Increasing Working Mothers' Earnings: The Importance of Race, Family, and Job Characteristics. Research-in-Brief.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fuller, Taleria R.

Women's economic responsibility for their families has increased as more married women contribute to family income and more mothers head families alone. In view of this fact, a study compared the characteristics of Black, White, and Hispanic working mothers and the factors affecting working mothers' wages. Black working mothers were much less…

Sleep Apnea Facts

MedlinePlus

... Apnea Facts Sleep Apnea Links Sleep Apnea Facts Sleep apnea affects up to 18 million Americans The condition was ... member is the first to notice signs of sleep apnea in someone with the ... diagnosed. The condition affects about 4 percent of middle-aged men and ...

Fatigue in people with localized colorectal cancer who do and do not receive chemotherapy: a longitudinal prospective study

PubMed Central

Vardy, J. L.; Dhillon, H. M.; Pond, G. R.; Renton, C.; Dodd, A.; Zhang, H.; Clarke, S. J.; Tannock, I. F.

2016-01-01

Background Fatigue is associated with cancer and chemotherapy and may be sustained. Here, we describe a prospective longitudinal study evaluating fatigue and putative mechanisms in people with colorectal cancer (CRC). Patients and methods People with localized CRC completed the Functional Assessment of Cancer Treatment-Fatigue (FACT-F) questionnaire at baseline (before chemotherapy, if given), 6, 12, and 24 months. Healthy controls (HCs) were assessed at the first three time points. Fatigue was defined by standardized FACT-F scores ≤68/100. Quality-of-life (QoL, assessed by the FACT-G questionnaire), affective, and cognitive symptoms were evaluated. Associations were sought between fatigue, baseline factors, and blood tests (including hemoglobin, cytokines, and sex hormones). Regression analyses, Fisher's exact tests, and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests assessed levels of fatigue at each time point and change in fatigue from baseline. A repeated-measures analysis investigated prognostic factors of fatigue across all time points. Results A total of 289 subjects with localized CRC (173 received chemotherapy) and 72 HCs were assessed. More CRC patients had fatigue than HCs at baseline (52% versus 26%, P < 0.001). Fatigue was increased in the chemotherapy (CTh) group at 6 months [CTh+ 70% versus CTh− 31% (P < 0.001), HCs 22%] and remained more common at 12 [CTh+ 44% versus CTh− 31% (P = 0.079)] and 24 months [CTh+ 39% versus CTh− 24% (P = 0.047)]. There was no significant difference between those not receiving chemotherapy and HCs at follow-up assessments. Fatigue was associated with poor QoL, affective and cognitive symptoms, but not consistently with cytokine levels. Predictors for sustained fatigue were baseline fatigue, treatment group, cognitive and affective symptoms, poorer QoL, and comorbidities. Conclusions CRC patients have more fatigue than HCs at baseline. Fatigue peaks immediately after adjuvant chemotherapy, but remains common for 2 years in those who receive chemotherapy. Cognitive and affective symptoms, QoL, comorbidities, chemotherapy, and baseline fatigue predict for longer term fatigue. PMID:27443634

Factors affecting dignity of patients with multiple sclerosis.

PubMed

Sharifi, Simin; Borhani, Fariba; Abbaszadeh, Abbas

2016-12-01

MS is one of the most common chronic diseases of the nervous system. Apart from disease progression, other complications such as unemployment, separation and divorce could potentially threat patients' dignity. Most of the previous studies have been done of maintaining patients' dignity in interaction with healthcare team, but studies on affecting factors of dignity in chronic patients in the society and in interaction with usual people are scarce. We aimed to investigate factors affecting dignity of Iranian patients with MS in daily living and in interaction of them with the society. In this qualitative study, 13 patients with multiple sclerosis were chosen by purposive sampling and semi-structured interviews were conducted until data saturation. The study was done in Tehran, the capital city of Iran. Factors affecting dignity were classified as 'personal factors' and 'social factors'. Personal factors consist of the following subcategories: patients' communication with self, patients' knowledge, patients' values and beliefs and patients' resources. Social factors include others' communication with patients, social knowledge, social values and beliefs and social resources. Multiple personal and social factors interfere in perceived patient dignity. In fact, interaction between personal and social factors can be influential in final perceived dignity. By focusing on whole aspects of the patients' lives, we can identify dignity-promoting or dignity-threatening factors and help patients maintain their dignity by taking appropriate measures for moderating threatening factors and improving dignity enhancing ones. © 2016 Nordic College of Caring Science.

Dominant Factors for Kampung Laut Bontang Kuala Development through Ecotourism Concept

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Idajati, Hertiari; Andastry, Fonita

2017-07-01

Bontang is one of the cities in East Kalimantan Province which is known oil and gas industry and condensate. Besides that, Bontang also has potential tourism that can be developed in the form of Kampung Laut Bontang Kuala. This tourism area can be a leading tourism spot based on ecotourism in Bontang. Based on these fact, conducted a study to find out how Kampung Laut Bontang Kuala can be developed. This study aims to determine the dominant factors that affect Kampung Laut Bontang Kuala development through ecotourism. This research stage begins with interviewing stakeholders related to Kampung Laut Bontang Kuala development through ecotourism. The interview results were analysed using quantitative content analysis which showed the factors that affect Kampung Laut Bontang Kuala development through ecotourism in accordance with the assessment of stakeholders. The research result showed there are 9 of dominant factors for Kampung Laut Bontang Kuala Development ecotourism development.

Charles C. Fries in Japan: A Case Study in Methodological Reform.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Henrichsen, Lynn E.

The success of Charles C. Fries' Oral Approach to teaching English as a second language (ESL) as promoted in Japan by the English Language Exploratory Committee in the late 1950s and early 1960s is examined according to Jack Richards' four major factors that affect the course of a teaching method: appeals to facts; appeals to authority; form of…

Retaining Recent College Graduates in New England: An Update on Current Trends. Policy Brief No. 13-2

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Modestino, Alicia Sasser

2013-01-01

This policy brief presents some basic facts about the retention of recent college graduates and changes in retention over time, updating an earlier report on this topic. It shows, for example, how New England compares with other Census divisions, what factors affect its ability to retain graduates, and the reasons why recent college graduates…

Psycho-Pedagogical Research of Emotional and Estimative Mental States of Students Who Are Prone to Addictions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gryaznov, Alexey N.; Gruzkova, Svetlana U.; Sharafiev, Eduard S.; Cheverikina, Elena A.; Muhametzyanova, Larisa Yu.; Kamaleeva, Alsu R.; Gilmeeva, Rimma Kh.

2016-01-01

The relevance of the investigated problem is conditioned by the fact that one of the negative factors, which prevent favorable socialization and successful personal-professional development of students, is the tendency of youth to be prone to addiction the formation of which is affected by various mental states. The paper is aimed to explore the…

Academic Dishonesty in Online Courses: Considerations for Graduate Preparatory Programs in Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tolman, Steven

2017-01-01

While there is a perception that violations of academic dishonesty occur more frequently in online courses, a review of the literature has shown this to be a fallacy. In fact, there is evidence that supports the rate is lower in online courses than in face-to-face. There are many factors that affect academic dishonesty, including the demographics…

General practitioners' knowledge of ageing and attitudes towards older people in China.

PubMed

Yang, Yanni; Xiao, Lily Dongxia; Ullah, Shahid; Deng, Lanlan

2015-06-01

To explore general practitioners (GPs)knowledge of ageing, attitudes towards older people and factors affecting their knowledge and attitudes in a Chinese context. Four hundred GPs were surveyed using the Chinese version of the Aging Semantic Differential (CASD) and the Chinese version of the Facts on Aging Quiz (CFAQ1) scale. The CASD scores indicated that GPs had a neutral attitude towards older people. The CFAQ1 scores indicated a low level of knowledge about ageing. GPs' awareness of the mental and social facts of ageing was poorer compared to that of physical facts. Male GPs had a significantly higher negative bias score than female GPs. No other variables had a statistically significant influence on knowledge and attitudes. The findings suggest the need for education interventions for GPs regarding knowledge of ageing and also provide evidence to guide future development of continuing medical programs for this group of medical doctors. © 2013 ACOTA.

Homozygous parent affected sib pair method for detecting disease predisposing variants: application to insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

PubMed

Robinson, W P; Barbosa, J; Rich, S S; Thomson, G

1993-01-01

For complex genetic diseases involving incomplete penetrance, genetic heterogeneity, and multiple disease genes, it is often difficult to determine the molecular variant(s) responsible for the disease pathogenesis. Linkage and association studies may help identify genetic regions and molecular variants suspected of being directly responsible for disease predisposition or protection, but, especially for complex diseases, they are less useful for determining when a predisposing molecular variant has been identified. In this paper, we expand upon the simple concept that if a genetic factor predisposing to disease has been fully identified, then a parent homozygous for this factor should transmit either of his/her copies at random to any affected children. Closely linked markers are used to determine identity by descent values in affected sib pairs from a parent homozygous for a putative disease predisposing factor. The expected deviation of haplotype sharing from 50%, when not all haplotypes carrying this factor are in fact equally predisposing, has been algebraically determined for a single locus general disease model. Equations to determine expected sharing for multiple disease alleles or multiple disease locus models have been formulated. The recessive case is in practice limiting and therefore can be used to estimate the maximum proportion of putative susceptibility haplotypes which are in fact predisposing to disease when the mode of inheritance of a disease is unknown. This method has been applied to 27 DR3/DR3 parents and 50 DR4/DR4 parents who have at least 2 children affected with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). The transmission of both DR3 and DR4 haplotypes is statistically different from 50% (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively). An upper estimate for the proportion of DR3 haplotypes associated with a high IDDM susceptibility is 49%, and for DR4 haplotypes 38%. Our results show that the joint presence of non-Asp at DQ beta position 57 and Arg at DQ alpha position 52, which has been proposed as a strong IDDM predisposing factor, is insufficient to explain the HLA component of IDDM predisposition.

Investing in Young Children: A Fact Sheet on Early Care and Education Participation, Access, and Quality

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schmit, Stephanie; Matthews, Hannah; Smith, Sheila; Robbins, Taylor

2013-01-01

Across the U.S., large numbers of young children are affected by one or more risk factors that have been linked to academic failure and poor health. High quality early care and education can play a critical role in promoting young children's early learning and success in life, while also supporting families' economic security. Young…

Schooling and Factors Affecting Decisions on Schooling by Household Members in the Rural Areas of Turkey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Olgun, Akin; Gumus, Sevtap Guler; Adanacioglu, Hakan

2010-01-01

Despite the fact that rural education has always been one of the most important means of rural development, it has been ignored in many developing countries, with the result that rural development has not achieved great success. The problems of education in rural areas are not only related to the amount the country spends on education or to the…

From Black and White to Shades of Grey: A Longitudinal Study of Teachers' Perspectives on Teaching Sociocultural and Subjective Aspects of Science

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leden, Lotta; Hansson, Lena; Redfors, Andreas

2017-01-01

Traditional school science has been described as focused on indisputable facts where scientific processes and factors affecting these processes become obscured or left undiscussed. In this article, we report on teachers' perspectives on the teaching of sociocultural and subjective aspects of the nature of science (NOS) as a way to accomplish a…

Large-Scale ATP-Independent Nucleosome Unfolding by a Histone Chaperone

PubMed Central

Valieva, Maria E.; Armeev, Grigoriy A.; Kudryashova, Kseniya S.; Gerasimova, Nadezhda S.; Shaytan, Alexey K.; Kulaeva, Olga I.; McCullough, Laura L.; Formosa, Tim; Georgiev, Pavel G.; Kirpichnikov, Mikhail P.; Studitsky, Vasily M.; Feofanov, Alexey V.

2017-01-01

DNA accessibility to regulatory proteins is significantly affected by nucleosome structure and dynamics. FACT (facilitates chromatin transcription) increases the accessibility of nucleosomal DNA but the mechanism and extent of this nucleosome reorganization are unknown. We report here the effects of FACT on single nucleosomes revealed with spFRET microscopy. FACT binding results in a dramatic, ATP-independent, and reversible uncoiling of DNA that affects at least 70% of the DNA in a nucleosome. A mutated version of FACT is defective in this uncoiling, and a histone mutation that suppresses phenotypes caused by this FACT mutation in vivo restores the uncoiling activity in vitro. Thus FACT-dependent nucleosome unfolding modulates the accessibility of nucleosomal DNA, and this is an important function of FACT in vivo. PMID:27820806

Vector-virus interactions and transmission dynamics of West Nile virus.

PubMed

Ciota, Alexander T; Kramer, Laura D

2013-12-09

West Nile virus (WNV; Flavivirus; Flaviviridae) is the cause of the most widespread arthropod-borne viral disease in the world and the largest outbreak of neuroinvasive disease ever observed. Mosquito-borne outbreaks are influenced by intrinsic (e.g., vector and viral genetics, vector and host competence, vector life-history traits) and extrinsic (e.g., temperature, rainfall, human land use) factors that affect virus activity and mosquito biology in complex ways. The concept of vectorial capacity integrates these factors to address interactions of the virus with the arthropod host, leading to a clearer understanding of their complex interrelationships, how they affect transmission of vector-borne disease, and how they impact human health. Vertebrate factors including host competence, population dynamics, and immune status also affect transmission dynamics. The complexity of these interactions are further exacerbated by the fact that not only can divergent hosts differentially alter the virus, but the virus also can affect both vertebrate and invertebrate hosts in ways that significantly alter patterns of virus transmission. This chapter concentrates on selected components of the virus-vector-vertebrate interrelationship, focusing specifically on how interactions between vector, virus, and environment shape the patterns and intensity of WNV transmission.

Vector-Virus Interactions and Transmission Dynamics of West Nile Virus

PubMed Central

Ciota, Alexander T.; Kramer, Laura D.

2013-01-01

West Nile virus (WNV; Flavivirus; Flaviviridae) is the cause of the most widespread arthropod-borne viral disease in the world and the largest outbreak of neuroinvasive disease ever observed. Mosquito-borne outbreaks are influenced by intrinsic (e.g., vector and viral genetics, vector and host competence, vector life-history traits) and extrinsic (e.g., temperature, rainfall, human land use) factors that affect virus activity and mosquito biology in complex ways. The concept of vectorial capacity integrates these factors to address interactions of the virus with the arthropod host, leading to a clearer understanding of their complex interrelationships, how they affect transmission of vector-borne disease, and how they impact human health. Vertebrate factors including host competence, population dynamics, and immune status also affect transmission dynamics. The complexity of these interactions are further exacerbated by the fact that not only can divergent hosts differentially alter the virus, but the virus also can affect both vertebrate and invertebrate hosts in ways that significantly alter patterns of virus transmission. This chapter concentrates on selected components of the virus-vector-vertebrate interrelationship, focusing specifically on how interactions between vector, virus, and environment shape the patterns and intensity of WNV transmission. PMID:24351794

Modulation of chromatin structure by the FACT histone chaperone complex regulates HIV-1 integration.

PubMed

Matysiak, Julien; Lesbats, Paul; Mauro, Eric; Lapaillerie, Delphine; Dupuy, Jean-William; Lopez, Angelica P; Benleulmi, Mohamed Salah; Calmels, Christina; Andreola, Marie-Line; Ruff, Marc; Llano, Manuel; Delelis, Olivier; Lavigne, Marc; Parissi, Vincent

2017-07-28

Insertion of retroviral genome DNA occurs in the chromatin of the host cell. This step is modulated by chromatin structure as nucleosomes compaction was shown to prevent HIV-1 integration and chromatin remodeling has been reported to affect integration efficiency. LEDGF/p75-mediated targeting of the integration complex toward RNA polymerase II (polII) transcribed regions ensures optimal access to dynamic regions that are suitable for integration. Consequently, we have investigated the involvement of polII-associated factors in the regulation of HIV-1 integration. Using a pull down approach coupled with mass spectrometry, we have selected the FACT (FAcilitates Chromatin Transcription) complex as a new potential cofactor of HIV-1 integration. FACT is a histone chaperone complex associated with the polII transcription machinery and recently shown to bind LEDGF/p75. We report here that a tripartite complex can be formed between HIV-1 integrase, LEDGF/p75 and FACT in vitro and in cells. Biochemical analyzes show that FACT-dependent nucleosome disassembly promotes HIV-1 integration into chromatinized templates, and generates highly favored nucleosomal structures in vitro. This effect was found to be amplified by LEDGF/p75. Promotion of this FACT-mediated chromatin remodeling in cells both increases chromatin accessibility and stimulates HIV-1 infectivity and integration. Altogether, our data indicate that FACT regulates HIV-1 integration by inducing local nucleosomes dissociation that modulates the functional association between the incoming intasome and the targeted nucleosome.

Basics for sensorimotor information processing: some implications for learning

PubMed Central

Vidal, Franck; Meckler, Cédric; Hasbroucq, Thierry

2015-01-01

In sensorimotor activities, learning requires efficient information processing, whether in car driving, sport activities or human–machine interactions. Several factors may affect the efficiency of such processing: they may be extrinsic (i.e., task-related) or intrinsic (i.e., subjects-related). The effects of these factors are intimately related to the structure of human information processing. In the present article we will focus on some of them, which are poorly taken into account, even when minimizing errors or their consequences is an essential issue at stake. Among the extrinsic factors, we will discuss, first, the effects of the quantity and quality of information, secondly, the effects of instruction and thirdly motor program learning. Among the intrinsic factors, we will discuss first the influence of prior information, secondly how individual strategies affect performance and, thirdly, we will stress the fact that although the human brain is not structured to function errorless (which is not new) humans are able to detect their errors very quickly and (in most of the cases), fast enough to correct them before they result in an overt failure. Extrinsic and intrinsic factors are important to take into account for learning because (1) they strongly affect performance, either in terms of speed or accuracy, which facilitates or impairs learning, (2) the effect of certain extrinsic factors may be strongly modified by learning and (3) certain intrinsic factors might be exploited for learning strategies. PMID:25762944

Yes: The Symptoms of OCD and Depression Are Discrete and Not Exclusively Negative Affectivity

PubMed Central

Moore, Kathleen A.; Howell, Jacqui

2017-01-01

Although Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Depression are classified as separate disorders, the high incidence of co-morbidity and the strong correlations between measures of each has led to debate about the nature of their relationship. Some authors have proposed that OCD is in fact a mood disorder while others have suggested that the two disorders are grounded in negative affectivity. A third proposition is that depression is an essential part of OCD but that OCD is a separate disorder from depression. The aim in this study was to investigate these diverse propositions in a non-clinical sample and also to determine whether factors implicated in each, that is anxious and depressive cognitions, hopelessness, and self-criticism, would demonstrate commonality as predictors of the symptoms of OCD and of depression. Two hundred participants (59% female) (M age = 34 years, SD = 16) completed the Padua Inventory, Carroll Rating Scale, Cognitions Checklist, Self-Criticism Scale, Beck Hopelessness Scale, Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory-Revised and a Negative Affectivity Schedule. Results indicated a strong correlation between OCD and depression, depression, and negative affectivity but a weaker relationship between OCD and negative affectivity. Path analyses revealed that both anxious and depressive cognitions, as well as hostility predicted both disorders but the Beta-weights were stronger on OCD. Self-criticism predicted only depression while hopelessness failed to predict either disorder but was itself predicted by depressive cognitions. Depression was a stronger indicator of negative affect than OCD and while OCD positively predicted depression, depression was a negative indicator of OCD. These results support the hypothesis that OCD and depression are discrete disorders and indicate that while depression is implicated in OCD, the reverse does not hold. While both disorders are related to negative affectivity, this relationship is much stronger for depression thus failing to confirm that both are subsumed by a common factor, in this case, negative affectivity. The proposition that depression is part of OCD but that OCD is not necessarily implicated in depression and is, in fact, a separate disorder, is supported by the current model. Further research is required to support the utility of the model in clinical samples. PMID:28553250

Serum chemerin levels are independently associated with quality of life in colorectal cancer survivors: A pilot study

PubMed Central

Lee, Jee-Yon; Lee, Mi-Kyung; Kim, Nam-Kyu; Chu, Sang-Hui; Lee, Duk-Chul; Lee, Hye-Sun

2017-01-01

Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors are known to experience various symptoms that significantly affect their quality of life (QOL); therefore, it is important to identify clinical markers related with CRC survivor QOL. Here we investigated the relationship between serum chemerin levels, a newly identified proinflammatory adipokine, and QOL in CRC survivors. Methods A data of total of 110 CRC survivors were analysed in the study. Serum chemerin levels were measured with an enzyme immunoassay analyser. Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT) scores were used as an indicator of QOL in CRC survivors. Results Weak but not negligible relationships were observed between serum chemerin levels and FACT-General (G) (r = -0.22, p<0.02), FACT-Colorectal cancer (C) (r = -0.23, p<0.02) and FACT-Fatigue (F) scores (r = -0.27, p<0.01) after adjusting for confounding factors. Both stepwise and enter method multiple linear regression analyses confirmed that serum chemerin levels were independently associated with FACT-G (stepwise: β = -0.15, p<0.01; enter: β = -0.12, p = 0.02), FACT-C (stepwise: β = -0.19, p<0.01; enter; β = -0.14, p = 0.02) and FACT-F scores (stepwise: β = -0.23, p<0.01; enter: β = -0.20, p<0.01). Conclusions Our results demonstrate a weak inverse relationship between serum chemerin and CRC survivor QOL. Although it is impossible to determine causality, our findings suggest that serum chemerin levels may have a significant association with CRC survivor QOL. Further prospective studies are required to confirm the clinical significance of our pilot study. PMID:28475614

Factors affecting elimination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from traditional smoked common carp meat

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Babić, J.; Vidaković, S.; Škaljac, S.; Kartalović, B.; Ljubojević, D.; Ćirković, M.; Teodorović, V.

2017-09-01

Smoking techniques have been progressively improved and different procedures have been developed in different regions for treating fish. In these times, the technology is mainly used for enrichment of fish with specific taste and odour, to extend the shelf-life of these perishable products and appearance required widely on the market. A lot of chemical contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are formed during the combustion of fuel in the smoking process. PAHs are a group of compounds that have been the subject of great concern in the recent years due to their toxic, mutagenic and/or carcinogenic potentials to humans. These fact can have a significant impact on the acceptance of these products by consumers. In this review article, the objective is to describe factors affecting elimination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from traditional smoked common carp meat.

Social participation, social capital and daily tobacco smoking: a population-based multilevel analysis in Malmö, Sweden.

PubMed

Lindström, Martin; Moghaddassi, Mahnaz; Bolin, Kristian; Lindgren, Björn; Merlo, Juan

2003-01-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of contextual and individual factors on daily tobacco smoking. The public-health survey in Malmö 1994 is a cross-sectional study. A total of 5600 individuals aged 20-80 years were invited to answer a postal questionnaire. The participation rate was 71%. A multilevel logistic regression model, with individuals at the first level and neighbourhoods at the second, was performed. We analysed the effect (intra-area correlation, cross-level modification and odds ratios) of individual and neighbourhood factors on smoking after adjustment for individual factors. Neighbourhood factors accounted for 2.5% of the crude total variance in daily tobacco smoking. This effect was significantly reduced when the individual factors such as education were included in the model. However, individual social capital, measured by social participation, only marginally affected the total neighbourhood variance in daily tobacco smoking. In fact, no significant variance in daily tobacco smoking remained after the introduction of the individual factors other than individual social capital in the model. In Malmö, the neighbourhood variance in daily tobacco smoking is mainly affected by individual factors other than individual social capital, especially socioeconomic status measured as level of education.

An Integrative Review of Factors Associated with Telomere Length and Implications for Biobehavioral Research

PubMed Central

Starkweather, Angela R.; Alhaeeri, Areej A.; Montpetit, Alison; Brumelle, Jenni; Filler, Kristin; Montpetit, Marty; Mohanraj, Lathika; Lyon, Debra E.; Jackson-Cook, Colleen K.

2014-01-01

Background Although telomere shortening occurs as a natural part of aging, there is now a robust body of research that suggests that there is a relationship between psychosocial, environmental, and behavioral factors and changes in telomere length. These factors need to be considered when integrating telomere measurement in biobehavioral research studies. Objectives This article provides a brief summary of the known facts about telomere biology and an integrative review of current human research studies that assessed relationships between psychosocial, environmental, or behavioral factors and telomere length. Methods An integrative review was conducted to examine human research studies that focused on psychosocial, environmental, and behavioral factors affecting telomere length and telomerase activity using the electronic databases PubMed/Medline and CINAHL from 2003 to the present. In addition to the known individual factors that are associated with telomere length, the results of the integrative review suggest that perceived stress, childhood adversities, major depressive disorder, educational attainment, physical activity, and sleep duration should also be measured. Discussion Multiple factors have been shown to affect telomere length. To advance understanding of the role of telomere length in health and disease risk, it will be important to further elucidate the mechanisms that contribute to telomere shortening. PMID:24335912

How alkyl halide structure affects E2 and SN2 reaction barriers: E2 reactions are as sensitive as SN2 reactions.

PubMed

Rablen, Paul R; McLarney, Brett D; Karlow, Brandon J; Schneider, Jean E

2014-02-07

High-level electronic structure calculations, including a continuum treatment of solvent, are employed to elucidate and quantify the effects of alkyl halide structure on the barriers of SN2 and E2 reactions. In cases where such comparisons are available, the results of these calculations show close agreement with solution experimental data. Structural factors investigated include α- and β-methylation, adjacency to unsaturated functionality (allyl, benzyl, propargyl, α to carbonyl), ring size, and α-halogenation and cyanation. While the influence of these factors on SN2 reactivity is mostly well-known, the present study attempts to provide a broad comparison of both SN2 and E2 reactivity across many cases using a single methodology, so as to quantify relative reactivity trends. Despite the fact that most organic chemistry textbooks say far more about how structure affects SN2 reactions than about how it affects E2 reactions, the latter are just as sensitive to structural variation as are the former. This sensitivity of E2 reactions to structure is often underappreciated.

Kids Count in Delaware: Fact Book 1999 [and] Families Count in Delaware: Fact Book, 1999.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Delaware Univ., Newark. Kids Count in Delaware.

This Kids Count Fact Book is combined with the Families Count Fact Book to provide information on statewide trends affecting children and families in Delaware. The Kids Count statistical profile is based on 10 main indicators of child well-being: (1) births to teens; (2) low birth weight babies; (3) infant mortality; (4) child deaths; (5) teen…

Parasomnias

MedlinePlus

... Overview & Facts Symptoms & Risk Factors Diagnosis & Treatment Sleep Terrors Overview & Facts Symptoms & Risk Factors Diagnosis & Treatment Sleep ... the night. Parasomnias include: Sleepwalking Confusional Arousals Sleep Terrors Sleep Eating Disorder REM Sleep Behavior Disorder Nightmare ...

Oligoastrocytoma

MedlinePlus

... Pineal Tumor Pituitary Tumor PNET Schwannoma 2016 WHO Classification Risk Factors Brain Tumor Facts Brain Tumor Dictionary ... Pineal Tumor Pituitary Tumor PNET Schwannoma 2016 WHO Classification Risk Factors Brain Tumor Facts Brain Tumor Dictionary ...

Oligodendroglioma

MedlinePlus

... Pineal Tumor Pituitary Tumor PNET Schwannoma 2016 WHO Classification Risk Factors Brain Tumor Facts Brain Tumor Dictionary ... Pineal Tumor Pituitary Tumor PNET Schwannoma 2016 WHO Classification Risk Factors Brain Tumor Facts Brain Tumor Dictionary ...

08/24/2012 Fact Sheet

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Fact sheet describing the 2012 corrections and amendments to the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule that affect electronics manufacturing, petroleum and natural gas systems, fluorinated gas production, and industrial waste landfills.

Sleep Talking (Somniloquy)

MedlinePlus

... Overview & Facts Symptoms & Risk Factors Diagnosis & Treatment Sleep Terrors Overview & Facts Symptoms & Risk Factors Diagnosis & Treatment Sleep ... radius: Email Print Parasomnias Confusional Arousals Sleepwalking Sleep Terrors Sleep Eating Disorder REM Sleep Behavior Disorder Sleep ...

Kids Count in Delaware: Fact Book, 2000-2001 [and] Families Count in Delaware: Fact Book, 2000-2001.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Delaware Univ., Newark. Kids Count in Delaware.

This Kids Count Fact Book is combined with the Families Count Fact Book to provide information on statewide trends affecting children and families in Delaware. The Kids Count statistical profile is based on 11 main indicators of child well-being: (1) births to teens 15 to 17 years; (2) births to teens 15 to 19 years; (3) low birth weight babies;…

33 CFR 331.4 - Notification of appealable actions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... appeal. For approved JDs, the notification must include an NAP fact sheet, an RFA form, and a basis of JD... application, an NAP fact sheet and an RFA form. For proffered individual permits, when the initial proffered...), the notification must include an NAP fact sheet and an RFA form. Additionally, an affected party has...

Kids Count in Delaware, Families Count in Delaware: Fact Book, 2003.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Delaware Univ., Newark. Kids Count in Delaware.

This Kids Count Fact Book is combined with the Families Count Fact Book to provide information on statewide trends affecting children and families in Delaware. The Kids Count and Families Count indicators have been combined into four new categories: health and health behaviors, educational involvement and achievement, family environment and…

Avoiding "greedy reductionism" in personality theory. Comment on "Personality from a cognitive-biological perspective" by Y. Neuman

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smillie, Luke D.; Zhao, Kun; Barford, Kate A.

2014-12-01

Personality traits - i.e., broad descriptions of regularities in behaviour and experience - can be parsimoniously organised in terms of five trait 'domains' [8]. This is demonstrated by Neuman's [12] observation of the overlap between these 'Big Five' domains and traits derived from Panksepp's Affective Neuroscience framework [13]. This overlap reflects the fact that the Big Five - which can be recovered from factor analyses of questionnaires designed to measure other trait systems [2,10] - represent the major dimensions of covariation among all personality traits [5].

Exploring the challenges of the Iranian parliament about passing laws for resource allocation in healthcare: a qualitative study

PubMed Central

Mohsenpour, Seyed Ramezan; Arab, Mohammad; Razavi, Seyed Hasan Emami; Sari, Ali Akbari

2017-01-01

Background Awareness about the process of law making and the factors that affect the legislative process have an important role in improving legislations that are approved by parliaments. Objective This study aimed to explore and analyze the process of development and enactment of law in Iran’s parliament, and factors that might affect the enactment of laws that are related to the allocation and distribution of health sector resources in Iran. Methods In this case study, data were collected through review of literature and national documents, and experts’ interviews. Interviews were performed with selected members of parliament (MPs), ex members of parliament and professionals from the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) (15 persons). MAX QDA 10 was used for coding and constructing themes. Data were analyzed in five steps (familiarization, developing a conceptual framework, coding, indexing, and interpretation) using a content analysis with inductive and deductive approaches. Results The main factors that could affect the approval and enactment of legislations related to allocation of healthcare resources in the Iranian parliament were categorized in seven themes including: Importance of issue, resource availability, legislator’s awareness about the topic, lobbying and unofficial relations with influential officials, mentioning strong reasons by MOHME, weakness of previous laws, and positive feedback related to the same laws. Conclusion Although the process of law making in parliament, and implementation of them in health organizations have legal stages, the study showed that several key factors affect this trend. In fact, it is suggested the health policy makers and MPs consider extending a range of factors to improve the process of law making and the efficiency of legislation related to allocation of healthcare resources. PMID:29238478

Exploring the challenges of the Iranian parliament about passing laws for resource allocation in healthcare: a qualitative study.

PubMed

Mohsenpour, Seyed Ramezan; Arab, Mohammad; Razavi, Seyed Hasan Emami; Sari, Ali Akbari

2017-10-01

Awareness about the process of law making and the factors that affect the legislative process have an important role in improving legislations that are approved by parliaments. This study aimed to explore and analyze the process of development and enactment of law in Iran's parliament, and factors that might affect the enactment of laws that are related to the allocation and distribution of health sector resources in Iran. In this case study, data were collected through review of literature and national documents, and experts' interviews. Interviews were performed with selected members of parliament (MPs), ex members of parliament and professionals from the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) (15 persons). MAX QDA 10 was used for coding and constructing themes. Data were analyzed in five steps (familiarization, developing a conceptual framework, coding, indexing, and interpretation) using a content analysis with inductive and deductive approaches. The main factors that could affect the approval and enactment of legislations related to allocation of healthcare resources in the Iranian parliament were categorized in seven themes including: Importance of issue, resource availability, legislator's awareness about the topic, lobbying and unofficial relations with influential officials, mentioning strong reasons by MOHME, weakness of previous laws, and positive feedback related to the same laws. Although the process of law making in parliament, and implementation of them in health organizations have legal stages, the study showed that several key factors affect this trend. In fact, it is suggested the health policy makers and MPs consider extending a range of factors to improve the process of law making and the efficiency of legislation related to allocation of healthcare resources.

Exploring the relationship between math anxiety and gender through implicit measurement

PubMed Central

Rubinsten, Orly; Bialik, Noam; Solar, Yael

2012-01-01

Math anxiety, defined as a negative affective response to mathematics, is suggested as a strong antecedent for the low visibility of women in the science and engineering workforce. However, the assumption of gender differences in math anxiety is still being studied and results are inconclusive, probably due to the use of explicit measures such as direct questionnaires. Thus, our primary objective was to investigate the effects of math anxiety on numerical processing in males and females by using a novel affective priming task as an indirect measure. Specifically, university students (23 males and 30 females) completed a priming task in which an arithmetic equation was preceded by one of four types of priming words (positive, neutral, negative, or related to mathematics). Participants were required to indicate whether the equation (simple math facts based on addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division) was true or false. People are typically found to respond to target stimuli more rapidly after presentation of an affectively related prime than after an affectively unrelated one. In the current study, shorter response latencies for positive as compared to negative affective primes were found in the male group. An affective priming effect was found in the female group as well, but with a reversed pattern. That is, significantly shorter response latencies were observed in the female group for negative as compared to positive targets. That is, for females, negative affective primes act as affectively related to simple arithmetic problems. In contrast, males associated positive affect with simple arithmetic. In addition, only females with lower or insignificant negative affect toward arithmetic study at faculties of mathematics and science. We discuss the advantages of examining pure anxiety factors with implicit measures which are free of response factors. In addition it is suggested that environmental factors may enhance the association between math achievements and math anxiety in females. PMID:23087633

Exploring the relationship between math anxiety and gender through implicit measurement.

PubMed

Rubinsten, Orly; Bialik, Noam; Solar, Yael

2012-01-01

Math anxiety, defined as a negative affective response to mathematics, is suggested as a strong antecedent for the low visibility of women in the science and engineering workforce. However, the assumption of gender differences in math anxiety is still being studied and results are inconclusive, probably due to the use of explicit measures such as direct questionnaires. Thus, our primary objective was to investigate the effects of math anxiety on numerical processing in males and females by using a novel affective priming task as an indirect measure. Specifically, university students (23 males and 30 females) completed a priming task in which an arithmetic equation was preceded by one of four types of priming words (positive, neutral, negative, or related to mathematics). Participants were required to indicate whether the equation (simple math facts based on addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division) was true or false. People are typically found to respond to target stimuli more rapidly after presentation of an affectively related prime than after an affectively unrelated one. In the current study, shorter response latencies for positive as compared to negative affective primes were found in the male group. An affective priming effect was found in the female group as well, but with a reversed pattern. That is, significantly shorter response latencies were observed in the female group for negative as compared to positive targets. That is, for females, negative affective primes act as affectively related to simple arithmetic problems. In contrast, males associated positive affect with simple arithmetic. In addition, only females with lower or insignificant negative affect toward arithmetic study at faculties of mathematics and science. We discuss the advantages of examining pure anxiety factors with implicit measures which are free of response factors. In addition it is suggested that environmental factors may enhance the association between math achievements and math anxiety in females.

How Does Heroin Use Affect Pregnant Women

MedlinePlus

... adverse events. 26 Mothers' Buprenorphine Treatment During Pregnancy Benefits Infants A NIDA-funded clinical trial 24 found ... Principles of Substance Abuse Prevention for Early Chil... Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know Marijuana: Facts for ...

Bone histological correlates of soaring and high-frequency flapping flight in the furculae of birds.

PubMed

Mitchell, Jessica; Legendre, Lucas J; Lefèvre, Christine; Cubo, Jorge

2017-06-01

The furcula is a specialized bone in birds involved in flight function. Its morphology has been shown to reflect different flight styles from soaring/gliding birds, subaqueous flight to high-frequency flapping flyers. The strain experienced by furculae can vary depending on flight type. Bone remodeling is a response to damage incurred from different strain magnitudes and types. In this study, we tested whether a bone microstructural feature, namely Haversian bone density, differs in birds with different flight styles, and reassessed previous work using phylogenetic comparative methods that assume an evolutionary model with additional taxa. We show that soaring birds have higher Haversian bone densities than birds with a flapping style of flight. This result is probably linked to the fact that the furculae of soaring birds provide less protraction force and more depression force than furculae of birds showing other kinds of flight. The whole bone area is another explanatory factor, which confirms the fact that size is an important consideration in Haversian bone development. All birds, however, display Haversian bone development in their furculae, and other factors like age could be affecting the response of Haversian bone development. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

26 CFR 31.3306(c)(10)-2 - Services of student in employ of school, college, or university.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... is evaluated based on all the relevant facts and circumstances related to the educational aspect of the relationship. The service aspect of the relationship is evaluated based on all the relevant facts... relationship is not affected by the fact that the services performed by the employee may have an educational...

