fell one-half to two standard deviations above the local means were included in the study. Lengths did not differ between index and comparison groups. Related temperament categories were statistically grouped into two factors. Factor 1 (Difficult Child), which included approach, mood, threshold, adaptability and rhythmicity, showed a significant nutrition × sex interaction; Factor 2 (Activity) did not distinguish the groups. Comparison boys were viewed as significantly easier than marginally malnourished boys, and they were more adaptable to change and predictable in biological functions. Girls were similar regardless of nutritional status, and their scores were intermediate between those of malnourished and well-nourished boys. These findings were not significantly associated with environmental conditions in the home.

Personality disorders in hypochondriasis: prevalence and comparison with two anxiety disorders.

PubMed

Fallon, Brian A; Harper, Katy M; Landa, Alla; Pavlicova, Martina; Schneier, Franklin R; Carson, Amanda; Harding, Kelli; Keegan, Kathryn; Schwartz, Theresa; Liebowitz, Michael R

2012-01-01

Symptoms of hypochondriasis are sometimes attributed to personality psychopathology by health care providers. The goals of this study were to assess the prevalence of personality disorder (PD) comorbidity in hypochondriasis (HYP) and to compare the PD comorbidity profile of patients with HYP with that found among patients with other disorders characterized by intrusive thoughts and fears. Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I and Axis II Disorders (SCID-I and SCID-II) were administered to 179 individuals: 62 with HYP, 46 with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and 71 with social anxiety disorder (SAD). For group contrasts, the samples were "purified" of the comparison comorbid disorders. General linear models were used to test the combined effect of group (HYP, OCD, SAD), age, and gender on the PD outcome variables. 59.7% of HYP subjects had no Axis II comorbidity. The most common PDs in HYP were paranoid (19.4%), avoidant (17.7%), and obsessive-compulsive (14.5%). HYP significantly differed from SAD in the likelihood of a cluster C disorder, whereas no significant difference was noted for HYP vs. OCD. The proportion of subjects having at least two PDs was not significantly different for HYP vs. OCD or for HYP vs. SAD. Although 40% of patients with hypochondriasis have PD comorbidity as assessed by the SCID-II, the amount of PD comorbidity is not significantly different than found among individuals with two comparison anxiety disorders. Therefore, health providers should be aware that PD may complicate the clinical profile of HYP, but they should avoid assuming that PD psychopathology is the primary source of hypochondriacal distress. Copyright © 2012 The Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Comparison of success rate and onset time of two different anesthesia techniques

PubMed Central

Haghighat, Abbas; Hasheminia, Dariush; Samandari, Mohammad-Hasan; Safarian, Vajihe; Davoudi, Amin

2015-01-01

Background Using local anesthetic is common to control the pain through blocking the nerve reversibly in dental procedures. Gow-Gates (GG) technique has a high success rate but less common. This study aimed to compare the onset time and success rate in GG and standard technique of inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB). Material and Methods This descriptive, single blind study was consisted of 136 patients (59 males and 77 females) who were randomly received GG or IANB for extraction of mandibular molar teeth. Comparisons between the successes of two anesthetic injection techniques were analyzed with Chi-square test. Incidence of pulpal anesthesia and soft tissue anesthesia were analyzed with Kaplan-Meier method. Mean onset times of pulpal anesthesia, soft tissue and lip numbness were analyzed with Log-Rank test. Comparisons were considered significant at P≤0.05 by using SPSS software ver.15. Results The incidence of pulpal anesthesia in the IANB group (canine 49.3%, premolar 60.3%) were not significantly different from the GG group (canine 41.3%, premolar 74.6%) (P=0.200 and P=0.723). The success rate in the IANB group (80.82%) was not significantly different from the GG group (92.02%) (P=0.123). Furthermore, onset time of lip and buccal soft tissue numbness in GG group (3.25, 4.96 minutes) was quite similar to IANB group (3.22, 4.89 minutes) (all Pvalues >0.05). Conclusions Although this study demonstrated higher clinical success rate for GG than IANB technique, no significant differences in success rates and onset time were observed between two techniques. Key words: Anesthesia, Inferior alveolar nerve, nerve block, success rate. PMID:25858085

Multi-Modal Glioblastoma Segmentation: Man versus Machine

PubMed Central

Pica, Alessia; Schucht, Philippe; Beck, Jürgen; Verma, Rajeev Kumar; Slotboom, Johannes; Reyes, Mauricio; Wiest, Roland

2014-01-01

Background and Purpose Reproducible segmentation of brain tumors on magnetic resonance images is an important clinical need. This study was designed to evaluate the reliability of a novel fully automated segmentation tool for brain tumor image analysis in comparison to manually defined tumor segmentations. Methods We prospectively evaluated preoperative MR Images from 25 glioblastoma patients. Two independent expert raters performed manual segmentations. Automatic segmentations were performed using the Brain Tumor Image Analysis software (BraTumIA). In order to study the different tumor compartments, the complete tumor volume TV (enhancing part plus non-enhancing part plus necrotic core of the tumor), the TV+ (TV plus edema) and the contrast enhancing tumor volume CETV were identified. We quantified the overlap between manual and automated segmentation by calculation of diameter measurements as well as the Dice coefficients, the positive predictive values, sensitivity, relative volume error and absolute volume error. Results Comparison of automated versus manual extraction of 2-dimensional diameter measurements showed no significant difference (p = 0.29). Comparison of automated versus manual segmentation of volumetric segmentations showed significant differences for TV+ and TV (p<0.05) but no significant differences for CETV (p>0.05) with regard to the Dice overlap coefficients. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients (ρ) of TV+, TV and CETV showed highly significant correlations between automatic and manual segmentations. Tumor localization did not influence the accuracy of segmentation. Conclusions In summary, we demonstrated that BraTumIA supports radiologists and clinicians by providing accurate measures of cross-sectional diameter-based tumor extensions. The automated volume measurements were comparable to manual tumor delineation for CETV tumor volumes, and outperformed inter-rater variability for overlap and sensitivity. PMID:24804720

Delivery room management of very low birth weight infants in Germany, Austria and Switzerland - a comparison of protocols

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background Surveys from the USA, Australia and Spain have shown significant inter-institutional variation in delivery room (DR) management of very low birth weight infants (VLBWI, < 1500 g) at birth, despite regularly updated international guidelines. Objective To investigate protocols for DR management of VLBWI in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and to compare these with the 2005 ILCOR guidelines. Methods DR management protocols were surveyed in a prospective, questionnaire-based survey in 2008. Results were compared between countries and between academic and non-academic units. Protocols were compared to the 2005 ILCOR guidelines. Results In total, 190/249 units (76%) replied. Protocols for DR management existed in 94% of units. Statistically significant differences between countries were found regarding provision of 24 hr in house neonatal service; presence of a designated resuscitation area; devices for respiratory support; use of pressure-controlled manual ventilation devices; volume control by respirator; and dosage of Surfactant. There were no statistically significant differences regarding application and monitoring of supplementary oxygen, or targeted saturation levels, or for the use of sustained inflations. Comparison of academic and non-academic hospitals showed no significant differences, apart from the targeted saturation levels (SpO2) at 10 min. of life. Comparison with ILCOR guidelines showed good adherence to the 2005 recommendations. Summary Delivery room management in German, Austrian and Swiss neonatal units was commonly based on written protocols. Only minor differences were found regarding the DR setup, devices used and the targeted ranges for SpO2 and FiO2. DR management was in good accordance with 2005 ILCOR guidelines, some units already incorporated evidence beyond the ILCOR statement into their routine practice. PMID:21159574

Body size of newborns in relation to mother's ethnicity and education: a pilot study from Vilnius City (Lithuania), 2005-2010.

PubMed

Tutkuviene, Janina; Morkuniene, Ruta; Bartkute, Karolina; Drazdiene, Nijole

2011-01-01

The purpose of this study was to analyse body size indices of newborns in Vilnius city (Lithuania) during 2005-2010 in relation with mother's education and ethnicity, and in parallel with the changes of socio-economic situation during the recent years. The present results were based on data (N = 18,084) from the Vilnius University Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Comparison of the present Lithuanian data with other newborn studies was made. The analysis of socio-economic and demographic indicators of Lithuania, and the comparison of Gross Domestic Product of various countries was performed. The comparison of body size of newborns' data from the different countries showed that Lithuanian newborns were among the biggest babies. Some statistically significant differences in body size of newborns from different ethnic groups were established. Body length of Lithuanian newborns (M = 52.6 cm, SD = 2.5) was higher than length of Russian, Ukrainian and Romanian newborns. Body weight of Lithuanian newborns (M = 3511 g, SD = 485) was bigger than birth weight of Russian, Polish, Ukrainian and Romanian newborns. The analysis of newborns size by mother's education showed that body weight of neonates from mothers with the university education and from each other education group was bigger in comparison with the babies from respectively lower education group. The comparison of newborns weight by mother's ethnicity in relation to education level revealed nearly no discrepancies between size of newborns from mothers with the same education level at different ethnic group. The analysis of birth parameters by year has not established a statistically significant difference between the mean values for the body weight and body length of the whole investigated contingent of the full-term, single-birth newborns from Vilnius city during the 2005-2010. However, the tendency has been revealed that newborns from mothers with lower education were the most susceptible to negative economic changes after the 2008.

Indirect comparisons of efficacy and weekly factor consumption during continuous prophylaxis with recombinant factor VIII Fc fusion protein and conventional recombinant factor VIII products.

PubMed

Iorio, A; Krishnan, S; Myrén, K J; Lethagen, S; McCormick, N; Yermakov, S; Karner, P

2017-05-01

Recombinant factor VIII (rFVIII) products with extended half-lives have the potential to improve adherence and outcomes in haemophilia beyond the results obtained with conventional rFVIII products. In the absence of head-to-head comparisons, annualized bleed rates (ABRs) and weekly factor consumption with rFVIII Fc fusion protein (rFVIIIFc) and conventional rFVIII products were indirectly compared using studies of continuous prophylaxis. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify studies of rFVIII products for comparison with rFVIIIFc in the continuous prophylactic treatment of previously treated adolescents and adults with moderate and severe haemophilia A. Mean ABRs were compared between rFVIIIFc and individual rFVIII studies and between rFVIIIFc and a pooled measure for rFVIII estimated by meta-analysis. Comparisons of factor consumption were based on mean or median weekly factor consumption. Results from seven studies of conventional rFVIII products (injections 2-4 times week -1 ) were compared with rFVIIIFc (injections 1.4-2.4 times week -1 ). The pooled mean ABR for rFVIII products was significantly higher compared with rFVIIIFc (difference = 2.0; P = 0.007). Compared with most rFVIII studies, the reported weekly factor consumption was lower with rFVIIIFc [mean differences = 15.5-21.8 IU kg -1 week -1 (17-26%); median differences = 12.7-29.8 IU kg -1 week -1 (16-37%)]. In one comparison, mean weekly factor consumption with rFVIII was significantly lower but mean ABR was significantly higher than rFVIIIFc. Prophylaxis with rFVIIIFc may be associated with improved bleeding rates and lower weekly factor consumption than more frequently injected rFVIII products. Relative to rFVIII products with similar bleeding rates, results indicate that rFVIIIFc is associated with reduced weekly factor consumption while requiring fewer prescribed injections. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The effect of three surface conditions, speed and running experience on vertical acceleration of the tibia during running.

PubMed

Boey, Hannelore; Aeles, Jeroen; Schütte, Kurt; Vanwanseele, Benedicte

2017-06-01

Research has focused on parameters that are associated with injury risk, e.g. vertical acceleration. These parameters can be influenced by running on different surfaces or at different running speeds, but the relationship between them is not completely clear. Understanding the relationship may result in training guidelines to reduce the injury risk. In this study, thirty-five participants with three different levels of running experience were recruited. Participants ran on three different surfaces (concrete, synthetic running track, and woodchip trail) at two different running speeds: a self-selected comfortable speed and a fixed speed of 3.06 m/s. Vertical acceleration of the lower leg was measured with an accelerometer. The vertical acceleration was significantly lower during running on the woodchip trail in comparison with the synthetic running track and the concrete, and significantly lower during running at lower speed in comparison with during running at higher speed on all surfaces. No significant differences in vertical acceleration were found between the three groups of runners at fixed speed. Higher self-selected speed due to higher performance level also did not result in higher vertical acceleration. These results may show that running on a woodchip trail and slowing down could reduce the injury risk at the tibia.

Comparison of biomedical evaluation for white-fronted brown lemurs (Eulemur fulvus albifrons) from four sites in Madagascar.

PubMed

Junge, Randall E; Dutton, Christopher J; Knightly, Felicia; Williams, Cathy V; Rasambainarivo, Fidisoa T; Louis, Edward E

2008-12-01

Health and nutritional assessments of wildlife are important management tools and can provide a means to evaluate ecosystem health. Such examinations were performed on 37 white-fronted brown lemurs (Eulemur fulvus albifrons) from four sites in Madagascar. Comparison of health parameters between sites revealed statistically significant differences in body weight, body temperature, respiratory rate, hematology parameters (white cell count, hematocrit, segmented neutrophil count, and lymphocyte count), serum chemistry parameters (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, serum alkaline phosphatase, total protein, albumin, phosphorus, calcium, sodium, chloride, and creatinine phosphokinase), and nutrition parameters (copper, zinc, ferritin, retinol, tocopherol, and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol). Two of 10 lemurs tested were positive for toxoplasmosis; none of 10 were positive for Cryptosporidium or Giardia. Enteric bacteria and endo- and ectoparasites were typical. Statistically different values in hematology and chemistry values probably do not reflect clinically significant differences, whereas nutrition parameter differences are likely related to season, soil, and forage availability.

The child-adolescent blood pressure study: I. Distribution of blood pressure levels in Seventh-Day-Adventist (SDA) and non-SDA children.

PubMed

Harris, R D; Phillips, R L; Williams, P M; Kuzma, J W; Fraser, G E

1981-12-01

Distribution of systolic and diastolic blood pressures (measured with an automated blood pressure recorder) of two large groups of children-3,159 from Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) schools and 4,681 from non-SDA schools-are reported. They boys and girls were from four different ethnic groups and attended grades one through 10 in 29 Southern California schools. The analysis of the data failed to show significant differences in mean blood pressure levels between the two groups of children at all ages, despite marked differences in life-style between the two groups, and despite the fact that adults from the two population groups have marked differences in mortality from diseases associated with elevated blood pressure. A comparison between boys and girls showed significantly higher trends in mean systolic blood pressure for boys after age 12. Inter-ethnic comparisons of blood pressure revealed that Black children of both sexes had slightly higher mean blood pressure levels at all ages.

The child-adolescent blood pressure study: I. Distribution of blood pressure levels in Seventh-Day-Adventist (SDA) and non-SDA children.

PubMed Central

Harris, R D; Phillips, R L; Williams, P M; Kuzma, J W; Fraser, G E

1981-01-01

Distribution of systolic and diastolic blood pressures (measured with an automated blood pressure recorder) of two large groups of children-3,159 from Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) schools and 4,681 from non-SDA schools-are reported. They boys and girls were from four different ethnic groups and attended grades one through 10 in 29 Southern California schools. The analysis of the data failed to show significant differences in mean blood pressure levels between the two groups of children at all ages, despite marked differences in life-style between the two groups, and despite the fact that adults from the two population groups have marked differences in mortality from diseases associated with elevated blood pressure. A comparison between boys and girls showed significantly higher trends in mean systolic blood pressure for boys after age 12. Inter-ethnic comparisons of blood pressure revealed that Black children of both sexes had slightly higher mean blood pressure levels at all ages. PMID:7315999

Glue-Sniffing: A Comparison Study of Sniffers and Non-Sniffers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jansen, P.; And Others

1992-01-01

Compared 22 glue sniffers and 22 nonsniffers from group of street children and adolescents living in supervised shelters. Found no statistically significant differences between groups on cognitive measures or biographical features. Shelter staff rated sniffers as significantly more disturbed in their relationships with others, although…

Briefkasten oder Brieftaube? Zur Auswahl der Lexik in amerikanischen Deutschlehrwerken fuer die Grundstufe. ("Mailbox" or "Carrier Pigeon"? Selecting Vocabulary for American College-Level Elementary German Textbooks).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bolton, Sibylle

A comparison of four college-level elementary German textbooks reveals significant differences in the numbers of vocabulary entries in each textbook. Further comparison of three of the textbooks with the basic German vocabulary lists provided in "Kontaktschwelle Deutsch als Fremdsprache" and in "Das Zertificat Deutsch als Fremdsprache" reveal in…

A comparison of height growth and leaf parameters of hybrid poplar cuttings grown in ozone-fumigated atmospheres

Treesearch

Keith F. Jensen

1979-01-01

Hybrid poplar cuttings were fumigated with an ozone dosage of 15 ppm-hours. One treatment was a steady fumigation at 0.2 ppm while the second fumigation fluctuated between 0.1 and 0.3 ppm. No significant differences were found in cutting height, leaf area, leaf width, and leaf dry weight, but significant differences were found in chlorophyll content and carbohydrate...

Ocean properties

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Korb, C. L.; Potter, J. F. (Principal Investigator)

1976-01-01

The author has identified the following significant results. Results of testing the CP program indicate that the best results can be obtained in the near infrared water bands. The absorption due to water vapor and carbon dioxide in the thermal infrared band appeared to be less reliable in comparison to spacecraft-acquired data and band models. Comparisons of laboratory carbon dioxide transmission in the thermal infrared band show good agreement except in regions where lines are known to be missing. The comparison of ozone transmission at a wavelength of 9.6 micrometers to laboratory data showed unexceptedly large differences.

Comparison of different time synchronization techniques

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kaarls, R.; Dejong, G.

1979-01-01

The plans to set up an international TV synchronization network between four locations are discussed. A feasibility study was conducted between two of the locations and significant results are reported.

A study of the neuropsychological correlates in adults with high functioning autism spectrum disorders.

PubMed

Fried, Ronna; Joshi, Gagan; Bhide, Pradeep; Pope, Amanda; Galdo, Maribel; Koster, Ariana; Chan, James; Faraone, Stephen V; Biederman, Joseph

2016-10-01

To examine the unique neuropsychological presentation in adults with high functioning autism spectrum disorders (HF-ASD) by comparison with adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Adults with ASD referred to a specialty clinic (n=26) were compared to two non-ASD groups with (n=52) and without (n=52) ADHD of similar age and sex. No differences in IQ were found. Subjects with HF-ASD were significantly more impaired than both comparison groups in processing speed, cognitive flexibility and sight words. Subjects with HF-ASD were more impaired than controls in working memory, but not the ADHD group. These findings suggest that there may be specific neuropsychological correlates of HF-ASD differing from ADHD that could have significant implications for identifying individuals at risk for ASD.

Lower extremity kinematics during walking and elliptical training in individuals with and without traumatic brain injury.

PubMed

Buster, Thad; Burnfield, Judith; Taylor, Adam P; Stergiou, Nicholas

2013-12-01

Elliptical training may be an option for practicing walking-like activity for individuals with traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Understanding similarities and differences between participants with TBI and neurologically healthy individuals during elliptical trainer use and walking may help guide clinical applications incorporating elliptical trainers. Ten participants with TBI and a comparison group of 10 neurologically healthy participants underwent 2 familiarization sessions and 1 data collection session. Kinematic data were collected as participants walked on a treadmill or on an elliptical trainer. Gait-related measures, including coefficient of multiple correlations (a measure of similarity between ensemble joint movement profiles; coefficient of multiple correlations [CMCs]), critical event joint angles, variability of peak critical event joint angles (standard deviations [SDs]) of peak critical event joint angles, and maximum Lyapunov exponents (a measure of the organization of the variability [LyEs]) were compared between groups and conditions. Coefficient of multiple correlations values comparing the similarity in ensemble motion profiles between the TBI and comparison participants exceeded 0.85 for the hip, knee, and ankle joints. The only critical event joint angle that differed significantly between participants with TBI and comparison participants was the ankle during terminal stance. Variability was higher for the TBI group (6 of 11 comparisons significant) compared with comparison participants. Hip and knee joint movement patterns of both participants with TBI and comparison participants on the elliptical trainer were similar to walking (CMCs ≥ 0.87). Variability was higher during elliptical trainer usage compared with walking (5 of 11 comparisons significant). Hip LyEs were higher during treadmill walking. Ankle LyEs were greater during elliptical trainer usage. Movement patterns of participants with TBI were similar to, but more variable than, those of comparison participants while using both the treadmill and the elliptical trainer. If incorporation of complex movements similar to walking is a goal of rehabilitation, elliptical training is a reasonable alternative to treadmill-based training.Video Abstract available (see Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A65) for more insights from the authors.

a Comparison Between Chemically Dependent Mothers and Drug-Free Mothers: Lifestyle during the Perinatal Period

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uskokovic, Lila Milica

This study compared maternal lifestyle variables pertinent to the perinatal period in groups of chemically dependent mothers and drug-free mothers. Twenty-nine cocaine -abusing mothers were compared to 29 drug-free mothers carefully matched on age, race, education, and primipara versus multipara status. The drug history of each chemically dependent woman was explicitly documented. The chemically dependent group was subdivided into two groups, mothers who abused cocaine and those who abused cocaine with concomitant opiate use. Each of these two subgroups was compared to its respective matched drug-free control group. Finally, a comparison was made between the two drug subgroups. All subjects were interviewed within 48 hours after delivery using the following measures: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (A-State), Center for Epidemiologic Studies - Depression Scale, The Self-Esteem Scale, Maternal Adjustment and Maternal Attitude Questionnaire, The Neonatal Perception Inventory, The Psychiatric Epidemiology Research Interview Life Events Scale, Maternal Social Support Index, and Short Marital Adjustment Test. A t-test analysis revealed significant differences (p <.05) between the total experimental group and its matched control group on state anxiety, depression, self-esteem, maternal adjustment and attitudes, and life events. An analysis of covariance indicated that life events was the only significant variable when the influence of all other variables was removed. Comparisons made between each drug subgroup and its respective matched control group showed similar results, except that those who abused opiates with cocaine did not differ from their controls on depression and maternal adjustment and attitudes. No significant differences were obtained in the drug subgroup comparisons. These results identify increased life events and specific negative affect states that clinical intervention programs should address to assure the best possible outcome for chemically dependent mothers and their infants.

Prospective, randomized comparison of a prototype endoscope with deflecting working channels versus a conventional double-channel endoscope for rectal endoscopic submucosal dissection in an established experimental simulation model (with video).

PubMed

Jung, Yunho; Kato, Masayuki; Lee, Jongchan; Gromski, Mark A; Chuttani, Ram; Matthes, Kai

2013-11-01

A prototype endoscope was designed to improve visualization and dissection of tissue with the use of 2 working channels with different deflections. To evaluate the efficacy and operability of a prototype endoscope in comparison with a conventional double-channel endoscope for rectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Randomized, prospective, controlled, ex vivo study. Academic medical center. A total of 80 standardized artificial lesions measuring 3 × 3 cm were created approximately 5 cm from the anal verge in fresh ex vivo porcine colorectal specimens. Two endoscopists each completed 20 cases with the prototype endoscope and 20 cases with the conventional endoscope. An independent observer recorded procedure time, specimen size, en bloc resection, and perforation rate. For the ESD novice, the mean submucosal dissection time (10.5 ± 3.8 vs 14.9 ± 7.3 minutes; P = .024) and total procedure time (18.1 ± 5.2 vs 23.6 ± 8.2 minutes; P = .015) were significantly shorter in the prototype group in comparison with the conventional group. For the ESD expert, there was no significant difference between the mean circumferential resection, submucosal dissection, and total procedure time (prototype group 14.2 ± 6.0 minutes, conventional group 14.2 ± 8.8 minutes; P = .992). The overall perforation and en bloc resection rates were not significantly different between groups. Ex vivo study. In this ex vivo prospective comparison study, there was a technical advantage for the ESD novice with the prototype endoscope that resulted in a shorter procedure time, which was not observed for cases performed by the ESD expert. Copyright © 2013 American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Effect of deploying community health assistants on appropriate treatment for diarrhoea, malaria and pneumonia: quasi-experimental study in two districts of Zambia.

PubMed

Biemba, Godfrey; Yeboah-Antwi, Kojo; Vosburg, Kathryn Bradford; Prust, Margaret L; Keller, Brett; Worku, Yekoyesew; Zulu, Happy; White, Emily; Hamer, Davidson H

2016-08-01

A critical shortage of human resources for health in Zambia remains a great challenge. In response, the Zambian Ministry of Health developed a national community health assistant (CHA) programme, aiming to create a well-trained and motivated community-based health workforce. This study assessed whether CHAs increased treatment rates for diarrhoea, confirmed malaria or pneumonia in the first programme year. This study used a quasi-experimental difference-in-difference design, comparing changes in the catchment areas of health posts with CHAs to those without. Baseline and end line household surveys were conducted to measure the proportion of children under 5 years treated for diarrhoea, malaria or pneumonia in the 2 weeks before the survey and immunisation rates and malaria rapid diagnostic test rates. We surveyed 2330 women with children under five from the intervention area and 2314 from comparison areas at baseline and end line. Treatment for diarrhoea, malaria or pneumonia increased by 18.0% (P < 0.01) and 23.5% (P < 0.01) in the intervention and comparison groups, respectively, but DID analysis was not significant (P = 0.27). The proportion of fully immunised children grew by 7.5% in the intervention, but shrank by 7.5% in the comparison group (DID: 0.14; 95% CI 0.12-0.16, P < 0.01). Although we observed no significant difference between the intervention and comparison groups in the DID estimates for the primary outcome, there were significant increases after one year in treatment for all three diseases in the intervention group from baseline to end line and in the proportion of fully immunised children. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Comparison of Six Generic Vancomycin Products for Treatment of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Experimental Endocarditis in Rabbits

PubMed Central

Tattevin, P.; Saleh-Mghir, A.; Davido, B.; Ghout, I.; Massias, L.; Garcia de la Maria, C.; Miró, J. M.; Perronne, C.; Laurent, F.

2013-01-01

Concerns have recently emerged about the potency and the quality of generic vancomycin (VAN) products approved for use in humans, based on experiments in a neutropenic mouse thigh infection model. However, other animal models may be more appropriate to decipher the bactericidal activities of VAN generics in vivo and to predict their efficacy in humans. We aimed to compare the bactericidal activities of six generic VAN products currently used in France (Mylan and Sandoz), Spain (Hospira), Switzerland (Teva), and the United States (Akorn-Strides and American Pharmaceutical Products [APP]) in a rabbit model of aortic valve endocarditis induced by 8 × 107 CFU of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain COL (VAN MIC, 1.5 μg/ml). In vitro, there were no significant differences in the time-kill curve studies performed with the six generic VAN products. Ten rabbits in each group were treated with intravenous (i.v.) VAN, 60 mg/kg of body weight twice a day (b.i.d.) for 4 days. Mean peak serum VAN levels, measured 45 min after the last injection, ranged from 35.5 (APP) to 45.9 μg/ml (Teva). Mean trough serum VAN levels, measured 12 h after the last injection, ranged from 2.3 (Hospira) to 9.2 (APP) μg/ml. All generic VAN products were superior to controls (no treatment) in terms of residual organisms in vegetations (P < 0.02 for each comparison) and in the spleen (P < 0.005 for each comparison). Pairwise comparisons of generic VAN products found no significant differences. In conclusion, a stringent MRSA endocarditis model found no significant differences in the bactericidal activities of six generic VAN products currently used in Europe and America. PMID:23254435

Comparison of glyburide and insulin in women with gestational diabetes mellitus and associated perinatal outcome: a randomized clinical trial.

PubMed

Mirzamoradi, Masoomeh; Heidar, Zahra; Faalpoor, Ziba; Naeiji, Zahra; Jamali, Razyeh

2015-01-01

Insulin is currently the drug of choice in treating patients with gestational diabetes mellitus but insulin is expensive, inconvenient to store and use and probably associated with more risks of asymptomatic hypoglycemia in comparison with some oral agents. This randomized clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of glyburide in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus in comparison with insulin therapy. Pregnant women aged between 18-45 years with singleton pregnancies and in their 24-36 weeks of gestation were assessed for eligibility. Women with gestational diabetes mellitus were randomly allocated to two insulin and glyburide groups and compared with maternal and neonatal outcome. Ninety-six women with gestational diabetes mellitus enrolled in the study. At screen and treated fasting and post-prandial blood glucose levels were similar in both groups. Time for beginning the treatment to control the glycemic index was 28.30 (±20.60) days in the insulin group and 22.56 (±18.86) in the glyburide group. There was no statistically significant difference in time-to-control the blood glucose level in two studied group. Time, between beginning the treatment of GDM and delivery, was 53.22 (±28.96) days in the insulin group and 56.67 (±30.47) in the glyburide group. There was no statistically significant difference between the times of treatment-to-delivery in two studied groups. There were no statistically significant differences between maternal and neonatal outcomes in two studied groups. Glyburide can effectively and safely control the glycemic index in women with gestational diabetes mellitus in comparison with insulin.

Physical activity and its relationship to physical performance in patients with end stage knee osteoarthritis.

PubMed

Thomas, Scott G; Pagura, Sonia M C; Kennedy, Deborah

2003-12-01

Cross-sectional observational design. To compare physical activity levels in men and women with end-stage knee osteoarthritis to those of a comparison group and to examine the relationship between physical activity level and physical performance. Osteoarthritis of the knee is associated with significant losses in functional performance and high social costs. Although reductions in physical activity are reported, they have not been quantified or explored. Fifty-nine candidates awaiting total knee arthroplasty (TKAC group) and 79 individuals without osteoarthritis (comparison group) participated. Physical activity was assessed using the Voorrips Questionnaire. Performance measures included fast self-paced walk test, timed up-and-go test, and a timed stair performance measure. A subset of subjects completed the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and underwent muscular strength and endurance testing. The effects of gender and group were tested using GLM ANOVA. Pearson product moment correlations were used to examine relationships between the variables. All aspects of physical activity were lower (P<.001) in the TKAC group, with a moderate difference in household score (18%) and a large difference in leisure activities (63%). Unlike the comparison group, modest but significant correlations (r = 0.31-0.33, P<.03) were observed between overall physical activity and performance test scores for the TKAC group. Physical activity was not significantly related to pain reported on the WOMAC or during the performance tasks. The belief that pain limits the physical activity of patients with severe osteoarthritis requires further investigation. The profound differences between a comparison group and patients with end-stage osteoarthritis in physical activity have critical implications for the well-being and effective treatment of this population.

Exact p-values for pairwise comparison of Friedman rank sums, with application to comparing classifiers.

PubMed

Eisinga, Rob; Heskes, Tom; Pelzer, Ben; Te Grotenhuis, Manfred

2017-01-25

The Friedman rank sum test is a widely-used nonparametric method in computational biology. In addition to examining the overall null hypothesis of no significant difference among any of the rank sums, it is typically of interest to conduct pairwise comparison tests. Current approaches to such tests rely on large-sample approximations, due to the numerical complexity of computing the exact distribution. These approximate methods lead to inaccurate estimates in the tail of the distribution, which is most relevant for p-value calculation. We propose an efficient, combinatorial exact approach for calculating the probability mass distribution of the rank sum difference statistic for pairwise comparison of Friedman rank sums, and compare exact results with recommended asymptotic approximations. Whereas the chi-squared approximation performs inferiorly to exact computation overall, others, particularly the normal, perform well, except for the extreme tail. Hence exact calculation offers an improvement when small p-values occur following multiple testing correction. Exact inference also enhances the identification of significant differences whenever the observed values are close to the approximate critical value. We illustrate the proposed method in the context of biological machine learning, were Friedman rank sum difference tests are commonly used for the comparison of classifiers over multiple datasets. We provide a computationally fast method to determine the exact p-value of the absolute rank sum difference of a pair of Friedman rank sums, making asymptotic tests obsolete. Calculation of exact p-values is easy to implement in statistical software and the implementation in R is provided in one of the Additional files and is also available at http://www.ru.nl/publish/pages/726696/friedmanrsd.zip .

Evaluation of Assays for Measurement of Serum (Anti)oxidants in Hemodialysis Patients

PubMed Central

Jansen, Eugene H. J. M.; Antarorov, Risto

2014-01-01

Background. Various biomarkers and assays have been used for assessment of (anti)oxidant status in hemodialysis patients, including those intended for measurement of serum total (anti)oxidants, most often as a part of panel biomarkers. Methods. Serum (anti)oxidant status was measured in 32 chronically hemodialyzed patients and in 47 healthy persons, using two oxidations and three antioxidant assays. Results. The patients before the hemodialysis session have had higher values of total oxidants in comparison to the healthy persons, with a further increase during the hemodialysis. These findings were confirmed with both oxidation assays, but they differ in the percentage of increase and the statistical significance. All three antioxidant assays showed significantly higher values of the total serum antioxidants in the patients before the hemodialysis session in comparison to the healthy persons, and their significant decrease during the hemodialysis. However, the assays differ in the percentage of decrease, its statistical significance, and the correlations with uric acid. Conclusion. The variability of results of total (anti)oxidants which are obtained using different assays should be taken into account when interpreting data from clinical studies of oxidative stress, especially in complex pathologies such as chronic hemodialysis. PMID:24982909

Multiple comparisons permutation test for image based data mining in radiotherapy.

PubMed

Chen, Chun; Witte, Marnix; Heemsbergen, Wilma; van Herk, Marcel

2013-12-23

: Comparing incidental dose distributions (i.e. images) of patients with different outcomes is a straightforward way to explore dose-response hypotheses in radiotherapy. In this paper, we introduced a permutation test that compares images, such as dose distributions from radiotherapy, while tackling the multiple comparisons problem. A test statistic Tmax was proposed that summarizes the differences between the images into a single value and a permutation procedure was employed to compute the adjusted p-value. We demonstrated the method in two retrospective studies: a prostate study that relates 3D dose distributions to failure, and an esophagus study that relates 2D surface dose distributions of the esophagus to acute esophagus toxicity. As a result, we were able to identify suspicious regions that are significantly associated with failure (prostate study) or toxicity (esophagus study). Permutation testing allows direct comparison of images from different patient categories and is a useful tool for data mining in radiotherapy.

Sexual functioning among women with physical disabilities.

PubMed

Nosek, M A; Rintala, D H; Young, M E; Howland, C A; Foley, C C; Rossi, D; Chanpong, G

1996-02-01

Three a priori hypotheses were tested: (1) There are significant differences in sociosexual behaviors of women with physical disabilities compared with women without disabilities; (2) the sexual functioning of women with disabilities is significantly related to age at onset of disability; (3) psychological factors explain more of the variance in the sexual functioning of women with physical disabilities than do disability, social and environmental factors. Case-comparison study using written survey. General community. The questionnaire was mailed to 1,150 women with physical disabilities who were recruited as volunteers or through independent living centers. Each woman gave a second copy of the questionnaire to an able-bodied female friend, which comprised the comparison group. The response rate was 45%, with 475 cases and 425 comparisons eligible to participate. The most common disability type was spinal cord injury (24%), followed by polio (18%), muscular dystrophy (11%), cerebral palsy (11%), multiple sclerosis (10%), joint disorders (7%), and skeletal abnormalities (5%). None. Sexual-functioning, consisting of four factors: (1) sexual desire, (2) sexual activity, (3) sexual response, (4) sexual satisfaction. Highly significant differences were found in level of sexual activity (p = .000001), response (p = .000009), and satisfaction (p=.000001) between women with and without disabilities. No significant differences were found between groups on sexual desire. Severity of disability was not significantly related to level of sexual activity. Psychological and social factors exert a strong impact on the sexual functioning of women with physical disabilities. Further investigations is needed of the effect of social environment on development of self-esteem and sexual self-image, and how these influences affect levels of sexual functioning in women with physical disabilities.

Assessment of rock musician's efferent system functioning using contralateral suppression of otoacoustic emissions.

PubMed

Kumar, Prawin; Grover, Vibhu; Publius A, Sam; Sanju, Himanshu Kumar; Sinha, Sachchidanand

2016-12-01

Contralateral suppression of oto acoustic emission (OAE) is referred as activation of efferent system. Previous literature mentioned about the importance of contralateral suppression of OAEs as a tool to assess efferent system in different groups of population. There is dearth of literature to explore the efferent system function in experienced musicians exposed to rock music using TEOAEs and DPOAEs. Two groups of participant (14 rock musicians and 14 non-musicians) in the age range of 18-25 years were involved in the study. Contralateral suppression of TEOAEs and DPOAEs were measured using ILO (Version 6) in both groups. Descriptive statistics showed higher suppression of TEOAEs and DPOAEs in rock-musicians at most of the frequencies in comparison to non-musicians. For DPOAE measures, Mann Whitney U test results revealed significantly greater DPOAE suppression only at 1 kHz and 3 kHz in rock-musicians compared to non-musicians. For within group comparison, Kruskal Wallis test results revealed there were significant difference observed across most of the frequencies i.e. at 1 kHz, 3 kHz and 6 kHz. For TEOAE measures, Mann Whitney U test results revealed that only at 2 kHz, TEOAE suppression in rock-musician was significantly greater compared to non-musicians. Similarly, Kuskal Wallis test results revealed that within group there were no significant differences observed for most of the frequencies except 2 kHz. Based on the above finding, present study concludes that rock musicians are having better efferent system compared to non-musicians. No suppression effect at few frequencies probably indicates more vulnerability at those frequencies. Contralateral suppression of DPOAE shows more significant finding in comparison to contralateral suppression of TEOAEs in present study.

Comparison of hair removal efficacy and side effect of neodymium:Yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser and intense pulsed light systems (18-month follow-up).

PubMed

Szima, Georgina Zita; Janka, Eszter Anna; Kovács, Anikó; Bortély, Blanka; Bodnár, Edina; Sawhney, Irina; Szabó, Éva; Remenyik, Éva

2017-06-01

Photothermal destruction of hair shaft melanin with intense pulsed light (IPL) and neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser has become an effective treatment of hair removal. Our aim was to compare efficacy, satisfactory levels, safety, and side effects of Nd:YAG and IPL in hair reduction. This was a prospective randomized intrapatient, right-left, assessor-blinded comparison of Nd:YAG vs IPL. There were 38 volunteers recruited. Seven sessions were performed. Hair count, efficacy, and side effects were compared before and after each treatment and 6 months after the last treatment. In respect of 12 volunteers, we have examined the reduction in hair after 18 months. Initially, there was no significant difference between the numbers of hair follicles. There was significant hair reduction after each treatment on the Nd:YAG-treated side. The hair reduction became significant after the third treatment with IPL. Comparison of the efficacy of the two devices on each visits showed no significant difference. There was statistically lower pain score on the IPL-treated side and statistically higher erythema, burning sensation, and edema on the Nd:YAG-treated side. Statistically lower side effect score was observed on the IPL-treated side. Eight months after the last treatment, there was significant hair reduction both on the Nd:YAG and on the IPL-treated side, and there was no difference between the efficacy. The patient satisfaction scores were higher with the IPL. Unwanted hair can be reduced by both systems safely and effectively; however, IPL has less side effects and higher satisfaction scores. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Evaluation of the 8th AJCC staging system for pathologically versus clinically staged pancreatic adenocarcinoma: A time to revisit a dogma?

PubMed

Abdel-Rahman, Omar

2018-02-01

The 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system for pancreatic exocrine adenocarcinoma has been released. The current study seeks to assess the 7th and 8th editions among patients registered within the surveillance, epidemiology and end results (SEER) database. SEER database (2010-2013) has been accessed through SEER*Stat program and AJCC 8th edition stages were reconstructed utilizing the collaborative stage descriptions. Kaplan-Meier analysis of overall survival and pancreatic cancer-specific survival analyses (according to both 7th and 8th editions and according to whether pathological or clinical staging were conducted) has been performed. Multivariate analysis of factors affecting pancreatic cancer-specific survival was also conducted through a Cox proportional hazard model. A total of 18  948 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma were identified in the period from 2010-2013. Pancreatic cancer-specific survival among pathologically staged patients and according to the 8th edition showed significant differences for all pair wise comparisons among different stages (P < 0.0001) except for the comparison between stage IA and stage IB (P = 0.307) and the comparison between stage IB and stage IIA (P = 0.116). Moreover, P value for stage IA vs IIA was 0.014; while pancreatic cancer-specific survival according to the 7th edition among pathologically staged patients showed significant differences for all pair wise comparisons among different stages (P < 0.0001) except for the comparison between IA and IB (P = 0.072), the comparison between stage IIA and stage IIB (P = 0.065), the comparison between stage IIA and stage III (P = 0.059) and the comparison between IIB and III (P = 0.595). Among clinically staged patients (i.e. those who did not undergo initial radical surgery), the prognostic performance of both 7th and 8th stages for both overall survival and pancreatic cancer-specific survival was limited. There is clearly a need to have two staging systems for pancreatic adenocarcinoma: pathological and clinical staging systems. Copyright © 2018 First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine in China. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Comparison of the effect of three autogenous bone harvesting methods on cell viability in rabbits

PubMed Central

Moradi Haghgoo, Janet; Arabi, Seyed Reza; Hosseinipanah, Seyyed Mohammad; Solgi, Ghasem; Rastegarfard, Neda; Farhadian, Maryam

2017-01-01

Background. This study was designed to compare the viability of autogenous bone grafts, harvested using different methods, in order to determine the best harvesting technique with respect to more viable cells. Methods. In this animal experimental study, three harvesting methods, including manual instrument (chisel), rotary device and piezosurgery, were used for harvesting bone grafts from the lateral body of the mandible on the left and right sides of 10 rabbits. In each group, 20 bone samples were collected and their viability was assessed using MTS kit. Statistical analyses, including ANOVA and post hoc Tukey tests, were used for evaluating significant differences between the groups. Results. One-way ANOVA showed significant differences between all the groups (P=0.000). Data analysis using post hoc Tukey tests indicated that manual instrument and piezosurgery had no significant differences with regard to cell viability (P=0.749) and the cell viability in both groups was higher than that with the use of a rotary instrument (P=0.000). Conclusion. Autogenous bone grafts harvested with a manual instrument and piezosurgery had more viable cells in comparison to the bone chips harvested with a rotary device. PMID:28748046

Cross-cultural comparison of the Scoliosis Research Society Outcomes Instrument between American and Japanese idiopathic scoliosis patients: are there differences?

PubMed

Watanabe, Kei; Lenke, Lawrence G; Bridwell, Keith H; Hasegawa, Kazuhiro; Hirano, Toru; Endo, Naoto; Cheh, Gene; Kim, Yongjung J; Hensley, Marsha; Stobbs, Georgia; Koester, Linda

2007-11-15

A comparative study. To report a preliminary evaluation of the Scoliosis Research Society Outcomes Instrument (SRS-24) and determine whether differences in baseline scores exist between American and Japanese patients with idiopathic scoliosis. Because the SRS outcomes instrument was primarily introduced for the American population, baseline scores in the Japanese population might differ from the American population. A comparative study using the SRS instrument between American and Japanese patients with idiopathic scoliosis has not been reported. Two comparable groups of 100 idiopathic scoliosis patients before spinal fusion were separated into American (A) and Japanese (J). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups for gender (A: 9 men/91 women vs. J: 13 men/87 women), age (A: 15.0 +/- 2.4 vs. J: 14.9 +/- 3.8), main curve location (A: 77 thoracic/23 lumbar, J: 76 thoracic/24 lumbar), main curve Cobb angle (A: 50.5 +/- 5.2 vs. J: 51.1 +/- 8.7), and thoracic kyphosis (A: 20.9 +/- 14.3 vs. J: 19.9 +/- 12.1) (P > 0.05, for all comparisons). Patients were evaluated using the first section of the SRS-24 which was divided into 4 domains: total pain, general self-image, general function, and activity. SRS-24 scores were statistical compared in individual domains and questions using the Mann-Whitney U test. American patients had significantly lower scores in pain (P < 0.0001, A: 3.7 +/- 0.8 vs. J: 4.3 +/- 0.4), function (P < 0.01, A: 3.9 +/- 0.6 vs. J: 4.2 +/- 0.5), and activity (P < 0.0001, A: 4.5 +/- 0.8 vs. J: 4.9 +/- 0.3) domains compared with Japanese patients. Japanese patients had significantly lower scores in the self-image (P < 0.0001, A: 4.0 +/- 0.7 vs. J: 3.5 +/- 0.5) domain. With regard to individual questions, there were significant differences in the scores between the 2 groups for all questions except 5 and 13 (P < 0.05, for all comparisons). SRS-24 scores in the Japanese idiopathic scoliosis population differed from that of the American population. Japanese patients had less back pain, a negative self-image regarding back deformity, higher general physical function, and daily activity. It is highly probable that patient's perceptions differ due to cultural differences, which affect SRS-24 scores so a cross-cultural comparison of the SRS instrument content is necessary in the future.

Comparison between Growth Patterns and Pharyngeal Widths in Different Skeletal Malocclusions in South Indian Population.

PubMed

Lakshmi, K Bhagya; Yelchuru, Sri Harsha; Chandrika, V; Lakshmikar, O G; Sagar, V Lakshmi; Reddy, G Vivek

2018-01-01

The main aim is to determine whether growth pattern had an effect on the upper airway by comparing different craniofacial patterns with pharyngeal widths and its importance during the clinical examination. Sixty lateral cephalograms of patients aged between 16 and 24 years with no pharyngeal pathology or nasal obstruction were selected for the study. These were divided into skeletal Class I ( n = 30) and skeletal Class II ( n = 30) using ANB angle subdivided into normodivergent, hyperdivergent, and hypodivergent facial patterns based on SN-GoGn angle. McNamara's airway analysis was used to determine the upper- and lower-airway dimensions. One-way ANOVA was used to do the intergroup comparisons and the Tukey's test as the secondary statistical analysis. Statistically significant difference exists between the upper-airway dimensions in both the skeletal malocclusions with hyperdivergent growth patterns when compared to other growth patterns. In both the skeletal malocclusions, vertical growers showed a significant decrease in the airway size than the horizontal and normal growers. There is no statistical significance between the lower airway and craniofacial growth pattern.

Robot-assisted therapy for long-term upper-limb impairment after stroke.

PubMed

Lo, Albert C; Guarino, Peter D; Richards, Lorie G; Haselkorn, Jodie K; Wittenberg, George F; Federman, Daniel G; Ringer, Robert J; Wagner, Todd H; Krebs, Hermano I; Volpe, Bruce T; Bever, Christopher T; Bravata, Dawn M; Duncan, Pamela W; Corn, Barbara H; Maffucci, Alysia D; Nadeau, Stephen E; Conroy, Susan S; Powell, Janet M; Huang, Grant D; Peduzzi, Peter

2010-05-13

Effective rehabilitative therapies are needed for patients with long-term deficits after stroke. In this multicenter, randomized, controlled trial involving 127 patients with moderate-to-severe upper-limb impairment 6 months or more after a stroke, we randomly assigned 49 patients to receive intensive robot-assisted therapy, 50 to receive intensive comparison therapy, and 28 to receive usual care. Therapy consisted of 36 1-hour sessions over a period of 12 weeks. The primary outcome was a change in motor function, as measured on the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Sensorimotor Recovery after Stroke, at 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes were scores on the Wolf Motor Function Test and the Stroke Impact Scale. Secondary analyses assessed the treatment effect at 36 weeks. At 12 weeks, the mean Fugl-Meyer score for patients receiving robot-assisted therapy was better than that for patients receiving usual care (difference, 2.17 points; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.23 to 4.58) and worse than that for patients receiving intensive comparison therapy (difference, -0.14 points; 95% CI, -2.94 to 2.65), but the differences were not significant. The results on the Stroke Impact Scale were significantly better for patients receiving robot-assisted therapy than for those receiving usual care (difference, 7.64 points; 95% CI, 2.03 to 13.24). No other treatment comparisons were significant at 12 weeks. Secondary analyses showed that at 36 weeks, robot-assisted therapy significantly improved the Fugl-Meyer score (difference, 2.88 points; 95% CI, 0.57 to 5.18) and the time on the Wolf Motor Function Test (difference, -8.10 seconds; 95% CI, -13.61 to -2.60) as compared with usual care but not with intensive therapy. No serious adverse events were reported. In patients with long-term upper-limb deficits after stroke, robot-assisted therapy did not significantly improve motor function at 12 weeks, as compared with usual care or intensive therapy. In secondary analyses, robot-assisted therapy improved outcomes over 36 weeks as compared with usual care but not with intensive therapy. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00372411.) 2010 Massachusetts Medical Society

The choice of statistical methods for comparisons of dosimetric data in radiotherapy.

PubMed

Chaikh, Abdulhamid; Giraud, Jean-Yves; Perrin, Emmanuel; Bresciani, Jean-Pierre; Balosso, Jacques

2014-09-18

Novel irradiation techniques are continuously introduced in radiotherapy to optimize the accuracy, the security and the clinical outcome of treatments. These changes could raise the question of discontinuity in dosimetric presentation and the subsequent need for practice adjustments in case of significant modifications. This study proposes a comprehensive approach to compare different techniques and tests whether their respective dose calculation algorithms give rise to statistically significant differences in the treatment doses for the patient. Statistical investigation principles are presented in the framework of a clinical example based on 62 fields of radiotherapy for lung cancer. The delivered doses in monitor units were calculated using three different dose calculation methods: the reference method accounts the dose without tissues density corrections using Pencil Beam Convolution (PBC) algorithm, whereas new methods calculate the dose with tissues density correction for 1D and 3D using Modified Batho (MB) method and Equivalent Tissue air ratio (ETAR) method, respectively. The normality of the data and the homogeneity of variance between groups were tested using Shapiro-Wilks and Levene test, respectively, then non-parametric statistical tests were performed. Specifically, the dose means estimated by the different calculation methods were compared using Friedman's test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. In addition, the correlation between the doses calculated by the three methods was assessed using Spearman's rank and Kendall's rank tests. The Friedman's test showed a significant effect on the calculation method for the delivered dose of lung cancer patients (p <0.001). The density correction methods yielded to lower doses as compared to PBC by on average (-5 ± 4.4 SD) for MB and (-4.7 ± 5 SD) for ETAR. Post-hoc Wilcoxon signed-rank test of paired comparisons indicated that the delivered dose was significantly reduced using density-corrected methods as compared to the reference method. Spearman's and Kendall's rank tests indicated a positive correlation between the doses calculated with the different methods. This paper illustrates and justifies the use of statistical tests and graphical representations for dosimetric comparisons in radiotherapy. The statistical analysis shows the significance of dose differences resulting from two or more techniques in radiotherapy.

Comparison of upper and lower lip muscle activity between stutterers and fluent speakers.

PubMed

de Felício, Cláudia Maria; Freitas, Rosana Luiza Rodrigues Gomes; Vitti, Mathias; Regalo, Simone Cecilio Hallak

2007-08-01

There is a widespread clinical view that stuttering is associated with high levels of muscles activity. The proposal of this research was to compare stutterers and fluent speakers with respect to the electromyographic activity of the upper and lower lip muscles. Ten individuals who stutter and 10 fluent speakers (control group) paired by gender and age were studied (mean age: 13.4 years). Groups were defined by the speech sample analysis of the ABFW-Language Test. A K6-I EMG (Myo-tronics Co., Seattle, WA, USA) with double disposable silver electrodes (Duotrodes, Myo-tronics Co., Seattle, WA) being used in order to analyze lip muscle activity. The clinical conditions investigated were movements during speech, orofacial non-speech tasks, and rest. Electromyographic data were normalized by lip pursing activity. The non-parametric Mann-Whitney test was used for the comparison of speech fluency profile, and the Student t-test for independent samples for group comparison regarding electromyographic data. There was a statistically significant difference between groups regarding speech fluency profile and upper lip activity in the following conditions: lip lateralization to the right and to the left and rest before exercises (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between groups regarding lower lip activity (P>0.05). The EMG activity of the upper lip muscle in the group with stuttering was significantly lower than in the control group in some of the clinical conditions analyzed. There was no significant difference between groups regarding the lower lip muscle. The subjects who stutter did not present higher levels of muscle activity in lip muscles than fluent speakers.

Evaluation of salivary oxidate stress biomarkers, nitric oxide and C-reactive protein in patients with oral lichen planus and burning mouth syndrome.

PubMed

Tvarijonaviciute, Asta; Aznar-Cayuela, Cristina; Rubio, Camila P; Ceron, José J; López-Jornet, Pia

2017-05-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate oxidative stress factors and C-reactive protein in the saliva of patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) and burning mouth syndrome (BMS). This consecutive, cross-sectional study included 20 patients with OLP, 19 with burning mouth syndrome (BMS), and 31 control subjects. The oral cavity of each patient was examined and patients responded to a quality of life questionnaire (OHIP-14) and the xerostomia inventory. The following parameters were measured in whole non-stimulated saliva: trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC); total antioxidant capacity (TAC); cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC); ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP); C-reactive protein (CRP); nitric oxide; nitrates; and nitrites. The OLP group presented statistically significant differences in reactive oxygen species (ROS) (29 600 cps) in comparison with the control group (39 679 cps) (P < 0.05). In the BMS group, ROS was 29 707 cps with significant difference in comparison with the control group (P < 0.05). Significantly higher salivary nitric oxide (145.7 μmol) and nitrite (141.0 μmol) levels were found in OLP patients in comparison with control group (P < 0.05). Increases in nitric oxide and C-reactive protein were found in the saliva of OLP patients in comparison with BMS and control patients. Further studies are required to confirm these findings. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Do Neurocognitive SCAT3 Baseline Test Scores Differ Between Footballers (Soccer) Living With and Without Disability? A Cross-Sectional Study.

PubMed

Weiler, Richard; van Mechelen, Willem; Fuller, Colin; Ahmed, Osman Hassan; Verhagen, Evert

2018-01-01

To determine if baseline Sport Concussion Assessment Tool, third Edition (SCAT3) scores differ between athletes with and without disability. Cross-sectional comparison of preseason baseline SCAT3 scores for a range of England international footballers. Team doctors and physiotherapists supporting England football teams recorded players' SCAT 3 baseline tests from August 1, 2013 to July 31, 2014. A convenience sample of 249 England footballers, of whom 185 were players without disability (male: 119; female: 66) and 64 were players with disability (male learning disability: 17; male cerebral palsy: 28; male blind: 10; female deaf: 9). Between-group comparisons of median SCAT3 total and section scores were made using nonparametric Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon ranked-sum test. All footballers with disability scored higher symptom severity scores compared with male players without disability. Male footballers with learning disability demonstrated no significant difference in the total number of symptoms, but recorded significantly lower scores on immediate memory and delayed recall compared with male players without disability. Male blind footballers' scored significantly higher for total concentration and delayed recall, and male footballers with cerebral palsy scored significantly higher on balance testing and immediate memory, when compared with male players without disability. Female footballers with deafness scored significantly higher for total concentration and balance testing than female footballers without disability. This study suggests that significant differences exist between SCAT3 baseline section scores for footballers with and without disability. Concussion consensus guidelines should recognize these differences and produce guidelines that are specific for the growing number of athletes living with disability.

Comparative outcomes of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery and manual phacoemusification: a six-month follow-up.

PubMed

Yu, Yinhui; Chen, Xinyi; Hua, Huixia; Wu, Menghan; Lai, Kairan; Yao, Ke

2016-08-01

To explore efficacy and safety outcomes in patients undergoing femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) versus manual phacoemulsification cataract surgery (PCS). Prospective consecutive nonrandomized comparative cohort study. A total of 124 eyes from 106 patients (70 in FLACS and 54 in PCS). Comparison of FLACS with PCS over 6 months. Macular central subfield thickness (CST), cube volume (CV), cube average thickness (CAT), endothelial cell density (ECD), central corneal thickness (CCT) and photon count value (PCV). CST, CV and CAT increased postoperatively, which did not return to preoperative levels by 6 months. The values were similar between groups throughout the follow-up, and comparison of changes from baseline also showed no significant difference. Preoperative ECD showed significant difference, which decreased postoperatively and remained stable during follow-up, being lowest at 1 month. FLACS had greater endothelial cell loss than PCS, which was not significant. CCT in both groups increased, reaching maximum on day one and tended to decrease thereafter. No significant differences were found regarding postoperative values and the mean increase. In both groups, mean PCV increased from preoperatively to day one, week one and month one. Flare values in FLACS were lower than PCS, reaching statistical significance at 6 months (P = 0.001). However, the differences in changes of PCV were not significantly different at any visit. Both FLACS and PCS achieved similar safety and efficacy outcomes for performing cataract surgery. Flare values in eyes with FLACS were lower than those with PCS at 6 months postoperatively. © 2015 Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists.

Ultrafast Comparison of Personal Genomes via Precomputed Genome Fingerprints

PubMed Central

Glusman, Gustavo; Mauldin, Denise E.; Hood, Leroy E.; Robinson, Max

2017-01-01

We present an ultrafast method for comparing personal genomes. We transform the standard genome representation (lists of variants relative to a reference) into “genome fingerprints” via locality sensitive hashing. The resulting genome fingerprints can be meaningfully compared even when the input data were obtained using different sequencing technologies, processed using different pipelines, represented in different data formats and relative to different reference versions. Furthermore, genome fingerprints are robust to up to 30% missing data. Because of their reduced size, computation on the genome fingerprints is fast and requires little memory. For example, we could compute all-against-all pairwise comparisons among the 2504 genomes in the 1000 Genomes data set in 67 s at high quality (21 μs per comparison, on a single processor), and achieved a lower quality approximation in just 11 s. Efficient computation enables scaling up a variety of important genome analyses, including quantifying relatedness, recognizing duplicative sequenced genomes in a set, population reconstruction, and many others. The original genome representation cannot be reconstructed from its fingerprint, effectively decoupling genome comparison from genome interpretation; the method thus has significant implications for privacy-preserving genome analytics. PMID:29018478

Hippocampal Morphology and Distinguishing Late-Onset From Early-Onset Elderly Depression

PubMed Central

Ballmaier, Martina; Narr, Katherine L.; Toga, Arthur W.; Elderkin-Thompson, Virginia; Thompson, Paul M.; Hamilton, Liberty; Haroon, Ebrahim; Pham, Daniel; Heinz, Andreas; Kumar, Anand

2010-01-01

Objective Despite evidence for hippocampal abnormalities in elderly depression, it is unknown whether these changes are regionally specific. This study used three-dimensional mapping techniques to identify regional hippocampal abnormalities in early- and late-onset depression. Neuropsychological correlates of hippocampal morphology were also investigated. Method With high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging, hippocampal morphology was compared among elderly patients with early- (N=24) and late-onset (N=22) depression and comparison subjects (N=34). Regional structural abnormalities were identified by comparing distances, measured from homologous hippocampal surface points to the central core of each individual’s hippocampal surface model, between groups. Results Hippocampal volumes differed between depressed patients and comparison subjects but not between patients with early- and late-onset depression. However, statistical mapping results showed that regional surface contractions were significantly pronounced in late-compared to early-onset depression in the anterior of the subiculum and lateral posterior of the CA1 subfield in the left hemisphere. Significant shape differences were observed bilaterally in anterior CA1–CA3 subfields and the subiculum in patients in relation to comparison subjects. These results were similar when each disease group was separately compared to comparison subjects. Hippocampal surface contractions significantly correlated with memory measures among late- but not early-onset depressed patients or comparison subjects. Conclusions More pronounced regional volume deficits and their associations with memory in late-onset depression may suggest that these patients are more likely to develop cognitive impairment over time than individuals with early-onset depression. Mapping regional hippocampal abnormalities and their cognitive correlates may help guide research in defining risk profiles and treatment strategies. PMID:17986679

Comparison of quartz standards for X-ray diffraction analysis: HSE A9950 (Sikron F600) and NIST SRM 1878.

PubMed

Chisholm, Jim

2005-06-01

A further comparison of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) standard quartz, A9950 (Sikron F600), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Standard Reference Material (SRM) 1878, standard respirable alpha-quartz, has been carried out for the four principal diffraction peaks. In the earlier comparison by Jeyaratnam and Nagar (1993, Ann Occup Hyg; 37: 167-79), the standards were both treated in ways which might change the particle size distribution and therefore the proportion of crystalline quartz. The two standards have now been compared in the most direct way possible with the minimum of sample treatment. There are no significant differences in the diffraction peak positions for the two standards. Nor do the peak area intensities differ significantly. The peak height intensities are consistently and significantly higher for Sikron F600 than for NIST SRM 1878. The particle size broadening of the diffraction peaks is evidently greater for NIST 1878, whose mass median diameter is quoted as 1.6 microm against 2.6 microm for Sikron F600. Taking the certified reference value for SRM 1878 as 95.5 +/- 1.1% crystalline quartz, the HSE standard A9950 (Sikron F600) contains 96.3 +/- 1.4% crystalline quartz based on a comparison of peak area intensities. On the same basis but using peak height intensities, the nominal crystalline quartz content of A9950 (Sikron F600) is 101.2 +/- 1.8%. Results obtained by comparison of quartz standards may not be generally applicable because of the effect of sample treatment on particle size and crystalline quartz content.

The impact of culture and education on non-verbal neuropsychological measurements: a critical review.

PubMed

Rosselli, Mónica; Ardila, Alfredo

2003-08-01

Clinical neuropsychology has frequently considered visuospatial and non-verbal tests to be culturally and educationally fair or at least fairer than verbal tests. This paper reviews the cross-cultural differences in performance on visuoperceptual and visuoconstructional ability tasks and analyzes the impact of education and culture on non-verbal neuropsychological measurements. This paper compares: (1) non-verbal test performance among groups with different educational levels, and the same cultural background (inter-education intra-culture comparison); (2) the test performance among groups with the same educational level and different cultural backgrounds (intra-education inter-culture comparisons). Several studies have demonstrated a strong association between educational level and performance on common non-verbal neuropsychological tests. When neuropsychological test performance in different cultural groups is compared, significant differences are evident. Performance on non-verbal tests such as copying figures, drawing maps or listening to tones can be significantly influenced by the individual's culture. Arguments against the use of some current neuropsychological non-verbal instruments, procedures, and norms in the assessment of diverse educational and cultural groups are discussed and possible solutions to this problem are presented.

Effect of Expiratory Resistive Loading in Expiratory Muscle Strength Training on Orbicularis Oris Muscle Activity

PubMed Central

Yanagisawa, Yukio; Matsuo, Yoshimi; Shuntoh, Hisato; Horiuchi, Noriaki

2014-01-01

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effect of expiratory resistive loading on orbicularis oris muscle activity. [Subjects] Subjects were 23 healthy individuals (11 males, mean age 25.5±4.3 years; 12 females, mean age 25.0±3.0 years). [Methods] Surface electromyography was performed to measure the activity of the orbicularis oris muscle during maximum lip closure and resistive loading at different expiratory pressures. Measurement was performed at 10%, 30%, 50%, and 100% of maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) for all subjects. The t-test was used to compare muscle activity between maximum lip closure and 100% MEP, and analysis of variance followed by multiple comparisons was used to compare the muscle activities observed at different expiratory pressures. [Results] No significant difference in muscle activity was observed between maximum lip closure and 100% MEP. Analysis of variance with multiple comparisons revealed significant differences among the different expiratory pressures. [Conclusion] Orbicularis oris muscle activity increased with increasing expiratory resistive loading. PMID:24648644

Treated wastewater phytotoxicity assessment using Lactuca sativa: Focus on germination and root elongation test parameters.

PubMed

Priac, Anne; Badot, Pierre-Marie; Crini, Grégorio

2017-03-01

Sensitive and simple ecotoxicological bioassays like seed germination and root elongation tests are commonly used to evaluate the phytotoxicity of waste and industrial discharge waters. Although the tests are performed following national and international standards, various parameters such as the number of seeds per dish, the test duration or the type of support used remain variable. To be able to make a correct comparison of results from different studies, it is crucial to know which parameter(s) could affect ecotoxicological diagnosis. We tested four different control waters and three seed densities. No significant differences on either germination rate or root elongation endpoints were shown. Nevertheless, we found that the four lettuce cultivars (Appia, batavia dorée de printemps, grosse blonde paresseuse, and Kinemontepas) showed significantly different responses when watered with the same and different metal-loaded industrial discharge water. From the comparison, it is clear that a differential sensitivity scale occurs among not just species but cultivars. Copyright © 2017 Académie des sciences. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

The Comparison of VLBI Data Analysis Using Software Globl and Globk

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guangli, W.; Xiaoya, W.; Jinling, L.; Wenyao, Z.

The comparison of different geodetic data analysis software is one of the quite of- ten mentioned topics. In this paper we try to find out the difference between software GLOBL and GLOBK when use them to process the same set of VLBI data. GLOBL is a software developed by VLBI team, geodesy branch, GSFC/NASA to process geode- tic VLBI data using algorithm of arc-parameter-elimination, while GLOBK using al- gorithm of kalman filtering is mainly used in GPS data analysis, and it is also used in VLBI data analysis. Our work focus on whether there are significant difference when use the two softwares to analyze the same VLBI data set and investigate the reasons caused the difference.

Comparison of stethoscope bell and diaphragm, and of stethoscope tube length, for clinical blood pressure measurement.

PubMed

Liu, Chengyu; Griffiths, Clive; Murray, Alan; Zheng, Dingchang

2016-06-01

This study investigated the effect of stethoscope side and tube length on auscultatory blood pressure (BP) measurement. Thirty-two healthy participants were studied. For each participant, four measurements with different combinations of stethoscope characteristics (bell or diaphragm side, standard or short tube length) were each recorded at two repeat sessions, and eight Korotkoff sound recordings were played twice on separate days to one experienced listener to determine the systolic and diastolic BPs (SBP and DBP). Analysis of variance was carried out to study the measurement repeatability between the two repeat sessions and between the two BP determinations on separate days, as well as the effects of stethoscope side and tube length. There was no significant paired difference between the repeat sessions and between the repeat determinations for both SBP and DBP (all P-values>0.10, except the repeat session for SBP using short tube and diaphragm). The key result was that there was a small but significantly higher DBP on using the bell in comparison with the diaphragm (0.66 mmHg, P=0.007), and a significantly higher SBP on using the short tube in comparison with the standard length (0.77 mmHg, P=0.008). This study shows that stethoscope characteristics have only a small, although statistically significant, influence on clinical BP measurement. Although this helps understand the measurement technique and resolves questions in the published literature, the influence is not clinically significant.

Comparison of stethoscope bell and diaphragm, and of stethoscope tube length, for clinical blood pressure measurement

PubMed Central

Griffiths, Clive; Murray, Alan; Zheng, Dingchang

2016-01-01

Objective This study investigated the effect of stethoscope side and tube length on auscultatory blood pressure (BP) measurement. Methods Thirty-two healthy participants were studied. For each participant, four measurements with different combinations of stethoscope characteristics (bell or diaphragm side, standard or short tube length) were each recorded at two repeat sessions, and eight Korotkoff sound recordings were played twice on separate days to one experienced listener to determine the systolic and diastolic BPs (SBP and DBP). Analysis of variance was carried out to study the measurement repeatability between the two repeat sessions and between the two BP determinations on separate days, as well as the effects of stethoscope side and tube length. Results There was no significant paired difference between the repeat sessions and between the repeat determinations for both SBP and DBP (all P-values>0.10, except the repeat session for SBP using short tube and diaphragm). The key result was that there was a small but significantly higher DBP on using the bell in comparison with the diaphragm (0.66 mmHg, P=0.007), and a significantly higher SBP on using the short tube in comparison with the standard length (0.77 mmHg, P=0.008). Conclusion This study shows that stethoscope characteristics have only a small, although statistically significant, influence on clinical BP measurement. Although this helps understand the measurement technique and resolves questions in the published literature, the influence is not clinically significant. PMID:26741415

Photoacoustic Imaging for Differential Diagnosis of Benign Polyps versus Malignant Polyps of the Gallbladder: A Preliminary Study.

PubMed

Chae, Hee-Dong; Lee, Jae Young; Jang, Jin-Young; Chang, Jin Ho; Kang, Jeeun; Kang, Mee Joo; Han, Joon Koo

2017-01-01

To investigate the feasibility of ex vivo multispectral photoacoustic (PA) imaging in differentiating cholesterol versus neoplastic polyps, and benign versus malignant polyps, of the gallbladder. A total of 38 surgically confirmed gallbladder polyps (24 cholesterol polyps, 4 adenomas, and 10 adenocarcinomas) from 38 patients were prospectively included in this study. The surgical specimens were set on a gel pad immersed in a saline-filled container. The PA intensities of polyps were then measured, using two separate wavelength intervals (421-647 nm and 692-917 nm). Mann-Whitney U test was performed for the comparison of normalized PA intensities between the cholesterol and neoplastic polyps, and between the benign and malignant polyps. Kruskal-Wallis test was conducted for the comparison of normalized PA intensities among the cholesterol polyps, adenomas, and adenocarcinomas. A significant difference was observed in the normalized PA intensities between the cholesterol and neoplastic polyps at 459 nm (median, 1.00 vs. 0.73; p = 0.032). Comparing the benign and malignant polyps, there were significant differences in the normalized PA intensities at 765 nm (median, 0.67 vs. 0.78; p = 0.013), 787 nm (median, 0.65 vs. 0.77; p = 0.034), and 853 nm (median, 0.59 vs. 0.85; p = 0.028). The comparison of the normalized PA intensities among cholesterol polyps, adenomas, and adenocarcinomas demonstrated marginally significant differences at 765 nm (median, 0.67 vs. 0.66 vs. 0.78, respectively; p = 0.049). These preliminary results indicate that benign versus malignant gallbladder polyps might exhibit different spectral patterns on multispectral PA imaging.

Comparison of behavioral profiles for anxiety-related comorbidities including ADHD and selective mutism in children.

PubMed

Levin-Decanini, Tal; Connolly, Sucheta D; Simpson, David; Suarez, Liza; Jacob, Suma

2013-09-01

Elucidating differences in social-behavioral profiles of children with comorbid presentations, utilizing caregiver as well as teacher reports, will refine our understanding of how contextual symptoms vary across anxiety-related disorders. In our pediatric anxiety clinic, the most frequent diagnoses and comorbidities were mixed anxiety (MA; ≥ 1 anxiety disorder; N = 155), anxiety with comorbid attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (MA/ADHD, N = 47) and selective mutism (SM, N = 48). Behavioral measures (CPRS, CTRS) were analyzed using multiple one-way multivariate analyses of covariance tests. Differences between the three diagnostic groups were examined using completed parent and teacher reports (N = 135, 46, and 48 for MA, MA/ADHD, and SM groups, respectively). Comparisons across the MA, MA/ADHD, and SM groups indicate a significant multivariate main effect of group for caregiver and teacher responses (P < 0.01). Caregivers reported that children with SM are similar in profile to those with MA, and both groups were significantly different from the MA/ADHD group. Teachers reported that children with SM had more problems with social behaviors than with the MA or MA/ADHD groups. Further comparison indicates a significant main effect of group (P < 0.001), such that children with SM have the greatest differences in behavior observed by teachers versus caregivers. Clinical profiles between MA/ADHD, MA, and SM groups varied, illustrating the importance of multi-rater assessment scales to capture subtle distinctions and to inform treatment planning given that comorbidities occur frequently in children who present with anxiety. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Comparison of Behavioral Profiles for Anxiety-Related Comorbidities including ADHD and Selective Mutism in Children

PubMed Central

Levin-Decanini, Tal; Connolly, Sucheta D.; Simpson, David; Suarez, Liza; Jacob, Suma

2013-01-01

Background Elucidating differences in social-behavioral profiles of children with comorbid presentations, utilizing caregiver as well as teacher reports, will refine our understanding of how contextual symptoms vary across anxiety-related disorders. Methods In our pediatric anxiety clinic, the most frequent diagnoses and comorbidities were mixed anxiety (MA; ≥ 1 anxiety disorder; N = 155), anxiety with comorbid attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (MA/ADHD, N = 47) and selective mutism (SM, N = 48). Behavioral measures (CPRS, CTRS) were analyzed using multiple one-way multivariate analyses of covariance tests. Differences between the three diagnostic groups were examined using completed parent and teacher reports (N = 135, 46 and 48 for MA, MA/ADHD and SM groups, respectively). Results Comparisons across the MA, MA/ADHD and SM groups indicate a significant multivariate main effect of group for caregiver and teacher responses (p < 0.01). Caregivers reported that children with SM are similar in profile to those with MA, and both groups were significantly different from the MA/ADHD group. Teachers reported that children with SM had more problem social behaviors than either the MA or MA/ADHD groups. Further comparison indicates a significant main effect of group (p < 0.001), such that children with SM have the greatest differences in behavior observed by teachers versus caregivers. Conclusions Clinical profiles between MA/ADHD, MA and SM groups varied, illustrating the importance of multi-rater assessment scales to capture subtle distinctions and to inform treatment planning given that comorbidities occur frequently in children who present with anxiety. PMID:23526795

Androgen receptor CAG repeats length polymorphism and the risk of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

PubMed

Rajender, Singh; Carlus, Silas Justin; Bansal, Sandeep Kumar; Negi, Mahendra Pal Singh; Negi, Mahendra Pratap Singh; Sadasivam, Nirmala; Sadasivam, Muthusamy Narayanan; Thangaraj, Kumarasamy

2013-01-01

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) refers to an inheritable androgen excess disorder characterized by multiple small follicles located at the ovarian periphery. Hyperandrogenism in PCOS, and inverse correlation between androgen receptor (AR) CAG numbers and AR function, led us to hypothesize that CAG length variations may affect PCOS risk. CAG repeat region of 169 patients recruited following strictly defined Rotterdam (2003) inclusion criteria and that of 175 ethnically similar control samples, were analyzed. We also conducted a meta-analysis on the data taken from published studies, to generate a pooled estimate on 2194 cases and 2242 controls. CAG bi-allelic mean length was between 8.5 and 24.5 (mean = 17.43, SD = 2.43) repeats in the controls and between 11 and 24 (mean = 17.39, SD = 2.29) repeats in the cases, without any significant difference between the two groups. Further, comparison of bi-allelic mean and its frequency distribution in three categories (short, moderate and long alleles) did not show any significant difference between controls and various case subgroups. Frequency distribution of bi-allelic mean in two categories (extreme and moderate alleles) showed over-representation of extreme sized alleles in the cases with marginally significant value (50.3% vs. 61.5%, χ(2) = 4.41; P = 0.036), which turned insignificant upon applying Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. X-chromosome inactivation analysis showed no significant difference in the inactivation pattern of CAG alleles or in the comparison of weighed bi-allelic mean between cases and controls. Meta-analysis also showed no significant correlation between CAG length and PCOS risk, except a minor over-representation of short CAG alleles in the cases. CAG bi-allelic mean length did not differ between controls and cases/case sub-groups nor did the allele distribution. Over-representation of short/extreme-sized alleles in the cases may be a chance finding without any true association with PCOS risk.

TOXICITY TESTING OF RESTORATIVE DENTAL MATERIALS USING BRINE SHRIMP LARVAE (ARTEMIA SALINA)

PubMed Central

Milhem, Manar M.; Al-Hiyasat, Ahmad S.; Darmani, Homa

2008-01-01

This study investigated the effect of extracts of different composites, glass ionomer cement (GIC)s and compomers on the viability of brine shrimp larvae. Ethanolic extracts of four dental composites (Z-100; Solitaire 2; Filtek P60 and Synergy), a conventional GIC (Ketac-Fil), a resin-modified glass ionomer cement (Vitremer), two compomers (F2000; Dyract AP), and a flowable compomer (Dyract Flow) were prepared from each material. Following evaporation of the ethanol, the extracts were resuspended in distilled water, which was then used to test the effects on the viability of brine shrimp larvae. For the composites, the extract of Synergy was the least toxic (88% viability) followed by the extracts of Solitaire 2, Z100 and P60 (75%, 67.5% and 50% viability, respectively). One-way ANOVA revealed highly significant differences between the resin composite materials (p<0.001). Follow-up comparison between the composite groups by Tukey's pairwise multiple-comparison test (α =0.05) showed that the extract of Synergy was significantly less toxic than the extracts of all the other materials except that of Solitaire 2. The compomers showed 100% lethality, while the percentage of viable larvae for the extracts of Ketac-Fil, and Vitremer were 32.3%, and 37.0%, respectively. One-way ANOVA revealed highly significant differences between the groups of materials (p<0.001). Follow-up comparison between the groups by Tukey's test (α = 0.05) showed that the toxic effect of the extracts of the compomers were significantly greater than that of Ketac-Fil, and Vitremer. The differences in the toxic effects of Vitremer and Ketac-Fil were not statistically significant. In conclusion, the toxicity of composite materials varied according to their chemical composition. Compomers were the most lethal materials to brine shrimp larvae followed by GICs and then composites. PMID:19089264

The relation of somatotypes and stress response to central serous chorioretinopathy.

PubMed

Schwartz, Roy; Rozenberg, Assaf; Loewenstein, Anat; Goldstein, Michaella

2017-12-01

To investigate a possible relationship between central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) and specific body types and compositions (somatotypes), and to examine the cortisol stress response among CSC patients of different somatotypes in comparison with healthy subjects. Prospective case-control study. A group of 28 patients with a previous or current diagnosis of CSC was compared with a group of 26 healthy subjects. Anthropometric measurements were used to estimate somatotype ratings in all subjects. Serum cortisol was measured at rest and following a stress-inducing computerized test in order to estimate response to stress in both groups. The main outcome measures included somatotype categorization and the change in serum cortisol following stress in both groups. No significant difference in somatotype composition was found between the groups. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in the elevation of cortisol following the stress-inducing test. The sample size was too small to exclude or find any significant difference between the different 13 subgroups of somatotype composition in the elevation of cortisol. Our study did not show a typical somatotype related to CSC. While previous studies showed higher cortisol values in CSC patients, we did not see a higher elevation in blood cortisol following a stress response in this group in comparison with healthy subjects.

Effect of completion-time windows in the analysis of health-related quality of life outcomes in cancer patients

PubMed Central

Ediebah, D. E.; Coens, C.; Maringwa, J. T.; Quinten, C.; Zikos, E.; Ringash, J.; King, M.; Gotay, C.; Flechtner, H.-H.; Schmucker von Koch, J.; Weis, J.; Smit, E. F.; Köhne, C.-H.; Bottomley, A.

2013-01-01

Background We examined if cancer patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) scores on the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 are affected by the specific time point, before or during treatment, at which the questionnaire is completed, and whether this could bias the overall treatment comparison analyses. Patients and methods A ‘completion-time window’ variable was created on three closed EORTC randomised control trials in lung (non-small cell lung cancer, NSCLC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) to indicate when the QLQ-30 was completed relative to chemotherapy cycle dates, defined as ‘before’, ‘on’ and ‘after’. HRQoL mean scores were calculated using a linear mixed model. Results Statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed on 6 and 5 scales for ‘on’ and ‘after’ comparisons in the NSCLC and two-group CRC trial, respectively. As for the three-group CRC trial, several statistical differences were observed in the ‘before’ to ‘on’ and the ‘on’ to ‘after’ comparisons. For all three trials, including the ‘completion-time window’ variable in the model resulted in a better fit, but no substantial changes in the treatment effects were noted. Conclusions We showed that considering the exact timing of completion within specified windows resulted in statistical and potentially clinically significant differences, but it did not alter the conclusions of treatment comparison in these studies. PMID:22935549

Language in low-functioning children with autistic disorder: differences between receptive and expressive skills and concurrent predictors of language.

PubMed

Maljaars, Jarymke; Noens, Ilse; Scholte, Evert; van Berckelaer-Onnes, Ina

2012-10-01

Language profiles of children with autistic disorder and intellectual disability (n = 36) were significantly different from the comparison groups of children with intellectual disability (n = 26) and typically developing children (n = 34). The group low-functioning children with autistic disorder obtained a higher mean score on expressive than on receptive language, whereas both comparison groups showed the reverse pattern. Nonverbal mental age, joint attention, and symbolic understanding of pictures were analyzed in relation to concurrent receptive and expressive language abilities. In the group with autistic disorder and intellectual disability, symbol understanding and joint attention were most strongly related to language abilities. Nonverbal mental age was the most important predictor of language abilities in the comparison groups.

Reaction schemes visualized in network form: the syntheses of strychnine as an example.

PubMed

Proudfoot, John R

2013-05-24

Representation of synthesis sequences in a network form provides an effective method for the comparison of multiple reaction schemes and an opportunity to emphasize features such as reaction scale that are often relegated to experimental sections. An example of data formatting that allows construction of network maps in Cytoscape is presented, along with maps that illustrate the comparison of multiple reaction sequences, comparison of scaffold changes within sequences, and consolidation to highlight common key intermediates used across sequences. The 17 different synthetic routes reported for strychnine are used as an example basis set. The reaction maps presented required a significant data extraction and curation, and a standardized tabular format for reporting reaction information, if applied in a consistent way, could allow the automated combination of reaction information across different sources.

Hematologic values of the yucatan miniature pig.

PubMed

Parsons, A H; Wells, R E

1998-01-01

Mean values and ranges for 16 hematological parameters for healthy, young, sexually-mature Yucatan miniature swine are presented. No significant differences were observed between sexes with regard to hemograms. Comparison of observed values with those published in the literature for standard domestic and other breeds of miniature swine reveals no major differences.

A Comparative Analysis of Black American and Mexican-American Cultural Norms and Expectations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Underwood, Willard A.; And Others

Although Mexican-American and Black-American movements in the United States have typically been compared, significant differences between the two minorities--especially in cultural norms and expectations--make comparisons inaccurate and misleading. This paper explores the differences between the Black-American and Mexican-American minorities,…

Talking Physics: Two Case Studies on Short Answers and Self-explanation in Learning Physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Badeau, Ryan C.

This thesis explores two case studies into the use of short answers and self-explanation to improve student learning in physics. The first set of experiments focuses on the role of short answer questions in the context of computer-based instruction. Through a series of six experiments, we compare and evaluate the performance of computer-assessed short answer questions versus multiple choice for training conceptual topics in physics, controlling for feedback between the two formats. In addition to finding overall similar improvements on subsequent student performance and retention, we identify unique differences in how students interact with the treatments in terms of time spent on feedback and performance on follow-up short answer assessment. In addition, we identify interactions between the level of interactivity of the training, question format, and student attitudinal ratings of each respective training. The second case study focuses on the use of worked examples in the context of multi-concept physics problems - which we call "synthesis problems." For this part of the thesis, four experiments were designed to evaluate the effectiveness of two instructional methods employing worked examples on student performance with synthesis problems; these instructional techniques, analogical comparison and self-explanation, have previously been studied primarily in the context of single-concept problems. As such, the work presented here represents a novel focus on extending these two techniques to this class of more complicated physics problem. Across the four experiments, both self-explanation and certain kinds of analogical comparison of worked examples significantly improved student performance on a target synthesis problem, with distinct improvements in recognition of the relevant concepts. More specifically, analogical comparison significantly improved student performance when the comparisons were invoked between worked synthesis examples. In contrast, similar comparisons between corresponding pairs of worked single-concept examples did not significantly improve performance. On a more complicated synthesis problem, self-explanation was significantly more effective than analogical comparison, potentially due to differences in how successfully students encoded the full structure of the worked examples. Finally, we find that the two techniques can be combined for additional benefit, with the trade-off of slightly more time-on-task.

How much do disasters cost? A comparison of disaster cost estimates in Australia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ladds, Monique; Keating, Adriana; Handmer, John; Magee, Liam

2017-04-01

Extreme weather events in Australia are common and a large proportion of the population are exposed to such events. Therefore, there is great interest as to how these events will impact Australia's society and economy, which requires understanding the current and historical impact of disasters. Despite global efforts to record and cost disaster impacts, no standardised method of collecting and recording data retrospectively yet exists. The lack of comparability in turn produces quite different analyses of economic impacts. This paper examines five examples of aggregate cost and relative impacts of natural disasters in Australia, and comparisons between them reveal significant data shortcomings. The reliability of data sources, and the methodology employed to analyse them can have significant impacts on conclusions regarding the overall cost of disasters, the relative costs of different disaster types, and the distribution of costs across Australian states. We highlight difficulties with time series comparisons, further complicated by the interdependencies of the databases. We reiterate the need for consistent and comparable data collection and analysis, to respond to the increasing frequency and severity of disasters in Australia.

Efficacy of individualised diets in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: a randomised controlled trial.

PubMed

Ali, Ather; Weiss, Theresa R; McKee, Douglas; Scherban, Alisa; Khan, Sumiya; Fields, Maxine R; Apollo, Damian; Mehal, Wajahat Z

2017-01-01

Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are often placed on diets guided by food intolerance assays, although these have not been validated. We assessed the effects of individualised diets in patients with IBS guided by a leucocyte activation test. This is a parallel-group, double-blind, randomised controlled trial of 58 adults with IBS seen at an academic health centre in Northeast USA. Peripheral venous blood was analysed using a leucocyte activation test; individual foods were reported to produce positive or negative results. Participants were randomised to a 4-week diet with either individualised guidance to eliminate foods with positive assay results and allow foods with negative assay results (intervention), or with individualised guidance, matched in rigour and complexity, to eliminate foods with negative assay results and allow foods with positive assay results (comparison). The primary outcome was between-group differences in the IBS Global Improvement Scale (GIS). Secondary outcomes included reductions in IBS Symptom Severity Scale (SSS) scores and increases in IBS Adequate Relief (AR) and Quality of Life (QOL) scores. An aptamer-based proteomic analysis was conducted in strong responders. The intervention group had significantly greater increases in mean GIS score after 4 weeks (0.86 vs comparison; 95% CI 0.05 to 1.67; p=0.04) and 8 weeks (1.22 vs comparison; 95% CI 0.22 to 2.22; p=0.02). The intervention group also had significantly greater reductions in mean SSS score at 4 weeks (-61.78 vs comparison; 95% CI -4.43 to -119.14; p=0.04) and 8 weeks (-66.42 vs comparison; 95% CI -5.75 to -127.09; p=0.03). There were no significant differences between intervention and comparison groups in mean AR or QOL scores. A reduction in neutrophil elastase concentration was associated with reduced symptoms. Elimination diets guided by leucocyte activation tests reduced symptoms. These findings could lead to insights into the pathophysiology of IBS. NCT02186743.

Usefulness of the group-comparison method to demonstrate sex differences in spatial orientation and spatial visualization in older men and women.

PubMed

Cohen, D

1976-10-01

This paper reports an analysis of sex differences in cognitive test scores covering the dimensions of spatial orientation and spatial visualization in groups of 6 older men and 6 women matched for speed of performance on a maze test and level of performance on a spatial relations task. Older men were more proficient solving spatial problems using the body as a referent, whereas there was no significant difference between the sexes in imagining spatial displacement. Matched comparisons appear a useful adjunct to population research to understand the type(s) of cognitive processes where differential performance by the sexes is observed.

Comparison of analytical models for zonal flow generation in ion-temperature-gradient mode turbulence

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Anderson, J.; Miki, K.; Uzawa, K.

2006-11-30

During the past years the understanding of the multi scale interaction problems have increased significantly. However, at present there exists a flora of different analytical models for investigating multi scale interactions and hardly any specific comparisons have been performed among these models. In this work two different models for the generation of zonal flows from ion-temperature-gradient (ITG) background turbulence are discussed and compared. The methods used are the coherent mode coupling model and the wave kinetic equation model (WKE). It is shown that the two models give qualitatively the same results even though the assumption on the spectral difference ismore » used in the (WKE) approach.« less

Using a quality improvement model to enhance providers' performance in maternal and newborn health care: a post-only intervention and comparison design.

PubMed

Ayalew, Firew; Eyassu, Gizachew; Seyoum, Negash; van Roosmalen, Jos; Bazant, Eva; Kim, Young Mi; Tekleberhan, Alemnesh; Gibson, Hannah; Daniel, Ephrem; Stekelenburg, Jelle

2017-04-12

The Standards Based Management and Recognition (SBM-R © ) approach to quality improvement has been implemented in Ethiopia to strengthen routine maternal and newborn health (MNH) services. This evaluation assessed the effect of the intervention on MNH providers' performance of routine antenatal care (ANC), uncomplicated labor and delivery and immediate postnatal care (PNC) services. A post-only evaluation design was conducted at three hospitals and eight health centers implementing SBM-R and the same number of comparison health facilities. Structured checklists were used to observe MNH providers' performance on ANC (236 provider-client interactions), uncomplicated labor and delivery (226 provider-client interactions), and immediate PNC services in the six hours after delivery (232 provider-client interactions); observations were divided equally between intervention and comparison groups. Main outcomes were provider performance scores, calculated as the percentage of essential tasks in each service area completed by providers. Multilevel analysis was used to calculate adjusted mean percentage performance scores and standard errors to compare intervention and comparison groups. There was no statistically significant difference between intervention and comparison facilities in overall mean performance scores for ANC services (63.4% at intervention facilities versus 61.0% at comparison facilities, p = 0.650) or in any specific ANC skill area. MNH providers' overall mean performance score for uncomplicated labor and delivery care was 11.9 percentage points higher in the intervention than in the comparison group (77.5% versus 65.6%; p = 0.002). Overall mean performance scores for immediate PNC were 22.2 percentage points higher at intervention than at comparison facilities (72.8% versus 50.6%; p = 0.001); and there was a significant difference of 22 percentage points between intervention and comparison facilities for each PNC skill area: care for the newborn and health check for the mother. The SBM-R quality improvement intervention made a significant positive impact on MNH providers' performance during labor and delivery and immediate PNC services, but not during ANC services. Scaling up the intervention to other facilities and regions may increase the availability of good quality MNH services across Ethiopia. The findings will also guide implementation of the government's five-year (2015-2020) health sector transformation plan and health care quality strategies needed to meet the country's MNH goals.

Influence of insulin on glucose metabolism and energy expenditure in septic patients

PubMed Central

Rusavy, Zdenek; Sramek, Vladimir; Lacigova, Silvie; Novak, Ivan; Tesinsky, Pavel; Macdonald, Ian A

2004-01-01

Introduction It is recognized that administration of insulin with glucose decreases catabolic response in sepsis. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of two levels of insulinaemia on glucose metabolism and energy expenditure in septic patients and volunteers. Methods Glucose uptake, oxidation and storage, and energy expenditure were measured, using indirect calorimetry, in 20 stable septic patients and 10 volunteers in a two-step hyperinsulinaemic (serum insulin levels 250 and 1250 mIU/l), euglycaemic (blood glucose concentration 5 mmol/l) clamp. Differences between steps of the clamp (from serum insulin 1250 to 250 mIU/l) for all parameters were calculated for each individual, and compared between septic patients and volunteers using the Wilcoxon nonpaired test. Results Differences in glucose uptake and storage were significantly less in septic patients. The differences in glucose oxidation between the groups were not statistically significant. Baseline energy expenditure was significantly higher in septic patients, and there was no significant increase in either step of the clamp in this group; when comparing the two groups, the differences between steps were significantly greater in volunteers. Conclusion A hyperdynamic state of sepsis leads to a decrease in glucose uptake and storage in comparison with healthy volunteers. An increase in insulinaemia leads to an increase in all parameters of glucose metabolism, but the increases in glucose uptake and storage are significantly lower in septic patients. A high level of insulinaemia in sepsis increases glucose uptake and oxidation significantly, but not energy expenditure, in comparison with volunteers. PMID:15312220

Reproducibility of R-fMRI metrics on the impact of different strategies for multiple comparison correction and sample sizes.

PubMed

Chen, Xiao; Lu, Bin; Yan, Chao-Gan

2018-01-01

Concerns regarding reproducibility of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (R-fMRI) findings have been raised. Little is known about how to operationally define R-fMRI reproducibility and to what extent it is affected by multiple comparison correction strategies and sample size. We comprehensively assessed two aspects of reproducibility, test-retest reliability and replicability, on widely used R-fMRI metrics in both between-subject contrasts of sex differences and within-subject comparisons of eyes-open and eyes-closed (EOEC) conditions. We noted permutation test with Threshold-Free Cluster Enhancement (TFCE), a strict multiple comparison correction strategy, reached the best balance between family-wise error rate (under 5%) and test-retest reliability/replicability (e.g., 0.68 for test-retest reliability and 0.25 for replicability of amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) for between-subject sex differences, 0.49 for replicability of ALFF for within-subject EOEC differences). Although R-fMRI indices attained moderate reliabilities, they replicated poorly in distinct datasets (replicability < 0.3 for between-subject sex differences, < 0.5 for within-subject EOEC differences). By randomly drawing different sample sizes from a single site, we found reliability, sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) rose as sample size increased. Small sample sizes (e.g., < 80 [40 per group]) not only minimized power (sensitivity < 2%), but also decreased the likelihood that significant results reflect "true" effects (PPV < 0.26) in sex differences. Our findings have implications for how to select multiple comparison correction strategies and highlight the importance of sufficiently large sample sizes in R-fMRI studies to enhance reproducibility. Hum Brain Mapp 39:300-318, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Battery Longevity Comparison of Two Commonly Available Dual Channel Implantable Pulse Generators Used for Subthalamic Nucleus Stimulation in Parkinson's Disease.

PubMed

Fisher, Benjamin; Kausar, Jamilla; Garratt, Hayley; Hodson, James; White, Anwen; Ughratdar, Ismail; Mitchell, Rosalind

2018-06-19

Deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease (PD) utilises an implantable pulse generator (IPG) whose finite lifespan in non-rechargeable systems necessitates their periodic replacement. We wish to determine if there is any significant difference in longevity of 2 commonly used IPG systems; the Medtronic Kinetra, and the Medtronic Activa Primary Cell (PC), which has come to replace it. All patients with bilateral Subthalamic Nucleus stimulators for PD performed in our centre were included. Battery life was then assessed using a Kaplan-Meier approach and comparisons between the Kinetra and Activa PC batteries were performed using log-rank tests. Complete data was available for 183 patients. There was a significant difference in the average battery duration with an estimated median battery life in the Kinetra cohort of 6.6 years (95% CI 6.4-6.7), compared to 4.5 years (95% CI 4.4-4.5) in the Activa PC cohort (p < 0.001). The Activa PC IPG demonstrates a significantly reduced battery life of 2.1 years, with a median battery life of 4.5 years in comparison to 6.6 years in the Kinetra IPG. Future technology developments should therefore be focused on improving the battery life of the newer IPG systems. © 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Anthropometric and metabolic indices in assessment of type and severity of dyslipidemia.

PubMed

Zaid, Muhammad; Ameer, Fatima; Munir, Rimsha; Rashid, Rida; Farooq, Nimrah; Hasnain, Shahida; Zaidi, Nousheen

2017-02-28

It has been shown that obesity is associated with increased rates of dyslipidemia. The present work revisits the association between plasma lipid levels and classical indicators of obesity including body mass index (BMI). The significance of various anthropometric/metabolic variables in clinical assessment of type and severity of dyslipidemia was also determined. Recently described body indices, a body shape index (ABSI) and body roundness index (BRI), were also assessed in this context. For the present cross-sectional analytical study, the participants (n = 275) were recruited from the patients visiting different health camps. Participants were anthropometrically measured and interviewed, and their fasting intravenous blood was collected. Plasma lipid levels were accordingly determined. The values for different anthropometric parameters are significantly different between dyslipidemic and non-dyslipidemic participants. Receiver operating characteristics curve analyses revealed that all the tested variables gave the highest area under the curve (AUC) values for predicting hypertriglyceridemia in comparison to other plasma lipid abnormalities. BRI gave slightly higher AUC values in predicting different forms of dyslipidemia in comparison to BMI, whereas ABSI gave very low values. Several anthropometric/metabolic indices display increased predictive capabilities for detecting hypertriglyceridemia in comparison to any other form of plasma lipid disorders. The capacity of BRI to predict dyslipidemia was comparable but not superior to the classical indicators of obesity, whereas ABSI could not detect dyslipidemia.

The Study of Different Approaches of Parecoxib Sodium Pretreatment on the Behavior of Rats with Neuropathic Pain.

PubMed

Cui, Wenyao; Yu, Xue; Zhang, Huiqian

2015-05-01

Our objective is to analyze and observe the different administration routes of parecoxib sodium pretreatment on the behavioral improvement of rats with neuropathic pain to provide the preclinical data of parecoxib sodium on neuropathic pain treatment. 30 SD rats were randomly divided into five groups, including model group, sham operation group, intrathecal injection group (IT group), intraperitoneal injection group (IP group), and perineural infiltration group (PI group). The rats in model group and three parecoxib sodium pretreatment groups received spinal nerve ligation (SNL). Heat pain test and 50 % paw mechanical withdrawal threshold test (50 % PMWT) were use to assess the responses after parecoxib sodium pretreatment. 50 % PMWT results of right foot in five groups had no statistical difference (P > 0.05); 50 % PMWT results of left and right feet in three parecoxib sodium pretreatment groups were obviously higher than SNL group at different time points, which was statistically different (P < 0.05); in comparison with three pretreatment groups, the data of left foot in IT group were obviously higher than PI group and IP group, and the comparison among three groups had significant difference (P < 0.05). However, the data of right foot had no significant difference among three groups (P > 0.05). Paw thermal withdrawal latency (PTWL) results of left and right feet in five groups had no significant difference before surgery (P > 0.05); after the establishment of neuropathic model, PTWL results in five groups were significantly decreased; however, PTWL results of left and right feet at 3 days after surgery in IT group were significantly higher than the two other pretreatment groups (P < 0.05); PTWL results of left and right feet at 7 and 14 days after surgery had no significant difference. Parecoxib sodium pretreatment can effectively improve the behaviors caused by neuropathic pain, and intrathecal injection is the most effective route of administration.

Environmental justice assessment for transportation : risk analysis

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1999-04-01

This paper presents methods of comparing populations and their racial/ethnic compositions using tabulations, histograms, and Chi Squared tests for statistical significance of differences found. Two examples of these methods are presented: comparison ...

A comparison of the marginal fit of In-Ceram, IPS Empress, and Procera crowns.

PubMed

Sulaiman, F; Chai, J; Jameson, L M; Wozniak, W T

1997-01-01

The in vitro marginal fit of three all-ceramic crown systems (In-Ceram, Procera, and IPS Empress) was compared. All crown systems were significantly different from each other at P = 0.05. In-Ceram exhibited the greatest marginal discrepancy (161 microns), followed by Procera (83 microns), and IPS Empress (63 microns). There were no significant differences among the various stages of the crown fabrication: core fabrication, porcelain veneering, and glazing. The facial and lingual margins exhibited significantly larger marginal discrepancies than the mesial and distal margins.

A Comparison of Sexual Side Effects of Antidepressants With and Without Naltrexone.

PubMed

Thapa, Mona; Petrakis, Ismene; Ralevski, Elizabeth

2017-01-01

The aim of the study was to compare the rate of sexual side effects of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor paroxetine versus the tricyclic antidepressant desipramine and to examine the effect of co-prescription of naltrexone on sexual side effects among participants in a randomized clinical trial. This was a secondary analysis (N = 88) of veterans who participated in a 12-week trial. All veterans were randomized into one of four treatment groups: (a) desipramine/naltrexone, (b) desipramine/placebo, (c) paroxetine/naltrexone, and (d) paroxetine/placebo. The main outcome measure was the frequency of sexual side effects consisting of "decreased sex drive" and/or "impotence" reported by veterans at each weekly visit. Approximately 61% of the veterans reported sexual side effects at least once during the trial, and 26.4% reported sexual side effects throughout the study. There were no significant differences in the frequency of sexual side effects among the four treatment groups. The results were similar when the comparison was made between the two antidepressant groups. There were no significant differences in the reporting of sexual side effects between those receiving desipramine and paroxetine. Also, the comparison between naltrexone and placebo did not alter the results. This is the first study to compare frequency of sexual side effect reporting between paroxetine and desipramine. We found no statistically significant differences in sexual side effect reporting between the two antidepressants. Also, the addition of naltrexone did not show any beneficial effect on the sexual side effect profile.

An in silico method to identify computer-based protocols worthy of clinical study: An insulin infusion protocol use case

PubMed Central

Wong, Anthony F; Pielmeier, Ulrike; Haug, Peter J; Andreassen, Steen

2016-01-01

Objective Develop an efficient non-clinical method for identifying promising computer-based protocols for clinical study. An in silico comparison can provide information that informs the decision to proceed to a clinical trial. The authors compared two existing computer-based insulin infusion protocols: eProtocol-insulin from Utah, USA, and Glucosafe from Denmark. Materials and Methods The authors used eProtocol-insulin to manage intensive care unit (ICU) hyperglycemia with intravenous (IV) insulin from 2004 to 2010. Recommendations accepted by the bedside clinicians directly link the subsequent blood glucose values to eProtocol-insulin recommendations and provide a unique clinical database. The authors retrospectively compared in silico 18 984 eProtocol-insulin continuous IV insulin infusion rate recommendations from 408 ICU patients with those of Glucosafe, the candidate computer-based protocol. The subsequent blood glucose measurement value (low, on target, high) was used to identify if the insulin recommendation was too high, on target, or too low. Results Glucosafe consistently provided more favorable continuous IV insulin infusion rate recommendations than eProtocol-insulin for on target (64% of comparisons), low (80% of comparisons), or high (70% of comparisons) blood glucose. Aggregated eProtocol-insulin and Glucosafe continuous IV insulin infusion rates were clinically similar though statistically significantly different (Wilcoxon signed rank test P = .01). In contrast, when stratified by low, on target, or high subsequent blood glucose measurement, insulin infusion rates from eProtocol-insulin and Glucosafe were statistically significantly different (Wilcoxon signed rank test, P < .001), and clinically different. Discussion This in silico comparison appears to be an efficient nonclinical method for identifying promising computer-based protocols. Conclusion Preclinical in silico comparison analytical framework allows rapid and inexpensive identification of computer-based protocol care strategies that justify expensive and burdensome clinical trials. PMID:26228765

Continuous prophylaxis with recombinant factor IX Fc fusion protein and conventional recombinant factor IX products: comparisons of efficacy and weekly factor consumption.

PubMed

Iorio, Alfonso; Krishnan, Sangeeta; Myrén, Karl-Johan; Lethagen, Stefan; McCormick, Nora; Yermakov, Sander; Karner, Paul

2017-04-01

Continuous prophylaxis for patients with hemophilia B requires frequent injections that are burdensome and that may lead to suboptimal adherence and outcomes. Hence, therapies requiring less-frequent injections are needed. In the absence of head-to-head comparisons, this study compared the first extended-half-life-recombinant factor IX (rFIX) product-recombinant factor IX Fc fusion protein (rFIXFc)-with conventional rFIX products based on annualized bleed rates (ABRs) and factor consumption reported in studies of continuous prophylaxis. This study compared ABRs and weekly factor consumption rates in clinical studies of continuous prophylaxis treatment with rFIXFc and conventional rFIX products (identified by systematic literature review) in previously-treated adolescents and adults with moderate-to-severe hemophilia B. Meta-analysis was used to pool ABRs reported for conventional rFIX products for comparison. Comparisons of weekly factor consumption were based on the mean, reported or estimated from the mean dose per injection. Five conventional rFIX studies (injections 1 to >3 times/week) met the criteria for comparison with once-weekly rFIXFc reported by the B-LONG study. The pooled mean ABR for conventional rFIX was slightly higher than but comparable to rFIXFc (difference=0.71; p = 0.210). Weekly factor consumption was significantly lower with rFIXFc than in conventional rFIX studies (difference in means = 42.8-74.5 IU/kg/week [93-161%], p < 0.001). Comparisons of clinical study results suggest weekly injections with rFIXFc result in similar bleeding rates and significantly lower weekly factor consumption compared with more-frequently-injected conventional rFIX products. The real-world effectiveness of rFIXFc may be higher based on results from a model of the impact of simulated differences in adherence.

Family factors, emotional functioning, and functional impairment in juvenile fibromyalgia syndrome.

PubMed

Kashikar-Zuck, Susmita; Lynch, Anne M; Slater, Shalonda; Graham, T Brent; Swain, Nicole F; Noll, Robert B

2008-10-15

Family factors and emotional functioning can play an important role in the ability of adolescents with juvenile primary fibromyalgia syndrome (JPFS) to cope with their condition and function in their everyday lives. The primary objectives of this study were to determine 1) whether adolescents with JPFS and their caregivers differed from healthy age-matched comparison peers and their caregivers in terms of emotional distress and functional impairment; 2) whether there were any differences in the family environment of adolescents with JPFS compared with healthy comparison peers; and 3) which individual-, caregiver-, and family-level variables were associated with functional impairment in adolescents with JPFS. Participants were 47 adolescents with JPFS recruited from a pediatric rheumatology clinic and 46 comparison peers without chronic illness matched for age, sex, and race. Participants and their caregivers (all mothers) completed a battery of standardized measures administered in their homes. Adolescents with JPFS had greater internalizing and externalizing symptoms than healthy comparison peers. Mothers of adolescents with JPFS reported twice as many pain conditions and significantly greater depressive symptoms than mothers of comparison peers. The JPFS group also had poorer overall family functioning and more conflicted family relationships. In adolescents with JPFS, maternal pain history was associated with significantly higher functional impairment. Increased distress and chronic pain are evident in families of adolescents with JPFS, and family relationships are also impacted. Implications for child functional impairment and the need for inclusion of caregivers in treatment are discussed.

Comparison of GOME-2/MetOp total ozone data with Brewer spectroradiometer data over the Iberian Peninsula

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Antón, M.; Loyola, D.; López, M.; Vilaplana, J. M.; Bañón, M.; Zimmer, W.; Serrano, A.

2009-04-01

The main objective of this article is to compare the total ozone data from the new Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment instrument (GOME-2/MetOp) with reliable ground-based measurement recorded by five Brewer spectroradiometers in the Iberian Peninsula. In addition, a similar comparison for the predecessor instrument GOME/ERS-2 is described. The period of study is a whole year from May 2007 to April 2008. The results show that GOME-2/MetOp ozone data already has a very good quality, total ozone columns are on average 3.05% lower than Brewer measurements. This underestimation is higher than that obtained for GOME/ERS-2 (1.46%). However, the relative differences between GOME-2/MetOp and Brewer measurements show significantly lower variability than the differences between GOME/ERS-2 and Brewer data. Dependencies of these relative differences with respect to the satellite solar zenith angle (SZA), the satellite scan angle, the satellite cloud cover fraction (CF), and the ground-based total ozone measurements are analyzed. For both GOME instruments, differences show no significant dependence on SZA. However, GOME-2/MetOp data show a significant dependence on the satellite scan angle (+1.5%). In addition, GOME/ERS-2 differences present a clear dependence with respect to the CF and ground-based total ozone; such differences are minimized for GOME-2/MetOp. The comparison between the daily total ozone values provided by both GOME instruments shows that GOME-2/MetOp ozone data are on average 1.46% lower than GOME/ERS-2 data without any seasonal dependence. Finally, deviations of a priori climatological ozone profile used by the satellite retrieval algorithm from the true ozone profile are analyzed. Although excellent agreement between a priori climatological and measured partial ozone values is found for the middle and high stratosphere, relative differences greater than 15% are common for the troposphere and lower stratosphere.

Logrank test and Interval Overlap Test for Bactericera cockerelli (Hemiptera: Triozidae) under different fertilization treatments for 7705 tomato hybrid.

PubMed

Vargas-Madríz, Haidel; Bautista-Martínez, Néstor; Vera-Graziano, Jorge; Sánchez-García, Prometeo; García-Gutiérrez, Cipriano; Sánchez-Soto, Saúl; García-Avila, Clemente de Jesús

2014-01-01

It is known that some nutrients can have both negative and positive effects on some populations of insects. To test this, the Logrank test and the Interval Overlap Test were evaluated for two crop cycles (February-May and May-August) of the 7705 tomato hybrid, and the effect on the psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Sulc.) (Hemiptera: Triozidae), was examined under greenhouse conditions. Tomato plants were in polythene bags and irrigated with the following solutions: T1-Steiner solution, T2-Steiner solution with nitrogen reduced to 25%, T3-Steiner solution with potassium reduced to 25%, and T4-Steiner solution with calcium reduced to 25%. In the Logrank test, a significant difference was found when comparing the survival parameters of B. cockerelli generated from the treatment cohorts: T1-T2; T1-T3; T1-T4; T2-T3; and T3-T4, while no significant differences were found in the T2-T4 comparison in the February-May cycle. In the May-August cycle, significant differences were found when comparing the survival parameters generated from the treatment cohorts: T1-T2; T1-T3; and T1-T4, while no significant differences were found in the T2-T3; T2-T4; and T3-T4 comparisons of survival parameters of B. cockerelli fed with the 7705 tomato hybrid. Also, the Interval Overlap Test was done on the treatment cohorts (T1, T2, T3, and T4) in the February-May and May-August cycles. T1 and T2 compare similarly in both cycles when feeding on the treatments up to 36 d. Similarly, in T1 and T3, the behavior of the insect is similar when feeding on the treatments up to 40 and 73 d, respectively. Comparisons T2-T3 and T2-T4 are similar when feeding on both treatments up to 42, 38 and 37, 63 d, respectively. Finally, the T3-T4 comparison was similar when feeding in both treatments up to 20 and 46 d, respectively. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Entomological Society of America.