26 CFR 31.3306(c)(10)-2 - Services of student in employ of school, college, or university.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... is evaluated based on all the relevant facts and circumstances related to the educational aspect of the relationship. The service aspect of the relationship is evaluated based on all the relevant facts... relationship is not affected by the fact that the services performed by the employee may have an educational...

26 CFR 31.3306(c)(10)-2 - Services of student in employ of school, college, or university.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... is evaluated based on all the relevant facts and circumstances related to the educational aspect of the relationship. The service aspect of the relationship is evaluated based on all the relevant facts... relationship is not affected by the fact that the services performed by the employee may have an educational...

Speech & Language Impairments. NICHCY Disability Fact Sheet #11

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities, 2011

2011-01-01

There are many kinds of speech and language disorders that can affect children. This fact sheet will present four major areas in which these impairments occur. These are the areas of: (1) Articulation; (2) Fluency; (3) Voice; and (4) Language. Following a brief narrative on a day in the life of a Speech Language Pathologist, this fact sheet…

Kaposi's sarcoma: etiology and pathogenesis, inducing factors, causal associations, and treatments: facts and controversies.

PubMed

Ruocco, Eleonora; Ruocco, Vincenzo; Tornesello, Maria Lina; Gambardella, Alessio; Wolf, Ronni; Buonaguro, Franco M

2013-01-01

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), an angioproliferative disorder, has a viral etiology and a multifactorial pathogenesis hinged on an immune dysfunction. The disease is multifocal, with a course ranging from indolent, with only skin manifestations to fulminant, with extensive visceral involvement. In the current view, all forms of KS have a common etiology in human herpesvirus (HHV)-8 infection, and the differences among them are due to the involvement of various cofactors. In fact, HHV-8 infection can be considered a necessary but not sufficient condition for the development of KS, because further factors (genetic, immunologic, and environmental) are required. The role of cofactors can be attributed to their ability to interact with HHV-8, to affect the immune system, or to act as vasoactive agents. In this contribution, a survey of the current state of knowledge on many and various factors involved in KS pathogenesis is carried out, in particular by highlighting the facts and controversies about the role of some drugs (quinine analogues and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors) in the onset of the disease. Based on these assessments, it is possible to hypothesize that the role of cofactors in KS pathogenesis can move toward an effect either favoring or inhibiting the onset of the disease, depending on the presence of other agents modulating the pathogenesis itself, such as genetic predisposition, environmental factors, drug intake, or lymph flow disorders. It is possible that the same agents may act as either stimulating or inhibiting cofactors according to the patient's genetic background and variable interactions. Treatment guidelines for each form of KS are outlined, because a unique standard therapy for all of them cannot be considered due to KS heterogeneity. In most cases, therapeutic options, both local and systemic, should be tailored to the patient's peculiar clinical conditions. Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Inc.

A Longitudinal Investigation of Willingness to Pay for Health Insurance in Germany.

PubMed

Bock, Jens-Oliver; Hajek, André; Brenner, Hermann; Saum, Kai-Uwe; Matschinger, Herbert; Haefeli, Walter Emil; Schöttker, Ben; Quinzler, Renate; Heider, Dirk; König, Hans-Helmut

2017-06-01

To investigate factors affecting willingness to pay (WTP) for health insurance of older adults in a longitudinal setting in Germany. Survey data from a cohort study in Saarland, Germany, from 2008-2010 and 2011-2014 (n 1  = 3,124; n 2  = 2,761) were used. Panel data were taken at two points from an observational, prospective cohort study. WTP estimates were derived using a contingent valuation method with a payment card. Participants provided data on sociodemographics, lifestyle factors, morbidity, and health care utilization. Fixed effects regression models showed higher individual health care costs to increase WTP, which in particular could be found for members of private health insurance. Changes in income and morbidity did not affect WTP among members of social health insurance, whereas these predictors affected WTP among members of private health insurance. The fact that individual health care costs affected WTP positively might indicate that demanding (expensive) health care services raises the awareness of the benefits of health insurance. Thus, measures to increase WTP in old age should target at improving transparency of the value of health insurances at the moment when individual health care utilization and corresponding costs are still relatively low. © Health Research and Educational Trust.

Impact of heterogeneity and socioeconomic factors on individual behavior in decentralized sharing ecosystems.

PubMed

Gavaldà-Miralles, Arnau; Choffnes, David R; Otto, John S; Sánchez, Mario A; Bustamante, Fabián E; Amaral, Luís A N; Duch, Jordi; Guimerà, Roger

2014-10-28

Tens of millions of individuals around the world use decentralized content distribution systems, a fact of growing social, economic, and technological importance. These sharing systems are poorly understood because, unlike in other technosocial systems, it is difficult to gather large-scale data about user behavior. Here, we investigate user activity patterns and the socioeconomic factors that could explain the behavior. Our analysis reveals that (i) the ecosystem is heterogeneous at several levels: content types are heterogeneous, users specialize in a few content types, and countries are heterogeneous in user profiles; and (ii) there is a strong correlation between socioeconomic indicators of a country and users behavior. Our findings open a research area on the dynamics of decentralized sharing ecosystems and the socioeconomic factors affecting them, and may have implications for the design of algorithms and for policymaking.

Innovative technology: Slurry-phase biodegradation. Fact sheet (Final)

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

Not Available

1989-11-01

The fact sheet provides technology description, site characteristics affecting treatment feasibility, technology considerations, and technology status for Slurry Phase Biodegradation (SPB). The sheet describes how SPB is potentially effective in treating various organic contaminants.

Factors associated with high-rise evacuation: qualitative results from the World Trade Center Evacuation Study.

PubMed

Gershon, Robyn R M; Qureshi, Kristine A; Rubin, Marcie S; Raveis, Victoria H

2007-01-01

Due to the fact that most high-rise structures (i.e., >75 feet high, or eight to ten stories) are constructed with extensive and redundant fire safety features, current fire safety procedures typically only involve limited evacuation during minor to moderate fire emergencies. Therefore, full-scale evacuation of high-rise buildings is highly unusual and consequently, little is known about how readily and rapidly high-rise structures can be evacuated fully. Factors that either facilitate or inhibit the evacuation process remain under-studied. This paper presents results from the qualitative phase of the World Trade Center Evacuation Study, a three-year, five-phase study designed to improve our understanding of the individual, organizational, and environmental factors that helped or hindered evacuation from the World Trade Center (WTC) Towers 1 and 2, on 11 September 2001. Qualitative data from semi-structured, in-depth interviews and focus groups involving WTC evacuees were collected and analyzed. On the individual level, factors that affected evacuation included perception of risk (formed largely by sensory cues), preparedness training, degree of familiarity with the building, physical condition, health status, and footwear. Individual behavior also was affected by group behavior and leadership. At the organizational level, evacuation was affected by worksite preparedness planning, including the training and education of building occupants, and risk communication. The environmental conditions affecting evacuation included smoke, flames, debris, general condition and degree of crowdedness on staircases, and communication infrastructure systems (e.g., public address, landline, cellular and fire warden's telephones). Various factors at the individual, organizational, and environmental levels were identified that affected evacuation. Interventions that address the barriers to evacuation may improve the full-scale evacuation of other high-rise buildings under extreme conditions. Further studies should focus on the development and evaluation of targeted interventions, including model emergency preparedness planning for high-rise occupancies.

Covering women's greatest health fear: breast cancer information in consumer magazines.

PubMed

Walsh-Childers, Kim; Edwards, Heather; Grobmyer, Stephen

2011-04-01

Women identify consumer magazines as a key source of information on many health topics, including breast cancer, which continues to rank as women's greatest personal health fear. This study examined the comprehensiveness and accuracy of breast cancer information provided in 555 articles published in 17 consumer magazines from 2002 through 2007. Accuracy of information was determined for 33 key breast cancer facts identified by an expert panel as important information for women to know. The results show that only 7 of 33 key facts were mentioned in at least 5% of the articles. These facts all dealt with breast cancer risk factors, screening, and detection; none of the key facts related to treatment or outcomes appeared in at least 5% of the articles. Other topics (not key facts) mentioned centered around controllable risk factors, support for breast cancer patients, and chemotherapy treatment. The majority of mentions of key facts were coded as fully accurate, although as much as 44% of mentions of some topics (the link between hormone replacement therapy and breast cancer) were coded as inaccurate or only partially accurate. The magazines were most likely to emphasize family history of breast cancer or genetic characteristics as risk factors for breast cancers; family history was twice as likely to be discussed as increasing age, which is in fact the most important risk factor for breast cancer other than being female. Magazine coverage may contribute to women's inaccurate perceptions of their breast cancer risk.

Cognitive-Affective Dimensions of Female Orgasm: The Role of Automatic Thoughts and Affect During Sexual Activity.

PubMed

Tavares, Inês M; Laan, Ellen T M; Nobre, Pedro J

2017-06-01

Cognitive-affective factors contribute to female sexual dysfunctions, defined as clinically significant difficulties in the ability to respond sexually or to experience sexual pleasure. Automatic thoughts and affect presented during sexual activity are acknowledged as maintenance factors for these difficulties. However, there is a lack of studies on the influence of these cognitive-affective dimensions regarding female orgasm. To assess the role of automatic thoughts and affect during sexual activity in predicting female orgasm occurrence and to investigate the mediator role of these variables in the relation between sexual activity and orgasm occurrence. Nine hundred twenty-six sexually active heterosexual premenopausal women reported on frequency of sexual activities and frequency of orgasm occurrence, cognitive factors, and social desirability. Participants completed the Sexual Modes Questionnaire-Automatic Thoughts Subscale, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, and the Socially Desirable Response Set. Multiple linear regressions and mediation analyses were performed, controlling for the effect of covariates such as social desirability, sociodemographic and medical characteristics, and relationship factors. The main outcome measurement was orgasm frequency as predicted and mediated by automatic thoughts and affect experienced during sexual activities. The presence of failure thoughts and lack of erotic thoughts during sexual activity significantly and negatively predicted female orgasm, whereas positive affect experienced during sexual activity significantly and positively predicted female orgasm. Moreover, negative automatic thoughts and positive affect during sexual activity were found to mediate the relation between sexual activity and female orgasm occurrence. These data suggest that the cognitive aspects of sexual involvement are critical to enhancing female orgasm experience and can aid the development of strategies that contemplate the central role of automatic thoughts and of positive emotions experienced during sexual activity. Data were not collected face to face, which constitutes a strength of this study, because it is known that social desirability is lower in self-administered online questionnaires compared with traditional paper-and-pencil questionnaires, particularly for more sensitive sexual issues. The fact that the sample was composed of heterosexual, premenopausal, and relatively young women demands some caution regarding generalization of the present results. The findings support the contribution of cognitive and affective factors to female orgasmic functioning. It is recommended that future research confirm these findings with other samples, particularly clinical samples of women with orgasmic difficulties. Tavares IM, Laan ETM, Nobre PJ. Cognitive-Affective Dimensions of Female Orgasm: The Role of Automatic Thoughts and Affect During Sexual Activity. J Sex Med 2017;14:818-828. Copyright © 2017 International Society for Sexual Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Juror Judgments and Discussion: Effect of Presentation and Memory Factors on Polarization.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kaplan, Martin F.; Miller, Charles E.

Mock juries of six females each listened to a tape-recording of facts in a courtroom trial. Twelve juries heard guilt-appearing facts, and twelve heard innocent-appearing facts. In half the juries hearing each type of trial, jurors heard the facts in the same (Homogeneous) order; in the remaining juries, each of the six jurors heard the facts in a…

AgeFactDB--the JenAge Ageing Factor Database--towards data integration in ageing research.

PubMed

Hühne, Rolf; Thalheim, Torsten; Sühnel, Jürgen

2014-01-01

AgeFactDB (http://agefactdb.jenage.de) is a database aimed at the collection and integration of ageing phenotype data including lifespan information. Ageing factors are considered to be genes, chemical compounds or other factors such as dietary restriction, whose action results in a changed lifespan or another ageing phenotype. Any information related to the effects of ageing factors is called an observation and is presented on observation pages. To provide concise access to the complete information for a particular ageing factor, corresponding observations are also summarized on ageing factor pages. In a first step, ageing-related data were primarily taken from existing databases such as the Ageing Gene Database--GenAge, the Lifespan Observations Database and the Dietary Restriction Gene Database--GenDR. In addition, we have started to include new ageing-related information. Based on homology data taken from the HomoloGene Database, AgeFactDB also provides observation and ageing factor pages of genes that are homologous to known ageing-related genes. These homologues are considered as candidate or putative ageing-related genes. AgeFactDB offers a variety of search and browse options, and also allows the download of ageing factor or observation lists in TSV, CSV and XML formats.

AgeFactDB—the JenAge Ageing Factor Database—towards data integration in ageing research

PubMed Central

Hühne, Rolf; Thalheim, Torsten; Sühnel, Jürgen

2014-01-01

AgeFactDB (http://agefactdb.jenage.de) is a database aimed at the collection and integration of ageing phenotype data including lifespan information. Ageing factors are considered to be genes, chemical compounds or other factors such as dietary restriction, whose action results in a changed lifespan or another ageing phenotype. Any information related to the effects of ageing factors is called an observation and is presented on observation pages. To provide concise access to the complete information for a particular ageing factor, corresponding observations are also summarized on ageing factor pages. In a first step, ageing-related data were primarily taken from existing databases such as the Ageing Gene Database—GenAge, the Lifespan Observations Database and the Dietary Restriction Gene Database—GenDR. In addition, we have started to include new ageing-related information. Based on homology data taken from the HomoloGene Database, AgeFactDB also provides observation and ageing factor pages of genes that are homologous to known ageing-related genes. These homologues are considered as candidate or putative ageing-related genes. AgeFactDB offers a variety of search and browse options, and also allows the download of ageing factor or observation lists in TSV, CSV and XML formats. PMID:24217911

Fact Sheet: Reporting After Changes to Company Ownership or Legal Identity

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This fact sheet provides information for persons who may be subject to the Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) rule about issues related to changes to company ownership or legal identity which may affect reporting for 2016.

Kids Count in Delaware, Families Count in Delaware: Fact Book, 2002.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Delaware Univ., Newark. Kids Count in Delaware.

This Kids Count Fact Book is combined with the Families Count Fact Book to provide information on statewide trends affecting children and families in Delaware. The Kids Count statistical profile is based on 11 main indicators of child well-being: (1) births to teens 15-17 years; (2) births to teens 10 to 14 years; (3) low birth weight babies; (3)…

26 CFR 31.3121(b)(10)-2 - Services performed by certain students in the employ of a school, college, or university, or of a...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... is evaluated based on all the relevant facts and circumstances related to the educational aspect of the relationship. The service aspect of the relationship is evaluated based on all the relevant facts... relationship is not affected by the fact that the services performed by the employee may have an educational...

26 CFR 31.3121(b)(10)-2 - Services performed by certain students in the employ of a school, college, or university, or of a...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... is evaluated based on all the relevant facts and circumstances related to the educational aspect of the relationship. The service aspect of the relationship is evaluated based on all the relevant facts... relationship is not affected by the fact that the services performed by the employee may have an educational...

Hemorrhagic shock as a sequela of splenic rupture in a patient with infectious mononucleosis: focus on the potential role of salicylates.

PubMed

Bouliaris, Konstantinos; Karangelis, Dimos; Daskalopoulos, Marios; Spanos, Konstantinos; Fanariotis, Michael; Giaglaras, Anargyros

2012-01-01

Despite the fact that the vast majority of splenic ruptures are traumatic, infectious mononucleosis has been incriminated as a major predisposing factor that affects the integrity of the spleen, thus causing atraumatic ruptures and life-threatening hemorrhages. Herein we present a case of a 23-year-old Caucasian male who underwent an emergency laparotomy for acute abdomen and hemorrhagic shock, caused by spontaneous splenic rupture secondary to infectious mononucleosis. The potential role of salicylates in the development of a hemorrhagic complication in a patient with infectious mononucleosis is discussed.

Impact of heterogeneity and socioeconomic factors on individual behavior in decentralized sharing ecosystems

PubMed Central

Gavaldà-Miralles, Arnau; Choffnes, David R.; Otto, John S.; Sánchez, Mario A.; Bustamante, Fabián E.; Amaral, Luís A. N.; Duch, Jordi; Guimerà, Roger

2014-01-01

Tens of millions of individuals around the world use decentralized content distribution systems, a fact of growing social, economic, and technological importance. These sharing systems are poorly understood because, unlike in other technosocial systems, it is difficult to gather large-scale data about user behavior. Here, we investigate user activity patterns and the socioeconomic factors that could explain the behavior. Our analysis reveals that (i) the ecosystem is heterogeneous at several levels: content types are heterogeneous, users specialize in a few content types, and countries are heterogeneous in user profiles; and (ii) there is a strong correlation between socioeconomic indicators of a country and users behavior. Our findings open a research area on the dynamics of decentralized sharing ecosystems and the socioeconomic factors affecting them, and may have implications for the design of algorithms and for policymaking. PMID:25288755

Atopic dermatitis and vitamin D: facts and controversies*

PubMed Central

Mesquita, Kleyton de Carvalho; Igreja, Ana Carolina de Souza Machado; Costa, Izelda Maria Carvalho

2013-01-01

Patients with atopic dermatitis have genetically determined risk factors that affect the barrier function of the skin and immune responses that interact with environmental factors. Clinically, this results in an intensely pruriginous and inflamed skin that allows the penetration of irritants and allergens and predisposes patients to colonization and infection by microorganisms. Among the various etiological factors responsible for the increased prevalence of atopic diseases over the past few decades, the role of vitamin D has been emphasized. As the pathogenesis of AD involves a complex interplay of epidermal barrier dysfunction and dysregulated immune response, and vitamin D is involved in both processes, it is reasonable to expect that vitamin D's status could be associated with atopic dermatitis' risk or severity. Such association is suggested by epidemiological and experimental data. In this review, we will discuss the evidence for and against this controversial relationship, emphasizing the possible etiopathogenic mechanisms involved. PMID:24474104

Familial systemic sclerosis following exposure to organic solvents and the possible implication of genetic factors.

PubMed

Calvani, N; Silvestris, F; Dammacco, F

2001-01-01

Both genetic and environmental factors are suspected to play a role in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis. We compare its occurrence in 3 sisters working in a dry cleaner's shop and exposed to occupational inhalation of organic solvents. Two sisters showing the human leukocyte antigens (HLA)-DR11/DQ7 haplotype were affected. The third has maintained the same job as the others for over 10 years and has no signs of the disease. The fact that she has a different HLA haplotype points to the significance of genetic factors in increasing the risk of systemic sclerosis. It is suggested that the DR11/DQ7 haplotype enhances the development of a clinical subset of systemic sclerosis associated with production of anti-topoisomerase-I antibodies, and that environmental triggers prime the disease in subjects with this genetic background.

Affective coding: the emotional dimension of agency

PubMed Central

Gentsch, Antje; Synofzik, Matthis

2014-01-01

The sense of agency (SoA) (i.e., the registration that I am the initiator and controller of my actions and relevant events) is associated with several affective dimensions. This makes it surprising that the emotion factor has been largely neglected in the field of agency research. Current empirical investigations of the SoA mainly focus on sensorimotor signals (i.e., efference copy) and cognitive cues (i.e., intentions, beliefs) and on how they are integrated. Here we argue that this picture is not sufficient to explain agency experience, since agency and emotions constantly interact in our daily life by several ways. Reviewing first recent empirical evidence, we show that self-action perception is in fact modulated by the affective valence of outcomes already at the sensorimotor level. We hypothesize that the “affective coding” between agency and action outcomes plays an essential role in agency processing, i.e., the prospective, immediate or retrospective shaping of agency representations by affective components. This affective coding of agency be differentially altered in various neuropsychiatric diseases (e.g., schizophrenia vs. depression), thus helping to explain the dysfunctions and content of agency experiences in these diseases. PMID:25161616

Cardiovascular complications of obesity in adolescents.

PubMed

Orio, F; Palomba, S; Cascella, T; Savastano, S; Lombardi, G; Colao, A

2007-01-01

Obesity is an increasingly important worldwide health problem, representing the major risk factor for coronary heart disease. The increase in the prevalence of obesity, particularly among younger age groups, is likely to have long-term implications for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the years to come, especially at a young age. Obesity plays a central role in the insulin resistance (IR) syndrome and increases the risk of atherosclerotic CVD. The present review will examine the relationships among cardiovascular risk (CVR) factors during the childhood-adolescence-adulthood transition. In fact, the relation between obesity, in particular visceral obesity and CVD, appears to develop at a relatively young age. The foremost physical consequence of obesity is atherosclerotic CVD, and an intriguing example of obesity-related cardiovascular complications affecting young women is the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

50 CFR 221.2 - What terms are used in this part?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... Energy Regulatory Commission. FPA means the Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791 et seq. Intervention means a... hydroelectric facility under 18 CFR parts 4 or 5. Material fact means a fact that, if proved, may affect a...

50 CFR 221.2 - What terms are used in this part?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... Energy Regulatory Commission. FPA means the Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791 et seq. Intervention means a... hydroelectric facility under 18 CFR parts 4 or 5. Material fact means a fact that, if proved, may affect a...

Nonrational processes in ethical decision making.

PubMed

Rogerson, Mark D; Gottlieb, Michael C; Handelsman, Mitchell M; Knapp, Samuel; Younggren, Jeffrey

2011-10-01

Most current ethical decision-making models provide a logical and reasoned process for making ethical judgments, but these models are empirically unproven and rely upon assumptions of rational, conscious, and quasilegal reasoning. Such models predominate despite the fact that many nonrational factors influence ethical thought and behavior, including context, perceptions, relationships, emotions, and heuristics. For example, a large body of behavioral research has demonstrated the importance of automatic intuitive and affective processes in decision making and judgment. These processes profoundly affect human behavior and lead to systematic biases and departures from normative theories of rationality. Their influence represents an important but largely unrecognized component of ethical decision making. We selectively review this work; provide various illustrations; and make recommendations for scientists, trainers, and practitioners to aid them in integrating the understanding of nonrational processes with ethical decision making.

The "where" and "what" in developmental dyscalculia.

PubMed

Henik, Avishai; Rubinsten, Orly; Ashkenazi, Sarit

2011-08-01

Developmental dyscalculia (DD) is a congenital deficit that affects the ability to acquire arithmetical skills. Individuals with DD have problems learning standard number facts and procedures. Estimates of the prevalence rate of DD are similar to those of developmental dyslexia. Recent reports and discussions suggest that those with DD suffer from specific deficits (e.g., subitizing, comparative judgment). Accordingly, DD has been described as a domain-specific disorder that involves particular brain areas (e.g., intra-parietal sulcus). However, we and others have found that DD is characterized by additional deficiencies and may be affected by domain-general (e.g., attention) factors. Hence "pure DD" might be rather rare and not as pure as one would think. We suggest that the heterogeneity of symptoms that commonly characterize learning disabilities needs to be taken into account in future research and treatment.

Obstructive sleep apnea.

PubMed

Ho, Matthew L; Brass, Steven D

2011-11-29

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects millions of Americans and is estimated to be as prevalent as asthma and diabetes. Given the fact that obesity is a major risk factor for OSA, and given the current global rise in obesity, the prevalence of OSA will increase in the future. Individuals with sleep apnea are often unaware of their sleep disorder. It is usually first recognized as a problem by family members who witness the apneic episodes or is suspected by their primary care doctor because of the individual's risk factors and symptoms. The vast majority remain undiagnosed and untreated, despite the fact that this serious disorder can have significant consequences. Individuals with untreated OSA can stop breathing hundreds of times a night during their sleep. These apneic events can lead to fragmented sleep that is of poor quality, as the brain arouses briefly in order for the body to resume breathing. Untreated, sleep apnea can have dire health consequences and can increase the risk of hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and heart failure. OSA management has also become important in a number of comorbid neurological conditions, including epilepsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and headache. Diagnosis typically involves use of screening questionnaires, physical exam, and an overnight polysomnography or a portable home study. Treatment options include changes in lifestyle, positive airway pressure, surgery, and dental appliances.

Bone health in Down syndrome.

PubMed

García-Hoyos, Marta; Riancho, José Antonio; Valero, Carmen

2017-07-21

Patients with Down syndrome have a number of risk factors that theoretically could predispose them to osteoporosis, such as early aging, development disorders, reduced physical activity, limited sun exposure, frequent comorbidities and use of drug therapies which could affect bone metabolism. In addition, the bone mass of these people may be affected by their anthropometric and body composition peculiarities. In general terms, studies in adults with Down syndrome reported that these people have lower areal bone mineral density (g/cm 2 ) than the general population. However, most of them have not taken the smaller bone size of people with Down syndrome into account. In fact, when body mineral density is adjusted by bone size and we obtain volumetric body mineral density (g/cm 3 ), the difference between both populations disappears. On the other hand, although people with Down syndrome have risk factor of hypovitaminosis D, the results of studies regarding 25(OH)D in this population are not clear. Likewise, the studies about biochemical bone markers or the prevalence of fractures are not conclusive. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Analysis of risk assessment factors of individuals in volcanic hazards: Review of the last decade

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Favereau, Marcel; Robledo, Luis F.; Bull, Maria T.

2018-05-01

During the history of mankind, natural disasters have had severe repercussions on the different ecosystems, with volcanic eruptions being a clear example of this. This review is responsible for gathering the most important volatile hazards assessment research of the last decade with the objective of knowing the state of the art in relation to the studies of people's risk perception and acceptance in communities threatened by the danger of volcanic eruptions. In addition, this study includes the analysis of several cases across different countries. The results that this research offers serve as a frame of reference to determine and understand how resilient a community affected by the volatile hazards can be, since they are able to identify the main incident factors of risk that affect the communities to different degrees according to the context at the time of making the risk judgment. On the other hand, through this review, it is proposed as a future research topic to understand the levels of risk acceptance of individuals, due to the fact that the studies related to this subject are scarce.

Cloning, sequencing, and transgenic expression of Podospora curvicolla and Sordaria macrospora eEF1A genes: relationship between cytosolic translation and longevity in filamentous fungi.

PubMed

Gagny, B; Rossignol, M; Silar, P

1997-12-01

We have cloned and sequenced the gene encoding the translation elongation factor eEF1A from two filamentous fungi, Podospora curvicolla and Sordaria macrospora. These fungi are close relatives of Podospora anserina and also show senescence syndromes. Comparison of the sequences of the deduced proteins with that of P. anserina reveals that the three proteins differ in several positions. Replacement of the P. anserina gene by either of the two exogenous genes does not entail any modification in P. anserina physiology; the longevity of the fungus is not affected. No alteration of in vivo translational accuracy was detected; however, the exogenous proteins nonetheless promoted a modification of the resistance to the aminoglycoside antibiotic paromomycin. These data suggest that optimization of life span between these closely related fungi has likely not been performed during evolution through modifications of eEF1A activity, despite the fact that mutations in this factor can drastically affect longevity. Copyright 1997 Academic Press.

Proteomic profile of dry-cured ham relative to PRKAG3 or CAST genotype, level of salt and pastiness.

PubMed

Skrlep, Martin; Candek-Potokar, Marjeta; Mandelc, Stanislav; Javornik, Branka; Gou, Pere; Chambon, Christophe; Santé-Lhoutellier, Véronique

2011-08-01

Two-dimensional electrophoresis was used to compare dry-cured biceps femoris insoluble protein fraction according to genotype (PRKAG3Ile199Val and CASTLys249Arg/Ser638Arg) as well as salt and pastiness level. The PRKAG3 affected mainly muscle metabolic enzymes, indicating its possible influence on muscle metabolism with heterozygotes Ile/Val appearing different from both homozygous genotypes. The effect of CAST was smaller, affecting the quantity of one actin fragment. Dry-cured ham salt and pastiness level affected a wide variety of protein spots including metabolic enzymes, plasma proteins, chaperones and myofibrillar proteins, including protein fragments, indicating the connection with proteolysis. Pastiness was associated with salt content, reflected also by the fact that many spots were affected by both factors. Despite the absence of extreme pastiness (or low salt samples), some protein spots (actin, MHC fragment, desmin fragment) exhibited important differences in intensity according to pastiness (and salt level) suggesting they could be used as potential quality markers. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Factors affecting surgical margin recurrence after hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases.

PubMed

Akyuz, Muhammet; Aucejo, Federico; Quintini, Cristiano; Miller, Charles; Fung, John; Berber, Eren

2016-06-01

Hepatic recurrence after resection of colorectal liver metastasis (CLM) occurs in 50% of patients during follow-up, with 2.8% to 13.9% presenting with surgical margin recurrence (SMR). The aim of this study is to analyze factors that related to SMR in patients with CLM undergoing hepatectomy. Demographics, clinical and survival data of patients who underwent hepatectomy were identified from a prospectively maintained, institutional review board (IRB)-approved database between 2000 and 2012. Statistical analysis was performed using univariate Kaplan Meier and Cox proportional hazard model. There were 85 female and 121 male patients who underwent liver resection for CLM. An R0 resection was performed in 157 (76%) patients and R1 resection in 49. SMR was detected in 32 patients (15.5%) followed up for a median of 29 months (range, 3-121 months). A half of these patients had undergone R1 (n=16) and another half R0 resection (n=16). Tumor size, preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level and margin status were associated with SMR on univariate analysis. On multivariate analysis, a positive surgical margin was the only independent predictor of SMR. The receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy did not affect margin recurrence. SMR was an independent risk factor associated with worse disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS). This study shows that SMR, which can be detected in up to 15.5% of patients after liver resection for CLM, adversely affects DFS and OS. The fact that a positive surgical margin was the only predictive factor for SMR in these patients underscores the importance of achieving negative margins during hepatectomy.

Home range size of Tengmalm's owl during breeding in Central Europe is determined by prey abundance.

PubMed

Kouba, Marek; Bartoš, Luděk; Tomášek, Václav; Popelková, Alena; Šťastný, Karel; Zárybnická, Markéta

2017-01-01

Animal home ranges typically characterized by their size, shape and a given time interval can be affected by many different biotic and abiotic factors. However, despite the fact that many studies have addressed home ranges, our knowledge of the factors influencing the size of area occupied by different animals is, in many cases, still quite poor, especially among raptors. Using radio-telemetry (VHF; 2.1 g tail-mounted tags) we studied movements of 20 Tengmalm's owl (Aegolius funereus) males during the breeding season in a mountain area of Central Europe (the Czech Republic, the Ore Mountains: 50° 40' N, 13° 35' E) between years 2006-2010, determined their average hunting home range size and explored what factors affected the size of home range utilised. The mean breeding home range size calculated according to 95% fixed kernel density estimator was 190.7 ± 65.7 ha (± SD) with a median value of 187.1 ha. Home range size was affected by prey abundance, presence or absence of polygyny, the number of fledglings, and weather conditions. Home range size increased with decreasing prey abundance. Polygynously mated males had overall larger home range than those mated monogamously, and individuals with more fledged young possessed larger home range compared to those with fewer raised fledglings. Finally, we found that home ranges recorded during harsh weather (nights with strong wind speed and/or heavy rain) were smaller in size than those registered during better weather. Overall, the results provide novel insights into what factors may influence home range size and emphasize the prey abundance as a key factor for breeding dynamics in Tengmalm's owl.

JPRS Report, East Europe.

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-08-24

solve global problems. 4. It is a fact of history that Stalinism, totalitarian "command socialism," has strongly affected the devel- opment of the...parties are concerned, there we must differentiate. The People’s Party and the Socialist Party paid for the fact that in the past they were de facto...subordinated to the CPCZ, and not just politically. The Social Democratic Party, which was banned for 40 years, on the other hand paid for the fact

[Definition and psychopathology of chronic hand dermatitis].

PubMed

Lahfa, M

2014-06-01

Psychopathology in patients with DCM is as complex as its clinical forms where the factors are numerous and often intricate. It combines psychophysiological, psychopathological factors, behavioral disorders which can be the cause or the consequence of DCM but also the negative impact on quality of life and the simplest daily activities. DCM affects the quality of life of every patient, regardless of the severity. Women are more affected by the DCM that man older age, male sex, atopy and the existence of a contact sensitization are independent risk factors of severity. Depression may affect up to 10 % of patients, should involve greater attention from dermatologists and general practitioners. Health authorities and all health actors should be aware of interactions between secondary cognitive troubles or inherent to DCM and efforts required in terms of preventive measures. Thus, the presence of psychiatric comorbidity is more common in patients with chronic dermatoses. Today it is considered that the emotional environment, built by the mother - child relationship must be optimal, otherwise the mental stability of body image may be compromised. Diminished self-esteem, affects less well managed and somatic expression of emotional content. Recently, a surprising study showed that most patients with refractory occupational dermatitis were not able to recognize the warning sign of flare or the role of psychological factors in the formation and maintenance of the dermatose. In fact, they rejected their personal responsibility in the occurrence of the new flare. To address this public health problem, health authorities, trainers and caregivers should be aware of the cognitive impact of DCM in these patients and interactions with current means of prevention. The role of obsessive-compulsive washing as part of an anxiety disorder or personality disorder is most likely a contributing or maintaining factor systematically underestimated in the pathogenesis of DCM and in the therapeutic management. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Effect of reduction time on the structure and properties of porous graphene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Guoping; Zhang, Chenhui; Zhang, Tianfu; Xia, Min; Luo, Yunjun

2017-07-01

Porous graphene with nanoscaled pores on the sheets was prepared by a carbon thermal reduction method, in which the molybdenum oxide nanoparticles generated from the thermal decomposition of molybdate were used as the etching reagent, and the pores were formed on the surface of the reduced graphene oxide under the conditions of 650 °C and a nitrogen atmosphere. The morphology of pores on the graphene sheets may affect their potential applications in various fields, especially in the enhancement of mass transfer. Previous studies have shown that the reduction temperature and the amount of metal oxide are the key factors affecting the morphology of porous graphene, but in fact the reduction time is a more important affecting factor according to the present study. The results of SEM/TEM showed that a disordered large sheet-like structure with wrinkles was obtained at 120 min in the carbon-thermal reaction. The structural integrity of the PG was further destroyed after the reaction time of 140 min, in which the edge exhibited slightly crush and significant fold. The PG exhibited a hollow rod-like structure at the reaction time of 180 min. FTIR, Raman, XRD, and XPS studies were performed to characterize the morphology of porous graphene prepared at different reduction times.

TSCA Chemical Data Reporting Fact Sheet: Chemical Substances which are the Subject of Certain TSCA Actions

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This fact sheet provides guidance for people who may be subject to the Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) rule on how their requirements for reporting for 2016 may be affected when chemical substances are the subject of certain TSCA actions.

Randomized controlled trial of patient navigation for newly diagnosed cancer patients: effects on quality of life.

PubMed

Hendren, Samantha; Griggs, Jennifer J; Epstein, Ronald; Humiston, Sharon; Jean-Pierre, Pascal; Winters, Paul; Sanders, Mechelle; Loader, Starlene; Fiscella, Kevin

2012-10-01

Patient navigation is a promising intervention to ameliorate cancer health disparities. This study objective was to measure patient navigation effects on cancer-specific quality of life (QOL) among patients with newly diagnosed cancer. A randomized controlled trial of patient navigation was conducted in Rochester, NY. Patients with breast cancer and colorectal cancer were randomly assigned to receive a patient navigation intervention or usual care. QOL was measured at baseline and four subsequent time points, using the validated Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT-B, FACT-C) instruments. Among 319 randomized patients (165 patient navigation, 154 control), median age was 57 years and 32.5% were from minority race/ethnicity groups. Patient navigation and control groups were comparable on baseline factors, except home ownership versus renting (more home ownership among controls, P = 0.05) and race (more whites among controls, P = 0.05). Total and subscale FACT scores did not differ between groups when analyzed as a change from baseline to 3 months, or at various time points. The emotional well-being subscale change from baseline approached significance (better change among patient navigation group, P = 0.05). Time trends of QOL measures did not differ significantly between groups. Adjustment for baseline patient factors did not reveal a benefit of patient navigation on QOL. In this randomized trial of patient navigation, there was no statistically significant effect on disease-specific QOL. These results suggest that patient navigation may not affect QOL during cancer treatment, that social/medical support are adequate in this study's setting, or that the trial failed to target patients likely to experience QOL benefit from patient navigation. 2012 AACR

Designing for deeper learning in a blended computer science course for middle school students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grover, Shuchi; Pea, Roy; Cooper, Stephen

2015-04-01

The focus of this research was to create and test an introductory computer science course for middle school. Titled "Foundations for Advancing Computational Thinking" (FACT), the course aims to prepare and motivate middle school learners for future engagement with algorithmic problem solving. FACT was also piloted as a seven-week course on Stanford's OpenEdX MOOC platform for blended in-class learning. Unique aspects of FACT include balanced pedagogical designs that address the cognitive, interpersonal, and intrapersonal aspects of "deeper learning"; a focus on pedagogical strategies for mediating and assessing for transfer from block-based to text-based programming; curricular materials for remedying misperceptions of computing; and "systems of assessments" (including formative and summative quizzes and tests, directed as well as open-ended programming assignments, and a transfer test) to get a comprehensive picture of students' deeper computational learning. Empirical investigations, accomplished over two iterations of a design-based research effort with students (aged 11-14 years) in a public school, sought to examine student understanding of algorithmic constructs, and how well students transferred this learning from Scratch to text-based languages. Changes in student perceptions of computing as a discipline were measured. Results and mixed-method analyses revealed that students in both studies (1) achieved substantial learning gains in algorithmic thinking skills, (2) were able to transfer their learning from Scratch to a text-based programming context, and (3) achieved significant growth toward a more mature understanding of computing as a discipline. Factor analyses of prior computing experience, multivariate regression analyses, and qualitative analyses of student projects and artifact-based interviews were conducted to better understand the factors affecting learning outcomes. Prior computing experiences (as measured by a pretest) and math ability were found to be strong predictors of learning outcomes.

The fate of human remains in a maritime context and feasibility for forensic humanitarian action to assist in their recovery and identification.

PubMed

Ellingham, Sarah Theresa Dorothea; Perich, Pierre; Tidball-Binz, Morris

2017-10-01

The number of annual maritime fatalities reported in the Mediterranean has more than doubled in the last two years, a phenomenon closely linked to the increase of migrants attempting to reach Europe via the Mediterranean. The majority of victims reportedly never gets recovered, which in part relates to the fact that the mechanisms and interaction of factors affecting marine taphonomy are still largely not understood. These factors include intrinsic factors such as whether the individual was alive or dead at the time of submergence, the individual's stature and clothing, as well as extrinsic factors such including ambient temperature, currents, water depth, salinity and oxygen levels. This paper provides a compilation of the current literature on factors influencing marine taphonomy, recovery and identification procedures for submerged remains, and discusses the implications for the retrieval and identification of maritime mass fatalities as part of the humanitarian response, specifically humanitarian forensic action, to the consequences of the current migration phenomenon. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

A De Novo Deletion in the Regulators of Complement Activation Cluster Producing a Hybrid Complement Factor H/Complement Factor H-Related 3 Gene in Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome.

PubMed

Challis, Rachel C; Araujo, Geisilaine S R; Wong, Edwin K S; Anderson, Holly E; Awan, Atif; Dorman, Anthony M; Waldron, Mary; Wilson, Valerie; Brocklebank, Vicky; Strain, Lisa; Morgan, B Paul; Harris, Claire L; Marchbank, Kevin J; Goodship, Timothy H J; Kavanagh, David

2016-06-01

The regulators of complement activation cluster at chromosome 1q32 contains the complement factor H (CFH) and five complement factor H-related (CFHR) genes. This area of the genome arose from several large genomic duplications, and these low-copy repeats can cause genome instability in this region. Genomic disorders affecting these genes have been described in atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, arising commonly through nonallelic homologous recombination. We describe a novel CFH/CFHR3 hybrid gene secondary to a de novo 6.3-kb deletion that arose through microhomology-mediated end joining rather than nonallelic homologous recombination. We confirmed a transcript from this hybrid gene and showed a secreted protein product that lacks the recognition domain of factor H and exhibits impaired cell surface complement regulation. The fact that the formation of this hybrid gene arose as a de novo event suggests that this cluster is a dynamic area of the genome in which additional genomic disorders may arise. Copyright © 2016 by the American Society of Nephrology.

The distribution of cultural and biological diversity in Africa.

PubMed Central

Moore, Joslin L; Manne, Lisa; Brooks, Thomas; Burgess, Neil D; Davies, Robert; Rahbek, Carsten; Williams, Paul; Balmford, Andrew

2002-01-01

Anthropologists, biologists and linguists have all noted an apparent coincidence in species diversity and human cultural or linguistic diversity. We present, to our knowledge, one of the first quantitative descriptions of this coincidence and show that, for 2 degrees x 2 degrees grid cells across sub-Saharan Africa, cultural diversity and vertebrate species diversity exhibit marked similarities in their overall distribution. In addition, we show that 71% of the observed variation in species richness and 36% in language richness can be explained on the basis of environmental factors, suggesting that similar factors, especially those associated with rainfall and productivity, affect the distributions of both species and languages. Nevertheless, the form of the relationships between species richness and language richness and environmental factors differs, and it is unlikely that comparable mechanisms underpin the similar patterns of species and language richness. Moreover, the fact that the environmental factors considered here explain less than half of the variation in language richness indicates that other factors, many of which are likely to be historical or social, also influence the distribution of languages. PMID:12204124

Biodiesel Basics (Fact Sheet)

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

Not Available

This fact sheet provides a brief introduction to biodiesel, including a discussion of biodiesel blends, which blends are best for which vehicles, where to buy biodiesel, how biodiesel compares to diesel fuel in terms of performance, how biodiesel performs in cold weather, whether biodiesel use will plug vehicle filters, how long-term biodiesel use may affect engines, biodiesel fuel standards, and whether biodiesel burns cleaner than diesel fuel. The fact sheet also dismisses the use of vegetable oil as a motor fuel.

Hemorrhagic Shock as a Sequela of Splenic Rupture in a Patient with Infectious Mononucleosis: Focus on the Potential Role of Salicylates

PubMed Central

Bouliaris, Konstantinos; Karangelis, Dimos; Daskalopoulos, Marios; Spanos, Konstantinos; Fanariotis, Michael; Giaglaras, Anargyros

2012-01-01

Despite the fact that the vast majority of splenic ruptures are traumatic, infectious mononucleosis has been incriminated as a major predisposing factor that affects the integrity of the spleen, thus causing atraumatic ruptures and life-threatening hemorrhages. Herein we present a case of a 23-year-old Caucasian male who underwent an emergency laparotomy for acute abdomen and hemorrhagic shock, caused by spontaneous splenic rupture secondary to infectious mononucleosis. The potential role of salicylates in the development of a hemorrhagic complication in a patient with infectious mononucleosis is discussed. PMID:22431933

Nucleosomal Barrier to Transcription: Structural Determinants and Changes in Chromatin Structure

PubMed Central

Studitsky, Vasily M.; Nizovtseva, Ekaterina V.; Shaytan, Alexey K.; Luse, Donal S.

2016-01-01

Packaging of DNA into chromatin affects all processes on DNA. Nucleosomes present a strong barrier to transcription, raising important questions about the nature and the mechanisms of overcoming the barrier. Recently it was shown that DNA sequence, DNA–histone interactions and backtracking by RNA polymerase II (Pol II) all contribute to formation of the barrier. After partial uncoiling of nucleosomal DNA from histone octamer by Pol II and backtracking of the enzyme, nucleosomal DNA recoils on the octamer, locking Pol II in the arrested state. Histone chaperones and transcription factors TFIIS, TFIIF and FACT facilitate transcription through chromatin using different molecular mechanisms. PMID:27754494

Westchester Community College. 1993 Fact Book.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Marcia M.; And Others

Tables and graphs drawn from research reports prepared in 1993 by the Office of Institutional Research and Planning at Westchester Community College (WCC) in New York are presented. The sections of the report provide tables, charts, and graphs showing recent facts and statistics that affect: (1) administrative personnel, including a list of…

27 CFR 71.65 - Answer admitting facts.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 27 Alcohol, Tobacco Products and Firearms 2 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Answer admitting facts. 71.65 Section 71.65 Alcohol, Tobacco Products and Firearms ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO TAX AND TRADE BUREAU... and such answer although such an answer shall not affect the respondent's right to submit proposed...

27 CFR 71.65 - Answer admitting facts.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 27 Alcohol, Tobacco Products and Firearms 2 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Answer admitting facts. 71.65 Section 71.65 Alcohol, Tobacco Products and Firearms ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO TAX AND TRADE BUREAU... and such answer although such an answer shall not affect the respondent's right to submit proposed...

27 CFR 71.65 - Answer admitting facts.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 27 Alcohol, Tobacco Products and Firearms 2 2012-04-01 2011-04-01 true Answer admitting facts. 71.65 Section 71.65 Alcohol, Tobacco Products and Firearms ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO TAX AND TRADE BUREAU... and such answer although such an answer shall not affect the respondent's right to submit proposed...

27 CFR 71.65 - Answer admitting facts.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 27 Alcohol, Tobacco Products and Firearms 2 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Answer admitting facts. 71.65 Section 71.65 Alcohol, Tobacco Products and Firearms ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO TAX AND TRADE BUREAU... and such answer although such an answer shall not affect the respondent's right to submit proposed...

27 CFR 71.65 - Answer admitting facts.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 27 Alcohol, Tobacco Products and Firearms 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Answer admitting facts. 71.65 Section 71.65 Alcohol, Tobacco Products and Firearms ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO TAX AND TRADE BUREAU... and such answer although such an answer shall not affect the respondent's right to submit proposed...

Facts on Employee Assistance Programs. Clearinghouse Fact Sheet.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Desmond, Thomas C.

Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) offer employees confidential, professional assistance for the kinds of personal problems that adversely affect their lives and their jobs. These programs started when acute worker shortages during World War II, coupled with the successes of Alcoholic Anonymous, prompted some companies in the 1940s to develop…

Child Care Briefing Book.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Adams, Gina; Poersch, Nicole Oxendine

This report provides information on a range of key child care issues, including basic facts about child care and its importance to children, families, and communities; and information on key legislative issues and proposals affecting child care. Fact sheets, with supporting references and tabular data, comprise about one-half of the document.…

8 CFR 103.2 - Submission and adjudication of benefit requests.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... this and submit secondary evidence, such as church or school records, pertinent to the facts at issue... fingerprint or interview rescheduling. If USCIS requests that the applicant or petitioner submit additional... petition. Withdrawal or denial due to abandonment shall not itself affect the new proceeding; but the facts...

8 CFR 103.2 - Submission and adjudication of benefit requests.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... this and submit secondary evidence, such as church or school records, pertinent to the facts at issue... fingerprint or interview rescheduling. If USCIS requests that the applicant or petitioner submit additional... petition. Withdrawal or denial due to abandonment shall not itself affect the new proceeding; but the facts...

8 CFR 103.2 - Submission and adjudication of benefit requests.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... this and submit secondary evidence, such as church or school records, pertinent to the facts at issue... fingerprint or interview rescheduling. If USCIS requests that the applicant or petitioner submit additional... petition. Withdrawal or denial due to abandonment shall not itself affect the new proceeding; but the facts...

8 CFR 103.2 - Applications, petitions, and other documents.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... to the facts at issue. If secondary evidence also does not exist or cannot be obtained, the applicant... request for fingerprint or interview rescheduling. If USCIS requests that the applicant or petitioner... itself affect the new proceeding; but the facts and circumstances surrounding the prior application or...

Affective Objectives in Community College Science.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ediger, Marlow

Science teachers need to stress several kinds of objectives in teaching and learning. One kind, cognitive, receives major emphasis by teachers. In addition to vital facts and concepts, pupils should also acquire major generalizations. And, in addition to facts, concepts, and generalizations, pupils also need to be able to think critically.…

Social influence and mental routes to the production of authentic false memories and inauthentic false memories.

PubMed

Wagner, Michael F; Skowronski, John J

2017-05-01

Two studies assessed the extent to which people incorporated false facts provided by bogus others into their own recognition memory reports, and how these false memory reports were affected by: (a) truth of the information in others' summaries supporting the false facts, (b) motivation to process stories and summaries, (c) source credibility, and (d) ease of remembering original facts. False memory report frequency increased when false facts in a summary were supported by true information and varied inversely with the ease with which original facts could be remembered. Results from a measure probing participants' memory perceptions suggest that some false memories are authentic: People sometimes lack awareness of both the incorporation of false facts into their memory reports and where the false facts came from. However, many false memories are inauthentic: Despite reporting a false memory, people sometimes retain knowledge of the original stimulus and/or the origin of false facts. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Behçet's syndrome: facts and controversies.

PubMed

Mat, Cem; Yurdakul, Sebahattin; Sevim, Ayşegül; Özyazgan, Yılmaz; Tüzün, Yalçın

2013-01-01

Behçet's syndrome is a systemic vasculitis of small and large vessels affecting both veins and arteries. Almost all patients with Behçet's syndrome have recurrent oral aphthae, followed by genital ulcers, variable skin lesions, such as erythema nodosum and papulopustuler lesions, arthritis, uveitis, thrombophlebitis, and gastrointestinal and central nervous system involvement. Recent epidemiologic works suggest that genetic factors are more important than environmental factors in its pathogenesis. European League Against Rheumatism guidelines were recently published for the treatment of Behçet's syndrome. Although these are quite useful for the management of mucocutaneous, eye, and joint involvement, treatment of vascular, neurological, and gastrointestinal involvement are still problematic as there are no controlled studies for these manifestations. This contribution addresses the epidemiology, mucocutaneous manifestations, diagnostic criteria, and evidence-based therapies, including biologic agents. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Cervical enamel projections in unusual locations: A case report and mini-review.

PubMed

Chan, Hsun-Liang; Oh, Tae-Ju; Bashutski, Jill; Fu, Jia-Hui; Wang, Hom-Lay

2010-02-02

Background: Periodontitis is primarily a bacteria-induced disease that can be modified by tooth-related local factors. Cervical enamel projections (CEPs) are a common tooth anomaly that can act as a contributing factor in the development of periodontitis. They are most commonly found at the buccal surfaces of mandibular molars. Methods: A 57-year-old female was referred to our clinic for treatment of chronic periodontitis. Clinical examination revealed moderate attachment loss that was localized to the palatal side of the maxillary secondary molars. The rest of the dentition was less affected, with a diagnosis of generalized slight chronic periodontitis. Initial non-surgical periodontal treatment was provided, followed by apically positioned flap surgery in the maxillary right and left posterior areas. At the time of surgery, CEPs were found where the periodontium was most affected. Results: Due to the fact that surgical intervention exposed the CEPs, they were not removed. After the active therapy, which resulted in inflammation resolution and maintainable probing depth, the patient was placed on a three-month recall for periodontal maintenance. Conclusions: This case report presents CEPs in an unusual location in the palatal roots of maxillary secondary molars. CEPs confirm their role as a local contributing factor in localized chronic periodontitis.

Using fixed-parameter and random-parameter ordered regression models to identify significant factors that affect the severity of drivers' injuries in vehicle-train collisions.

PubMed

Dabbour, Essam; Easa, Said; Haider, Murtaza

2017-10-01

This study attempts to identify significant factors that affect the severity of drivers' injuries when colliding with trains at railroad-grade crossings by analyzing the individual-specific heterogeneity related to those factors over a period of 15 years. Both fixed-parameter and random-parameter ordered regression models were used to analyze records of all vehicle-train collisions that occurred in the United States from January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2015. For fixed-parameter ordered models, both probit and negative log-log link functions were used. The latter function accounts for the fact that lower injury severity levels are more probable than higher ones. Separate models were developed for heavy and light-duty vehicles. Higher train and vehicle speeds, female, and young drivers (below the age of 21 years) were found to be consistently associated with higher severity of drivers' injuries for both heavy and light-duty vehicles. Furthermore, favorable weather, light-duty trucks (including pickup trucks, panel trucks, mini-vans, vans, and sports-utility vehicles), and senior drivers (above the age of 65 years) were found be consistently associated with higher severity of drivers' injuries for light-duty vehicles only. All other factors (e.g. air temperature, the type of warning devices, darkness conditions, and highway pavement type) were found to be temporally unstable, which may explain the conflicting findings of previous studies related to those factors. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Symptom reporting in cancer patients: the role of negative affect and experienced social stigma.

PubMed

Koller, M; Kussman, J; Lorenz, W; Jenkins, M; Voss, M; Arens, E; Richter, E; Rothmund, M

1996-03-01

Recent research suggests that patients' appraisal of somatic symptoms is more closely related to emotional variables (particularly negative affect) than to their actual health as determined by external criteria. Sixty surgical cancer patients who at the time of a routine follow-up examination filled out the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) quality of life questionnaire-C30, which included a positive/negative affect scale and a scale tapping into experienced social stigma. Patients' health status was determined in two ways: the examining physician gave a global judgement on a standardized scale at the end of the examination, and an additional two external physicians later rated the patients based on the findings listed in the medical record. Patients' reports of somatic symptoms were strongly correlated with two measures of negative affect (r = 0.75 and r = 0.65, respectively) and with experienced social stigma (r = 0.51). In contrast, the correlations between reported symptoms and the examining or external physicians' ratings were considerably weaker (r = 0.31 and r = 0.19). According to a multiple linear regression with 6 predictors, negative affect was the best single predictor of symptom reporting (beta = 0.68; P < 0.001) and global quality of life (beta = 0.48; P < 0.001). Factor analysis yielded a dimension of somatopsychosocial distress that accounted for 44.1% of the variance and is comprised of reported symptoms (factor loading = 0.86), negative affect (0.90 and 0.82), experienced social stigma (0.74), and global quality of life (0.70). Physicians' ratings and positive affect constituted two additional separate factors. Cancer patients' reporting of somatic symptoms by means of a standardized quality of life questionnaire is closely related to emotional and social distress and is not equivalent to health status as determined from a clinical perspective. Researchers and practitioners have to be aware of this fact when interpreting quality of life data. Furthermore, negative affect deserves attention as an important signal for intervention in tumor follow-up programs.

Fact Sheet: Final Rule to Reduce Toxic Air Pollutants from Surface Coating of Wood Building Products

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This page contains the February 2003 final rule fact sheet on the NESHAP for Surface Coating of Wood Building Products. This document provides a background for this rule, a summary of the benefits of this rule, who is affected by the rule, and rule costs

26 CFR 1.514(a)-1 - Unrelated debt-financed income and deductions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... (CONTINUED) INCOME TAX (CONTINUED) INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED) Taxation of Business Income of Certain Exempt... property is not affected by the fact that the organization was exempt from taxation for prior taxable years... the organization was exempt from taxation for any such years. Similarly, the fact that only a portion...

76 FR 12132 - Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee: Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-04

... fact related to the identity or cultural affiliation of human remains or other cultural items, or the...), for review and findings of fact related to the identity or cultural affiliation of human remains or... consensus clearly has not been reached among affected parties regarding the identity or cultural affiliation...

Optical Topography of Evoked Brain Activity during Mental Tasks Involving Whole Number Operations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ortiz, Enrique

2014-01-01

Students start to memorize arithmetic facts from early elementary school mathematics activities. Their fluency or lack of fluency with these facts could affect their efforts as they carry out mental calculations as adults. This study investigated participants' levels of brain activation and possible reasons for these levels as they solved…

A case-control study to identify risk factors for totally implantable central venous port-related bloodstream infection.

PubMed

Lee, Guk Jin; Hong, Sook Hee; Roh, Sang Young; Park, Sa Rah; Lee, Myung Ah; Chun, Hoo Geun; Hong, Young Seon; Kang, Jin Hyoung; Kim, Sang Il; Kim, Youn Jeong; Chun, Ho Jong; Oh, Jung Suk

2014-07-01

To date, the risk factors for central venous port-related bloodstream infection (CVPBSI) in solid cancer patients have not been fully elucidated. We conducted this study in order to determine the risk factors for CVP-BSI in patients with solid cancer. A total of 1,642 patients with solid cancer received an implantable central venous port for delivery of chemotherapy between October 2008 and December 2011 in a single center. CVP-BSI was diagnosed in 66 patients (4%). We selected a control group of 130 patients, who were individually matched with respect to age, sex, and catheter insertion time. CVP-BSI occurred most frequently between September and November (37.9%). The most common pathogen was gram-positive cocci (n=35, 53.0%), followed by fungus (n=14, 21.2%). Multivariate analysis identified monthly catheter-stay as a risk factor for CVP-BSI (p=0.000), however, its risk was lower in primary gastrointestinal cancer than in other cancer (p=0.002). Initial metastatic disease and long catheter-stay were statistically significant factors affecting catheter life span (p=0.005 and p=0.000). Results of multivariate analysis showed that recent transfusion was a risk factor for mortality in patients with CVP-BSI (p=0.047). In analysis of the results with respect to risk factors, prolonged catheter-stay should be avoided as much as possible. It is necessary to be cautious of CVP-BSI in metastatic solid cancer, especially non-gastrointestinal cancer. In addition, avoidance of unnecessary transfusion is essential in order to reduce the mortality of CVP-BSI. Finally, considering the fact that confounding factors may have affected the results, conduct of a well-designed prospective controlled study is warranted.

Ascosphaera apis, the entomopathogenic fungus affecting larvae of native bees (Xylocopa augusti): First report in South America.

PubMed

Reynaldi, Francisco J; Lucia, Mariano; Genchi Garcia, María L

2015-01-01

Nowadays several invertebrate pollinators of crops and wild plants are in decline as result of multiple and, sometimes, unknown factors; among them, the modern agricultural practices, pests and diseases are postulated as the most important factors. Bees of the genus Xylocopa are considered effective pollinators of passion fruit crops in tropical regions, as well as important pollinators in wild plants, but these bees are attacked by several pathogens that affect different stages in their life cycle. The fungal species of the genus Ascosphaera are commonly associated with social and solitary bee larvae causing chalkbrood disease. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the presence of Ascosphaera apis affecting larvae of Xylocopa augusti in South America. For this purpose, A. apis was isolated from affected larvae in YGPSA medium. Final identification was run out by three techniques: (1) Microscopic examination of the hyphae and sizes of the fruiting bodies; (2) Mating test, and specific sexual compatibility test, and (3) PCR detection, using specific primers. This study demonstrates for the first time the presence of A. apis affecting larvae of X. augusti in South America. The evidence of A. apis affecting the larvae of X. augusti, and the fact that the sharing of pathogens between different bee species has been underestimated, suggests the need for further epidemiological studies in order to determine not only the prevalence of this pathogen among wild pollinators, but also its relationship to the sudden collapse of honey bee colonies in this region. Copyright © 2014 Revista Iberoamericana de Micología. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

Solar cycle modulation of Southern Annular Mode -Energy-momentum analysis-

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuroda, Y.

2016-12-01

Climate is affected by various factors, including oceanic changes and volcanic eruptions. 11-year solar cycle change is one of such important factors. Observational analysis shows that the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) in late-winter/spring show structural modulation associated with 11-year solar cycle. In fact, SAM-related signal tends to extend from surface to upper stratosphere and persistent longer period in the High Solar (HS) years, whereas it is restricted in the troposphere and not persist in the Low Solar (LS) years. In the present study, we used 35-year record of ERA-Interim reanalysis data and performed wave-energy and momentum analysis on the solar-cycle modulation of the SAM to examine key factors to create such solar-SAM relationship. It is found that enhanced wave-mean flow interaction tends to take place in the middle stratosphere in association with enhanced energy input from diabatic heating on September only in HS years. The result suggests atmospheric and solar conditions on September are keys to create solar-SAM relationship.

An investigation of factors influencing healthcare workers' use and acceptance of e-learning in post-school healthcare education.

PubMed

Mikalsen, Marius; Walderhaug, Ståle

2009-01-01

The objective of the study presented here was to perform an empirical investigation on factors affecting healthcare workers acceptance and utilisation of e-learning in post-school healthcare education. E-learning benefits are realised when key features of e-learning are not only applied, but deemed useful, compatible with the learning process and supportive in order to reach the overall goals of the learning process. We conducted a survey of 14 state-enrolled nurses and skilled-workers within the field of healthcare in Norway. The results show that perceived compatibility and subjective norm explain system usage of the e-learning tool amongst the students. We found that the fact that the students considered the e-learning to be compatible with the course in question had a positive effect on e-learning tool usage. We also found support for factors such as facilitating conditions and ease of use leads to the e-learning tool being considered useful.

Impact of phenylalanine and urea applications to Tempranillo and Monastrell vineyards on grape amino acid content during two consecutive vintages.

PubMed

Garde-Cerdán, Teresa; Gutiérrez-Gamboa, Gastón; Portu, Javier; Fernández-Fernández, José Ignacio; Gil-Muñoz, Rocío

2017-12-01

Nitrogen plays a key role in the fermentation and secondary metabolites formation. The aim was to study the influence of vine nitrogen applications on grape amino acid composition. Nitrogen sources applied to Tempranillo and Monastrell grapevines were phenylalanine and urea, during two seasons. Results showed that the application of these compounds had little effect on grape amino acid composition, regardless of variety and vintage. This could be due to the fact that vineyards did not present nitrogenous requirements. Thus, variety was the determining factor in Asp, Glu, Gln, Cit, Met, Gly, Gaba, Val, Ile, and Leu while season was the factor that most affected Thr, Arg, Ala, and Lys due its implication on berry ripening. The concentration of the remaining amino acids was influenced by two or three of the factors studied. Therefore, when the vineyard has adequate nitrogen nutritional status, grape amino acid content was determined by variety and vintage. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Factors affecting surgical margin recurrence after hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases

PubMed Central

Akyuz, Muhammet; Aucejo, Federico; Quintini, Cristiano; Miller, Charles; Fung, John

2016-01-01

Background Hepatic recurrence after resection of colorectal liver metastasis (CLM) occurs in 50% of patients during follow-up, with 2.8% to 13.9% presenting with surgical margin recurrence (SMR). The aim of this study is to analyze factors that related to SMR in patients with CLM undergoing hepatectomy. Methods Demographics, clinical and survival data of patients who underwent hepatectomy were identified from a prospectively maintained, institutional review board (IRB)-approved database between 2000 and 2012. Statistical analysis was performed using univariate Kaplan Meier and Cox proportional hazard model. Results There were 85 female and 121 male patients who underwent liver resection for CLM. An R0 resection was performed in 157 (76%) patients and R1 resection in 49. SMR was detected in 32 patients (15.5%) followed up for a median of 29 months (range, 3–121 months). A half of these patients had undergone R1 (n=16) and another half R0 resection (n=16). Tumor size, preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level and margin status were associated with SMR on univariate analysis. On multivariate analysis, a positive surgical margin was the only independent predictor of SMR. The receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy did not affect margin recurrence. SMR was an independent risk factor associated with worse disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Conclusions This study shows that SMR, which can be detected in up to 15.5% of patients after liver resection for CLM, adversely affects DFS and OS. The fact that a positive surgical margin was the only predictive factor for SMR in these patients underscores the importance of achieving negative margins during hepatectomy. PMID:27294032

Chaotic homes and school achievement: a twin study

PubMed Central

Hanscombe, Ken B; Haworth, Claire MA; Davis, Oliver SP; Jaffee, Sara R; Plomin, Robert

2011-01-01

Background Chaotic homes predict poor school performance. Given that it is known that genes affect both children's experience of household chaos and their school achievement, to what extent is the relationship between high levels of noise and environmental confusion in the home, and children's school performance, mediated by heritable child effects? This is the first study to explore the genetic and environmental pathways between household chaos and academic performance. Method Children's perceptions of family chaos at ages 9 and 12 and their school performance at age 12 were assessed in more than 2,300 twin pairs. The use of child-specific measures in a multivariate genetic analysis made it possible to investigate the genetic and environmental origins of the covariation between children's experience of chaos in the home and their school achievement. Results Children's experience of family chaos and their school achievement were significantly correlated in the expected negative direction (r = −.26). As expected, shared environmental factors explained a large proportion (63%) of the association. However, genetic factors accounted for a significant proportion (37%) of the association between children's experience of household chaos and their school performance. Conclusions The association between chaotic homes and poor performance in school, previously assumed to be entirely environmental in origin, is in fact partly genetic. How children's home environment affects their academic achievement is not simply in the direction environment → child → outcome. Instead, genetic factors that influence children's experience of the disordered home environment also affect how well they do at school. The relationship between the child, their environment and their performance at school is complex: both genetic and environmental factors play a role. PMID:21675992

Using the Frailty Assessment for Care Planning Tool (FACT) to screen elderly chronic kidney disease patients for frailty: the nurse experience.

PubMed

Moffatt, Heather; Moorhouse, Paige; Mallery, Laurie; Landry, David; Tennankore, Karthik

2018-01-01

Recent evidence supports the prognostic significance of frailty for functional decline and poor health outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease. Yet, despite the development of clinical tools to screen for frailty, little is known about the experiential impact of screening for frailty in this setting. The Frailty Assessment for Care Planning Tool (FACT) evaluates frailty across 4 domains: mobility, function, social circumstances, and cognition. The purpose of this qualitative study was as follows: 1) explore the nurse experience of screening for frailty using the FACT tool in a specialized outpatient renal clinic; 2) determine how, if at all, provider perceptions of frailty changed after implementation of the frailty screening tool; and 3) determine the perceived factors that influence uptake and administration of the FACT screening tool in a specialized clinical setting. A semi-structured interview of 5 nurses from the Nova Scotia Health Authority, Central Zone Renal Clinic was conducted. A grounded theory approach was used to generate thematic categories and analysis models. Four primary themes emerged in the data analysis: "we were skeptical", "we made it work", "we learned how", and "we understand". As the renal nurses gained a sense of confidence in their ability to implement the FACT tool, initial barriers to implementation were attenuated. Implementation factors - such as realistic goals, clear guidelines, and ongoing training - were important factors for successful uptake of the frailty screening initiative. Nurse participants reported an overall positive experience using the FACT method to screen for frailty and indicated that their understanding of the multiple dimensions and subtleties of "frailty" were enhanced. Future nurse-led FACT screening initiatives should incorporate those factors identified as being integral to program success: realistic goals, clear guidelines, and ongoing training. Adopting the evaluation of frailty as a priority within clinical departments will encourage sustainability.

Stabilization of Nucleosomes by Histone Tails and by FACT Revealed by spFRET Microscopy

PubMed Central

Valieva, Maria E.; Gerasimova, Nadezhda S.; Kudryashova, Kseniya S.; Kozlova, Anastasia L.; Kirpichnikov, Mikhail P.; Hu, Qi; Botuyan, Maria Victoria; Mer, Georges; Feofanov, Alexey V.; Studitsky, Vasily M.

2017-01-01

A correct chromatin structure is important for cell viability and is tightly regulated by numerous factors. Human protein complex FACT (facilitates chromatin transcription) is an essential factor involved in chromatin transcription and cancer development. Here FACT-dependent changes in the structure of single nucleosomes were studied with single-particle Förster resonance energy transfer (spFRET) microscopy using nucleosomes labeled with a donor-acceptor pair of fluorophores, which were attached to the adjacent gyres of DNA near the contact between H2A-H2B dimers. Human FACT and its version without the C-terminal domain (CTD) and the high mobility group (HMG) domain of the structure-specific recognition protein 1 (SSRP1) subunit did not change the structure of the nucleosomes, while FACT without the acidic C-terminal domains of the suppressor of Ty 16 (Spt16) and the SSRP1 subunits caused nucleosome aggregation. Proteolytic removal of histone tails significantly disturbed the nucleosome structure, inducing partial unwrapping of nucleosomal DNA. Human FACT reduced DNA unwrapping and stabilized the structure of tailless nucleosomes. CTD and/or HMG domains of SSRP1 are required for this FACT activity. In contrast, previously it has been shown that yeast FACT unfolds (reorganizes) nucleosomes using the CTD domain of SSRP1-like Pol I-binding protein 3 subunit (Pob3). Thus, yeast and human FACT complexes likely utilize the same domains for nucleosome reorganization and stabilization, respectively, and these processes are mechanistically similar. PMID:28067802

Stabilization of Nucleosomes by Histone Tails and by FACT Revealed by spFRET Microscopy.

PubMed

Valieva, Maria E; Gerasimova, Nadezhda S; Kudryashova, Kseniya S; Kozlova, Anastasia L; Kirpichnikov, Mikhail P; Hu, Qi; Botuyan, Maria Victoria; Mer, Georges; Feofanov, Alexey V; Studitsky, Vasily M

2017-01-06

A correct chromatin structure is important for cell viability and is tightly regulated by numerous factors. Human protein complex FACT (facilitates chromatin transcription) is an essential factor involved in chromatin transcription and cancer development. Here FACT-dependent changes in the structure of single nucleosomes were studied with single-particle Förster resonance energy transfer (spFRET) microscopy using nucleosomes labeled with a donor-acceptor pair of fluorophores, which were attached to the adjacent gyres of DNA near the contact between H2A-H2B dimers. Human FACT and its version without the C-terminal domain (CTD) and the high mobility group (HMG) domain of the structure-specific recognition protein 1 (SSRP1) subunit did not change the structure of the nucleosomes, while FACT without the acidic C-terminal domains of the suppressor of Ty 16 (Spt16) and the SSRP1 subunits caused nucleosome aggregation. Proteolytic removal of histone tails significantly disturbed the nucleosome structure, inducing partial unwrapping of nucleosomal DNA. Human FACT reduced DNA unwrapping and stabilized the structure of tailless nucleosomes. CTD and/or HMG domains of SSRP1 are required for this FACT activity. In contrast, previously it has been shown that yeast FACT unfolds (reorganizes) nucleosomes using the CTD domain of SSRP1-like Pol I-binding protein 3 subunit (Pob3). Thus, yeast and human FACT complexes likely utilize the same domains for nucleosome reorganization and stabilization, respectively, and these processes are mechanistically similar.

Steady State Load Characterization Fact Sheet: 2012 Chevy Volt

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

Scoffield, Don

2015-03-01

This fact sheet characterizes the steady state charging behavior of a 2012 Chevy Volt. Both level 1 charging (120 volt) and level 2 charging (208 volts) is investigated. This fact sheet contains plots of efficiency, power factor, and current harmonics as vehicle charging is curtailed. Prominent current harmonics are also displayed in a histogram for various charge rates.

MAC, A System for Automatically IPR Identification, Collection and Distribution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Serrão, Carlos

Controlling Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in the Digital World is a very hard challenge. The facility to create multiple bit-by-bit identical copies from original IPR works creates the opportunities for digital piracy. One of the most affected industries by this fact is the Music Industry. The Music Industry has supported huge losses during the last few years due to this fact. Moreover, this fact is also affecting the way that music rights collecting and distributing societies are operating to assure a correct music IPR identification, collection and distribution. In this article a system for automating this IPR identification, collection and distribution is presented and described. This system makes usage of advanced automatic audio identification system based on audio fingerprinting technology. This paper will present the details of the system and present a use-case scenario where this system is being used.

Factors influencing the choice of performance measures for the oil and gas supply chain – exploratory study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Menhat, Masha; Yusuf, Y.

2018-04-01

The current value of the oil price per barrel has severely impacted the oil and gas industry around the world. This has worsened the situation due to the fact that it has long been the backbone of the country through the energy supply, employability and also its role as the major economic contributor. Due to multiple external factors that affect this industry such as crude oil availability, oil price fluctuation, high transportation cost, as well as exposure to high uncertainties, it is sensible for the supply chain practitioner to shift their focus in managing their resources and capabilities. To maximise the potential of supply chain activities in improving overall company performance, it is important to pay extra attention on their performance management. This includes the design of meaningful performance measurement framework to assess organisational performance. This study will explore the influencing factors in choosing performance measures for the oil and gas supply chain. Five in-depth interviews were conducted with supply chain experts within the industry. Eight influencing factors have been identified through the interviews.

The Effect of Low-Frequency Road Noise on Driver Sleepiness and Performance

PubMed Central

Anund, Anna; Lahti, Eva; Fors, Carina; Genell, Anders

2015-01-01

It is a well-known fact today that driver sleepiness is a contributory factor in crashes. Factors considered as sleepiness contributor are mostly related to time of the day, hours being awake and hours slept. Factors contributing to active and passive fatigue are mostly focusing on the level of cognitive load. Less is known what role external factors, e.g. type of road, sound/noise, vibrations etc., have on the ability to stay awake both under conditions of sleepiness and under active or passive fatigue. The aim of this moving base driving simulator study with 19 drivers participating in a random order day and night time, was to evaluate the effect of low-frequency road noise on driver sleepiness and performance, including both long-term and short-term effects. The results support to some extent the hypothesis that road-induced interior vehicle sound affects driving performance and driver sleepiness. Increased low-frequency noise helps to reduce speed during both day- and night time driving, but also contributes to increase the number of lane crossings during night time. PMID:25874883

Long-term follow-up of functional hypothalamic amenorrhea and prognostic factors.

PubMed

Falsetti, Leopoldo; Gambera, Alessandro; Barbetti, Lorena; Specchia, Cristina

2002-02-01

This study evaluated the prognosis of functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA) and the predictive factors of recovery, through a long-term follow-up. Ninety-three women affected by FHA underwent a follow-up for an average period of 8.1 yr (range 7-9 yr). At the end of the follow-up, 65 (70.7%) patients recovered. Statistical analysis showed that there was no association between recovery and anamnestic causes of FHA or with the echographic ovarian morphology but identified the predictive factors of recovery as the basal body mass index (BMI), the basal cortisol, and androstenedione plasma levels. A higher basal BMI and A, and lower cortisol values are positive prognostic factors for the recovery. Also the BMI, acquired during the follow-up, is important for FHA resolution: in fact, in recovered women the BMI increased or remained stable, whereas in nonrecovered women it decreased or remained stable. At the end of the follow-up, 52 (74.3%) patients treated with hormone replacement therapy and 8 (80%) with no therapy recovered, but only 5 (41.7%) with oral contraceptive pills recovered.

The effect of low-frequency road noise on driver sleepiness and performance.

PubMed

Anund, Anna; Lahti, Eva; Fors, Carina; Genell, Anders

2015-01-01

It is a well-known fact today that driver sleepiness is a contributory factor in crashes. Factors considered as sleepiness contributor are mostly related to time of the day, hours being awake and hours slept. Factors contributing to active and passive fatigue are mostly focusing on the level of cognitive load. Less is known what role external factors, e.g. type of road, sound/noise, vibrations etc., have on the ability to stay awake both under conditions of sleepiness and under active or passive fatigue. The aim of this moving base driving simulator study with 19 drivers participating in a random order day and night time, was to evaluate the effect of low-frequency road noise on driver sleepiness and performance, including both long-term and short-term effects. The results support to some extent the hypothesis that road-induced interior vehicle sound affects driving performance and driver sleepiness. Increased low-frequency noise helps to reduce speed during both day- and night time driving, but also contributes to increase the number of lane crossings during night time.