A Methodological Inter-Comparison of Gridded Meteorological Products

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Newman, A. J.; Clark, M. P.; Longman, R. J.; Giambelluca, T. W.; Arnold, J.

2017-12-01

Here we present a gridded meteorology inter-comparison using the state of Hawaíi as a testbed. This inter-comparison is motivated by two general goals: 1) the broad user community of gridded observation based meteorological fields should be aware of inter-product differences and the reasons they exist, which allows users to make informed choices on product selection to best meet their specific application(s); 2) we want to demonstrate the utility of inter-comparisons to meet the first goal, yet highlight that they are limited to mostly generic statements regarding attribution of differences that limits our understanding of these complex algorithms and obscures future research directions. Hawaíi is a useful testbed because it is a meteorologically complex region with well-known spatial features that are tied to specific physical processes (e.g. the trade wind inversion). From a practical standpoint, there are now several monthly climatological and daily precipitation and temperature datasets available that are being used for impact modeling. General conclusions that have emerged are: 1) differences in input station data significantly influence product differences; 2) prediction of precipitation occurrence is crucial across multiple metrics; 3) derived temperature statistics (e.g. diurnal temperature range) may have large spatial differences across products; and 4) attribution of differences to methodological choices is difficult and may limit the outcomes of these inter-comparisons, particularly from a development viewpoint. Thus, we want to continue to move the community towards frameworks that allow for multiple options throughout the product generation chain and allow for more systematic testing.

A Critical Comparison of Transformation and Deep Approach Theories of Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Howie, Peter; Bagnall, Richard

2015-01-01

This paper reports a critical comparative analysis of two popular and significant theories of adult learning: the transformation and the deep approach theories of learning. These theories are operative in different educational sectors, are significant, respectively, in each, and they may be seen as both touching on similar concerns with learning…

Mentoring--Who Needs It? A Comparison of Proteges' and Nonproteges' Needs for Power, Achievement, Affiliation, and Autonomy.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fagenson, Ellen A.

1992-01-01

Responses from 46 proteges (46 percent of sample) and 54 nonproteges (54 percent) in high technology service companies revealed that proteges have significantly higher needs for power and achievement. No differences appeared in need for autonomy or affiliation. Proteges' gender was not a significant factor. (SK)

Cognitive Ability and Everyday Functioning in Women with Turner Syndrome.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Downey, Jennifer; And Others

1991-01-01

Comparison of 23 Turner syndrome (TUS) women with 23 women with constitutional short stature (CSS) found significant group differences for Performance and Full Scale IQ, largely due to TUS women's deficits in spatial and mathematical ability. TUS individuals had significantly lower educational and occupational attainment than CSS controls but did…

A Comparison of the Basic Song Repertoire of Vocal/Choral and Instrumental Music Education Majors.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Prickett, Carol A.; Bridges, Madeline S.

2000-01-01

Explores whether the basic song repertoire of vocal/choral music education majors is significantly better than instrumental music education majors. Participants attempted to identify 25 standard songs. Reveals no significant difference between the two groups, indicating that neither had developed a strong repertoire of songs. (CMK)

A Comparison of Stimulus Control and Reinforcement Techniques for Weight Reduction.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harris, Mary B.; Collins, Grace

This study compares three six-week programs for weight control that were followed by several booster sessions and a 15-week followup. Although subjects in all programs showed significant weight losses (an average of 8.1 pounds for the 22 weeks), no significant differences between groups emphasizing stimulus control, reinforcement or general…

Selective cytotoxic effect of non-thermal micro-DBD plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kwon, Byung-Su; Choi, Eun Ha; Chang, Boksoon; Choi, Jeong-Hyun; Kim, Kyung Sook; Park, Hun-Kuk

2016-10-01

Non-thermal plasma has been extensively researched as a new cancer treatment technology. We investigated the selective cytotoxic effects of non-thermal micro-dielectric barrier discharge (micro-DBD) plasma in cervical cancer cells. Two human cervical cancer cell lines (HeLa and SiHa) and one human fibroblast (HFB) cell line were treated with micro-DBD plasma. All cells underwent apoptotic death induced by plasma in a dose-dependent manner. The plasma showed selective inhibition of cell proliferation in cervical cancer cells compared to HFBs. The selective effects of the plasma were also observed between the different cervical cancer cell lines. Plasma treatment significantly inhibited the proliferation of SiHa cells in comparison to HeLa cells. The changes in gene expression were significant in the cervical cancer cells in comparison to HFBs. Among the cancer cells, apoptosis-related genes were significantly enriched in SiHa cells. These changes were consistent with the differential cytotoxic effects observed in different cell lines.

Enantioselective Tissue Distribution of Ketorolac and its Enantiomers in Rats.

PubMed

Dubey, S K; Anand, A; Saha, R N

2015-08-01

The difference in tissue distribution of Ketorolac and its enantiomers were investigated in wistar rats. Separate high performance liquid chromatographic method was developed and validated for determination of Ketorolac and its enantiomers. Oyster BDS (150 × 4.6 mm id., 5 μm particle size) column was used for determination of concentration of Ketorolac. Ketorolac enantiomers were determined using Chiral-AGP column (100 × 4.0 mm I.D., particle size 5 μ, Chrom tech Ltd, Sweden). Detection was done at wavelength of 322 nm using an ultraviolet detector in the analytical system. Ketorolac enantiomers exhibit difference in their disposition in Wistar rats. In kidney, there was a significant difference in pharmacokinetic parameters. The Cmax was nearly 4 times and AUC 0-∞ was found to be more than double for S (-) Ketorolac than that of R (+) Ketorolac. MRT, Ke and t1/2 differ significantly in kidney. In liver, Cmax was found to be approximately 69% higher for S (-) Ketorolac compared to R (+) Ketorolac. AUC 0-∞ did not differ significantly for the enantiomers in liver. In liver, S (-) Ketorolac eliminated very fast in comparison to R (+) Ketorolac having t1/2 (one third) in comparison to R (+) Ketorolac. In lungs, there was no difference observed for Cmax and other parameters but AUC 0-∞ was found to be marginally higher for S (-) ketorolac. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Evaluation of nanoselenium (Nano-Se) effect on hematological and serum biochemical parameters of rat in experimentally lead poisoning.

PubMed

Dehkordi, A Jafari; Mohebbi, A N; Aslani, M R; Ghoreyshi, S M

2017-04-01

The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of nanoselenium (Nano-Se) on hematological and biochemical parameters of rats experimentally intoxicated with lead (Pb). Thirty male rats were randomly divided into six groups as follows: the control, selenite, Nano-Se, Pb group, Pb + selenite, and Pb + Nano-Se groups. After 35 days, blood was collected from rats and hematology and serum biochemical parameters of oxidative stress were measured. The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level of Pb group was significantly higher than other groups. Also, TBARS level was significantly lower in the Pb + Nano-Se group than Pb + selenite group. The serum superoxide dismutase activities were significantly lower in Pb group than the control, Pb + selenite, and Pb + Nano-Se groups. The catalase activities in the Pb group showed no significant change when compared to other groups. In the Pb group, packed cell volume was lower than the control group. A significant difference was observed between the control group and the Pb, Pb + selenite, and Pb + Nano-Se groups. In the Pb group, the numbers of white blood cell (WBC) decreased in comparison with the control group. Also, there was significant increase in WBC counts in the Pb + Nano-Se and Pb + selenite groups in comparison with Pb group. The number of lymphocytes in the Pb group decreased in comparison with the control group. By comparing the means of the Pb + Nano-Se and Pb + selenite groups together, it was determined that there were significant differences in the lymphocytes and neutrophil counts. In conclusion, usage of selenium compounds particularly Nano-Se particles inhibits the adverse effects of Pb on antioxidant activity and immune system function in the Pb poisoning.

Proteomic Analysis of Lyme Disease: Global Protein Comparison of Three Strains of Borrelia burgdorferi

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jacobs, Jon M.; Yang, Xiaohua; Luft, Benjamin J.

2005-04-01

The Borrelia burgdorferi spirochete is the causative agent of Lyme disease, the most common tick-borne disease in the United States. It has been studied extensively to help understand its pathogenicity of infection and how it can persist in different mammalian hosts. We report the proteomic analysis of the archetype B. burgdorferi B31 strain and two other strains (ND40, and JD-1) having different Borrelia pathotypes using strong cation exchange fractionation of proteolytic peptides followed by high-resolution, reversed phase capillary liquid chromatography coupled with ion trap tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) analysis. Protein identification was facilitated by the availability of the complete B31more » genome sequence. A total of 665 Borrelia proteins were identified representing ~38 % coverage of the theoretical B31 proteome. A significant overlap was observed between the identified proteins in direct comparisons between any two strains (>72%), but distinct differences were observed among identified hypothetical and outer membrane proteins of the three strains. Such a concurrent proteomic overview of three Borrelia strains based upon only the B31 genome sequence is shown to provide significant insights into the presence or absence of specific proteins and a broad overall comparison among strains.« less

THE FEMALE ADVANTAGE: SEX AS A POSSIBLE PROTECTIVE FACTOR AGAINST EMOTION RECOGNITION IMPAIRMENT FOLLOWING TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

PubMed Central

Rigon, Arianna; Turkstra, Lyn; Mutlu, Bilge; Duff, Melissa

2018-01-01

Although moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) leads to facial affect recognition impairments in up to 39% of individuals, protective and risk factors for these deficits are unknown. The aim of the current study was to examine the effect of sex on emotion recognition abilities following TBI. We administered two separate emotion recognition tests (one static and one dynamic) to 53 individuals with moderate to severe TBI (Females=28) and 49 demographically matched comparisons (Females=22). We then investigated the presence of a sex-by-group interaction in emotion recognition accuracy. In the comparison group, there were no sex differences. In the TBI group, however, females significantly outperformed males in the dynamic (but not the static) task. Moreover, males (but not females) with TBI performed significantly worse than comparison participants in the dynamic task. Further analysis revealed that sex differences in emotion recognition abilities within the TBI group could not be explained by lesion location, TBI severity, or other neuropsychological variables. These findings suggest that sex may serve as a protective factor for social impairment following TBI and inform clinicians working with TBI as well as research on the neurophysiological correlates of sex differences in social functioning. PMID:27245826

[Nondestructive discrimination of strawberry varieties by NIR and BP-ANN].

PubMed

Niu, Xiao-ying; Shao, Li-min; Zhao, Zhi-lei; Zhang, Xiao-yu

2012-08-01

Strawberry variety is a main factor that can influence strawberry fruit quality. The use of near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy was explored discriminate among samples of strawberry of different varieties. And the significance of difference among different varieties was analyzed by comparison of the chemical composition of the different varieties samples. The performance of models established using back propagation-artificial neural networks (BP-ANN), least squares-support vector machine and discriminant analysis were evaluated on spectra range of 4545-9090 cm(-1). The optimal model was obtained by BP-ANN with a topology of 12-18-3, which correctly classified 96.68% of calibration set and 97.14% of prediction set. And the 94.95%, 97% and 98.29% classifications were given respectively for "Tianbao" (n=99), "Fengxiang" (n=100) and "Mingxing" (n=117). One-way analysis of variance was made for comparison of the mean values for soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acid (TA), pH value and SSC-TA ratio, and the statistically significant differences were found. Principal component analysis was performed on the four chemical compositions, and obvious clustering tendencies for different varieties were found. These results showed that NIR combined with BP-ANN can discriminate strawberry of different varieties effectively, and the difference in chemical compositions of different varieties strawberry might be a chemical validation for NIR results.

Self-Esteem and Sex-Role Attitudes: A Comparison of Italian- and Anglo-Australian Adolescent Girls.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grieve, Norma; And Others

1988-01-01

Compared 60 Italian-Australian and 48 Anglo-Australian adolescent girls on self-esteem and measures associated with sex roles. Found self-esteem and sex role satisfaction did not differ in two groups, and no significant differences in attitudes toward sex role differentiation. Groups differed in pattern of variables associated with self-esteem and…

The concentration of some metals (Pb, Cd, Zn and Cu) and delta aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity of fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) living near lead and zinc smelter ``Trepça'' in Kosova

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elezaj, I. R.; Letaj, K. Rr.; Selimi, Q. I.; Zhushi-Etemi, F.

2003-05-01

The concentration of Pb, Cd, Zn and Cu, δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity (ALA-D: EC.4.2.1.24) hemoglobin and protein amount have been determined in three different populations of fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) caught at two urban sites (Mitrovica town, which is situated close to smelter of “Trepça” don close and Prishtina the capital of Kosova) and in Luki village as uncontaminated area. The results show that in the fruit fly of Mitrovica the concentration of Pb, Cd and Zn was significantly higher (P<0.00l) in comparison with that on the f-Liit fly of Prishtina and Luki. The concentration of Pb of fruit fly from Mitrovica was 3.1 times higher in comparison with that on fruit fly of Prishtina and 4.9 times higher in comparison with uncontaminated group of fruit fly. The ALA-D activity was significantly inhibited in the homogenate of fruit fly from Mitrovica in comparison with Prishtina and Luki localities (P<0.00l). ALA-D activity was also inhibited in the homogenate of Prishtina fruit fly in comparison with Luki group (P<0.00l). The amount of proteins was significantly lower in Mitrovica fruit fly in comparison with that in control and Prishtina group. The hemoglobin value was relatively unchanged.

Comparison of Solar and Other Influences on Long-term Climate

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hansen, James E.; Lacis, Andrew A.; Ruedy, Reto A.

1990-01-01

Examples are shown of climate variability, and unforced climate fluctuations are discussed, as evidenced in both model simulations and observations. Then the author compares different global climate forcings, a comparison which by itself has significant implications. Finally, the author discusses a new climate simulation for the 1980s and 1990s which incorporates the principal known global climate forcings. The results indicate a likelihood of rapid global warming in the early 1990s.

Differences in the Tensor Veli Palatini Between Adults With and Without Cleft Palate Using High-Resolution 3-Dimensional Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

PubMed

George, Thomas N; Kotlarek, Katelyn J; Kuehn, David P; Sutton, Bradley P; Perry, Jamie L

2018-05-01

To investigate the dimensions of the tensor veli palatini (TVP) muscle in adults with and without cleft palate. Prospective study. There were a total of 14 adult participants, 8 noncleft and 6 with cleft palate. Analysis and comparison of the TVP muscle and surrounding structures was completed using 3D MRI data and Amira 5.5 Visualization Modeling software. TVP muscle volume, hamular process distance, mucosal thickness, TVP muscle length, and TVP muscle diameter were used for comparison between participant groups based upon previous research methods. Mann-Whitney U tests revealed a significantly smaller ( U < .001, P = .002) TVP muscle volume in the cleft palate group (median = 536.22 mm 3 ) compared to individuals in the non-cleft palate group (median = 895.19 mm 3 ). The TVP muscle was also significantly shorter ( U = 1.00, P = .003) in the cleft palate group (median = 18.04 mm) versus the non-cleft palate (median = 21.18 mm). No significant differences were noted for the other measured parameters. Significant differences in the TVP muscle volume and length among the noncleft participants found in this study may insights into the reported increased incidence of otitis media with effusion (OME) seen in the cleft population. Results from this study contribute to our understanding of the underlying anatomic differences among individuals with cleft palate.

An integrated microcredit, entrepreneurial training, and nutrition education intervention is associated with better growth among preschool-aged children in rural Ghana.

PubMed

Marquis, Grace S; Colecraft, Esi K; Sakyi-Dawson, Owuraku; Lartey, Anna; Ahunu, Ben K; Birks, Katherine A; Butler, Lorna M; Reddy, Manju B; Jensen, Helen H; Huff-Lonergan, Elizabeth

2015-02-01

Poor diet quality is a determinant of the high prevalence rates of malnutrition in Ghana. There is little evidence on the effectiveness of a multisector intervention to improve children's diets and nutritional status. The project tested whether participation in an entrepreneurial and nutrition education intervention with microcredit was associated with the nutritional status of children 2-5 y of age. A quasi-experimental 16-mo intervention was conducted with microcredit loans and weekly sessions of nutrition and entrepreneurship education for 179 women with children 2-5 y of age [intervention group (IG)]. Nonparticipating women and their children from the same villages (nonparticipant, n = 142) and from similar neighboring villages (comparison, n = 287) were enrolled. Repeated measures linear regression models were used first to examine children's weight-for-age (WAZ), height-for-age (HAZ), and body mass index-for-age (BAZ) z scores at baseline and at 4 follow-up time points ∼4 mo apart. Time, intervention status, time-by-intervention interaction terms, region of residence, household wealth rank, household head occupation, number of children <5 y of age, and child sex and age were included. There was a significant interaction between the IG and time for BAZ (P = 0.02) with significant Bonferroni-corrected pairwise comparisons between the IG and comparison group (CG) at 8 mo (difference of 0.36 ± 0.09 z score, P < 0.0001). The WAZ group difference was significant between 4 and 16 mo (P = 0.01 for interaction) and peaked at 8-12 mo (differences of ∼0.28 z). The HAZ of children in the IG was significantly higher than that in the CG, reaching a 0.19 z difference at 16 mo (P < 0.05). When the fixed effects models were fitted in sensitivity analyses, some group anthropometric differences were of lower magnitude but remained significant. An integrated package of microcredit and education may improve nutritional outcomes of children living in poor, rural communities. © 2015 American Society for Nutrition.

Auditory middle latency responses differ in right- and left-handed subjects: an evaluation through topographic brain mapping.

PubMed

Mohebbi, Mehrnaz; Mahmoudian, Saeid; Alborzi, Marzieh Sharifian; Najafi-Koopaie, Mojtaba; Farahani, Ehsan Darestani; Farhadi, Mohammad

2014-09-01

To investigate the association of handedness with auditory middle latency responses (AMLRs) using topographic brain mapping by comparing amplitudes and latencies in frontocentral and hemispheric regions of interest (ROIs). The study included 44 healthy subjects with normal hearing (22 left handed and 22 right handed). AMLRs were recorded from 29 scalp electrodes in response to binaural 4-kHz tone bursts. Frontocentral ROI comparisons revealed that Pa and Pb amplitudes were significantly larger in the left-handed than the right-handed group. Topographic brain maps showed different distributions in AMLR components between the two groups. In hemispheric comparisons, Pa amplitude differed significantly across groups. A left-hemisphere emphasis of Pa was found in the right-handed group but not in the left-handed group. This study provides evidence that handedness is associated with AMLR components in frontocentral and hemispheric ROI. Handedness should be considered an essential factor in the clinical or experimental use of AMLRs.

Involuntary psychiatric attendances at an Australasian emergency department: A comparison of police and health-care worker initiated presentations.

PubMed

Llewellin, Peter; Arendts, Glenn; Weeden, Jacqueline; Pethebridge, Andrew

2011-10-01

To identify any significant differences in the population of patients brought in to a hospital ED under involuntary mental health orders, based on whether the orders are initiated by police or health professionals. A retrospective analysis of consecutive presentations to a tertiary hospital ED with a co-located psychiatric emergency care centre over a 12 month period, with univariate and multivariate statistical comparisons. Two hundred and eighty-two patients (making 378 ED presentations) met the case definition and were analysed. Compared with patients on medical orders, patients on police orders had significantly more presentations related to violence, longer stays in ED and lower rates of admission to an inpatient bed, but were no more likely to require restraint or security intervention within the ED. Patients on police and medical orders differ considerably, but the impact of these differences on ED workload is small. © 2011 The Authors. EMA © 2011 Australasian College for Emergency Medicine and Australasian Society for Emergency Medicine.

Neuroimaging differences in spatial cognition between men and male-to-female transsexuals before and during hormone therapy.

PubMed

Schöning, Sonja; Engelien, Almut; Bauer, Christine; Kugel, Harald; Kersting, Anette; Roestel, Cornelia; Zwitserlood, Pienie; Pyka, Martin; Dannlowski, Udo; Lehmann, Wolfgang; Heindel, Walter; Arolt, Volker; Konrad, Carsten

2010-05-01

Neuropsychological abnormalities in transsexual patients have been reported in comparison with subjects without gender identity disorder (GID), suggesting differences in underlying neurobiological processes. However, these results have not consistently been confirmed. Furthermore, studies on cognitive effects of cross-sex hormone therapy also yield heterogeneous results. We hypothesized that untreated transsexual patients differ from men without GID in activation pattern associated with a mental rotation task and that these differences may further increase after commencing of hormonal treatment. The present study investigated 11 male-to-female transsexual (MFTS) patients prior to cross-sex hormone therapy and 11 MFTS patients during hormone therapy in comparison with healthy men without GID. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging at 3-Tesla, a mental rotation paradigm with proven sexual dimorphism was applied to all subjects. Data were analyzed with SPM5. Patterns of brain activation associated with a mental rotation task. The classical mental rotation network was activated in all three groups, but significant differences within this network were observed. Men without GID exhibited significantly greater activation of the left parietal cortex (BA 40), a key region for mental rotation processes. Both transsexual groups revealed stronger activation of temporo-occipital regions in comparison with men without GID. Our results confirmed previously reported deviances of brain activation patterns in transsexual men from men without GID and also corroborated these findings in a group of transsexual patients receiving cross-sex hormone therapy. The present study indicates that there are a priori differences between men and transsexual patients caused by different neurobiological processes or task-solving strategies and that these differences remain stable over the course of hormonal treatment.

A COMPARISON OF TEACHING METHODS BUILDING CULTURAL COMPETENCY INFORMED BY CONTACT THEORY.

PubMed

Stough-Hunter, Anjel; Guinan, Jill; Hart, Julie P

2016-01-01

This study examines students' levels of cultural competency before and after taking three different semester-long courses dealing with diversity and cultural competence with each course representing a different teaching methodology. A new 20-item survey, designed for students across disciplines, was used to measure cultural competency among 226 students from the fall of2012 to the spring of2 015. Differences were examined between scores before and after taking each class, as well as differences between classes. There were significant improvements in all three groups, and a significant difference between two of the three classes in the improvement of scores.

Ethnicity moderates the outcomes of self-enhancement and self-improvement themes in expressive writing.

PubMed

Tsai, William; Lau, Anna S; Niles, Andrea N; Coello, Jordan; Lieberman, Matthew D; Ko, Ahra C; Hur, Christopher; Stanton, Annette L

2015-10-01

The current study examined whether writing content related to self-enhancing (viz., downward social comparison and situational attributions) and self-improving (viz., upward social comparison and persistence) motivations were differentially related to expressive writing outcomes among 17 Asian American and 17 European American participants. Content analysis of the essays revealed no significant cultural group differences in the likelihood of engaging in self-enhancing versus self-improving reflections on negative personal experiences. However, cultural group differences were apparent in the relation between self-motivation processes and changes in anxiety and depressive symptoms at 3-month follow-up. Among European Americans, writing that reflected downward social comparison predicted positive outcomes, whereas persistence writing themes were related to poorer outcomes. For Asian Americans, writing about persistence was related to positive outcomes, whereas downward social comparison and situational attributions predicted poorer outcomes. Findings provide evidence suggesting culturally distinct mechanisms for the effects of expressive disclosure. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

Long-term effects of comprehensive school health on health-related knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, health behaviours and weight status of adolescents.

PubMed

Ofosu, Nicole Naadu; Ekwaru, John Paul; Bastian, Kerry Ann; Loehr, Sarah A; Storey, Kate; Spence, John C; Veugelers, Paul J

2018-04-18

APPLE Schools is a Comprehensive School Health (CSH) project, started in schools in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas where dietary habits are poor, physical activity (PA) levels are low, and obesity rates are high. Earlier research showed program effects whereby energy intake, PA and weight status of students in APPLE Schools had reached similar levels as that of students in other schools. However, it is unknown whether the effects of CSH are sustained when children grow into adolescents. Effects of APPLE Schools on health-related knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, diet, PA, and weight status, seven years after the start of the project, when students were in junior high and high school were assessed. We hypothesised that APPLE School graduates and comparison school graduates will remain at similar levels for these indicators. In the 2015/16 school year, junior high and high school graduates (grades 7-12) in Northern Alberta, Canada participated in a Youth Health Survey. Participants included graduates from APPLE elementary schools (n = 202) and comparison elementary schools (n = 338). Health-related knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, diet (24-h dietary recall), PA (pedometer step count) and weight status were assessed. Mixed effects regression was employed to assess differences in these outcomes between APPLE School graduates and comparison school graduates. Comparisons between elementary school (2008/09) and junior high/high school (2015/16) of self-efficacy, PA and weight status were also conducted. APPLE School graduates did not significantly differ from comparison school graduates on any outcomes (i.e. knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, diet, PA, and weight status). Additionally, no significant differences existed in the comparisons between 2008/09 and 2015/16. Our findings of no difference between the APPLE School graduates and comparison school graduates suggest that the effects of APPLE Schools may continue into adolescence or the new school environment may have an equalizing effect on the students. Since lifestyle practices are adopted throughout childhood and adolescence, and the school environment has an important influence on development, an extension of CSH initiatives into junior high/high schools should be considered. This will help to consolidate and support the continuance of healthy lifestyle messages and practices throughout childhood and adolescence.

Biological Studies in Childhood Schizophrenia: Plasma and RBC Cholinesterase Activity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lucas, Alexander R.; And Others

1971-01-01

A comparison of plasma (pseudo) cholinesterase and erythrocyte (true) cholinesterase activity in 16 male childhood schizophrenic patients and 16 male nonpsychotic hospitalized controls revealed no significant differences between the two groups. (Author)

Comparison of portable crewmember protective breathing equipment (CPBE) designs.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1993-04-01

CPBE presently certified for transport category aircraft employ 3 types of oxygen production systems: chlorate candle, potassium superoxide, and compressed oxygen. CPBE performance was evaluated to expose significant differences based on this distinc...

Bidirectionality in Self-Regulation and Expressive Vocabulary: Comparisons between Monolingual and Dual Language Learners in Preschool

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bohlmann, Natalie L.; Maier, Michelle F.; Palacios, Natalia

2015-01-01

Significant differences in language and self-regulation skills exist among children when they enter formal schooling. Contributing to these language differences is a growing population of dual language learners (DLLs) in the United States. Given evidence linking self-regulatory processes and language development, this study explored bidirectional…

Clientele Differences of a Cooperative Extension Program as Related to Base of Organization.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gross, John G.

Conducted in Nebraska and Missouri, this study compared the clientele of an area specialist dairy testing program with the clientele of generalized county based programs to determine significant differences and their implications. Comparisons were made by age, educational level, size of farm business, farm ownership, participation in short courses…

A Comparison of Regional and SiteSpecific Volume Estimation Equations

Treesearch

Joe P. McClure; Jana Anderson; Hans T. Schreuder

1987-01-01

Regression equations for volume by region and site class were examined for lobiolly pine. The regressions for the Coastal Plain and Piedmont regions had significantly different slopes. The results shared important practical differences in percentage of confidence intervals containing the true total volume and in percentage of estimates within a specific proportion of...

Student Perceptions of Integrative Field Seminar: A Comparison of Three Models

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harris, Helen; Myers, Dennis

2013-01-01

Student perceptions of 63 concentration year MSW students, grades, and faculty perceptions were examined to evaluate differences in educational outcomes and in learning experiences among a traditional classroom model, a mixed or hybrid model, and a webinar online model for delivery of integrative field seminars. No significant differences were…

A Comparison of Therapeutic Factors in Two Group Treatment Modalities: Verbal and Art Therapy.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shechtman, Zipora; Perl-Dekel, Ofra

2000-01-01

Compares therapeutic factors in verbal and art group psychotherapy in a psychiatric day-treatment clinic in Israel. Results only partly support the differences between modalities, but do reveal significant differences between participants with only a few interactions between participants and modalities. All therapeutic factors appear in both…

Comparisons of Learning Ease and Transfer Propensity in Poor and Average Readers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Day, Jeanne D.; Zajakowski, Amy

1991-01-01

Assisted and unassisted performance of 14 average readers and 14 readers with learning disabilities (ages 10-13) were compared on a reading comprehension task. The groups differed in how easily they learned to find the main idea under different topic sentence placement conditions, with the learning-disabled readers requiring significantly more…

Comparison between Awake Endoscopy and Computed Tomography to Define Lingual Tonsil Hypertrophy.

PubMed

Tang, Jessica A; Gorelick, Gleb; Friedman, Michael

2017-11-01

Objectives To analyze correlations between endoscopic lingual tonsil grade (LTG) by the Friedman Lingual Tonsil Hypertrophy grading system and computed tomography (CT) measurements of lingual tonsil thickness (LTT). Study Design Retrospective chart review. Setting Single-center database, September 2016 to April 2017. Subjects and Methods Patients who received CT covering base of tongue and endoscopic LTG were included. LTT was measured on axial and sagittal CT. LTT measurements were compared against endoscopic LTG. One-way analysis of variance with Tukey's post hoc adjustment for multiple comparisons was performed. Results Seventy-five charts were included for a total of 150 LTT measurements. Axial CT measurements of LTG 1 and LTG 2 were each significantly different from LTG 3 ( P < .001 for both), and LTG 1 and LTG 2 also differed significantly ( P = .010). Mean sagittal CT measurements were significantly different between LTG 1 and LTG 3 ( P < .001) and between LTG 2 and LTG 3 ( P = .002) but not between LTG 1 and LTG 2 ( P = .186). Those without lingual tonsil hypertrophy had a mean axial CT thickness of 6.45 ± 1.39 mm and mean sagittal CT thickness of 6.58 ± 1.53 mm, which was significantly different from both the mean axial CT thickness of 8.48 ± 1.52 mm and the mean sagittal CT thickness of 8.07 ± 1.16 mm in the LTG 3 group ( P < .001 for both). Threshold analysis showed a potential cutoff of approximately 7.5 mm on axial and sagittal CT for defining clinically significant lingual tonsil hypertrophy. Conclusion Awake endoscopy grading of lingual tonsil hypertrophy is a subjective measurement that seems to correlate with objective CT measurements. LTT measurements of LTG 1 and LTG 2 on awake endoscopy differed significantly from LTG 3.

Color stability and marginal integrity of interim crowns: An in vitro study

PubMed Central

Elagra, Marwa I.; Rayyan, Mohammad R.; Alhomaidhi, Maisam M.; Alanaziy, Areej A.; Alnefaie, Mona O.

2017-01-01

Objective: Many commercial dental materials are used to fabricate interim restorations. This study aimed to compare the color stability and the marginal integrity of four different interim crown materials. Materials and Methods: An ivorine right maxillary central incisor was prepared for a full coverage all-ceramic restoration. A total of 36 specimens in the form of crowns were fabricated on the master die using four different materials (n = 9); Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) resin (TrimPLUS), PMMA computer-aided design, and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) blocks (Ceramill TEMP), cold cure bis-acryl resin (Success CD), and bis-acryl resin dual-cure composite (TempSpan). Color change ΔE for each sample was calculated by measuring its color as Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage L* a* b* with a spectrophotometer before and after immersing in a concentrated tea solution for 7 days. Marginal gap was measured at four reference points using stereomicroscope at ×40. One-way ANOVA and the Tukey multiple comparisons test were used to determine any statistically significant difference between the four groups, (α = 0.05). Results: Success CD showed significantly the greatest color change (7.7) among all the tested materials, while no significant difference was found between the other three materials. TempSpan showed significantly the highest marginal gap formation (430.15 μm), while no significant difference was found between the three other materials. Conclusions: Bis-acryl resin composite materials demonstrated clinically noticeable change in color while PMMA materials demonstrated superior color stability. Dual cure interim materials exhibited significantly higher marginal discrepancy in comparison to PMMA and cold cure bis-acrylic resin materials. CAD-CAM PMMA material exhibited the best color stability and marginal integrity. PMID:28932142

CD209-336A/G promotor polymorphism and its clinical associations in sickle cell disease Egyptian Pediatric patients.

PubMed

Afifi, Rasha Abdel-Raouf; Kamal, Dina; Sayed, Riham El; Ekladious, Sherif M M; Shaheen, Gehan H; Yousry, Sherif M; Hussein, Rania Elsayed

2018-06-01

To detect the frequency of CD209 A>G polymorphism in sickle cell disease (SCD) Egyptian patients and to evaluate the use of CD209 A>G polymorphism as a genetic predictor of SCD clinical heterogeneity. A total of 100 Egyptian children with SCD and 100 Egyptian controls were tested for CD209 A>G polymorphism and were followed up prospectively between June 2012 and December 2014. Comparison of CD209 A>G polymorphism among cases and controls did not show statistically significant difference (p = .742). In addition, comparison of the allelic frequency did not show statistically significant difference (p = .738). Infections occurred more frequently among the heterozygous genotype (AG; 60.5%) and homozygous genotype (GG; 75%) patients than among the wild (AA) genotype (24.1%; p < .001). The use of hydroxyurea treatment was significantly higher among the wild (AA) genotype (47%) than the heterozygous (AG; 21%) and homozygous (GG; 5%) genotypes (p = .003). We found no significant difference between our population of Egyptian SCD cases and controls regarding CD209 A>G polymorphism. Infections occurred more frequently among the heterozygous genotype (AG) and homozygous genotype (GG) patients. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Occupational competence and its relationship to emotional health in injured workers in return to work programs: a Malaysian study.

PubMed

Murad, Mohd Suleiman; O'brien, Lisa; Farnworth, Louise; Chien, Chi-Wen

2013-03-01

Workers with musculoskeletal disorders undertaking Malaysia's return to work (RTW) programmes may experience challenges in occupational competence (OC) and negative emotional states (NES). This study aimed to measure and examines the OC and NES of the workers by comparing specific comparison groups and groups of different phases. A total of 76 participants were recruited from a national RTW programme and categorized into three groups based on different RTW phases: off-work (n = 22), re-entry (n = 31), and maintenance (n = 23). Self-report questionnaires consisted of the Occupational Self Assessment version 2.2 and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21. Results showed that injured workers exhibited significantly lower OC in comparison with an international group with various disabilities. In contrast, there was significantly higher NES when compared with Malaysia's general population. Significant differences in OC and NES were also found between workers in the three RTW phases. In particular, OC and NES in the off-work and re-entry phases were significantly lower (OC) and higher (NES) than in the maintenance phase. Furthermore, there was a moderate, negative correlation between OC and NES in the off-work and re-entry phase groups. This indicated that low levels of perceived OC were associated with higher levels of NES.

Effect of Different Composite Restorations on the Cuspal Deflection of Premolars Restored with Different Insertion Techniques- An In vitro Study.

PubMed

Singhal, Sakshi; Gurtu, Anuraag; Singhal, Anurag; Bansal, Rashmi; Mohan, Sumit

2017-08-01

This study was conducted to assess the effect of different composite materials on the cuspal deflection of premolars restored with bulk placement of resin composite in comparison to horizontal incremental placement and modified tangential incremental placement. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cuspal deflection caused by different composite materials when different insertion techniques were used. Two different composite materials were used that is Tetric N Ceram (Ivoclar Vivadent marketing, India) and SonicFill TM (Kerr Sybron Dental). Forty standardized Mesio-Occluso-Distal (MOD) preparations were prepared on maxillary first premolars. Each group was divided according to composite insertion technique (n=10), as follows: Group I - bulk insertion using Tetric N Ceram, Group II - Horizontal incremental insertion technique using Tetric N Ceram, Group III- Modified tangential incremental technique using Tetric N Ceram, and Group IV- bulk insertion using SonicFill TM . Preparations were acid-etched, and bonded with adhesive resin to provide micro mechanical attachment before restoration using a uniform etching and bonding protocol in all the groups. All groups received the same total photo-polymerization time. Cuspal deflection was measured during the restorative procedure using customized digital micrometer assembly. One-way ANOVA test was applied for the analysis of significant difference between the groups, p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The average cuspal deflections for the different groups were as follows: Group I 0.045±0.018, Group II 0.029±0.009, Group III 0.018±0.005 and Group IV 0.017±0.004. The intergroup comparison revealed statistically significant difference. A measurable amount of cuspal deflection was present in all the four studied groups. In general, bulkfill restoration technique with conventional composite showed significantly highest cusp deflection. There were no significant differences in cuspal deflection among sonicFill TM and modified tangential incremental insertion techniques.

Lexical diversity and productivity in Cantonese-speaking children with specific language impairment.

PubMed

Stokes, S F; Fletcher, P

2000-01-01

Recent studies of lexical diversity in English-speaking children with specific language impairment (ESLI) have produced conflicting results. Differences between SLI and age-matched (AM) groups on verb types, and overall types have been reported, as have differences between SLI and language-matched (LM) groups on verb types and/or verb tokens, and noun types and noun tokens. At the same time there have been other claims that there is no difference between SLI and LM groups in terms of lexical diversity. This comparison of the lexical diversity of Cantonese-speaking children with SLI (CSLI) and their language-matched peers controlled the length of the samples and the number of tokens as the basis for comparison. There was no difference between the groups in use of verb tokens or types, but there were significant differences in noun tokens and types and 'other' open class tokens and types. Although there was no difference between the groups in the use of a specific grammatical marker (aspect markers), the way in which the CSLI children deployed these markers was severely restricted in comparison with their LM peers. A limited capacity model of language production is invoked to explain the findings.

[Assessment of health-related quality of life with the German SF-8. A comparison of telephone and postal survey modes].

PubMed

Erhart, M; Wetzel, R; Krügel, A; Ravens-Sieberer, U

2005-12-01

Within a comprehensive comparison of telephone and postal survey methods the SF-8 was applied to assess adult's health-related quality of life. The 1690 subjects were randomly assigned to a telephone survey and a postal survey. Comparisons across the different modes of administration addressed the response rates, central tendency, deviation, ceiling and floor effects observed in the SF-8 scores as well as the inter-item correlation. The importance of age and gender as moderating factors was investigated. Results indicate no or small statistically significant differences in the responses to the SF-8 depending on the actual mode of administration and the health aspect questioned. It was concluded that further investigations should focus on the exact nature of these deviations and try to generate correction factors.

Robot Trajectories Comparison: A Statistical Approach

PubMed Central

Ansuategui, A.; Arruti, A.; Susperregi, L.; Yurramendi, Y.; Jauregi, E.; Lazkano, E.; Sierra, B.

2014-01-01

The task of planning a collision-free trajectory from a start to a goal position is fundamental for an autonomous mobile robot. Although path planning has been extensively investigated since the beginning of robotics, there is no agreement on how to measure the performance of a motion algorithm. This paper presents a new approach to perform robot trajectories comparison that could be applied to any kind of trajectories and in both simulated and real environments. Given an initial set of features, it automatically selects the most significant ones and performs a statistical comparison using them. Additionally, a graphical data visualization named polygraph which helps to better understand the obtained results is provided. The proposed method has been applied, as an example, to compare two different motion planners, FM2 and WaveFront, using different environments, robots, and local planners. PMID:25525618

Comparison of Glucose Lowering Effect of Metformin and Acarbose in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Meta-Analysis

PubMed Central

Gu, Shuyan; Shi, Jihao; Tang, Zhiliu; Sawhney, Monika; Hu, Huimei; Shi, Lizheng; Fonseca, Vivian; Dong, Hengjin

2015-01-01

Background Metformin is the first-line oral hypoglycemic agent for type 2 diabetes mellitus recommended by international guidelines. However, little information exists comparing it with acarbose which is also commonly used in China. This study expanded knowledge by combining direct and indirect evidence to ascertain the glucose lowering effects of both drugs. Methods PubMed (1980- December 2013) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases (1994-January 2014) were systematically searched for eligible randomized controlled trials from Chinese and English literatures. Meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the glucose lowering effects of metformin vs. acarbose, or either of them vs. common comparators (placebo or sulphonylureas), using random- and fixed-effect models. Bucher method with indirect treatment comparison calculator was applied to convert the summary estimates from the meta-analyses into weighted-mean-difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to represent the comparative efficacy between metformin and acarbose. Results A total of 75 studies were included in the analysis. In direct comparison (8 trials), metformin reduced glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) by 0.06% more than acarbose, with no significant difference (WMD,-0.06%; 95% CI, -0.32% to 0.20%). In indirect comparisons (67 trials), by using placebo and sulphonylureas as common comparators, metformin achieved significant HbA1c reduction than acarbose, by -0.38% (WMD,-0.38%, 95% CI, -0.736% to -0.024%) and -0.34% (WMD, -0.34%, 95% CI, -0.651% to -0.029%) respectively. Conclusion The glucose lowering effects of metformin monotherapy and acarbose monotherapy are the same by direct comparison, while metformin is a little better by indirect comparison. This implies that the effect of metformin is at least as good as acarbose's. PMID:25961824

Comparison of glucose lowering effect of metformin and acarbose in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis.

PubMed

Gu, Shuyan; Shi, Jihao; Tang, Zhiliu; Sawhney, Monika; Hu, Huimei; Shi, Lizheng; Fonseca, Vivian; Dong, Hengjin

2015-01-01

Metformin is the first-line oral hypoglycemic agent for type 2 diabetes mellitus recommended by international guidelines. However, little information exists comparing it with acarbose which is also commonly used in China. This study expanded knowledge by combining direct and indirect evidence to ascertain the glucose lowering effects of both drugs. PubMed (1980- December 2013) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases (1994-January 2014) were systematically searched for eligible randomized controlled trials from Chinese and English literatures. Meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the glucose lowering effects of metformin vs. acarbose, or either of them vs. common comparators (placebo or sulphonylureas), using random- and fixed-effect models. Bucher method with indirect treatment comparison calculator was applied to convert the summary estimates from the meta-analyses into weighted-mean-difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to represent the comparative efficacy between metformin and acarbose. A total of 75 studies were included in the analysis. In direct comparison (8 trials), metformin reduced glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) by 0.06% more than acarbose, with no significant difference (WMD,-0.06%; 95% CI, -0.32% to 0.20%). In indirect comparisons (67 trials), by using placebo and sulphonylureas as common comparators, metformin achieved significant HbA1c reduction than acarbose, by -0.38% (WMD,-0.38%, 95% CI, -0.736% to -0.024%) and -0.34% (WMD, -0.34%, 95% CI, -0.651% to -0.029%) respectively. The glucose lowering effects of metformin monotherapy and acarbose monotherapy are the same by direct comparison, while metformin is a little better by indirect comparison. This implies that the effect of metformin is at least as good as acarbose's.

Validity of Predicting Left Ventricular End Systolic Pressure Changes Following An Acute Bout of Exercise

PubMed Central

Kappus, Rebecca M.; Ranadive, Sushant M.; Yan, Huimin; Lane, Abbi D.; Cook, Marc D.; Hall, Grenita; Harvey, I. Shevon; Wilund, Kenneth R.; Woods, Jeffrey A.; Fernhall, Bo

2012-01-01

Objective Left ventricular end systolic pressure (LV ESP) is important in assessing left ventricular performance. LV ESP is usually derived from prediction equations. It is unknown whether these equations are accurate at rest or following exercise in a young, healthy population. Design We compared measured LV ESP versus LV ESP values from the prediction equations at rest, 15 minutes and 30 minutes following peak aerobic exercise in 60 participants. Methods LV ESP was obtained by applanation tonometry at rest, 15 minutes post and 30 minutes post peak cycle exercise. Results Measured LV ESP was significantly lower (p<0.05) at all time points in comparison to the two calculated values. Measured LV ESP decreased significantly from rest at both the post15 and post30 time points (p<0.05) and changed differently in comparison to the calculated values (significant interaction; p<0.05). The two LV ESP equations were also significantly different from each other (p<0.05) and changed differently over time (significant interaction; p<0.05). Conclusions These data indicate that the two prediction equations commonly used did not accurately predict either resting or post exercise LV ESP in a young, healthy population. Thus, LV ESP needs to be individually determined in young healthy participants. Non-invasive measurement through applanation tonometry appears to allow for a more accurate determination of LV ESP. PMID:22721862

Validity of predicting left ventricular end systolic pressure changes following an acute bout of exercise.

PubMed

Kappus, Rebecca M; Ranadive, Sushant M; Yan, Huimin; Lane, Abbi D; Cook, Marc D; Hall, Grenita; Harvey, I Shevon; Wilund, Kenneth R; Woods, Jeffrey A; Fernhall, Bo

2013-01-01

Left ventricular end systolic pressure (LV ESP) is important in assessing left ventricular performance and is usually derived from prediction equations. It is unknown whether these equations are accurate at rest or following exercise in a young, healthy population. Measured LV ESP vs. LV ESP values from the prediction equations were compared at rest, 15 min and 30 min following peak aerobic exercise in 60 participants. LV ESP was obtained by applanation tonometry at rest, 15 min post and 30 min post peak cycle exercise. Measured LV ESP was significantly lower (p<0.05) at all time points in comparison to the two calculated values. Measured LV ESP decreased significantly from rest at both the post15 and post30 time points (p<0.05) and changed differently in comparison to the calculated values (significant interaction; p<0.05). The two LV ESP equations were also significantly different from each other (p<0.05) and changed differently over time (significant interaction; p<0.05). The two commonly used prediction equations did not accurately predict either resting or post exercise LV ESP in a young, healthy population. Thus, LV ESP needs to be individually determined in young, healthy participants. Non-invasive measurement through applanation tonometry appears to allow for a more accurate determination of LV ESP. Copyright © 2012 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Performance profile of NCAA Division I men's basketball games and training sessions.

PubMed

Conte, D; Tessitore, A; Smiley, K; Thomas, C; Favero, T G

2016-06-01

This study aimed to analyse live and stoppage time phases, their ratio, and action played on half and full court in college basketball games. Differences were assessed for the entire games and between halves. Moreover, differences of the live/stoppage time ratio were analysed between games and game-based conditioning drills. Ten games as well as fifteen defensive, fourteen offensive and six scrimmage-type drills of the same division I men's college team (13 players) were analysed using time-motion analysis technique. Live and stoppage time were classified in five classes of duration: 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80, >80 seconds. Half court actions started and finished in the same half court. Full court actions were classified as transfer (TR) phases when at least 3 teammates crossed the mid-court line. TR phases were then classified in 5 classes of frequency: 1TR, 2TR, 3TR, 4TR, and >4TR. The results revealed no statistically significant differences between games or between halves for the considered parameters. The only significant difference was observed for live/stoppage time ratio between halves (p<0.001). Furthermore, a significant difference of the live/stoppage ratio was found between games and game-based drills (p<0.01). Post-hoc analysis demonstrated significant differences of scrimmage-type drills in comparison to games, and defensive and offensive drills (p<0.05), whereas no differences emerged for the other pairwise comparisons. The absence of differences between games in the analysed parameters might be important to characterize the model of performance in division I men's college games. Furthermore, these results encourage coaches to use game-based conditioning drills to replicate the LT/ST ratio documented during games.

FAMILY ANALYSIS OF IMMUNOGLOBULIN CLASSES AND SUBCLASSES IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISTIC DISORDER

PubMed Central

Spiroski, Mirko; Trajkovski, Vladimir; Trajkov, Dejan; Petlichkovski, Aleksandar; Efinska-Mladenovska, Olivija; Hristomanova, Slavica; Djulejic, Eli; Paneva, Meri; Bozhikov, Jadranka

2009-01-01

Autistic disorder is a severe neurodevelopment disorder characterized by a triad of impairments in reciprocal social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, and a pattern of repetitive stereotyped activities, behaviours and interests. There are strong lines of evidence to suggest that the immune system plays an important role in the pathogenesis of autistic disorder. The aim of this study was to analyze quantitative plasma concentration of immunoglobulin classes, and subclasses in autistic patients and their families. The investigation was performed retrospectively in 50 persons with autistic disorder in the Republic of Macedonia. Infantile autistic disorder was diagnosed by DSM-IV and ICD-10 criteria. Plasma immunoglobulin classes (IgM, IgA, and IgG) and subclasses (IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4) were determined using Nephelometer Analyzer BN-100. Multiple comparisons for the IgA variable have shown statistically significant differences between three pairs: male autistic from the fathers (p = 0,001), female autistic from the mothers (p = 0,008), as well as healthy sisters from the fathers (p = 0,011). Statistically significant differences found between three groups regarding autistic disorder (person with autistic disorder, father/mother of a person with autistic disorder, and brother/sister) independent of sex belongs to IgA, IgG2, and IgG3 variables. Multiple comparisons for the IgA variable have shown statistically significant differences between children with autistic disorder from the fathers and mothers (p < 0,001), and healthy brothers and sisters from the fathers and mothers (p < 0,001). Comparison between healthy children and children with autistic disorder from the same family should be tested for immunoglobulin classes and subclasses in order to avoid differences between generations. PMID:20001993

Family analysis of immunoglobulin classes and subclasses in children with autistic disorder.

PubMed

Spiroski, Mirko; Trajkovski, Vladimir; Trajkov, Dejan; Petlichkovski, Aleksandar; Efinska-Mladenovska, Olivija; Hristomanova, Slavica; Djulejic, Eli; Paneva, Meri; Bozhikov, Jadranka

2009-11-01

Autistic disorder is a severe neurodevelopment disorder characterized by a triad of impairments in reciprocal social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, and a pattern of repetitive stereotyped activities, behaviours and interests. There are strong lines of evidence to suggest that the immune system plays an important role in the pathogenesis of autistic disorder. The aim of this study was to analyze quantitative plasma concentration of immunoglobulin classes, and subclasses in autistic patients and their families. The investigation was performed retrospectively in 50 persons with autistic disorder in the Republic of Macedonia. Infantile autistic disorder was diagnosed by DSM-IV and ICD-10 criteria. Plasma immunoglobulin classes (IgM, IgA, and IgG) and subclasses (IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4) were determined using Nephelometer Analyzer BN-100. Multiple comparisons for the IgA variable have shown statistically significant differences between three pairs: male autistic from the fathers (p = 0,001), female autistic from the mothers (p = 0,008), as well as healthy sisters from the fathers (p = 0,011). Statistically significant differences found between three groups regarding autistic disorder (person with autistic disorder, father/mother of a person with autistic disorder, and brother/sister) independent of sex belongs to IgA, IgG2, and IgG3 variables. Multiple comparisons for the IgA variable have shown statistically significant differences between children with autistic disorder from the fathers and mothers (p < 0,001), and healthy brothers and sisters from the fathers and mothers (p < 0,001). Comparison between healthy children and children with autistic disorder from the same family should be tested for immunoglobulin classes and subclasses in order to avoid differences between generations.

Photoacoustic Imaging for Differential Diagnosis of Benign Polyps versus Malignant Polyps of the Gallbladder: A Preliminary Study

PubMed Central

Chae, Hee-Dong; Jang, Jin-Young; Chang, Jin Ho; Kang, Jeeun; Kang, Mee Joo; Han, Joon Koo

2017-01-01

Objective To investigate the feasibility of ex vivo multispectral photoacoustic (PA) imaging in differentiating cholesterol versus neoplastic polyps, and benign versus malignant polyps, of the gallbladder. Materials and Methods A total of 38 surgically confirmed gallbladder polyps (24 cholesterol polyps, 4 adenomas, and 10 adenocarcinomas) from 38 patients were prospectively included in this study. The surgical specimens were set on a gel pad immersed in a saline-filled container. The PA intensities of polyps were then measured, using two separate wavelength intervals (421–647 nm and 692–917 nm). Mann-Whitney U test was performed for the comparison of normalized PA intensities between the cholesterol and neoplastic polyps, and between the benign and malignant polyps. Kruskal-Wallis test was conducted for the comparison of normalized PA intensities among the cholesterol polyps, adenomas, and adenocarcinomas. Results A significant difference was observed in the normalized PA intensities between the cholesterol and neoplastic polyps at 459 nm (median, 1.00 vs. 0.73; p = 0.032). Comparing the benign and malignant polyps, there were significant differences in the normalized PA intensities at 765 nm (median, 0.67 vs. 0.78; p = 0.013), 787 nm (median, 0.65 vs. 0.77; p = 0.034), and 853 nm (median, 0.59 vs. 0.85; p = 0.028). The comparison of the normalized PA intensities among cholesterol polyps, adenomas, and adenocarcinomas demonstrated marginally significant differences at 765 nm (median, 0.67 vs. 0.66 vs. 0.78, respectively; p = 0.049). Conclusion These preliminary results indicate that benign versus malignant gallbladder polyps might exhibit different spectral patterns on multispectral PA imaging. PMID:28860899

Jumping performance differences among elite professional handball players with or without previous ACL reconstruction.

PubMed

Setuain, I; Millor, N; Alfaro, J; Gorostiaga, E; Izquierdo, M

2015-10-01

Handball is one of the most challenging sports for the knee joint. Persistent strength and jumping capacity alterations may be observed among athletes who have suffered anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The aim of this study was to examine unilateral and bilateral jumping ability differences between previously ACL-reconstructed rehabilitated elite handball athletes and sex, age and uninjured sport activity level-pairs of control players. It was a Cross-sectional study with one factor: previous ACL injury. We recruited 22 male (6 ACL-reconstructed and 16 uninjured control players) and 21 female (6 ACL-reconstructed and 15 uninjured control players) elite handball players who were evaluated 6.2±3.4 years after surgical ACL reconstruction. A battery of jump tests, including both bilateral and unilateral maneuvers, was performed. Two-tailed unpaired (intergroup comparison) and paired (intragroup comparison) t-tests were performed for mean comparisons. The P-value cut-off for significance was set at <0.05. The previously ACL-reconstructed female athletes showed a lower bilateral drop jump contact time (0.429±179.9 vs. 0.349±151 s, P<0.05) and less distance reached (3.820±0.54 vs. 4.428±0.44 m, P<0.05) in the unilateral triple hop for distance (UTHD) on their reconstructed leg compared with the dominant legs of the uninjured control athletes. No significant differences were observed for any other recorded variable. Among the male athletes, no significant differences between groups were found for the studied jumping variables. Previously ACL-reconstructed elite female handball athletes demonstrated both lower vertical bilateral drop jump (VBDJ) contact times and lower UTHD scores for the injured leg several years after injury. These deficits could contribute to an increase in ACL re-injury risk.