Quality of life analyses from the randomized, open-label, phase III PointBreak study of pemetrexed-carboplatin-bevacizumab followed by maintenance pemetrexed-bevacizumab versus paclitaxel-carboplatin-bevacizumab followed by maintenance bevacizumab in patients with stage IIIB or IV nonsquamous non-small-cell lung cancer.

PubMed

Spigel, David R; Patel, Jyoti D; Reynolds, Craig H; Garon, Edward B; Hermann, Robert C; Govindan, Ramaswamy; Olsen, Mark R; Winfree, Katherine B; Chen, Jian; Liu, Jingyi; Guba, Susan C; Socinski, Mark A; Bonomi, Philip

2015-02-01

Treatment impact on quality of life (QoL) informs treatment management decisions in advanced nonsquamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NS NSCLC). QoL outcomes from the phase III PointBreak trial are reported. Chemonaive patients (n = 939) with stage IIIB/IV nonsquamous non-small-cell lung cancer and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0 to 1 were randomized (1:1) to pemetrexed-carboplatin-bevacizumab (pemetrexed arm) or paclitaxel-carboplatin-bevacizumab (paclitaxel arm). Patients without progressive disease received maintenance pemetrexed-bevacizumab (pemetrexed arm) or bevacizumab (paclitaxel arm). QoL was assessed using Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT)-General (FACT-G), FACT-Lung (FACT-L), and FACT/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity (FACT-Ntx) instruments. Subscale scores, total scores, and trial outcome indices were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models. Post hoc analyses examined the association between baseline FACT scores and overall survival (OS). Mean score differences in change from baseline significantly favored the pemetrexed arm for the neurotoxicity subscale score, FACT-Ntx total scores, and FACT-Ntx trial outcome index. They occurred at cycle 2 (p < 0.001) and persisted through induction cycles 2 to 4 and six maintenance cycles. Investigator-assessed, qualitative, drug-related differences in grade 2 (1.6% versus 10.6%) and grade 3 (0.0% versus 4.1%) sensory neuropathy and grade 3/4 fatigue (10.9% versus 5.0%, p = 0.0012) were observed between the pemetrexed and paclitaxel arms. Baseline FACT-G, FACT-L, and FACT-Ntx scores were significant prognostic factors for OS (p < 0.001). Randomized patients reported similar changes in QoL, except for less change from baseline in neurotoxicity on the pemetrexed arm; investigators reported greater neurotoxicity on the paclitaxel arm and greater fatigue on the pemetrexed arm. Higher baseline FACT scores were favorable prognostic factors for OS.

Nanomolar Copper Enhances Mercury Methylation by Desulfovibrio desulfuricans ND132

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

Lu, Xia; Johs, Alexander; Zhao, Linduo

Methylmercury (MeHg) is produced by certain anaerobic microorganisms, such as the sulfate-reducing bacterium Desulfovibrio desulfuricans ND132, but environmental factors affecting inorganic mercury [Hg(II)] uptake and methylation remain unclear. We report that the presence of a small amount of copper ions [Cu(II), <100 nM] enhances Hg(II) uptake and methylation by washed cells of ND132, while Hg(II) methylation is inhibited at higher Cu(II) concentrations because of the toxicity of copper to the microorganism. The enhancement or inhibitory effect of Cu(II) is dependent on both time and concentration. The presence of nanomolar concentrations of Cu(II) facilitates rapid uptake of Hg(II) (within minutes) andmore » doubles MeHg production within a 24 h period, but micromolar concentrations of Cu(II) completely inhibit Hg(II) methylation. Metal ions such as zinc [Zn(II)] and nickel [Ni(II)] also inhibit but do not enhance Hg(II) methylation under the same experimental conditions. Furthermore, these observations suggest a synergistic effect of Cu(II) on Hg(II) uptake and methylation, possibly facilitated by copper transporters or metallochaperones in this organism, and highlight the fact that complex environmental factors affect MeHg production in the environment.« less

Thermo-magneto-elastoplastic coupling model of metal magnetic memory testing method for ferromagnetic materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Pengpeng; Zhang, Pengcheng; Jin, Ke; Chen, Zhenmao; Zheng, Xiaojing

2018-04-01

Metal magnetic memory (MMM) testing (also known as micro-magnetic testing) is a new non-destructive electromagnetic testing method that can diagnose ferromagnetic materials at an early stage by measuring the MMM signal directly on the material surface. Previous experiments have shown that many factors affect MMM signals, in particular, the temperature, the elastoplastic state, and the complex environmental magnetic field. However, the fact that there have been only a few studies of either how these factors affect the signals or the physical coupling mechanisms among them seriously limits the industrial applications of MMM testing. In this paper, a nonlinear constitutive relation for a ferromagnetic material considering the influences of temperature and elastoplastic state is established under a weak magnetic field and is used to establish a nonlinear thermo-magneto-elastoplastic coupling model of MMM testing. Comparing with experimental data verifies that the proposed theoretical model can accurately describe the thermo-magneto-elastoplastic coupling influence on MMM signals. The proposed theoretical model can predict the MMM signals in a complex environment and so is expected to provide a theoretical basis for improving the degree of quantification in MMM testing.

Nanomolar Copper Enhances Mercury Methylation by Desulfovibrio desulfuricans ND132

DOE PAGES

Lu, Xia; Johs, Alexander; Zhao, Linduo; ...

2018-05-29

Methylmercury (MeHg) is produced by certain anaerobic microorganisms, such as the sulfate-reducing bacterium Desulfovibrio desulfuricans ND132, but environmental factors affecting inorganic mercury [Hg(II)] uptake and methylation remain unclear. We report that the presence of a small amount of copper ions [Cu(II), <100 nM] enhances Hg(II) uptake and methylation by washed cells of ND132, while Hg(II) methylation is inhibited at higher Cu(II) concentrations because of the toxicity of copper to the microorganism. The enhancement or inhibitory effect of Cu(II) is dependent on both time and concentration. The presence of nanomolar concentrations of Cu(II) facilitates rapid uptake of Hg(II) (within minutes) andmore » doubles MeHg production within a 24 h period, but micromolar concentrations of Cu(II) completely inhibit Hg(II) methylation. Metal ions such as zinc [Zn(II)] and nickel [Ni(II)] also inhibit but do not enhance Hg(II) methylation under the same experimental conditions. Furthermore, these observations suggest a synergistic effect of Cu(II) on Hg(II) uptake and methylation, possibly facilitated by copper transporters or metallochaperones in this organism, and highlight the fact that complex environmental factors affect MeHg production in the environment.« less

2003 Nevada transportation facts and figures

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2003-08-01

Every two years NDOT produces a helpful and informative Fact Book to provide the Legislature and the public historical and current statistical information describing the department's operations and factors that drive Nevada's multimodal transportatio...

2005 Nevada transportation facts and figures

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2005-02-01

Every two years NDOT produces a helpful and informative Fact Book to provide the Legislature and the public historical and current statistical information describing the department's operations and factors that drive Nevada's multimodal transportatio...

2007 Nevada transportation facts and figures

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2007-01-01

Every two years NDOT produces a helpful and informative Fact Book to provide the Legislature and the public historical and current statistical information describing the department's operations and factors that drive Nevada's multimodal transportatio...

2001 Nevada transportation facts and figures

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2001-01-01

Every two years NDOT produces a helpful and informative Fact Book to provide the Legislature and the public historical and current statistical information describing the department's operations and factors that drive Nevada's multimodal transportatio...

Sleep Eduction: Treatment & Therapy

MedlinePlus

... Overview & Facts Symptoms & Causes Diagnosis & Self Tests Treatment Sleep Apnea Overview & Facts Symptoms & Risk Factors Self-Tests Diagnosis ... for a Sleep Study Testing Process & Results Home Sleep Apnea Testing Overview Testing Process & Results CPAP Overview Benefits ...

1999 Nevada transportation facts and figures

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1999-01-01

Every two years NDOT produces a helpful and informative Fact Book to provide the Legislature and the public historical and current statistical information describing the department's operations and factors that drive Nevada's multimodal transportatio...

2009 Nevada transportation facts and figures

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-01-01

Every two years NDOT produces a helpful and informative Fact Book to provide the Legislature and the public historical and current statistical information describing the department's operations and factors that drive Nevada's multimodal transportatio...

Asthma and Environment Fact Sheet for Parents and Schools. Revised

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Healthy Schools Network, Inc., 2012

2012-01-01

Important facts about asthma and the environment include: (1) Asthma has reached epidemic proportions in the United States, affecting about 25 million people of all ages and races, including about 7 million children; (2) Nearly one in 10 school-aged children has asthma, and the percentage of children with asthma is rising more rapidly in…

Fuels planning: science synthesis and integration; social issues fact sheet 18: Issues affecting social acceptability of fuels treatments

Treesearch

Christine Esposito

2006-01-01

Researchers have tried to understand how information about forest management can influence a person's landscape preferences and aesthetic appreciation. These findings are relevant for fuels management projects, since these projects are often characterized by conflicts between aesthetic and ecological objectives. This fact sheet discusses different aspects and ways...

Gingival recession: its causes and types, and the importance of orthodontic treatment

PubMed Central

Jati, Ana Suzy; Furquim, Laurindo Zanco; Consolaro, Alberto

2016-01-01

abstract Gingival recession has direct causes and predisposing factors. Orthodontic treatment is able to prevent recession and even contribute to its treatment, with or without periodontal approach, depending on the type and severity of gingival tissue damage. There is no evidence on the fact that orthodontic treatment alone might induce gingival recession, although it might lead the affected teeth (usually mandibular incisors or maxillary canines) to be involved in situations that act as predisposing factors, allowing direct causes to act and, therefore, trigger recession, especially when the buccal bone plate is very thin or presents with dehiscence. Several aspects regarding the relationship between orthodontic treatment and gingival recession have been addressed, and so has the importance of the periosteum to the mechanism of gingival recession formation. Clinical as well as experimental trials on the subject would help to clarify this matter, of which understanding is not very deep in the related literature. PMID:27409650

MYBL2 (B-Myb): a central regulator of cell proliferation, cell survival and differentiation involved in tumorigenesis

PubMed Central

Musa, Julian; Aynaud, Marie-Ming; Mirabeau, Olivier; Delattre, Olivier; Grünewald, Thomas GP

2017-01-01

Limitless cell proliferation, evasion from apoptosis, dedifferentiation, metastatic spread and therapy resistance: all these properties of a cancer cell contribute to its malignant phenotype and affect patient outcome. MYBL2 (alias B-Myb) is a transcription factor of the MYB transcription factor family and a physiological regulator of cell cycle progression, cell survival and cell differentiation. When deregulated in cancer cells, MYBL2 mediates the deregulation of these properties. In fact, MYBL2 is overexpressed and associated with poor patient outcome in numerous cancer entities. MYBL2 and players of its downstream transcriptional network can be used as prognostic and/or predictive biomarkers as well as potential therapeutic targets to offer less toxic and more specific anti-cancer therapies in future. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on the physiological roles of MYBL2 and highlight the impact of its deregulation on cancer initiation and progression. PMID:28640249

Safety factors predictive of job satisfaction and job retention among home healthcare aides.

PubMed

Sherman, Martin F; Gershon, Robyn R M; Samar, Stephanie M; Pearson, Julie M; Canton, Allison N; Damsky, Marc R

2008-12-01

Although many of the well known work characteristics associated with job satisfaction in home health care have been documented, a unique aspect of the home health care aides' (HHA) work environment that might also affect job satisfaction is the fact that their workplace is a household. To obtain a better understanding of the potential impact of the risks/exposures/hazards within the household environment on job satisfaction and job retention in home care, we recently conducted a risk assessment study. Survey data from a convenience sample of 823 New York City HHAs were obtained and analyzed. Household/job-related risks, environmental exposures, transportation issues, threats/verbal and physical abuse, and potential for violence were significantly correlated with HHA job satisfaction and job retention. Addressing the modifiable risk factors in the home health care household may improve job satisfaction and reduce job turnover in this work population.

Dependence of the form factor of ganglioside micelles on a conformational change with temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Corti, Mario; Boretta, Marco; Cantù, Laura; Del Favero, Elena; Lesieur, Pierre

1996-09-01

The gangliosides GM2, GM1 and GD1b, biological amphiphiles with a double tail hydrophobic part and an oligosaccharide chain headgroup, form micelles in solution. Light scattering experiments have shown that ganglioside micelles which have gone through a temperature cycle have a smaller molecular mass and hydrodynamic radius than those which have been kept at room temperature. This fact has been interpreted with the hypothesis that, with temperature, the ganglioside molecules undergo a conformational change which affects their micellar properties appreciably. Careful small angle X-ray experiments, aimed to confirm the light scattering data and to evidence differences in the micellar internal structure are presented. Ganglioside micelles are quite inhomogeneous particles with respect to X-ray scattering, since there is a large contrast variation between the inner lipid part and the external hydrated sugar layer. Experimental form factors are fitted with a double-shell oblate-ellipsoid model.

The airborne infrared scanner as a geophysical research tool

USGS Publications Warehouse

Friedman, Jules D.

1970-01-01

The infrared scanner is proving to be an effective anomaly-mapping tool, albeit one which depicts surface emission directly and heat mass transfer from depths only indirectly and at a threshold level 50 to 100 times the normal conductive heat flow of the earth. Moreover, successive terrain observations are affected by time-dependent variables such as the diurnal and seasonal warming and cooling cycle of a point on the earth's surface. In planning precise air borne surveys of radiant flux from the earth's surface, account must be taken of background noise created by variations in micrometeorological factors and emissivity of surface materials, as well as the diurnal temperature cycle. The effect of the diurnal cycle may be minimized by planning predawn aerial surveys. In fact, the diurnal change is very small for most water bodies and the emissivity factor for water (e) =~ 1 so a minimum background noise is characteristic of scanner records of calm water surfaces.

Effects of fasting on growth hormone, growth hormone receptor, and insulin-like growth factor-I axis in seawater-acclimated tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus.

PubMed

Fox, B K; Riley, L G; Hirano, T; Grau, E G

2006-09-15

Effects of fasting on the growth hormone (GH)--growth hormone receptor (GHR)-insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) axis were characterized in seawater-acclimated tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus). Fasting for 4 weeks resulted in significant reductions in body weight and specific growth rate. Plasma GH and pituitary GH mRNA levels were significantly elevated in fasted fish, whereas significant reductions were observed in plasma IGF-I and hepatic IGF-I mRNA levels. There was a significant negative correlation between plasma levels of GH and IGF-I in the fasted fish. No effect of fasting was observed on hepatic GHR mRNA levels. Plasma glucose levels were reduced significantly in fasted fish. The fact that fasting elicited increases in GH and decreases in IGF-I production without affecting GHR expression indicates a possible development of GH resistance.

Reliability of vascular geometry factors derived from clinical MRA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bijari, Payam B.; Antiga, Luca; Steinman, David A.

2009-02-01

Recent work from our group has demonstrated that the amount of disturbed flow at the carotid bifurcation, believed to be a local risk factor for carotid atherosclerosis, can be predicted from luminal geometric factors. The next step along the way to a large-scale retrospective or prospective imaging study of such local risk factors for atherosclerosis is to investigate whether these geometric features are reproducible and accurate from routine 3D contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CEMRA) using a fast and practical method of extraction. Motivated by this fact, we examined the reproducibility of multiple geometric features that are believed important in atherosclerosis risk assessment. We reconstructed three-dimensional carotid bifurcations from 15 clinical study participants who had previously undergone baseline and repeat CEMRA acquisitions. Certain geometric factors were extracted and compared between the baseline and the repeat scan. As the spatial resolution of the CEMRA data was noticeably coarse and anisotropic, we also investigated whether this might affect the measurement of the same geometric risk factors by simulating the CEMRA acquisition for 15 normal carotid bifurcations previously acquired at high resolution. Our results show that the extracted geometric factors are reproducible and faithful, with intra-subject uncertainties well below inter-subject variabilities. More importantly, these geometric risk factors can be extracted consistently and quickly for potential use as disturbed flow predictors.

Depressive symptoms among poststroke patients in Japan: frequency distribution and factor structure of the GDS.

PubMed

Schreiner, A S; Morimoto, T; Asano, H

2001-10-01

The present study examined the nature, prevalence, and covariates of depressive symptoms among home-dwelling poststroke patients in Japan using the Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form (GDS-1). Poststroke results were compared with those of elderly with affective disorders and with those of healthy nonstroke elderly. Poststroke patients (n = 101) who did not also have a diagnosis of Alzheimer's dementia, were identified from patient records at seven randomly selected hospitals with outpatient rehabilitation clinics in a metropolitan area in western Japan and invited to participate in the study. All instruments were interview-administered. GDS scores did not correlate with age, sex, education, functional dependence, aphasia, paralysis or presence of other chronic illnesses. However, GDS scores did correlate significantly with self-rated general health and poststroke duration. Compared with the frequency distribution in a psychiatric sample, poststroke patients had higher positive affect and lower depressed mood but similar social withdrawal scores. The factor structure of the poststroke sample differed from that of nonstroke elderly in that depressed mood items loaded with items for energy loss and memory problems. Despite the fact that 62% of subjects scored > or = 6 on the GDS, none were currently receiving assessment and/or treatment for their depressive symptoms. The frequency distribution and factor structure suggest that poststroke GDS scores reflect endorsement of functional losses such as decreased energy and impaired memory and subsequent feelings of helplessness, boredom and social withdrawal rather than decreased positive affect. Treatment should focus on dealing with these issues. Copyright 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Determination of the drag resistance coefficients of different vehicles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fahsl, Christoph; Vogt, Patrik

2018-05-01

While it has been demonstrated how air resistance could be analyzed by using mobile devices, this paper demonstrates a method of how to determine the drag resistance coefficient c of a commercial automobile by using the acceleration sensor of a smartphone or tablet. In an academic context, the drag resistance is often mentioned, but little attention is paid to quantitative measurements. This experiment was driven by the fact that this physical value is most certainly neglected because of its difficult measurability. In addition to that, this experiment gives insights on how the aerodynamic factor of an automobile affects the energy dissipation and thus how much power is required by automobile transportation.

Heterogeneous Pathology of Melasma and Its Clinical Implications.

PubMed

Kwon, Soon-Hyo; Hwang, Young-Ji; Lee, Soo-Keun; Park, Kyoung-Chan

2016-05-26

Melasma is a commonly acquired hypermelanosis that affects sun-exposed areas of the skin, with frequent facial involvement. Its histologic manifestations are evident in the epidermis, extracellular matrix, and dermis. In addition to epidermal pigmentation, pathologic findings of melasma include extracellular matrix abnormality, especially solar elastosis. The disrupted basement membrane has been described in melasma with variable incidences. In the dermis, an increase in vascularity and an increase in the number of mast cells were observed, indicating that dermal factors have critical roles in the pathogenesis of melasma, despite the fact that melasma is characterized by epidermal hyperpigmentation. This review discusses such histologic characteristics of melasma, with consideration to their implications for melasma treatment.

Heterogeneous Pathology of Melasma and Its Clinical Implications

PubMed Central

Kwon, Soon-Hyo; Hwang, Young-Ji; Lee, Soo-Keun; Park, Kyoung-Chan

2016-01-01

Melasma is a commonly acquired hypermelanosis that affects sun-exposed areas of the skin, with frequent facial involvement. Its histologic manifestations are evident in the epidermis, extracellular matrix, and dermis. In addition to epidermal pigmentation, pathologic findings of melasma include extracellular matrix abnormality, especially solar elastosis. The disrupted basement membrane has been described in melasma with variable incidences. In the dermis, an increase in vascularity and an increase in the number of mast cells were observed, indicating that dermal factors have critical roles in the pathogenesis of melasma, despite the fact that melasma is characterized by epidermal hyperpigmentation. This review discusses such histologic characteristics of melasma, with consideration to their implications for melasma treatment. PMID:27240341

Determinant Factors in Applying Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) in Healthcare.

PubMed

Abdekhoda, Mohammadhiwa; Salih, Kawa Mirza

2017-01-01

Meaningful use of picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) can change the workflow for accessing digital images, lead to faster turnaround time, reduce tests and examinations, and increase patient throughput. This study was carried out to identify determinant factors that affect the adoption of PACS by physicians. This was a cross-sectional study in which 190 physicians working in a teaching hospital affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences were randomly selected. Physicians' perceptions concerning the adoption of PACS were assessed by the conceptual path model of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). Collected data were analyzed with regression analysis. Structural equation modeling was applied to test the final model that was developed. The results show that the UTAUT model can explain about 61 percent of the variance on in the adoption of PACS ( R 2 = 0.61). The findings also showed that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influences, and behavior intention have a direct and significant effect on the adoption of PACS. However, facility condition showed to have no significant effect on physicians' behavior intentions. Implementation of new technology such as PACS in the healthcare sector is unavoidable. Our study clearly identified significant and nonsignificant factors that may affect the adoption of PACS. Also, this study acknowledged that physicians' perception is a key factor to manage the implementation of PACS optimally, and this fact should be considered by healthcare managers and policy makers.

Determinant Factors in Applying Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) in Healthcare

PubMed Central

Abdekhoda, Mohammadhiwa; Salih, Kawa Mirza

2017-01-01

Objectives Meaningful use of picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) can change the workflow for accessing digital images, lead to faster turnaround time, reduce tests and examinations, and increase patient throughput. This study was carried out to identify determinant factors that affect the adoption of PACS by physicians. Methods This was a cross-sectional study in which 190 physicians working in a teaching hospital affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences were randomly selected. Physicians’ perceptions concerning the adoption of PACS were assessed by the conceptual path model of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). Collected data were analyzed with regression analysis. Structural equation modeling was applied to test the final model that was developed. Results The results show that the UTAUT model can explain about 61 percent of the variance on in the adoption of PACS (R2 = 0.61). The findings also showed that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influences, and behavior intention have a direct and significant effect on the adoption of PACS. However, facility condition showed to have no significant effect on physicians’ behavior intentions. Conclusions Implementation of new technology such as PACS in the healthcare sector is unavoidable. Our study clearly identified significant and nonsignificant factors that may affect the adoption of PACS. Also, this study acknowledged that physicians’ perception is a key factor to manage the implementation of PACS optimally, and this fact should be considered by healthcare managers and policy makers. PMID:28855856

Insurance Discounts: Traffic Safety Tips

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1996-01-01

This fact sheet, NHTSA Facts: Summer 1996, discusses automobile insurance discounts. It relates how to obtain a discount, and details what factors can influence insurance premiums. It notes that discounts for safety features vary from insurance compa...

Restless Legs Syndrome -- Self-Tests and Diagnosis

MedlinePlus

... Overview & Facts Symptoms & Causes Diagnosis & Self Tests Treatment Sleep Apnea Overview & Facts Symptoms & Risk Factors Self-Tests Diagnosis ... for a Sleep Study Testing Process & Results Home Sleep Apnea Testing Overview Testing Process & Results CPAP Overview Benefits ...

Find a Sleep Center Near You

MedlinePlus

... Overview & Facts Symptoms & Causes Diagnosis & Self Tests Treatment Sleep Apnea Overview & Facts Symptoms & Risk Factors Self-Tests Diagnosis ... for a Sleep Study Testing Process & Results Home Sleep Apnea Testing Overview Testing Process & Results CPAP Overview Benefits ...

[Family dynamics and chronic illness: children with diabetes in the context of their families].

PubMed

Wirlach-Bartosik, S; Schubert, M T; Freilinger, M; Schober, E

2005-01-01

The present study is based on the assumption of an interaction between family functioning and chronic illness. Using a systemic approach, the intra-familial situation of families with a diabetes-affected child is examined. 44 families were evaluated using a family diagnostic instrument ("Familienbögen") and compared with 31 control families with a healthy child. Furthermore, the study looked at the influence of the level of family functioning on glycemic control, as measured by HbA1c values, and vice versa. Families with a child affected by diabetes showed significantly more dysfunctional domains and higher discrepancies of the ratings in the family diagnostic instrument (p < 0.05). Unexpectedly, no significant interaction between family functioning and glycemic control was found. Poor glycemic control therefore did not have any negative effects on the family dynamics, in fact, the opposite was often the case. Also, the relationship between siblings was judged more positively when one of the siblings was chronically ill (p < 0.05). The results show that despite the fact that diabetes in children may lead to an increase in impairment of intra-familial dynamics, it may, at the same time, offer opportunities for an improvement of family relationships. However, if physiological parameters deteriorate in the child (poor glycemic control), family problems seem to become less important. Success in the treatment of diabetes patients should therefore not only be measured by the quality of glycemic control, but also by considering psychological factors and aspects of family dynamics.

Psychiatric symptoms are not an independent mortality risk factor in community-living elderly people.

PubMed

Benabarre, Sergio; Olivera, Javier; Lorente, Teófilo; Rodriguez, Mariano; Barros-Loscertales, Alfonso; Pelegrín, Carmelo; Claver, Paula; Galindo, Izarbe; Labarta, María; Rodriguez, Jara

2014-06-01

Mortality risk factors have attracted great research interest in recent years. Physical illness is strongly associated with mortality risk in elderly people. Furthermore, a relationship between mortality risk and psychiatric disease in the elderly has gained research interest. This is a prospective longitudinal multicenter study. A sample of 324 participants was selected as a representative sample of community members aged 65 years and older and living in Huesca (Spain). The following information was collected: affiliation data, severity of physical illness, psychosocial, and psychiatric factors. Statistical analyses were completed with a multivariate analysis in order to control possible confounding variables related to mortality. Of the initially selected sample, 293 participants were assessed. Sixty-four participants died (21.8%, 95% CI [16.9%, 26.7%]), 5.3% annual rate, and 46.1% showed symptomatology of mental disorders. Older people have eight times greater risk of mortality. The risk increased 53 times in patients affected by several physical illness. No relationship between cognitive dysfunction and depressive symptomatology was observed. In fact, physical condition was associated with depression, and the percentage of participants with depressive symptoms increased according to the severity of physical illness. Severity of physical illness and age are independently and directly associated with mortality in the elderly people. Therefore, severity of physical illness seems to be a crucial factor in the bi-directional association between mortality and depression, acting as a risk factor independently for both. So the relationship between depression and mortality can be affected by the severity of physical illness.

Risk factors for depression in community-treated epilepsy: systematic review.

PubMed

Lacey, Cameron J; Salzberg, Michael R; D'Souza, Wendyl J

2015-02-01

Depression is one of the most common psychiatric comorbidities in epilepsy; however, the factors contributing to this association remain unclear. There is a growing consensus that methodological limitations, particularly selection bias, affect many of the original studies. A systematic review focussed on community-based studies offers an alternative approach for the identification of the risk factors for depression. Searches were performed in MEDLINE (Ovid), 2000 to 31 December 2013, EMBASE, and Google Scholar to identify studies examining risk factors for depression in epilepsy. Community-based studies of adults with epilepsy that reported at least one risk factor for depression were included. The search identified 17 studies that met selection criteria, representing a combined total of 12,212 people with epilepsy with a mean sample size of 718. The most consistent risk factors for depression were sociodemographic factors, despite the fact that most studies focus on epilepsy-related factors. Most studies lacked a systematic conceptual approach to investigating depression, and few risk factors were consistently well studied. Future community-based studies require a detailed systematic approach to improve the ability to detect risk factors for depression in epilepsy. Psychological factors were rarely studied in community-based samples with epilepsy, although the consistent association with depression in the few studies that did suggests this warrants further examination. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Individual self-reported health, social participation and neighbourhood: a multilevel analysis in Malmö, Sweden.

PubMed

Lindström, Martin; Moghaddassi, Mahnaz; Merlo, Juan

2004-07-01

The influence of neighbourhood and individual factors on self-reported health was investigated. The public health survey in Malmö 1994 is a cross-sectional study. A total of 3,602 individuals aged 20-80 living in 75 neighbourhoods answered a postal questionnaire. The participation rate was 71%. A multilevel logistic regression model, with individuals at the first level and neighbourhoods at the second, was performed. We analysed the effect (intra-area correlation, cross-level modification and odds ratios) of neighbourhood on self-reported health after adjustment for individual factors. The neighbourhoods accounted for 2.8% of the crude total variance in self-reported health status. This effect was significantly reduced when individual factors such as country of origin, education and social participation were included in the model. In fact, no significant variance in self-reported health remained after the introduction of the individual factors in the model. In Malmö, the neighbourhood variance in self-reported health is mainly affected by individual factors, especially country of origin, socioeconomic status measured as level of education and individual social participation. Copyright 2004 The Institute for Cancer Prevention and Elsevier Inc.

Efficiency enhancement of ZnO nanostructure assisted Si solar cell based on fill factor enlargement and UV-blue spectral down-shifting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gholizadeh, A.; Reyhani, A.; Parvin, P.; Mortazavi, S. Z.

2017-05-01

ZnO nanostructures (including nano-plates and nano-rods (NRs)) are grown in various temperatures and Ar/O2 flow rates using thermal chemical vapor deposition, which affect the structure, nano-plate/NR population, and the quality of ZnO nanostructures. X-ray diffraction (XRD) attests that the peak intensity of the crystallographic plane (1 0 0) is correlated to nano-plate abundance. Moreover, optical properties elucidate that the population of nano-plates in samples strongly affect the band gap, binding energy of the exciton, and UV-visible (UV-vis) absorption and spectral luminescence emissions. In fact, the exciton binding energy reduces from ~100 to 80 meV when the population of nano-plates increases in samples. Photovoltaic characteristics based on the drop-casting on Si solar cells reveals three dominant factors, namely, the equivalent series resistance, decreasing reflectance, and down-shifting, in order to scale up the absolute efficiency by 3%. As a consequence, the oxygen vacancies in ZnO nanostructures give rise to the down-shifting and increase of free-carriers, leading to a reduction in the equivalent series resistance and an enlargement of fill factor. To obtain a larger I sc, reduction of spectral reflectance is essential; however, the down-shifting process is shown to be dominant by lessening the surface electron-hole recombination rate over the UV-blue spectral range.

Factors associated with sexual health and well being in older adulthood.

PubMed

Kleinstäuber, Maria

2017-09-01

To provide an update of recent studies on factors associated with sexual well being in older people with a special focus on sexual activity, satisfaction and function. Most recent studies confirmed the relationship between mental health status, especially negative affect and depressive symptoms, and sexual health in older adulthood. However, when this relationship is investigated more deeply, it seems that in fact positive psychological well being (positive affect and quality of life) accounts for sexual activity rather than the lack of depressive symptoms. Moreover, recent studies provided more insight into the relationship between marital characteristics, religion, cognitive functioning and sleeping difficulties and different dimensions of sexual health in older adulthood. In summary, there is substantial previous research revealing associations between various psychosocial, health-related and demographic variables and sexual health in older adulthood. Most considered variables are, for example, age, sex, general physical and mental health. For future research, it is important to consider that relationships between specific variables and sexual health in higher age are usually more complex than they are expected to be and factors differ between different dimensions of sexual health. Communication about sexuality between health-care providers and older patients still implies a lot of barriers and lack of knowledge. Therefore, the provision of communication training for health-care providers to older people in which knowledge is gained about correlates of sexual health in older adulthood should be implemented.

Views from the Home Front: The Experience of Children from Military Families. Fact Sheet

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Adamson, David M.

2009-01-01

Research has begun to document the challenges faced by members of the U.S. military in deploying for war and reintegrating into life at home. But little is known about how wartime experience and parental deployments have affected the children from military families. This fact sheet summarizes a study that explored how these children fared…

Psychometric Performance of the Arabic Versions of the Cancer Behavior Inventory-Brief and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast.

PubMed

Algamdi, Maaidah M; Hanneman, Sandra K

2018-02-14

Valid and reliable instruments in Arabic are needed to measure self-efficacy and quality of life for Arabic patients with cancer. The aim of this study was to test the psychometric performance of the Cancer Behavior Inventory-Brief Arabic (CBI-BA), including participant understanding of items, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast Arabic (FACT-BA). Using a cross-sectional design, 438 cancer patients completed the CBI-BA, 30 of whom completed cognitive interviews. A subsample 167 women with breast cancer also completed the FACT-BA. Internal consistency evidence was assessed with Cronbach's α and construct validity with principal axis factoring. Internal consistency estimates were acceptable for the total CBI-BA (α = .81) and FACT-BA (α = .88) scales. Exploratory factor analyses showed evidence of construct validity for the CBI-BA; 1 factor was derived, compared with four in the original English version. Cognitive interviews indicated satisfactory patient understanding of CBI-BA items. The Arabic version of the general FACT-General scale had 4 factors according to expectation. The CBI-BA has adequate psychometric performance for the measurement of self-efficacy for coping with cancer in Arabic patients. The FACT-General Arabic has adequate evidence of reliability and validity for the measurement of quality of life in Arabic women with breast cancer. The availability of culturally sensitive and psychometrically sound instruments for Arabic patients diagnosed with cancer should be valuable for healthcare clinicians and researchers to assess self-efficacy for coping with cancer and quality of life.

Changing factors and changing needs in women's health care.

PubMed

Leslie, L A; Swider, S M

1986-03-01

The aforementioned social trends affecting women, including women in poverty, women in the labor force, and elderly women, are all ultimately related to problems of access to health care. In almost every age group, women use more health and medical services. Women are hospitalized more often, although their stays in hospitals tend to be shorter. Women also make more visits to health care providers for preventive health care, such as examinations and dental care. Access to care, however, is tied to ability to pay for the care. Medicaid payments for medical care are related to eligibility criteria in each state. Recent cuts in federal programs targeted eligibility for welfare and Medicaid. In 1982, 725,000 welfare recipients were declared ineligible. Given the earlier discussion of the predominance of women among those labeled poor in this country and the fact that two thirds of Medicaid recipients are women, these cutbacks have serious implications for women's health. Women are less likely to have medical insurance than men. Insurance coverage as a benefit is least likely to be offered in those areas where women work: part-time employment, small businesses, and manufacturing industries. Insurance eligibility is often dependent on a woman's marital status, despite the fact that 41.5 per cent of all American women are not spousal dependents. Insurance companies frequently adjust premiums for sex, age, income, race, and workforce characteristics, a policy which works against women. As the field of women's health expands and receives more emphasis, the data reflecting the experiences of large groups of women will have to be collected and analyzed ever more carefully. Information collected should include physiologic, psychosocial, and economic factors that together affect the health status of women. These data may then be used to guide health policy decision making, as well as provide a basis for health promotion and disease prevention interventions with individual clients.

VirSchool: The Effect of Background Music and Immersive Display Systems on Memory for Facts Learned in an Educational Virtual Environment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fassbender, Eric; Richards, Deborah; Bilgin, Ayse; Thompson, William Forde; Heiden, Wolfgang

2012-01-01

Game technology has been widely used for educational applications, however, despite the common use of background music in games, its effect on learning has been largely unexplored. This paper discusses how music played in the background of a computer-animated history lesson affected participants' memory for facts. A virtual history lesson was…

What Are the Communication Considerations for Parents of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children? NIDCD Fact Sheet

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), 2006

2006-01-01

Deafness or hearing impairment affects not only a child who is deaf or has a hearing loss, but also the child's family, friends, and teachers. For hundreds of years, people have debated the best ways to develop communication skills and provide education for deaf and hard-of-hearing children. This fact sheet presents a few points upon which…

Experience-near but not experience-far autobiographical facts depend on the medial temporal lobe for retrieval: Evidence from amnesia

PubMed Central

Grilli, Matthew D.; Verfaellie, Mieke

2015-01-01

This paper addresses the idea that there may be two types of autobiographical facts with distinct cognitive and neural mechanisms: “Experience-near” autobiographical facts, which contain spatiotemporal content derived from personal experience and thus depend on the medial temporal lobe (MTL) for retrieval, and “experience-far” autobiographical facts, which are abstract memories and thus rely on neocortical brain regions involved in retrieval of general semantic memory. To investigate this conceptual model of autobiographical fact knowledge, we analyzed the nature of autobiographical facts that were generated by 8 individuals with MTL amnesia and 12 control participants in a recent study of identity and memory [Grilli, M.D., & Verfaellie, M. (2015). Supporting the self-concept with memory: insight from amnesia. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 10, 1684–1692]. Results revealed that MTL amnesic participants generated fewer experience-near autobiographical facts than controls. Experience-far autobiographical fact generation was not impaired in amnesic participants with damage restricted to the MTL, but there was preliminary evidence to suggest that it may be impaired in amnesic participants with damage to the MTL and anterior lateral temporal lobe. These results support a cognitive and neural distinction between experience-near and experience-far autobiographical facts and have implications for understanding the contribution of autobiographical fact knowledge to self-related cognition. PMID:26721761

Experience-near but not experience-far autobiographical facts depend on the medial temporal lobe for retrieval: Evidence from amnesia.

PubMed

Grilli, Matthew D; Verfaellie, Mieke

2016-01-29

This paper addresses the idea that there may be two types of autobiographical facts with distinct cognitive and neural mechanisms: "Experience-near" autobiographical facts, which contain spatiotemporal content derived from personal experience and thus depend on the medial temporal lobe (MTL) for retrieval, and "experience-far" autobiographical facts, which are abstract memories and thus rely on neocortical brain regions involved in retrieval of general semantic memory. To investigate this conceptual model of autobiographical fact knowledge, we analyzed the nature of autobiographical facts that were generated by 8 individuals with MTL amnesia and 12 control participants in a recent study of identity and memory [Grilli, M.D., & Verfaellie, M. (2015). Supporting the self-concept with memory: insight from amnesia. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 10, 1684-1692]. Results revealed that MTL amnesic participants generated fewer experience-near autobiographical facts than controls. Experience-far autobiographical fact generation was not impaired in amnesic participants with damage restricted to the MTL, but there was preliminary evidence to suggest that it may be impaired in amnesic participants with damage to the MTL and anterior lateral temporal lobe. These results support a cognitive and neural distinction between experience-near and experience-far autobiographical facts and have implications for understanding the contribution of autobiographical fact knowledge to self-related cognition. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Perception of Construction Participants in Construction delays: A case study in Tamilnadu, India.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rathinakumar, V.; Vignesh, T.; Dhivagar, K.

2017-07-01

Delays in the construction industry are universal fact, which affects the construction participants. The research work spotlights on determining the prevailing delays in the cities of Tamil Nadu, as perceived by the participants. After a few field level interactions, a questionnaire was framed and administered to the participants i.e., Consultants (50 Nos.), contractors (50 Nos.) and clients (150 Nos.) to understand their perception on the causes of delays. The factors for delay was categorized into 4 groups say Improper project planning, Design related issues, Finance related issues and Resource related issues. The responses were analysed using the SPSS software by applying ANOVA and Regression analysis. From the analysis, it was found that the personal financial problems of the client dominantly affect the entire construction progress and the subsequent design changes by the clients, Inadequate early project planning, labour related issues. Also, the delay groups were found to be the improper project planning and the Resource related issues.

Healthy occupational culture for a worker-friendly workplace.

PubMed

Grabovac, Igor; Mustajbegović, Jadranka

2015-03-01

Work has numerous health and wellbeing benefits, but it also involves physical hazards and psychological exertion. Today the scale has tipped toward psychosocial factors. Workers' mental health affects their intellectual, emotional, and social growth, as well as work ability, productivity, and ultimately organisational productivity and competitiveness on the market. Even though companies may have an internal hierarchy that lowers stress at work, there are other formal and informal social processes that can affect (positively or negatively) the cohesion within the work unit. Safety culture of an organisation is a product of individual and group values, opinions, competences, and behavioural patterns that determine how occupational health and safety are implemented. Organisations that nurture positive safety culture understand the importance of health and safety and believe in prevention rather than dealing with consequences. Jobs that are stable, autonomous, and reasonably physically and psychologically demanding are far more likely to lower work-related stress and boost worker satisfaction. In fact, employee empowerment is one of the best ways to achieve good psychosocial health at the workplace.

A role of low dose chemical mixtures in adipose tissue in carcinogenesis.

PubMed

Lee, Duk-Hee; Jacobs, David R; Park, Ho Yong; Carpenter, David O

2017-11-01

The Halifax project recently hypothesized a composite carcinogenic potential of the mixture of low dose chemicals which are commonly encountered environmentally, yet which are not classified as human carcinogens. A long neglected but important fact is that adipose tissue is an important exposure source for chemical mixtures. In fact, findings from human studies based on several persistent organic pollutants in general populations with only background exposure should be interpreted from the viewpoint of chemical mixtures because serum concentrations of these chemicals can be seen as surrogates for chemical mixtures in adipose tissue. Furthermore, in conditions such as obesity with dysfunctional adipocytes or weight loss in which lipolysis is increased, the amount of the chemical mixture released from adipose tissue to circulation is increased. Thus, both obesity and weight loss can enhance the chance of chemical mixtures reaching critical organs, however paradoxical this idea may be when fat mass is the only factor considered. The complicated, interrelated dynamics of adipocytes and chemical mixtures can explain puzzling findings related to body weight among cancer patients, including the obesity paradox. The contamination of fat in human diet with chemical mixtures, occurring for reasons similar to contamination of human adipose tissue, may be a missing factor which affects the association between dietary fat intake and cancer. The presence of chemical mixtures in adipose tissue should be considered in future cancer research, including clinical trials on weight management among cancer survivors. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Space flight and the immune system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cogoli, A.

1993-01-01

Depression of lymphocyte response to mitogens in cosmonauts after space flight was reported for the first time in the early 1970s by Soviet immunologists. Today we know that depression of lymphocyte function affects at least 50% of space crew members. Investigations on the ground on subjects undergoing physical and psychological stress indicate that stress is a major factor in immune depression of astronauts. This is despite the fact that weightlessness per se has a strong inhibitory effect on lymphocyte activation in vitro. Although the changes observed never harmed the health of astronauts, immunological changes must be seriously investigated and understood in view of long-duration flight on space stations in an Earth orbit, to other planets such as Mars and to the Moon.

YouTube Video as Health Literacy Tool: A Test of Body Image Campaign Effectiveness.

PubMed

Meng, Juan; Bissell, Kim L; Pan, Po-Lin

2015-01-01

This study examined the effectiveness of four media campaigns about disordered eating behaviors. It investigated possible factors that affected females' perceived effectiveness of four campaign videos. Results indicated that health campaign about a celebrity's struggle with extreme thinness proved to be the least effective of four campaign videos, whereas the video presenting solid facts about the dangers of extreme dieting was perceived as the most effective campaign. Self-discrepancy was not a significant predictor to females' perceived effectiveness of campaign videos. Similarly, the frequency of Internet usage was proved as a weak predictor of their perceived effectiveness. These findings and the possible rationale for the lack of support with regard to the correlates of campaign effectiveness were also discussed.

Sturgeon research update: Confirmed pallid sturgeon spawning in the Missouri River in 2007

USGS Publications Warehouse

Mac, Michael; Mestl, Gerald

2007-01-01

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in partnership with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have confirmed spawning of two female pallid sturgeon in the upstream reaches of the lower Missouri River in May 2007. Combined with supporting research in reproductive physiology, identification of spawning habitat, and early life history this result provides new understanding of environmental factors (for example, photoperiod, temperature, water quality, and flow regime) that might affect reproduction of this endangered species. The purpose of this fact sheet is to provide stakeholders, scientists, and managers with some of the preliminary results from the 2007 field assessment of sturgeon reproduction in the lower Missouri River.

Prevalence of dysmenorrhea and its correlating lifestyle factors in Japanese female junior high school students.

PubMed

Kazama, Mie; Maruyama, Keiko; Nakamura, Kazutoshi

2015-06-01

Dysmenorrhea is a common menstrual disorder experienced by adolescents, and its major symptoms, including pain, adversely affect daily life and school performance. However, little epidemiologic evidence on dysmenorrhea in Japanese adolescents exists. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of and identify factors associated with dysmenorrhea in Japanese female junior high school students. Among 1,167 girls aged between 12 and 15 years, 1,018 participants completed a questionnaire that solicited information on age at menarche, menstruation, and lifestyle, as well as demographic characteristics. Dysmenorrhea was defined based on menstrual pain using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), with moderate or severe (moderate-severe) dysmenorrhea, which adversely affects daily life, defined as VAS ≥ 4, and severe dysmenorrhea defined as VAS ≥ 7. The prevalence of moderate-severe dysmenorrhea was 476/1,018 (46.8%), and that of severe dysmenorrhea was 180/1,018 (17.7%). Higher chronological and gynecological ages (years after menarche) were significantly associated with a higher prevalence of dysmenorrhea regardless of severity (P for trend < 0.001). In addition, short sleeping hours (< 6/day) were associated with moderate-severe dysmenorrhea (OR = 3.05, 95%CI: 1.06-8.77), and sports activity levels were associated with severe dysmenorrhea (P for trend = 0.045). Our findings suggest that dysmenorrhea that adversely affects daily activities is highly prevalent, and may be associated with certain lifestyle factors in junior high school students. Health education teachers should be made aware of these facts, and appropriately care for those suffering from dysmenorrhea symptoms, absentees, and those experiencing difficulties in school life due to dysmenorrhea symptoms.

48 CFR 609.406-3 - Procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... statement from each DOS organizational element affected by the debarment action as to the impact of a... is responsible for making the transcribed record of the hearing, unless the contractor and the fact... decision to each DOS organizational element affected by the decision and to the General Services...

Awareness, knowledge, healthy lifestyle behaviors, and their correlates to coronary heart disease among working women in Singapore.

PubMed

Ramachandran, Hadassah Joann; Wu, Vivien Xi; He, Hong-Gu; Jiang, Ying; Wang, Wenru

2016-01-01

The objectives of the study were to investigate awareness, knowledge, healthy lifestyle behaviors, and their correlates to coronary heart disease (CHD) among working women in Singapore. CHD is the leading cause of death for women globally, yet women are unaware of this or the associated risk factors that make them vulnerable to CHD. A cross-sectional descriptive study with a quota sample of 200 working women was conducted in Singapore. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires, including the Heart Disease Fact Questionnaire-2, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, and a section on Awareness of CHD. Participants demonstrated suboptimal awareness of CHD being the leading cause of death among women and the risk factors associated with morbidity. Healthy lifestyle behaviors were found to be affected by age, ethnicity, marital status, income status, presence of chronic diseases, and working groups. Health care providers should systematically evaluate women at risk for CHD and provide both gender-sensitive and age-specific education. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

MedlinePlus

... Education Visitor Information RePORT NIH Fact Sheets Home > Rheumatoid Arthritis Small Text Medium Text Large Text Rheumatoid Arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease affecting about ...

Current knowledge of microRNA-mediated regulation of drug metabolism in humans.

PubMed

Nakano, Masataka; Nakajima, Miki

2018-05-01

Understanding the factors causing inter- and intra-individual differences in drug metabolism potencies is required for the practice of personalized or precision medicine, as well as for the promotion of efficient drug development. The expression of drug-metabolizing enzymes is controlled by transcriptional regulation by nuclear receptors and transcriptional factors, epigenetic regulation, such as DNA methylation and histone acetylation, and post-translational modification. In addition to such regulation mechanisms, recent studies revealed that microRNAs (miRNAs), endogenous ~22-nucleotide non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression through the translational repression and degradation of mRNAs, significantly contribute to post-transcriptional regulation of drug-metabolizing enzymes. Areas covered: This review summarizes the current knowledge regarding miRNAs-dependent regulation of drug-metabolizing enzymes and transcriptional factors and its physiological and clinical significance. We also describe recent advances in miRNA-dependent regulation research, showing that the presence of pseudogenes, single-nucleotide polymorphisms, and RNA editing affects miRNA targeting. Expert opinion: It is unwavering fact that miRNAs are critical factors causing inter- and intra-individual differences in the expression of drug-metabolizing enzymes. Consideration of miRNA-dependent regulation would be a helpful tool for optimizing personalized and precision medicine.

A Comparison of Taped-Problem Interventions to Increase Math Fact Fluency: Does the Length of Time Delay Affect Student Learning Rates?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Poncy, Brian C.; Jaspers, Kathryn E.; Hansmann, Paul R.; Bui, Levita; Matthew, William B.

2015-01-01

An alternating treatments design with a control condition was used to evaluate and compare the effects of two taped-problem interventions on addition fact fluency. Both taped-problem interventions were identical with the exception of the time delay between the auditory cue of the problem and the answer. One condition used a 2-s delay and the other…

Evaluating the Impact of U.S. Food and Drug Administration-Proposed Nutrition Facts Label Changes on Young Adults' Visual Attention and Purchase Intentions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Graham, Dan J.; Roberto, Christina A.

2016-01-01

Background: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed modifying the Nutrition Facts Label (NFL) on food packages to increase consumer attention to this resource and to promote healthier dietary choices. Aims: The present study sought to determine whether the proposed NFL changes will affect consumer attention to the NFL or purchase…

The Influence of Bilectalism and Non-standardization on the Perception of Native Grammatical Variants

PubMed Central

Leivada, Evelina; Papadopoulou, Elena; Kambanaros, Maria; Grohmann, Kleanthes K.

2017-01-01

Research in speakers of closely related varieties has shown that bilectalism and non-standardization affect speakers’ perception of the variants that exist in their native languages in a way that is absent from the performance of their monolingual peers. One possible explanation for this difference is that non-standardization blurs the boundaries of grammatical variants and increases grammatical fluidity. Affected by such factors, bilectals become less accurate in identifying the variety to which a grammatical variant pertains. Another explanation is that their differential performance derives from the fact that they are competent in two varieties. Under this scenario, the difference is due to the existence of two linguistic systems in the course of development, and not to how close or standardized these systems are. This study employs a novel variety-judgment task in order to elucidate which of the two explanations holds. Having administered the task to monolinguals, bilectals, and bilinguals, including heritage language learners and L1 attriters, we obtained a dataset of 16,245 sentences. The analysis shows differential performance between bilectal and bilingual speakers, granting support for the first explanation. We discuss the role of factors such as non-standardization and linguistic proximity in language development and flesh out the implications of the results in relation to different developmental trajectories. PMID:28265248

The Montreal Criteria for the Ethical Feasibility of Uterine Transplantation.

PubMed

Lefkowitz, Ariel; Edwards, Marcel; Balayla, Jacques

2012-04-01

Absolute uterine factor infertility (UFI) refers to the refractory causes of female infertility stemming from the anatomical or physiological inability of a uterus to sustain gestation. Today, uterine factor infertility affects 3-5% of the population. Traditionally, although surrogacy and adoption have been the only viable options for females affected by this condition, the uterine transplant is currently under investigation as a potential medical alternative for women who desire to go through the experience of pregnancy. Although animal models have shown promising results, human transplantation cases have only been described in case reports and a successful transplant leading to gestation is yet to occur in humans. Notwithstanding the intricate medical and scientific complexities that a uterine transplant places on the medical minds of our time, ethical questions on this matter pose a similar, if not greater, challenge. In light of these facts, this article attempts to present the ethical issues in the context of experimentation and standard practice which surround this controversial and potentially paradigm-altering procedure; and given these, introduces "The Montreal Criteria for the Ethical Feasibility of Uterine Transplantation", a set of proposed criteria required for a woman to be ethically considered a candidate for uterine transplantation. © 2012 The Authors. Transplant International © 2012 European Society for Organ Transplantation.

Inequity and health. Is malnutrition really caused by poor nutrition?

PubMed

Bharmal, F Y

2000-08-01

To look at inequities leading to malnutrition and from the wider picture to find root causes and deal with them in order to alleviate malnutrition. Literature review. The health of the population is adversely affected by the inequities in the country. Women and children being most vulnerable are worst affected. The prevalence of Protein Energy Malnutrition (P.E.M.) in children under five years of age is 51 percent. Such a magnitude of malnutrition in a country, where availability of food per capita is more than adequate, points towards the fact that the inequities within the country are at the root of the problem. Poor income is not the only predictor of malnutrition, gender, urban-rural differences in access, utilization and quality of health care also influence health. In addition, there are some underlying factors such as illiteracy, unawareness of the mother about healthy behaviors, lack of decision-making power of women, along with deep-rooted cultural values of a patriarchal system. Malnutrition is caused by a multitude of factors, some of which are biological, others are environmental, cultural or social. Education of the invisible half of the population, who actually look after the children and the family, is an important strategy to alleviate this problem.

[Factors modifying cord blood IgE levels - a pilot study].

PubMed

Petrovičová, O; Bánovčin, P; Babušíková, E; Jeseňák, M

The complex influence of internal and external environmental factors on the individual and his/her immune system and the lack of suitable markers to assess and reduce the risk of the development of allergies during the lifetime can explain the continuous increase in the number of people affected by some form of allergy. According to the results of some studies, cord blood IgE level could be a useful early marker for assessing the risk of atopic diseases, but the studies showed controversial results. In addition, several authors discuss the origin of these antibodies (synthesis in utero, peripartum contamination from maternal blood or placental transfer). The aim of our pilot study was to investigate the possible influence of modifying factors on cord blood IgE level. Our group of patients consisted of 184 retrospectively selected neonates (98 boys, 53.3% and 86 girls, 46.7%) from whom cord blood was collected and cord blood IgE level was measured 25 years ago (PRIST method). The impact of selected modifying factors (sex, type of delivery or month of birth) on cord blood IgE level was assessed retrospectively. Higher cord blood IgE levels were found in boys than in girls, in neonates born by Caesarean section than in those born by natural delivery, and in those born in the winter months than in other seasons of the year. Our findings are in agreement with those of other authors. Based on our results and those of others, we assume that the selected factors affect the cord blood IgE levels to varying degrees. These facts should be taken into consideration while interpreting the cord blood IgE levels.

Developing a Physics Laboratory Anxiety Scale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berber, Nilufer Cerit

2013-01-01

Although the level of cognitive behaviours is continually controlled in school environments, affective behaviours cannot be both acquired and measured in a planned manner way. In fact, the functionality of educational activities, which are orientated towards cognitive targets, can be enhanced by placing more emphasis on the affective dimension.…

Patient knowledge and recall of health information following exposure to "facts and myths" message format variations.

PubMed

Cameron, Kenzie A; Roloff, Michael E; Friesema, Elisha M; Brown, Tiffany; Jovanovic, Borko D; Hauber, Sara; Baker, David W

2013-09-01

To assess if exposure to varying "facts and myths" message formats affected participant knowledge and recall accuracy of information related to influenza vaccination. Consenting patients (N=125) were randomized to receive one of four influenza related messages (Facts Only; Facts and Myths; Facts, Myths, and Refutations; or CDC Control), mailed one week prior to a scheduled physician visit. Knowledge was measured using 15 true/false items at pretest and posttest; recall accuracy was assessed using eight items at posttest. All participants' knowledge scores increased significantly (p<0.05); those exposed to the CDC Control message had a higher posttest knowledge score (adjusted mean=11.18) than those in the Facts Only condition (adjusted mean 9.61, p=<0.02). Participants accurately recalled a mean of 4.49 statements (SD=1.98). ANOVA demonstrated significant differences in recall accuracy by condition [F(3, 83)=7.74, p<.001, η(2)=0.22]. Messages that include facts, myths, and evidence to counteract myths appear to be effective in increasing participants' knowledge. We found no evidence that presenting both facts and myths is counterproductive to recall accuracy. Use of messages containing facts and myths may engage the reader and lead to knowledge gain. Recall accuracy is not assured by merely presenting factual information. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

The impact of a financial transaction tax on stylized facts of price returns-Evidence from the lab.

PubMed

Huber, Jürgen; Kleinlercher, Daniel; Kirchler, Michael

2012-08-01

As the introduction of financial transaction taxes is increasingly discussed by political leaders we explore possible consequences such taxes could have on markets. Here we examine how "stylized facts", namely fat tails and volatility clustering, are affected by different tax regimes in laboratory experiments. We find that leptokurtosis of price returns is highest and clustered volatility is weakest in unilaterally taxed markets (where tax havens exist). Instead, tails are slimmest and volatility clustering is strongest in tax havens. When an encompassing financial transaction tax is levied, stylized facts hardly change compared to a scenario with no tax on all markets.

HIV, disease plague, demoralization and "burnout": resident experience of the medical profession in Nairobi, Kenya.

PubMed

Raviola, Giuseppe; Machoki, M'Imunya; Mwaikambo, Esther; Good, Mary Jo DelVecchio

2002-03-01

This paper describes the experiences of physicians-in-training at a public hospital in Nairobi, Kenya, where medical professionals practice in an environment characterized by both significant lack of resources and patients with HIV/AIDS in historically unprecedented numbers. The data reported here are part of a larger study examining ethical dilemmas in medical education and practice among physicians in East Africa. A questionnaire and semi-structured interview were completed by fifty residents in four medical specialties, examining social and emotional supports, personal and professional sources of stress, emotional numbing and disengagement from patients and peers, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress and depression. The factors affecting resident well-being are found in this study to be more complex than previous interviews suggested. This study highlights the fact that as a result of working in an environment characterized by poor communication among hospital staff as well as a lack of resources and high numbers of patients with HIV/AIDS, residents' perceptions of themselves--their technical proficiency, their ability to care and feel for others and themselves, and for some their entire sense of self--are significantly affected. Also affected are the patients they work to treat.

Relationships between enteral nutrition facts and urinary stones in a cohort of pediatric patients in rehabilitation from severe acquired brain injury.

PubMed

Pozzi, Marco; Locatelli, Federica; Galbiati, Sara; Beretta, Elena; Carnovale, Carla; Clementi, Emilio; Strazzer, Sandra

2018-05-14

Urolithiasis affects pediatric patients with severe acquired brain injury, in whom the role of several clinical variables and of the presence and composition of enteral nutrition has not been investigated. Retrospective chart review on 371 pediatric patients with severe acquired brain injury. We used an essential electronic database to check the association between stones and enteral feeding. We then picked at random paper clinical records until we collected 20 and 20 complete records for patients with/without stones, not matched. With that information, we tested the association of stones with: nutrition facts of enteral formulae (sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, proteins, vitamin C); bladder dysfunction, urinary infections, catheterisms, tracheostomy, gallstones, way of feeding; blood and urine exams before stones diagnosis; age, type and severity of injury; prior physical activity, relevant drugs. All patients with stones were fed enterally. At univariate statistics they were older, weighed more, received bigger volumes of hydration and nutrition; they had worse GCS, more UTIs and they alone received catheterisms; their nutrition mixes were richer in sodium. In multivariate logistic regression for stone development, UTIs (OR 11.4, 95% C.I. 1.6-83.4) and higher sodium nutrition content (OR 7.5, 95% C.I. 1.6-34.3) were risk factors; higher GCS (OR 0.66, 95% C.I. 0.43-0.99) and higher calcium nutrition content (OR 0.14, 95% C.I. 0.03-0.73) were protective factors. Besides known risk factors for urolithiasis, including UTIs, catheterisms, worse neurological states, also enteral nutrition was a risk factor, particularly with higher sodium and lower calcium contents. Future studies should test the effect of different sodium/calcium nutrition contents on lithogenesis. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.

Analysis of vehicle classification data, including monthly and seasonal ADT factors, hourly distribution factors, and lane distribution factors

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1998-11-01

This report documents the development of monthly and seasonal average daily traffic (ADT) factors for performing estimating AADTs. It appears that seasonal factors can estimate AADT as well as monthly factors, and it is recommended that seasonal fact...

Facts about...Blood Cholesterol. Revised.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Inst. (DHHS/NIH), Bethesda, MD.

This fact sheet on blood cholesterol examines the connection between cholesterol and heart disease, lists risk factors for heart disease that can and cannot be controlled, points out who can benefit from lowering blood cholesterol, distinguishes between blood and dietary cholesterol, describes low density lipoprotein and high density lipoprotein…

Depressive symptoms and positive affect in Chinese and United States breast cancer survivors: a cross-cultural comparison.

PubMed

Milbury, Kathrin; Kavanagh, April; Meng, Zhiqiang; Chen, Zhen; Chandwani, Kavita D; Garcia, Kay; Perkins, George H; McQuade, Jennifer; Raghuram, Nelamangala V; Nagarathna, Raghuram; Liao, Zhongxing; Nagendra, Hongasandra Ramarao; Chen, Jiayi; Guo, Xiaoma; Liu, Luming; Arun, Banu; Cohen, Lorenzo

2017-07-01

Research in the area of cultural response pattern on questionnaires in the oncological setting and direct cross-cultural comparisons are lacking. This study examined response pattern in the reporting of depressive symptoms in Chinese and US women with breast cancer. We hypothesized that Chinese women are less likely to endorse positive affect items compared to their US counterparts. Additionally, we explored cultural differences in the association between positive affect and QOL. Secondary analyses of baseline assessments of two mind-body intervention studies for women with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy in the USA (N = 62) and China (N = 97) are presented. All participants completed measures of depressive symptoms (CES-D) and cancer-specific QOL (FACT-B). We examined cultural differences on positive and negative affect items on the CES-D. Controlling for demographic factors, ANCOVA revealed a significant cultural difference in positive (F = 7.99, p = 0.005) but not negative affect (p = 0.82) with Chinese women reporting lower positive affect compared to US women (Chinese = 6.97 vs. US = 8.31). There was also a significant cultural difference (F = 3.94, p = 0.03) in the association between positive affect and QOL so that lower positive affect was more strongly associated with worse emotional well-being in Chinese (beta = 0.57, p < 0.0001) than US women (beta = 0.35, p < 0.01). Chinese women reported lower positive affect compared to US women and lower levels of positive affect were more strongly associated with worse QOL. Special attention is needed when examining mental health in different cultures to ascertain effective delivery of clinical services to those in need.

Depressive symptoms and positive affect in Chinese and United States breast cancer survivors: a cross-cultural comparison

PubMed Central

Milbury, Kathrin; Kavanagh, April; Meng, Zhiqiang; Chen, Zhen; Chandwani, Kavita D.; Garcia, Kay; Perkins, George H.; McQuade, Jennifer; Raghuram, Nelamangala V.; Nagarathna, Raghuram; Liao, Zhongxing; Nagendra, Hongasandra Ramarao; Chen, Jiayi; Guo, Xiaoma; Liu, Luming; Arun, Banu

2018-01-01

Purpose Research in the area of cultural response pattern on questionnaires in the oncological setting and direct cross-cultural comparisons are lacking. This study examined response pattern in the reporting of depressive symptoms in Chinese and US women with breast cancer. We hypothesized that Chinese women are less likely to endorse positive affect items compared to their US counterparts. Additionally, we explored cultural differences in the association between positive affect and QOL. Methods Secondary analyses of baseline assessments of two mind-body intervention studies for women with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy in the USA (N = 62) and China (N = 97) are presented. All participants completed measures of depressive symptoms (CES-D) and cancer-specific QOL (FACT-B). We examined cultural differences on positive and negative affect items on the CES-D. Results Controlling for demographic factors, ANCOVA revealed a significant cultural difference in positive (F = 7.99, p = 0.005) but not negative affect (p = 0.82) with Chinese women reporting lower positive affect compared to US women (Chinese = 6.97 vs. US = 8.31). There was also a significant cultural difference (F = 3.94, p = 0.03) in the association between positive affect and QOL so that lower positive affect was more strongly associated with worse emotional well-being in Chinese (beta = 0.57, p < 0.0001) than US women (beta = 0.35, p < 0.01). Conclusions Chinese women reported lower positive affect compared to US women and lower levels of positive affect were more strongly associated with worse QOL. Special attention is needed when examining mental health in different cultures to ascertain effective delivery of clinical services to those in need. PMID:28233122

Behavioral and physiological responses to subgroup size and number of people in howler monkeys inhabiting a forest fragment used for nature-based tourism.

PubMed

Aguilar-Melo, Adriana R; Andresen, Ellen; Cristóbal-Azkarate, Jurgi; Arroyo-Rodríguez, Victor; Chavira, Roberto; Schondube, Jorge; Serio-Silva, Juan Carlos; Cuarón, Alfredo D

2013-11-01

Animals' responses to potentially threatening factors can provide important information for their conservation. Group size and human presence are potentially threatening factors to primates inhabiting small reserves used for recreation. We tested these hypotheses by evaluating behavioral and physiological responses in two groups of mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata mexicana) at the "Centro Ecológico y Recreativo El Zapotal", a recreational forest reserve and zoo located in the Mexican state of Chiapas. Both groups presented fission-fusion dynamics, splitting into foraging subgroups which varied in size among, but not within days. Neither subgroup size nor number of people had an effect on fecal cortisol. Out of 16 behavioral response variables tested, the studied factors had effects on six: four were affected by subgroup size and two were affected by number of people. With increasing subgroup size, monkeys increased daily path lengths, rested less, increased foraging effort, and used more plant individuals for feeding. As the number of people increased, monkeys spent more time in lower-quality habitat, and less time engaged in social interactions. Although fecal cortisol levels were not affected by the factors studied, one of the monkey groups had almost twice the level of cortisol compared to the other group. The group with higher cortisol levels also spent significantly more time in the lower-quality habitat, compared to the other group. Our results suggest that particular behavioral adjustments might allow howler monkeys at El Zapotal to avoid physiological stress due to subgroup size and number of people. However, the fact that one of the monkey groups is showing increased cortisol levels may be interpreted as a warning sign, indicating that an adjustment threshold is being reached, at least for part of the howler monkey population in this forest fragment. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

European regional efficiency and geographical externalities: a spatial nonparametric frontier analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramajo, Julián; Cordero, José Manuel; Márquez, Miguel Ángel

2017-10-01

This paper analyses region-level technical efficiency in nine European countries over the 1995-2007 period. We propose the application of a nonparametric conditional frontier approach to account for the presence of heterogeneous conditions in the form of geographical externalities. Such environmental factors are beyond the control of regional authorities, but may affect the production function. Therefore, they need to be considered in the frontier estimation. Specifically, a spatial autoregressive term is included as an external conditioning factor in a robust order- m model. Thus we can test the hypothesis of non-separability (the external factor impacts both the input-output space and the distribution of efficiencies), demonstrating the existence of significant global interregional spillovers into the production process. Our findings show that geographical externalities affect both the frontier level and the probability of being more or less efficient. Specifically, the results support the fact that the spatial lag variable has an inverted U-shaped non-linear impact on the performance of regions. This finding can be interpreted as a differential effect of interregional spillovers depending on the size of the neighboring economies: positive externalities for small values, possibly related to agglomeration economies, and negative externalities for high values, indicating the possibility of production congestion. Additionally, evidence of the existence of a strong geographic pattern of European regional efficiency is reported and the levels of technical efficiency are acknowledged to have converged during the period under analysis.

Inertial mass sensing with low Q-factor vibrating microcantilevers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adhikari, S.

2017-10-01

Mass sensing using micromechanical cantilever oscillators has been established as a promising approach. The scientific principle underpinning this technique is the shift in the resonance frequency caused by the additional mass in the dynamic system. This approach relies on the fact that the Q-factor of the underlying oscillator is high enough so that it does not significantly affect the resonance frequencies. We consider the case when the Q-factor is low to the extent that the effect of damping is prominent. It is shown that the mass sensing can be achieved using a shift in the damping factor. We prove that the shift in the damping factor is of the same order as that of the resonance frequency. Based on this crucial observation, three new approaches have been proposed, namely, (a) mass sensing using frequency shifts in the complex plane, (b) mass sensing from damped free vibration response in the time domain, and (c) mass sensing from the steady-state response in the frequency domain. Explicit closed-form expressions relating absorbed mass with changes in the measured dynamic properties have been derived. The rationale behind each new method has been explained using non-dimensional graphical illustrations. The new mass sensing approaches using damped dynamic characteristics can expand the current horizon of micromechanical sensing by incorporating a wide range of additional measurements.

Household waste compositional analysis variation from insular communities in the framework of waste prevention strategy plans.

PubMed

Zorpas, Antonis A; Lasaridi, Katia; Voukkali, Irene; Loizia, Pantelitsa; Chroni, Christina

2015-04-01

Waste management planning requires reliable data regarding waste generation, affecting factors on waste generation and forecasts of waste quantities based on facts. In order to decrease the environmental impacts of waste management the choice of prevention plan as well as the treatment method must be based on the features of the waste that are produced in a specific area. Factors such as culture, economic development, climate, and energy sources have an impact on waste composition; composition influences the need of collecting waste more or less frequently of waste collection and disposition. The research question was to discover the main barriers concerning the compositional analysis in Insular Communities under warm climate conditions and the findings from this study enabled the main contents of a waste management plan to be established. These included advice to residents on waste minimisation, liaison with stakeholders and the expansion of kerbside recycling schemes. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Eye Disease

PubMed Central

Penn, J.S.; Madan, A.; Caldwell, R.B.; Bartoli, M.; Caldwell, R.W.; Hartnett, M.E.

2012-01-01

Collectively, angiogenic ocular conditions represent the leading cause of irreversible vision loss in developed countries. In the U.S., for example, retinopathy of prematurity, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration are the principal causes of blindness in the infant, working age and elderly populations, respectively. Evidence suggests that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a 40 kDa dimeric glycoprotein, promotes angiogenesis in each of these conditions, making it a highly significant therapeutic target. However, VEGF is pleiotropic, affecting a broad spectrum of endothelial, neuronal and glial behaviors, and confounding the validity of anti-VEGF strategies, particularly under chronic disease conditions. In fact, among other functions VEGF can influence cell proliferation, cell migration, proteolysis, cell survival and vessel permeability in a wide variety of biological contexts. This article will describe the roles played by VEGF in the pathogenesis of retinopathy of prematurity, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. The potential disadvantages of inhibiting VEGF will be discussed, as will the rationales for targeting other VEGF-related modulators of angiogenesis. PMID:18653375

Prediction of PM2.5 along urban highway corridor under mixed traffic conditions using CALINE4 model.

PubMed

Dhyani, Rajni; Sharma, Niraj; Maity, Animesh Kumar

2017-08-01

The present study deals with spatial-temporal distribution of PM 2.5 along a highly trafficked national highway corridor (NH-2) in Delhi, India. Population residing in areas near roads and highways of high vehicular activities are exposed to high levels of PM 2.5 resulting in various health issues. The spatial extent of PM 2.5 has been assessed with the help of CALINE4 model. Various input parameters of the model were estimated and used to predict PM 2.5 concentration along the selected highway corridor. The results indicated that there are many factors involved which affects the prediction of PM 2.5 concentration by CALINE4 model. In fact, these factors either not considered by model or have little influence on model's prediction capabilities. Therefore, in the present study CALINE4 model performance was observed to be unsatisfactory for prediction of PM 2.5 concentration. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The effects of age, education, and ethnicity on verbal fluency.

PubMed

Kempler, D; Teng, E L; Dick, M; Taussig, I M; Davis, D S

1998-11-01

A group of 317 healthy participants between 54 and 99 years of age performed a verbal fluency task. The participants included Chinese, Hispanic, and Vietnamese immigrants, as well as White and African American English speakers. They were given 1 min to name as many animals as possible in their native language. The results showed that more animal names were produced by younger people and those with more education. Language background was also an important factor: The Vietnamese produced the most animal names and the Spanish speakers produced the fewest. The exaggerated difference between these two groups is attributed to the fact that Vietnamese animal names are short (predominantly 1 syllable) while the Spanish animal names are longer than any other language in this study (2 and 3 syllables per word). Finally, although the ethnic groups named different animals, and appeared to vary in the variety of animal names they used, these factors did not affect overall verbal fluency performance.

Multidirectional Translation of Environmental Health Science in Community Settings: The Case of Oxidative Stress Pathways.

PubMed

Sampson, Natalie R; Tetteh, Myra M; Schulz, Amy J; Ramirez, Erminia; Wilkins, Donele; de Majo, Ricardo; Mentz, Graciela; Johnson-Lawrence, Vicki

2016-01-01

Translation of environmental health science in vulnerable communities is particularly important to promote public health and reduce health inequities. We describe a structured, multidirectional process used to develop a suite of health promotion tools (e.g., fact sheets, video, maps) documenting patterning of local air pollution sources and availability of antioxidant-rich foods in Detroit, Michigan as factors that jointly affect oxidative stress (OS). OS underlies many pathological processes associated with air pollution, including asthma, metabolic syndrome, cancer, diabetes, and obesity. This translational effort involved a 2-year dialogue among representatives from community-based and environmental organizations, health service providers, and academic researchers. This dialogue led to development of tools, as well as new opportunities to inform related policies and research. Through this example, we highlight how collaborative partnerships can enhance multidirectional dialogue to inform translation of environmental health science by promoting consideration of multilevel risk factors, local priorities and context, and diverse audiences.

Reading performance with large fonts on high-resolution displays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Powers, Maureen K.; Larimer, James O.; Gille, Jennifer; Liu, Hsien-Chang

2004-06-01

Reading is a fundamental task and skill in many environments including business, education, and the home. Today, reading often occurs on electronic displays in addition to traditional hard copy media such as books and magazines, presenting issues of legibility and other factors that can affect human performance [1]. In fact, the transition to soft copy media for text images is often met with worker complaints about their vision and comfort while reading [2-6]. Careful comparative evaluations of reading performance across hard and soft copy device types are rare, even though they are clearly important given the rapid and substantial improvements in soft copy devices available in the marketplace over the last 5 years. To begin to fill this evaluation gap, we compared reading performance on three different soft copy devices and traditional paper. This study does not investigate comfort factors such as display location, seating comfort, and more general issues of lighting, rather we focus instead on a narrow examination of reading performance differences across display types when font sizes are large.

Unisexual versus bisexual mating in Cryptococcus neoformans: Consequences and biological impacts

PubMed Central

Fu, Ci; Sun, Sheng; Billmyre, R. Blake; Roach, Kevin C.; Heitman, Joseph

2014-01-01

Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic human fungal pathogen and can undergo both bisexual and unisexual mating. Despite the fact that one mating type is dispensable for unisexual mating, the two sexual cycles share surprisingly similar features. Both mating cycles are affected by similar environmental factors and regulated by the same pheromone response pathway. Recombination takes place during unisexual reproduction in a fashion similar to bisexual reproduction and can both admix pre-existing genetic diversity and also generate diversity de novo just like bisexual reproduction. These common features may allow the unisexual life cycle to provide phenotypic and genotypic plasticity for the natural Cryptococcus population, which is predominantly α mating type, and to avoid Muller’s ratchet. The morphological transition from yeast to hyphal growth during both bisexual and unisexual mating may provide increased opportunities for outcrossing and the ability to forage for nutrients at a distance. The unisexual life cycle is a key evolutionary factor for Cryptococcus as a highly successful global fungal pathogen. PMID:25173822

Above-ground biomass of mangrove species. I. Analysis of models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soares, Mário Luiz Gomes; Schaeffer-Novelli, Yara

2005-10-01

This study analyzes the above-ground biomass of Rhizophora mangle and Laguncularia racemosa located in the mangroves of Bertioga (SP) and Guaratiba (RJ), Southeast Brazil. Its purpose is to determine the best regression model to estimate the total above-ground biomass and compartment (leaves, reproductive parts, twigs, branches, trunk and prop roots) biomass, indirectly. To do this, we used structural measurements such as height, diameter at breast-height (DBH), and crown area. A combination of regression types with several compositions of independent variables generated 2.272 models that were later tested. Subsequent analysis of the models indicated that the biomass of reproductive parts, branches, and prop roots yielded great variability, probably because of environmental factors and seasonality (in the case of reproductive parts). It also indicated the superiority of multiple regression to estimate above-ground biomass as it allows researchers to consider several aspects that affect above-ground biomass, specially the influence of environmental factors. This fact has been attested to the models that estimated the biomass of crown compartments.