Monaural or binaural sound deprivation in postlingual hearing loss: Cochlear implant in the worse ear.

PubMed

Canale, Andrea; Dalmasso, Giulia; Dagna, Federico; Lacilla, Michelangelo; Montuschi, Carla; Rosa, Rosalba Di; Albera, Roberto

2016-08-01

To determine whether speech recognition scores (SRS) differ between adults with long-term auditory deprivation in the implanted ear and adults who received cochlear implant (CI) in the nonsound-deprived ear, either for hearing aid-assisted or due to rapidly deteriorating hearing loss. Retrospective study. Speech recognition scores at evaluations (3 and 14 months postimplantation) conducted with CI alone at 60-dB sound pressure level intensity were compared in 15 patients (4 with bilateral severe hearing loss; 11 with asymmetric hearing loss, 7 of which had contralateral hearing aid), all with long-term auditory deprivation (mean duration 16.9 years) (group A), and in 15 other patients with postlingual hearing loss (10 symmetric, 5 asymmetric with bimodal stimulation) (controls, group B). Comparison of mean percentage of correctly recognized words on speech audiometry at 3 and 14 months showed improvement within each group (P < 0.05). Between-group comparison showed no significant difference at 3 (P = 0.17) or 14 months (P = 0.46). Comparison of SRSs in group A (bimodal stimulation [n = 7] and binaural sound deprivation [n = 4]) versus group B showed no significant differences at 3 (bimodal stimulation P = 0.16; binaural sound deprivation P = 0.19) or 14 months (bimodal stimulation P = 0.14; binaural sound deprivation P = 0.82). Speech recognition scores in monaural and binaural sound-deprived ears did not significantly differ from ears with unilateral cochlear implantation in nonsound-deprived ears when tested with CI alone. Improvement in the implanted worse ear indicates that it could be a potential candidate ear for cochlear implantation even when sound deprived. 4. Laryngoscope, 126:1905-1910, 2016. © 2015 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

Comparative study on fatty acid composition of olive (Olea europaea L.), with emphasis on phytosterol contents.

PubMed

Ozkan, Ali; Aboul-Enein, Hassan Y; Kulak, Muhittin; Bindak, Recep

2017-08-01

The present study was designed to determine the fatty acid composition and phytosterol contents of Turkish native olive cultivars, namely Kilis Yağlık and Nizip Yağlık cv. In this context, olive fruits from 34 locations were sampled and then screened for their components in comparison. Fifteen different fatty acids were found in both olive oils. In the order of abundance, the most important ones were oleic acid (18:1) > palmitic acid (16:0) > linoleic acid (18:2) > stearic acid (18:0). Significant differences were observed in the contents of oleic acid (18:1), palmitic acid (16:0), linoleic acid (18:2) but not for stearic acid content in comparison both oils (p < 0.01). There were significant differences in terms of unsaturated fatty acids, saturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids (p < 0.01). The seven phytosterols - cholesterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, Δ-5-avenasterol, Δ-7-stigmastenol and Δ-7-avenasterol - were studied in both oil sources. The predominant sterols were β-sitosterol, Δ5-avenasterol and campesterol in the samples analysed. However, no significant differences were found in the levels of the phytosterols between the two olive cultivars. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The efficacy and safety of proton-pump inhibitors in treating patients with non-erosive reflux disease: a network meta-analysis.

PubMed

Chen, Lingxiao; Chen, Yujie; Li, Bo

2016-09-01

Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) have been proved as safe and effective ways to treat patients with non-erosive reflux disease (NERD). However, less is known about the comparisons among different PPIs and their best dosage. We aimed to synthesize the available evidence through network meta-analysis to investigate the efficacy and safety of different PPIs in treating patients with NERD. Fifteen studies with 6309 patients were included in the meta-analyses. For the rate of symptomatic relief, compared with control groups, all interventions except rabeprazole 5 mg significantly increased rate of symptomatic relief. Among the comparisons of different interventions, omeprazole 20 mg group was associated with a higher rate of symptomatic relief in contrast to omeprazole 10 mg group (odds ratio, OR: 1.89, 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.34, 2.67; p-value: 0.0005) or rabeprazole 5 mg group (OR: 2.51, 95%CI: 1.16, 5.42; p-value: 0.019); dexlansoprazole 30 mg therapy significantly improved the rate of symptomatic relief compared with rabeprazole 5 mg group (OR: 2.64, 95%CI: 1.08, 6.43; p-value: 0.03). For the rate of adverse events, there was no significant difference among all interventions.

Estimation of Salivary Parameters among Autoimmune Thyroiditis Patients.

PubMed

Syed, Yasmeen Amthul; Reddy, Bh Satheesh; Ramamurthy, T K; Rajendra, Kavitha; Nerella, Narendra Kumar; Krishnan, Meenakshi; Ramesh, M V; Mohammed, Rezwana Begum

2017-07-01

Saliva is a complex secretion that protects and lubricates the oral cavity. Various systemic diseases and their treatment alter the salivary gland function; one such disease is Autoimmune Thyroid Disease (AITD). AITD has been postulated to exert its hormonal influence on the salivary glands, leading to reduced salivary output. There's a paucity of literature, verifying the stated conjunction in human subjects. The aim was to investigate the salivary profile in AITD patients and its comparison with controls. Descriptive cross-sectional comparative study was conducted using convenience sampling method for screening the presence of thyroid disorders. Two groups comprising of 30 patients in each group diagnosed with autoimmune hypothyroiditis (n=30) and hyperthyroiditis (n=30) respectively and thirty healthy volunteers who were age and sex matched were included as controls. Saliva was collected and evaluated for Unstimulated Salivary Flow Rate (USSFR), pH and buffer capacity. ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc test was performed to find the statistical significance and for pairwise comparison. Statistically significant difference was observed between autoimmune hypothyroiditis, autoimmune hyperthyroiditis and control group with respect to USSFR (p<0.007), pH (p<0.001) and buffer capacity (p<0.001). On pairwise comparisons statistically significant difference was observed between autoimmune hypothyroiditis and autoimmune hyperthyroiditis with respect to controls. We conclude that significant involvement of salivary glands may occur in cases of AITD. Our study showed significant reduction of sialometric values in AITD patients when compared to controls. A strong clinical suspicion of thyroid diseases should be considered when there is chronic hyposalivation; hence thyroid profile must also be done, if the known causes have been excluded.

Efficacy of Bone Source™ and Cementek™ in comparison with Endobon™ in critical size metaphyseal defects, using a minipig model.

PubMed

Spies, Christian K G; Schnürer, Stefan; Gotterbarm, Tobias; Breusch, Steffen J

2010-01-01

To examine and compare biocompatibility, osteocompatibility, rate of resorption, and remodelling dynamics of 2 calcium phosphate cements in comparison with a well-established hydroxyapatite ceramic. In a randomised fashion, Bone Source™, Cementek™, and Endobon™ were implanted bilaterally into the proximal metaphyseal tibiae of 35 Göttinger minipigs in a direct right vs. left intra-individual comparison. Fluorescent labelling was used. Histological and morphometric evaluations were carried out at 6, 12, and 52 weeks. All bone substitutes showed good biocompatibility, bioactivity, and osteoconductivity. Endobon™ was not degraded over the follow-up period. Cementek™ was degraded constantly and significantly over the time intervals, whereas Bone Source™ was degraded mainly from the 6 week to 12 week interval. After 52 weeks, a significant difference of residual material within the defect zone was detected between all substitutes, with the highest resorption rate for Cementek™. Bone Source™ was least degraded. Defects filled with Endobon™ were characterised by a significantly continuous bony ingrowth over the time intervals. Bone formation within the defects filled with Cementek™ and Bone Source™ showed significant peaks 12 weeks after implantation. After 52 weeks, a significant difference in the amount of new bone within the defect area was detected, with the highest levels for Endobon™, followed by Cementek™. After 1 year a restitution ad integrum could not be observed in any treatment group. The ceramic Endobon™ showed the expected response histologically. Based on its porosity it excelled in osteoconductivity. Concerning the calcium phosphate cements, a thorough osseous incorporation seemed to inhibit further degradation of both bone substitute materials.

Health-related quality of life among Swedish children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: parent-child discrepancies, gender differences and comparison with a European cohort.

PubMed

Lundberg, Veronica; Eriksson, Catharina

2017-04-12

This study investigates gender differences in self-reports and between parent and child reports in Health-related Quality of Life (HRQOL), measured with disease-specific and generic instruments for chronic disease. Comparison of HRQOL results in this Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) sample to a European cohort of children with JIA and one of children with other health conditions are also made. Fifty-three children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), aged 8-18 years, and their parents completed the condition-specific DISABKIDS for JIA, and the DISABKIDS generic instrument for chronic conditions (DCGM-37) in a cross-sectional study. European reference data were used for comparison of child and parental reports. Child self-reports in DCGM-37 and DISABKIDS for JIA showed no gender differences. Parental and child reports of the child's HRQOL differed only in DCGM-37; this was among girls who scored their independence (p = 0.03), physical limitation (p = 0.01), social exclusion (p = 0.03), emotions (p <0.01), and general transformed score (p <0.01) higher than did their parents. Our sample of children with JIA reported more physical limitation compared to samples of European children with JIA (p = 0.01), European children with chronic conditions (p < 0.01), and their parents (p = 0.01 and p < 0.01). The Swedish children reported more problem with understanding compared to the European JIA sample (p = 0.03). Swedish parents perceived their children's independence significantly lower than did the European parents of JIA children (p < 0.01), as well as European parents of children with chronic conditions (p = 0.03). The Swedish parents also perceived their children to have significantly lower social inclusion (p < 0.05) and general transformed score (p = 0.04), in comparison to European parents of children with chronic conditions. Parent-child differences in assessment of quality of life depend on the HRQOL instrument used, especially among girls. In comparison to European cohorts, our sample of children with JIA experienced more physical limitations and less understanding.

Does acoustic radiation force elastography improve the diagnostic capability of ultrasound in the preoperative characterization of masses of the parotid gland?

PubMed

Zengel, Pamela; Notter, Florian; Clevert, Dirk A

2018-06-06

Ultrasound is the method of choice for preoperative evaluation of tumours of the parotid glands. However, existing methods do not allow for clear differentiation between the most common benign tumours and malignant tumours. The aim of our study was to evaluate if acoustic radiation force, Virtual Touch Quantification (VTQ) elastography helps to improve the preoperative evaluation of parotid masses. We investigated the parenchyma of 102 parotid glands, 14 lymph nodes of healthy volunteers and 51 tumours of the parotid gland via ultrasound, colour Doppler ultrasound and VTQ. The results were matched with histopathology and analyzed. The perfusion in pleomorphic adenoma, the most frequent benign tumour of the parotid gland, was significantly lower in comparison to malignant tumours. All tumours showed statistically significant higher perfusion in comparison to the parenchyma or the lymph nodes of the gland. Shear wave velocity of the user-defined region of interest was statistically significant more frequently an overflow value higher than 8.5 m/s in total tumours in comparison to parenchyma or lymph nodes. The different tumour types presented no significant difference in the shear wave velocity. VTQ in combination with classical ultrasound examination provides additional data useful in distinguishing between benign and malignant tumours and thus shows promise for integration into preexisting ultrasound protocols. However, despite the improvement, clear differentiation of tumours is still not possible and further investigation is recommended.

Comparison of the scanned pages of the contractual documents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andreeva, Elena; Arlazarov, Vladimir V.; Manzhikov, Temudzhin; Slavin, Oleg

2018-04-01

In this paper the problem statement is given to compare the digitized pages of the official papers. Such problem appears during the comparison of two customer copies signed at different times between two parties with a view to find the possible modifications introduced on the one hand. This problem is a practically significant in the banking sector during the conclusion of contracts in a paper format. The method of comparison based on the recognition, which consists in the comparison of two bag-of-words, which are the recognition result of the master and test pages, is suggested. The described experiments were conducted using the OCR Tesseract and the siamese neural network. The advantages of the suggested method are the steady operation of the comparison algorithm and the high exacting precision, and one of the disadvantages is the dependence on the chosen OCR.

A Comparison of Interactional Aerodynamics Methods for a Helicopter in Low Speed Flight

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Berry, John D.; Letnikov, Victor; Bavykina, Irena; Chaffin, Mark S.

1998-01-01

Recent advances in computing subsonic flow have been applied to helicopter configurations with various degrees of success. This paper is a comparison of two specific methods applied to a particularly challenging regime of helicopter flight, very low speeds, where the interaction of the rotor wake and the fuselage are most significant. Comparisons are made between different methods of predicting the interactional aerodynamics associated with a simple generic helicopter configuration. These comparisons are made using fuselage pressure data from a Mach-scaled powered model helicopter with a rotor diameter of approximately 3 meters. The data shown are for an advance ratio of 0.05 with a thrust coefficient of 0.0066. The results of this comparison show that in this type of complex flow both analytical techniques have regions where they are more accurate in matching the experimental data.

A risk based approach for SSTO/TSTO comparisons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Greenberg, Joel S.

1996-03-01

An approach has been developed for performing early comparisons of transportation architectures explicitly taking into account quantitative measures of uncertainty and resulting risk. Risk considerations are necessary since the transportation systems are likely to have significantly different levels of risk, both because of differing degrees of freedom in achieving desired performance levels and their different states of development and utilization. The approach considers the uncertainty of achievement of technology goals, effect that the achieved technology level will have on transportation system performance and the relationship between system performance/capability and the ability to accommodate variations in payload mass. The consequences of system performance are developed in terms of nonrecurring, recurring, and the present value of transportation system life cycle costs.

Comparison of conventional therapies for dentin hypersensitivity versus medical hypnosis.

PubMed

Eitner, Stephan; Bittner, Christian; Wichmann, Manfred; Nickenig, Hans-Joachim; Sokol, Biljana

2010-10-01

This study compared the efficacy of conventional treatments for dentin hypersensitivity (DHS) and hypnotherapy. During a 1-month period at an urban practice in a service area of approximately 22,000 inhabitants, all patients were examined. A total of 102 individuals were included in the evaluation. Values of 186 teeth were analyzed. The comparison of the different treatment methods (desensitizer, fluoridation, and hypnotherapy) did not show significant differences in success rates. However, a noticeable difference was observed in terms of onset and duration of effect. For both desensitizer and hypnotherapy treatments, onset of effect was very rapid. Compared to the other methods studied, hypnotherapy effects had the longest duration. In conclusion, hypnotherapy was as effective as other methods in the treatment of DHS.

Comparison between Bactec Peds Plus F Broth and Conventional Medium for Vitreous Culture.

PubMed

Tabatabaei, Seyed Ali; Tabatabaei, Seyed Mehdi; Soleimani, Mohammad; Hejrati, Bahman; Mirshahi, Ahmad; Khadabandeh, Alireza; Ahmadraji, Aliasghar; Valipour, Niloofar

2018-05-10

To evaluate the yield of Bactec Peds Plus F broth for vitreous sample culture in cases with infectious endophthalmitis in comparison to conventional medium. Consecutive cases of clinically suspected endophthalmitis were prospectively enrolled in this study. Cultures of the vitreous sample were performed in both Bactec Peds Plus F broth and conventional mediums. Forty eyes of 40 patients who were clinically suspected of infectious endophthalmitis with different etiologies were enrolled in this study. The positive culture yield was 50% and 35% in Bactec Peds Plus F broth and conventional mediums, respectively (p = 0.07). The result of Bactec group was not significantly different among patients who had a history of intravitreal antibiotic injection (p > 0.05) (Table 2). However, results of the conventional method were significantly negative in the previous intravitreal antibiotic injection group (p = 0.02). There was no correlation between the methods of vitreous sampling in both culture methods. Although the difference between two culture methods was not statistically significant in this study, Bactec Peds Plus F broth showed higher positive culture yield in patients with a history of intravitreal antibiotic injection.

Correlation between Self-Citation and Impact Factor in Iranian English Medical Journals in WoS and ISC: A Comparative Approach.

PubMed

Ghazi Mirsaeid, Seyed Javad; Motamedi, Nadia; Ramezan Ghorbani, Nahid

2015-09-01

In this study, the impact of self-citation (Journal and Author) on impact factor of Iranian English Medical journals in two international citation databases, Web of Science (WoS) and Islamic world science citation center (ISC), were compared by citation analysis. Twelve journals in WoS and 26 journals in ISC databases indexed between the years (2006-2009) were selected and compared. For comparison of self-citation rate in two databases, we used Wilcoxon and Mann-whitney tests. We used Pearson test for correlation of self-citation and IF in WoS, and the Spearman's correlation coefficient for the ISC database. Covariance analysis was used for comparison of two correlation tests. P. value was 0.05 in all of tests. There was no significant difference between self-citation rates in two databases (P>0.05). Findings also showed no significant difference between the correlation of Journal self-citation and impact factor in two databases (P=0.526) however, there was significant difference between the author's self-citation and impact factor in these databases (P<0.001). The impact of Author's self-citation in the Impact Factor of WoS was higher than the ISC.

Normative Data for the Cognitively Intact Oldest-Old: The Framingham Heart Study.

PubMed

Miller, Ivy N; Himali, Jayandra J; Beiser, Alexa S; Murabito, Joanne M; Seshadri, Sudha; Wolf, Philip A; Au, Rhoda

2015-01-01

BACKGROUND/STUDY CONTEXT: The number of individuals who reach extreme age is quickly increasing. Much of the current literature focuses on impaired cognition in extreme age, and debate continues regarding what constitutes "normal" cognition in extreme age. This study aimed to provide oldest-old normative data and to compare cognitive performances of cognitively intact elderly individuals from the Framingham Heart Study. A total of 1302 individuals aged 65+ years from the Framingham Heart Study were separated into 5-year age bands and compared on cognitive tests. Multivariate linear regression analyses were conducted, adjusting for gender, the Wide Range Achievement Test-Third Edition (WRAT-III) Reading score, and cohort. Analyses also included comparisons between 418 individuals aged 80+ and 884 individuals aged 65-79, and comparisons within oldest-old age bands. Normative data for all participants are presented. Significant differences were found on most tests between age groups in the overall analysis between young-old and oldest-old, and analysis of oldest-old age bands also revealed select significant differences (all ps <.05). As aging increases, significant cognitive differences and increased variability in performances are evident. These results support the use of age-appropriate normative data for oldest-old individuals.

Normative Data for the Cognitively-Intact Oldest-Old: The Framingham Heart Study

PubMed Central

Miller, Ivy N.; Himali, Jayandra J.; Beiser, Alexa S.; Murabito, Joanne M.; Seshadri, Sudha; Wolf, Philip A.; Au, Rhoda

2017-01-01

Background The number of individuals who reach extreme age is quickly increasing. Much of the current literature focuses on impaired cognition in extreme age, and debate continues regarding what constitutes “normal” cognition in extreme age. This study aimed to provide oldest-old normative data and to compare cognitive performances of cognitively-intact elderly individuals from the Framingham Heart Study. Methods 1302 individuals ages 65+ years old from the Framingham Heart Study were separated into five-year age bands and compared on cognitive tests. Multivariate linear regression analyses were conducted, adjusting for gender, the WRAT-III Reading score, and cohort. Analyses also included comparisons between 418 individuals ages 80+ and 884 individuals ages 65–79, and comparisons within oldest-old age bands. Results Normative data for all participants are presented. Significant differences were found on most tests between age groups in the overall analysis between young-old and oldest-old, and analysis of oldest-old age bands also revealed select significant differences (all p’s <.05). Conclusion As aging increases, significant cognitive differences and increased variability in performances are evident. These results support the use of age appropriate normative data for oldest-old individuals. PMID:26214098

Effects of central nervous system drugs on driving: speed variability versus standard deviation of lateral position as outcome measure of the on-the-road driving test.

PubMed

Verster, Joris C; Roth, Thomas

2014-01-01

The on-the-road driving test in normal traffic is used to examine the impact of drugs on driving performance. This paper compares the sensitivity of standard deviation of lateral position (SDLP) and SD speed in detecting driving impairment. A literature search was conducted to identify studies applying the on-the-road driving test, examining the effects of anxiolytics, antidepressants, antihistamines, and hypnotics. The proportion of comparisons (treatment versus placebo) where a significant impairment was detected with SDLP and SD speed was compared. About 40% of 53 relevant papers did not report data on SD speed and/or SDLP. After placebo administration, the correlation between SDLP and SD speed was significant but did not explain much variance (r = 0.253, p = 0.0001). A significant correlation was found between ΔSDLP and ΔSD speed (treatment-placebo), explaining 48% of variance. When using SDLP as outcome measure, 67 significant treatment-placebo comparisons were found. Only 17 (25.4%) were significant when SD speed was used as outcome measure. Alternatively, for five treatment-placebo comparisons, a significant difference was found for SD speed but not for SDLP. Standard deviation of lateral position is a more sensitive outcome measure to detect driving impairment than speed variability.

Multiple comparisons permutation test for image based data mining in radiotherapy

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Comparing incidental dose distributions (i.e. images) of patients with different outcomes is a straightforward way to explore dose-response hypotheses in radiotherapy. In this paper, we introduced a permutation test that compares images, such as dose distributions from radiotherapy, while tackling the multiple comparisons problem. A test statistic Tmax was proposed that summarizes the differences between the images into a single value and a permutation procedure was employed to compute the adjusted p-value. We demonstrated the method in two retrospective studies: a prostate study that relates 3D dose distributions to failure, and an esophagus study that relates 2D surface dose distributions of the esophagus to acute esophagus toxicity. As a result, we were able to identify suspicious regions that are significantly associated with failure (prostate study) or toxicity (esophagus study). Permutation testing allows direct comparison of images from different patient categories and is a useful tool for data mining in radiotherapy. PMID:24365155

Quantitative Features of Liver Lesions, Lung Nodules, and Renal Stones at Multi-Detector Row CT Examinations: Dependency on Radiation Dose and Reconstruction Algorithm.

PubMed

Solomon, Justin; Mileto, Achille; Nelson, Rendon C; Roy Choudhury, Kingshuk; Samei, Ehsan

2016-04-01

To determine if radiation dose and reconstruction algorithm affect the computer-based extraction and analysis of quantitative imaging features in lung nodules, liver lesions, and renal stones at multi-detector row computed tomography (CT). Retrospective analysis of data from a prospective, multicenter, HIPAA-compliant, institutional review board-approved clinical trial was performed by extracting 23 quantitative imaging features (size, shape, attenuation, edge sharpness, pixel value distribution, and texture) of lesions on multi-detector row CT images of 20 adult patients (14 men, six women; mean age, 63 years; range, 38-72 years) referred for known or suspected focal liver lesions, lung nodules, or kidney stones. Data were acquired between September 2011 and April 2012. All multi-detector row CT scans were performed at two different radiation dose levels; images were reconstructed with filtered back projection, adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction, and model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) algorithms. A linear mixed-effects model was used to assess the effect of radiation dose and reconstruction algorithm on extracted features. Among the 23 imaging features assessed, radiation dose had a significant effect on five, three, and four of the features for liver lesions, lung nodules, and renal stones, respectively (P < .002 for all comparisons). Adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction had a significant effect on three, one, and one of the features for liver lesions, lung nodules, and renal stones, respectively (P < .002 for all comparisons). MBIR reconstruction had a significant effect on nine, 11, and 15 of the features for liver lesions, lung nodules, and renal stones, respectively (P < .002 for all comparisons). Of note, the measured size of lung nodules and renal stones with MBIR was significantly different than those for the other two algorithms (P < .002 for all comparisons). Although lesion texture was significantly affected by the reconstruction algorithm used (average of 3.33 features affected by MBIR throughout lesion types; P < .002, for all comparisons), no significant effect of the radiation dose setting was observed for all but one of the texture features (P = .002-.998). Radiation dose settings and reconstruction algorithms affect the extraction and analysis of quantitative imaging features in lesions at multi-detector row CT.

Peer substance use as a mediator between early pubertal timing and adolescent substance use: longitudinal associations and moderating effect of maltreatment.

PubMed

Negriff, Sonya; Trickett, Penelope K

2012-11-01

Early pubertal timing has received considerable empirical support as a risk for adolescent substance use. However, few studies have examined the mediators linking these variables. Therefore, the aims of this study were (1) to examine peer substance use as a mediator between pubertal timing and adolescent substance use longitudinally and (2) to test gender and maltreatment experience as moderators of the mediational model. Data were obtained from time 1, 2, and 3 of a longitudinal study of maltreatment and development. At time 1 the sample was comprised of 303 maltreated and 151 comparison children aged 9-13 years (213 females and 241 males). Longitudinal mediation was tested using structural equation modeling and moderating effects were tested using multiple group analysis. Peer substance use mediated the relationship between early pubertal timing and later adolescent substance use for the total sample. Moderation analyses indicated this significant indirect effect did not differ for males and females. However, it did differ for maltreated versus comparison adolescents with the mediational effect only remaining significant for the comparison group. This is one of the first studies to examine peer substance use as a mediator of pubertal timing and adolescent substance use using a longitudinal design. Early maturing males are at equal risk to early maturing females for interacting with peers that may draw them into substance use. Additionally, the findings indicate that while peers are mediators for comparison adolescents a different mechanism may link early puberty to substance use for maltreated adolescents. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Adolescents' Clothing Purchase Motivations, Information Sources, and Store Selection Criteria: A Comparison of Male/Female and Impulse/Nonimpulse Shoppers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chen-Yu, Jessie H.; Seock, Yoo-Kyoung

2002-01-01

Male (n=69) and female (n=68) adolescents spent similar amounts on clothing with similar conformity, sexual attractiveness, and recognition motivations. Females shopped significantly more often and were more influenced by friends and magazines. There were significant differences between impulse buyers and others in shopping frequency, expenditure,…

Is There a Relationship between Zinc and the Peculiar Comorbidities of Down Syndrome?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Romano, Corrado; Pettinato, Rosa; Ragusa, Letizia; Barone, Concetta; Alberti, Antonino; Failla, Pinella

2002-01-01

A comparison was made between a range of clinical and biochemical variables and zinc levels in 120 individuals with Down syndrome. No significant differences were found between the normal-zinc and low-zinc groups, except for IgG4 which was, unexpectedly, significantly decreased in the group with normal zinc levels. (Contains references.)…

Family Conflict and Children's Self-Concepts: A Comparison of Intact and Single-Parent Families.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Raschke, Helen J.; Raschke, Vernon J.

1979-01-01

Using the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale to measure self-concept, and self-reports for family structure and family conflict, no significant differences in self-concept scores of children from intact, single-parent, reconstituted, or other types of families were found. Self-concept scores were significantly lower for children reporting…

A Comparison of QEIA and Non-QEIA Schools: Implications of Class Size Reduction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Platt, Louise Carolyn Sater

2013-01-01

The purpose of this research study is to compare student achievement changes between matched QEIA and non-QEIA schools in an effort to infer effects of the most significant feature of QEIA funding, class size reduction. The study addressed the critical question--are there demonstrated, significant differences in student achievement gains between…

Health-related quality of life of irritable bowel syndrome patients in different cultural settings.

PubMed

Faresjö, Ashild; Anastasiou, Foteini; Lionis, Christos; Johansson, Saga; Wallander, Mari-Ann; Faresjö, Tomas

2006-03-27

Persons with Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are seriously affected in their everyday life. The effect across different cultural settings of IBS on their quality of life has been little studied. The aim was to compare health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of individuals suffering from IBS in two different cultural settings; Crete, Greece and Linköping, Sweden. This study is a sex and age-matched case-control study, with n = 30 Cretan IBS cases and n = 90 Swedish IBS cases and a Swedish control group (n = 300) randomly selected from the general population. Health-related quality of life, measured by SF-36 and demographics, life style indicators and co-morbidity, was measured. Cretan IBS cases reported lower HRQOL on most dimensions of SF-36 in comparison to the Swedish IBS cases. Significant differences were found for the dimensions mental health (p < 0.0001) and general health (p = 0.05) even after adjustments for educational level and co-morbidity. Women from Crete with IBS scored especially low on the dimensions general health (p = 0.009) and mental health (p < 0.0001) in comparison with Swedish women with IBS. The IBS cases, from both sites, reported significantly lower scores on all HRQOL dimensions in comparison with the Swedish control group. The results from this study tentatively support that the claim that similar individuals having the same disease, e.g. IBS, but living in different cultural environments could perceive their disease differently and that the disease might affect their everyday life and quality of life in a different way. The Cretan population, and especially women, are more seriously affected mentally by their disease than Swedish IBS cases. Coping with IBS in everyday life might be more problematic in the Cretan environment than in the Swedish setting.

Different digestion enzymes used for human pancreatic islet isolation: A mixed treatment comparison (MTC) meta-analysis

PubMed Central

Rheinheimer, Jakeline; Ziegelmann, Patrícia Klarmann; Carlessi, Rodrigo; Reck, Luciana Ross; Bauer, Andrea Carla; Leitão, Cristiane Bauermann; Crispim, Daisy

2014-01-01

Collagenases are critical reagents determining yield and quality of isolated human pancreatic islets and may affect islet transplantation outcome. Some islet transplantation centers have compared 2 or more collagenase blends; however, the results regarding differences in quantity and quality of islets are conflicting. Thus, for the first time, a mixed treatment comparison (MTC) meta-analysis was carried out to compile data about the effect of different collagenases used for human pancreas digestion on islet yield, purity, viability and stimulation index (SI). Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane libraries were searched. Of 755 articles retrieved, a total of 15 articles fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were included in the MTC meta-analysis. Our results revealed that Vitacyte and Liberase MTF were associated with a small increase in islet yield (islet equivalent number/g pancreas) when compared with Sevac enzyme [standardized mean difference (95% credible interval – CrI) = −2.19 (−4.25 to −0.21) and −2.28 (−4.49 to −0.23), respectively]. However, all other enzyme comparisons did not show any significant difference regarding islet yield. Purity and viability percentages were not significantly different among any of the analyzed digestion enzymes. Interestingly, Vitacyte and Serva NB1 were associated with increased SI when compared with Liberase MTF enzyme [unstandardized weighted mean difference (95% CrI) = −1.69 (−2.87 to −0.51) and −1.07 (−1.79 to −0.39), respectively]. In conclusion, our MTC meta-analysis suggests that the digestion enzymes currently being used for islet isolation works with similar efficiency regarding islet yield, purity and viability; however, Vitacyte and Serva NB1 enzymes seem to be associated with an improved SI as compared with Liberase MTF. PMID:25437379

A comparison of Mediterranean-style and MyPyramid diets on weight loss and inflammatory biomarkers in postpartum breastfeeding women.

PubMed

Stendell-Hollis, Nicole R; Thompson, Patricia A; West, Julie L; Wertheim, Betsy C; Thomson, Cynthia A

2013-01-01

Of postpartum women, 15%-20% retain ≥ 5 kg of their gestational weight gain, increasing risk for adult weight gain. Postpartum women are also in a persistent elevated inflammatory state. Both factors could increase the risk of obesity-related chronic disease. We hypothesized that breastfeeding women randomized to a Mediterranean-style (MED) diet for 4 months would demonstrate significantly greater reductions in body weight, body fat, and inflammation than women randomized to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) MyPyramid diet for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding (comparison diet). A randomized, controlled dietary intervention trial was conducted in 129 overweight (body mass index [BMI] 27.2 ± 4.9 kg/m(2)), mostly exclusively breastfeeding (73.6%) women who were a mean 17.5 weeks postpartum. Dietary change was assessed using a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) before and after intervention as well as plasma fatty acid measures (gas chromatography/flame ionization detector [GC/FID]). Anthropometric measurements and biomarkers of inflammation, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), also were assessed at baseline and 4 months via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Participants in both diet groups demonstrated significant (p<0.001) reductions in body weight (-2.3 ± 3.4 kg and -3.1 ± 3.4 kg for the MED and comparison diets, respectively) and significant (p ≤ 0.002) reductions in all other anthropometric measurements; no significant between-group differences were shown as hypothesized. A significant decrease in TNF-α but not IL-6 was also demonstrated in both diet groups, with no significant between-group difference. Both diets support the promotion of postpartum weight loss and reduction in inflammation (TNF-α) in breastfeeding women.

The immediate effects of taping therapy on knee pain and depression in patients with degenerative arthritis.

PubMed

Han, Ji-Won; Lee, Dong-Kyu; Park, Chi-Bok

2018-05-01

[Purpose] This study aims to identify the immediate effects of taping therapy on knee pain and depression among patients with degenerative arthritis. [Subjects and Methods] In total, 32 patients with degenerative arthritis were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the experimental group that underwent taping therapy and the control group that underwent regular treatment (16 patients per group). In the experimental group, therapeutic tape was wrapped all around the knee joint. Pain and depression were measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), respectively. [Results] The intra-group comparison showed significant differences in VAS and BDI for the experimental group. The intergroup comparison showed that the differences in VAS and BDI within the experimental group appeared significant relative to the control group. [Conclusion] It was observed that taping therapy showed an immediate effect in decreasing knee pain and depression among patients with degenerative arthritis.

A cross-cultural comparison of population gambling patterns and regulatory frameworks: France and Québec.

PubMed

Kairouz, Sylvia; Paradis, Catherine; Nadeau, Louise; Tovar, Marie-Line; Pousset, Maud

2016-12-01

Few empirical studies have examined the relationships between differing regulatory approaches and patterns of gambling behaviors. This article reports on a correlational cross-cultural comparison of differences in the regulatory approaches and gambling behavior among general adult populations in France and Québec, Canada. We drew data from two large population surveys conducted in France and Québec (N=27 653 and N=11 888, respectively). We found diverging and converging aspects of government regulatory policies. Statistical analyses demonstrated significantly higher participation rates and prevalence of 'assiduous gamblers' in Québec. In France, among assiduous gamblers, the proportion of moderate-risk and probable pathological gamblers is significantly higher. Future research should examine environmental conditions and varying gambling offerings, as well as gambling regulation, to determine their potential influence on gambling behaviors.

Lower extremity joint moments of collegiate soccer players differ between genders during a forward jump.

PubMed

Hart, Joseph M; Garrison, J Craig; Palmieri-Smith, Riann; Kerrigan, D Casey; Ingersoll, Christopher D

2008-05-01

Lower extremity kinetics while performing a single-leg forward jump landing may help explain gender biased risk for noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injury. Gender comparison of lower extremity joint angles and moments. Static groups comparison. Motion analysis laboratory. 8 male and 8 female varsity, collegiate soccer athletes. 5 single-leg landings from a 100cm forward jump. Peak and initial contact external joint moments and joint angles of the ankle, knee, and hip. At initial heel contact, males exhibited a adduction moment whereas females exhibited a abduction moment at the hip. Females also had significantly less peak hip extension moment and significantly less peak hip internal rotation moment than males had. Females exhibited greater knee adduction and hip internal rotation angles than men did. When decelerating from a forward jump, gender differences exist in forces acting at the hip.

Bacteriological comparison of ultrasonic and hand instrumentation of root canals in dogs.

PubMed

DeNunzio, M S; Hicks, M L; Pelleu, G B; Kingman, A; Sauber, J J

1989-07-01

This study compared the effectiveness of hand and ultrasonic instrumentation for removing a standardized inoculum of pigmented Serratia marcescens from the root canal system of premolars in dogs. Forty-four premolars from nine beagle dogs were divided into two experimental groups of 20 and 24 teeth, respectively. The experimental teeth were inoculated with approximately 10 colony-forming units of S. marcescens. After the bacterial were allowed to colonize for 1 wk, the experimental teeth were instrumented with either hand instruments or the Cavi-Endo device. The teeth were extracted, crushed, and assayed for recoverable colony-forming units of S. marcescens. Statistical comparisons of the ratio of inoculated to recovered colony-forming untis were made. The results indicated that the difference between the positive controls and the experimental groups was significant. There was no significant difference between the two instrumentation groups.

Design reuse experience of space and hazardous operations robots

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oneil, P. Graham

1994-01-01

A comparison of design drivers for space and hazardous nuclear waste operating robots details similarities and differences in operations, performance and environmental parameters for these critical environments. The similarities are exploited to provide low risk system components based on reuse principles and design knowledge. Risk reduction techniques are used for bridging areas of significant differences. As an example, risk reduction of a new sensor design for nuclear environment operations is employed to provide upgradeable replacement units in a reusable architecture for significantly higher levels of radiation.

The Belief That Market Transactions Are Mutually Beneficial: A Comparison of the Views of Students in Economics and Other Disciplines

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goossens, Amélie; Méon, Pierre-Guillaume

2015-01-01

Using a survey of a large group of first- and final-year students of different disciplines to study their beliefs in the existence of mutual benefits of market transactions, the authors observe significant differences between economics and business students versus students of other disciplines. These differences increase over time, due partly to…

Head-to-Head Comparison of Two Popular Cortical Thickness Extraction Algorithms: A Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Study

PubMed Central

Redolfi, Alberto; Manset, David; Barkhof, Frederik; Wahlund, Lars-Olof; Glatard, Tristan; Mangin, Jean-François; Frisoni, Giovanni B.

2015-01-01

Background and Purpose The measurement of cortical shrinkage is a candidate marker of disease progression in Alzheimer’s. This study evaluated the performance of two pipelines: Civet-CLASP (v1.1.9) and Freesurfer (v5.3.0). Methods Images from 185 ADNI1 cases (69 elderly controls (CTR), 37 stable MCI (sMCI), 27 progressive MCI (pMCI), and 52 Alzheimer (AD) patients) scanned at baseline, month 12, and month 24 were processed using the two pipelines and two interconnected e-infrastructures: neuGRID (https://neugrid4you.eu) and VIP (http://vip.creatis.insa-lyon.fr). The vertex-by-vertex cross-algorithm comparison was made possible applying the 3D gradient vector flow (GVF) and closest point search (CPS) techniques. Results The cortical thickness measured with Freesurfer was systematically lower by one third if compared to Civet’s. Cross-sectionally, Freesurfer’s effect size was significantly different in the posterior division of the temporal fusiform cortex. Both pipelines were weakly or mildly correlated with the Mini Mental State Examination score (MMSE) and the hippocampal volumetry. Civet differed significantly from Freesurfer in large frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital regions (p<0.05). In a discriminant analysis with cortical ROIs having effect size larger than 0.8, both pipelines gave no significant differences in area under the curve (AUC). Longitudinally, effect sizes were not significantly different in any of the 28 ROIs tested. Both pipelines weakly correlated with MMSE decay, showing no significant differences. Freesurfer mildly correlated with hippocampal thinning rate and differed in the supramarginal gyrus, temporal gyrus, and in the lateral occipital cortex compared to Civet (p<0.05). In a discriminant analysis with ROIs having effect size larger than 0.6, both pipelines yielded no significant differences in the AUC. Conclusions Civet appears slightly more sensitive to the typical AD atrophic pattern at the MCI stage, but both pipelines can accurately characterize the topography of cortical thinning at the dementia stage. PMID:25781983

Differences in omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid consumption in people at ultra-high risk of psychosis, first-episode schizophrenia, and in healthy controls.

PubMed

Pawełczyk, Tomasz; Trafalska, Elżbieta; Pawełczyk, Agnieszka; Kotlicka-Antczak, Magdalena

2017-12-01

Supplementation with omega-3 PUFA showed efficacy in reducing the risk of transition into psychosis in UHR individuals. It is uncertain whether dietary patterns can be partly responsible for n-3 deficiencies observed in susceptible participants before the diagnosis of schizophrenia. The study was designed to assess differences in omega-3 and omega-6 PUFA consumption in healthy controls (HC), UHR participants and FES patients as well as to verify the hypothesis that dietary changes in PUFA consumption are present before active psychosis develops, that is, in UHR individuals. Dietary habits during the previous year were assessed in 34 patients at UHR of psychosis, 33 patients diagnosed with FES and 33 HC participants using a validated Food-Frequency Questionnaire and the Polish Food Composition Tables. Significant differences in omega-3 and omega-6 PUFA intake were observed between study groups. UHR and FES groups reported significantly higher consumption of omega-6 PUFA in comparison with HC. FES patients also reported a higher consumption of alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3) in comparison with HC. No significant differences were seen in consumption of long-chain marine PUFA. Differences in omega-6 and omega-3 PUFA consumption exist before development of psychotic symptoms, fulfilling the criteria of schizophrenia. © 2015 Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Proteomic analysis of fibroblastema formation in regenerating hind limbs of Xenopus laevis froglets and comparison to axolotl

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background To gain insight into what differences might restrict the capacity for limb regeneration in Xenopus froglets, we used High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)/double mass spectrometry to characterize protein expression during fibroblastema formation in the amputated froglet hindlimb, and compared the results to those obtained previously for blastema formation in the axolotl limb. Results Comparison of the Xenopus fibroblastema and axolotl blastema revealed several similarities and significant differences in proteomic profiles. The most significant similarity was the strong parallel down regulation of muscle proteins and enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism. Regenerating Xenopus limbs differed significantly from axolotl regenerating limbs in several ways: deficiency in the inositol phosphate/diacylglycerol signaling pathway, down regulation of Wnt signaling, up regulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and proteins involved in chondrocyte differentiation, lack of expression of a key cell cycle protein, ecotropic viral integration site 5 (EVI5), that blocks mitosis in the axolotl, and the expression of several patterning proteins not seen in the axolotl that may dorsalize the fibroblastema. Conclusions We have characterized global protein expression during fibroblastema formation after amputation of the Xenopus froglet hindlimb and identified several differences that lead to signaling deficiency, failure to retard mitosis, premature chondrocyte differentiation, and failure of dorsoventral axial asymmetry. These differences point to possible interventions to improve blastema formation and pattern formation in the froglet limb. PMID:25063185

Peer education training for sexual health and well-being in public high schools in South Africa: Is it enough to change peer educators themselves?

PubMed

Mason-Jones, Amanda J; Flisher, Alan J; Mathews, Catherine

2013-01-01

To evaluate the effects of a high school peer educator training programme on the sexual behaviour and related psychosocial outcomes of peer educators. A total of 728 students from 15 randomly selected public high schools in the Western Cape, South Africa, with a peer education programme and 15 matched comparison schools were recruited, comprising 295 students in the intervention group and 433 students in the comparison arms of the study respectively. Age of sexual debut, use of condom at last sex and psychosocial outcomes such as decision making, goal orientation, critical thinking and self-esteem were measured at baseline and follow-up 18 months later. At follow-up, there were no significant differences in the age of sexual debut, use of condom at last sex, goal orientation, critical thinking and self-esteem scores of the peer educators compared to students in the comparison group. Decision-making scores were significantly higher in the peer educators, compared to students in the comparison group (adjusted difference between means 0.14, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.26). Even a highly intensive peer education training programme had limited effects for the peer educators themselves. It is clear that community factors, gendered power relations and poverty need to be addressed to have a lasting impact.

The effect of a telephone-based health coaching disease management program on Medicaid members with chronic conditions.

PubMed

Lin, Wen-Chieh; Chien, Hung-Lun; Willis, Georgianna; O'Connell, Elizabeth; Rennie, Kate Staunton; Bottella, Heather M; Ferris, Timothy G

2012-01-01

Despite the growing popularity of disease management programs for chronic conditions, evidence regarding the effect of these programs has been mixed. In addition, few peer-reviewed studies have examined the effect of these programs on publicly insured populations. To examine the effect of a telephone-based health coaching disease management program on healthcare utilization and expenditures in Medicaid members with chronic conditions. Using a difference-in-differences analysis, we examined changes in hospitalizations, emergency department (ED) visits, ambulatory care visits, and Medicaid expenditures among program members for 1 year before and 2 years after their enrollment compared with a matched comparison group. Medicaid members aged 18 to 64 with a diagnosis of qualifying chronic conditions and 2 acute health service events of hospitalizations and/or ED visits within a 12-month period. Changes in acute hospitalizations, ambulatory care visits, and Medicaid expenditures before and after program enrollment were similar between the 2 study groups. However, during the second year after enrollment, program members had a significantly smaller decrease in ED visits than the comparisons (8% in program members and 23% in comparisons, P value=0.03). Compared with a matched comparison group, the telephone-based health coaching disease management program did not demonstrate significant effects on healthcare utilization and expenditures in Medicaid members with chronic conditions.

Comparison of the hedonic general Labeled Magnitude Scale with the hedonic 9-point scale.

PubMed

Kalva, Jaclyn J; Sims, Charles A; Puentes, Lorenzo A; Snyder, Derek J; Bartoshuk, Linda M

2014-02-01

The hedonic 9-point scale was designed to compare palatability among different food items; however, it has also been used occasionally to compare individuals and groups. Such comparisons can be invalid because scale labels (for example, "like extremely") can denote systematically different hedonic intensities across some groups. Addressing this problem, the hedonic general Labeled Magnitude Scale (gLMS) frames affective experience in terms of the strongest imaginable liking/disliking of any kind, which can yield valid group comparisons of food palatability provided extreme hedonic experiences are unrelated to food. For each scale, 200 panelists rated affect for remembered food products (including favorite and least favorite foods) and sampled foods; they also sampled taste stimuli (quinine, sucrose, NaCl, citric acid) and rated their intensity. Finally, subjects identified experiences representing the endpoints of the hedonic gLMS. Both scales were similar in their ability to detect within-subject hedonic differences across a range of food experiences, but group comparisons favored the hedonic gLMS. With the 9-point scale, extreme labels were strongly associated with extremes in food affect. In contrast, gLMS data showed that scale extremes referenced nonfood experiences. Perceived taste intensity significantly influenced differences in food liking/disliking (for example, those experiencing the most intense tastes, called supertasters, showed more extreme liking and disliking for their favorite and least favorite foods). Scales like the hedonic gLMS are suitable for across-group comparisons of food palatability. © 2014 Institute of Food Technologists®

Influence of cyclical fatigue on torsional fracture morphology in endodontic instruments.

PubMed

Lopreite, Gustavo; Basilaki, Jorge; Hecht, Pedro

2013-01-01

Cyclical fatigue may influence the appearance and propagation of the type of fracture of an endodontic instrument. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of cyclic fatigue on morphological features of torsional fracture in Pathfile nickel-titanium rotary instruments for surgical preparation in endodontics. Thirty new Pathfile instruments (Dentsply- Maillefer. Ballaigues-Switzerland) diameter .13 and taper .02 were randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 6). Twenty-four of them were subject to cyclical fatigue by continuous rotation using a stainless steel cylinder with internal bore 0.5 mm, length 25 mm, with a curve of 45 degrees and radius 8 mm at 5 mm from the tip, at 300 rpm and 1 Ncm torque for different times: A: 15 sec, B: 75 sec, C: 150 sec and D: 300 sec, while the fifth group was kept as a control (group N). As a second step, the instruments were rotated at 2 rpm and 1 Ncm torque, with their apical 3 mm fixed in a resin block until they suffered torsional fracture. The fracture surfaces were analyzed using a conventional high-vacuum scanning electron microscope (Phillips mod. 515) at 400x. All instruments had ductile fracture areas of different sizes. The ductile fracture areas were measured as percentages of the total area of the instrument by means of Golden Ratio (Softonic) software for measuring images. The data obtained were analyzed statistically using one-way variance analysis followed by Tukey's multiple comparison test. There were significant differences among groups regarding cyclic fatigue time and fragile fracture area (P < .001). Comparison of percentages shows five significant differences between N/C; N/D; A/D; C/N and C/A. No other comparison was significant. It is concluded that the increase in cyclical fatigue to which the rotating PathFile instrument is subject significantly increases the percentage of ductile fracture area produced by torsion.

Quantitative analysis of background parenchymal enhancement in whole breast on MRI: Influence of menstrual cycle and comparison with a qualitative analysis.

PubMed

Jung, Yongsik; Jeong, Seong Kyun; Kang, Doo Kyoung; Moon, Yeorae; Kim, Tae Hee

2018-06-01

We quantitatively analyzed background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) in whole breast according to menstrual cycle and compared it with a qualitative analysis method. A data set of breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) from 273 breast cancer patients was used. For quantitative analysis, we used semiautomated in-house software with MATLAB. From each voxel of whole breast, the software calculated BPE using following equation: [(signal intensity [SI] at 1 min 30 s after contrast injection - baseline SI)/baseline SI] × 100%. In total, 53 patients had minimal, 108 mild, 87 moderate, and 25 marked BPE. On quantitative analysis, mean BPE values were 33.1% in the minimal, 42.1% in the mild, 59.1% in the moderate, and 81.9% in the marked BPE group showing significant difference (p = .009 for minimal vs. mild, p < 0.001 for other comparisons). Spearman's correlation test showed that there was strong significant correlation between qualitative and quantitative BPE (r = 0.63, p < 0.001). The mean BPE value was 48.7% for patients in the first week of the menstrual cycle, 43.5% in the second week, 49% in the third week, and 49.4% for those in the fourth week. The difference between the second and fourth weeks was significant (p = .005). Median, 90th percentile, and 10th percentile values were also significantly different between the second and fourth weeks but not different in other comparisons (first vs. second, first vs. third, first vs. fourth, second vs. third, or third vs. fourth). Quantitative analysis of BPE correlated well with the qualitative BPE grade. Quantitative BPE values were lowest in the second week and highest in the fourth week. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Subjective well-being: gender differences in Holocaust survivors-specific and cross-national effects.

PubMed

Carmel, Sara; King, David B; O'Rourke, Norm; Bachner, Yaacov G

2017-06-01

Subjective well-being (SWB) has become an important concept in evaluating older adults' quality of life. The cognitive and emotional evaluations which are used to appraise it differ in structure, characteristics, and effects on life. The purpose of this study was to support hypotheses regarding expected Holocaust survivors-specific effects and cross-cultural differences on three indicators of SWB. We recruited samples of 50 male and female Israeli Holocaust survivors, other older Israelis, and older Canadians (N = 300) for allowing us to distinguish survivors-specific effects from cross-national differences. State anxiety, depressive symptoms, and life-satisfaction were compared across groups of men and women. Where univariate differences were detected, post hoc comparisons were computed to determine which of the groups significantly differed. In general, a higher level of SWB was found among Canadians in comparison to both comparative Israeli groups. Level of depressive symptoms was significantly higher among women survivors than in the other two groups. Both groups of Israeli women had higher scores on anxiety than Canadian Women; less apparent were differences across groups of men. Life-satisfaction did not differ among the groups. Our findings regarding depression support the survivor-specific effect hypothesis for women, and a national effect on anxiety, but not any effect on life-satisfaction. These findings suggest significant differences in impacts of traumatic life events on cognitive versus emotional indicators of SWB. This issue should be further investigated due to its practical implications in use of various measures of SWB with people who experienced traumatic events.

Comparison of hand laid-up tape and filament wound composite cylinders and panels with and without impact damage

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jegley, Dawn C.; Lopez, Osvaldo F.

1991-01-01

Experimentally determined axial compressive failure loads, strains and failure modes of composite flat panels and cylinders are presented. A comparison of two types of filament wound flat graphite-epoxy panels indicates that the winding pattern can influence structural response. A comparison of hand laid-up tape and filament wound composite cylinders indicates that fabrication method may not significantly influence the failure mode or average failure strain of thick-walled (radius-to-thickness ratio less than 15) graphite-epoxy cylinders. The interaction of manufacturing-induced features (fiber cross-overs) and low-speed impact damage for graphite-epoxy specimens is also presented. Filament would flat panels with many fiber cross-overs exhibited lower failure strains than filament wound panels without fiber cross-overs for all impact speeds examined. Graphite-thermoplastic cylinders exhibited a significantly different failure mode from the graphite-epoxy cylinders.

A comparison of protocols and observer precision for measuring physical stream attributes

USGS Publications Warehouse

Whitacre, H.W.; Roper, B.B.; Kershner, J.L.

2007-01-01

Stream monitoring programs commonly measure physical attributes to assess the effect of land management on stream habitat. Variability associated with the measurement of these attributes has been linked to a number of factors, but few studies have evaluated variability due to differences in protocols. We compared six protocols, five used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and one by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, on six streams in Oregon and Idaho to determine whether differences in protocol affect values for 10 physical stream attributes. Results from Oregon and Idaho were combined for groups participating in both states, with significant differences in attribute means for 9 out of the 10 stream attributes. Significant differences occurred in 5 of 10 in Idaho, and 10 of 10 in Oregon. Coefficients of variation, signal-to-noise ratio, and root mean square error were used to evaluate measurement precision. There were differences among protocols for all attributes when states were analyzed separately and as a combined dataset. Measurement differences were influenced by choice of instruments, measurement method, measurement location, attribute definitions, and training approach. Comparison of data gathered by observers using different protocols will be difficult unless a core set of protocols for commonly measured stream attributes can be standardized among monitoring programs.

Comparison of risk patterns in carcinoma and melanoma of the skin in men: a multi-centre case–case–control study

PubMed Central

Zanetti, R; Rosso, S; Martinez, C; Nieto, A; Miranda, A; Mercier, M; Loria, D I; Østerlind, A; Greinert, R; Navarro, C; Fabbrocini, G; Barbera, C; Sancho-Garnier, H; Gafà, L; Chiarugi, A; Mossotti, R

2006-01-01

We directly compared risk factors between 214 histologically confirmed melanomas (CMM), 215 basal-cell carcinomas (BCC) and 139 squamous-cell carcinomas (SCC) in a multiple case–case–control study with 349 controls from patients without dermatological disease admitted to the same hospitals. Subjects with fair hair had a significant risk increase for all types of tumours at a comparable level (ORadj for blonde hair: CMM 2.3; SCC 2.4; BCC 2.3). The effect of pale eyes was significant and similar for CMM and BCC (ORadj 2.6). Intermittent sun exposure measured in hours spent at beach during holidays was significant for both CMM (ORadj 2.6 for more than 7000 lifelong hours) and BCC (ORadj 2.1 for more than 7000 lifelong hours), while SCC exhibited a significant risk increase for chronic exposure to sunlight measured in hours of outdoor work (ORadj 2.2 for more than 6000 lifelong hours). In the case–case comparison using a multinomial logistic regression model, we found a statistically significant risk difference for pale eyes, and number of naevi in the CMM group, compared to other skin cancers. For intermittent sun exposure, there was a significant risk difference of BCC when compared to the risk of SCC. Factors influencing risk of SCC are different, with chronic exposure to sun playing a major role in causing this type of carcinoma. PMID:16495934

Significance of a soft-coagulation system with monopolar electrode for hepatectomy: A retrospective two-institution study by propensity analysis.