The physical mechanisms of complete denture retention.

PubMed

Darvell, B W; Clark, R K

2000-09-09

The purpose of this article is to assist the practitioner to understand which factors are relevant to complete denture retention in the light of the current understanding of physics and materials science and thus to guide design. Atmospheric pressure, vacuum, adhesion, cohesion, surface tension, viscosity, base adaption, border seal, seating force and muscular control have all been cited at one time or another as major or contributory factors, but usually as an opinion without proper reference to fundamental principles. Although there has been a detailed analysis published, it seems appropriate that a restatement of the points in a collated form be made. In fact, denture retention is a dynamic issue dependent on the control of the flow of interposed fluid and thus its viscosity and film thickness, while the timescale of displacement loading affects the assessment. Surface tension forces at the periphery contribute to retention, but the most important concerns are good base adaptation and border seal. These must be achieved if full advantage is to be taken of the saliva flow-related effects.

Positionalism of Relations and Its Consequences for Fact-Oriented Modelling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keet, C. Maria

Natural language-based conceptual modelling as well as the use of diagrams have been essential components of fact-oriented modelling from its inception. However, transforming natural language to its corresponding object-role modelling diagram, and vv., is not trivial. This is due to the more fundamental problem of the different underlying ontological commitments concerning positionalism of the fact types. The natural language-based approach adheres to the standard view whereas the diagram-based approach has a positionalist commitment, which is, from an ontological perspective, incompatible with the former. This hinders seamless transition between the two approaches and affects interoperability with other conceptual modelling languages. One can adopt either the limited standard view or the positionalist commitment with fact types that may not be easily verbalisable but which facilitates data integration and reusability of conceptual models with ontological foundations.

Fact Sheet: Vulnerable Young Children

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shaw, Evelyn, Comp.; Goode, Sue, Comp.

2008-01-01

This fact sheet provides data on infants, toddlers and young children who are experiencing high stress as a result of a number of risk factors specifically identified in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004), including substantiated abuse or neglect, foster care placement, homelessness, exposure to family…

The Psychology of Cost Estimating

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Price, Andy

2016-01-01

Cost estimation for large (and even not so large) government programs is a challenge. The number and magnitude of cost overruns associated with large Department of Defense (DoD) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) programs highlight the difficulties in developing and promulgating accurate cost estimates. These overruns can be the result of inadequate technology readiness or requirements definition, the whims of politicians or government bureaucrats, or even as failures of the cost estimating profession itself. However, there may be another reason for cost overruns that is right in front of us, but only recently have we begun to grasp it: the fact that cost estimators and their customers are human. The last 70+ years of research into human psychology and behavioral economics have yielded amazing findings into how we humans process and use information to make judgments and decisions. What these scientists have uncovered is surprising: humans are often irrational and illogical beings, making decisions based on factors such as emotion and perception, rather than facts and data. These built-in biases to our thinking directly affect how we develop our cost estimates and how those cost estimates are used. We cost estimators can use this knowledge of biases to improve our cost estimates and also to improve how we communicate and work with our customers. By understanding how our customers think, and more importantly, why they think the way they do, we can have more productive relationships and greater influence. By using psychology to our advantage, we can more effectively help the decision maker and our organizations make fact-based decisions.

Schwannoma

MedlinePlus

... Classification Risk Factors Brain Tumor Facts Brain Tumor Dictionary Webinars Anytime Learning About Us Our Founders Board ... Factors Brain Tumor Statistics ABTA Publications Brain Tumor Dictionary Upcoming Webinars Anytime Learning Brain Tumor Educational Presentations ...

Celiac disease: From pathophysiology to treatment

PubMed Central

Parzanese, Ilaria; Qehajaj, Dorina; Patrinicola, Federica; Aralica, Merica; Chiriva-Internati, Maurizio; Stifter, Sanja; Elli, Luca; Grizzi, Fabio

2017-01-01

Celiac disease, also known as “celiac sprue”, is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the small intestine, produced by the ingestion of dietary gluten products in susceptible people. It is a multifactorial disease, including genetic and environmental factors. Environmental trigger is represented by gluten while the genetic predisposition has been identified in the major histocompatibility complex region. Celiac disease is not a rare disorder like previously thought, with a global prevalence around 1%. The reason of its under-recognition is mainly referable to the fact that about half of affected people do not have the classic gastrointestinal symptoms, but they present nonspecific manifestations of nutritional deficiency or have no symptoms at all. Here we review the most recent data concerning epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, available diagnostic tests and therapeutic management of celiac disease. PMID:28573065

The Impact of Race and Ethnicity, Immigration, and Political Context on Participation in American Electoral Politics

PubMed Central

Logan, John R.; Darrah, Jennifer; Oh, Sookhee

2013-01-01

This study uses national survey data in federal election years during 1996-2004 to examine voter registration and voting. It shows that racial/ethnic disparities in socio-economic resources and rootedness in the community do not explain overall group differences in electoral participation. It contradicts the expectation from an assimilation perspective that low levels of Latino participation are partly attributable to the large share of immigrants among Latinos. In fact net differences show higher average Latino participation than previously reported. The study focuses especially on contextual factors that could affect collective responses of group members. Moving beyond past research, significant effects are found for the group's representation among office holders, voting regulations, and state policies related to treatment of immigrants. PMID:24339453

The Impact of Race and Ethnicity, Immigration, and Political Context on Participation in American Electoral Politics.

PubMed

Logan, John R; Darrah, Jennifer; Oh, Sookhee

2012-01-01

This study uses national survey data in federal election years during 1996-2004 to examine voter registration and voting. It shows that racial/ethnic disparities in socio-economic resources and rootedness in the community do not explain overall group differences in electoral participation. It contradicts the expectation from an assimilation perspective that low levels of Latino participation are partly attributable to the large share of immigrants among Latinos. In fact net differences show higher average Latino participation than previously reported. The study focuses especially on contextual factors that could affect collective responses of group members. Moving beyond past research, significant effects are found for the group's representation among office holders, voting regulations, and state policies related to treatment of immigrants.

Compartmental shift of potassium--a result of sympathomimetic overdose.

PubMed

McCleave, D J; Phillips, P J; Vedig, A E

1978-04-01

A 17-year-old youth was admitted with a serum potassium concentration of 1.8 mmol/l after taking an overdose of pseudoephedrine and choline theophyllinate. Apart from tachycardia, tachypnoea and ankle clonus, examination was normal as was the initial electrocardiograph. The hypokalaemia resolved, but there was an overall positive potassium balance of only 13 mmol. This suggests that the sympathomimetics provoked a compartmental shift of potassium perhaps indirectly by inducing hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinaemia, as well as directly. Other factors known to affect body potassium distribution were excluded. The fact that features commonly associated with hypokalaemia could not be demonstrated may be explained by a normal body potassium content. Severe hypokalaemia caused by a compartmental shift occurs with large doses of sympathomimetics as well as in periodic paralysis.

Revisiting Postoperative Vision Loss following Non-Ocular Surgery: A Short Review of Etiology and Legal Considerations.

PubMed

Mendel, Ehud; Stoicea, Nicoleta; Rao, Rahul; Niermeyer, Weston; Revilla, Stephen; Cluse, Marcus; Sandhu, Gurneet; Todaro, Gerald J; Bergese, Sergio D

2017-01-01

Postoperative vision loss (POVL) following non-ocular surgery is a serious complication where the causes are not fully understood. Studies have identified several causes of POVL as well as risk factors and prevention strategies. POVL research is made difficult by the fact that cases are often subject to malpractice claims, resulting in a lack of public access to case reports. This literature review was conducted in order to identify legal issues as a major barrier to studying POVL and address how this affects current knowledge. Informed consent provides an opportunity to overcome legal challenges by reducing malpractice litigation through educating the patient on this outcome. Providing pertinent information regarding POVL during the informed consent process has potential to reduce malpractice claims and increase available clinical information.

Groundwater contaminant science activities of the U.S. Geological Survey in New England

USGS Publications Warehouse

Weiskel, Peter K.

2016-03-23

Aquifers in New England provide water for human needs and natural ecosystems. In some areas, however, aquifers have been degraded by contaminants from geologic and human sources. In recent decades, the U.S. Geological Survey has been a leader in describing contaminant occurrence in the bedrock and surficial aquifers of New England. In cooperation with Federal, State, and local agencies, the U.S. Geological Survey has also studied the vulnerability of groundwater to contaminants, the factors affecting the geographic distribution of contaminants, and the geochemical processes controlling contaminant transport and fate. This fact sheet describes some of the major science needs in the region related to groundwater contaminants and highlights recent U.S. Geological Survey studies that provide a foundation for future investigations.

[Francisco Gavaldá, ahead of his time in the social statistics study of bubonic plague (1679)].

PubMed

López Piñero, José María

2006-01-01

In 1651, Francisco Gavaldá (1618-1686) authored the first social statistics study on the bubonic plague which scourged western Europe in the mid-seventeenth century. specifically the plague having racked Valencia in 1647. Gavaldá was, in fact the first to study the plague not only statistically, but also from a social standpoint, denouncing the fact that it especially affected the poor, totally independently of the interests of the powerful.

A novel approach to the analysis of squeezed-film air damping in microelectromechanical systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Weilin; Li, Hongxia; Chatterjee, Aveek N.; Elfadel, Ibrahim (Abe M.; Ender Ocak, Ilker; Zhang, TieJun

2017-01-01

Squeezed-film damping (SFD) is a phenomenon that significantly affects the performance of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). The total damping force in MEMS mainly include the viscous damping force and elastic damping force. Quality factor (Q factor) is usually used to evaluate the damping in MEMS. In this work, we measure the Q factor of a resonator through experiments in a wide range of pressure levels. In fact, experimental characterizations of MEMS have some limitations because it is difficult to conduct experiments at very high vacuum and also hard to differentiate the damping mechanisms from the overall Q factor measurements. On the other hand, classical theoretical analysis of SFD is restricted to strong assumptions and simple geometries. In this paper, a novel numerical approach, which is based on lattice Boltzmann simulations, is proposed to investigate SFD in MEMS. Our method considers the dynamics of squeezed air flow as well as fluid-solid interactions in MEMS. It is demonstrated that Q factor can be directly predicted by numerical simulation, and our simulation results agree well with experimental data. Factors that influence SFD, such as pressure, oscillating amplitude, and driving frequency, are investigated separately. Furthermore, viscous damping and elastic damping forces are quantitatively compared based on comprehensive simulation. The proposed numerical approach as well as experimental characterization enables us to reveal the insightful physics of squeezed-film air damping in MEMS.

The multitude and diversity of environmental carcinogens.

PubMed

Belpomme, D; Irigaray, P; Hardell, L; Clapp, R; Montagnier, L; Epstein, S; Sasco, A J

2007-11-01

We have recently proposed that lifestyle-related factors, screening and aging cannot fully account for the present overall growing incidence of cancer. In order to propose the concept that in addition to lifestyle related factors, exogenous environmental factors may play a more important role in carcinogenesis than it is expected, and may therefore account for the growing incidence of cancer, we overview herein environmental factors, rated as certainly or potentially carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). We thus analyze the carcinogenic effect of microorganisms (including viruses), radiations (including radioactivity, UV and pulsed electromagnetic fields) and xenochemicals. Chemicals related to environmental pollution appear to be of critical importance, since they can induce occupational cancers as well as other cancers. Of major concerns are: outdoor air pollution by carbon particles associated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; indoor air pollution by environmental tobacco smoke, formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds such as benzene and 1,3 butadiene, which may particularly affect children, and food pollution by food additives and by carcinogenic contaminants such as nitrates, pesticides, dioxins and other organochlorines. In addition, carcinogenic metals and metalloids, pharmaceutical medicines and cosmetics may be involved. Although the risk fraction attributable to environmental factors is still unknown, this long list of carcinogenic and especially mutagenic factors supports our working hypothesis according to which numerous cancers may in fact be caused by the recent modification of our environment.

The multitude and diversity of environmental carcinogens

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

Belpomme, D.; Cancer Research Center, Association for Research and Treatments Against Cancer; Irigaray, P.

2007-11-15

We have recently proposed that lifestyle-related factors, screening and aging cannot fully account for the present overall growing incidence of cancer. In order to propose the concept that in addition to lifestyle related factors, exogenous environmental factors may play a more important role in carcinogenesis than it is expected, and may therefore account for the growing incidence of cancer, we overview herein environmental factors, rated as certainly or potentially carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). We thus analyze the carcinogenic effect of microorganisms (including viruses), radiations (including radioactivity, UV and pulsed electromagnetic fields) and xenochemicals. Chemicalsmore » related to environmental pollution appear to be of critical importance, since they can induce occupational cancers as well as other cancers. Of major concerns are: outdoor air pollution by carbon particles associated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; indoor air pollution by environmental tobacco smoke, formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds such as benzene and 1,3 butadiene, which may particularly affect children, and food pollution by food additives and by carcinogenic contaminants such as nitrates, pesticides, dioxins and other organochlorines. In addition, carcinogenic metals and metalloids, pharmaceutical medicines and cosmetics may be involved. Although the risk fraction attributable to environmental factors is still unknown, this long list of carcinogenic and especially mutagenic factors supports our working hypothesis according to which numerous cancers may in fact be caused by the recent modification of our environment.« less

Lower brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels associated with worsening fatigue in prostate cancer patients during repeated stress from radiation therapy.

PubMed

Saligan, L N; Lukkahatai, N; Holder, G; Walitt, B; Machado-Vieira, R

2016-12-01

Fatigue during cancer treatment is associated with depression. Neurotrophic factors play a major role in depression and stress and might provide insight into mechanisms of fatigue. This study investigated the association between plasma concentrations of three neurotrophic factors (BDNF, brain-derived neurotrophic factor; GDNF, glial-derived neurotrophic factor; and SNAPIN, soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive fusion attachment receptor-associated protein) and initial fatigue intensification during external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) in euthymic non-metastatic prostate cancer men. Fatigue, as measured by the 13-item Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Fatigue (FACT-F), and plasma neurotrophic factors were collected at baseline (prior to EBRT) and mid-EBRT. Subjects were categorized into fatigue and no fatigue groups using a > 3-point change in FACT-F scores between the two time points. Multiple linear regressions analysed the associations between fatigue and neurotrophic factors. FACT-F scores of 47 subjects decreased from baseline (43.95 ± 1.3) to mid-EBRT (38.36 ± 1.5, P < 0.001), indicating worsening fatigue. SNAPIN levels were associated with fatigue scores (r s = 0.43, P = 0.005) at baseline. A significant decrease of BDNF concentration (P = 0.008) was found in fatigued subjects during EBRT (n = 39). Baseline SNAPIN and decreasing BDNF levels may influence worsening fatigue during EBRT. Further investigations are warranted to confirm their role in the pathophysiology and therapeutics of fatigue.

Choroid Plexus

MedlinePlus

... Classification Risk Factors Brain Tumor Facts Brain Tumor Dictionary Webinars Anytime Learning About Us Our Founders Board ... Factors Brain Tumor Statistics ABTA Publications Brain Tumor Dictionary Upcoming Webinars Anytime Learning Brain Tumor Educational Presentations ...

Intrinsic Factors Influencing Decision making of Arbitrators in Dispute Resolution of variation Claims

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iyer, K. C.; Chaphalkar, N. B.; Patil, Smita K.

2018-06-01

Occurrence of disputes is a common feature in construction contracts. Adjudication of disputes through the arbitration process involves detailed and through analysis of facts and evidences related to the case before arriving at the final decision. These facts and evidences have been explored by researchers to develop dispute resolution mechanisms. As a part of the research, the present work identifies the factors which influence the decision making of arbitrators in resolving disputes through a case study of 72 arbitration awards and settled court cases related to Indian construction contracts. This work further seeks consensus for the identified factors from experts and also ranks the factors based on their importance with the help of the responses obtained through a questionnaire survey and statistical tests.

Students' Motivation toward English Language Learning at Undergraduate Level

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ahmed, Mumtaz; Aftab, Maria; Yaqoob, Humaira

2015-01-01

The main purpose of this descriptive research is to explore the fact that why students are less motivated towards English language learning at undergraduate level. It also throws light upon the very facts of motivation with regard to the factors like student-teacher relationship, class room environment, self esteem or self respect, and willingness…

Fuels planning: science synthesis and integration; social issues fact sheet 07: The "laws" of effective public education about fire hazards

Treesearch

Rocky Mountain Research Station USDA Forest Service

2004-01-01

Within the past 10 years, breakthrough research has identified factors that are most important for effectively communicating about wildland fire hazards. This fact sheet discusses seven "Laws" of effective public communication that should be considered in any state-of-the-art education campaign.

The use of the FACT-H&N (v4) in clinical settings within a developing country: a mixed method study.

PubMed

Bilal, Sobia; Doss, Jennifer Geraldine; Rogers, Simon N

2014-12-01

In the last decade there has been an increasing awareness about 'quality of life' (QOL) of cancer survivors in developing countries. The study aimed to cross-culturally adapt and validate the FACT-H&N (v4) in Urdu language for Pakistani head and neck cancer patients. In this study the 'same language adaptation method' was used. Cognitive debriefing through in-depth interviews of 25 patients to assess semantic, operational and conceptual equivalence was done. The validation phase included 50 patients to evaluate the psychometric properties. The translated FACT-H&N was easily comprehended (100%). Cronbach's alpha for FACT-G subscales ranged from 0.726 - 0.969. The head and neck subscale and Pakistani questions subscale showed low internal consistency (0.426 and 0.541 respectively). Instrument demonstrated known-group validity in differentiating patients of different clinical stages, treatment status and tumor sites (p < 0.05). Most FACT summary scales correlated strongly with each other (r > 0.75) and showed convergent validity (r > 0.90), with little discriminant validity. Factor analysis revealed 6 factors explaining 85.1% of the total variance with very good (>0.8) Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin and highly significant Bartlett's Test of Sphericity (p < 0.001). The cross-culturally adapted FACT-H&N into Urdu language showed adequate reliability and validity to be incorporated in Pakistani clinical settings for head and neck cancer patients. Copyright © 2014 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Smoking and obesity make a bad problem worse: genetics and lifestyle affect high density lipoprotein levels in Turks.

PubMed

Hodoğlugil, Uğur; Mahley, Robert W

2006-03-01

Low levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) are an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease. The Turkish Heart Study revealed very low levels of plasma HDL-C in the Turkish population, a fact confirmed by the Heart Disease and Risk Factors in Turkish Adults study. Low HDL-C levels have also been observed in Turks living in the United States, Germany, and the Netherlands. Dietary habits do not explain the low HDL-C levels, which were found in Turkish Heart Study participants from six regions of Turkey with significant differences in typical diets. Among newborns and pre-pubescent children, plasma HDL-C levels were similar in Turks and western Europeans. After puberty, however, HDL-C levels declined significantly in Turkish boys and girls. These results suggest a genetic basis for the low HDL-C levels. In fact, hepatic lipase activity modulated by sex hormones was 25-30% higher in the Turkish population than in other populations. Elevated hepatic lipase activity is clearly associated with low plasma HDL-C in many studies. Results of a recent genome-wide scan for plasma HDL-C in Turks revealed a linkage on chromosome 15q22 where the hepatic lipase gene is located and that low HDL-C was 80% heritable. In addition, evidence for an interaction between HDL-C levels and modifiable environmental factors, particularly smoking and obesity, came from the study of cholesterol ester transfer protein TaqIB polymorphism. This polymorphism was associated with plasma HDL-C levels in Turks. Subjects with the B2B2 genotype-both smokers and nonsmokers-had higher plasma HDL-C levels. Interestingly, B2B2 subjects were protected from the HDL-C-lowering effect of smoking, whereas B1B1 subjects who smoked had significantly lower HDL-C levels. A similar interaction was observed between TaqIB polymorphism and obesity. In conclusion, low HDL-C levels in Turks were modulated by genetic factors and their interaction with modifiable environmental factors, such as smoking and obesity.

A study of the environmental determinants of malaria and schistosomiasis in the Philippines using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems.

PubMed

Leonardo, L R; Rivera, P T; Crisostomo, B A; Sarol, J N; Bantayan, N C; Tiu, W U; Bergquist, N R

2005-03-01

Malaria and schistosomiasis are two water-related parasitic diseases affecting millions of people worldwide particularly tropical and subtropical countries. In the Philippines, malaria is found in 72 out of 78 provinces while schistosomiasis is endemic in 24 provinces. The Anopheles mosquito and the Oncomelania snail involved in the transmission of these diseases depend on certain environmental determinants that support mosquito and snail populations. This study, done for the first time in the Philippines, successfully showed how Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) can be effectively used in showing how these environmental factors affect the spatial distribution of these two diseases. The study sites, i.e. the municipalities of Asuncion and Kapalong, are known endemic sites for both malaria and schistosomiasis. Georeferenced data enabled visualization of prevalence data in relation to physical maps thus facilitating assessment of disease situation in the two municipalities. RS and GIS data proved that other factors aside from climate influence the epidemiology of the diseases in the two sites. Topography and slope as main physical factors influence the vegetation cover, land use and soil type prevailing in particular areas. In addition, water sources especially irrigation networks differed in various places in the study sites in turn affecting the magnitude and distribution of malaria and schistosomiasis. Significant correlations found between the diseases and the environmental variables formed the basis for development of models to predict the disease prevalence in the two municipalities. Proximity to snail breeding sites and irrigation networks and the highly agricultural nature of the barangays were identified as the most common factors that define the high prevalence areas for schistosomiasis confirming the fact that conditions that support the snail populations will in turn favor the presence of the disease. For malaria, the predictive models included temperature, humidity, soil type, predominance of reproduction brush, presence of cultivated areas, distance from deep wells and distance from conventional water source which are in turn influenced by the factor of elevation.

Ethical aspects of creating human-nonhuman chimeras capable of human gamete production and human pregnancy.

PubMed

Palacios-González, César

2015-01-01

In this paper I explore some of the moral issues that could emerge from the creation of human-nonhuman chimeras (HNH-chimeras) capable of human gamete production and human pregnancy. First I explore whether there is a cogent argument against the creation of HNH-chimeras that could produce human gametes. I conclude that so far there is none, and that in fact there is at least one good moral reason for producing such types of creatures. Afterwards I explore some of the moral problems that could emerge from the fact that a HNH-chimera could become pregnant with a human conceptus. I focus on two sets of problems: problems that would arise by virtue of the fact that a human is gestated by a nonhuman creature, and problems that would emerge from the fact that such pregnancies could affect the health of the HNH-chimera.

Ferulic acid-coupled chitosan: thermal stability and utilization as an antioxidant for biodegradable active packaging film.

PubMed

Woranuch, Sarekha; Yoksan, Rangrong; Akashi, Mitsuru

2015-01-22

The aim of the present research was to study the thermal stability of ferulic acid after coupling onto chitosan, and the possibility of using ferulic acid-coupled chitosan (FA-CTS) as an antioxidant for biodegradable active packaging film. FA-CTS was incorporated into biodegradable film via a two-step process, i.e. compounding extrusion at temperatures up to 150°C followed by blown film extrusion at temperatures up to 175°C. Although incorporation of FA-CTS with a content of 0.02-0.16% (w/w) caused decreased water vapor barrier property and reduced extensibility, the biodegradable films possessed improved oxygen barrier property and antioxidant activity. Radical scavenging activity and reducing power of film containing FA-CTS were higher than those of film containing naked ferulic acid, by about 254% and 94%, respectively. Tensile strength and rigidity of the films were not significantly affected by the addition of FA-CTS with a content of 0.02-0.08% (w/w). The above results suggested that FA-CTS could potentially be used as an antioxidant for active packaging film. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Which factors enhance positive drug reimbursement recommendation in Scotland? A retrospective analysis 2006-2013.

PubMed

Charokopou, Mata; Majer, Istvan M; Raad, Johan de; Broekhuizen, Stefan; Postma, Maarten; Heeg, Bart

2015-03-01

To identify the factors that influence the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) in deciding whether to accept pharmaceutical technologies for use within the Scottish health care system. A database of SMC submissions between 2006 and 2013 was created, containing a range of clinical, economic, and other factors extracted from published health technology assessment reports. A binomial outcome variable was used, defined as the decision to "accept for use" or "not recommend" a technology. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to assess the impact by means of odds ratios (ORs) of the submitted evidence on the recommendation decision. Out of 463 applications, 265 were accepted for use (57%) and 198 (43%) were not recommended for use within National Health Service Scotland. Univariate analyses showed that 13 variables significantly affected the SMC decision. Of these 13 variables, 7 variables were shown to have a meaningful impact in the multivariate analysis. Four of these concerned the outcome of cost-effectiveness analyses; the fact that a submission was supported by a cost-minimization analysis was the strongest positive variable (OR = 10.30) and a submission showing a product not being cost-effective (i.e., incremental cost-effectiveness ratio above £30,000/quality-adjusted life-year gained) was the strongest negative predictor (OR = 0.47). The other variables concerned whether the submission was related to a product indicated for a nervous system disease (OR = 0.41), whether it was indicated for nonchronic use (OR = 1.66), and whether the submission was performed by a big company (OR = 2.83). This study demonstrated that the outcome of cost-effectiveness analyses is an important factor affecting the SMC's reimbursement recommendation decision. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Inc.

The Quality of Life of Mustard Gas Victims: A Systematic Review

PubMed Central

Satkin, Mojtaba; Ghanei, Mostafa; Allahverdi, Sahar; Elikaei, Mahdi

2017-01-01

Background: Today, a host of veterans who were exposed to mustard gas suffer from substantially poor quality of life (QoL). However, factors that influence these patients’ QoL have not been yet scrutinized. QoL is deemed as a crucial construct that demands careful attention during evaluation as well as intervention. The present study aimed to delve into the physical, mental, and social factors that affect the QoL of mustard gas victims. Materials and Methods: All the physical, mental, and social parameters that influence the QoL of mustard gas victims were scrutinized through a systematic review. We searched for Persian and English scientific databases, i.e., PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, and national databanks, namely SID, IranMedex, and Magiran to identify studies related to chemical victims conducted up to the end of 2015. Next, the quality of 21 articles and studies were assessed using the checklist of the National Institute of Health (NIH), and subsequently, 13 articles were selected for the stages of data extraction and analysis. Results: Findings revealed that, among the physical factors, coexistence of several medical conditions caused by chemical injury and the severity of the chemical injury had the greatest impact on the QoL of chemically injured veterans. Besides, suffering from psychological and neurological disorders, along with educational level and employment status, were the most influential psychosocial parameters that influenced veterans’ QoL. Conclusion: The review conducted herein identified the physical and psychosocial factors affecting the QoL of mustard gas victims. In fact, it is the first to present a large collection of descriptive information on QoL contributors in a systematic and orderly fashion. PMID:29308076

Novel genes and mutations in patients affected by recurrent pregnancy loss.

PubMed

Quintero-Ronderos, Paula; Mercier, Eric; Fukuda, Michiko; González, Ronald; Suárez, Carlos Fernando; Patarroyo, Manuel Alfonso; Vaiman, Daniel; Gris, Jean-Christophe; Laissue, Paul

2017-01-01

Recurrent pregnancy loss is a frequently occurring human infertility-related disease affecting ~1% of women. It has been estimated that the cause remains unexplained in >50% cases which strongly suggests that genetic factors may contribute towards the phenotype. Concerning its molecular aetiology numerous studies have had limited success in identifying the disease's genetic causes. This might have been due to the fact that hundreds of genes are involved in each physiological step necessary for guaranteeing reproductive success in mammals. In such scenario, next generation sequencing provides a potentially interesting tool for research into recurrent pregnancy loss causative mutations. The present study involved whole-exome sequencing and an innovative bioinformatics analysis, for the first time, in 49 unrelated women affected by recurrent pregnancy loss. We identified 27 coding variants (22 genes) potentially related to the phenotype (41% of patients). The affected genes, which were enriched by potentially deleterious sequence variants, belonged to distinct molecular cascades playing key roles in implantation/pregnancy biology. Using a quantum chemical approach method we established that mutations in MMP-10 and FGA proteins led to substantial energetic modifications suggesting an impact on their functions and/or stability. The next generation sequencing and bioinformatics approaches presented here represent an efficient way to find mutations, having potentially moderate/strong functional effects, associated with recurrent pregnancy loss aetiology. We consider that some of these variants (and genes) represent probable future biomarkers for recurrent pregnancy loss.

Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders

MedlinePlus

... families in our new awareness campaign video. GO Zika services near you Visit Zika Care Connect to find providers who help families affected by Zika GO Zika and pregnancy fact sheet Download our ...

78 FR 43909 - Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-22

..., and other pertinent sciences established to review conflicting scientific and technical data and... http://floodsrp.org/pdfs/srp_fact_sheet.pdf . The watersheds and/or communities affected are listed in...

78 FR 43910 - Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-22

..., and other pertinent sciences established to review conflicting scientific and technical data and... http://floodsrp.org/pdfs/srp_fact_sheet.pdf . The watersheds and/or communities affected are listed in...

78 FR 43906 - Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-22

... sciences established to review conflicting scientific and technical data and provide recommendations for....org/pdfs/srp_fact_sheet.pdf . The watersheds and/or communities affected are listed in the tables...

Clinical review: Positive end-expiratory pressure and cardiac output

PubMed Central

Luecke, Thomas; Pelosi, Paolo

2005-01-01

In patients with acute lung injury, high levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) may be necessary to maintain or restore oxygenation, despite the fact that 'aggressive' mechanical ventilation can markedly affect cardiac function in a complex and often unpredictable fashion. As heart rate usually does not change with PEEP, the entire fall in cardiac output is a consequence of a reduction in left ventricular stroke volume (SV). PEEP-induced changes in cardiac output are analyzed, therefore, in terms of changes in SV and its determinants (preload, afterload, contractility and ventricular compliance). Mechanical ventilation with PEEP, like any other active or passive ventilatory maneuver, primarily affects cardiac function by changing lung volume and intrathoracic pressure. In order to describe the direct cardiocirculatory consequences of respiratory failure necessitating mechanical ventilation and PEEP, this review will focus on the effects of changes in lung volume, factors controlling venous return, the diastolic interactions between the ventricles and the effects of intrathoracic pressure on cardiac function, specifically left ventricular function. Finally, the hemodynamic consequences of PEEP in patients with heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and acute respiratory distress syndrome are discussed. PMID:16356246

Youth Attitude Tracking Study. Volume 1. Spring 1977.

DTIC Science & Technology

1977-08-01

such factors as pc.nmotional materials, re- cruiting practices, and advertising strategy . MARKET FACTS Page 4 Study Design The survey involved 16-21 year...cr a Oa: C; C;1 <.- £ K M C, Ui. 00 U- Cd 0 M US MARKET FACTS Page 118 4.6 Advertising Content Recall In past waves respondents1 ability to i-dentify... Advertising Not At All Meaningful Source: Q u. 7e L MARKET FACTS Page 1Z2 Advertising by all services was rated on the average between "Somewhat

Biodiesel Basics (Spanish Version); Clean Cities, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE)

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

None

This Spanish-language fact sheet provides a brief introduction to biodiesel, including a discussion of biodiesel blends, which blends are best for which vehicles, where to buy biodiesel, how biodiesel compares to diesel fuel in terms of performance, how biodiesel performs in cold weather, whether biodiesel use will plug vehicle filters, how long-term biodiesel use may affect engines, biodiesel fuel standards, and whether biodiesel burns cleaner than diesel fuel. The fact sheet also dismisses the use of vegetable oil as a motor fuel.

Biodiesel Basics

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

Putzig, Mollie

This fact sheet (updated for 2017) provides a brief introduction to biodiesel, including a discussion of biodiesel blends, which blends are best for which vehicles, where to buy biodiesel, how biodiesel compares to diesel fuel in terms of performance, the difference between biodiesel and renewable diesel, how biodiesel performs in cold weather, whether biodiesel use will plug vehicle filters, how long-term biodiesel use may affect engines, biodiesel fuel standards, and whether biodiesel burns cleaner than diesel fuel. The fact sheet also dismisses the use of vegetable oil as a motor fuel.

Ten Facts Every Parent Should Know about the No Child Left Behind Act = Diez datos que cada padre debe saber sobre La Ley. Que Ningun Nino Se Quede Atras.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Department of Education, Washington, DC.

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) is President George W. Bush's education reform law passed by Republicans and Democrats in Congress. This flier, in both English and Spanish, details 10 facts concerning NCLB to inform parents as to the goals of the Act and how they will affect their child's school. The flier highlights how the Act: (1) gives…

Biodiesel Basics

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

None

2017-09-01

This fact sheet (updated for 2017) provides a brief introduction to biodiesel, including a discussion of biodiesel blends, which blends are best for which vehicles, where to buy biodiesel, how biodiesel compares to diesel fuel in terms of performance, the difference between biodiesel and renewable diesel, how biodiesel performs in cold weather, whether biodiesel use will plug vehicle filters, how long-term biodiesel use may affect engines, biodiesel fuel standards, and whether biodiesel burns cleaner than diesel fuel. The fact sheet also dismisses the use of vegetable oil as a motor fuel.

The Star Schema Benchmark and Augmented Fact Table Indexing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

O'Neil, Patrick; O'Neil, Elizabeth; Chen, Xuedong; Revilak, Stephen

We provide a benchmark measuring star schema queries retrieving data from a fact table with Where clause column restrictions on dimension tables. Clustering is crucial to performance with modern disk technology, since retrievals with filter factors down to 0.0005 are now performed most efficiently by sequential table search rather than by indexed access. DB2’s Multi-Dimensional Clustering (MDC) provides methods to "dice" the fact table along a number of orthogonal "dimensions", but only when these dimensions are columns in the fact table. The diced cells cluster fact rows on several of these "dimensions" at once so queries restricting several such columns can access crucially localized data, with much faster query response. Unfortunately, columns of dimension tables of a star schema are not usually represented in the fact table. In this paper, we show a simple way to adjoin physical copies of dimension columns to the fact table, dicing data to effectively cluster query retrieval, and explain how such dicing can be achieved on database products other than DB2. We provide benchmark measurements to show successful use of this methodology on three commercial database products.

Evolutionary theory and teleology.

PubMed

O'Grady, R T

1984-04-21

The order within and among living systems can be explained rationally by postulating a process of descent with modification, effected by factors which are extrinsic or intrinsic to the organisms. Because at the time Darwin proposed his theory of evolution there was no concept of intrinsic factors which could evolve, he postulated a process of extrinsic effects--natural selection. Biological order was thus seen as an imposed, rather than an emergent, property. Evolutionary change was seen as being determined by the functional efficiency (adaptedness) of the organism in its environment, rather than by spontaneous changes in intrinsically generated organizing factors. The initial incompleteness of Darwin's explanatory model, and the axiomatization of its postulates in neo-Darwinism, has resulted in a theory of functionalism, rather than structuralism. As such, it introduces an unnecessary teleology which confounds evolutionary studies and reduces the usefulness of the theory. This problem cannot be detected from within the neo-Darwinian paradigm because the different levels of end-directed activity--teleomatic, teleonomic, and teleological--are not recognized. They are, in fact, considered to influence one another. The theory of nonequilibrium evolution avoids these problems by returning to the basic principles of biological order and developing a structuralist explanation of intrinsically generated change. Extrinsic factors may affect the resultant evolutionary pattern, but they are neither necessary nor sufficient for evolution to occur.

Behavior and lifestyle characteristics of male Kuwaiti drivers.

PubMed

Al-Hemoud, Ali M; Simmons, Rodney J; Al-Asfoor, May M

2010-08-01

The high traffic accident risk among young drivers is a well-known and well-documented fact in most countries. Lifestyle has proven to affect driving behavior as well as accident risk. This study covers the lifestyle component of the problems related to young male Kuwaiti drivers' accident risk. The purpose of the study is to measure the relationship between lifestyle and accident risk. Lifestyle is measured through a questionnaire, where 302 male Kuwaiti drivers (mean age=28 years; range 25-35 years) answer 39 questions related to behavioral and social factors, road conditions, police enforcement, and life satisfaction. They also report their involvement in accidents and traffic violations. The questionnaire's validity and reliability (Cronbach's alpha=0.7) were achieved. Principal component analysis reduced the 39 items on the questionnaire to 5 factors. Inadequate police enforcement is strongly correlated (r=0.862) to accident risk and traffic violations and is thus considered the best predictor of traffic accidents in Kuwait. As driving-related incidents (on-the-job and off-the-job) are a significant source of fatalities and lost-work-days, the study points to the importance of considering cultural factors in the design of comprehensive safety programs for industry. 2010. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

[Influence of meteorological factors on the activity of the adult taiga tick (Ixodes persulcatus Sch., Ixodinae) in St. Petersburg and its environs].