PubMed

Hamada, Takeomi; Nanashima, Atsushi; Yano, Koichi; Sumida, Yorihisa; Hiyoshi, Masahide; Imamura, Naoya; Tobinaga, Shuichi; Tsuchimochi, Yuki; Takeno, Shinsuke; Fujii, Yoshiro; Nagayasu, Takeshi

2017-09-01

The VIO soft-coagulation system (VIO) with a monopolar electrode is a novel hemostatic device that provides hemostasis by superficial contact at the bleeding site without carbonization. Because heat injury remains a concern, surgical records and postoperative liver dysfunction were retrospectively evaluated in a cohort study. Between September 2010 and March 2016, 322 patients underwent hepatectomy in which hemostatic devices were used at two institutions. Surgical results with use of VIO at one institute (VIO group) were compared with those without use of VIO at a second institute (control group), and propensity analysis was performed. In limited resection and segmentectomy or sectionectomy performed in the VIO group, the prevalence of liver cirrhosis was significantly higher and the operation time was significantly longer in comparison with the control group (p < 0.05). In all hepatectomies, postoperative levels of total bilirubin and aspartate or alanine transaminase tended to be increased and prothrombin activity tended to be lower in the VIO group in comparison with the control group (p < 0.05). The prevalence of hepatic failure in the VIO group was significantly higher in comparison with that in the control group (p < 0.05). In cases of segmentectomy or sectionectomy, blood loss was significantly increased in the VIO group in comparison with that in the control group (p < 0.05) Propensity score matching showed that although the surgical records and outcomes were not significantly different between the groups, postoperative liver dysfunction was significant in the VIO group in comparison with the control group (p < 0.05). Mild postoperative hepatic thermal injury with VIO was confirmed, and therefore, surgeons should take care when using the VIO system to make frequent wide resected cuts on the surface of the liver. Copyright © 2017 IJS Publishing Group Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Clinical effects of joint application of β-sodium aescinate and mannitol in treating early swelling after upper limb trauma surgery.

PubMed

Wang, Bin; Yang, Ruixiang; Ju, Qing; Liu, Shaofeng; Zhang, Yongchun; Ma, Yong

2016-11-01

The aim of the present study was to examine the clinical merits of joint application of β-sodium aescinate and mannitol for the treatment of early swelling of upper limb trauma after surgery. We verified whether the expression of serum aquaporin 1 (AQP-1) was involved in swelling mechanism. A total of 102 patients with swelling after upper limb trauma surgery were enrolled into the study and divided randomly into 3 groups (n=34 cases per group). Group A was treated with β-sodium aescinate; group B was treated with with mannitol and group C was treated with both β-sodium aescinate and mannitol. The expression level of AQP-1, and clinical effects and complications before and after treatment were compared§. The time of swelling subsidence in group C was significantly shorter than that of the other two groups and differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The recovery ratio and total efficiency in group C were significantly higher than those in other two groups and differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Three and seven days after treatment, the AQP-1 levels in group A and group C were decreased and AQP-1 level decreased further with time. Differences of comparison within groups were statistically significant (P<0.05), although the differences of comparison between the groups showed no statistical significance (P>0.05). We also compared the AQP-1 level in group B before and after treatment, and the differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05). When the complication incidence in the 3 groups was compared, no statistical significance was detected (P>0.05). We concluded that the joint use of β-sodium aescinate and mannitol in treating early swelling after upper limb trauma surgery produced satisfactory outcomes. This might be related to reduction of the AQP-1 level.

Coarse-to-fine construction for high-resolution representation in visual working memory.

PubMed

Gao, Zaifeng; Ding, Xiaowei; Yang, Tong; Liang, Junying; Shui, Rende

2013-01-01

This study explored whether the high-resolution representations created by visual working memory (VWM) are constructed in a coarse-to-fine or all-or-none manner. The coarse-to-fine hypothesis suggests that coarse information precedes detailed information in entering VWM and that its resolution increases along with the processing time of the memory array, whereas the all-or-none hypothesis claims that either both enter into VWM simultaneously, or neither does. We tested the two hypotheses by asking participants to remember two or four complex objects. An ERP component, contralateral delay activity (CDA), was used as the neural marker. CDA is higher for four objects than for two objects when coarse information is primarily extracted; yet, this CDA difference vanishes when detailed information is encoded. Experiment 1 manipulated the comparison difficulty of the task under a 500-ms exposure time to determine a condition in which the detailed information was maintained. No CDA difference was found between two and four objects, even in an easy-comparison condition. Thus, Experiment 2 manipulated the memory array's exposure time under the easy-comparison condition and found a significant CDA difference at 100 ms while replicating Experiment 1's results at 500 ms. In Experiment 3, the 500-ms memory array was blurred to block the detailed information; this manipulation reestablished a significant CDA difference. These findings suggest that the creation of high-resolution representations in VWM is a coarse-to-fine process.

Set size influences the relationship between ANS acuity and math performance: a result of different strategies?

PubMed

Dietrich, Julia Felicitas; Nuerk, Hans-Christoph; Klein, Elise; Moeller, Korbinian; Huber, Stefan

2017-08-29

Previous research has proposed that the approximate number system (ANS) constitutes a building block for later mathematical abilities. Therefore, numerous studies investigated the relationship between ANS acuity and mathematical performance, but results are inconsistent. Properties of the experimental design have been discussed as a potential explanation of these inconsistencies. In the present study, we investigated the influence of set size and presentation duration on the association between non-symbolic magnitude comparison and math performance. Moreover, we focused on strategies reported as an explanation for these inconsistencies. In particular, we employed a non-symbolic magnitude comparison task and asked participants how they solved the task. We observed that set size was a significant moderator of the relationship between non-symbolic magnitude comparison and math performance, whereas presentation duration of the stimuli did not moderate this relationship. This supports the notion that specific design characteristics contribute to the inconsistent results. Moreover, participants reported different strategies including numerosity-based, visual, counting, calculation-based, and subitizing strategies. Frequencies of these strategies differed between different set sizes and presentation durations. However, we found no specific strategy, which alone predicted arithmetic performance, but when considering the frequency of all reported strategies, arithmetic performance could be predicted. Visual strategies made the largest contribution to this prediction. To conclude, the present findings suggest that different design characteristics contribute to the inconsistent findings regarding the relationship between non-symbolic magnitude comparison and mathematical performance by inducing different strategies and additional processes.

Evaluation of Hand Lay-Up and Resin Transfer Molding in Composite Wind Turbine Blade Manufacturing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

CAIRNS,DOUGLAS S.; SHRAMSTAD,JON D.

2000-06-01

The majority of the wind turbine blade industry currently uses low cost hand lay-up manufacturing techniques to process composite blades. While there are benefits to the hand lay-up process, drawbacks inherent to this process along with advantages of other techniques suggest that better manufacturing alternatives may be available. Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) was identified as a processing alternative and shows promise in addressing the shortcomings of hand lay-up. This report details a comparison of the RTM process to hand lay-up of composite wind turbine blade structures. Several lay-up schedules and critical turbine blade structures were chosen for comparison of theirmore » properties resulting from RTM and hand lay-up processing. The geometries investigated were flat plate, thin and thick flanged T-stiffener, I-beam, and root connection joint. It was found that the manufacturing process played an important role in laminate thickness, fiber volume, and weight for the geometries investigated. RTM was found to reduce thickness and weight and increase fiber volumes for all substructures. RTM resulted in tighter material transition radii and eliminated the need for most secondary bonding operations. These results would significantly reduce the weight of wind turbine blades. Hand lay-up was consistently slower in fabrication times for the structures investigated. A comparison of mechanical properties showed no significant differences after employing fiber volume normalization techniques to account for geometry differences resulting from varying fiber volumes. The current root specimen design does not show significant mechanical property differences according to process and exceeds all static and fatigue requirements.« less

Contribution to the rheological testing of pharmaceutical semisolids.

PubMed

Siska, B; Snejdrova, E; Machac, I; Dolecek, P; Martiska, J

2018-01-22

Rheological behaviour of pharmaceutical semisolid preparations significantly affects manufacturing process, administration, stability, homogeneity of incorporated drug, accuracy of dosing, adhesion in the place of application, drug release, and resulting therapeutic effect of the product. We performed test of consistency by penetrometry, rotational, oscillation and creep tests, and squeeze and tack tests of model samples to introduce methods suitable for characterization and comparison of semisolids in practice. Penetrometry is a simple method allowing sorting the semisolids to low and high stress-resistant materials but deficient for rheological characterization of semisolids. Value of yield stress, generally considered to be appropriate feature of semisolids, is significantly influenced by the method of testing and the way of evaluation. The hysteresis loops of model semisolids revealed incomplete thixotropy, therefore, three-step thixotropy test was employed. Semisolids showed nonlinear response in the creep phase of tests and partial recovery of structure by storing energy in the recovery phase. Squeeze and tack tests seem to be convenient ways for comparison of semisolids. Our study can contribute to a better understanding of different flow behaviour of semisolids given by different physicochemical properties of excipients and can bring useful approaches to evaluation and comparison of semisolids in practice.

A comparison of somatic mutational spectra in healthy study populations from Russia, Sweden and USA

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Noori, P; Hou, S; Jones, I M

Comparison of mutation spectra at the hypoxanthine-phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT) gene of peripheral blood T lymphocytes may provide insight into the aetiology of somatic mutation contributing to carcinogenesis and other diseases. To increase knowledge of mutation spectra in healthy people, we have analyzed HPRT mutant T-cells of 50 healthy Russians originally recruited as controls for a study of Chernobyl clean-up workers (Jones et al. Radiation Res. 158, 2002, 424). Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reactions and DNA sequencing identified 161 independent mutations among 176 thioguanine resistant mutants. Forty (40) mutations affected splicing mechanisms and 27 deletions or insertions of 1 to 60more » nucleotides were identified. Ninety four (94) single base substitutions were identified, including 62 different mutations at 55 different nucleotide positions, of which 19 had not previously been reported in human T-cells. Comparison of this base substitution spectrum with mutation spectra in a USA (Burkhart-Schultz et al. Carcinogenesis 17, 1996, 1871) and two Swedish populations (Podlutsky et al, Carcinogenesis 19, 1998, 557, Podlutsky et al. Mutation Res. 431, 1999, 325) revealed similarity in the type, frequency and distribution of mutations in the four spectra, consistent with aetiologies inherent in human metabolism. There were 15-19 identical mutations in the three pair-wise comparisons of Russian with USA and Swedish spectra. Intriguingly, there were 21 mutations unique to the Russian spectrum, and comparison by the Monte Carlo method of Adams and Skopek (J. Mol. Biol. 194, 1987, 391) indicated that the Russian spectrum was different from both Swedish spectra (P=0.007, 0.002) but not different from the USA spectrum (P=0.07), when Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons was made (p < 0.008 required for significance). Age and smoking did not account for these differences. Other factors causing mutational differences need to be explored.« less

Self-Esteem Comparisons among Intellectually Gifted Minority/Non-Minority Junior High Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Legin-Bucell, Cynthia; And Others

Differences in self-esteem between 48 minority and 62 non-minority intellectually gifted and 75 intellectually average junior-high students were assessed using the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory. Results indicated a higher level of self-esteem for the gifted students than for the control group. Significant differences were also found to exist…

A Comparison of Men Who Committed Different Types of Sexual Assault in a Community Sample

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Abbey, Antonia; Parkhill, Michele R.; Clinton-Sherrod, A. Monique; Zawacki, Tina

2007-01-01

This study extends past research by examining predictors of different types of sexual assault perpetration in a community sample. Computer-assisted self-interviews were conducted with a representative sample of 163 men in one large urban community. As hypothesized, many variables that are significant predictors of sexual assault perpetration in…

A Comparison of How Gifted/LD and Average/LD Boys Cope with School Frustration.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Coleman, Mary Ruth

1992-01-01

Gifted learning-disabled and average learning-disabled middle school boys (n=42) in grades 6-9 were compared on ways they cope with difficult school situations. Although no group differences were found on the Coping Resources Inventory, significant differences were found in the actual strategies the groups reported using, with gifted students…

Comparison of Chemical Binding to Recombinant Fathead minnow and Human Estrogen Receptor alpha (ERα) in Whole Cell and Cell-Free Assay Systems.

EPA Science Inventory

Our objectives were to assess whether binding of chemicals differs significantly between recombinant estrogen receptors from fathead minnow (fhERα) and human (hERα) and to evaluate the performance of these receptors using two different in vitro assay systems: a COS whole cell bin...

Analysis of variola and vaccinia virus neutralization assays for smallpox vaccines.

PubMed

Hughes, Christine M; Newman, Frances K; Davidson, Whitni B; Olson, Victoria A; Smith, Scott K; Holman, Robert C; Yan, Lihan; Frey, Sharon E; Belshe, Robert B; Karem, Kevin L; Damon, Inger K

2012-07-01

Possible smallpox reemergence drives research for third-generation vaccines that effectively neutralize variola virus. A comparison of neutralization assays using different substrates, variola and vaccinia (Dryvax and modified vaccinia Ankara [MVA]), showed significantly different 90% neutralization titers; Dryvax underestimated while MVA overestimated variola neutralization. Third-generation vaccines may rely upon neutralization as a correlate of protection.

Family Background, Entry Selectivity and Opportunities to Learn: What Matters in Primary Teacher Education? An International Comparison of Fifteen Countries

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blomeke, Sigrid; Suhl, Ute; Kaiser, Gabriele; Dohrmann, Martina

2012-01-01

First findings of IEA's "Teacher Education and Development Study in Mathematics (TEDS-M)" had revealed differences in the demographic background, opportunities to learn (OTL), and outcomes of teacher education between student teachers from different countries. Two hypotheses are examined: OTL and teacher background are significant predictors of…

Continuous monitoring of intracranial pressure for prediction of postoperative complications of hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage.

PubMed

Yu, S-X; Zhang, Q-S; Yin, Y; Liu, Z; Wu, J-M; Yang, M-X

2016-11-01

This study evaluates the value of continuous dynamic monitoring of intracranial pressure (ICP) in patients with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage to predict early postoperative complications. Data from 80 patients treated in our hospital from February 2014 to February 2015 were analyzed. The patients all underwent decompressive craniectomies, and their ICP changes were monitored invasively and continuously for 1 to 7 days after surgery. The average blood loss during surgery for the group of patients was 65.3 ± 12.4 ml and the mean GCS score 8.7 ± 2.4. Cases were divided into three groups according to ICP values to compare early postoperative complications of the groups: a normal and mildly increased group (51 cases), a moderately increased group (19 cases) and a severely increased group (10 cases). To validate the analysis we first showed that comparisons among groups based on gender, age, systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, bleeding time, blood loss, operation time, craniectomy localization, and preoperative mannitol dosage yielded no statistically significant differences. In contrast, the following comparisons produced statistically significant differences: the comparison of postoperative Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores showing that the lower intracranial pressure, the higher the GCS score; the postoperative rehemorrhage, cerebral edema and death ratios showing the higher the intracranial pressure, the higher the rehemorrhage ratio; the average ICP and the time to occurrence of rehemorrhage, cerebral edema or cerebral infarction, showing the relationship between the average ICP and the time to a complication. Patients with higher ICP averages suffered a complication of rehemorrhage within the first 9.6 ± 2.5 hours on average. Nevertheless, the comparison of GCS scores in those patients and the others showed no significant differences. Based on the findings, the dynamic monitoring of intracranial pressure can early and sensitively predict postoperative complications of patients with hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage, and guide the clinical intervention actively to improve the surgery outcome.

Grouped to Achieve: Are There Benefits to Assigning Students to Heterogeneous Cooperative Learning Groups Based on Pre-Test Scores?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Werth, Arman Karl

Cooperative learning has been one of the most widely used instructional practices around the world since the early 1980's. Small learning groups have been in existence since the beginning of the human race. These groups have grown in their variance and complexity overtime. Classrooms are getting more diverse every year and instructors need a way to take advantage of this diversity to improve learning. The purpose of this study was to see if heterogeneous cooperative learning groups based on student achievement can be used as a differentiated instructional strategy to increase students' ability to demonstrate knowledge of science concepts and ability to do engineering design. This study includes two different groups made up of two different middle school science classrooms of 25-30 students. These students were given an engineering design problem to solve within cooperative learning groups. One class was put into heterogeneous cooperative learning groups based on student's pre-test scores. The other class was grouped based on random assignment. The study measured the difference between each class's pre-post gains, student's responses to a group interaction form and interview questions addressing their perceptions of the makeup of their groups. The findings of the study were that there was no significant difference between learning gains for the treatment and comparison groups. There was a significant difference between the treatment and comparison groups in student perceptions of their group's ability to stay on task and manage their time efficiently. Both the comparison and treatment groups had a positive perception of the composition of their cooperative learning groups.

Readout-Segmented Echo-Planar Imaging in Diffusion-Weighted MR Imaging in Breast Cancer: Comparison with Single-Shot Echo-Planar Imaging in Image Quality

PubMed Central

Kim, Yun Ju; Kang, Bong Joo; Park, Chang Suk; Kim, Hyeon Sook; Son, Yo Han; Porter, David Andrew; Song, Byung Joo

2014-01-01

Objective The purpose of this study was to compare the image quality of standard single-shot echo-planar imaging (ss-EPI) and that of readout-segmented EPI (rs-EPI) in patients with breast cancer. Materials and Methods Seventy-one patients with 74 breast cancers underwent both ss-EPI and rs-EPI. For qualitative comparison of image quality, three readers independently assessed the two sets of diffusion-weighted (DW) images. To evaluate geometric distortion, a comparison was made between lesion lengths derived from contrast enhanced MR (CE-MR) images and those obtained from the corresponding DW images. For assessment of image parameters, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), lesion contrast, and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated. Results The rs-EPI was superior to ss-EPI in most criteria regarding the qualitative image quality. Anatomical structure distinction, delineation of the lesion, ghosting artifact, and overall image quality were significantly better in rs-EPI. Regarding the geometric distortion, lesion length on ss-EPI was significantly different from that of CE-MR, whereas there were no significant differences between CE-MR and rs-EPI. The rs-EPI was superior to ss-EPI in SNR and CNR. Conclusion Readout-segmented EPI is superior to ss-EPI in the aspect of image quality in DW MR imaging of the breast. PMID:25053898

Polychlorinated biphenyl exposure and effects in transformer repair workers.

PubMed Central

Emmett, E A

1985-01-01

Fifty-five present and past transformer repair workers exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 56 unexposed comparison workers were evaluated in a clinical-epidemiologic study. The groups were similar in most demographic variables. Adipose tissue lipid and serum PCBs concentrations were higher in current exposed workers (geometric means adipose 2.1 ppm, serum 12.2 ppb). Concentrations in comparison (0.6 ppm and 4.6 ppb) and previously exposed (0.83 ppm and 5.9 ppb) workers were lower. Statistically significant differences in serum albumin and lactic dehydrogenase, but not in other liver function tests, were seen between the exposed and comparison groups; however, after adjustment for confounding variables, no correlations were observed between liver function tests and either adipose or serum PCBs concentrations. Statistically significant correlation both before and after adjustment for confounding variables were seen with adipose PCBs and 24-hr urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroid excretion and with serum PCBs and serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. Both associations could reflect microsomal enzyme induction among other possibilities. No differences were seen in fasting serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL or VLDL cholesterol between the two exposure groups. A statistically significant correlation between serum PCBs and serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, and VLDL cholesterol was removed by adjusting for confounding variables. No correlation was seen between adipose PCBs concentrations and any serum lipid component. Partition phenomena could account for these findings.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID:2863134

Comparison of GnRH agonist, GnRH antagonist, and GnRH antagonist mild protocol of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in good prognosis patients.

PubMed

Stimpfel, Martin; Vrtacnik-Bokal, Eda; Pozlep, Barbara; Virant-Klun, Irma

2015-01-01

The reports on how to stimulate the ovaries for oocyte retrieval in good prognosis patients are contradictory and often favor one type of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH). For this reason, we retrospectively analyzed data from IVF/ICSI cycles carried out at our IVF Unit in good prognosis patients (aged <38 years, first and second attempts of IVF/ICSI, more than 3 oocytes retrieved) to elucidate which type of COH is optimal at our condition. The included patients were undergoing COH using GnRH agonist, GnRH antagonist or GnRH antagonist mild protocol in combination with gonadotrophins. We found significant differences in the average number of retrieved oocytes, immature oocytes, fertilized oocytes, embryos, transferred embryos, embryos frozen per cycle, and cycles with embryo freezing between studied COH protocols. Although there were no differences in live birth rate (LBR), miscarriages, and ectopic pregnancies between compared protocols, pregnancy rate was significantly higher in GnRH antagonist mild protocol in comparison with both GnRH antagonist and GnRH agonist protocols and cumulative LBR per cycle was significantly higher in GnRH antagonist mild protocol in comparison to GnRH agonist protocol. Our data show that GnRH antagonist mild protocol of COH could be the best method of choice in good prognosis patients.

Comparative Transcriptome Analysis in the Hepatopancreas Tissue of Pacific White Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei Fed Different Lipid Sources at Low Salinity

PubMed Central

Chen, Ke; Li, Erchao; Xu, Zhixin; Li, Tongyu; Xu, Chang; Qin, Jian G.; Chen, Liqiao

2015-01-01

RNA-seq was used to compare the transcriptomic response of hepatopancreas in juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei fed three diets with different lipid sources, including beef tallow (BT), fish oil (FO), and an equal combination of soybean oil + BT + linseed oil (SBL) for 8 weeks at 3 practical salinity unit (psu). A total of 9622 isogenes were annotated in 316 KEGG pathways and 39, 42 and 32 pathways significantly changed in the paired comparisons of FO vs SBL, BT vs SBL, or FO vs BT, respectively. The pathways of glycerolipid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, fatty acid biosynthesis, fatty acid elongation, fatty acid degradation, and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acid were significantly changed in all paired comparisons between dietary lipid sources, and the pathways of glycerolipid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism and glycerophospholipid metabolism significantly changed in the FO vs SBL and BT vs SBL comparisons. These pathways are associated with energy metabolism and cell membrane structure. The results indicate that lipids sources affect the adaptation of L. vannamei to low salinity by providing extra energy or specific fatty acids to change gill membrane structure and control iron balance. The results of this study lay a foundation for further understanding lipid or fatty acid metabolism in L. vannamei at low salinity. PMID:26670122

SisterTalk: final results of a culturally tailored cable television delivered weight control program for Black women.

PubMed

Risica, Patricia Markham; Gans, Kim M; Kumanyika, Shiriki; Kirtania, Usree; Lasater, Thomas M

2013-12-27

Obesity among Black women continues to exceed that of other women. Most weight loss programs created without reference to specific cultural contexts are less effective for Black than White women. Weight control approaches accessible to Black women and adapted to relevant cultural contexts are important for addressing this problem. This paper reports the final results of SisterTalk, the randomized controlled trial of a cable TV weight control program oriented toward Black women. A five group design included a comparison group and a 2 × 2 factorial comparison of a) interactive vs. passive programming and b) telephone social support vs no telephone support, with 12 weekly initial cable TV programs followed by 4 monthly booster videos. At baseline, 3, 8, and 12 months post randomization, telephone and in person surveys were administered on diet, physical activity, and physical measurements of height and weight were taken to calculate body mass index (BMI). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to examine differences over time, and between treatment and comparison groups. Dose variables reflecting use of the TV/video and written materials were also assessed. At 3 months, BMI, weight, and dietary fat were significantly lower and physical activity significantly higher among women exposed to the Cable TV intervention compared to the wait-list comparison group. Significant dietary fat differences were still observed at 8 and 12 month evaluations, but not BMI or physical activity differences. Main effects were not observed for interactive programming or enhanced social support at any time point. Within the intervention group, higher watching of the TV series and higher reading of educational materials were both (separately) associated with significantly lower dietary fat. Cable TV was an effective delivery channel to assist Black women with weight control, increasing physical activity and decreasing dietary fat during an initial intervention period, but only dietary changes persisted Enhanced social support and the ability to interact with others during the show were not effective complementary intervention components as conducted in this trial. Future research to strengthen the ability of this approach to achieve long term effects may offer even more promising outcomes.

Effects of Before-School Physical Activity on Obesity Prevention and Wellness.

PubMed

Whooten, Rachel C; Perkins, Meghan E; Gerber, Monica W; Taveras, Elsie M

2018-04-01

The effects of Build Our Kids Success-a 12-week, 1-hour before-school physical activity program-on BMI and social-emotional wellness among kindergarten to eighth grade students was examined. This was a nonrandomized trial. Participants were from 24 schools in Massachusetts; there were 707 children from kindergarten to eighth grade. Children registered for Build Our Kids Success in 2015-2016 participated in a 2 days/week or 3 days/week program. Nonparticipating children served as controls. At baseline and 12 weeks, study staff measured children's heights/weights; children aged ≥8 years completed surveys. Main outcomes were 12-week change in BMI z-score, odds of a lower BMI category at follow-up, and child report of social-emotional wellness. Analyses were completed in March-June 2017. Follow-up BMI was obtained from 67% of children and self-reported surveys from 72% of age-eligible children. Children in the 3 days/week group had improvements in BMI z-score (-0.22, 95% CI= -0.31, -0.14) and this mean change was significantly different than the comparison group (-0.17 difference, 95% CI= -0.27, -0.07). Children in the 3 days/week group also had higher odds of being in a lower BMI category at follow-up (OR=1.35, 95% CI=1.12, 1.62); significantly different than the comparison group (p<0.01). Children in the 2 days/week program had no significant changes in BMI outcomes. Children in the 3 days/week group demonstrated improvement in their student engagement scores (0.79 units, p=0.05) and had nonsignificant improvements in reported peer relationships, affect, and life satisfaction versus comparison. The 2 days/week group had significant improvements in positive affect and vitality/energy versus comparison. A 3 days/week before-school physical activity program resulted in improved BMI and prevented increases in child obesity. Both Build Our Kids Success groups had improved social-emotional wellness versus controls. This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT03190135. Copyright © 2018 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Sampling for area estimation: A comparison of full-frame sampling with the sample segment approach

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hixson, M.; Bauer, M. E.; Davis, B. J. (Principal Investigator)

1979-01-01

The author has identified the following significant results. Full-frame classifications of wheat and non-wheat for eighty counties in Kansas were repetitively sampled to simulate alternative sampling plans. Evaluation of four sampling schemes involving different numbers of samples and different size sampling units shows that the precision of the wheat estimates increased as the segment size decreased and the number of segments was increased. Although the average bias associated with the various sampling schemes was not significantly different, the maximum absolute bias was directly related to sampling size unit.

Comparisons of Auricular Cartilage Tissues from Different Species.

PubMed

Chiu, Loraine L Y; Giardini-Rosa, Renata; Weber, Joanna F; Cushing, Sharon L; Waldman, Stephen D

2017-12-01

Tissue engineering of auricular cartilage has great potential in providing readily available materials for reconstructive surgeries. As the field of tissue engineering moves forward to developing human tissues, there needs to be an interspecies comparison of the native auricular cartilage in order to determine a suitable animal model to assess the performance of engineered auricular cartilage in vivo. Here, we performed interspecies comparisons of auricular cartilage by comparing tissue microstructure, protein localization, biochemical composition, and mechanical properties of auricular cartilage tissues from rat, rabbit, pig, cow, and human. Human, pig, and cow auricular cartilage have smaller lacunae compared to rat and rabbit cartilage ( P < .05). Despite differences in tissue microstructure, human auricular cartilage has similar biochemical composition to both rat and rabbit. Auricular cartilage from pig and cow, alternatively, display significantly higher glycosaminoglycan and collagen contents compared to human, rat, and rabbit ( P < .05). The mechanical properties of human auricular cartilage were comparable to that of all 4 animal species. This is the first study that compares the microstructural, biochemical, and mechanical properties of auricular cartilage from different species. This study showed that different experimental animal models of human auricular cartilage may be suitable in different cases.

A comparison of personality characteristics of male and female engineering students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Williams, Erin Beth

The purpose of this study was to investigate differences between personality characteristics of female and male freshmen, engineering students. A secondary purpose was to ascertain whether personality characteristics of freshmen, engineering students were different from those of general collegiate students of the same sex. The Millon Index of Personality Styles (MIPS) was administered to a sample of 72 female and 86 male freshmen, engineering students at a private midwestern engineering institution. The MIPS college normative sample of 1,600 college students was used as a comparison group. A total of 24 personality characteristics were assessed in the domains of motivation aims, cognitive modes, and interpersonal behaviors. Four hypotheses, which dealt with comparisons of the engineering samples, were tested by way of discriminant analyses. Two hypotheses, which compared the engineering samples to the collegiate samples of the same sex, were tested by way of t-tests. All six hypotheses yielded significant differences across various personality variables. It was concluded that engineering students of both sexes were more similar than different in personality characteristics. It was also concluded that there were greater personality differences between freshmen male engineering students and male college students than there are between freshmen female engineering students and female college students.

CoRoT/ESTA TASK 1 and TASK 3 comparison of the internal structure and seismic properties of representative stellar models. Comparisons between the ASTEC, CESAM, CLES, GARSTEC and STAROX codes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lebreton, Yveline; Montalbán, Josefina; Christensen-Dalsgaard, Jørgen; Roxburgh, Ian W.; Weiss, Achim

2008-08-01

We compare stellar models produced by different stellar evolution codes for the CoRoT/ESTA project, comparing their global quantities, their physical structure, and their oscillation properties. We discuss the differences between models and identify the underlying reasons for these differences. The stellar models are representative of potential CoRoT targets. Overall we find very good agreement between the five different codes, but with some significant deviations. We find noticeable discrepancies (though still at the per cent level) that result from the handling of the equation of state, of the opacities and of the convective boundaries. The results of our work will be helpful in interpreting future asteroseismology results from CoRoT.

Effect of feeding sorghum straw based complete rations with different roughage to concentrate ratio on dry matter intake, nutrient utilization, and nitrogen balance in Nellore ram lambs.

PubMed

Malisetty, Venkateswarlu; Yerradoddi, Ramana Reddy; Devanaboina, Nagalakshmi; Mallam, Mahender; Mitta, Pavani

2014-06-01

An experiment was conducted by feeding sorghum straw (Sorghum bicolor) based complete rations at roughage concentrate ratio 70:30 (CR-I), 60:40 (CR-II), 50:50 (CR-III), and 40:60 (CR-IV) for 180 days to find out suitable ratio of sorghum straw in the complete ration (mash form) on nutrient utilization and nitrogen balance in Nellore ram lambs. The DMI (g/day) increased significantly (P < 0.05) as level of concentrate increased in complete rations. No significant difference was found in digestibilities of proximate nutrients. However, CP digestibility was higher either significantly or nonsignificantly by 2.12, 5.50, and 9.36 %, respectively, in lambs fed with CR-II (P > 0.05), CR-III (P > 0.05), and CR-IV (P < 0.05) rations in comparison to lambs fed with CR-I ration. Furthermore, CP digestibility was higher by 7.09 and 3.66 % in lambs fed with CR-IV ration than those fed with CR-II (P < 0.05) and CR-III (P > 0.05) ration. The average CWC digestibility coefficients were comparable among four rations. The N intake (g/day) was significantly (P < 0.01) different and progressively increased by 31.46, 48.69, and 82.86 % in ram lambs fed with CR-II, CR-III, and CR-IV rations, respectively, in comparison to CR-I ration. The N balance (g/day) was higher either significantly or nonsignificantly by 34.46 (P > 0.05), 133.46 (P < 0.01), and 198.87 % (P < 0.01) with CR-II, CR-III, and CR-IV rations, respectively, in comparison to CR-I ration. Based on results, it is inferred that the level of sorghum straw in complete ration had no effect on digestibility of nutrients barring crude protein in Nellore ram lambs.

Marginal accuracy of computer-aided design- and computer-aided manufacturing-fabricated full-arch zirconia restoration.

PubMed

Juntavee, Niwut; Sirisathit, Issarawas

2018-01-01

This study evaluated marginal accuracy of full-arch zirconia restoration fabricated from two digital computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) systems (Trios-3 and CS3500) in comparison to conventional cast metal restoration. A stainless steel model comprising two canine and two molar abutments was used as a master model for full-arch reconstruction. The canine and molar abutments were machined in a cylindrical shape with 5° taper and chamfer margin. The CAD-CAM systems based on the digital approach were used to construct the full-arch zirconia restoration. The conventional cast metal restoration was fabricated according to a conventional lost-wax technique using nickel-chromium alloys. Ten restorations were fabricated from each system. The marginal accuracy of each restoration was determined at four locations for each abutment. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's honest significant difference (HSD) multiple comparisons were used to determine statistically significant difference at 95% confidence interval. The mean values of marginal accuracy of restorations fabricated from conventional casting, Trios-3, and CS3500 were 48.59±4.16 μm, 53.50±5.66 μm, and 56.47±5.52 μm, respectively. ANOVA indicated significant difference in marginal fit of restorations among various systems. The marginal discrepancy of zirconia restoration fabricated from the CS3500 system demonstrated significantly larger gap than that fabricated from the 3Shape system ( p <0.05). Tukey's HSD multiple comparisons indicated that the zirconia restoration fabricated from either CS3500 or Trios-3 demonstrated a significantly larger marginal gap than the conventional cast metal restoration ( p <0.05). Full-arch zirconia restoration fabricated from the Trios-3 illustrated better marginal fits than that from the CS3500, although, both were slightly less accurate than the conventional cast restoration. However, the marginal discrepancies of restoration produced by both CAD-CAM systems were within the clinically acceptable range and satisfactorily precise to be suggested for construction full-arch zirconia restoration.

Reduced benzodiazepine sensitivity in patients with panic disorder: comparison with patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder and normal subjects.

PubMed

Roy-Byrne, P; Wingerson, D K; Radant, A; Greenblatt, D J; Cowley, D S

1996-11-01

The authors sought to replicate their previous finding of reduced response to diazepam in patients with panic disorder, to test whether this effect was specific for panic disorder, and to determine whether this reduced response was merely an artifact of resistance to sedation from anxiety-related overarousal. The effects of four increasing intravenous doses of diazepam on saccadic eye movement velocity and accuracy (the latter being a saccadic variable that is unaffected by sedation), short-term memory, and self- and observer-rated sedation were assessed in 18 patients with panic disorder, 15 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder, and 14 normal comparison subjects. The ratios of effect to blood level areas under the curve for both ascending and descending limbs of the effect/blood level curves were compared for each variable. Patients with panic disorder showed significantly less diazepam effect on saccadic velocity and accuracy for the ascending limb of the blood level curve than comparison subjects. Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder showed similar differences from comparison subjects but only for saccadic velocity. There were no group differences in diazepam effects on memory and sedation. Patients with panic disorder are less sensitive than comparison subjects to diazepam. Although this difference is not an artifact of resistance to sedation, it may not be specific for panic disorder but rather may reflect a more nonspecific aspect of anxiety disorders.

Permeability evaluation after decay removal in primary teeth with current caries-excavation techniques.

PubMed

Shabzendedar, Mahbobeh; Moosavi, Horieh; Talbi, Maryam; Sharifi, Marjan

2011-11-01

The goal of the study was to evaluate the effect of caries removal by three various methods on the permeability of class II composite resin restorations in primary molar teeth. Forty-five recently extracted primary molars were randomly assigned to three groups for three different methods of caries removal; group 1-mechanical, group 2-caries detector dye, and group 3-Carisolv (n = 15). After that, class II cavities in all groups were restored with the adhesive (Opti Bond Solo Plus) that was applied according to the manufacturer's instruction and a posterior composite (Herculite XRV), which was used incrementally. After 24 hours the samples were thermocycled in water for 500 cycles between 5 and 55°C with a dwell time of 30 sec. Permeability was assessed by the fluid filtration method. The data were analyzed using the ANOVA test while study groups were compared with Tukey test for statistically significant differences at a 5% significance level. The evaluation of tested groups indicated that the highest (0.80) and least (0.37) mean of permeability was observed in group 2 and 3 respectively. Significant difference was revealed among the tested groups (p = 0.045). The comparison of Carisolv and caries detector dye groups indicated a statistically significant difference (p = 0.037). There was not any significant difference between Carisolv or caries dye in the conventional group. Using the chemomechanical and staining methods for caries removal had no more detrimental effect on permeability than the conventional technique. However, caries detection dye for caries removal could be more harmful than chemomechanical method. None of the current caries-excavation techniques could eliminate permeability in class II composite resin restorations. Furthermore, staining methods do not have an adverse effect on sealing ability in comparison to the conventional technique.

Effects of exergaming based exercise on urban children's physical activity participation and body composition.

PubMed

Gao, Zan; Xiang, Ping

2014-07-01

Exergaming has been considered a fun solution to promoting a physically active lifestyle. This study examined the impact of an exergaming-based program on urban children's physical activity participation, body composition and perceptions of the program. A sample of 185 children's physical activity was measured in August 2009 (pretest), and percent body fat was used as index of body composition. Fourth graders were assigned to intervention group engaging in 30 minutes exergaming-based activities 3 times per week, while third and fifth graders were in comparison group. Measurements were repeated 9 months later (posttest). Interviews were conducted among 12 intervention children. ANCOVA with repeated measures revealed a significant main effect for intervention, F(1, 179) = 10.69, P < .01. Specifically, intervention children had significantly greater increased physical activity levels than comparison children. Logistic regression for body composition indicated intervention children did not differ significantly in percent body fat change from comparison children, Chi square = 5.42, P = .14. Children interviewed reported positive attitudes toward the intervention. The implementation of exergaming-based program could have a significantly positive effect on children's physical activity participation and attitudes. Meanwhile, long-term effect of the program on children's body composition deserves further investigation.

Atypical nucleus accumbens morphology in psychopathy: another limbic piece in the puzzle.

PubMed

Boccardi, Marina; Bocchetta, Martina; Aronen, Hannu J; Repo-Tiihonen, Eila; Vaurio, Olli; Thompson, Paul M; Tiihonen, Jari; Frisoni, Giovanni B

2013-01-01

Psychopathy has been associated with increased putamen and striatum volumes. The nucleus accumbens - a key structure in reversal learning, less effective in psychopathy - has not yet received specific attention. Moreover, basal ganglia morphology has never been explored. We examined the morphology of the caudate, putamen and accumbens, manually segmented from magnetic resonance images of 26 offenders (age: 32.5 ± 8.4) with medium-high psychopathy (mean PCL-R=30 ± 5) and 25 healthy controls (age: 34.6 ± 10.8). Local differences were statistically modeled using a surface-based radial distance mapping method (p<0.05; multiple comparisons correction through permutation tests). In psychopathy, the caudate and putamen had normal global volume, but different morphology, significant after correction for multiple comparisons, for the right dorsal putamen (permutation test: p=0.02). The volume of the nucleus accumbens was 13% smaller in psychopathy (p corrected for multiple comparisons <0.006). The atypical morphology consisted of predominant anterior hypotrophy bilaterally (10-30%). Caudate and putamen local morphology displayed negative correlation with the lifestyle factor of the PCL-R (permutation test: p=0.05 and 0.03). From these data, psychopathy appears to be associated with an atypical striatal morphology, with highly significant global and local differences of the accumbens. This is consistent with the clinical syndrome and with theories of limbic involvement. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Levels of obesity, fasting glycemia and physical condition in Chilean students].

PubMed

Delgado Floody, Pedro; Caamaño Navarrete, Felipe; Guzmán Guzmán, Iris Paola; Jerez Mayorga, Daniel; Ramírez-Campillo, Rodrigo; Campos Jara, Christian; Ríos Lagos, Gonzalo; Díaz Inostroza, Hugo

2015-06-01

Chile has drastically altered eating patterns and physical activity. The main nutritional problem faced by Chilean society is overweight, which arises progressively from an early age. The aim of this study is to determine the nutritional status and compare fitness levels and fasting glucose in students. A descriptive cross-sectional comparative study was conducted, making a comparison by gender and nutritional status, with 100 students (56 men and 44 women) aged 12-15 years old. Body composition, fasting glucose and fitness were evaluated. Women had a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity than men (22.73% and 19.65%). In the comparison of gender differences statistics were reported in one repetition maximum (1RM) (p = 0.001), abdominal strength (p = 0.004) and velocity (p = 0.001), there were no significant differences in body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.24) and fasting glucose (p = 0.99). In the comparison of nutritional status, the students classified as obese had a higher waist perimeter (p = 0.001), more time to walk 400 m (p = 0.008). There were no significant differences in other variables. Women have a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity than men. Obese students have a waist circumference more elevated, more time to walk 400 meters (p = <0.05) and they have increased levels of basal glucose. Copyright AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2014. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.

Does the instrument used for the implant site preparation influence the bone-implant interface? A systematic review of clinical and animal studies.

PubMed

Tretto, P H W; Fabris, V; Cericato, G O; Sarkis-Onofre, R; Bacchi, A

2018-04-24

This systematic review evaluates the influence of the instrument used for the implant site preparation on the bone-implant interface. Any type of clinical or animal study were searched for in MEDLINE/PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and SciVerse Scopus. Two independent reviewers screened titles/abstracts of articles and the full-text of potentially eligible studies. Comparisons of bone to implant contact and crestal bone loss were estimated using pairwise meta-analysis. Twenty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria. The instruments identified in the articles were conventional drills (CDs), osteotome (OT), piezoelectric device (PD), Er:YAG LASER (LS) and osseodensification drills (ODs). The meta-analysis on bone to implant contact suggested no difference between CDs and other techniques and the meta-analysis on crestal bone loss suggested no difference between CDs and PD. The survival of implants in sites prepared with CDs vs. OT or PD presented no significant differences. The use of PD provided lower inflammatory response and earlier bone formation when compared to CDs. ODs provided significant biomechanical improvement in comparison to CDs. LS did not provide any relevant improvement in comparison to CDs or PD. The influence of the instrument used for implant site preparation depended on the property evaluated. Copyright © 2018 International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Application of probabilistic fiber-tracking method of MR imaging to measure impact of cranial irradiation on structural brain connectivity in children treated for medulloblastoma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duncan, Elizabeth C.; Reddick, Wilburn E.; Glass, John O.; Hyun, Jung Won; Ji, Qing; Li, Yimei; Gajjar, Amar

2016-03-01

We applied a modified probabilistic fiber-tracking method for the extraction of fiber pathways to quantify decreased white matter integrity as a surrogate of structural loss in connectivity due to cranial radiation therapy (CRT) as treatment for pediatric medulloblastoma. Thirty subjects were examined (n=8 average-risk, n=22 high-risk) and the groups did not differ significantly in age at examination. The pathway analysis created a structural connectome focused on sub-networks within the central executive network (CEN) for comparison between baseline and post-CRT scans and for comparison between standard and high dose CRT. A paired-wise comparison of the connectivity between baseline and post-CRT scans showed the irradiation did have a significant detrimental impact on white matter integrity (decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) and decreased axial diffusivity (AX)) in most of the CEN sub-networks. Group comparisons of the change in the connectivity revealed that patients receiving high dose CRT experienced significant AX decreases in all sub-networks while the patients receiving standard dose CRT had relatively stable AX measures across time. This study on pediatric patients with medulloblastoma demonstrated the utility of this method to identify specific sub-networks within the developing brain affected by CRT.

In vitro comparison in a manikin model: increasing apical enlargement with K3 and K3XF rotary instruments.

PubMed

Olivieri, Juan Gonzalo; Stöber, Eva; García Font, Marc; González, Jose Antonio; Bragado, Pablo; Roig, Miguel; Duran-Sindreu, Fernando

2014-09-01

The aim of the study was to compare the K3 and K3XF systems (SybronEndo, Glendora, CA) after 1 and 2 uses by evaluating apical transportation, working length loss, and working time in a manikin model. Mesial canals of 40 extracted first mandibular molars were instrumented. Radiographs taken after instrumentation with #25, #30, #35, and #40 files were superimposed on the preoperative image in both mesiodistal and buccolingual angulations. AutoCAD (Autodesk Inc, San Rafael, CA) was used to measure working length loss and apical transportation at 0, 0.5, and 1 mm from the working length (WL). The working time was measured. Group comparison was analyzed using post hoc Tukey honestly significant difference tests (P < .05). No significant differences were found in apical transportation, working length loss between K3 and K3XF systems, or between the number of uses. Significant differences were found when canal enlargement was performed to a #35-40 (P < .05). K3 instrumentation performed significantly faster (29.6 ± 15.4) than with the K3XF system (40.2 ± 17.7) (P < .05). No differences were observed in working time when comparing the number of uses. K3 and R-phase K3XF rotary systems shaped curved root canals safely with minimal apical transportation, even up to a 40/04 file. Copyright © 2014 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Acute Effects of Three Different Stretching Protocols on the Wingate Test Performance

PubMed Central

Franco, Bruno L.; Signorelli, Gabriel R.; Trajano, Gabriel S.; Costa, Pablo B.; de Oliveira, Carlos G.

2012-01-01

The purpose of this study was to examine the acute effects of different stretching exercises on the performance of the traditional Wingate test (WT). Fifteen male participants performed five WT; one for familiarization (FT), and the remaining four after no stretching (NS), static stretching (SS), dynamic stretching (DS), and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF). Stretches were targeted for the hamstrings, quadriceps, and calf muscles. Peak power (PP), mean power (MP), and the time to reach PP (TP) were calculated. The MP was significantly lower when comparing the DS (7.7 ± 0.9 W/kg) to the PNF (7.3 ± 0.9 W/kg) condition (p < 0.05). For PP, significant differences were observed between more comparisons, with PNF stretching providing the lowest result. A consistent increase of TP was observed after all stretching exercises when compared to NS. The results suggest the type of stretching, or no stretching, should be considered by those who seek higher performance and practice sports that use maximal anaerobic power. Key points The mean power was significantly lower when comparing dynamic stretching.to proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation. For peak power, significant differences were observed between more comparisons, with proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching providing the lowest result. A consistent increase of time to reach the peak was observed after all stretching exercises when compared to non-stretching. The type of stretching, or no stretching, should be considered by those who seek higher performance and practice sports that use maximal anaerobic power. PMID:24149116

ClusCo: clustering and comparison of protein models.

PubMed

Jamroz, Michal; Kolinski, Andrzej

2013-02-22

The development, optimization and validation of protein modeling methods require efficient tools for structural comparison. Frequently, a large number of models need to be compared with the target native structure. The main reason for the development of Clusco software was to create a high-throughput tool for all-versus-all comparison, because calculating similarity matrix is the one of the bottlenecks in the protein modeling pipeline. Clusco is fast and easy-to-use software for high-throughput comparison of protein models with different similarity measures (cRMSD, dRMSD, GDT_TS, TM-Score, MaxSub, Contact Map Overlap) and clustering of the comparison results with standard methods: K-means Clustering or Hierarchical Agglomerative Clustering. The application was highly optimized and written in C/C++, including the code for parallel execution on CPU and GPU, which resulted in a significant speedup over similar clustering and scoring computation programs.

Comparison of 3 bonded lingual appliances by auditive analysis and subjective assessment.

PubMed

Hohoff, Ariane; Stamm, Thomas; Goder, Gerhard; Sauerland, Cristina; Ehmer, Ulrike; Seifert, Eberhard

2003-12-01

The aim of this prospective study was to compare for the first time the influences of lingual appliances of different dimensions on sound performance and oral comfort. The study group comprised 12 subjects (10 women, 2 men; mean age, 33.96 years). Their sound production was recorded by means of a digital audio tape recorder before, 10 minutes after, and 24 hours after placement of the different appliances for semiobjective assessment by 3 blinded speech professionals. This was followed by supplementary subjective ratings of sound performance and oral comfort by the patients. All lingual appliances induced significant impairment in sound performance and oral comfort. However, they varied significantly with respect to the degree of impairment. The smaller the appliance, the less pronounced the impairments it induced. The smallest changes were induced by a bonded canine-to-canine retainer, followed by customized lingual brackets and prefabricated lingual brackets. By using lower-profile customized brackets, the orthodontist can significantly enhance patient comfort and significantly reduce impairments of sound performance in comparison with prefabricated brackets with larger dimensions. Before placing a lingual appliance, however, patients should be briefed on possible effects such as impaired sound production and decreased oral comfort.

A Comparison of Online, Video Synchronous, and Traditional Learning Modes for an Introductory Undergraduate Physics Course

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Faulconer, E. K.; Griffith, J.; Wood, B.; Acharyya, S.; Roberts, D.

2018-05-01

While the equivalence between online and traditional classrooms has been well-researched, very little of this includes college-level introductory Physics. Only one study explored Physics at the whole-class level rather than specific course components such as a single lab or a homework platform. In this work, we compared the failure rate, grade distribution, and withdrawal rates in an introductory undergraduate Physics course across several learning modes including traditional face-to-face instruction, synchronous video instruction, and online classes. Statistically significant differences were found for student failure rates, grade distribution, and withdrawal rates but yielded small effect sizes. Post-hoc pair-wise test was run to determine differences between learning modes. Online students had a significantly lower failure rate than students who took the class via synchronous video classroom. While statistically significant differences were found for grade distributions, the pair-wise comparison yielded no statistically significance differences between learning modes when using the more conservative Bonferroni correction in post-hoc testing. Finally, in this study, student withdrawal rates were lowest for students who took the class in person (in-person classroom and synchronous video classroom) than online. Students that persist in an online introductory Physics class are more likely to achieve an A than in other modes. However, the withdrawal rate is higher from online Physics courses. Further research is warranted to better understand the reasons for higher withdrawal rates in online courses. Finding the root cause to help eliminate differences in student performance across learning modes should remain a high priority for education researchers and the education community as a whole.

Comparison of internet addiction, pattern and psychopathology between medical and dental students.

PubMed

Gedam, Sachin Ratan; Shivji, Imran Ali; Goyal, Arvind; Modi, Lipsy; Ghosh, Santanu

2016-08-01

There has been an enormous use of internet among health professionals in the last decade. It has made significant changes in the health care system. Besides its several benefits, the excessive undisciplined use has led to the emergence of concept of internet addiction. The objectives of our study were to estimate prevalence of internet addiction among medical and dental students; to determine association of internet use pattern and psychopathology between medical and dental internet addicted (IA) students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 597 students from medical and dental colleges. They completed semi-structured data, internet addiction test and mental health inventory questionnaires as per instructions provided. Students were divided into medical internet addicts and dental internet addicts for comparison. The prevalence of severe internet addiction was more among dental students (2.3%) than that among medical students (1.2%). There was significant difference between the students of medical and dental faculties, who fall under the category of addiction on the basis of-gender, computer ownership and purpose of internet use (P<0.05). The psychiatric symptoms such as depression and emotional ties also had statistically significant difference (P<0.05). Significant differences were seen in some of the parameters of internet use pattern and psychopathology among the two groups of internet addict from health professionals. So, further studies need to be conducted among different groups of internet addicts to evaluate different parameters. Specific measures should be taken to prevent internet addiction and its complications. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A psychophysical comparison of two methods for adaptive histogram equalization.

PubMed

Zimmerman, J B; Cousins, S B; Hartzell, K M; Frisse, M E; Kahn, M G

1989-05-01

Adaptive histogram equalization (AHE) is a method for adaptive contrast enhancement of digital images. It is an automatic, reproducible method for the simultaneous viewing of contrast within a digital image with a large dynamic range. Recent experiments have shown that in specific cases, there is no significant difference in the ability of AHE and linear intensity windowing to display gray-scale contrast. More recently, a variant of AHE which limits the allowed contrast enhancement of the image has been proposed. This contrast-limited adaptive histogram equalization (CLAHE) produces images in which the noise content of an image is not excessively enhanced, but in which sufficient contrast is provided for the visualization of structures within the image. Images processed with CLAHE have a more natural appearance and facilitate the comparison of different areas of an image. However, the reduced contrast enhancement of CLAHE may hinder the ability of an observer to detect the presence of some significant gray-scale contrast. In this report, a psychophysical observer experiment was performed to determine if there is a significant difference in the ability of AHE and CLAHE to depict gray-scale contrast. Observers were presented with computed tomography (CT) images of the chest processed with AHE and CLAHE. Subtle artificial lesions were introduced into some images. The observers were asked to rate their confidence regarding the presence of the lesions; this rating-scale data was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve techniques. These ROC curves were compared for significant differences in the observers' performances. In this report, no difference was found in the abilities of AHE and CLAHE to depict contrast information.

Fetal nasal bone length in the second trimester: comparison between population groups from different ethnic origins.

PubMed

Papasozomenou, Panayiota; Athanasiadis, Apostolos P; Zafrakas, Menelaos; Panteris, Eleftherios; Loufopoulos, Aristoteles; Assimakopoulos, Efstratios; Tarlatzis, Basil C

2016-03-01

To compare normal ranges of ultrasonographically measured fetal nasal bone length in the second trimester between different ethnic groups. A prospective, non-interventional study in order to establish normal ranges of fetal nasal bone length in the second trimester in a Greek population was conducted in 1220 singleton fetuses between 18 completed weeks and 23 weeks and 6 days of gestation. A literature search followed in order to identify similar studies in different population groups. Fetal nasal bone length mean values and percentiles from different population groups were compared. Analysis of measurements in the Greek population showed a linear association, i.e., increasing nasal bone length with increasing gestational age from 5.73 mm at 18 weeks to 7.63 mm at 23 weeks. Eleven studies establishing normal ranges of fetal nasal bone length in the second trimester were identified. Comparison of fetal nasal bone length mean values between the 12 population groups showed statistically significant differences (P<0.0001). Normal ranges of fetal nasal bone length in the second trimester vary significantly between different ethnic groups. Hence, distinct ethnic nomograms of fetal nasal bone length in the second trimester should be used in a given population rather than an international model.

Genetic variation and willingness to participate in epidemiologic research: data from three studies.

PubMed

Bhatti, Parveen; Sigurdson, Alice J; Wang, Sophia S; Chen, Jinbo; Rothman, Nathaniel; Hartge, Patricia; Bergen, Andrew W; Landi, Maria Teresa

2005-10-01

The differences in common genetic polymorphism frequencies by willingness to participate in epidemiologic studies are unexplored, but the same threats to internal validity operate as for studies with nongenetic information. We analyzed single nucleotide polymorphism genotypes, haplotypes, and short tandem repeats among control groups from three studies with different recruitment designs that included early, late, and never questionnaire responders, one or more participation incentives, and blood or buccal DNA collection. Among 2,955 individuals, we compared 108 genotypes, 8 haplotypes, and 9 to 15 short tandem repeats by respondent type. Among our main comparisons, single nucleotide polymorphism genotype frequencies differed significantly (P < 0.05) between respondent groups in six instances, with 13 expected by chance alone. When comparing the odds of carrying a variant among the various response groups, 19 odds ratios were /=1.40, levels that might be notably different. Among the various respondent group comparisons, haplotype and short tandem repeat frequencies were not significantly different by willingness to participate. We observed little evidence to suggest that genotype differences underlie response characteristics in molecular epidemiologic studies, but a greater variety of genes should be examined, including those related to behavioral traits potentially associated with willingness to participate. To the extent possible, investigators should evaluate their own genetic data for bias in response categories.