PubMed

Osipova, T N; Grigoryeva, L A; Samoylova, E P; Shapar, A O; Bychkova, E M

2017-01-01

The article deals with influence of meteorolical factors on the activity of the taiga tick Ixodes persulvatus Sch. in St. Petersburg and its environs. The results of correlation analysis of meteorological data (21 index) and data ticks collected in 1980-2012 allowed determining linear dependence between 11 meteorological indices an average amount of ticks. Factor analysis reduced dimentionality down to 3 indices: sum of temperatures higher than +5.0 °C, sum of precipitation higher than 5 mm per year, and Selyaninov hydrothermal coefficient. It was demonstrated that, at the background of the general tendency for the decrease of the average number of active ticks in the studied territories, correlation between the amount of ticks and meteorological indices can significantly vary as in the correlation density, so in the character and in dependence of microclimatic features of the collecting site. When variability of the mean abundance of ticks during years of investigation is low, the methods of collecting can significantly affect the results of the statistical analysis. This fact must be taken in consideration during prognosis of both dates of the beginning of epidemiological season and its intensity.

Quantifying the Effect of Macroeconomic and Social Factors on Illegal E-Waste Trade.

PubMed

Efthymiou, Loukia; Mavragani, Amaryllis; Tsagarakis, Konstantinos P

2016-08-05

As illegal e-waste trade has been significantly growing over the course of the last few years, the consequences on human health and the environment demand immediate action on the part of the global community. Though it is argued that e-waste flows from developed to developing countries, this subject seems to be more complex than that, with a variety of studies suggesting that income per capita is not the only factor affecting the choice of regions that e-waste is illegally shipped to. How is a country's economic and social development associated with illegal e-waste trade? Is legislation an important factor? This paper aims at quantifying macroeconomic (per capita income and openness of economy) and social (human development and social progress) aspects, based on qualitative data on illegal e-waste trade routes, by examining the percentage differences in scorings in selected indicators for all known and suspected routes. The results show that illegal e-waste trade occurs from economically and socially developed regions to countries with significantly lower levels of overall development, with few exceptions, which could be attributed to the fact that several countries have loose regulations on e-waste trade, thus deeming them attractive for potential illegal activities.

EPIGENETIC MECHANISMS OF ALCOHOLISM AND STRESS-RELATED DISORDERS

PubMed Central

Palmisano, Martina; Pandey, Subhash C.

2017-01-01

Stress-related disorders, such as anxiety, early life stress and posttraumatic stress disorder appear to be important factors in promoting alcoholism, as alcohol consumption can temporarily attenuate the negative affective symptoms of these disorders. Several molecules involved in signaling pathways may contribute to the neuroadaptation induced during alcohol dependence and stress disorders, and among these, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and opioid peptides (i.e. nociceptin and dynorphin) are involved in the interaction of stress and alcohol. In fact, alterations in the expression and function of these molecules have been associated with the pathophysiology of stress-related disorders and alcoholism. In recent years, various studies have focused on the epigenetic mechanisms that regulate chromatin architecture thereby modifying gene expression. Interestingly, epigenetic modifications in specific brain regions have been shown to be associated with the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders, including alcoholism and stress. In particular, the enzymes responsible for chromatin remodeling (i.e. histone deacetylases and methyltransferases, DNA methyltransferases) have been identified as common molecular mechanisms for the interaction of stress and alcohol and have become promising therapeutic targets to treat or prevent alcoholism and associated emotional disorders. PMID:28477725

Diet and Inflammation: Possible Effects on Immunity, Chronic Diseases, and Life Span.

PubMed

Ricordi, Camillo; Garcia-Contreras, Marta; Farnetti, Sara

2015-01-01

Chronic inflammation negatively impacts all physiological functions, causing an array of degenerative conditions including diabetes; cancer; cardiovascular, osteo-articular, and neurodegenerative diseases; autoimmunity disorders; and aging. In particular, there is a growing knowledge of the role that gene transcription factors play in the inflammatory process. Obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes represent multifactorial conditions resulting from improper balances of hormones and gene expression. In addition, these conditions have a strong inflammatory component that can potentially be impacted by the diet. It can reduce pro-inflammatory eicosanoids that can alter hormonal signaling cascades to the modulation of the innate immune system and gene transcription factors. Working knowledge of the impact of how nutrients, especially dietary fatty acids and polyphenols, can impact these various molecular targets makes it possible to develop a general outline of an anti-inflammatory diet that offers a unique, nonpharmacological approach in treating obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes. Several important bioactive dietary components can exert their effect through selected inflammatory pathways that can affect metabolic and genetic changes. In fact, dietary components that can modulate glucose and insulin levels, as well as any other mediator that can activate nuclear factor-kB, can also trigger inflammation through common pathway master switches.

Biogeographical distribution and diversity of bacterial communities in surface sediments of the South China Sea.

PubMed

Li, Tao; Wang, Peng

2013-05-01

This paper aims at an investigation of the features of bacterial communities in surface sediments of the South China Sea (SCS). In particular, biogeographical distribution patterns and the phylogenetic diversity of bacteria found in sediments collected from a coral reef platform, a continental slope, and a deep-sea basin were determined. Bacterial diversity was measured by an observation of 16S rRNA genes, and 18 phylogenetic groups were identified in the bacterial clone library. Planctomycetes, Deltaproteobacteria, candidate division OP11, and Alphaproteobacteria made up the majority of the bacteria in the samples, with their mean bacterial clones being 16%, 15%, 12%, and 9%, respectively. By comparison, the bacterial communities found in the SCS surface sediments were significantly different from other previously observed deep-sea bacterial communities. This research also emphasizes the fact that geographical factors have an impact on the biogeographical distribution patterns of bacterial communities. For instance, canonical correspondence analyses illustrated that the percentage of sand weight and water depth are important factors affecting the bacterial community composition. Therefore, this study highlights the importance of adequately determining the relationship between geographical factors and the distribution of bacteria in the world's seas and oceans.

Epigenetic mechanisms of alcoholism and stress-related disorders.

PubMed

Palmisano, Martina; Pandey, Subhash C

2017-05-01

Stress-related disorders, such as anxiety, early life stress, and posttraumatic stress disorder appear to be important factors in promoting alcoholism, as alcohol consumption can temporarily attenuate the negative affective symptoms of these disorders. Several molecules involved in signaling pathways may contribute to the neuroadaptation induced during alcohol dependence and stress disorders, and among these, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and opioid peptides (i.e., nociceptin and dynorphin) are involved in the interaction of stress and alcohol. In fact, alterations in the expression and function of these molecules have been associated with the pathophysiology of stress-related disorders and alcoholism. In recent years, various studies have focused on the epigenetic mechanisms that regulate chromatin architecture, thereby modifying gene expression. Interestingly, epigenetic modifications in specific brain regions have been shown to be associated with the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders, including alcoholism and stress. In particular, the enzymes responsible for chromatin remodeling (i.e., histone deacetylases and methyltransferases, DNA methyltransferases) have been identified as common molecular mechanisms for the interaction of stress and alcohol and have become promising therapeutic targets to treat or prevent alcoholism and associated emotional disorders. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Ground Taxi Navigation Problems and Training Solutions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Quinn, Cheryl; Walter, Kim E.; Rosekind, Mark (Technical Monitor)

1997-01-01

Adverse weather conditions can put considerable strain on the National Airspace System. Even small decreases in visibility on the airport surface can create delays, hinder safe movement and lead to errors. Studies of Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) surface movement incidents support the need for technologies and procedures to improve ground operations in low-visibility conditions. This study examined 139 ASRS reports of low-visibility surface movement incidents at 10 major U.S. airports. Errors were characterized in terms of incident type, contributing factors and consequences. The incidents in the present sample were comprised of runway transgressions, taxiway excursions and ground conflicts. The primary contributing factors were Airport Layout and Markings, Communication and Distraction. In half the incidents the controller issued a new clearance or the flight crew took an evasive action and in the remaining half, no recovery attempt was made because the error was detected after the fact. By gaining a better understanding the factors that affect crew navigation in low visibility and the types of errors that are likely to occur, it will be possible to develop more robust technologies to aid pilots in the ground taxi task. Implications for crew training and procedure development for low-visibility ground taxi are also discussed.

Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Dropping Out: A Quick Stats Fact Sheet

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gourley, Becca

2009-01-01

This fact sheet is intended to provide a snapshot of the current issues surrounding dropout factors among students who are identified with emotional disturbance, as well as to provide mental health resources that may assist this population to remain in high school. The statistics presented in this document highlight both the importance of…

77 FR 69455 - Proposed Recommendations Regarding Money Market Mutual Fund Reform

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-19

... share and other factors as discussed below. MMFs' activities and practices give rise to a structural...'' (Oct. 25, 2012), available at http://www.ici.org/research/stats/mmf . MMFs are a convenient and cost... http://www.ici.org/research/stats/mmf ; ICI Fact Book, at Table 39. \\6\\ See ICI Fact Book, at Table 5...

Learning Orientations of IT Higher Education Students in UAE University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Al-Qirim, Nabeel; Tarhini, Ali; Rouibah, Kamel; Mohamd, Serhani; Yammahi, Aishah Rashid; Yammahi, Maraim Ahmed

2018-01-01

This research examines the learning preferences of students in UAE University (UAEU). The uniqueness of this research emanates from the fact that no prior research examined this area from the UAE's perspective. Thus, this research embarks on the fact that student learning strategies vary from one country to another due to many factors. This…

Rural Health Care in Texas: The Facts--1982.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Knudson, Yvonne, Comp.; And Others

Although there exists in the minds of urban Texans the myth that rural life is especially healthy, in fact the mental and physical health of rural Texans is markedly worse than that of urban Texans. If health is defined in terms of environmental, physical, mental, and social factors, it is inaccurate to say that rural residents are receiving…

Systems Performance Analyses of Alaska Wind-Diesel Projects; St. Paul, Alaska (Fact Sheet)

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

Baring-Gould, I.

2009-04-01

This fact sheet summarizes a systems performance analysis of the wind-diesel project in St. Paul, Alaska. Data provided for this project include load data, average wind turbine output, average diesel plant output, dump (controlling) load, average net capacity factor, average net wind penetration, estimated fuel savings, and wind system availability.

Relative importance of management, meteorological and environmental factors in the spatial distribution of Fasciola hepatica in dairy cattle in a temperate climate zone.

PubMed

Bennema, S C; Ducheyne, E; Vercruysse, J; Claerebout, E; Hendrickx, G; Charlier, J

2011-02-01

Fasciola hepatica, a trematode parasite with a worldwide distribution, is the cause of important production losses in the dairy industry. Diagnosis is hampered by the fact that the infection is mostly subclinical. To increase awareness and develop regionally adapted control methods, knowledge on the spatial distribution of economically important infection levels is needed. Previous studies modelling the spatial distribution of F. hepatica are mostly based on single cross-sectional samplings and have focussed on climatic and environmental factors, often ignoring management factors. This study investigated the associations between management, climatic and environmental factors affecting the spatial distribution of infection with F. hepatica in dairy herds in a temperate climate zone (Flanders, Belgium) over three consecutive years. A bulk-tank milk antibody ELISA was used to measure F. hepatica infection levels in a random sample of 1762 dairy herds in the autumns of 2006, 2007 and 2008. The infection levels were included in a Geographic Information System together with meteorological, environmental and management parameters. Logistic regression models were used to determine associations between possible risk factors and infection levels. The prevalence and spatial distribution of F. hepatica was relatively stable, with small interannual differences in prevalence and location of clusters. The logistic regression model based on both management and climatic/environmental factors included the factors: annual rainfall, mowing of pastures, proportion of grazed grass in the diet and length of grazing season as significant predictors and described the spatial distribution of F. hepatica better than the model based on climatic/environmental factors only (annual rainfall, elevation and slope, soil type), with an Area Under the Curve of the Receiver Operating Characteristic of 0.68 compared with 0.62. The results indicate that in temperate climate zones without large climatic and environmental variation, management factors affect the spatial distribution of F. hepatica, and should be included in future spatial distribution models. Copyright © 2010 Australian Society for Parasitology Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

78 FR 43908 - Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-22

... other pertinent sciences established to review conflicting scientific and technical data and provide...://floodsrp.org/pdfs/srp_fact_sheet.pdf . The watersheds and/or communities affected are listed in the tables...

Risk Management Plan (RMP) Policies and Fact Sheets

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Includes information on the RMP audit program, how RMP affects small business, chemical emergency preparedness and prevention in Indian Country, OSHA standards and compliance, and Off-site Consequence Analysis access.

Environmental risk factors for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

PubMed

Banerjee, Tania Das; Middleton, Frank; Faraone, Stephen V

2007-09-01

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common cognitive and behavioural disorder diagnosed among school children. It is characterized by deficient attention and problem solving, along with hyperactivity and difficulty withholding incorrect responses. This highly prevalent disorder is estimated to affect 5-10% of children and in many cases, persists into adulthood, leading to 4% prevalence among adults. Converging evidence from epidemiologic, neuropsychology, neuroimaging, genetic and treatment studies shows that ADHD is a valid medical disorder. The majority of studies performed to assess genetic risk factors in ADHD have supported a strong familial nature of this disorder. Family studies have identified a 2- to 8-fold increase in the risk for ADHD in parents and siblings of children with ADHD. Various twin and adoption studies have also highlighted the highly genetic nature of ADHD. In fact the mean heritability of ADHD was shown to be 0.77, which is comparable to other neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. However, several biological and environmental factors have also been proposed as risk factors for ADHD, including food additives/diet, lead contamination, cigarette and alcohol exposure, maternal smoking during pregnancy, and low birth weight. Many recent studies have specifically examined the relationships between ADHD and these extraneous factors. This review describes some of these possible risk factors. Although a substantial fraction of the aetiology of ADHD is due to genes, the studies reviewed in this article show that many environmental risk factors and potential gene-environment interactions also increase the risk for the disorder.

Quality of life and its socio-demographic and psychological determinants after bone marrow transplantation.

PubMed

Janicsák, Henriett; Masszi, Tamás; Reményi, Péter; Ungvari, Gabor S; Gazdag, Gábor

2013-08-01

A host of medical, socio-demographic, and psychological factors that affect bone marrow transplantation (BMT) patients' quality of life (QOL) have been identified, but due to the methodological diversity of the studies, the findings have been contradictory. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of somatic status, social characteristics, and psychological symptoms on QOL in BMT patients. The study had a cross-sectional design. QOL was evaluated using the Hungarian version of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplant (FACT-BMT) scale. Anxiety and depression were assessed using Spielberger's State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (SSTAI) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). A questionnaire designed for the study was used to record socio-demographic variables. One hundred and twenty-one patients formed the study sample. Patients' QOL was better in our sample than in another study with similar mean time after BMT. BDI scores indicated mild depression; SSTAI scores corresponded with healthy population levels. QOL was strongly influenced by psychological symptoms (depression P < 0.001; anxiety P = 0.001; psychiatric comorbidity P = 0.001), employment status (P = 0.042), and gender (P = 0.05). The somatic factors influenced only separate aspects of QOL; somatic comorbidity only affected cancer-associated QOL (P = 0.004). This is the first study on a Hungarian BMT sample that included economic factors in the assessment of QOL. Psychological variables were the strongest determinants of QOL in this study. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Old age as a privilege of the "selfish ones".

PubMed

Davidovic, Mladen; Sevo, Goran; Svorcan, Petar; Milosevic, Dragoslav P; Despotovic, Nebojsa; Erceg, Predrag

2010-10-01

In the past couple of centuries, scientists proposed great number of aging theories but neither of them appears to be fully satisfactory. In the statistical sense, we are dealing with an even greater challenge because large array of factors affects the aging process. Although at this point the most of these factors are well known, it is the very fact of their innumerability that complicates approaches to the issue at hand. Both in life and in medicine, the cause behind an effect can rarely be unequivocally determined. Thus, it appears that through out human history longevity has been primarily affected by eradication of diseases, especially by eradication of infectious diseases and introduction of the vaccines. For that reason, maybe we should not be referring to this issue as the «fountain of youth» but rather as the «vaccine of youth». The postulate that genetic instability is the precipitating factor both of aging and cancer has withstood many tests and keeps on being reaffirmed. For this reason, it is legitimate to pose a question of whether long-lived individuals may be those with «selfish» genes and more stable genetic material. They certainly cannot avoid aging, but aging in such individuals could be delayed due to steady character of their genome, which is less susceptible to mutations. On the population level, they constitute minority because stable genome would represent an obstacle to successful evolution of the species. If this was not the case, we might not be writing all these texts today.

A model of Occupational Safety and Health Management System (OSHMS) for promoting and controlling health and safety in textile industry.

PubMed

Manimaran, S; Rajalakshmi, R; Bhagyalakshmi, K

2015-01-01

The development of Occupational Safety and Health Management System in textile industry will rejuvenate the workers and energize the economy as a whole. In India, especially in Tamil Nadu, approximately 1371 textile business is running with the help of 38,461 workers under Ginning, Spinning, Weaving, Garment and Dyeing sectors. Textile industry of contributes to the growth of Indian economy but it fails to foster education and health as key components of human development and help new democracies. The present work attempts to measure and develop OSHMS which reduce the hazards and risk involved in textile industry. Among all other industries textile industry is affected by enormous hazards and risk because of negligence by management and Government. It is evident that managements are not abiding by law when an accident has occurred. Managements are easily deceiving workers and least bothered about the Quality of Work Life (QWL). A detailed analysis of factors promoting safety and health to the workers has been done by performing confirmatory factor analysis, evaluating Risk Priority Number and the framework of OHMS has been conceptualized using Structural Equation Model. The data have been collected using questionnaire and interview method. The study finds occupation health for worker in Textile industry is affected not only by safety measure but also by technology and management. The work shows that difficulty in identifying the cause and effect of hazards, the influence of management in controlling and promoting OSHMS under various dimensions. One startling fact is existence of very low and insignificance correlation between health factors and outcome.

Geomorphological aspects of road construction in a cold environment, Finland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seppälä, Matti

1999-12-01

Traditionally, road alignments followed easy landscapes and suitable landforms. When traffic and the size and weight of vehicles increased and higher speeds were used, straighter roads were required; the easygoing relief could not always be used, and problems arose. Road contractors could save money in building and maintenance costs by considering the geomorphic facts. The examples from Finland document why road construction is very expensive in the conditions generated by severe winters. In Finland, more paved roads cross the Arctic Circle than in the whole of North America. This paper gives examples of geomorphic elements affecting road construction in a cold environment: eskers, drumlins, plains of late and postglacial glaciolacustrine and marine sediments, mires, steep rock cliffs, river channels and ice-dams, fluvial erosion, and palsas. Solutions to these problems include removal of frost sensible materials and replacement by more favorable sediments. Road surfaces, kept snow-free in the wintertime, are subjected to deep freezing. The maintenance of roads can be supported with some solutions that affect snowdrift and icing problems, avoidance of geomorphic factors that cause problems, and by using natural processes to help people. Some examples of how road construction affects geomorphic processes and vice versa are provided. For example, bridges block moving river ice, and on special occasions, road banks cause icing.

Too hot to trot? evaluating the effects of wildfire on patterns of occupancy and abundance for a climate-sensitive habitat-specialist

USGS Publications Warehouse

Varner, Johanna; Lambert, Mallory S.; Horns, Joshua J.; Laverty, Sean; Dizney, Laurie; Beever, Erik; Dearing, M. Denise

2015-01-01

Wildfires are increasing in frequency and severity as a result of climate change in many ecosystems; however, effects of altered disturbance regimes on wildlife remain poorly quantified. Here, we leverage an unexpected opportunity to investigate how fire affects the occupancy and abundance of a climate-sensitive habitat specialist, the American pika (Ochotona princeps). We determine the effects of a fire on microclimates within talus and explore habitat factors promoting persistence and abundance in fire-affected habitat. During the fire, temperatures in talus interstices remained below 19°C, suggesting that animals could have survived in situ. Within 2 years, pikas were widely distributed throughout burned areas and did not appear to be physiologically stressed at severely burned sites. Furthermore, pika densities were better predicted by topographic variables known to affect this species than by metrics of fire severity. This widespread distribution may reflect quick vegetation recovery and the fact that the fire did not alter the talus microclimates in the following years. Together, these results highlight the value of talus as a thermal refuge for small animals during and after fire. They also underscore the importance of further study in individual species’ responses to typical and altered disturbance regimes.

Fast Facts on Osteogenesis Imperfecta

MedlinePlus

... bone) and short femur (upper leg bone) Coxa vera is common (the acutely angled femur head affects ... Fax: 301-947-0456 Internet: www.oif.org E-mail: bonelink@oif.org The National Institutes of ...

Alport syndrome: facts and opinions.

PubMed

Kashtan, Clifford

2017-01-01

In this commentary, I review recent advances in Alport syndrome genetics, diagnostics, and therapeutics. I also offer some opinions regarding strategies to optimize the early identification of affected individuals to promote early therapeutic intervention.

5 CFR 2635.604 - Disqualification while seeking employment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... in fact accomplish his disqualification by simply avoiding any involvement in matters affecting the... is employed by the National Science Foundation as a special Government employee to serve on a panel...

5 CFR 2635.604 - Disqualification while seeking employment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... in fact accomplish his disqualification by simply avoiding any involvement in matters affecting the... is employed by the National Science Foundation as a special Government employee to serve on a panel...

Early Experiences Can Alter Gene Expression and Affect Long-Term Development. Working Paper #10

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, 2010

2010-01-01

New scientific research shows that environmental influences can actually affect whether and how genes are expressed. Thus, the old ideas that genes are "set in stone" or that they alone determine development have been disproven. In fact, scientists have discovered that early experiences can determine how genes are turned on and off and even…

Youth Suicide in the United States: A Fact Sheet for Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Office of Safe and Healthy Students, US Department of Education, 2017

2017-01-01

Suicide is a major public health issue that affects people of all ages, backgrounds, and racial and ethnic groups throughout the country. When a student commits suicide, it is not only a tragedy for his or her family, but it can also significantly affect other students and disrupt school learning environments. While the causes of youth suicide are…

Health Education Efforts in Uncertain Times: Helping to Ensure Healthy Pregnancies in a Time of Crisis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Flores, Alina L.; Weber, Mary Kate; Kilker, Katie P.; Dang, Elizabeth P.; Lindsey, Lisa L. Massi

2007-01-01

Hurricane Katrina caused immense upheaval and disrupted many lives. Among those affected were pregnant women. A public service announcement, website content, and a fact sheet were developed to inform pregnant women about the issues that could potentially affect their health and that of their babies. The aim of these products was to provide health…

Teaching of Mathematics and Science in English: The Teachers' Voices

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yahaya, Mohamad Fadhili Bin; Noor, Mohd Asri Bin Mohd; Mokhtar, Ahmad Azman Bin; Rawian, Rafizah Binti Mohd; Othman, Mahmod Bin; Jusoff, Kamaruzaman

2009-01-01

The policy to change the medium of instruction in the teaching of Mathematics and Science from Bahasa Melayu (Malay Language) to English in 2003 is an important innovation affecting not only the students but also teachers of Mathematics and Science. However, how far the changes affect the teachers is the issue addressed in the paper. In fact the…

24 CFR 103.205 - Systemic processing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... are pervasive or institutional in nature, or that the processing of the complaint will involve complex issues, novel questions of fact or law, or will affect a large number of persons, the Assistant Secretary...

Alport syndrome: facts and opinions

PubMed Central

Kashtan, Clifford

2017-01-01

In this commentary, I review recent advances in Alport syndrome genetics, diagnostics, and therapeutics. I also offer some opinions regarding strategies to optimize the early identification of affected individuals to promote early therapeutic intervention. PMID:28163907

Facts and Feelings: Exploring the Affective Domain in the Learning of Physics.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alsop, Steve; Watts, Mike

2000-01-01

Presents the results of a comparative study of two groups of learners. Explores whether their feelings about a potentially emotive topic--radioactivity--influence their approach to learning. (Author/CCM)

7 CFR 1437.15 - Miscellaneous provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... representation with respect to such program; or (3) Misrepresented any fact affecting a program determination. (d... apply to NAP. (l) In the case of death, incompetence or disappearance of any person who is eligible to...

Facts You Should Know

MedlinePlus

... Your Community Advocate Get Involved Donate Who Gets ALS? ALS is a disorder that affects the function of ... 000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year. (That's 15 new cases a day.) ...

No Evidence of Narrowly Defined Cognitive Penetrability in Unambiguous Vision

PubMed Central

Lammers, Nikki A.; de Haan, Edward H.; Pinto, Yair

2017-01-01

The classical notion of cognitive impenetrability suggests that perceptual processing is an automatic modular system and not under conscious control. Near consensus is now emerging that this classical notion is untenable. However, as recently pointed out by Firestone and Scholl, this consensus is built on quicksand. In most studies claiming perception is cognitively penetrable, it remains unclear which actual process has been affected (perception, memory, imagery, input selection or judgment). In fact, the only available “proofs” for cognitive penetrability are proxies for perception, such as behavioral responses and neural correlates. We suggest that one can interpret cognitive penetrability in two different ways, a broad sense and a narrow sense. In the broad sense, attention and memory are not considered as “just” pre- and post-perceptual systems but as part of the mechanisms by which top-down processes influence the actual percept. Although many studies have proven top-down influences in this broader sense, it is still debatable whether cognitive penetrability remains tenable in a narrow sense. The narrow sense states that cognitive penetrability only occurs when top-down factors are flexible and cause a clear illusion from a first person perspective. So far, there is no strong evidence from a first person perspective that visual illusions can indeed be driven by high-level flexible factors. One cannot be cognitively trained to see and unsee visual illusions. We argue that this lack of convincing proof for cognitive penetrability in the narrow sense can be explained by the fact that most research focuses on foveal vision only. This type of perception may be too unambiguous for transient high-level factors to control perception. Therefore, illusions in more ambiguous perception, such as peripheral vision, can offer a unique insight into the matter. They produce a clear subjective percept based on unclear, degraded visual input: the optimal basis to study narrowly defined cognitive penetrability. PMID:28740471

Prediction of ECS and SSC Models for Flux-Limited Samples of Gamma-Ray Blazars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lister, Matthew L.; Marscher, Alan P.

1999-01-01

The external Compton scattering (ECS) and synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) models make distinct predictions for the amount of Doppler boosting of high-energy gamma-rays emitted by Nazar. We examine how these differences affect the predicted properties of active galactic nucleus (AGN) samples selected on the basis of Murray emission. We create simulated flux-limited samples based on the ECS and SSC models, and compare their properties to those of identified EGRET blazars. We find that for small gamma-ray-selected samples, the two models make very similar predictions, and cannot be reliably distinguished. This is primarily due to the fact that not only the Doppler factor, but also the cosmological distance and intrinsic luminosity play a role in determining whether an AGN is included in a flux-limited gamma-ray sample.

Characterization of XLPE cable insulation by dynamic mechanical thermal analyzer (DMTA)

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

Parpal, J.L.; Guddemi, C.; Lamarre, L.

1996-12-31

Polymeric insulated cables and accessories are becoming widely used at voltages over 120 kV, even up to 500 kV. Although high electrical stress presents the greatest challenge, some attention should be given to the fact that the polymeric insulation is also subjected to mechanical stress which can affect the electrical performance of the high-voltage cable system. Thus, the mechanical response to an ac stress induced by oscillating electrostatic forces could be an important factor with regard to long-term degradation of polymeric insulation. This paper presents preliminary mechanical relaxation measurements on XLPE and LDPE specimens taken from unaged transmission type cables.more » Dynamic mechanical relaxation showing radial profiles of the mechanical loss tangent and tensile modulus E{prime} are presented in a temperature range of 40 to 120 C.« less

Behind human milk and breastfeeding: not only food.

PubMed

Pecoraro, Luca; Agostoni, Carlo; Pepaj, Orsiol; Pietrobelli, Angelo

2017-12-26

After birth, breastfeeding should not be considered only a normal and physiological event; in fact, it encloses both physical and the psychological aspects. Human milk cannot be compared to any formula milk. Specifically, human milk has immunological and nutritional properties and it is considered the best available option which guarantees an adequate growth and an optimal development of a child. Differences in term of mediators and hormones have been shown between infants who were breastfed and ones who were not. A key point is represented by unmeasurable environmental and psycho-affective factors. So, it may be simplistic to consider human milk only as a nutrient; since it encompasses much more. The aim of our commentary is to review clinical studies about breastfeeding, analysing its consequences on the neuro-developmental achievement, growth and risk of obesity within a holistic view.

Revisiting Postoperative Vision Loss following Non-Ocular Surgery: A Short Review of Etiology and Legal Considerations

PubMed Central

Mendel, Ehud; Stoicea, Nicoleta; Rao, Rahul; Niermeyer, Weston; Revilla, Stephen; Cluse, Marcus; Sandhu, Gurneet; Todaro, Gerald J.; Bergese, Sergio D.

2017-01-01

Postoperative vision loss (POVL) following non-ocular surgery is a serious complication where the causes are not fully understood. Studies have identified several causes of POVL as well as risk factors and prevention strategies. POVL research is made difficult by the fact that cases are often subject to malpractice claims, resulting in a lack of public access to case reports. This literature review was conducted in order to identify legal issues as a major barrier to studying POVL and address how this affects current knowledge. Informed consent provides an opportunity to overcome legal challenges by reducing malpractice litigation through educating the patient on this outcome. Providing pertinent information regarding POVL during the informed consent process has potential to reduce malpractice claims and increase available clinical information. PMID:28695122

PARASITES AND POVERTY: THE CASE OF SCHISTOSOMIASIS

PubMed Central

King, Charles H.

2009-01-01

Simultaneous and sequential transmission of multiple parasites, and their resultant overlapping chronic infections, are facts of life in many underdeveloped rural areas. These represent significant but often poorly-measured health and economic burdens for affected populations. For example, the chronic inflammatory process associated with long-term schistosomiasis contributes to anaemia and undernutrition, which, in turn, can lead to growth stunting, poor school performance, poor work productivity, and continued poverty. To date, most national and international programs aimed at parasite control have not considered the varied economic and ecological factors underlying multi-parasite transmission, but some are beginning to provide a coordinated approach to control. In addition, interest is emerging in new studies for the re-evaluation and recalibration of the health burden of helminthic parasite infection. Their results should highlight the strong potential of integrated parasite control in efforts for poverty reduction. PMID:19962954

Kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) as a superfood: Review of the scientific evidence behind the statement.

PubMed

Šamec, Dunja; Urlić, Branimir; Salopek-Sondi, Branka

2018-03-20

Kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) is a cruciferous vegetable, characterized by leaves along the stem, which, in recent years, have gained a great popularity as a ´superfood´. Consequently, in a popular culture it is listed in many ´lists of the healthiest vegetables´. Without the doubt, a scientific evidences support the fact that cruciferous vegetables included in human diet can positively affect health and well-being, but remains unclear why kale is declared superior in comparison with other cruciferous. It is questionable if this statement about kale is triggered by scientific evidence or by some other factors. Our review aims to bring an overview of kale's botanical characteristics, agronomic requirements, contemporary and traditional use, macronutrient and phytochemical content and biological activity, in order to point out the reasons for tremendous kale popularity.

Analyses of fatalities from natural catastrophes in different income groups over time

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grimm, Tobias

2017-04-01

Identifying not only economic and insured losses but also numbers of fatalities from natural catastrophes provides new information on resilience and prevention measures in the countries affected. In this talk, we examine how fatalities from Munich Re's NatCatSERVICE database, caused by natural disasters have developed. In addition to the standard approach based on fatalities by country, we introduced a new measure, "fatalities per million inhabitants", and factored in population development over time. The World Bank definition was used to determine the wealth classification of individual countries. This methodology enables us to compare countries with different population sizes and thus produce an index for humanitarian impact. The analyses are key information on ascertaining whether prevention measures or early-warning systems have in fact reduced the number of fatalities in recent decades (1980-2016).

Photodynamic Inactivation of Mammalian Viruses and Bacteriophages

PubMed Central

Costa, Liliana; Faustino, Maria Amparo F.; Neves, Maria Graça P. M. S.; Cunha, Ângela; Almeida, Adelaide

2012-01-01

Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) has been used to inactivate microorganisms through the use of photosensitizers. The inactivation of mammalian viruses and bacteriophages by photosensitization has been applied with success since the first decades of the last century. Due to the fact that mammalian viruses are known to pose a threat to public health and that bacteriophages are frequently used as models of mammalian viruses, it is important to know and understand the mechanisms and photodynamic procedures involved in their photoinactivation. The aim of this review is to (i) summarize the main approaches developed until now for the photodynamic inactivation of bacteriophages and mammalian viruses and, (ii) discuss and compare the present state of the art of mammalian viruses PDI with phage photoinactivation, with special focus on the most relevant mechanisms, molecular targets and factors affecting the viral inactivation process. PMID:22852040

Fuels planning: science synthesis and integration; economic uses fact sheet 02: log hauling cost

Treesearch

Rocky Mountain Research Station USDA Forest Service

2004-01-01

Knowing the cost of fuel reduction treatments and associated activities, such as hauling cut trees, is essential for fire and fuels planning. This fact sheet explores the main factors that determine the cost of hauling cut trees and points the user to an interactive tool that can help plan for those and other expenses.

Factors Affecting Hemodialysis Adequacy in Cohort of Iranian Patient with End Stage Renal Disease.

PubMed

Shahdadi, Hosein; Balouchi, Abbas; Sepehri, Zahra; Rafiemanesh, Hosein; Magbri, Awad; Keikhaie, Fereshteh; Shahakzehi, Ahmad; Sarjou, Azizullah Arbabi

2016-08-01

There are many factors that can affect dialysis adequacy; such as the type of vascular access, filter type, device used, and the dose, and rout of erythropoietin stimulation agents (ESA) used. The aim of this study was investigating factors affecting Hemodialysis adequacy in cohort of Iranian patient with end stage renal disease (ESRD). This is a cross-sectional study conducted on 133 Hemodialysis patients referred to two dialysis units in Sistan-Baluchistan province in the cities of Zabol and Iranshahr, Iran. We have looked at, (the effects of the type of vascular access, the filter type, the device used, and the dose, route of delivery, and the type of ESA used) on Hemodialysis adequacy. Dialysis adequacy was calculated using kt/v formula, two-part information questionnaire including demographic data which also including access type, filter type, device used for hemodialysis (HD), type of Eprex injection, route of administration, blood groups and hemoglobin response to ESA were utilized. The data was analyzed using the SPSS v16 statistical software. Descriptive statistical methods, Mann-Whitney statistical test, and multiple regressions were used when applicable. The range of calculated dialysis adequacy is 0.28 to 2.39 (units of adequacy of dialysis). 76.7% of patients are being dialyzed via AVF and 23.3% of patients used central venous catheters (CVC). There was no statistical significant difference between dialysis adequacy, vascular access type, device used for HD (Fresenius and B. Braun), and the filter used for HD (p> 0.05). However, a significant difference was observed between the adequacy of dialysis and Eprex injection and patients' time of dialysis (p <0.05). Subcutaneous ESA (Eprex) injection and dialysis shift (being dialyzed in the morning) can have positive impact on dialysis adequacy. Patients should be educated on the facts that the type of device used for HD and the vascular access used has no significant effects on dialysis adequacy.

Wildfires and post-fire erosion risk in a coastal area under severe anthropic pressure associated with the touristic fluxes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Canu, Annalisa; Arca, Bachisio; Pellizzaro, Grazia; Valeriano Pintus, Gian; Ferrara, Roberto; Duce, Pierpaolo

2017-04-01

In the last decades a rapid and intense development of the tourism industry led to an increasing of anthropic pressure on several coastal areas of Sardinia. This fact not only modified the coastal aesthetics, but has also generated an increase of risk for the environment. This phenomenon affected also the ancient structure of the landscape with a negative impact mainly caused by the following factors: land abandonment, wildfire occurrence, post-fire erosion, urbanization. These regional changes can be analyzed in detail by considering the geo-diachronic dynamics. The main objectives of this work were i) to perform a diachronic analysis of land use and land cover dynamics, ii) to analyse the recent dynamics of wildfires, and iii) to predict the soil erosion risk in relation to land use change occurred between the 1950s and the 2000s. The study was realized in a coastal area located in North-East Sardinia where the geo-historical processes were summarized and organized in a geographic information system that has been employed to examine the landscape variations at three different time steps: 1954, 1977 and 2000. In addition, different scenarios of wildfire propagation were simulated by FlamMap in order to estimate the spatial pattern of fire danger factors in the study area. Afterwards, maps of post-fire soil erosion were produced to identify the temporal and spatial variations of the erosion risk. The results show how the changes in land use and the significant and rapid increase of the residential areas affect the risk of both wildfires and post-fire soil erosion. The study reveals the capabilities of this type of approach and can be used by management agencies and policy makers e in sustainable landscape management planning. This approach can be extended to other regions of the Mediterranean basin characterized by complex interactions among landscape and anthropic factors affecting the environmental risk.

On the interdependence of cognition and emotion

PubMed Central

Storbeck, Justin; Clore, Gerald L.