Illumina sequencing-based analyses of bacterial communities during short-chain fatty-acid production from food waste and sewage sludge fermentation at different pH values.

PubMed

Cheng, Weixiao; Chen, Hong; Yan, ShuHai; Su, Jianqiang

2014-09-01

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) can be produced by primary and waste activated sludge anaerobic fermentation. The yield and product spectrum distribution of SCFAs can be significantly affected by different initial pH values. However, most studies have focused on the physical and chemical aspects of SCFA production by waste activated sludge fermentation at different pH values. Information on the bacterial community structures during acidogenic fermentation is limited. In this study, comparisons of the bacterial communities during the co-substrate fermentation of food wastes and sewage sludge at different pH values were performed using the barcoded Illumina paired-end sequencing method. The results showed that different pH environments harbored a characteristic bacterial community, including sequences related to Lactobacillus, Prevotella, Mitsuokella, Treponema, Clostridium, and Ureibacillus. The most abundant bacterial operational taxonomic units in the different pH environments were those related to carbohydrate-degrading bacteria, which are associated with constituents of co-substrate fermentation. Further analyses showed that during organic matter fermentation, a core microbiota composed of Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes existed. Comparison analyses revealed that the bacterial community during fermentation was significantly affected by the pH, and that the diverse product distribution was related to the shift in bacterial communities.

Working memory span in Persian-speaking children with speech sound disorders and normal speech development.

PubMed

Afshar, Mohamad Reza; Ghorbani, Ali; Rashedi, Vahid; Jalilevand, Nahid; Kamali, Mohamad

2017-10-01

The aim of this study was to compare working memory span in Persian-speaking preschool children with speech sound disorder (SSD) and their typically speaking peers. Additionally, the study aimed to examine Non-Word Repetition (NWR), Forward Digit Span (FDS) and Backward Digit Span (BDS) in four groups of children with varying severity levels of SSD. The participants in this study comprised 35 children with SSD and 35 typically developing (TD) children -matched for age and sex-as a control group. The participants were between the age range of 48 and 72 months. Two components of working memory including phonological loop and central executive were compared between two groups. We used two tasks (NWR and FDS) to assess phonological loop component, and one task (BDS) to assess central executive component. Percentage of correct consonants (PCC) was used to calculate the severity of SSD. Significant differences were observed between the two groups in all tasks that assess working memory (p < 0.001). In addition, the comparison of the phonological loop of working memory between the various severity groups indicated significant differences between different severities of both NWR and FDS tasks among the SSD children (p < 0.001). Nevertheless, comparison of the central executive between various severity groups, which was assessed with the BDS task, did not show any significant differences (p > 0.05). The result showed that PCC scores in TD children were associated with NWR (p < 0.001), FDS (p = 0.001), and BDS (p < 0.001). Furthermore, PCC scores in SSD children were associated with NWR and FDS (p < 0.001), but not with BDS (p > 0.05). The working memory skills were weaker in SSD children, in comparison to TD children. In addition, children with varying levels of severity of SSD differed in terms of NWR and FSD, but not BDS. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Efficacy of individualised diets in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: a randomised controlled trial

PubMed Central

Ali, Ather; Weiss, Theresa R; McKee, Douglas; Scherban, Alisa; Khan, Sumiya; Fields, Maxine R; Apollo, Damian; Mehal, Wajahat Z

2017-01-01

Background Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are often placed on diets guided by food intolerance assays, although these have not been validated. We assessed the effects of individualised diets in patients with IBS guided by a leucocyte activation test. Methods This is a parallel-group, double-blind, randomised controlled trial of 58 adults with IBS seen at an academic health centre in Northeast USA. Peripheral venous blood was analysed using a leucocyte activation test; individual foods were reported to produce positive or negative results. Participants were randomised to a 4-week diet with either individualised guidance to eliminate foods with positive assay results and allow foods with negative assay results (intervention), or with individualised guidance, matched in rigour and complexity, to eliminate foods with negative assay results and allow foods with positive assay results (comparison). The primary outcome was between-group differences in the IBS Global Improvement Scale (GIS). Secondary outcomes included reductions in IBS Symptom Severity Scale (SSS) scores and increases in IBS Adequate Relief (AR) and Quality of Life (QOL) scores. An aptamer-based proteomic analysis was conducted in strong responders. Results The intervention group had significantly greater increases in mean GIS score after 4 weeks (0.86 vs comparison; 95% CI 0.05 to 1.67; p=0.04) and 8 weeks (1.22 vs comparison; 95% CI 0.22 to 2.22; p=0.02). The intervention group also had significantly greater reductions in mean SSS score at 4 weeks (–61.78 vs comparison; 95% CI –4.43 to –119.14; p=0.04) and 8 weeks (–66.42 vs comparison; 95% CI –5.75 to –127.09; p=0.03). There were no significant differences between intervention and comparison groups in mean AR or QOL scores. A reduction in neutrophil elastase concentration was associated with reduced symptoms. Conclusions Elimination diets guided by leucocyte activation tests reduced symptoms. These findings could lead to insights into the pathophysiology of IBS. Trial registration number NCT02186743. PMID:29018540

Differences in stride between healthy ostriches (Struthio camelus) and those affected by tibiotarsal rotation.

PubMed

Cooper, R G

2007-03-01

Twenty healthy ostriches (ten cocks and ten hens), and twenty birds with tibiotarsal rotation (nine cocks and 11 hens) (14 months old) were isolated, hooded and weighed. A run (50 m x 2.5 m) was divided into sections marked 5 m, 10 m, 15 m and 20 m. Time taken for each bird to pass these points was recorded and speed computed. The degree of tibiotarsal rotation in the right foot was mean +/- SEM, 156 +/- 2.69 degrees. Comparisons between left and right foot length in healthy birds showed no significant differences. Foot length was significantly lower in tibiotarsal rotation (P = 0.03). The right foot in tibiotarsal rotation was significantly shorter than the left foot. The number of strides per each 5 m division were significantly (P < 0.05) greater in tibiotarsal rotation by comparison with healthy birds. At 20 m, healthy cocks had more strides than hens. The stride length in hens was significantly (P < 0.05) greater than cocks at 5, 10 and 15 m, respectively, but lower throughout in tibiotarsal rotation (P = 0.001). The speed of hens was significantly (P < 0.05) greater than cocks. Tibiotarsal rotation resulted in significantly (P < 0.05) reduced speeds. Hens may be able to escape danger faster than cocks. The occurrence of tibiotarsal rotation necessitates consideration of genetics, management, sex, nutrition and growth rates.

TiO2-Nanofillers Effects on Some Properties of Highly- Impact Resin Using Different Processing Techniques.

PubMed

Aziz, Hawraa Khalid

2018-01-01

The criteria of conventional curing of polymethyl methacrylate do not match the standard properties of the denture base materials. This research was conducted to investigate the addition of TiO 2 nano practical on impact strength, thermal conductivity and color stability of acrylic resin cured by microwave in comparison to the conventional cured of heat-polymerized acrylic resin. 120 specimens made of high impact acrylic resin were divided into two main groups according to the type of curing (water bath, microwave), then each group was subdivided into two groups according to the addition of 3% TiO 2 nano-fillers and control group (without the addition of TiO 2 0%). Each group was subdivided according to the type of test into 3 groups with 10 specimens for each group. Data were statistically analyzed using Student t-test to detect the significant differences between tested and control groups at significance level ( P <0.05). According to curing type methods, the results showed that there was a significant decrease in impact strength of microwaved cured resin, but there was no significant difference in the thermal conductivity and color stability of resin. In addition, by using nanofiller, there was a significant increase in the impact strength and color stability with the addition of 3% TiO 2 nanofillers, but no significant difference was found in the thermal conductivity of the acrylic resin. The microwave curing of acrylic resin had no change in the color stability and thermal conductivity in comparison to the water bath, but the impact strength was decreased. The addition of 3% TiO 2 improved the impact and the color stability, but the thermal conductivity did not change.

In vitro comparison of gutta-percha-filled area percentages in root canals instrumented and obturated with different techniques.

PubMed

Yilmaz, Ayca; Karagoz-Kucukay, Isil

2017-01-01

To evaluate the efficacy of different obturation techniques in root canals instrumented either by hand or rotary instruments with regard to the percentage of gutta- percha-filled area (PGFA). One hundred and sixty extracted mandibular premolars with single, straight root canals were studied. Root canals were prepared to an apical size of 30 by hand with a modified crown-down technique or the ProTaper and HEROShaper systems. Teeth were divided into eight groups (n=20) according to the following instrumentation and obturation techniques: G1: Hand files+lateral condensation (LC), G2: Hand files+Thermafil, G3: ProTaper+LC, G4: ProTaper+single-cone, G5: ProTaper+ProTaper-Obturator, G6: HEROShaper+LC, G7: HEROShaper+single-cone, G8: HEROShaper+HEROfill. Horizontal sections were cut at 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 mm from the apical foramen. A total of 1120 sections obtained were digitally photographed under a stereomicroscope set at 48X magnification. The cross-sectional area of the canal and the gutta-percha was measured by digital image analysis and the PGFA was calculated for each section. The mean of the PGFA in Thermafil (G2), ProTaper-Obturator (G5) and HEROfill (G8) groups was significantly higher than the other groups. In G3 and G4, PGFA showed no significant difference in the apical segments whereas PGFA was significantly higher at the middle and coronal segments in G3. In G6 and G7, PGFA showed no significant difference in the apical and middle segments whereas PGFA was significantly higher at the coronal segments in G6. The carrier-based gutta-percha obturation systems revealed significantly higher PGFA in comparison to single-cone and lateral condensation techniques.

Metabolite alterations in basal ganglia associated with methamphetamine-related psychiatric symptoms. A proton MRS study.

PubMed

Sekine, Yoshimoto; Minabe, Yoshio; Kawai, Masayoshi; Suzuki, Katsuaki; Iyo, Masaomi; Isoda, Haruo; Sakahara, Harumi; Ashby, Charles R; Takei, Nori; Mori, Norio

2002-09-01

Following the chronic use of methamphetamine, some individuals experience psychosis and anxiety. One reason may be the persistence of metabolite abnormalities in the brain of currently abstinent former methamphetamine users. In this study, N-acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine plus phosphocreatine (Cr+PCr), and choline-containing compound (Cho) levels were measured in the left and right basal ganglia using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in 13 abstinent methamphetamine users and 11 healthy comparison subjects with no history of illicit drug use. The methamphetamine users showed a significantly reduced Cr+PCr/Cho ratio in the bilateral basal ganglia compared with the healthy comparison subjects. Furthermore, the reduction in the Cr+PCr/Cho ratio was significantly correlated with the duration of methamphetamine use and with the severity of residual psychiatric symptoms. NAA/Cho ratios in the bilateral basal ganglia did not significantly differ between methamphetamine users and comparison subjects. These findings suggest that protracted use of methamphetamine may cause metabolite alterations in the basal ganglia. Furthermore, residual psychiatric symptoms may be attributable to the metabolite alterations in the basal ganglia.

Elbow flexor and extensor muscle weakness in lateral epicondylalgia.

PubMed

Coombes, Brooke K; Bisset, Leanne; Vicenzino, Bill

2012-05-01

To evaluate whether deficits of elbow flexor and extensor muscle strength exist in lateral epicondylalgia (LE) in comparison with a healthy control population. Cross-sectional study. 150 participants with unilateral LE were compared with 54 healthy control participants. Maximal isometric elbow flexion and extension strength were measured bilaterally using a purpose-built standing frame such that gripping was avoided. The authors found significant side differences in elbow extensor (-6.54 N, 95% CI -11.43 to -1.65, p=0.008, standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.45) and flexor muscle strength (-11.26 N, 95% CI -19.59 to -2.94, p=0.009, SMD -0.46) between LE and control groups. Within the LE group, only elbow extensor muscle strength deficits between sides was significant (affected-unaffected: -2.94 N, 95% CI -5.44 to -0.44). Small significant deficits of elbow extensor and flexor muscle strength exist in the affected arm of unilateral LE in comparison with healthy controls. Notably, comparing elbow strength between the affected and unaffected sides in unilateral epicondylalgia is likely to underestimate these deficits. Trial Registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Register ACTRN12609000051246.

"Just let me play!" - understanding constraints that limit adolescent sport participation.

PubMed

Casper, Jonathan M; Bocarro, Jason N; Kanters, Michael A; Floyd, Myron F

2011-01-01

Organized sport is viewed as a viable medium for promoting more physical activity among youth. However, participation in youth sport declines significantly among both boys and girls during their middle school years. This study examined middle school students' perceived constraints to sport participation. Middle school students from 4 schools (6th-8th grade, N = 2465) completed a web based survey (97.3% response rate). Descriptive analysis, t tests, and ANOVA were used to assess extent of perceived constraints and differences among demographic and sport participation level subgroups. The most salient constraint perceived by respondents was time, while knowledge was perceived as the lowest among the overall sample. Significant (P < .01) differences in perceived constraints were found among all comparisons groups. Girls, Latinos, lower SES students, and students who did not play sports reported more constraints than respective comparisons groups. The sociodemographic characteristics of middle school students appear to be a significant factor in their perception of constraints to sport participation. Identifying constraints associated with sport participation can enable policy-makers and administrators to be more deliberate in channeling resources.

Comparison of ego defenses among physically abused children, neglected, and non-maltreated children.

PubMed

Finzi, Ricky; Har-Even, Dov; Weizman, Abraham

2003-01-01

The nature and level of ego functioning were assessed in 41 recently detected physically abused children, and in two control groups of 38 neglected and 35 non-abused/non-neglected children (aged 6 to 12 years), using the Child Suicidal Potential Scales (CSPS). The results obtained in this study support the hypothesis that the influences of parental violence on the child's ego functions are detrimental, as reflected by significantly higher impairments in affect regulation (like irritability, anger, passivity, depression), low levels of impulse control, distortions in reality testing, and extensive operation of immature defense mechanisms in the physically abused children in comparison to the controls. Significant differences between the physically abused and the non-abused/non-neglected children were found for all mechanisms except displacement. The differences between the physically abused and neglected children for regression, denial and splitting, projection, and introjection (high scores for the physically abused children), and for compensation and undoing (higher scores for the neglected children) were also significant. It is suggested that physically abused children should be distinguished as a high-risk population for future personality disorders.

Biostatistics Series Module 3: Comparing Groups: Numerical Variables.

PubMed

Hazra, Avijit; Gogtay, Nithya

2016-01-01

Numerical data that are normally distributed can be analyzed with parametric tests, that is, tests which are based on the parameters that define a normal distribution curve. If the distribution is uncertain, the data can be plotted as a normal probability plot and visually inspected, or tested for normality using one of a number of goodness of fit tests, such as the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The widely used Student's t-test has three variants. The one-sample t-test is used to assess if a sample mean (as an estimate of the population mean) differs significantly from a given population mean. The means of two independent samples may be compared for a statistically significant difference by the unpaired or independent samples t-test. If the data sets are related in some way, their means may be compared by the paired or dependent samples t-test. The t-test should not be used to compare the means of more than two groups. Although it is possible to compare groups in pairs, when there are more than two groups, this will increase the probability of a Type I error. The one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) is employed to compare the means of three or more independent data sets that are normally distributed. Multiple measurements from the same set of subjects cannot be treated as separate, unrelated data sets. Comparison of means in such a situation requires repeated measures ANOVA. It is to be noted that while a multiple group comparison test such as ANOVA can point to a significant difference, it does not identify exactly between which two groups the difference lies. To do this, multiple group comparison needs to be followed up by an appropriate post hoc test. An example is the Tukey's honestly significant difference test following ANOVA. If the assumptions for parametric tests are not met, there are nonparametric alternatives for comparing data sets. These include Mann-Whitney U-test as the nonparametric counterpart of the unpaired Student's t-test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test as the counterpart of the paired Student's t-test, Kruskal-Wallis test as the nonparametric equivalent of ANOVA and the Friedman's test as the counterpart of repeated measures ANOVA.

Evaluation of a combined lifestyle intervention for overweight and obese patients in primary health care: a quasi-experimental design.

PubMed

Verberne, Lisa D M; Hendriks, Marike R C; Rutten, Geert M; Spronk, Inge; Savelberg, Hans H C M; Veenhof, Cindy; Nielen, Mark M J

2016-12-01

Combined lifestyle interventions (CLIs) are designed to reduce risk factors for lifestyle-related diseases through increasing physical activity and improvement of dietary behaviour. To evaluate the effects of a CLI for overweight and obese patients on lifestyle-related risk factors and health care consumption, in comparison to usual care. Data on anthropometric and metabolic measurements, morbidity, drugs prescriptions and general practitioner (GP) consultations were extracted from electronic health records (timeframe: July 2009-August 2013). Using a quasi-experimental design, health outcomes of 127 patients who participated in a 1-year CLI were compared to a group of 254 matched patients that received usual care. Baseline to post-intervention changes in health outcomes between intervention and comparison group were evaluated using mixed model analyses. Compared to baseline, both groups showed reductions in body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol in year post-intervention. For these outcome measures, no significant differences in changes were observed between intervention and comparison group. A significant improvement of 0.08 mmol/l in high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was observed for the intervention group above the comparison group (P < 0.01). No significant intergroup differences were shown in drugs prescriptions and number of GP consultations. A CLI for overweight and obese patients in primary health care resulted in similar effects on health outcomes compared to usual care. Only an improvement on HDL cholesterol was shown. This study indicates that implementation and evaluation of a lifestyle intervention in primary health care is challenging due to political and financial barriers. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Long-term effects of different type and rates of organic amendments on reclamation of copper mine tailing in Central Chile.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arellano, Eduardo; Garreton, Bruna; Ginocchio, Rosanna

2016-04-01

A study was conducted to evaluate the long-term effects of a single application of organic amendments on a copper mine tailings. Seven years after seeding of a mix of herbaceous plant and planting of ten native trees, and the application of organic amendment, plant community and soil fertility was measured in replicated plots that received six different treatments of waste water treatment plant biosolids (100 ton/ha, and 200 ton/ha), olive oil waste (100 ton/ha, and 200 ton/ha) and pisco grapes waste (90 ton/ha, and 200 ton/ha). A control treatment that received no organic amendment was also measured after seven years. Field measurements demonstrated that application of biosolids and pisco grapes waste, at both rates significantly improved vegetation coverage in comparison to the control treatment (80 and 100% vs control, 25%). The high rates of pisco waste had the highest vegetation diversity and survival in comparison to the other treatments. The high rate of olive oil waste had a negative effect on vegetation development in comparison to the control treatment. The application of organic amendment improved soil fertility in the long-term. All the treatments had a significant higher nitrogen concentration in comparison to the control treatment. The high rates of biosolids and pisco grape waste had a significantly effect of soil carbon concentration. Soil macro-aggregate in the high rate of pisco grape waste were also higher than the control, showing a positive relation between soil recover and vegetation development. We can conclude assisted phytostabilization of mine tailings is likely a technically effective solution for the valorisation of organic residues.

Comparison of Force and Moment Coefficients for the Same Test Article in Multiple Wind Tunnels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Deloach, Richard

2013-01-01

This paper compares the results of force and moment measurements made on the same test article and with the same balance in three transonic wind tunnels. Comparisons are made for the same combination of Reynolds number, Mach number, sideslip angle, control surface configuration, and angle of attack range. Between-tunnel force and moment differences are quantified. An analysis of variance was performed at four unique sites in the design space to assess the statistical significance of between-tunnel variation and any interaction with angle of attack. Tunnel to tunnel differences too large to attribute to random error were detected were observed for all forces and moments. In some cases these differences were independent of angle of attack and in other cases they changed with angle of attack.

Comparative study of expenditure on highways in Louisiana : technical assistance report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1996-03-01

The objective of the investigation is to accumulate factual information on highway expenditure in Louisiana and other states and make a comparison among them to identify whether funding in Louisiana is significantly different from that in other state...

TRAD or CAD? A Comparison.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Resetarits, Paul J.

1989-01-01

Studies whether traditional drafting equipment (TRAD) or computer aided drafting equipment (CAD) is more effective. Proposes that students using only CAD can learn principles of drafting as well as students using only TRAD. Reports no significant difference either on achievement or attitude. (MVL)

Estimation of Salivary Parameters among Autoimmune Thyroiditis Patients

PubMed Central

Reddy, BH Satheesh; Ramamurthy, TK; Rajendra, Kavitha; Nerella, Narendra Kumar; Krishnan, Meenakshi; Ramesh, MV; Mohammed, Rezwana Begum

2017-01-01

Introduction Saliva is a complex secretion that protects and lubricates the oral cavity. Various systemic diseases and their treatment alter the salivary gland function; one such disease is Autoimmune Thyroid Disease (AITD). AITD has been postulated to exert its hormonal influence on the salivary glands, leading to reduced salivary output. There’s a paucity of literature, verifying the stated conjunction in human subjects. Aim The aim was to investigate the salivary profile in AITD patients and its comparison with controls. Materials and Methods Descriptive cross-sectional comparative study was conducted using convenience sampling method for screening the presence of thyroid disorders. Two groups comprising of 30 patients in each group diagnosed with autoimmune hypothyroiditis (n=30) and hyperthyroiditis (n=30) respectively and thirty healthy volunteers who were age and sex matched were included as controls. Saliva was collected and evaluated for Unstimulated Salivary Flow Rate (USSFR), pH and buffer capacity. ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc test was performed to find the statistical significance and for pairwise comparison. Results Statistically significant difference was observed between autoimmune hypothyroiditis, autoimmune hyperthyroiditis and control group with respect to USSFR (p<0.007), pH (p<0.001) and buffer capacity (p<0.001). On pairwise comparisons statistically significant difference was observed between autoimmune hypothyroiditis and autoimmune hyperthyroiditis with respect to controls. Conclusion We conclude that significant involvement of salivary glands may occur in cases of AITD. Our study showed significant reduction of sialometric values in AITD patients when compared to controls. A strong clinical suspicion of thyroid diseases should be considered when there is chronic hyposalivation; hence thyroid profile must also be done, if the known causes have been excluded. PMID:28893031

Comparison of the characteristics of fire and non-fire households in the 2004-2005 survey of fire department-attended and unattended fires.

PubMed

Greene, Michael A

2012-06-01

Comparison of characteristics of fire with non-fire households to determine factors differentially associated with fire households (fire risk factors). National household telephone survey in 2004-2005 by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission with 916 fire households and a comparison sample of 2161 non-fire households. There were an estimated 7.4 million fires (96.6% not reported to fire departments) with 130,000 injuries. Bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analyses to assess differences in household characteristics. Significant factors associated with fire households were renting vs. owning (OR 1.988 p<0.0001); household members under 18 year of age (OR 1.277 p<0.0001); lack of residents over 64 years old (OR 0.552 p=0.0007); and college or higher education (some college OR 1.444 p=0.0360, college graduate OR 1.873, p<0.0001, postgraduate OR 2.156 p<0.0001). Not significant were age of house; race; ethnicity; and income. Number of smokers was borderline significant (OR 1.132 p=0.1019) but was significant in the subset of fire households with non-cooking fires (OR 1.383 p=0.0011). Single family houses were associated with non-fire households in the bivariate analysis but not in the multivariate analyses. Renting, household members under 18 years old and smokers are risk factors for unattended fires, similar to the literature for fatal and injury fires. Differences included household members over 65 years old (associated with non-fire households), college/postgraduate education (associated with fire households) and lack of significance of income. Preventing cooking fires (64% of survey incidents), smoking prevention efforts and fire prevention education for families with young children have the potential for reducing unattended fires and injuries.

The effects of danofloxacin and tilmicosin on neutrophil function and lung consolidation in beef heifer calves with induced Pasteurella (Mannheimia) haemolytica pneumonia.

PubMed

Fajt, V R; Apley, M D; Roth, J A; Frank, D E; Brogden, K A; Skogerboe, T L; Shostrom, V K; Chin, Y-L

2003-06-01

Pneumonia caused by Pasteurella (Mannheimia) haemolytica was induced in weaned beef heifer calves, approximately 6 months of age. Calves were treated at 20 h after challenge with therapeutic doses of danofloxacin or tilmicosin. Peripheral blood neutrophils were collected at 3, 24 and 48 h after treatment. The ex vivo effects on neutrophil function, neutrophil apoptosis, and hematological parameters were examined, as was the effect on percentage lung consolidation. Neutrophil function assays included random migration under agarose, cytochrome C reduction, iodination, Staphylococcus aureus ingestion, chemotaxis, and antibody-dependent and antibody-independent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Apoptosis was determined using a cell death detection kit. Killing was performed at 72 h after treatment. Statistical comparisons were made among the three groups of challenged-treated animals: saline, danofloxacin, and tilmicosin. Comparisons were also made between nonchallenged nontreated animals (NCH) and challenged saline-treated animals. There were no significant differences for any of the neutrophil function assays or neutrophil apoptosis among the challenged-treated groups. This suggests that danofloxacin and tilmicosin have no clinically significant effects on neutrophil function or apoptosis. There were also no significant differences in percentage lung consolidation among the challenged-treated groups. Significant differences were found between the NCH calves and the challenged saline-treated calves in several neutrophil assays, which were attributed to effects of P. haemolytica infection.

Comparison of lipid profile between degrees of severity of hepatic cirrhosis in Haji Adam Malik general hospital Medan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Siregar, G. A.; Tampubolon, S. E.

2018-03-01

Lipid metabolism disorders usually occurred in chronic liver disease. A cross- sectional study was conducted in liver cirrhosis (LC) patients who came to Central Hospital Haji Adam Malik, Medan on July-December 2016 to evaluatethe comparison of total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglyceride in Child-Pugh class. Inclusions criteria were apatient diagnosed with LC from anamnesis, physic diagnostic, laboratory, and imaging. The patientswere being evaluated with Child-Pugh (CP). P-value was calculated by using univariate and bivariate analysis of variance test (ANOVA). There were 80 subjects which included 45 men (56.3%) and 35 women (43.8%). Mean age was 51.36±12.6 years. There were 40% with HBsAg(+) and 12.5% with Anti-HCV (+). There was 60% patient with CP-C, 21.3% CP-B, and 18.8% CP-A. There were significant differences between LDL and HDL level among LC patient grade in CP-A, B, and C (p<0.05). HDL and LDL level significantly lower in CP-C compared with CP-A. There were significantly differences between LDL and HDL level among LC patient grade in CP-A, B, and C (p<0.05). HDL and LDL level significantly lower in CP-C compared with CP-A. There weren’t any statistically difference between total cholesterol and triglyceride level in LC patients with CP- A, B, and C.

An In vitro Comparison and Evaluation of Sealing Ability of Newly Introduced C-point System, Cold Lateral Condensation, and Thermoplasticized Gutta-Percha Obturating Technique: A Dye Extraction Study.

PubMed

Sinhal, Tapati Manohar; Shah, Ruchi Rani Purvesh; Jais, Pratik Subhas; Shah, Nimisha Chinmay; Hadwani, Krupali Dhirubhai; Rothe, Tushar; Sinhal, Neha Nilesh

2018-01-01

The aim of this study is to compare and to evaluate sealing ability of newly introduced C-point system, cold lateral condensation, and thermoplasticized gutta-percha obturating technique using a dye extraction method. Sixty extracted maxillary central incisors were decoronated below the cementoenamel junction. Working length was established, and biomechanical preparation was done using K3 rotary files with standard irrigation protocol. Teeth were divided into three groups according to the obturation protocol; Group I-Cold lateral condensation, Group II-Thermoplasticized gutta-percha, and Group III-C-Point obturating system. After obturation all samples were subjected to microleakage assessment using dye extraction method. Obtained scores will be statistical analyzed using ANOVA test and post hoc Tukey's test. One-way analysis of variance revealed that there is significant difference among the three groups with P value (0.000 < 0.05). Tukey's HSD post hoc tests for multiple comparisons test shows that the Group II and III perform significantly better than Group I. Group III performs better than Group II with no significant difference. All the obturating technique showed some degree of microleakage. Root canals filled with C-point system showed least microleakage followed by thermoplasticized obturating technique with no significant difference among them. C-point obturation system could be an alternative to the cold lateral condensation technique.

Serum proteins in the leopard seal, Hydrurga leptonyx, in Prydz Bay, Eastern Antarctica and the coast of NSW, Australia.

PubMed

Gray, Rachael; Canfield, Paul; Rogers, Tracey

2005-09-01

Blood protein analysis including total serum protein and albumin by chemical methods, fibrinogen estimation and serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) was performed on the leopard seal, Hydrurga leptonyx. The most commonly observed SPE pattern was eight fractions designated albumin, alpha(1a), alpha(1b), alpha(2a), alpha(2b), beta(1), beta(2) and gamma-globulin. Significantly higher total serum protein and albumin concentrations, as determined by chemical methods, and significantly higher alpha(2)-globulin concentrations, determined by SPE, were seen in free-ranging male seals compared to females, whilst significantly higher beta-globulin concentrations were seen in female seals. Season of sampling influenced fibrinogen and beta(2)-globulin concentrations, whereas there were no significant differences in any protein concentrations with moult status. Qualitative comparison of SPE traces of leopard seals in Antarctica with "sick" individuals in NSW, Australia revealed obvious differences, as did quantitative comparison of protein concentrations where differences in alpha(1), alpha(2), beta(1), beta(2), and gamma-globulin concentrations were seen. These findings suggest that SPE is a useful tool for investigating serum proteins in the leopard seal, with applications for the investigation of "sick" individuals and the assessment of variation in homeostasis. This technique could also be used to identify the presence of environmental stressors, subclinical disease and physiological variation within specific seal populations.

Characterization of diacetone diperoxide (DADP)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bowden, Patrick R.; Tappan, Bryce C.; Manner, Virginia W.; Preston, Daniel N.; Scott, Brian L.

2017-01-01

To date, diacetone diperoxide (DADP) has been significantly less studied than its well-known counterpart, triacetone triperoxide (TATP). Much of this disparity in the literature is due to the harsher conditions/multi-step syntheses required to obtain DADP leading to much lower evidence of frequency of use. Because of this, DADP is often misrepresented as being more dangerous (i.e. more sensitive and less stable) than TATP. This paper discusses the synthesis and characterization (sensitivity, thermal stability, etc.) of DADP with comparisons to other energetic organic peroxides (TATP, HMTD and MEKP) and differences in polymorphism, crystal habit and effects of aging and processing differences are discussed. Additionally, the deflagration-to-detonation transition (DDT) behavior of DADP is discussed with comparison to TATP.

Dissociation: adjustment or distress? Dissociative phenomena, absorption and quality of life among Israeli women who practice channeling compared to women with similar traumatic history.

PubMed

Stolovy, Tali; Lev-Wiesel, Rachel; Witztum, Eliezer

2015-06-01

This study aimed to explore the relationship between traumatic history, dissociative phenomena, absorption and quality of life among a population of channelers, in comparison with a population of non-channelers with similar traumatic history. The study sample included 150 women. The measures included Traumatic Experiences Scale, Dissociative Experience Scale, Absorption Scale, Brief Symptom Inventory and Quality of Life (QOL) Assessment. Channelers presented significantly higher levels of dissociation, absorption and psychological health compared to the other group. Dissociation and absorption were trauma-related only among the comparison group. Hence, dissociation has different qualities among different people, and spiritual practice contributes to QOL.

Effect of cocoa on blood pressure.

PubMed

Ried, Karin; Fakler, Peter; Stocks, Nigel P

2017-04-25

High blood pressure is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease, contributing to about 50% of cardiovascular events worldwide and 37% of cardiovascular-related deaths in Western populations. Epidemiological studies suggest that cocoa-rich products reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Flavanols found in cocoa have been shown to increase the formation of endothelial nitric oxide which promotes vasodilation and therefore blood pressure reduction. Here we update previous meta-analyses on the effect of cocoa on blood pressure. To assess the effects on blood pressure of chocolate or cocoa products versus low-flavanol products or placebo in adults with or without hypertension when consumed for two weeks or longer. This is an updated version of the review initially published in 2012. In this updated version, we searched the following electronic databases from inception to November 2016: Cochrane Hypertension Group Specialised Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE and Embase. We also searched international trial registries, and the reference lists of review articles and included trials. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of chocolate or cocoa products on systolic and diastolic blood pressure in adults for a minimum of two weeks duration. Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed the risks of bias in each trial. We conducted random-effects meta-analyses on the included studies using Review Manager 5. We explored heterogeneity with subgroup analyses by baseline blood pressure, flavanol content of control group, blinding, age and duration. Sensitivity analyses explored the influence of unusual study design. Thirty-five trials (including 40 treatment comparisons) met the inclusion criteria. Of these, we added 17 trials (20 treatment comparisons) to the 18 trials (20 treatment comparisons) in the previous version of this updated review.Trials provided participants with 30 to 1218 mg of flavanols (mean = 670 mg) in 1.4 to 105 grams of cocoa products per day in the active intervention group. The control group received either a flavanol-free product (n = 26 treatment comparisons) or a low-flavanol-containing cocoa powder (range 6.4 to 88 mg flavanols (mean = 55 mg, 13 treatment comparisons; 259 mg, 1 trial).Meta-analyses of the 40 treatment comparisons involving 1804 mainly healthy participants revealed a small but statistically significant blood pressure-reducing effect of flavanol-rich cocoa products compared with control in trials of two to 18 weeks duration (mean nine weeks):Mean difference systolic blood pressure (SBP) (95% confidence interval (CI): -1.76 (-3.09 to -0.43) mmHg, P = 0.009, n = 40 treatment comparisons, 1804 participants;Mean difference diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (95% CI): -1.76 (-2.57 to -0.94) mmHg, P < 0.001, n = 39 treatment comparisons, 1772 participants.Baseline blood pressure may play a role in the effect of cocoa on blood pressure. While systolic blood pressure was reduced significantly by 4 mmHg in hypertensive people (n = 9 treatment comparisons, 401 participants), and tended to be lowered in prehypertensive people (n= 8 treatment comparisons, 340 participants), there was no significant difference in normotensive people (n = 23 treatment comparisons, 1063 participants); however, the test for subgroup differences was of borderline significance (P = 0.08; I 2 = 60%), requiring further research to confirm the findings.Subgroup meta-analysis by blinding suggested a trend towards greater blood pressure reduction in unblinded trials compared to double-blinded trials, albeit statistically not significant. Further research is needed to confirm whether participant expectation may influence blood pressure results. Subgroup analysis by type of control (flavanol-free versus low-flavanol control) did not reveal a significant difference.Whether the age of participants plays a role in the effect of cocoa on blood pressure, with younger participants responding with greater blood pressure reduction, needs to be further investigated.Sensitivity analysis excluding trials with authors employed by trials sponsoring industry (33 trials, 1482 participants) revealed a small reduction in effect size, indicating some reporting bias.Due to the remaining heterogeneity, which we could not explain in terms of blinding, flavanol content of the control groups, age of participants, or study duration, we downgraded the quality of the evidence from high to moderate.Results of subgroup analyses should be interpreted with caution and need to be confirmed or refuted in trials using direct randomised comparisons.Generally, cocoa products were highly tolerable, with adverse effects including gastrointestinal complaints and nausea being reported by 1% of participants in the active cocoa intervention group and 0.4% of participants in the control groups (moderate-quality evidence). This review provides moderate-quality evidence that flavanol-rich chocolate and cocoa products cause a small (2 mmHg) blood pressure-lowering effect in mainly healthy adults in the short term.These findings are limited by the heterogeneity between trials, which could not be explained by prespecified subgroup analyses, including blinding, flavanol content of the control groups, age of participants, or study duration. However, baseline blood pressure may play a role in the effect of cocoa on blood pressure; subgroup analysis of trials with (pre)hypertensive participants revealed a greater blood pressure-reducing effect of cocoa compared to normotensive participants with borderline significance.Long-term trials investigating the effect of cocoa on clinical outcomes are also needed to assess whether cocoa has an effect on cardiovascular events and to assess potential adverse effects associated with chronic ingestion of cocoa products.

Achievement Goal Orientations and Adolescents’ Subjective Well-Being in School: The Mediating Roles of Academic Social Comparison Directions

PubMed Central

Tian, Lili; Yu, Tingting; Huebner, E. Scott

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study was to examine the multiple mediational roles of academic social comparison directions (upward academic social comparison and downward academic social comparison) on the relationships between achievement goal orientations (i.e., mastery goals, performance-approach goals, and performance-avoidance goals) and subjective well-being (SWB) in school (school satisfaction, school affect) in adolescent students in China. A total of 883 Chinese adolescent students (430 males; Mean age = 12.99) completed a multi-measure questionnaire. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the hypotheses. Results indicated that (1) mastery goal orientations and performance-approach goal orientations both showed a statistically significant, positive correlation with SWB in school whereas performance-avoidance goal orientations showed a statistically significant, negative correlation with SWB in school among adolescents; (2) upward academic social comparisons mediated the relation between the three types of achievement goal orientations (i.e., mastery goals, performance-approach goals, and performance-avoidance goals) and SWB in school; (3) downward academic social comparisons mediated the relation between mastery goal orientations and SWB in school as well as the relation between performance-avoidance goal orientations and SWB in school. The findings suggest possible important cultural differences in the antecedents of SWB in school in adolescent students in China compared to adolescent students in Western nations. PMID:28197109

What can comparative genomics tell us about species concepts in the genus Aspergillus?

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rokas, Antonis; payne, gary; Federova, Natalie D.

2007-12-15

Understanding the nature of species" boundaries is a fundamental question in evolutionary biology. The availability of genomes from several species of the genus Aspergillus allows us for the first time to examine the demarcation of fungal species at the whole-genome level. Here, we examine four case studies, two of which involve intraspecific comparisons, whereas the other two deal with interspecific genomic comparisons between closely related species. These four comparisons reveal significant variation in the nature of species boundaries across Aspergillus. For example, comparisons between A. fumigatus and Neosartorya fischeri (the teleomorph of A. fischerianus) and between A. oryzae and A.more » flavus suggest that measures of sequence similarity and species-specific genes are significantly higher for the A. fumigatus - N. fischeri pair. Importantly, the values obtained from the comparison between A. oryzae and A. flavus are remarkably similar to those obtained from an intra-specific comparison of A. fumigatus strains, giving support to the proposal that A. oryzae represents a distinct ecotype of A. flavus and not a distinct species. We argue that genomic data can aid Aspergillus taxonomy by serving as a source of novel and unprecedented amounts of comparative data, as a resource for the development of additional diagnostic tools, and finally as a knowledge database about the biological differences between strains and species.« less

Evaluation of oxidative stress in mice subjected to aerobic exercise.

PubMed

Lima, Mônica Cruvinel de; Marks, Guido; Silva, Iandara Schettert; Silva, Baldomero Antonio Kato da; Cônsolo, Lourdes Zélia Zanoni; Nogueira, Gabriel Bogalho

2012-08-01

To evaluate the influence of aerobic exercise on oxidative stress in mice. The study included twenty female mice Mus musculus-Swiss divided into two groups: sedentary control (GA) and exercise (GB), each containing ten animals. All animals underwent an adaptation period of seven days isolated in individual boxes. After this period, the animals in the exercise group (GB) were trained in angled running wheel with circumference of 25 cm assembled on an articulated axle during five minutes for three consecutive days. On the fourth day, they underwent an exercise program of one session lasting 45 minutes. The evaluation of oxidative stress was performed by determining the levels of malondialhyde derived of lipid peroxidation by the TBA method. The samples were read in a spectrophotometer at 535 nm. No significant difference was observed in the intergroup comparison of MDA levels in the tissues evaluated. A significant difference was observed in the intragroup comparison of MDA levels in the control group (p = 0.0201).The Tukeys' post hoc test indicated significantly lower values of MDA in the smooth muscle in relation to plasma. In the analysis of variance in the exercise group, a significant difference between tissues (p = 0.0009), with significantly lower values in the smooth muscle in relation to plasma (p<0.001) and higher in striated muscle in relation to smooth muscle (p<0.05) was observed. There was no change in the analysis of oxidative stress in mice which were undergone a single session of aerobic exercise.

Comparison of macroinvertebrate community structure between two riffle-based sampling protocols in Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana, 2000-2001

USGS Publications Warehouse

Peterson, David A.; Zumberge, Jeremy R.

2006-01-01

Samples of benthic macroinvertebrates were collected side-by-side from riffles at 12 stream sites in Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana during 2000-2001, following protocols established by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP). Samples from riffles were collected following NAWQA protocols, using a sampler with 425-micron net mesh-opening size from a total area of 1.25 m2 per sample in multiple riffles. Samples also were collected following EMAP protocols, using a sampler with 500-micron net mesh-opening size from a total area of 0.72 m2 per sample in multiple riffles. The taxonomic identification and enumeration of the samples followed procedures established for each program. Benthic macroinvertebrate community structure was compared between the data sets using individual metrics, a multimetric index, and multivariate analysis. Comparisons between the macroinvertebrate community structures were made after sequentially adjusting both data sets for: (1) ambiguous taxa, (2) taxonomic inconsistencies, and (3) differences in laboratory subsampling. After removal of ambiguous taxa, pair-wise differences in total taxa richness and Ephemeroptera taxa richness were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Differences between the data sets generally were not significant for richness of other taxa, tolerant taxa, semi-voltine taxa, functional feeding groups, diversity, and dominance. Sample scores calculated using the Wyoming Stream Integrity Index were not significantly different between the two data sets. After reconciling both data sets for taxonomic inconsistencies, total taxa richness and Ephemeroptera taxa richness remained significantly different between the data sets. After adjusting the data for differences in laboratory subsampling, the differences in taxa richness were no longer significant. Bray-Curtis similarity coefficients and non-metric multi-dimensional scaling were used to examine macroinvertebrate community structure. Similarity in community structure between sites was affected to a greater extent by taxa reconciliation than by adjustment for subsampling.

Effects of Antiseptics on Pulpal Healing under Calcium Hydroxide Pulp Capping: A Pilot Study

PubMed Central

Bal, Cenkhan; Alacam, Alev; Tuzuner, Tamer; Tirali, Resmiye Ebru; Baris, Emre

2011-01-01

Objectives: The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the effects of three different antiseptic materials on healing processes of direct pulp therapies with Ca(OH)2 histopathologically. Methods: Twenty-eight upper and lower first molar teeth from 7 male Wistar rats were used in this study. Four cavities were prepared in each rat in four quadrants, and each quadrant represented different experimental groups. In Group I: 0.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl); in Group II: 2% chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX); in Group III: 0.1% octenidine dihydrochloride (OCT); and in Group IV 0.9% sterile saline was applied to the exposure site with a sterile cotton pellet for 3 minutes. After hemorrhage control, the pulps were capped with hard setting Ca(OH)2 and, finally, restored with IRM. The animals were euthanized at 21 days post-operatively. After sacrificing, routine histological procedures were performed and evaluated statistically with non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test among the groups and two-by-two comparisons by using the Mann-Whitney U test for inflammatory response and tissue organization scores at the confidence interval of 95%. Results: There were significant differences in inflammatory response and tissue organization scores between the groups (P<.05). Statistical evaluation of inflammatory response showed that Group IV was significantly different from Groups I, II and III separately with a higher inflammatory cell response (P<.05) whereas no significant differences were detected between the other groups in two-by-two comparisons (P>.05). Healthy coronal and radicular pulp tissue organization scores indicated that the Group I has better pulp tissue organization than Group IV and this was significantly different (P<.05) whereas no significant differences were observed between the other groups separately (P>.05). Conclusions: The antiseptic materials used in this study created an environment that, rather than saline solution, may affect clinical and histological success in a positive way. PMID:21769267

Assessment of the Wilson Sex Fantasy Questionnaire among child molesters and nonsexual forensic offenders.

PubMed

Baumgartner, Jerome V; Scalora, Mario J; Huss, Matthew T

2002-01-01

The Wilson Sex Fantasy Questionnaire (WSFQ; Wilson, 1978) is a 40-item self-report questionnaire that assesses 4 types of sexual fantasies: Exploratory, Intimate, Impersonal, and Sadomasochistic. The goal of the present study was to examine the differences between child molesters (n = 64) and nonsexual offenders (n = 41) on the WSFQ. Comparisons included the four underlying factors, 2 factors associated with the fantasizer's role in the fantasy (active vs. passive), and 2 items most closely related to sexual molestation behavior. Results found that molesters reported higher scores on the Exploratory and Intimate subscales, as well as overall fantasy. Scores on the Impersonal and Sadomasochistic subscales were not significantly different. Molesters also reported higher scores on fantasies where they were the actor, and higher scores on fantasies most closely related to sexual molestation behavior. Subsequent analyses found that both offender groups reported significantly lower levels of fantasies than college comparison subjects and noncriminal sexual deviants. Differences among the 2 study groups are discussed in terms of social and cognitive characteristics of molesters.

Korean Medication Algorithm for Depressive Disorder: Comparisons with Other Treatment Guidelines

PubMed Central

Wang, Hee Ryung; Park, Young-Min; Lee, Hwang Bin; Song, Hoo Rim; Jeong, Jong-Hyun; Seo, Jeong Seok; Lim, Eun-Sung; Hong, Jeong-Wan; Kim, Won; Jon, Duk-In; Hong, Jin-Pyo; Woo, Young Sup; Min, Kyung Joon

2014-01-01

We aimed to compare the recommendations of the Korean Medication Algorithm Project for Depressive Disorder 2012 (KMAP-DD 2012) with other recently published treatment guidelines for depressive disorder. We reviewed a total of five recently published global treatment guidelines and compared each treatment recommendation of the KMAP-DD 2012 with those in other guidelines. For initial treatment recommendations, there were no significant major differences across guidelines. However, in the case of nonresponse or incomplete response to initial treatment, the second recommended treatment step varied across guidelines. For maintenance therapy, medication dose and duration differed among treatment guidelines. Further, there were several discrepancies in the recommendations for each subtype of depressive disorder across guidelines. For treatment in special populations, there were no significant differences in overall recommendations. This comparison identifies that, by and large, the treatment recommendations of the KMAP-DD 2012 are similar to those of other treatment guidelines and reflect current changes in prescription pattern for depression based on accumulated research data. Further studies will be needed to address several issues identified in our review. PMID:24605117

Geodetic reanalysis of annual glaciological mass balances (2001-2011) of Hintereisferner, Austria

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klug, Christoph; Bollmann, Erik; Galos, Stephan Peter; Nicholson, Lindsey; Prinz, Rainer; Rieg, Lorenzo; Sailer, Rudolf; Stötter, Johann; Kaser, Georg

2018-03-01

This study presents a reanalysis of the glaciologically obtained annual glacier mass balances at Hintereisferner, Ötztal Alps, Austria, for the period 2001-2011. The reanalysis is accomplished through a comparison with geodetically derived mass changes, using annual high-resolution airborne laser scanning (ALS). The grid-based adjustments for the method-inherent differences are discussed along with associated uncertainties and discrepancies of the two methods of mass balance measurements. A statistical comparison of the two datasets shows no significant difference for seven annual, as well as the cumulative, mass changes over the 10-year record. Yet, the statistical view hides significant differences in the mass balance years 2002/03 (glaciological minus geodetic records = +0.92 m w.e.), 2005/06 (+0.60 m w.e.), and 2006/07 (-0.45 m w.e.). We conclude that exceptional meteorological conditions can render the usual glaciological observational network inadequate. Furthermore, we consider that ALS data reliably reproduce the annual mass balance and can be seen as validation or calibration tools for the glaciological method.

The Difference in Cervical Vertebral Skeletal Maturation between Cleft Lip/Palate and Non-Cleft Lip/Palate Orthodontic Patients.

PubMed

Batwa, Waeil; Almoammar, Khalid; Aljohar, Aziza; Alhussein, Abdullah; Almujel, Saad; Zawawi, Khalid H

2018-01-01

The aim was to evaluate differences in the cervical vertebral skeletal maturity of unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) and non-cleft lip/palate (non-CLP) Saudi male orthodontic patients. This cross-sectional multicenter study took place at the dental school, King Saud University and King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between October 2014 and September 2015. The records of Saudi male orthodontic patients with UCLP ( n = 69) were collected. Cervical vertebral maturation was assessed using their cephalometric radiographs. The records of 138 age-matched non-CLP Saudi male orthodontic patients served as controls. There was a significant difference in skeletal maturity between the UCLP and non-CLP groups, as evident in the delayed skeletal development among the UCLP participants. Moreover, pubertal growth spurt onset was significantly earlier in the non-cleft participants in comparison with the UCLP participants ( p = 0.009). There is delayed skeletal maturity among the UCLP Saudi male population in comparison with their non-CLP age-matched peers.

Audiogram Comparison of Workers from Five Professional Categories

PubMed Central

Mathias Duarte, Alexandre Scalli; Guimarães, Alexandre Caixeta; de Carvalho, Guilherme Machado; Pinheiro, Laíza Araújo Mohana; Yen Ng, Ronny Tah; Sampaio, Marcelo Hamilton; da Costa, Everardo Andrade; Gusmão, Reinaldo Jordão

2015-01-01

Introduction. Noise is a major cause of health disorders in workers and has unique importance in the auditory analysis of people exposed to it. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the arithmetic mean of the auditory thresholds at frequencies of 3, 4, and 6 kHz of workers from five professional categories exposed to occupational noise. Methods. We propose a retrospective cross-sectional cohort study to analyze 2.140 audiograms from seven companies having five sectors of activity: one footwear company, one beverage company, two ceramics companies, two metallurgical companies, and two transport companies. Results. When we compared two categories, we noticed a significant difference only for cargo carriers in comparison to the remaining categories. In all activity sectors, the left ear presented the worst values, except for the footwear professionals (P > 0.05). We observed an association between the noise exposure time and the reduction of audiometric values for both ears. Significant differences existed for cargo carriers in relation to other groups. This evidence may be attributed to different forms of exposure. A slow and progressive deterioration appeared as the exposure time increased. PMID:25705651

Indicators of asthma control among students in a rural, school-based asthma management program

PubMed Central

Rasberry, Catherine N.; Cheung, Karen; Buckley, Rebekah; Dunville, Richard; Daniels, Brandy; Cook, Deborah; Robin, Leah; Dean, Blair

2015-01-01

Objective The evaluation sought to determine if a comprehensive, school-based asthma management program in a small, rural school district helped students improve asthma control. Methods To determine if students in the asthma program demonstrated better asthma control than students in a comparison school district, the evaluation team used a quasi-experimental, cross-sectional design and administered questionnaires assessing asthma control (which included FEV1 measurement) to 456 students with asthma in the intervention and comparison districts. Data were analyzed for differences in asthma control between students in the two districts. To determine if students in the intervention experienced increased asthma control between baseline and follow-up, the evaluation team used a one-group retrospective design. Program records for 323 students were analyzed for differences in percent of predicted forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) between baseline and follow-up. Results Students with asthma in the intervention district exhibited significantly better asthma control than students with asthma in the comparison district. Percent of predicted FEV1 did not change significantly between baseline and follow-up for the intervention participants; however, post hoc analyses revealed students with poorly-controlled asthma at baseline had significantly higher FEV1 scores at follow-up, and students with well-controlled asthma at baseline had significantly lower FEV1 scores at follow-up. Conclusions Findings suggest the comprehensive school-based program led to improvements in asthma control for students with poorly controlled asthma at baseline, and school-based programs need mechanisms for tracking students with initially well-controlled asthma in order to ensure they maintain control. PMID:24730771

Development and evaluation of learning module on clinical decision-making in Prosthodontics.

PubMed

Deshpande, Saee; Lambade, Dipti; Chahande, Jayashree

2015-01-01

Best practice strategies for helping students learn the reasoning skills of problem solving and critical thinking (CT) remain a source of conjecture, particularly with regard to CT. The dental education literature is fundamentally devoid of research on the cognitive components of clinical decision-making. This study was aimed to develop and evaluate the impact of blended learning module on clinical decision-making skills of dental graduates for planning prosthodontics rehabilitation. An interactive teaching module consisting of didactic lectures on clinical decision-making and a computer-assisted case-based treatment planning software was developed Its impact on cognitive knowledge gain in clinical decision-making was evaluated using an assessment involving problem-based multiple choice questions and paper-based case scenarios. Mean test scores were: Pretest (17 ± 1), posttest 1 (21 ± 2) and posttest 2 (43 ± 3). Comparison of mean scores was done with one-way ANOVA test. There was overall significant difference in between mean scores at all the three points (P < 0.001). A pair-wise comparison of mean scores was done with Bonferroni test. The mean difference is significant at the 0.05 level. The pair-wise comparison shows that posttest 2 score is significantly higher than posttest 1 and posttest 1 is significantly higher than pretest that is, pretest 2 > posttest 1 > pretest. Blended teaching methods employing didactic lectures on the clinical decision-making as well as computer assisted case-based learning can be used to improve quality of clinical decision-making in prosthodontic rehabilitation for dental graduates.

Conducting tests for statistically significant differences using forest inventory data

Treesearch

James A. Westfall; Scott A. Pugh; John W. Coulston

2013-01-01

Many forest inventory and monitoring programs are based on a sample of ground plots from which estimates of forest resources are derived. In addition to evaluating metrics such as number of trees or amount of cubic wood volume, it is often desirable to make comparisons between resource attributes. To properly conduct statistical tests for differences, it is imperative...

Siblings, Birth Order, and Cooperative-Competitive Social Behavior: A Comparison of Anglo-American and Mexican-American Children.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Knight, George P.; Kagan, Spencer

1982-01-01

Tested the hypothesis that differences in cooperative-competitive social behavior between Anglo-Americans and Mexican Americans is a result of larger family size among the latter group. Found that, even after controlling for number of siblings and birth order, statistically significant differences in such behavior remained between the two groups.…

A comparison of tree crown condition in areas with and without gypsy moth activity

Treesearch

KaDonna C. Randolph

2005-01-01

This study compared the crown condition of trees within and outside areas of gypsy moth defoliation in Virginia via hypothesis tests of mean differences for five U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis phase 3 crown condition indicators. Significant differences were found between the trees located within and outside gypsy moth...

A comparison of tree crown condition in areas with and without gypsy moth activity

Treesearch

KaDonna C. Randolph

2007-01-01

This study compared the crown condition of trees within and outside areas of gypsy moth defoliation in Virginia via hypothesis tests of mean differences for five U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis phase 3 crown condition indicators. Significant differences were found between the trees located within and outside gypsy moth...

Different Values, Different Skills? A Comparison of Essay Writing by Students from Arts and Science Backgrounds

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

North, Sarah

2005-01-01

This article reports the findings of a 3 year research project which investigated disciplinary variation in student writing. Within an Open University course in the history of science, students from an arts background were found to achieve significantly higher grades than those from a science background. Textual and interview data suggest that…

First-Year College Students with ADHD And/or LD: Differences in Engagement, Positive Core Self-Evaluation, School Preparation, and College Expectations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

DuPaul, George J.; Pinho, Trevor D.; Pollack, Brittany L.; Gormley, Matthew J.; Laracy, Seth D.

2017-01-01

Students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and/or learning disabilities (LD) experience significant challenges in making the transition from high school to college. This study examined the ways first-year college students with ADHD, LD, ADHD+LD, and comparison peers differ in engagement, core self-evaluation, high school…

Language in Low-Functioning Children with Autistic Disorder: Differences between Receptive and Expressive Skills and Concurrent Predictors of Language

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maljaars, Jarymke; Noens, Ilse; Scholte, Evert; van Berckelaer-Onnes, Ina

2012-01-01

Language profiles of children with autistic disorder and intellectual disability (n = 36) were significantly different from the comparison groups of children with intellectual disability (n = 26) and typically developing children (n = 34). The group low-functioning children with autistic disorder obtained a higher mean score on expressive than on…

Comparison of Coping Strategies of Student Teachers Based on Their Subject of Specialisation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

P. M., Majitha; Sajan, K. S.

2015-01-01

The purpose of the study was to find out the difference in the mean scores of coping strategies of student teachers based on their subject of specialisation. A total of 558 student teachers were selected for the study. Results indicate that there exists a significant difference in the mean scores of Coping Strategies of student teachers of Arts…

Relationship Between Physical and Biological Properties on the Microscale: A Cross-Comparison Between Differing Coastal Domains

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-09-01

persistent layers of particulate matter (defined by turbidity or chlorophyll ); DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release; distribution... black line) for data presented in Fig. 1 and averaged along isopycnals. 2013 Figure 3: Histogram showing the statistical differences in mixing...mean. 3 SIGNIFICANCE Attenuation of light and sound propagation in the upper

Which soft contact lens power is better for piggyback fitting in keratoconus?

PubMed

Romero-Jiménez, Miguel; Santodomingo-Rubido, Jacinto; Flores-Rodríguez, Patricia; González-Méijome, Jose Manuel

2013-02-01

To evaluate the impact of differente soft contact lens power in the anterior corneal curvature and regularity in subjects with keratoconus. Nineteen subjects (30 eyes) with keratoconus were included in the study. Six corneal topographies were taken with Pentacam Eye System over the naked eye and successively with soft lens (Senofilcon A) powers of -3.00, -1.50, 0.00, +1.50 and +3.00 D. Corneal measurements of mean central keratometry (MCK), maximum tangential curvature (TK), maximum front elevation (MFE) and eccentricity (Ecc) at 6 and 8 mm diameters as well as anterior corneal surface high order aberrations (i.e. total RMS, spherical- and coma-like and secondary astigmatism) were evaluated. Negative- and plano-powered soft lenses flattened (p<0.05 in all cases), whereas positive-powered lenses did not induce any significant changes (p>0.05 in all cases) in MCK in comparison to the naked eye. The TK power decreased with negative lenses (p<0.05 in both cases) and increased with +3.00 D lenses (p=0.03) in comparison to the naked eye. No statistically significant differences were found in MFE with any soft lens power in comparison to the naked eye (p>0.05 in all cases). Corneal eccentricity increased at 8 mm diameter for all lens powers (p<0.05 in all cases). No statistically differences were found in HOA RMS and spherical-like aberration (both p>0.05). Statistically differences were found in coma-like and secondary astigmatism (both p<0.05). Negative-powered soft contact lenses provide a flatter anterior surface in comparison to positive-powered lenses in subjects with keratoconus and thus they might be more suitable for piggyback contact lens fitting. Copyright © 2012 British Contact Lens Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Inhibitory activity of fenoterol on Dermatophagoides-, Parietaria-, tetanus-toxoid-, and Candida albicans-stimulated blood mononuclear cells: differences in beta2-adrenoreceptor stimulation but not in cell apoptosis.

PubMed

Silvestri, M; Oddera, S; Scarso, L; Pistoia, V; Tasso, P; Rossi, G A

2000-05-01

beta2-adrenoreceptor agonists have the ability to downregulate in vitro the proliferative response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (BMCs). This activity could be related to a variety of beta2-adrenoreceptor-mediated functions, including induction of cell apoptosis in activated T-cells. To test this hypothesis, BMCs from atopic subjects, sensitized to house dust mites (Dermatophagoides [Der p]) and/or to Parietaria were incubated with fenoterol (10(-8)-10(-5) M) in the presence of (a) purified allergen extracts (Der p [5 microg/mL] or Parietaria [5 microg/mL]) or (b) antigens (tetanus toxoid [1 microg/mL] or Candida albicans [5 x 10(5) bodies/mL]). The BMC proliferation was assessed by [3H] thymidine incorporation and cell apoptosis was assessed by evaluating DNA fragmentation by a fluorescence technique, using propidium iodide. In cultures stimulated with Der p or with Parietaria, fenoterol induced a dose-dependent inhibition of BMC proliferation, significant also at the lowest concentration tested (10(-8) M) (p < 0.05, each comparison). In contrast, the inhibitory activity of the drug on tetanus-toxoid-stimulated BMCs was significant only at the highest dose tested (10(-5)M) (p < 0.05), whereas no effect was seen when BMCs were stimulated with C. albicans extract (p > 0.05). The different inhibitory efficacy of fenoterol appeared to be related to the degree of activation of beta2-adrenoreceptors on the different BMC populations that responded to the different stimuli. Indeed, in the presence of fenoterol (10(-6) and 10(-5)M), a significant increase in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels was seen in Der p- or Parietaria-stimulated cells (p < 0.05; each comparison), but not in cell cultures stimulated with tetanus toxoid or with C. albicans extracts (p > 0.05; each comparison). Finally, the percentage of cells with fragmented DNA was lower in cultures stimulated with Der p or Parietaria than in those stimulated with tetanus toxoid or C. albicans, and the presence of fenoterol did not modify cell apoptosis (p > 0.05; each comparison). Thus, the different inhibitory activity of fenoterol on BMCs activated by allergens (Der p or Parietaria) or by antigens (tetanus toxoid or C. albicans) seems to be related to differences in beta2-adrenoreceptor expression and/or function in the different antigen-specific T-cell subsets, but it is not influenced by changes in cell apoptosis.

A cross-etiology comparison of the socio-emotional behavioral profiles associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and specific language impairment

PubMed Central

Ash, Andrea C.

2014-01-01

Cross-etiology comparisons provide important information that can help practitioners establish criteria for differential diagnosis and tailor interventions towards the source of children’s difficulties. This study examined the extent to which parent rating scales of socioemotional behavioral difficulties differentiate cases of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) from cases of specific language impairment (SLI), and typical development (TD). Parents of 60 children (7–8 years) completed the Child Behavior Checklist (Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001) and the Conners Parent Rating Scale-Revised (Conners, 2004). Significant differences were observed between ratings provided for the children with ADHD and the children with SLI and TD across several scales which assessed behavioral and emotional difficulties. Most of the observed differences between ratings provided for the SLI and TD groups were not significant when nonverbal IQ was treated as a covariate or when syndrome scales were adjusted for the presence of language and academic items. In contrast, these adjustments had little impact on observed differences between the children with ADHD and the other groups. These results highlight important and clinically useful differences between the scope and the scale of socioemotional behavior difficulties associated with ADHD and SLI. PMID:24456478

Meta-analysis of Dropout in Treatments for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

PubMed Central

Imel, Zac E.; Laska, Kevin; Jakcupcak, Matthew; Simpson, Tracy L.

2013-01-01

Objective Many patients dropout of treatments for Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and some clinicians believe that ‘trauma focused’ treatments increase dropout. Method We conducted a meta-analysis of dropout among active treatments in clinical trials for PTSD (42 studies; 17 direct comparisons). Results The average dropout rate was 18%, but it varied significantly across studies. Group modality and greater number of sessions, but not trauma focus, predicted increased dropout. When the meta-analysis was restricted to direct comparisons of active treatments, there were no differences in dropout. Differences in trauma focus between treatments in the same study did not predict dropout. However, trauma focused treatments resulted in higher dropout as compared to Present Centered Therapy (PCT) – a treatment originally designed as a control, but now listed as a research supported intervention for PTSD. Conclusion Dropout varies between active interventions for PTSD across studies, but differences are primarily driven by differences between studies. There do not appear to be systematic differences across active interventions when they are directly compared in the same study. The degree of clinical attention placed on the traumatic event does not appear to be a primary cause of dropout from active treatments. However comparisons of PCT may be an exception to this general pattern, perhaps due to a restriction of variability in trauma focus among comparisons of active treatments. More research is needed comparing trauma focused interventions to trauma avoidant treatments such as PCT. PMID:23339535

A Comparison of Student Understanding of Seasons Using Inquiry and Didactic Teaching Methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ashcraft, Paul G.

2006-02-01

Student performance on open-ended questions concerning seasons in a university physical science content course was examined to note differences between classes that experienced inquiry using a 5-E lesson planning model and those that experienced the same content with a traditional, didactic lesson. The class examined is a required content course for elementary education majors and understanding the seasons is part of the university's state's elementary science standards. The two self-selected groups of students showed no statistically significant differences in pre-test scores, while there were statistically significant differences between the groups' post-test scores with those who participated in inquiry-based activities scoring higher. There were no statistically significant differences between the pre-test and the post-test for the students who experienced didactic teaching, while there were statistically significant improvements for the students who experienced the 5-E lesson.

Mesial Temporal Lobe and Memory Function in Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Exploration of Volumetric Findings

PubMed Central

Trontel, Haley G.; Duffield, Tyler C.; Bigler, Erin D.; Abildskov, Tracy J.; Froehlich, Alyson; Prigge, Molly B.D.; Travers, Brittany G.; Anderson, Jeffrey S.; Zielinski, Brandon A.; Alexander, Andrew; Lange, Nicholas; Lainhart, Janet E.

2015-01-01

Studies have shown that individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) tend to perform significantly below typical developing individuals on standardized measures of memory, even when not significantly different on measures of IQ. The current study sought to examine within ASD whether anatomical correlates of memory performance differed between those with average-to-above-average IQ (AIQ Group) compared to those with low average to borderline ability (LIQ group) as well as in relations to typically-developing comparisons (TDC). Using automated volumetric analyses, we examined regional volume of classic memory areas including the hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, entorhinal cortex, and amygdala in an all-male sample AIQ (n = 38) and LIQ (n = 18) individuals with ASD along with 30 typically-developing comparisons (TDC). Memory performance was assessed using the Test of Memory and Learning (TOMAL) compared among the groups and then correlated with regional brain volumes. Analyses revealed group differences on almost all facets of memory and learning as assessed by the various subtests of the TOMAL. The three groups did not differ on any ROI memory-related brain volumes. However, significant size-memory function interactions were observed. Negative correlations were found between the volume of the amygdala and composite, verbal, and delayed memory indices for the LIQ ASD group indicating larger volume related to poorer performance. Implications for general memory functioning and dysfunctional neural connectivity in ASD are discussed. PMID:25749302

BRDF Characterization and Calibration Inter-Comparison between Terra MODIS, Aqua MODIS, and S-NPP VIIRS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chang, Tiejun; Xiong, Xiaoxiong (Jack); Angal, Amit; Wu, Aisheng

2016-01-01

The inter-comparison of reflective solar bands (RSB) between Terra MODIS, Aqua MODIS, and SNPP VIIRS is very important for assessment of each instrument's calibration and to identify calibration improvements. One of the limitations of using their ground observations for the assessment is a lack of the simultaneous nadir overpasses (SNOs) over selected pseudo-invariant targets. In addition, their measurements over a selected Earth view target have significant difference in solar and view angles, and these differences magnify the effects of Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF). In this work, an inter-comparison technique using a semi-empirical BRDF model is developed for reflectance correction. BRDF characterization requires a broad coverage of solar and view angles in the measurements over selected pseudo-invariant targets. Reflectance measurements over Libya 1, 2, and 4 desert sites from both the Aqua and Terra MODIS are regressed to a BRDF model with an adjustable coefficient accounting for the calibration difference between the two instruments. The BRDF coefficients for three desert sites for MODIS bands 1 to 9 are derived and the wavelength dependencies are presented. The analysis and inter-comparison are for MODIS bands 1 to 9 and VIIRS moderate resolution radiometric bands (M bands) M1, M2, M4, M5, M7, M8, M10 and imaging bands (I bands) I1-I3. Results show that the ratios from different sites are in good agreement. The ratios between Terra and Aqua MODIS from year 2003 to 2014 are presented. The inter-comparison between MODIS and VIIRS are analyzed for year 2014.

Child-rearing in the context of childhood cancer: perspectives of parents and professionals.

PubMed

Long, Kristin A; Keeley, Lauren; Reiter-Purtill, Jennifer; Vannatta, Kathryn; Gerhardt, Cynthia A; Noll, Robert B

2014-02-01

Elevated distress has been well documented among parents of children with cancer. Family systems theories suggest that cancer-related stressors and parental distress have the potential to affect child-rearing practices, but this topic has received limited empirical attention. The present work examined self-reported child-rearing practices among mothers and fathers of children with cancer and matched comparisons. Medical and psychosocial professionals with expertise in pediatric oncology selected items from the Child-Rearing Practices Report (CRPR) likely to differentiate parents of children with cancer from matched comparison parents. Then, responses on these targeted items were compared between parents of children with cancer (94 mothers, 67 fathers) and matched comparisons (98 mothers, 75 fathers). Effect sizes of between-group differences were compared for mothers versus fathers. Pediatric oncology healthcare providers predicted that 14 items would differentiate child-rearing practices of parents of children with cancer from parents of typically developing children. Differences emerged on six of the 14 CRPR items. Parents of children with cancer reported higher levels of spoiling and concern about their child's health and development than comparison parents. Items assessing overprotection and emotional responsiveness did not distinguish the two groups of parents. The effect size for the group difference between mothers in the cancer versus comparison groups was significantly greater than that for fathers on one item related to worry about the child's health. Parents of children with cancer report differences in some, but not all, domains of child-rearing, as predicted by healthcare professionals. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Are they half as strong as they used to be? An experiment testing whether age-related social comparisons impair older people's hand grip strength and persistence

PubMed Central

Swift, Hannah J; Lamont, Ruth A

2012-01-01

Objective To assess how age-related social comparisons, which are likely to arise inadvertently or deliberately during assessments, may affect older people's performance on tests that are used to assess their needs and capability. Design The study randomly assigned participants to a comparison with younger people or a no comparison condition and assessed hand grip strength and persistence. Gender, education, type of residence, arthritis and age were also recorded. Setting Age UK centres and senior's lunches in the South of England. Participants An opportunity sample of 56 adults, with a mean age of 82.25 years. Main outcomes measures Hand grip strength measured using a manual hand dynamometer and persistence of grip measured using a stopwatch. Results Comparison caused significantly worse performance measured by both strength (comparison =6.85 kg, 95% CI 4.19 kg to 9.5 kg, control group =11.07 kg, 95% CI 8.47 kg to 13.68 kg, OR =0.51, p=0.027) and persistence (comparison =8.36 s, 95% CI 5.44 s to 11.29 s; control group =12.57 s, 95% CI 9.7 s to 15.45 s, OR =0.49, p=0.045). These effects remained significant after accounting for differences in arthritis, gender, education and adjusting for population age norms. Conclusions Due to the potential for age comparisons and negative stereotype activation during assessment of older people, such assessments may underestimate physical capability by up to 50%. Because age comparisons are endemic, this means that assessment tests may sometimes seriously underestimate older people's capacity and prognosis, which has implications for the way healthcare professionals treat them in terms of autonomy and dependency. PMID:22619267

Patient characteristics as predictors of primary health care preferences: a systematic literature analysis

PubMed Central

Jung, Hans Peter; Baerveldt, Cor; Olesen, Frede; Grol, Richard; Wensing, Michel

2003-01-01

Abstract Objective To identify associations between various cultural and demographic factors and patients’ primary health care preferences. Search strategy Searches were performed in MEDLINE (1966–December 2000), PsycINFO (1977–May 2001) and Sociological Abstracts (1963–December 2000). Identified papers were checked for more papers. Inclusion criteria Studies with a focus on primary health care or health care in general, asking patients about preferences with regard to health care, reporting quantitative results and examining the relations between specific patient characteristics and patient preferences. Data extraction and synthesis Data were extracted from studies using a scoring form to register what methods were used, which patient characteristics were analysed and which patient characteristics significantly influenced patients’ preferences with regard to different aspects of health care (P < 0.05). Main results A total of 145 studies were included with 2276 comparisons between subgroups of patients. Of all the comparisons, 607 (27%) showed a significant association between patient characteristics and preferences with regard to primary health care. Age and economic status significantly related to patient preferences in 38 and 33% of the comparisons, respectively. Education, health status, family situation, sex, and utilization of health care related significantly to patient preferences in less than 25% of the comparisons. Conclusions This review of the literature showed patient characteristics to be an important determinant of preferences regarding many aspects of primary health care defined as general practice care or health care, in general. All of the patient characteristics examined here showed at least some significant associations with preferences for primary health care. PMID:12752744

Hypothesized eye movements of neurolinguistic programming: a statistical artifact.

PubMed

Farmer, A; Rooney, R; Cunningham, J R

1985-12-01

Neurolinguistic programming's hypothesized eye-movements were measured independently from videotapes of 30 subjects, aged 15 to 76 yr., who were asked to recall visual pictures, recorded audio sounds, and textural objects. chi 2 indicated that subjects' responses were significantly different from those predicted. When chi 2 comparisons were weighted by number of eye positions assigned to each modality (3 visual, 3 auditory, 1 kinesthetic), subjects' responses did not differ significantly from the expected pattern. These data indicate that the eye-movement hypothesis may represent randomly occurring rather than sensory-modality-related positions.

Bilateral comparison of 1 Ω standards (ongoing BIPM key comparison BIPM.EM-K13.a) between the NSAI-NML (Ireland) and the BIPM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goebel, R.; Power, O.; Fletcher, N.; Stock, M.

2012-01-01

This report describes the results obtained from a NML(Ireland)-BIPM bilateral comparison of 1 Ω resistance standards in 2010. The comparison was carried out in the framework of the BIPM ongoing key comparison BIPM.EM-K13.a. Two BIPM 1 Ω travelling standards of CSIRO type were calibrated first at the BIPM, then at the NMLI and again at the BIPM after their return. The stability of the transfer standard was such that the uncertainty associated with the transfer was significantly smaller than the uncertainty arising from the calibrations. The mean difference between the NMLI and the BIPM calibrations was found to be just within the expanded uncertainty (k = 2) of the comparison. Main text. To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database kcdb.bipm.org/. The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCEM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA).

Comparison of lead attenuation and lead hardening equivalence of materials used in respect of diagnostic X-ray shielding.

PubMed

Okunade, Akintunde Akangbe

2002-12-01

Present interest is in the shielding of diagnostic X-ray units. Numerical comparison has been made of the attenuation and hardening properties of lead and some particular alternative materials: steel, plate glass and gypsum wallboard. Results show, for particular choices of thickness, that lead and steel can be made to provide closely similar attenuation and spectral hardening, values of lead attenuation equivalent (LAE) and lead hardening equivalent (LHE) thicknesses being nearly the same. Significant differences in the attenuation and hardening properties of lead are found in comparison with plate glass and gypsum wallboard. LAE produces better matching of exposure for lead-plate glass and lead-gypsum wallboard than LHE.

A Comparison of Propagation Between Apertured Bessel and Gaussian beams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Mei; Yu, Yanzhong

2009-04-01

A true Bessel beam is a family of diffraction-free beams. Thus the most interesting and attractive characteristic of such beam is non-diffracting propagation. In optics, the comparisons of maximum propagation distance had been done between Bessel and Gaussian beams by Durnin and Sprangle, respectively. However, the results obtained by them are conflict due to the difference between their criteria. Because Bessel beams have many potential applications in millimeter wave bands, therefore, it is necessary and significant that the comparison is carried out at these bands. A new contrast criterion at millimeter wavelengths is proposed in our paper. Under this criterion, the numerical results are presented and a new conclusion is drawn.

Are distinct etiologies of upper airway obstruction in mouth-breathing children associated with different cephalometric patterns?

PubMed

Franco, Letícia P; Souki, Bernardo Q; Cheib, Paula L; Abrão, Marcel; Pereira, Tatiana B J; Becker, Helena M G; Pinto, Jorge A

2015-02-01

To test the null hypothesis that mouth-breathing (MB) children by distinct obstructive tissues present a similar cephalometric pattern. The sample included 226 prepubescent children (113 MB and 113 nasal breathing (NB) controls). An ENT clinical examination, including flexible nasal endoscopy, orthodontic clinical and cephalometric examinations, was performed on the MB population. MB children were grouped into three categories, according to the obstructive tissues: 1) adenoid group (AG), 2) tonsillar group (TG), and 3) adenotonsillar group (ATG). The NB controls were matched by gender, age, sagittal dental relationship and skeletal maturation status. Lateral cephalometric radiography provided the cephalometric pattern comparisons between the MB and NB groups. MB cephalometric measurements were significantly different from those of NB children, exception in the SNB° (P=0.056). All comparisons between the three groups of MB children with the NB children showed a significant difference. Finally, even among the three groups of MB children, a significant difference was observed in the measurements of the SNB° (P<0.036), NSGn° (P<0.028) and PFH/TAFH ratio (posterior facial height/total anterior facial height) (P<0.012). The cephalometric pattern of MB and NB children was not similar. Cephalometric measurements of the MB group differed according to the etiology of upper airway obstruction. Children with isolated hypertrophy of the palatine tonsils presented with a mandible that was positioned more forward and upward compared to children obstructed only by the enlarged adenoid. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparison of anterior segment parameters and axial length measurements performed on a Scheimpflug device with biometry function and a reference optical biometer.

PubMed

Muzyka-Woźniak, Maria; Oleszko, Adam

2018-04-26

To compare measurements of axial length (AL), corneal curvature (K), anterior chamber depth (ACD) and white-to-white (WTW) distance on a new device combining Scheimpflug camera and partial coherence interferometry (Pentacam AXL) with a reference optical biometer (IOL Master 500). To evaluate differences between IOL power calculations based on the two biometers. Ninety-seven eyes of 97 consecutive cataract or refractive lens exchange patients were examined preoperatively on IOL Master 500 and Pentacam AXL units. Comparisons between two devices were performed for AL, K, ACD and WTW. Intraocular lens (IOL) power targeting emmetropia was calculated with SRK/T and Haigis formulas on both devices and compared. There were statistically significant differences between two devices for all measured parameters (P < 0.05), except ACD (P = 0.36). Corneal curvature measured with Pentacam AXL was significantly flatter then with IOL Master. The mean difference in AL was clinically insignificant (0.01 mm; 95% LoA 0.16 mm). Pentacam AXL yielded higher IOL power in 75% of eyes for Haigis formula and in 62% of eyes for SRK/T formula, with a mean difference within ± 0.5 D for 72 and 86% of eyes, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between AL, K and WTW measurements obtained with the compared biometers. Flatter corneal curvature measurements on Pentacam AXL necessitate formulas optimisation for Pentacam AXL.

Comparison of the take-off ground reaction force patterns of the pole vault and the long jump.

PubMed

Plessa, E I; Rousanoglou, E N; Boudolos, K D

2010-12-01

The take-off is probably the most important phase of the pole vault. The kinematics of pole vault take-off is often described in comparison to the long jump take-off. If a kinetic similarity were also evidenced, the extra loading of carrying the pole could be avoided by using the long jump style take-off drills in pole vault take-off training. However, to our knowledge, a direct comparison of the take-off ground reaction force (GRF) pattern of the two types of jump has not been reported in the scientific or coaching literature. The purpose of this study was to compare the take-off GRF patterns of the support leg in the pole vault and the long jump. Twelve elite women jumpers undertook pole vault and long jump trials. The take-off GRF patterns were recorded by a force plate (Kistler-9286AA). Temporal and force parameters were determined for all three GRF components. Trials were videotaped to determine the take-off kinematics. Paired sample t-tests (SPSS 13.0) were applied (P≤0.05) for comparison between jumps. No significant differences were found in kinematics (P>0.05). Overall, the GRF patterns were similar, although there were particular significant (P≤0.05) differences in contact times, impulses and force peaks. This study provides scientific support for potential use of the long jump take-off drills during technical preparation for the pole vault take-off.

High Precision NO2 and NO measurements with the ICAD instrument during s-b-s campaign Hohenpeißenberg 2016

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pöhler, Denis; Lutz, Erik; Horbanski, Martin; Lampel, Johannes; Platt, Ulrich

2017-04-01

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx = NO2 + NO) play a major role in air pollution and atmospheric chemistry. Beside health effects they influence e.g. acid rain, ozone and oxidation capacity. But precise NO2 and NO measurements are still difficult. State of the art NO2 / NO instruments show significant interferences e.g. to H2O and HONO, problems of zero point and calibration drifts, temperature and also vibration influences. Other systems, especially low cost sensors, feature significant problems in terms of measurement accuracy and reliability. To overcome these problems we developed a direct spectroscopic NO2 / NOx ICAD instrument (Iterative Cavity Enhanced DOAS). It feature high accuracy, is relatively small, mobile and requires only low power consumption. During a side by side (s-b-s) inter-comparison campaign at the Meteorological Observatory Hohenpeißenberg (DWD) 2016 the performance of different instruments for NO2, NO and NOx were investigated under natural and artificial conditions. The concentration ranged from few ppt up to 100ppb. The inter-comparison demonstrates excellent performance of our ICAD in terms of accuracy and drift. In comparison to other techniques it features no interferences to different humidity's, temperatures and interfering gases. Also the zero point and calibration is absolutely stable. As the instrument is also much simpler and easier to operate, it has many advantages in comparison to other instruments. The characteristics of the instruments and results of the campaign will be presented.

Children-Adult Comparisons of VO2 and HR Kinetics during Submaximum Exercise.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sady, Stanley P.; And Others

1983-01-01

Oxygen uptake and heart rate kinetics for submaximum exercise (bicycle riding) were compared in prepubescent boys and adult men. Resulting data suggest that children and adults do not differ significantly in cardiorespiratory adjustments during low-intensity exercise. (Authors/PP)

Analysis of Dextromethorphan and Dextrorphan in Skeletal Remains Following Differential Microclimate Exposure: Comparison of Acute vs. Repeated Drug Exposure.

PubMed

Morrison, Lucas M; Unger, Kirk A; Watterson, James H

2017-07-01

Analysis of dextromethorphan (DXM) and its metabolite dextrorphan (DXT) in skeletal remains of rats following acute (ACU, 75 mg/kg, IP, n = 10) or three repeated (REP, 25 mg/kg, IP, n = 10, 40-min interval) doses of DXM is described. Following dosing and euthanasia, rats decomposed outdoors to skeleton in two different microclimate environments (n = 5 ACU and n = 5 REP at each site): Site A (shaded forest microenvironment) and Site B (rocky substrate exposed to direct sunlight, 600 m from Site A). Two drug-free rats at each site served as negative controls. Skeletal elements (vertebrae, ribs, pelvic girdles, femora, tibiae, skulls and scapulae) were recovered, pulverized and underwent methanolic microwave assisted extraction (MAE). Extracts were analyzed by GC-MS following clean-up by solid-phase extraction (SPE). Drug levels, expressed as mass-normalized response ratios and the ratios of DXT and DXM levels (RRDXT/RRDXM) were compared between drug exposures, microclimate sites, and across skeletal elements. DXM levels differed significantly (P < 0.05) between corresponding bone elements across exposure groups (5/7-site A; 4/7-site B), but no significant differences in DXT levels were observed between corresponding elements. RRDXT/RRDXM differed significantly (P < 0.05) between corresponding bone elements across exposure groups (6/7-site A; 5/7-site B). No significant differences were observed in levels of DXM, DXT or RRDXT/RRDXM between corresponding elements from either group between sites. When data from all bone elements was pooled, levels of DXM and RRDXT/RRDXM differed significantly between exposure groups at each site, while those of DXT did not. For both exposure groups, comparison of pooled data between sites showed no significant differences in levels of DXM, DXT or RRDXT/RRDXM. Different decomposition microclimates did not impede the discrimination of DXM exposure patterns from the analyses of DXM, DXT and RRDXT/RRDXM in bone samples. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

A comparison of different strategies in multivariate regression models for the direct determination of Mn, Cr, and Ni in steel samples using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luna, Aderval S.; Gonzaga, Fabiano B.; da Rocha, Werickson F. C.; Lima, Igor C. A.

2018-01-01

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) analysis was carried out on eleven steel samples to quantify the concentrations of chromium, nickel, and manganese. LIBS spectral data were correlated to known concentrations of the samples using different strategies in partial least squares (PLS) regression models. For the PLS analysis, one predictive model was separately generated for each element, while different approaches were used for the selection of variables (VIP: variable importance in projection and iPLS: interval partial least squares) in the PLS model to quantify the contents of the elements. The comparison of the performance of the models showed that there was no significant statistical difference using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. The elliptical joint confidence region (EJCR) did not detect systematic errors in these proposed methodologies for each metal.

A Survey of Seasonal Gastrointestinal Parasitic Infections in Donkeys from a Semiarid Sub-Saharan Region, Sudan

PubMed Central

Ismail, Ahmed Abdurhman; Ahmed, Nasredin Khogali; Bashar, Ahmed Elhag; Seri, Hisham Ismail; El Tigani-Asil, El Tigani Ahmed; Abakar, Adam Dawoud

2016-01-01

Out of 92 donkeys examined for gastrointestinal parasites, 90 animals were found infected by one or more gastrointestinal parasites with an overall prevalence rate of 97.78%. The distributions of the recovered parasites in the different parts of the body were as follows: stomach, 92.4%, small intestine, 19.6%, caecum, 88%, colon, 80.4%, rectum, 73.9%, and cranial mesenteric artery, 64.1%. A significant difference was found between mean parasite counts and seasons. Hot wet season had higher mean parasites count (5411.5 ± 1694.4) in comparison with hot dry (1795.9 ± 399.6) and cool dry (1719.9 ± 522.4) seasons. Although there was no significant difference between age and mean parasite count, animals more than four years old had high mean count (3361.3 ± 921.8) in comparison with 2330 ± 744.3 and 2030.2 ± 873.1 for young and adults animals, respectively. No significant positive or negative correlation was found between total parasite counts of infected animals and any of the climatic factors. The parasites identified were Habronema spp. (40.2%), Trichostrongylus axei (30.4%), Parascaris equorum (18.5%), Anoplocephala perfoliata (4.35%), Gastrodiscus aegyptiacus (8.7%), large strongyles (84%), small strongyles (72%), and Oxyuris equi (1.1%). PMID:27298739

Comparison of a digital and an optical analogue hand-held refractometer for the measurement of canine urine specific gravity.

PubMed

Paris, J K; Bennett, A D; Dodkin, S J; Gunn-Moore, D A

2012-05-05

Urine specific gravity (USG) is used clinically as a measure of urine concentration, and is routinely assessed by refractometry. A comparison between optical analogue and digital refractometers for evaluation of canine urine has not been reported. The aim of this study was to compare a digital and an optical analogue hand-held refractometer for the measurement of canine USG, and to assess correlation with urine osmolality. Prospective study. Free-catch urine samples were collected from 285 hospitalised adult dogs, and paired USG readings were obtained with a digital and an optical analogue refractometer. In 50 dogs, urine osmolality was also measured using a freezing point depression osmometer. There was a small but statistically significant difference between the two refractometers (P<0.001), with the optical analogue refractometer reading higher than the digital refractometer (mean difference 0.0006, sd 0.0012). Paired refractometer measurements varied by <0.002 in 91.5 per cent of cases. The optical analogue and digital refractometer readings showed excellent correlation with osmolality (r=0.980 and r=0.977, respectively, P<0.001 in both cases). Despite statistical significance, the difference between the two refractometers is unlikely to be clinically significant. Both instruments provide an accurate assessment of USG in dogs.

Correlation between Self-Citation and Impact Factor in Iranian English Medical Journals in WoS and ISC: A Comparative Approach

PubMed Central

GHAZI MIRSAEID, Seyed Javad; MOTAMEDI, Nadia; RAMEZAN GHORBANI, Nahid

2015-01-01

Background: In this study, the impact of self-citation (Journal and Author) on impact factor of Iranian English Medical journals in two international citation databases, Web of Science (WoS) and Islamic world science citation center (ISC), were compared by citation analysis. Methods: Twelve journals in WoS and 26 journals in ISC databases indexed between the years (2006–2009) were selected and compared. For comparison of self-citation rate in two databases, we used Wilcoxon and Mann-whitney tests. We used Pearson test for correlation of self-citation and IF in WoS, and the Spearman’s correlation coefficient for the ISC database. Covariance analysis was used for comparison of two correlation tests. P. value was 0.05 in all of tests. Results: There was no significant difference between self-citation rates in two databases (P>0.05). Findings also showed no significant difference between the correlation of Journal self-citation and impact factor in two databases (P=0.526) however, there was significant difference between the author’s self-citation and impact factor in these databases (P<0.001). Conclusion: The impact of Author’s self-citation in the Impact Factor of WoS was higher than the ISC. PMID:26587498

An application of seasonal ARIMA models on group commodities to forecast Philippine merchandise exports performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Natividad, Gina May R.; Cawiding, Olive R.; Addawe, Rizavel C.

2017-11-01

The increase in the merchandise exports of the country offers information about the Philippines' trading role within the global economy. Merchandise exports statistics are used to monitor the country's overall production that is consumed overseas. This paper investigates the comparison between two models obtained by a) clustering the commodity groups into two based on its proportional contribution to the total exports, and b) treating only the total exports. Different seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) models were then developed for the clustered commodities and for the total exports based on the monthly merchandise exports of the Philippines from 2011 to 2016. The data set used in this study was retrieved from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) which is the central statistical authority in the country responsible for primary data collection. A test for significance of the difference between means at 0.05 level of significance was then performed on the forecasts produced. The result indicates that there is a significant difference between the mean of the forecasts of the two models. Moreover, upon a comparison of the root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE) of the models, it was found that the models used for the clustered groups outperform the model for the total exports.

Biting and chewing in overdentures, full dentures, and natural dentitions.

PubMed

Fontijn-Tekamp, F A; Slagter, A P; Van Der Bilt, A; Van 'T Hof, M A; Witter, D J; Kalk, W; Jansen, J A

2000-07-01

It has been suggested that the provision of dental implants can improve the oral function of subjects with severely resorbed mandibles, possibly restoring function to the level experienced by satisfied wearers of conventional complete dentures. Nevertheless, a quantitative comparison has never been made and can be drawn from the literature only with difficulty, since studies differ greatly in methodology. To make such a comparison, we measured bite force and chewing efficiency by using identical methods in subjects with overdentures, complete full dentures, and natural dentitions. Our results indicated that bite forces achieved with overdentures on dental implants were between those achieved with artificial and natural dentitions. Chewing efficiency was significantly greater than that of subjects with full dentures (low mandible), but was still lower than that of subjects with full dentures (high mandible) and overdentures on bare roots. Differences in the height of the mandible revealed significant differences in chewing efficiency between the two full-denture groups. Furthermore, subjects with a shortened dental arch exerted bite forces similar to those of subjects with a complete-natural dentition, but their chewing efficiency was limited due to the reduced occlusal area. For all groups combined, a significant correlation was found between maximum bite force and chewing efficiency. Nearly half of the variation in chewing efficiency was explained by bite force alone.

Determining the energetic and informational components of speech-on-speech masking

PubMed Central

Kidd, Gerald; Mason, Christine R.; Swaminathan, Jayaganesh; Roverud, Elin; Clayton, Kameron K.; Best, Virginia

2016-01-01

Identification of target speech was studied under masked conditions consisting of two or four independent speech maskers. In the reference conditions, the maskers were colocated with the target, the masker talkers were the same sex as the target, and the masker speech was intelligible. The comparison conditions, intended to provide release from masking, included different-sex target and masker talkers, time-reversal of the masker speech, and spatial separation of the maskers from the target. Significant release from masking was found for all comparison conditions. To determine whether these reductions in masking could be attributed to differences in energetic masking, ideal time-frequency segregation (ITFS) processing was applied so that the time-frequency units where the masker energy dominated the target energy were removed. The remaining target-dominated “glimpses” were reassembled as the stimulus. Speech reception thresholds measured using these resynthesized ITFS-processed stimuli were the same for the reference and comparison conditions supporting the conclusion that the amount of energetic masking across conditions was the same. These results indicated that the large release from masking found under all comparison conditions was due primarily to a reduction in informational masking. Furthermore, the large individual differences observed generally were correlated across the three masking release conditions. PMID:27475139

Comparison of body adiposity index (BAI) and BMI with estimations of % body fat in clinically severe obese women.

PubMed

Geliebter, Allan; Atalayer, Deniz; Flancbaum, Louis; Gibson, Charlisa D

2013-03-01

Body adiposity index (BAI), a new surrogate measure of body fat (hip circumference/(height(1.5) - 18)), has been proposed as an alternative to body mass index (BMI). We compared BAI with BMI, and each of them with laboratory measures of body fat-derived from bioimpedance analysis (BIA), air displacement plethysmography (ADP), and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in clinically severe obese (CSO) participants. Nineteen prebariatric surgery CSO, nondiabetic women were recruited (age = 32.6 ± 7.7 SD; BMI = 46.5 ± 9.0 kg/m(2) ). Anthropometrics and body fat percentage (% fat) were determined from BIA, ADP, and DXA. Scatter plots with lines of equality and Bland-Altman plots were used to compare BAI and BMI with % fat derived from BIA, ADP, and DXA. BAI and BMI correlated highly with each other (r = 0.90, P < 0.001). Both BAI and BMI correlated significantly with % fat from BIA and ADP. BAI, however, did not correlate significantly with % fat from DXA (r = 0.42, P = 0.08) whereas BMI did (r = 0.65, P = 0.003). BMI was also the single best predictor of % fat from both BIA (r(2) = 0.80, P < 0.001) and ADP (r(2) = 0.65, P < 0.001). The regression analysis showed that the standard error of the estimate (SEE), or residual error around the regression lines, was greater for BAI comparisons than for BMI comparisons with BIA, ADP, and DXA. Consistent with this, the Bland and Altman plots indicated wider 95% confidence intervals for BAI difference comparisons than for BMI difference comparisons for their respective means for BIA, ADP, and DXA. Thus, BAI does not appear to be an appropriate proxy for BMI in CSO women. Copyright © 2012 The Obesity Society.

Socioeconomic and gender inequalities in job dissatisfaction among Japanese civil servants: the roles of work, family and personality characteristics.

PubMed

Sekine, Michikazu; Tatsuse, Takashi; Cable, Noriko; Chandola, Tarani; Marmot, Michael

2014-01-01

This study examines (1) whether there are employment grade and gender differences in job dissatisfaction and (2) whether work, family, and personality characteristics explain grade and gender differences in job dissatisfaction. The participants were 3,812 civil servants, aged 20-65, working at a local government in Japan. In both males and females, low control, low social support, work-to-family conflict, type A behaviour pattern and negative affectivity were significantly associated with job dissatisfaction. In females, high demands, long work hours and being unmarried were also associated with job dissatisfaction. Among males, in comparison with the highest grade employees, the age-adjusted odds ratio (OR) for job dissatisfaction in the lowest grade employees was 1.90 (95% CI: 1.40-2.59). The grade differences reduced to 1.08 (0.76-1.54) after adjustment for work, family and personality characteristics. Among females, similar grade differences were observed, although the differences were not statistically significant. In comparison with males, the age-adjusted OR in females for job dissatisfaction was 1.32 (1.14-1.52). This gender difference was reduced to 0.95 (0.79-1.14) following adjustment for the other factors. The majority of employees belong to low to middle grades, and female employees have increased. Reducing grade and gender differences in work and family characteristics is needed.

Evaluation Of A Maternal Health Program In Uganda And Zambia Finds Mixed Results On Quality Of Care And Satisfaction.

PubMed

Kruk, Margaret E; Vail, Daniel; Austin-Evelyn, Katherine; Atuyambe, Lynn; Greeson, Dana; Grépin, Karen Ann; Kibira, Simon P S; Macwan'gi, Mubiana; Masvawure, Tsitsi B; Rabkin, Miriam; Sacks, Emma; Simbaya, Joseph; Galea, Sandro

2016-03-01

Saving Mothers, Giving Life is a multidonor program designed to reduce maternal mortality in Uganda and Zambia. We used a quasi-random research design to evaluate its effects on provider obstetric knowledge, clinical confidence, and job satisfaction, and on patients' receipt of services, perceived quality, and satisfaction. Study participants were 1,267 health workers and 2,488 female patients. Providers' knowledge was significantly higher in Ugandan and Zambian intervention districts than in comparison districts, and in Uganda there were similar positive differences for providers' clinical confidence and job satisfaction. Patients in Ugandan intervention facilities were more likely to give high ratings for equipment availability, providers' knowledge and communication skills, and care quality, among other factors, than patients in comparison facilities. There were fewer differences between Zambian intervention and comparison facilities. Country differences likely reflect differing intensity of program implementation and the more favorable geography of intervention districts in Uganda than in Zambia. National investments in the health system and provider training and the identification of intervention components most associated with improved performance will be required for scaling up and sustaining the program. Project HOPE—The People-to-People Health Foundation, Inc.

Quantitative Comparison of Minimum Inductance and Minimum Power Algorithms for the Design of Shim Coils for Small Animal Imaging

PubMed Central

HUDSON, PARISA; HUDSON, STEPHEN D.; HANDLER, WILLIAM B.; SCHOLL, TIMOTHY J.; CHRONIK, BLAINE A.

2010-01-01

High-performance shim coils are required for high-field magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy. Complete sets of high-power and high-performance shim coils were designed using two different methods: the minimum inductance and the minimum power target field methods. A quantitative comparison of shim performance in terms of merit of inductance (ML) and merit of resistance (MR) was made for shim coils designed using the minimum inductance and the minimum power design algorithms. In each design case, the difference in ML and the difference in MR given by the two design methods was <15%. Comparison of wire patterns obtained using the two design algorithms show that minimum inductance designs tend to feature oscillations within the current density; while minimum power designs tend to feature less rapidly varying current densities and lower power dissipation. Overall, the differences in coil performance obtained by the two methods are relatively small. For the specific case of shim systems customized for small animal imaging, the reduced power dissipation obtained when using the minimum power method is judged to be more significant than the improvements in switching speed obtained from the minimum inductance method. PMID:20411157

Comparison of Atmospheric Deposition Among Three Sites In and Near the Flat Tops Wilderness Area, Colorado, 2003-2005

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ingersoll, George P.; Campbell, Donald H.; Mast, M. Alisa

2008-01-01

Atmospheric deposition was monitored for ammonium, nitrate, and sulfate concentrations and precipitation amounts in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area of northwestern Colorado at Ned Wilson Lake beginning in 1984 to detect changes that might result from future emissions associated with development of oil-shale resources in northwestern Colorado. Renewed monitoring, by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with Rio Blanco County, to determine the current status of atmospheric deposition has been ongoing since 2003 at Ned Wilson Lake. Two new monitoring sites were located near Ripple Creek Pass near the Flat Tops Wilderness area and about 12 kilometers north of Ned Wilson Lake because access to the area near Ripple Creek Pass is less difficult and less expensive, particularly in winter and spring. The intent of this study was to establish whether the new deposition data being collected near Ripple Creek Pass, near the northern boundary of the Flat Tops Wilderness Area, would be representative of deposition at sensitive sites within the wilderness such as Ned Wilson Lake and to compare more current (2003 through 2005) deposition data with earlier data (1984 through 1991). At Ned Wilson Lake, bulk ammonium and nitrate concentrations collected from 1984 through 1991 were similar to those from 2003 through 2005. However, in the same comparison significant differences in sulfate concentrations were observed, indicating a decrease consistent with other regional findings for similar periods. Comparison of concentrations of constituents at two bulk-deposition sites located at Ned Wilson Lake (NWLB) and near Ripple Creek Pass (RCPB) showed only one significant difference (p = 0.05) with the winter bulk nitrate concentrations for NWLB significantly lower than winter concentrations from RCPB. Another comparison of concentrations of constituents between the bulk deposition site RCPB and a wet deposition site 100 meters away (RCPW) showed no significant differences for concentrations of ammonium, nitrate, and sulfate for both the winter and summer comparisons. While results indicate many similarities in concentrations of constituents and in seasonal variability in those concentrations, they are based on a short period of study. Precipitation amounts from RCPB were less than the amounts collected at NWLB, and precipitation amounts from RCPW were less than the amounts collected at RCPB. Although RCPB may not be a perfect replacement site for NWLB, it may be similar enough to represent atmospheric deposition in areas of the Flat Tops Wilderness of northwestern Colorado.

Clonidine versus nitroglycerin infusion in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

PubMed

Mishra, Manjaree; Mishra, Shashi Prakash; Mathur, Sharad Kumar

2014-01-01

Laparoscopic surgery offers the advantages of minimally invasive surgery; however, pneumoperitoneum and the patient's position induce pathophysiological changes that may complicate anesthetic management. We studied the effect of clonidine and nitroglycerin on heart rate and blood pressure, if any, in association with these drugs or the procedure, as well as the effect of these drugs, if any, on end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure and intraocular pressure. Sixty patients (minimum age of 20 years and maximum age of 65 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists class I or II) undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized into 3 groups and given an infusion of clonidine (group I), nitroglycerin (group II), or normal saline solution (group III) after induction and before creation of pneumoperitoneum. We observed and recorded the following parameters: heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure, and intraocular pressure. The mean and standard deviation of the parameters studied during the observation period were calculated for the 3 treatment groups and compared by use of analysis of variance tests. Intragroup comparison was performed with the paired t test. The critical value of P, indicating the probability of a significant difference, was taken as < .05 for comparisons. Statistically significant differences in heart rate were observed among the various groups, whereas comparisons of mean arterial pressure, intraocular pressure, and end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure showed statistically significant differences only between groups I and III and between groups II and III. We found clonidine to be more effective than nitroglycerin at preventing changes in hemodynamic parameters and intraocular pressure induced by carbon dioxide insufflation during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. It was also found not to cause hypotension severe enough to stop the infusion and warrant treatment.

Clonidine Versus Nitroglycerin Infusion in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

PubMed Central

Mishra, Manjaree; Mishra, Shashi Prakash

2014-01-01

Background and Objectives: Laparoscopic surgery offers the advantages of minimally invasive surgery; however, pneumoperitoneum and the patient's position induce pathophysiological changes that may complicate anesthetic management. We studied the effect of clonidine and nitroglycerin on heart rate and blood pressure, if any, in association with these drugs or the procedure, as well as the effect of these drugs, if any, on end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure and intraocular pressure. Methods: Sixty patients (minimum age of 20 years and maximum age of 65 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists class I or II) undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized into 3 groups and given an infusion of clonidine (group I), nitroglycerin (group II), or normal saline solution (group III) after induction and before creation of pneumoperitoneum. We observed and recorded the following parameters: heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure, and intraocular pressure. The mean and standard deviation of the parameters studied during the observation period were calculated for the 3 treatment groups and compared by use of analysis of variance tests. Intragroup comparison was performed with the paired t test. The critical value of P, indicating the probability of a significant difference, was taken as < .05 for comparisons. Results: Statistically significant differences in heart rate were observed among the various groups, whereas comparisons of mean arterial pressure, intraocular pressure, and end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure showed statistically significant differences only between groups I and III and between groups II and III. Conclusion: We found clonidine to be more effective than nitroglycerin at preventing changes in hemodynamic parameters and intraocular pressure induced by carbon dioxide insufflation during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. It was also found not to cause hypotension severe enough to stop the infusion and warrant treatment. PMID:25392635

Linear and volumetric dimensional changes of injection-molded PMMA denture base resins.

PubMed

El Bahra, Shadi; Ludwig, Klaus; Samran, Abdulaziz; Freitag-Wolf, Sandra; Kern, Matthias

2013-11-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the linear and volumetric dimensional changes of six denture base resins processed by their corresponding injection-molding systems at 3 time intervals of water storage. Two heat-curing (SR Ivocap Hi Impact and Lucitone 199) and four auto-curing (IvoBase Hybrid, IvoBase Hi Impact, PalaXpress, and Futura Gen) acrylic resins were used with their specific injection-molding technique to fabricate 6 specimens of each material. Linear and volumetric dimensional changes were determined by means of a digital caliper and an electronic hydrostatic balance, respectively, after water storage of 1, 30, or 90 days. Means and standard deviations of linear and volumetric dimensional changes were calculated in percentage (%). Statistical analysis was done using Student's and Welch's t tests with Bonferroni-Holm correction for multiple comparisons (α=0.05). Statistically significant differences in linear dimensional changes between resins were demonstrated at all three time intervals of water immersion (p≤0.05), with exception of the following comparisons which showed no significant difference: IvoBase Hi Impact/SR Ivocap Hi Impact and PalaXpress/Lucitone 199 after 1 day, Futura Gen/PalaXpress and PalaXpress/Lucitone 199 after 30 days, and IvoBase Hybrid/IvoBase Hi Impact after 90 days. Also, statistically significant differences in volumetric dimensional changes between resins were found at all three time intervals of water immersion (p≤0.05), with exception of the comparison between PalaXpress and Futura Gen. Denture base resins (IvoBase Hybrid and IvoBase Hi Impact) processed by the new injection-molding system (IvoBase), revealed superior dimensional precision. Copyright © 2013 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Efficacy of peloid therapy in patients with chronic lateral epicondylitis: a randomized, controlled, single blind study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ökmen, Burcu Metin; Eröksüz, Rıza; Altan, Lale; Aksoy, Meliha Kasapoğlu

2017-11-01

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of peloid on pain, functionality, daily life activities, and quality of life of lateral epicondylitis (LE) patients. In this randomized, controlled, single-blind study, 75 patients who were diagnosed with chronic LE were enrolled to the study. Patients were randomized into two groups using the random number table. The patients in the first group (group 1) ( n = 33), were given lateral epicondylitis band (LEB) (during the day for 6 weeks) + peloid therapy (five consecutive days a week for 2 weeks), and the second group (group 2) ( n = 32), received LEB treatment alone. The patients were assessed by using Patient Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) and Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). The data were obtained before treatment (W0), immediately after treatment (W2), and 1 month after treatment (W6). In analysis of the collected data, the Wilcoxon signed rank test for intra-group comparisons and Mann-Whitney U test for comparisons between groups were used. Both in groups 1 and 2, there was a statistically significant improvement in all the evaluation parameters at W2 and W6 when compared to W0 ( p < 0.05). In comparison of difference scores between groups, although there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups at W2 when compared to W0 ( p > 0.05), a statistically significant difference was found in favor of group 1 for all the evaluation parameters at W6 ( p < 0.05). Our results have shown that peloid treatment could be effective in providing improvement in pain relief, function, daily life activities, and quality of life in LE patients.

Comparison of Two Freshwater Turtle Species as Monitors of Environmental Contamination

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Meyers-Schone, L.

1990-01-01

Two species of turtles that occupy different ecological niches were compared for their usefulness as monitors of contamination in freshwater ecosystems. Trachemvs scrinta (Agassiz) (yellow-bellied slider) and Chelvdra sernentina (Linnaeus) (common snapping turtle) were selected for comparison based on species abundance and differences in food habits and sediment contact. A review of the literature on contaminants in turtles and results of preliminary surveys conducted at the field sites, which are included in this study, were used to direct and focus this research project. White Oak Lake, a settling basin for low-level radioactive and nonradioactive contaminants, and Bearden Creek Embayment, anmore » uncontaminated reference site upriver, were used as study sites in the investigation of turtles as indicators of chemical contamination. Turtles were analyzed for concentrations of strontium-go, cesium-137, cobalt 60, and mercury in specific target tissues, and for single-stranded DNA breaks, a non-specific indicator of possible exposure to genotoxic agents in the environment. Significantly higher concentrations of {sup 90}Sr, {sup 137}Cs, {sup 60}Co, and mercury were detected in turtles from White Oak Lake than in turtles from the reference site. In addition, turtles from White Oak Lake contained a significantly greater amount of DNA damage than those from the reference site. Although this suggests greater exposure of White Oak Lake turtles to genotoxic agents, further studies are needed to establish the cause of the enhanced amount of single-stranded breaks. Interspecific comparisons of the turtles from White Oak Lake indicated that diet may play a significant role in the exposure of turtles to certain contaminants. No difference was detected between the concentrations of {sup 90}Sr, {sup 137}Cs, {sup 60}Co between the two species.« less

The effect of moderate altitude on some respiratory parameters of physical education and sports' students.

PubMed

Orhan, O; Bilgin, U; Cetin, E; Oz, E; Dolek, B Ertas

2010-08-01

Analysis of the effects of moderate altitude on some respiratory functions of students enrolled in School of Physical Education and Sports. The study group comprised of 9 female and 10 male volunteers who were attending a 5-day skiing training camp. All participants were enrolled in School of Physical Education and Sports at Gazi University. The male students had an age range of 22.2 +/- 1.7 years, height of 175.0 +/- 4.3 cm, and body weight of 71.0 +/- 10.4 kg; the female students had an age range of 21.2 +/- 1.7 years, height of 167.1 +/- 4.9 cm, and body weight of 53.7 +/- 4.8 kg. Respiratory tests were performed on the 1st and 5th days (the first and second measurements) at an altitude of 1880 m (in Ilgaz Mountain); 10 days after being exposed to high altitude, further tests were performed at an altitude of 856 m (in Ankara) (the third measurement). Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 10.0). Intragroup differences were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). According to the results of normality test results, an independent-sample t test was used in comparisons between the groups. A significance level of p < .05 was used in analysis. Statistical analysis indicated that there was no significant difference between the intragroup comparisons of female and male students. Intergroup comparisons showed significant differences in forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume (FEV), peak expiratory flow (PEF), maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV), and VC parameters (p < .05). The authors conclude that moderate altitude does not have any effect on some respiratory parameters after 5 days of skiing camp.

Comparison of Effectiveness of Manual Orthodontic, Powered and Sonic Toothbrushes on Oral Hygiene of Fixed Orthodontic Patients.

PubMed

Sharma, Ruchi; Trehan, Mridula; Sharma, Sunil; Jharwal, Vikas; Rathore, Nidhi

2015-01-01

Maintenance of good oral hygiene is important for patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a manual orthodontic toothbrush, powered toothbrush with oscillating head and sonic toothbrush in controlling plaque, gingivitis and interdental bleeding in patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment, and to compare their relative efficacy. Sixty subjects, who were to receive orthodontic treatment with both upper and lower fixed appliances, were randomly divided into three study groups, with 20 patients in each group. Groups I to III were given manual orthodontic, powered and sonic toothbrushes, respectively. Plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI) and interdental bleeding index were scored to assess the level of plaque accumulation, gingival health and interdental bleeding at baseline; 4 and 8 weeks recall visits after fixed appliance bonding. Paired t-tests and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests were used for intragroup and intergroup comparisons. The level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. This study showed that a significant reduction in all the three indices scores was found from baseline to 4 and 8 weeks in group III. On intergroup comparison, no statistically significant differences were detected between the three groups for any of the parameters assessed. On intragroup comparison, sonic brushes performed superiorly in reducing gingivitis, plaque and interdental bleeding as compared to the manual orthodontic and powered brushes. On intergroup comparison, the relative comparative effectiveness was found to be similar for all the three brushes. How to cite this article: Sharma R, Trehan M, Sharma S, Jharwal V, Rathore N. Comparison of Effectiveness of Manual Orthodontic, Powered and Sonic Toothbrushes on Oral Hygiene of Fixed Orthodontic Patients. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2015;8(3):181-189.

Comparison of Shade of Ceramic with Three Different Zirconia Substructures using Spectrophotometer.

PubMed

Habib, Syed Rashid; Shiddi, Ibraheem F Al

2015-02-01

This study assessed how changing the Zirconia (Zr) substructure affected the color samples after they have been overlaid by the same shade of veneering ceramic. Three commercial Zr materials were tested in this study: Prettau(®) Zirconia (ZirKonZahn, Italy), Cercon (Dentsply, Germany) and InCoris ZI (Sirona, Germany). For each system, 15 disk-shaped specimens (10 × 1 mm) were fabricated. Three shades of A1, A2 and A3.5 of porcelain (IPS e.MaxCeram, IvoclarVivadent, USA) were used for layering the specimens. Five specimens from each type of Zr were layered with same shade of ceramic. Color measurements were recorderd by a spectrophotometer Color-Eye(®) 7000A (X-Rite, Grand Rapids, MI). Mean values of L, a, b color coordinates and ΔE were recorded and comparisons were made. Differences in the ΔE were recorded for the same porcelain shade with different Zr substructures and affected the color of the specimens (p < 0.01, ANOVA). The maximum difference between the ΔE values for the A1, A2 and A3.5 shades with three types of Zr substructures was found to be 1.59, 1.69 and 1.45 respectively. Multiple comparisons of the ΔE with PostHoc Tukey test revealed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) between the three types of Zr, except between Type 2 Zr and Type 3 Zr for the Shade A1. The mean values of L, a, b and ΔE for the Prettau(®) Zirconia substructure were found to be the least among the three types. The brand of Zr used influences the final color of the all ceramic Zr based restorations and this has clinical significance.

Interbreed variation in serum serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) concentration in healthy dogs.

PubMed

Höglund, K; Häggström, J; Hanås, S; Merveille, A-C; Gouni, V; Wiberg, M; Lundgren Willesen, J; Entee, K Mc; Mejer Sørensen, L; Tiret, L; Seppälä, E H; Lohi, H; Chetboul, V; Fredholm, M; Lequarré, A-S; Ljungvall, I

2018-06-16

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) has several biological functions. In different species, excessive 5-HT has been linked to valvular lesions, similar to those seen in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease. Previous studies suggest higher 5-HT in healthy Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCSs), a breed highly affected by myxomatous mitral valve disease, compared to other breeds. To investigate potential interbreed variation in serum 5-HT in healthy dogs. 483 healthy dogs of nine breeds aged 1-7 years. Dogs were examined at five European centers. Absence of cardiovascular, organ-related, or systemic diseases was ensured by thorough clinical investigations including echocardiography. Serum was frozen and later analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Median 5-HT concentration was 252.5 (interquartile range = 145.5-390.6) ng/mL. Overall breed difference was found (p<0.0001), and 42% of pairwise breed comparisons were significant. Univariate regression analysis showed association between serum 5-HT concentration and breed, center of examination, storage time, and sex, with higher 5-HT in females. In multiple regression analysis, the final model had an adjusted R 2 of 0.27 with breed (p<0.0001), center (p<0.0001), and storage time (p=0.014) remaining significant. Within centers, overall breed differences were found at 3/5 centers (p≤0.028), and pairwise comparisons within those centers showed breed differences in 42% of comparisons. Among the included breeds, Newfoundlands, Belgian Shepherds and CKCSs had highest 5-HT concentrations. Interbreed variation in serum 5-HT concentration was found in healthy dogs aged 1-7 years. These differences should be taken into account when designing clinical studies. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A Comparison of Methods for Assessing Space Suit Joint Ranges of Motion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Aitchison, Lindsay T.

2012-01-01

Through the Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) Program, NASA is attempting to use the vast collection of space suit mobility data from 50 years worth of space suit testing to build predictive analysis tools to aid in early architecture decisions for future missions and exploration programs. However, the design engineers must first understand if and how data generated by different methodologies can be compared directly and used in an essentially interchangeable manner. To address this question, the isolated joint range of motion data from two different test series were compared. Both data sets were generated from participants wearing the Mark III Space Suit Technology Demonstrator (MK-III), Waist Entry I-suit (WEI), and minimal clothing. Additionally the two tests shared a common test subject that allowed for within subject comparisons of the methods that greatly reduced the number of variables in play. The tests varied in their methodologies: the Space Suit Comparative Technologies Evaluation used 2-D photogrammetry to analyze isolated ranges of motion while the Constellation space suit benchmarking and requirements development used 3-D motion capture to evaluate both isolated and functional joint ranges of motion. The isolated data from both test series were compared graphically, as percent differences, and by simple statistical analysis. The results indicated that while the methods generate results that are statistically the same (significance level p= 0.01), the differences are significant enough in the practical sense to make direct comparisons ill advised. The concluding recommendations propose direction for how to bridge the data gaps and address future mobility data collection to allow for backward compatibility.

Coronary In-Stent Restenosis: Assessment with Corrected Coronary Opacification Difference across Coronary Stents Measured with CT Angiography.

PubMed

Gao, Yang; Lu, Bin; Hou, Zhi Hui; Yu, Fang Fang; Yin, Wei Hua; Wang, Zhi Qiang; Wu, Yong Jian; Mu, Chao Wei; Meinel, Felix G; McQuiston, Andrew D; Schoepf, U Joseph

2015-05-01

To determine whether changes in coronary opacification normalized to the aorta (corrected coronary opacification [CCO]) across stents can help identify in-stent restenosis (ISR) severity with use of invasive coronary angiography as the standard of reference. This study was approved by the institutional review board, and the requirement to obtain informed consent was waived. The authors retrospectively analyzed 106 patients (88 men, 18 women; mean age, 59.6 years ± 10.4; age range, 36-84 years) who had previously undergone stent implantation within 3 months of coronary computed tomographic (CT) angiography. Attenuation values in the coronary lumen were measured proximal and distal to the stents and normalized to the descending aorta. The CCO difference across the stent was compared with the severity of ISR. One-way analysis of variance least significant difference was used for comparison. A total of 141 stents were assessed. Seventy-six stents were normally patent, 18 had ISR of less than 50%, 28 had ISR of 50%-99%, and 19 were fully occluded. The median CCO differences in the four groups were 0.078, 0.163, 0.346, and 0.606, respectively. There was no significant difference between stents with an ISR of at least 50% and those with total occlusion (P = .056), although the other groups had significant differences at pairwise comparison (P < .01 for all). For stents smaller than 3 mm in diameter, the median CCO differences in the four groups were 0.086, 0.136, 0.390, and 0.471, respectively. The CCO differences across normal stents and stents with ISR of less than 50% were significantly less than those across stents with an ISR of at least 50% and those with total occlusion (P < .01 for all). There were no significant differences between stents with no ISR and those with an ISR of less than 50% (P = .821) and between stents with an ISR of at least 50% and those with an ISR of 100% (P = .836). The CCO difference across coronary stents is related to ISR severity in obstructive ISR in stents smaller than 3 mm in diameter. © RSNA, 2014.

Shear bond strength comparison of implant-retained overdenture attachment pickup materials.

PubMed

Cayouette, Monica J; Barnes, Logan; Vuthiganon, Jompobe; McPherson, Karen

2016-01-01

This study evaluated the shear bond strength (SBS) of 4 different retentive materials for the chairside pickup of dental implant attachments. Shear force was applied to determine the SBS of each material to denture acrylic resin. The difference between SBSs of polymethyl methacrylate and UBAR (claimed to bond to metal) to metal housings was also evaluated. There were no statistically significant differences among the SBSs of Jet Denture Repair Acrylic, EZ PickUp, and UBAR, but Quick Up had an SBS that was significantly lower than that of the other 3 materials. In addition, UBAR had a higher SBS to metal housings than did processed polymethyl methacrylate.

Comparison of microleakage in Class II cavities restored with silorane-based and methacrylate-based composite resins using different restorative techniques over time.

PubMed

Khosravi, Kazem; Mousavinasab, Seyed-Mostafa; Samani, Mahsa Sahraneshin

2015-01-01

Despite the growing tendency toward tooth-colored restorations in dentistry, polymerization shrinkage and subsequent marginal microleakage remains a problem. The aim of this in vitro study was to compare microleakage between silorane-based and methacrylate-based composite resins at different time intervals and with different restorative techniques. In this in vitro study, 108 sound extracted human molar teeth were used. Mesial and distal proximal class II boxes with dimensions of 1.5 mm depth and 4 mm width were prepared. The gingival margins of all cavities were 1 mm below the cement enamel junction. The teeth were randomly divided into three groups based on test materials. In the first group, the teeth were restored by a nanocomposite (Filtek Z350XT, 3MESPE) and SE Bond adhesive (Kuraray, Japan), in the second group, the teeth were restored with a silorane-based (Filtek P90, 3MESPE) and Filtek P90 Adhesive (3M ESPE, USA) and in the third group, the teeth were restored with a microhybrid posterior composite resin (Filtek P60, 3MESPE) and SE Bond adhesive (Kuraray, Japan). Half of the proximal cavities in each of these three groups were restored in two horizontal layers and the other half in four horizontal layers. After a period of aging (24-h, 3-month and 6-month) in water and then application of 500 thermal cycles, the teeth were immersed for 24-h in 0.5% fuchsin and evaluated under a stereomicroscope at ×36 magnification to evaluate leakage in gingival margin. Data was statistically analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U-tests. P ≤ 0.05 was considered as significant. In Z350XT statistically significant differences were observed in microleakage in comparison of 24-h and 6-month intervals (P = 0.01) that was higher in 6-month. Comparison of microleakage in P90 and P60 composite resins was also statistically significant and was less in P90. Microleakage was not significantly different between P90 and Z350XT at 24-h. However, this difference was significant at 3-month and 6-month intervals. Differences in microleakage of P60 and Z-350XT composite resins were not statistically significant in all intervals (P = 0.38). P90 showed the lowest microleakage during storage in water. Z350XT had microleakage similar to P90 within 24-h, but after 6-month of storage in water, it showed the highest microleakage among all the groups. The number of layers (2 layers vs. 4 layers) did not result in any differences in microleakage scores of the composite resins (P = 0.42). Water storage times did not result in any significant effect on microleakage of P90 and P60.

Assessment and Evaluation of Anatomic Variations of Retromolar Pad: A Cross Sectional Study

PubMed Central

Deep, Anchal; Siwach, Amit; Singh, Manas; Bhargava, Akshay; Siwach, Reenu

2016-01-01

Introduction The retromolar pad also called piriformis papilla is a mucosal elevation located in the retromolar area covering the retromolar triangle. After molar loss, the bony alveolar process and surrounding soft periodontal tissue remodel, mainly resorb and blend with retromolar pad. It is a key intraoral landmark in prosthodontics. Aim The aim of this in-vitro study was to analyze the various anatomical shapes and sizes of retromolar pad in 150 completely edentulous patients between 55 to 70 years of age group. Materials and Methods The study was conducted on 150 completely edentulous patients. The shapes of retromolar pad on the left and right side were seen and divided into pear, triangular and round shape. The comparison of the mean longitudinal diameter and transverse diameter on the right and left sides was done. The data was evaluated statistically. The chi-square test was used for the comparison between the proportions with the help of standard deviation, t-test was used for comparison between the left and the right side and ANOVA test was used for comparison between the various shapes of the retromolar pads. Results The result showed that there was statistically significant difference among different shapes of retromolar pad and there was significant difference in mean transverse and longitudinal diameter on right and left side, the mean value of the longitudinal diameter on left and right side was 8.81 and 8.69 whereas the mean value of the transverse diameter on left and right side was 6.79 and 6.82 respectively and p-value obtained for both was 0.550 and 0.814 respectively. Conclusion The study conclude that there are three different shapes of retromolar pad among which pear and triangular shaped retomolar pad provides more stability in lower denture because of increase surface area. PMID:27437350

Treatment of transverse patellar fractures: a comparison between metallic and non-metallic implants.

PubMed

Heusinkveld, Maarten H G; den Hamer, Anniek; Traa, Willeke A; Oomen, Pim J A; Maffulli, Nicola

2013-01-01

Several methods of transverse patellar fixation have been described. This study compares the clinical outcome and the occurrence of complications of various fixation methods. The databases PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, Google Scholar and Google were searched. A direct comparison between fixation techniques using mixed or non-metallic implants and metallic K-wire and tension band fixation shows no significant difference in clinical outcome between both groups. Additionally, studies reporting novel operation techniques show good clinical results. Studies describing the treatment of patients using non-metallic or mixed implants are fewer compared with those using metallic fixation. A large variety of clinical scoring systems were used for assessing the results of treatment, which makes direct comparison difficult. More data of fracture treatment using non-metallic or mixed implants is needed to achieve a more balanced comparison.

Reactions of psychiatric patients to the Three Mile Island nuclear accident.

PubMed

Bromet, E; Schulberg, H C; Dunn, L

1982-06-01

The reaction of patients in the community mental health system to the nuclear accident at Three Mile Island (TMI), Middletown, Pa, were assessed. The sample was composed of 151 patients from the TMI area and 64 patients from a comparison site where a similar nuclear plant is located. Mental health status was determined for the period immediately after the accident, nine to ten months later, and one year later. No significant differences were found between the TMI group and the comparison group. To isolate risk factors within the TMI group, patients who were most distressed were compared with patients with the least distress. The results showed that quality of network support and viewing TMI as dangerous were significantly associated with mental health.

Apical Transportation, Centering Ability, and Cleaning Effectiveness of Reciprocating Single-file System Associated with Different Glide Path Techniques.

PubMed

de Carvalho, Guilherme Moreira; Sponchiado Junior, Emílio Carlos; Garrido, Angela Delfina Bittencourt; Lia, Raphael Carlos Comelli; Garcia, Lucas da Fonseca Roberti; Marques, André Augusto Franco

2015-12-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the apical transportation, the centering ability, and the cleaning effectiveness of a reciprocating single-file system associated to different glide path techniques. The mesial root canals of 52 mandibular molars were randomly distributed into 4 groups (n = 13) according to the different glide path techniques used before biomechanical preparation with Reciproc System (RS): KF/RS (sizes 10 and 15 K-files), NGP/RS (no glide path, only reciprocating system), PF/RS (sizes 13, 16, and 19 PathFile instruments), and NP (no preparation). Cone-beam computed tomography analysis was performed before and after instrumentation for apical third images acquisition. Apical transportation and its direction were evaluated by using the formula D = (X1 - X2) - (Y1 - Y2), and the centering ability was analyzed by the formula CC = (X1 - X2/Y1 - Y2 or Y1 - Y2/X1 - X2). The samples were submitted to histologic processing and analyzed under a digital microscope for debris quantification. The values were statistically analyzed (Kruskal-Wallis, the Dunn multiple comparisons test, P < .05). All groups had similar apical transportation values, with no significant difference among them (P > .05). Groups had a tendency toward transportation in the mesial direction. No technique had perfect centering ability (=1.0), with no significant difference among them. KF/RS had larger amount of debris, with statistically significant difference in comparison with NGP/RS (P > .05). The different glide path techniques promoted minimal apical transportation, and the reciprocating single-file system tested remained relatively centralized within the root canal. Also, the different techniques interfered in the cleaning effectiveness of the reciprocating system. Copyright © 2015 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Gender in the allocation of organs in kidney transplants: meta-analysis

PubMed Central

Santiago, Erika Vieira Almeida e; Silveira, Micheline Rosa; de Araújo, Vânia Eloisa; Farah, Katia de Paula; Acurcio, Francisco de Assis; Ceccato, Maria das Graças Braga

2015-01-01

OBJECTIVE To analyze whether gender influence survival results of kidney transplant grafts and patients. METHODS Systematic review with meta-analysis of cohort studies available on Medline (PubMed), LILACS, CENTRAL, and Embase databases, including manual searching and in the grey literature. The selection of studies and the collection of data were conducted twice by independent reviewers, and disagreements were settled by a third reviewer. Graft and patient survival rates were evaluated as effectiveness measurements. Meta-analysis was conducted with the Review Manager® 5.2 software, through the application of a random effects model. Recipient, donor, and donor-recipient gender comparisons were evaluated. RESULTS : Twenty-nine studies involving 765,753 patients were included. Regarding graft survival, those from male donors were observed to have longer survival rates as compared to the ones from female donors, only regarding a 10-year follow-up period. Comparison between recipient genders was not found to have significant differences on any evaluated follow-up periods. In the evaluation between donor-recipient genders, male donor-male recipient transplants were favored in a statistically significant way. No statistically significant differences were observed in regards to patient survival for gender comparisons in all follow-up periods evaluated. CONCLUSIONS The quantitative analysis of the studies suggests that donor or recipient genders, when evaluated isolatedly, do not influence patient or graft survival rates. However, the combination between donor-recipient genders may be a determining factor for graft survival. PMID:26465666

Subjective Memory in a National Sample: Predicting Psychological Well-Being.

PubMed

Mogle, Jacqueline A; Hill, Nikki; McDermott, Caroline

2017-01-01

Individual perception of memory performance (i.e., subjective memory) is assessed using a variety of approaches. This article focuses on 2 such approaches: (1) self-comparison assessments that attempt to capture changes in memory ability over a period of time and (2) age-anchored comparisons that assess how an individual perceives their memory in relation to others their age. These different types of assessment may relate to psychological well-being differently due to the underlying mechanisms of assessment. The purpose of these analyses is to examine 2 measures of subjective memory (i.e., a self-comparison measure and an age-anchored comparison measure) as predictors of psychological well-being among adults in mid- and late life. Participants (n = 3,434) in the Midlife in the United States Study completed measures of subjective memory, depressive affect, and life satisfaction. Structural equation modeling was used to examine whether the self-comparison and age-anchored comparison measures had differential predictive utility regarding psychological well-being. Higher age-anchored comparison ratings were related to higher life satisfaction scores. There was a significant interaction between the 2 items such that individuals with lower ratings on both subjective memory measures had the poorest outcomes. Additionally, age-anchored comparisons interacted with age: older adults had the poorest outcomes when they reported poorer age-anchored comparisons. These findings highlight the importance of precise measurement in the consideration of subjective memory. How an individual was asked to rate his or her perception of memory influenced the relationships between subjective memory and psychological well-being. This study contributes valuable insight into the importance of the assessment models of subjective memory. © 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Subjective Memory in a National Sample: Predicting Psychological Well-Being

PubMed Central

Hill, Nikki; McDermott, Caroline

2017-01-01

Background Individual perception of memory performance (i.e., subjective memory) is assessed using a variety of approaches. This article focuses on two such approaches: self-comparison assessments that attempt to capture changes in memory ability over a period of time, and age-anchored comparisons that assess how an individual perceives their memory in relation to others their age. These different types of assessment may relate to psychological well-being differently due to the underlying mechanisms of assessment. Objective The purpose of these analyses is to examine two measures of subjective memory (i.e., a self-comparison measure and an age-anchored comparison measure) as predictors of psychological well-being among adults in mid- and late life. Methods Participants (n=3,434) in the Midlife in the United States Study completed measures of subjective memory, depressive affect, and life satisfaction. Structural equation modeling was used to examine whether self-comparison and age-anchored comparison measures had differential predictive utility of on psychological well-being. Results Higher age-anchored comparison ratings were related to higher life satisfaction scores. There was a significant interaction between the two items such that individuals with lower ratings on both subjective memory measures had the poorest outcomes. Additionally, age-anchored comparisons interacted with age: older adults had the poorest outcomes when they reported poorer age-anchored comparisons. Conclusion These findings highlight the importance of precise measurement in the consideration of subjective memory. How an individual was asked to rate his or her perception of memory influenced the relationships between subjective memory and psychological well-being. This study contributes valuable insight into the importance of the assessment models of subjective memory. PMID:28441647

Three-dimensional analysis of the uniqueness of the anterior dentition in orthodontically treated patients and twins.

PubMed

Franco, A; Willems, G; Souza, P H C; Tanaka, O M; Coucke, W; Thevissen, P

2017-04-01

Dental uniqueness can be proven if no perfect match in pair-wise morphological comparisons of human dentitions is detected. Establishing these comparisons in a worldwide random population is practically unfeasible due to the need for a large and representative sample size. Sample stratification is an option to reduce sample size. The present study investigated the uniqueness of the human dentition in randomly selected subjects (Group 1), orthodontically treated patients (Group 2), twins (Group 3), and orthodontically treated twins (Group 4) in comparison with a threshold control sample of identical dentitions (Group 5). The samples consisted of digital cast files (DCF) obtained through extraoral 3D scanning. A total of 2.013 pair-wise morphological comparisons were performed (Group 1 n=110, Group 2 n=1.711, Group 3 n=172, Group 4 n=10, Group 5 n=10) with Geomagic Studio ® (3D Systems ® , Rock Hill, SC, USA) software package. Comparisons within groups were performed quantifying the morphological differences between DCF in Euclidean distances. Comparisons between groups were established applying One-way ANOVA. To ensure fair comparisons a post-hoc Power Analysis was performed. ROC analysis was applied to distinguish unique from non-unique dentures. Identical DCF were not detected within the experimental groups (from 1 to 4). The most similar DCF had Euclidian distance of 5.19mm in Group 1, 2.06mm in Group 2, 2.03mm in Group 3, and 1.88mm in Group 4. Groups 2 and 3 were statistically different from Group 5 (p<0.05). Statistically significant difference between Group 4 and 5 revealed to be possible including more pair-wise comparisons in both groups. The ROC analysis revealed sensitivity rate of 80% and specificity between 66.7% and 81.6%. Evidence to sustain the uniqueness of the human dentition in random and stratified populations was observed in the present study. Further studies testing the influence of the quantity of tooth material on morphological difference between dentitions and its impact on uniqueness remain necessary. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Comparison of Cognitive Parameters Between Bilateral and Unilateral Hippocampal Sclerosis.

PubMed

Vanli Yavuz, Ebru Nur; Bilgiç, Başar; Matur, Zeliha; Bebek, Nerses; Gürses, Candan; Gökyiğit, Ayşen; Öktem, Öget; Baykan, Betül

2016-09-01

Recent studies showed that hippocampal sclerosis (HS) patients with unilateral involvement had more diffuse cognitive impairment than expected. Therefore, we aimed to compare the cognitive profiles of bilateral HS (BHS) patients with unilateral HS (UHS) patients. Consecutive patients, diagnosed with epilepsy, who fulfilled two major magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) criteria (T1 atrophy and T2-FLAIR hyperintensity) for HS were included. Standard neuro-psychological test (NPT) battery consisted of the Turkish version of 15-word verbal memory processes test, Wechsler memory scale visual reproduction subtest, forward and backward digit span, phonemic and semantic fluency, and Stroop test were applied; and the groups with right HS, left HS, and bilateral HS were compared statistically. Ninety-one patients, completing the NPT (34 males, 57 females)-16 with BHS, 36 with right HS, and 39 with left HS-were included. Six out of 43 operated patients had BHS. There were no significant differences in education and handedness of the groups. Even though NPT performances of the BHS group were found to be poor compared to UHS subgroups, this was beyond statistical significance. Comparison of BHS with the right HS group showed a significant difference in the learning score of the Verbal Memory Processes Test, but recognition scores were found to be similar in all groups. Compared to the BHS group, both right and left HS groups revealed a significant difference in delayed recall score of the Verbal Memory Processes Test. Although there were no significant differences in the postoperative parameters of the BHS group, UHS subgroups had deficits in many postoperative parameters. Our study revealed that bilateral involvement of the hippocampi was correlated with a poor cognitive performance. Retrieval failure, rather than a total recall problem, in the memory of the patients resembles a more diffuse involvement not only limited to limbic structures.

Comparison of SMOS and Aquarius Sea Surface Salinity and Analysis of Possible Causes for the Differences

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dinnat, E. P.; Boutin, J.; Yin, X.; Le Vine, D. M.; Waldteufel, P.; Vergely, J. -L.

2014-01-01

Two ongoing space missions share the scientific objective of mapping the global Sea Surface Salinity (SSS), yet their observations show significant discrepancies. ESA's Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) and NASA's Aquarius use L-band (1.4 GHz) radiometers to measure emission from the sea surface and retrieve SSS. Significant differences in SSS retrieved by both sensors are observed, with SMOS SSS being generally lower than Aquarius SSS, except for very cold waters where SMOS SSS is the highest overall. Figure 1 is an example of the difference between the SSS retrieved by SMOS and Aquarius averaged over one month and 1 degree in longitude and latitude. Differences are mostly between -1 psu and +1 psu (psu, practical salinity unit), with a significant regional and latitudinal dependence. We investigate the impact of the vicarious calibration and some components of the retrieval algorithm used by both mission on these differences.

Comparison of evaporation computation methods, Pretty Lake, Lagrange County, northeastern Indiana

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ficke, John F.

1972-01-01

The different methods, although poor, agree that evaporation when there is ice cover is generally small (less than 0.1 cm day" 1 ), but the evaporation rates during the few days just before freezeup or just after ice breakup are significant

Emotional Considerations in Spasmodic Dysphonia: Psychometric Quantification.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cannito, Michael P.

1991-01-01

This study examined emotional characteristics of 18 female spasmodic dysphonic subjects in comparison to matched normal controls across psychometric measures of depression, anxiety, and somatic complaints. Statistically significant differences were noted between groups for all measures and over half of the dysphonic subjects exhibited clinically…

Sawlog sizes: a comparison in two Appalachian areas

Treesearch

Curtis D. Goho; A. Jeff Martin

1973-01-01

Frequency distributions of log diameter and length were prepared for eight Appalachian hardwood species. Data obtained in Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee, were compared with information collected previously from West Virginia and New England. With the exception of red oak, significant regional differences were found.

Comparison of effectiveness of Calendula officinalis extract gel with lycopene gel for treatment of tobacco-induced homogeneous leukoplakia: A randomized clinical trial

PubMed Central

Singh, Manisha; Bagewadi, Anjana

2017-01-01

Aim: The aim of the study is to assess the efficacy of Calendula officinalis gel as cost-effective treatment modality in comparison to lycopene gel in the treatment of leukoplakia. Materials and Methods: The study comprised of sixty patients of clinically diagnosed and histopathologically confirmed cases of homogeneous leukoplakia which were divided into Group I and Group II with thirty patients each. Group I patients were dispensed C. officinalis extract gel whereas Group II patients were given lycopene gel. The therapy was instituted for 1 month to assess the change in the size of the lesion at the baseline and posttreatment. Results: The results revealed a statistically significant difference in both Group I and Group II when the pre- and post-treatment results were compared in the same group. The mean difference in the reduction in size before and after treatment for Group I was 2.0% ±1.0 cm while for the Group II, it was 1.57% ±0.87 cm. The intergroup comparison for the evaluation of reduction in the size of the lesion did not reveal statistically significant results. Conclusion: C. officinalis extract gel can be effectively used as an alternative to conventional treatment modality. PMID:28929051

A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Korean and American Science Teachers' Views of Evolution and the Nature of Science

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Sun Young; Nehm, Ross H.

2011-01-01

Despite a few international comparisons of the evolutionary beliefs of the general public, comparatively less research has focused on science teachers. Cross-cultural studies offer profitable opportunities for exploring the interactions among knowledge and belief variables in regard to evolution in different socio-cultural contexts. We investigated the evolutionary worldviews of pre-service science teachers from Asia (specifically South Korea), a region often excluded from international comparisons. We compared Korean and American science teachers': (1) understandings of evolution and the nature of science, and (2) acceptance of evolution in order to elucidate how knowledge and belief relationships are manifested in different cultural contexts. We found that Korean science teachers exhibited 'moderate' evolutionary acceptance levels comparable to or lower than American science teacher samples. Gender was significantly related to Korean teachers' evolution content knowledge and acceptance of evolution, with female Christian biology teachers displaying the lowest values on all measures. Korean science teachers' understandings of nature of science were significantly related to their acceptance and understanding of evolution; this relationship appears to transcend cultural boundaries. Our new data on Korean teachers, combined with studies from more than 20 other nations, expose the global nature of science teacher ambivalence or antipathy toward evolutionary knowledge.

Volumetric analysis of hand, reciprocating and rotary instrumentation techniques in primary molars using spiral computed tomography: An in vitro comparative study.

PubMed

Jeevanandan, Ganesh; Thomas, Eapen

2018-01-01

This present study was conducted to analyze the volumetric change in the root canal space and instrumentation time between hand files, hand files in reciprocating motion, and three rotary files in primary molars. One hundred primary mandibular molars were randomly allotted to one of the five groups. Instrumentation was done using Group I; nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) hand file, Group II; Ni-Ti hand files in reciprocating motion, Group III; Race rotary files, Group IV; prodesign pediatric rotary files, and Group V; ProTaper rotary files. The mean volumetric changes were assessed using pre- and post-operative spiral computed tomography scans. Instrumentation time was recorded. Statistical analysis to access intergroup comparison for mean canal volume and instrumentation time was done using Bonferroni-adjusted Mann-Whitney test and Mann-Whitney test, respectively. Intergroup comparison of mean canal volume showed statistically significant difference between Groups II versus IV, Groups III versus V, and Groups IV versus V. Intergroup comparison of mean instrumentation time showed statistically significant difference among all the groups except Groups IV versus V. Among the various instrumentation techniques available, rotary instrumentation is the considered to be the better instrumentation technique for canal preparation in primary teeth.

A confidence interval analysis of sampling effort, sequencing depth, and taxonomic resolution of fungal community ecology in the era of high-throughput sequencing.

PubMed

Oono, Ryoko

2017-01-01

High-throughput sequencing technology has helped microbial community ecologists explore ecological and evolutionary patterns at unprecedented scales. The benefits of a large sample size still typically outweigh that of greater sequencing depths per sample for accurate estimations of ecological inferences. However, excluding or not sequencing rare taxa may mislead the answers to the questions 'how and why are communities different?' This study evaluates the confidence intervals of ecological inferences from high-throughput sequencing data of foliar fungal endophytes as case studies through a range of sampling efforts, sequencing depths, and taxonomic resolutions to understand how technical and analytical practices may affect our interpretations. Increasing sampling size reliably decreased confidence intervals across multiple community comparisons. However, the effects of sequencing depths on confidence intervals depended on how rare taxa influenced the dissimilarity estimates among communities and did not significantly decrease confidence intervals for all community comparisons. A comparison of simulated communities under random drift suggests that sequencing depths are important in estimating dissimilarities between microbial communities under neutral selective processes. Confidence interval analyses reveal important biases as well as biological trends in microbial community studies that otherwise may be ignored when communities are only compared for statistically significant differences.

A confidence interval analysis of sampling effort, sequencing depth, and taxonomic resolution of fungal community ecology in the era of high-throughput sequencing

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

High-throughput sequencing technology has helped microbial community ecologists explore ecological and evolutionary patterns at unprecedented scales. The benefits of a large sample size still typically outweigh that of greater sequencing depths per sample for accurate estimations of ecological inferences. However, excluding or not sequencing rare taxa may mislead the answers to the questions ‘how and why are communities different?’ This study evaluates the confidence intervals of ecological inferences from high-throughput sequencing data of foliar fungal endophytes as case studies through a range of sampling efforts, sequencing depths, and taxonomic resolutions to understand how technical and analytical practices may affect our interpretations. Increasing sampling size reliably decreased confidence intervals across multiple community comparisons. However, the effects of sequencing depths on confidence intervals depended on how rare taxa influenced the dissimilarity estimates among communities and did not significantly decrease confidence intervals for all community comparisons. A comparison of simulated communities under random drift suggests that sequencing depths are important in estimating dissimilarities between microbial communities under neutral selective processes. Confidence interval analyses reveal important biases as well as biological trends in microbial community studies that otherwise may be ignored when communities are only compared for statistically significant differences. PMID:29253889

A Direct Comparison of Two Densely Sampled HIV Epidemics: The UK and Switzerland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ragonnet-Cronin, Manon L.; Shilaih, Mohaned; Günthard, Huldrych F.; Hodcroft, Emma B.; Böni, Jürg; Fearnhill, Esther; Dunn, David; Yerly, Sabine; Klimkait, Thomas; Aubert, Vincent; Yang, Wan-Lin; Brown, Alison E.; Lycett, Samantha J.; Kouyos, Roger; Brown, Andrew J. Leigh

2016-09-01

Phylogenetic clustering approaches can elucidate HIV transmission dynamics. Comparisons across countries are essential for evaluating public health policies. Here, we used a standardised approach to compare the UK HIV Drug Resistance Database and the Swiss HIV Cohort Study while maintaining data-protection requirements. Clusters were identified in subtype A1, B and C pol phylogenies. We generated degree distributions for each risk group and compared distributions between countries using Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) tests, Degree Distribution Quantification and Comparison (DDQC) and bootstrapping. We used logistic regression to predict cluster membership based on country, sampling date, risk group, ethnicity and sex. We analysed >8,000 Swiss and >30,000 UK subtype B sequences. At 4.5% genetic distance, the UK was more clustered and MSM and heterosexual degree distributions differed significantly by the KS test. The KS test is sensitive to variation in network scale, and jackknifing the UK MSM dataset to the size of the Swiss dataset removed the difference. Only heterosexuals varied based on the DDQC, due to UK male heterosexuals who clustered exclusively with MSM. Their removal eliminated this difference. In conclusion, the UK and Swiss HIV epidemics have similar underlying dynamics and observed differences in clustering are mainly due to different population sizes.

1H NMR study of the effect of variable ligand on heme oxygenase electronic and molecular structure

PubMed Central

Ma, Li-Hua; Liu, Yangzhong; Zhang, Xuhong; Yoshida, Tadashi; La Mar, Gerd N.

2009-01-01

Heme oxygenase carries out stereospecific catabolism of protohemin to yield iron, CO and biliverdin. Instability of the physiological oxy complex has necessitated the use of model ligands, of which cyanide and azide are amenable to solution NMR characterization. Since cyanide and azide are contrasting models for bound oxygen, it is of interest to characterize differences in their molecular and/or electronic structures. We report on detailed 2D NMR comparison of the azide and cyanide substrate complexes of heme oxygenase from Neisseria meningitidis, which reveals significant and widespread differences in chemical shifts between the two complexes. To differentiate molecular from electronic structural changes between the two complexes, the anisotropy and orientation of the paramagnetic susceptibility tensor were determined for the azide complex for comparison with those for the cyanide complex. Comparison of the predicted and observed dipolar shifts reveals that shift differences are strongly dominated by differences in electronic structure and do not provide any evidence for detectable differences in molecular structure or hydrogen bonding except in the immediate vicinity of the distal ligand. The readily cleaved C-terminus interacts with the active site and saturation-transfer allows difficult heme assignments in the high-spin aquo complex. PMID:18976815

[Clinical study on treatment of 405 cases of irregular menstruation by tiaojing zhixue granules].

PubMed

Ma, Kun; Sun, Li-hua; Wang, Qing-hua

2003-01-01

To provide scientific and objective basis for Tiaojing zhixue granules treating irregular menstruation of clinical effect. Choose 405 cases suffering from irregular menstruation and make a systematic study 304 patients were treated with Tiaojing Zhixue granules, 101 patients received Fuxuening treatment. After treatment, the obvious effective rate of Tiaojing Zhixue granules was 78.3% and the total effective rate 97.4%, granule cure rate of Fuxuening was 38.6% and the total effective rate 87.1%. Comparison showed significant difference (P < 0.001). Safety spithetical observation did not discover harmful effects and toxicity and side effects antagonize common symptoms 26 entries of clinical studying, the 7 entry are: weary and tired, short breaths, sore loins, weak knees, insomnia and eccessive dreaming, rapid and thready pulse, colliquative, distending pain in the lower abdomen and hypochondria. Among them, the comparison showed significant difference about treatments(P < 0.01-0.001). Tiaojing Zhixue granules treatment irregular menstruation are scientific and effective.

Biochemical and Cytological Comparison of Keratocystic Odontogenic Tumours to Nonkeratinising Odontogenic Cysts Fluid.

PubMed

Patidar, Madhvika; Shetty, Pushparaj; Patidar, Nitesh; Mittal, Sugandh; Singh, Hanspal; Chethna

2015-07-01

To evaluate the levels of albumin, prealbumin, total protein, inorganic phosphate and presence of keratinocytes in the cystic fluid for the diagnosis and appropriate treatment planning of keratocystic odontogenic tumours and other non keratinizing odontogenic cysts. Fifteen keratocystic odontogenic tumour and 15 controls were studied. The cystic fluid was aspirated and analysed to determine the levels of albumin, prealbumin, total protein, inorganic phosphate and the presence of keratinocytes. The data collected was statistically evaluated using Mann Whitney U-Test and Student's t-test. A highly significant difference (p<0.0001) was seen when a comparison of Prealbumin, total protein, inorganic phosphate and presence of keratinocytes was made between keratocystic odontogenic tumour and non keratinizing odontogenic cysts. The presence of albumin also showed a significant difference (p<0.01). A combined analysis of total protein, albumin, prealbumin, inorganic phosphorous and detection of epithelial squames may be used as a diagnostic adjunct in the preoperative diagnosis of keratocystic odontogenic tumour in a minimally invasive and highly accurate fashion.

Change in Tongue Morphology in Response to Expiratory Resistance Loading Investigated by Magnetic Resonance Imaging

PubMed Central

Yanagisawa, Yukio; Matsuo, Yoshimi; Shuntoh, Hisato; Mitamura, Masaaki; Horiuchi, Noriaki

2013-01-01

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of expiratory resistance load on the tongue area encompassing the suprahyoid and genioglossus muscles. [Subjects] The subjects were 30 healthy individuals (15 males, 15 females, mean age: 28.9 years). [Methods] Magnetic resonance imaging was used to investigate morphological changes in response to resistive expiratory pressure loading in the area encompassing the suprahyoid and genioglossus muscles. Images were taken when water pressure was sustained at 0%, 10%, 30%, and 50% of maximum resistive expiratory pressure. We then measured tongue area using image analysis software, and the morphological changes were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance followed by post hoc comparisons. [Results] A significant change in the tongue area was detected in both sexes upon loading. Multiple comparison analysis revealed further significant differences in tongue area as well as changes in tongue area in response to the different expiratory pressures. [Conclusion] The findings demonstrate that higher expiratory pressure facilitates greater reduction in tongue area. PMID:24259824

Restructuring of a Textile Manufacturing Company and Workers' Health.

PubMed

Draksler, Katja; Dernovšček Hafner, Nataša; Arnerić, Niko; Dodič Fikfak, Metoda

2018-05-01

Organizational restructuring is associated with greater mortality and morbidity of the workers affected by it. We examined the quality of workers' health at a textile manufacturing company after restructuring, comparing three groups of workers: workers who remained (survivors), workers who lost their jobs and later found new jobs (the reemployed), and unemployed workers. A total of 1046 workers participated in a telephonic survey. The data were processed using SPSS and the R package version 1.2 of prLogistic. The differences between groups were calculated using the chi-square test and adjusted prevalence ratios. The comparison between the three groups shows significantly poorer mental health of the unemployed, who more often than survivors and the reemployed reported depression, as well as significant differences in elevated blood pressure, cholesterol level, and cardiac disorders. The reemployed, who were nonetheless in better health compared to the unemployed, reported poor mental health or depression more often in comparison to survivors. Higher morbidity of the unemployed and reemployed could be influenced by numerous factors associated with restructuring.

Polyphenols content, phenolics profile and antioxidant activity of organic red wines produced without sulfur dioxide/sulfites addition in comparison to conventional red wines.

PubMed

Garaguso, Ivana; Nardini, Mirella

2015-07-15

Wine exerts beneficial effects on human health when it is drunk with moderation. Nevertheless, wine may also contain components negatively affecting human health. Among these, sulfites may induce adverse effects after ingestion. We examined total polyphenols and flavonoids content, phenolics profile and antioxidant activity of eight organic red wines produced without sulfur dioxide/sulfites addition in comparison to those of eight conventional red wines. Polyphenols and flavonoids content were slightly higher in organic wines in respect to conventional wines, however differences did not reach statistical significance. The phenolic acids profile was quite similar in both groups of wines. Antioxidant activity was higher in organic wines compared to conventional wines, although differences were not statistically significant. Our results indicate that organic red wines produced without sulfur dioxide/sulfites addition are comparable to conventional red wines with regard to the total polyphenols and flavonoids content, the phenolics profile and the antioxidant activity. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Comparison of Trans Women, Trans Men, Genderqueer Individuals, and Cisgender Brothers and Sisters on the Bem Sex-Role Inventory: Ratings by Self and Siblings.

PubMed

Factor, Rhonda J; Rothblum, Esther D

2017-01-01

A U.S. national sample of 295 transgender adults (trans women, trans men, and genderqueer individuals) and their cisgender siblings completed the Bem Sex-Role Inventory about their siblings as well as themselves, which enabled a comparison between self-perceptions and sibling's perceptions of personality characteristics. Self-reported personality characteristics scored as feminine of trans women were not statistically different from those of their cisgender sisters, but they were significantly higher than self-reported femininity scores of trans men, genderqueer individuals, and cisgender brothers. Self-reported personality characteristics scored as masculine of trans men did not differ significantly from those of their cisgender brothers, but they were higher than those of trans women. Trans men and cisgender brothers were viewed by their siblings in a more sex-typed way than they rated themselves, whereas trans women and cisgender sisters were rated by their siblings in a less sex-typed way than they viewed themselves.

Boar taint detection: A comparison of three sensory protocols.

PubMed

Trautmann, Johanna; Meier-Dinkel, Lisa; Gertheiss, Jan; Mörlein, Daniel

2016-01-01

While recent studies state an important role of human sensory methods for daily routine control of so-called boar taint, the evaluation of different heating methods is still incomplete. This study investigated three common heating methods (microwave (MW), hot-water (HW), hot-iron (HI)) for boar fat evaluation. The comparison was carried out on 72 samples with a 10-person sensory panel. The heating method significantly affected the probability of a deviant rating. Compared to an assumed 'gold standard' (chemical analysis), the performance was best for HI when both sensitivity and specificity were considered. The results show the superiority of the panel result compared to individual assessors. However, the consistency of the individual sensory ratings was not significantly different between MW, HW, and HI. The three protocols showed only fair to moderate agreement. Concluding from the present results, the hot-iron method appears to be advantageous for boar taint evaluation as compared to microwave and hot-water. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Comparison of Exposures Among Arab American and Non-Hispanic White Female Thyroid Cancer Cases in Metropolitan Detroit

PubMed Central

Peterson, L.; Soliman, A.; Ruterbusch, J. J.; Smith, N.

2013-01-01

Arab American (ArA) women may be at greater risk for thyroid cancer (TC) than White women. This case-case comparison explored differences in known and proposed risk factors of TC among ArA and non-Hispanic White (NHW) female TC cases in metropolitan Detroit. Cases of invasive TC identified from a population-based registry responded to a telephone survey regarding potential TC risk factors. Thirty ArA women (response rate 52%) and 70 NHW women (67%) participated. NHW women reported significantly more prior thyroid disease (TD), family history of TD, hormone use, cumulative years of hormone use, cigarette and alcohol consumption. In adjusted logistic regression analysis, ArA women had significantly higher odds of exposure to dental x-rays (OR = 3.48, CI 1.01–12.00) and medical radiation (OR = 13.58, CI 1.49–124.04) than NHW women. Risk factors for TC may differ among ArA women and their NHW counterparts. PMID:21647624

Comparison of exposures among Arab American and non-Hispanic White female thyroid cancer cases in metropolitan Detroit.

PubMed

Peterson, L; Soliman, A; Ruterbusch, J J; Smith, N; Schwartz, K

2011-12-01

Arab American (ArA) women may be at greater risk for thyroid cancer (TC) than White women. This case-case comparison explored differences in known and proposed risk factors of TC among ArA and non-Hispanic White (NHW) female TC cases in metropolitan Detroit. Cases of invasive TC identified from a population-based registry responded to a telephone survey regarding potential TC risk factors. Thirty ArA women (response rate 52%) and 70 NHW women (67%) participated. NHW women reported significantly more prior thyroid disease (TD), family history of TD, hormone use, cumulative years of hormone use, cigarette and alcohol consumption. In adjusted logistic regression analysis, ArA women had significantly higher odds of exposure to dental x-rays (OR = 3.48, CI 1.01-12.00) and medical radiation (OR = 13.58, CI 1.49-124.04) than NHW women. Risk factors for TC may differ among ArA women and their NHW counterparts.

A method for improving reliability and relevance of LCA reviews: the case of life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of tap and bottled water.

PubMed

Fantin, Valentina; Scalbi, Simona; Ottaviano, Giuseppe; Masoni, Paolo

2014-04-01

The purpose of this study is to propose a method for harmonising Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) literature studies on the same product or on different products fulfilling the same function for a reliable and meaningful comparison of their life-cycle environmental impacts. The method is divided in six main steps which aim to rationalize and quicken the efforts needed to carry out the comparison. The steps include: 1) a clear definition of the goal and scope of the review; 2) critical review of the references; 3) identification of significant parameters that have to be harmonised; 4) harmonisation of the parameters; 5) statistical analysis to support the comparison; 6) results and discussion. This approach was then applied to the comparative analysis of the published LCA studies on tap and bottled water production, focussing on Global Warming Potential (GWP) results, with the aim to identify the environmental preferable alternative. A statistical analysis with Wilcoxon's test confirmed that the difference between harmonised GWP values of tap and bottled water was significant. The results obtained from the comparison of the harmonised mean GWP results showed that tap water always has the best environmental performance, even in case of high energy-consuming technologies for drinking water treatments. The strength of the method is that it enables both performing a deep analysis of the LCA literature and obtaining more consistent comparisons across the published LCAs. For these reasons, it can be a valuable tool which provides useful information for both practitioners and decision makers. Finally, its application to the case study allowed both to supply a description of systems variability and to evaluate the importance of several key parameters for tap and bottled water production. The comparative review of LCA studies, with the inclusion of a statistical decision test, can validate and strengthen the final statements of the comparison. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Below and above boiling point comparison of microwave irradiation and conductive heating for municipal sludge digestion under identical heating/cooling profiles.

PubMed

Hosseini Koupaie, E; Eskicioglu, C

2015-01-01

This research provides a comprehensive comparison between microwave (MW) and conductive heating (CH) sludge pretreatments under identical heating/cooling profiles at below and above boiling point temperatures. Previous comparison studies were constrained to an uncontrolled or a single heating rate due to lack of a CH equipment simulating MW under identical thermal profiles. In this research, a novel custom-built pressure-sealed vessel which could simulate MW pretreatment under identical heating/cooling profiles was used for CH pretreatment. No statistically significant difference was proven between MW and CH pretreatments in terms of sludge solubilization, anaerobic biogas yield and organics biodegradation rate (p-value>0.05), while statistically significant effects of temperature and heating rate were observed (p-value<0.05). These results explain the contradictory results of previous studies in which only the final temperature (not heating/cooling rates) was controlled. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

COMPARING 3D FOOT SHAPE MODELS BETWEEN TAIWANESE AND JAPANESE FEMALES.

PubMed

Lee, Yu-Chi; Kouchi, Makiko; Mochimaru, Masaaki; Wang, Mao-Jiun

2015-06-01

This study compares foot shape and foot dimensions between Taiwanese and Japanese females. One hundred Taiwanese and 100 Japanese female 3D foot scanning data were used for comparison. To avoid the allometry effect, data from 23 Taiwanese and 19 Japanese with foot length between 233 to 237 mm were used for shape comparison. Homologous models created for the right feet of the 42 subjects were analyzed by Multidimensional Scaling. The results showed that there were significant differences in the forefoot shape between the two groups, and Taiwanese females had slightly wider feet with straighter big toe than Japanese females. The results of body and foot dimension comparison indicated that Taiwanese females were taller, heavier and had larger feet than Japanese females, while Japanese females had significantly larger toe 1 angle. Since some Taiwanese shoemakers adopt the Japanese shoe sizing system for making shoes, appropriateness of the shoe sizing system was also discussed. The present results provide very useful information for improving shoe last design and footwear fit for Taiwanese females.

Cost-effectiveness of manual therapy versus physiotherapy in patients with sub-acute and chronic neck pain: a randomised controlled trial.

PubMed

van Dongen, J M; Groeneweg, R; Rubinstein, S M; Bosmans, J E; Oostendorp, R A B; Ostelo, R W J G; van Tulder, M W

2016-07-01

To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of manual therapy according to the Utrecht School (MTU) in comparison with physiotherapy (PT) in sub-acute and chronic non-specific neck pain patients from a societal perspective. An economic evaluation was conducted alongside a 52-week randomized controlled trial, in which 90 patients were randomized to the MTU group and 91 to the PT group. Clinical outcomes included perceived recovery (yes/no), functional status (continuous and yes/no), and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). Costs were measured from a societal perspective using self-reported questionnaires. Missing data were imputed using multiple imputation. To estimate statistical uncertainty, bootstrapping techniques were used. After 52 weeks, there were no significant between-group differences in clinical outcomes. During follow-up, intervention costs (β:€-32; 95 %CI: -54 to -10) and healthcare costs (β:€-126; 95 %CI: -235 to -32) were significantly lower in the MTU group than in the PT group, whereas unpaid productivity costs were significantly higher (β:€186; 95 %CI:19-557). Societal costs did not significantly differ between groups (β:€-96; 95 %CI:-1975-2022). For QALYs and functional status (yes/no), the maximum probability of MTU being cost-effective in comparison with PT was low (≤0.54). For perceived recovery (yes/no) and functional status (continuous), a large amount of money must be paid per additional unit of effect to reach a reasonable probability of cost-effectiveness. From a societal perspective, MTU was not cost-effective in comparison with PT in patients with sub-acute and chronic non-specific neck pain for perceived recovery, functional status, and QALYs. As no clear total societal cost and effect differences were found between MTU and PT, the decision about what intervention to administer, reimburse, and/or implement can be based on the preferences of the patient and the decision-maker at hand. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00713843.

Comparison of antigenic and allergenic components of Holoptelea integrifolia pollen collected from different source materials.

PubMed

Malik, P; Singh, A B; Gangal, S V; Babu, C R

1991-05-01

Antigenic extracts prepared from pollen samples collected at weekly intervals during the same season did not exhibit significant variation in protein concentration. Stored pollen samples from different years, however, showed highly significant variations in protein concentration. The protein content of samples from different ecozones of India also varied (CV = +/- 32%). The IEF and SDS-PAGE patterns were almost identical in samples from the same season, but were variable in the samples stored from different years and different parts of India. IgE binding proteins from different samples also varied depending on the overall protein profiles. Almost all the patients, however, showed IgE binding to four proteins at 50, 60, 66 and 70 kD, indicating the important allergenic components of Holoptelea integrifolia.

Comparison of logging residue from lump sum and log scale timber sales.

Treesearch

James O Howard; Donald J. DeMars

1985-01-01

Data from 1973 and 1980 logging residues studies were used to compare the volume of residue from lump sum and log scale timber sales. Covariance analysis was used to adjust the mean volume for each data set for potential variation resulting from differences in stand conditions. Mean residue volumes from the two sale types were significantly different at the 5-percent...

Double-Blind Controlled Comparison of Phlebitis Produced by Cephapirin and Cephalothin

PubMed Central

Carrizosa, Jaime; Levison, Matthew E.; Kaye, Donald

1973-01-01

In a double-blind study with each patient as his own control cephapirin and cephalothin were administered to 20 patients in opposite arms for a period of 48 hr each. Neither the incidence of phlebitis nor the degree of phlebitis was significantly different with the two drugs, and there was no difference in the time of onset of pain or phlebitis. PMID:4597719

Differential Effects of Differing Intensities of Acute Exercise on Speed and Accuracy of Cognition: A Meta-Analytical Investigation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McMorris, Terry; Hale, Beverley J.

2012-01-01

The primary purpose of this study was to examine, using meta-analytical techniques, the differential effects of differing intensities of acute exercise on speed and accuracy of cognition. Overall, exercise demonstrated a small, significant mean effect size (g = 0.14, p less than 0.01) on cognition. Examination of the comparison between speed and…

Minimum Expected Risk Estimation for Near-neighbor Classification

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-04-01

We consider the problems of class probability estimation and classification when using near-neighbor classifiers, such as k-nearest neighbors ( kNN ...estimate for weighted kNN classifiers with different prior information, for a broad class of risk functions. Theory and simulations show how significant...the difference is compared to the standard maximum likelihood weighted kNN estimates. Comparisons are made with uniform weights, symmetric weights