2008-01-01

Affect and cognition have long been treated as independent entities, but in the current review we suggest that affect and cognition are in fact highly interdependent. We open the article by discussing three classic views for the independence of affect. These are (i) the affective independence hypothesis, that emotion is processed independently from cognition, (ii) the affective primacy hypothesis, that evaluative processing precedes semantic processing, and (iii) the affective automaticity hypothesis, that affectively potent stimuli commandeer attention and evaluation is automatic. We argue that affect is not independent from cognition, that affect is not primary to cognition, nor is affect automatically elicited. The second half of the paper discusses several instances of how affect influences cognition. We review experiments showing affective involvement in perception, semantic activation, and attitude activation. We conclude that one function of affect is to regulate cognitive processing. PMID:18458789

A basic domain in the histone H2B N-terminal tail is important for nucleosome assembly by FACT

PubMed Central

Mao, Peng; Kyriss, McKenna N. M.; Hodges, Amelia J.; Duan, Mingrui; Morris, Robert T.; Lavine, Mark D.; Topping, Traci B.; Gloss, Lisa M.; Wyrick, John J.

2016-01-01

Nucleosome assembly in vivo requires assembly factors, such as histone chaperones, to bind to histones and mediate their deposition onto DNA. In yeast, the essential histone chaperone FACT (FAcilitates Chromatin Transcription) functions in nucleosome assembly and H2A–H2B deposition during transcription elongation and DNA replication. Recent studies have identified candidate histone residues that mediate FACT binding to histones, but it is not known which histone residues are important for FACT to deposit histones onto DNA during nucleosome assembly. In this study, we report that the histone H2B repression (HBR) domain within the H2B N-terminal tail is important for histone deposition by FACT. Deletion of the HBR domain causes significant defects in histone occupancy in the yeast genome, particularly at HBR-repressed genes, and a pronounced increase in H2A–H2B dimers that remain bound to FACT in vivo. Moreover, the HBR domain is required for purified FACT to efficiently assemble recombinant nucleosomes in vitro. We propose that the interaction between the highly basic HBR domain and DNA plays an important role in stabilizing the nascent nucleosome during the process of histone H2A–H2B deposition by FACT. PMID:27369377

Crash analysis, statistics & information notebook 2008

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-01-01

Traditionally crash data is often presented as single fact sheets highlighting a single factor such as Vehicle Type or Road Type. This document will try to show how the risk factors interrelate to produce a crash. Complete detailed analys...

Chemical Data Reporting: Factors to Consider When Using the Database

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The 2012 Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) database provides non-confidential information on the manufacture, import, processing, and use of chemicals in commerce at national and regional levels. This fact sheet highlights factors to consider.

Bidirectional associations in multiplication memory: conditions of negative and positive transfer.

PubMed

Campbell, Jamie I D; Robert, Nicole D

2008-05-01

A variety of experimental evidence indicates that the memory representation for multiplication facts (e.g., 6 x 9 = 54) incorporates bidirectional links with a forward association from factors to product and a reverse association from product to factors. Surprisingly, the authors did not find evidence in Experiment 1 of facilitative transfer-of-practice from multiplication (6 x 9 = ?) to factoring (54 = ? x ?); in fact, multiplication practice produced item-specific interference with factoring. Similarly, the authors found no evidence in Experiment 2 that repetition of specific factoring problems (54 = ? x ?) facilitated performance of corresponding multiplication problems (6 x 9 = ?). In Experiment 3, participants practiced both multiplication and factoring and presented facilitative transfer in both directions. Thus, bidirectional facilitation occurred if both operations were practiced, but interference occurred when only one operation was practiced. We propose that this seemingly paradoxical behavior occurs because it is adaptive for the bidirectional retrieval structure to retain operational flexibility in the context of practicing both operations, whereas it is adaptive to specialize the memory representation for the practiced operation (i.e., factoring or multiplication) when only one operation is practiced.

[An anorexia nervosa case and an approach to this case with pharmacotherapy and psychodrama techniques].

PubMed

Ozdel, Osman; Ateşci, Figen; Oğuzhanoğlu, Nalan K

2003-01-01

Anorexia nervosa in an eating disorder that primarily affects female adolescents and is more commonly seen in westernized countries. Although it is a sociocultural problem of developed societies, nowadays it is also increasing rapidly in developing cultures such as Turkey. Difficulties in the treatment of anorexia nervosa have directed clinicians to understand the disorder better. Although it is well known that various factors play a role in the etiology of anorexia nervosa, psychodynamic factors also have considerable importance. In addition, social and familial interactions contribute to the development of anorexia nervosa. In the light of these facts, treatment with psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy might be used to cure this disorder. In this article, the definitive features and process of anorexia nervosa along with its psychodynamics were discussed on the basis of a case. In the treatment of the patient, psychodrama techniques with drugs were thought to be useful. The patient became aware of the unfavourable relationship and improved by the use of this method. Thus she gained emotional-cognitive insight.

Acrylamide in Japanese processed foods and factors affecting acrylamide level in potato chips and tea.

PubMed

Yoshida, Mitsuru; Ono, Hiroshi; Chuda, Yoshihiro; Yada, Hiroshi; Ohnishi-Kameyama, Mayumi; Kobayashi, Hidetaka; Ohara-Takada, Akiko; Matsuura-Endo, Chie; Mori, Motoyuki; Hayashi, Nobuyuki; Yamaguchi, Yuichi

2005-01-01

Acrylamide concentrations in processed foods sold in Japanese markets were analyzed by LC-MS/MS and GC-MS methods. Most potato chips and whole potato-based fried snacks showed acrylamide concentration higher than 1000 microg/kg. The concentrations in non-whole potato based Japanese snacks, including rice crackers and candied sweet potatoes, were less tha. 350 microg/kg. Those in instant precooked noodles were less than 100 microg/kg with only one exception. The effect of storage condition of potato tubers on acrylamide concentration in potato chips after frying was also investigated. Sugar content in the tubers increased during cold storage, and the acrylamide concentration increased accordingly. The concentrations of asparagine and other amino acids, however, did not change during the cold storage. High correlations were observed between the acrylamide content in the chips and glucose and fructose contents in the tubers. This fact indicated that the limiting factor for acrylamide formation in potato chips is reducing sugar, not asparagine content in the tubers. Effects of roasting time and temperature on acrylamide concentration in roasted green tea are also described.

Neuro-Coagulopathy: Blood Coagulation Factors in Central Nervous System Diseases.

PubMed

De Luca, Ciro; Virtuoso, Assunta; Maggio, Nicola; Papa, Michele

2017-10-12

Blood coagulation factors and other proteins, with modulatory effects or modulated by the coagulation cascade have been reported to affect the pathophysiology of the central nervous system (CNS). The protease-activated receptors (PARs) pathway can be considered the central hub of this regulatory network, mainly through thrombin or activated protein C (aPC). These proteins, in fact, showed peculiar properties, being able to interfere with synaptic homeostasis other than coagulation itself. These specific functions modulate neuronal networks, acting both on resident (neurons, astrocytes, and microglia) as well as circulating immune system cells and the extracellular matrix. The pleiotropy of these effects is produced through different receptors, expressed in various cell types, in a dose- and time-dependent pattern. We reviewed how these pathways may be involved in neurodegenerative diseases (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases), multiple sclerosis, ischemic stroke and post-ischemic epilepsy, CNS cancer, addiction, and mental health. These data open up a new path for the potential therapeutic use of the agonist/antagonist of these proteins in the management of several central nervous system diseases.

Household waste compositional analysis variation from insular communities in the framework of waste prevention strategy plans

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

Zorpas, Antonis A., E-mail: antonis.zorpas@ouc.ac.cy; Lasaridi, Katia, E-mail: klasaridi@hua.gr; Voukkali, Irene

Highlights: • Waste framework directive has set clear waste prevention procedures. • Household Compositional analysis. • Waste management plans. • Zero waste approach. • Waste generation. - Abstract: Waste management planning requires reliable data regarding waste generation, affecting factors on waste generation and forecasts of waste quantities based on facts. In order to decrease the environmental impacts of waste management the choice of prevention plan as well as the treatment method must be based on the features of the waste that are produced in a specific area. Factors such as culture, economic development, climate, and energy sources have an impactmore » on waste composition; composition influences the need of collecting waste more or less frequently of waste collection and disposition. The research question was to discover the main barriers concerning the compositional analysis in Insular Communities under warm climate conditions and the findings from this study enabled the main contents of a waste management plan to be established. These included advice to residents on waste minimisation, liaison with stakeholders and the expansion of kerbside recycling schemes.« less

Rural development and family planning behavior in Bangladesh Villages.

PubMed

Alauddin, M

1979-01-01

Variarion in knowledge and usage of contraceptive methods was examined across Bangladesh villages. It was hypothesized that the variation can be explained by 3 sets of factors measured at the village level: development programs, family planning program efforts, and given environmental and socioeconomic conditions. The data were drawn from the Bangladesh Fertility Survey and the 1974 Bangladesh Population Census. The 3 sets of factors taken together explained a greater proportion of the variance in knowledge and contraceptive usage than each of the sets taken either singly or in paired combination. Knowledge of clinical contraceptive methods was found to be affected more by development programs than by either family planning or environmental and socioeconomic conditions. Despite the fact that both development and family planning variables have independent and about equal effects on ever use of contraception, each of them separately is not likely to produce as much contraceptive usage as would both of them jointly. In terms of policy, if both development and family planning programs are provided to the villages, the effect on fertility may be maximized.

[Much more than information].

PubMed

1996-04-01

HIV prevention programs too often focus upon providing information and other measures to encourage people to modify their behaviors. But sexual behavior is influenced by a number of factors, such as individuals¿ knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, self-respect, abilities, social pressures and influences, and the broader social context. That context refers to the prevailing cultural norms, religion, economics, health policies, legislation, and services. It is not enough to simply know the facts. Age and sex also influence behavior. For example, men and women are programmed to behave differently from each other. Since all of these factors affect individuals¿ attitudes about themselves and their health, programs designed to promote safer sexual behavior must attempt to understand how they will impact upon program design, implementation, and success. At the individual level, populations need ways to consolidate their personal knowledge, abilities, and self-confidence. At the broader community level, programs should work together with local organizations, decision-makers, and the media to encourage social, economic, and cultural change. Program participation, satisfying individual needs, social and cultural influences, and existing community-level constraints are discussed.

Validating the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI) for use in patients with ovarian cancer

PubMed Central

Sailors, Mary H.; Bodurka, Diane C.; Gning, Ibrahima; Ramondetta, Lois M.; Williams, Loretta A.; Mendoza, Tito R.; Agarwal, Sonika; Sun, Charlotte C.; Cleeland, Charles S.

2013-01-01

Objective The M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI) captures the severity of common cancer symptoms from the patients’ perspective. We describe the validity and sensitivity of a module of the MDASI to be used with patients having ovarian cancer (MDASI-OC). Methods Ovarian cancer–specific module items were developed from 14 qualitative patient interviews. 128 patients with invasive epithelial ovarian, peritoneal, or fallopian-tube cancer treated at MD Anderson Cancer Center were recruited. Patients completed the MDASI-OC, socio-demographic questionnaires, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Ovary (FACT-O), and a global quality-of-life (QOL) item. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach α and sensitivity using known group was assessed. Construct validity was tested using exploratory factor analysis. Results The sample was primarily white (85.2%), had a mean age of 57.5 years (±12.7 years), and had previously been treated with chemotherapy (75.0%) and/or surgery (93.8%). Approximately 30% of patients reported disturbed sleep, fatigue, or numbness/tingling of at least moderate severity (≥5 on a 0–10 scale). On the ovarian-cancer-specific symptoms, approximately 20% reported back pain, feeling bloated, or constipation of at least moderate severity. Factor analysis revealed six underlying constructs (pain/sleep; cognitive; disease-related and numbness; treatment-related; affective; gastrointestinal-specific). MDASI-OC symptom and interference items had Cronbach α values of 0.90 and 0.89, respectively. The MDASI-OC was sensitive to symptom severity by performance status (p=0.009), QOL (p=0.002), and FACT-O scores (p<0.001). Conclusions The 27-item MDASI-OC meets common criteria for validation and reliability and is sensitive to expected changes in symptoms related to differences in disease and treatment status. PMID:23685012

[Triple-negative breast carcinoma--rewiev of current literature].

PubMed

Rubovszky, Gábor; Udvarhelyi, Nóra; Horváth, Zsolt; Láng, István; Kásler, Miklós

2010-12-01

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women. Approximately 15% of cases belong to the triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) group, in which no estrogen/progesterone receptors, or HER2 expression is detected. The unfavorable prognosis of this group of patients, as well as the lack of effective targeted therapy makes TNBC the subject of intensive research. In the present study, we searched PubMed for publications from January 2007 to June 2009 with the following key-words in addition to "breast cancer" and "triple negative": "epidemiology" or "gene-profile" or "predictive" or "prognostic" or "therapy" or "review". A total of 513 publications were identified. Relevant references were also reviewed. Beyond the well-known facts that TNBC affects younger patients, and is more common among Afro- or Hispano-Americans with lower socioeconomic status, hormonal environment and obesity emerged as potential etiologic factors. TNBC is not a homogenous disease. It can be further sub-classified based on histomorphologic features and immunohistochemistry. Hereditary BRCA1 mutations as well as acquired BRCA1 disfunction are described to be common in TNBC. Previously, many investigators considered TNBC to be identical to a subgroup called basal-like breast cancer defined by gene expression micro-array technology, but in the light of more recent findings, this view is no longer accepted by most investigators. Several large studies provide evidence that triple negativity, per se, is an independent adverse prognostic factor, in spite of the fact that approximately 10% of TNBC patients have a good prognosis. The therapy of choice for TNBC is systemic chemotherapy. Promising novel targeted chemotherapeutic agents include PARP1 inhibitors, a new group of compounds exploiting the defective DNA repair machinery. Rubovszky G, Udvarhelyi N, Horváth Z, Láng I, Kásler M. Triple negative breast carcinoma - rewiev of current literature.

The antagonistic role of chaotropic hexafluorophosphate anions and imidazolium cations composing ionic liquids applied as phase additives in the separation of tri-cyclic antidepressants.

PubMed

Caban, Magda; Stepnowski, Piotr

2017-05-15

The main advantage of alkylimidazolium cation-based ionic liquids (ILs) as phase additives in RP-HPLC is believed to be the suppression of deleterious residual free silanols in chemically modified silica stationary phases. However, up to now, the influence of ILs was usually evaluated having in mind a particular IL salt as one compound, not as a specific mixture of cations and anions. This in fact led to some misinterpretation of observed results, very often related to the suppression effect, while in fact caused by the nature of IL anions, which contribute to the elevated chaotropicity of the separation phases. In the present study, we have attempted to consider the effect gained due to the presence of both ionic liquid entities in the mobile phase used for the separation of basic compounds. Tri-cyclic antidepressants (TCAs) were taken as representative analytes. The effect of ILs on the chromatographic separation of TCAs was investigated in comparison to common mobile phase additives and by the presentation of retention factors, tailing factors and theoretical plates. In addition, an overloading study was performed for the IL-based phases for the first time. In general, it was found that the effect of chaotropic hexafluorophosphate anions in ILs is much stronger and opposite to that caused by imidazolium cations. The overloading study gives interesting information on how imidazolium cations affect the separation of cationic analytes. Finally, the usefulness of imidazolium-based ILs as mobile phase modifiers in the RP-HPLC separation of basic compounds was discussed. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Epigenetics and cancer: towards an evaluation of the impact of environmental and dietary factors.

PubMed

Herceg, Zdenko

2007-03-01

While the field of cancer genetics has enjoyed a great deal of attention among cancer researchers in the last few decades, the appreciation of cancer epigenetics is more recent, -owing to the fact that epigenetic mechanisms have emerged as key mechanisms in cancer development. All critical changes in cancer cells, such as silencing of tumour-suppressor genes, activation of oncogenes and defects in DNA repair, are caused not only by genetic but also by epigenetic mechanisms. Epigenetic events can affect many steps in tumour development; therefore, better understanding of epigenetic mechanisms is fundamental to our ability to successfully prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. Various environmental and dietary agents and lifestyles are suspected to be implicated in the development of a wide range of human cancers by eliciting epigenetic changes, though the contribution of epigenetic mechanisms to a given human cancer type and the precise targets of epigenetic alterations during cancer development are largely unknown. The major obstacle in establishing a relationship between epigenetic changes and exposure to dietary, lifestyle and environmental factors and cancer is the fact that studies are typically too small and lack statistical power to identify the interactions between epigenetic changes and exposures. Tremendous advances in our understanding of basic epigenetic mechanisms and rapid progress that is being made in developing new powerful technologies, such as those for sensitive and quantitative detection of epigenetic changes as well as for genome-wide analysis (epigenomics), hold great promise that these issues may be addressed in near future. Therefore, experimental evidence on the precise role of epigenetic changes induced by environment, diet and lifestyle is eagerly awaited.

Effects of an organophosphorus pesticide on reproduction in the rat.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1970-01-01

The toxic effects of organophosphorus insecticides are commonly ascribed to cholinesterase (CHE) inhibition. A search of the scientific literature revealed the well-established fact that a number of chlorinated pesticides adversely affect reproductio...

Ingested bread clip as an unexpected diagnostic tool.

PubMed

Jay, Sharon M; Russell, Michael J; Lau, Yee C; Dunn, Joel W; Roberts, Ross

2018-03-23

We describe a case where a bread clip has in fact became lodged adjacent to a portion of small bowel affected by a deposit of previously undiagnosed metastatic serous carcinoma of likely ovarian origin.

Safe traffic : Vision Zero on the move

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2006-03-01

Vision Zero is composed of several basic : elements, each of which affects safety in : road traffic. These concerns ethics, human : capability and tolerance, responsibility, : scientific facts and a realisation that the : different components in the ...

On the Factor Structure of a Reading Comprehension Test

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Salehi, Mohammad

2011-01-01

To investigate the construct validly of a section of a high stakes test, an exploratory factor analysis using principal components analysis was employed. The rotation used was varimax with the suppression level of 0.30. Eleven factors were extracted out of 35 reading comprehension items. The fact that these factors emerged speak to the construct…

Next generation sequencing analysis reveals that the ribonucleases RNase II, RNase R and PNPase affect bacterial motility and biofilm formation in E. coli.

PubMed

Pobre, Vânia; Arraiano, Cecília M

2015-02-14

The RNA steady-state levels in the cell are a balance between synthesis and degradation rates. Although transcription is important, RNA processing and turnover are also key factors in the regulation of gene expression. In Escherichia coli there are three main exoribonucleases (RNase II, RNase R and PNPase) involved in RNA degradation. Although there are many studies about these exoribonucleases not much is known about their global effect in the transcriptome. In order to study the effects of the exoribonucleases on the transcriptome, we sequenced the total RNA (RNA-Seq) from wild-type cells and from mutants for each of the exoribonucleases (∆rnb, ∆rnr and ∆pnp). We compared each of the mutant transcriptome with the wild-type to determine the global effects of the deletion of each exoribonucleases in exponential phase. We determined that the deletion of RNase II significantly affected 187 transcripts, while deletion of RNase R affects 202 transcripts and deletion of PNPase affected 226 transcripts. Surprisingly, many of the transcripts are actually down-regulated in the exoribonuclease mutants when compared to the wild-type control. The results obtained from the transcriptomic analysis pointed to the fact that these enzymes were changing the expression of genes related with flagellum assembly, motility and biofilm formation. The three exoribonucleases affected some stable RNAs, but PNPase was the main exoribonuclease affecting this class of RNAs. We confirmed by qPCR some fold-change values obtained from the RNA-Seq data, we also observed that all the exoribonuclease mutants were significantly less motile than the wild-type cells. Additionally, RNase II and RNase R mutants were shown to produce more biofilm than the wild-type control while the PNPase mutant did not form biofilms. In this work we demonstrate how deep sequencing can be used to discover new and relevant functions of the exoribonucleases. We were able to obtain valuable information about the transcripts affected by each of the exoribonucleases and compare the roles of the three enzymes. Our results show that the three exoribonucleases affect cell motility and biofilm formation that are two very important factors for cell survival, especially for pathogenic cells.

Pneumococcal Disease Fast Facts

MedlinePlus

... Vaccination For Clinicians Streptococcus pneumoniae Transmission Clinical Features Risk Factors Diagnosis & Management Prevention For Laboratorians Drug Resistance Surveillance & Reporting Global ...

Factors affecting the growth of Didymosphenia geminata in New Zealand rivers: Flow, bed disturbance, nutrients, light, and seasonal dynamics. (Invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cullis, J. D.; Gillis, C.; Drummond, J. D.; Garcia, T.; Kilroy, C.; Larned, S.; Hassan, M. A.

2010-12-01

Didymosphenia geminata (didymo) was introduced into a New Zealand river in 2004, and since then has dramatically spread to cover the beds of many rivers with extremely dense and extensive mats. Successful management is hampered by the fact that much is still unknown about the factors affecting the growth of this nuisance species. We synthesized available data on the distribution of D. geminata in New Zealand rivers to determine how physical and chemical system conditions (flow, bed disturbance, nutrients, and light) affect the growth and persistence of this organism. Here we assess results from bi-weekly surveys performed over a full year on two rivers where didymo was first observed in New Zealand; the Oreti and Mararoa. We used the data to test the hypotheses that the development of thick, dense mats requires high light levels but is inversely proportional to nutrient levels, and that mat persistence is controlled by the frequency of flow events that produce bed sediment transport. Observed regrowth between disturbance events was found to be inversely correlated with nutrient availability. The seasonal availability of light did not correlate with variations in growth rate, but this did not account for specific characteristics of the different sites such as aspect, shading, flow depth and turbidity that will all impact on the amount of available light reaching the streambed. The results clearly indicate that the time-history of flow and nutrient levels is critical to evaluating the growth and persistence of D. geminata and that additional site specific information is necessary to determine the role of bed stability and the amount of available light reaching the streambed.

Triglycerides are negatively correlated with cognitive function in nondemented aging adults.

PubMed

Parthasarathy, Vishnu; Frazier, Darvis T; Bettcher, Brianne M; Jastrzab, Laura; Chao, Linda; Reed, Bruce; Mungas, Dan; Weiner, Michael; DeCarli, Charles; Chui, Helena; Kramer, Joel H

2017-09-01

Vascular risk factors like hyperlipidemia may adversely affect brain function. We hypothesized that increased serum triglycerides are associated with decreased executive function and memory in nondemented elderly subjects. We also researched possible vascular mediators and white matter microstructure as assessed with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Participants were 251 nondemented elderly adults (54% male) with a mean age of 78 (SD = 6.4; range: 62-94) years and a mean education of 15.6 (SD = 2.9; range: 8-23) years. Fasting blood samples were used to detect serum triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels along with ApoE4 status. DTI was used to determine whole brain fractional anisotropy (FA). Composite executive and memory scores were derived from item response theory. Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scores provided informant-based measures of daily functioning. Triglyceride levels were inversely correlated with executive function, but there was no relationship with memory. Controlling for age, gender, and education did not affect this correlation. This relationship persisted after controlling for vascular risk factors like LDL, total cholesterol, CDR and ApoE4 status. Lastly, adding whole-brain FA to the model did not affect the correlation between triglycerides and executive function. Triglyceride levels are inversely correlated with executive function in nondemented elderly adults after controlling for age, education, gender, total cholesterol, LDL, ApoE4 status, CDR, and white-matter microstructure. The fact that the effect of triglycerides on cognition was not clearly mediated by vascular risks or cerebrovascular injury raises questions about widely held assumptions of how triglycerides might impact cognition function. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

Pathophysiology of Blood-Brain Barrier in Brain Injury in Cold and Hot Environments: Novel Drug Targets for Neuroprotection.

PubMed

Sharma, Hari Shanker; Muresanu, Dafin F; Lafuente, José V; Nozari, Ala; Patnaik, Ranjana; Skaper, Stephen D; Sharma, Aruna

2016-01-01

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) plays a pivotal role in the maintenance of central nervous system function in health and disease. Thus, in almost all neurodegenerative, traumatic or metabolic insults BBB breakdown occurs, allowing entry of serum proteins into the brain fluid microenvironment with subsequent edema formation and cellular injury. Accordingly, pharmacological restoration of BBB function will lead to neurorepair. However, brain injury which occurs following blast, bullet wounds, or knife injury appears to initiate different sets of pathophysiological responses. Moreover, other local factors at the time of injury such as cold or elevated ambient temperatures could also impact the final outcome. Obviously, drug therapy applied to different kinds of brain trauma occurring at either cold or hot environments may respond differently. This is largely due to the fact that internal defense mechanisms of the brain, gene expression, release of neurochemicals and binding of drugs to specific receptors are affected by external ambient temperature changes. These factors may also affect BBB function and development of edema formation after brain injury. In this review, the effects of seasonal exposure to heat and cold on traumatic brain injury using different models i.e., concussive brain injury and cerebral cortical lesion, on BBB dysfunction in relation to drug therapy are discussed. Our observations clearly suggest that closed head injury and open brain injury are two different entities and the external hot or cold environments affect both of them remarkably. Thus, effective pharmacological therapeutic strategies should be designed with these views in mind, as military personnel often experience blunt or penetrating head injuries in either cold or hot environments.

A Herpesviral Immediate Early Protein Promotes Transcription Elongation of Viral Transcripts.

PubMed

Fox, Hannah L; Dembowski, Jill A; DeLuca, Neal A

2017-06-13

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) genes are transcribed by cellular RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II). While four viral immediate early proteins (ICP4, ICP0, ICP27, and ICP22) function in some capacity in viral transcription, the mechanism by which ICP22 functions remains unclear. We observed that the FACT complex (comprised of SSRP1 and Spt16) was relocalized in infected cells as a function of ICP22. ICP22 was also required for the association of FACT and the transcription elongation factors SPT5 and SPT6 with viral genomes. We further demonstrated that the FACT complex interacts with ICP22 throughout infection. We therefore hypothesized that ICP22 recruits cellular transcription elongation factors to viral genomes for efficient transcription elongation of viral genes. We reevaluated the phenotype of an ICP22 mutant virus by determining the abundance of all viral mRNAs throughout infection by transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq). The accumulation of almost all viral mRNAs late in infection was reduced compared to the wild type, regardless of kinetic class. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq), we mapped the location of RNA Pol II on viral genes and found that RNA Pol II levels on the bodies of viral genes were reduced in the ICP22 mutant compared to wild-type virus. In contrast, the association of RNA Pol II with transcription start sites in the mutant was not reduced. Taken together, our results indicate that ICP22 plays a role in recruiting elongation factors like the FACT complex to the HSV-1 genome to allow for efficient viral transcription elongation late in viral infection and ultimately infectious virion production. IMPORTANCE HSV-1 interacts with many cellular proteins throughout productive infection. Here, we demonstrate the interaction of a viral protein, ICP22, with a subset of cellular proteins known to be involved in transcription elongation. We determined that ICP22 is required to recruit the FACT complex and other transcription elongation factors to viral genomes and that in the absence of ICP22 viral transcription is globally reduced late in productive infection, due to an elongation defect. This insight defines a fundamental role of ICP22 in HSV-1 infection and elucidates the involvement of cellular factors in HSV-1 transcription. Copyright © 2017 Fox et al.

Quality of life associated factors in head and neck cancer patients in a developing country using the FACT-H&N.

PubMed

Bilal, Sobia; Doss, Jennifer Geraldine; Cella, David; Rogers, Simon N

2015-03-01

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) associated factors are vital considerations prior to treatment decision-making for head and neck cancer patients. The study aimed to identify potential socio-demographic and clinical prognostic value of HRQoL in head and neck cancer patients in a developing country. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Head and Neck (FACT-H&N)-V4 in Urdu language was administered among 361 head and neck cancer patients. Data were statistically tested through multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and regression modeling to identify the potentially associated factors. Treatment status, tumor stage and tumor site had the strongest negative impact on patients HRQoL, with a statistically significant decrement in FACT summary scales (effect size >0.15). Moderate associated factors of HRQoL included treatment type, marital status, employment status and age (effect size range 0.06-0.15). Weak associated factors of HRQoL with a small effect size (>0.01-0.06) included tumor size and type, gender, education level and ethnicity. This study reports 12 socio-demographic and clinical variables that have a significant impact on HRQoL of head, and neck cancer patients, and that should be considered during treatment decision-making by multidisciplinary teams and also in future HRQoL studies conducted in other developing countries. Copyright © 2014 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. All rights reserved.

26 CFR 1.415(b)-1 - Limitations for defined benefit plans.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... is $70,000 in 2013. (ii) Conclusion. As of the end of the 2013 limitation year, O's average... 2013. See paragraph (a)(5)(iii) of this section. Example 5. (i) Facts. The facts are the same as in... annual adjustment factor described in § 1.415(d)-1(a)(2)(ii) for 2011 through 2013 is 1.03 for each year...

8 CFR 204.309 - Factors requiring denial of a Form I-800A or Form I-800.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... study preparer or to USCIS, or concealed or misrepresented, any fact(s) about the applicant or any... household, failed to disclose, as required by 8 CFR 204.311, each and every prior adoption home study..., the person(s) to whom the prior home study related; or (4) The applicant is barred by 8 CFR 204.307(c...

8 CFR 204.309 - Factors requiring denial of a Form I-800A or Form I-800.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... study preparer or to USCIS, or concealed or misrepresented, any fact(s) about the applicant or any... household, failed to disclose, as required by 8 CFR 204.311, each and every prior adoption home study..., the person(s) to whom the prior home study related; or (4) The applicant is barred by 8 CFR 204.307(c...

Predatory violence aiming at relief in a case of mass murder: Meloy's criteria for applied forensic practice.

PubMed

Declercq, Frédéric; Audenaert, Kurt

2011-01-01

Mass murder is the result of the complex interaction of several factors. What seems ubiquitous within mass murder are extreme feelings of anger and revenge. Yet despite these intense affective states, mass murders are, as a rule, not behaviorally impulsive, but rather prepared. The presence of extreme hate and anger evokes an impulsive outburst of rage, whereas planning and premeditation point in the direction of a cognitive, rather unemotional deed. This inconsistency is also reflected in reports of offenders' emotional states during the execution of their crimes: while some mass murderers have been described as calm, focused and emotionless during the events, others have shown signs of hostility, confusion, and distress. Considering mass murder from the perspective of its violence mode might shed some light on its nature and dynamics. With respect to the differentiation between affective and predatory violence, Meloy (1988) developed a model for applied forensic practice. The fully documented case of mass murder discussed in this study contains nine indices of predatory violence and one of affective violence. Furious affects of hate and anger were present but appeared to precede the cold-blooded killings. As a matter of fact, it is argued that the offender carried out the predatory murder in order to alleviate the psychological tension and symptoms generated by these severe ego-dystonic affects. The offender thus didn't seem to strive for narcissistic gratification of omnipotence, but rather seemed to aim to solve a problem. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Traffic safety facts 1995 : speeding

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1996-01-01

Speeding - exceeding the posted speed limit or driving too fast for conditions - is one of the most prevalent factors contributing to traffic crashes. In 1995, speeding was a contributing factor in 31 percent of all fatal crashes, and 13,256 lives we...

Traffic safety facts 1996 : speeding

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1997-01-01

Speeding - exceeding the posted speed limit or driving too fast for conditions - is one of the most prevalent factors contributing to traffic crashes. In 1996, speeding was a contributing factor in 30 percent of all fatal crashes, and 12,998 lives we...

Traffic safety facts 1999 : speeding

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2000-01-01

Speeding -- exceeding the posted speed limit or driving too fast for conditions -- is one of the most prevalent factors contributing to traffic crashes. In 1999, speeding was a contributing factor in 30% of all fatal crashes, and 12,628 lives were lo...

Personal experiences and emotionality in health-related knowledge exchange in Internet forums: a randomized controlled field experiment comparing responses to facts vs personal experiences.

PubMed

Kimmerle, Joachim; Bientzle, Martina; Cress, Ulrike

2014-12-04

On the Internet, people share personal experiences as well as facts and objective information. This also holds true for the exchange of health-related information in a variety of Internet forums. In online discussions about health topics, both fact-oriented and strongly personal contributions occur on a regular basis. In this field experiment, we examined in what way the particular type of contribution (ie, factual information vs personal experiences) has an impact on the subsequent communication in health-related Internet forums. For this purpose, we posted parallelized queries to 28 comparable Internet forums; queries were identical with regard to the information contained but included either fact-oriented descriptions or personal experiences related to measles vaccination. In the factual information condition, we posted queries to the forums that contained the neutral summary of a scientific article. In the personal experiences condition, we posted queries to the forums that contained the same information as in the first condition, but were framed as personal experiences We found no evidence that personal experiences evoked more responses (mean 3.79, SD 3.91) from other members of the Internet forums than fact-oriented contributions (mean 2.14, SD 2.93, t26=0.126, P=.219). But personal experiences elicited emotional replies (mean 3.17, SD 1.29) from other users to a greater extent than fact-oriented contributions (mean 2.13, SD 1.29, t81=3.659, P<.001). We suggest that personal experiences elicited more emotional replies due to the process of emotional anchoring of people's own style of communication. We recommend future studies should aim at testing the hypotheses with more general and with less emotionally charged topics, constructing different fact-oriented posts, and examining additional potential factors of influence such as personality factors or particular communication situations.

The influence of need for cognition and principal display panel factors on over-the-counter drug facts label comprehension.

PubMed

Catlin, Jesse R; Pechmann, Cornelia; Brass, Eric P

2012-01-01

Nearly all work aimed at optimizing the ability of labeling to communicate over-the-counter (OTC) drug information has focused on back-of-the-package characteristics, such as the Drug Facts label. The effects of front of the package, or principal display panel (PDP) factors, have largely been neglected by researchers. Similarly, heterogeneity in consumers' approach to new information has received scant attention in the context of OTC drugs. This preliminary study tested the hypothesis that display of a drug's brand name on the PDP and individuals' need for cognition influence comprehension of Drug Facts label information. University students (n = 212) that had experienced heartburn but not used the drug class being studied constituted the primary analysis cohort. Students were randomly assigned to review one of two PDPs (brand name or generic), followed by a Drug Facts label and a series of questions related to selection and usage of the drug. Participants with low need for cognition were influenced by the brand name PDP, as those exposed to a PDP featuring a brand (vs. generic) spent less time reading the Drug Facts label and demonstrated lower comprehension of the label information on proper drug selection. These findings suggest that further research is needed to understand the impact of PDP contents and cognitive characteristics of consumers on the communication of OTC drug information. Health care providers should consider communication strategies that account for the challenges patients face in using OTC drugs properly.

When Teens' Eating Habits Become Unhealthy.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lucas, Alexander R.

1984-01-01

Eating disorders than may beset teenagers and seriously affect their health are discussed. Facts about causes, symptoms, and treatments for anorexia nervosa and bulimia, a disorder which involves overeating, followed by self-induced vomiting or purging, are presented. (PP)

Smoke Sense Study Supported by Citizen Scientists Fact Sheet

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

EPA researchers are conducting a citizen science study called Smoke Sense to determine the extent to which exposure to wildland fire smoke affects health and productivity, and develop health risk communication strategies that protect public health.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Fact Sheet for Healthcare Workers and Morticians

MedlinePlus

... of CJD (vCJD), largely in Britain, to mad cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE), a deadly brain disease- similar to CJD-that affects cattle. While there is still no definitive evidence for ...

Redox Conditions in Selected Principal Aquifers of the United States

USGS Publications Warehouse

McMahon, P.B.; Cowdery, T.K.; Chapelle, F.H.; Jurgens, B.C.

2009-01-01

Reduction/oxidation (redox) processes affect the quality of groundwater in all aquifer systems. Redox processes can alternately mobilize or immobilize potentially toxic metals associated with naturally occurring aquifer materials, contribute to the degradation or preservation of anthropogenic contami-nants, and generate undesirable byproducts, such as dissolved manganese (Mn2+), ferrous iron (Fe2+), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and methane (CH4). Determining the kinds of redox processes that occur in an aquifer system, documenting their spatial distribution, and understanding how they affect concentrations of natural or anthropogenic contaminants are central to assessing and predicting the chemical quality of groundwater. This Fact Sheet extends the analysis of U.S. Geological Survey authors to additional principal aquifer systems by applying a framework developed by the USGS to a larger set of water-quality data from the USGS national water databases. For a detailed explanation, see the 'Introduction' in the Fact Sheet.

Nutrition Label Viewing during a Food-Selection Task: Front-of-Package Labels vs Nutrition Facts Labels.

PubMed

Graham, Dan J; Heidrick, Charles; Hodgin, Katie

2015-10-01

Earlier research has identified consumer characteristics associated with viewing Nutrition Facts labels; however, little is known about those who view front-of-package nutrition labels. Front-of-package nutrition labels might appeal to more consumers than do Nutrition Facts labels, but it might be necessary to provide consumers with information about how to locate and use these labels. This study quantifies Nutrition Facts and front-of-package nutrition label viewing among American adult consumers. Attention to nutrition information was measured during a food-selection task. One hundred and twenty-three parents (mean age=38 years, mean body mass index [calculated as kg/m(2)]=28) and one of their children (aged 6 to 9 years) selected six foods from a university laboratory-turned-grocery aisle. Participants were randomized to conditions in which front-of-package nutrition labels were present or absent, and signage explaining front-of-package nutrition labels was present or absent. Adults' visual attention to Nutrition Facts labels and front-of-package nutrition labels was objectively measured via eye-tracking glasses. To examine whether there were significant differences in the percentages of participants who viewed Nutrition Facts labels vs front-of-package nutrition labels, McNemar's tests were conducted across all participants, as well as within various sociodemographic categories. To determine whether hypothesized factors, such as health literacy and education, had stronger relationships with front-of-package nutrition label vs Nutrition Facts label viewing, linear regression assessed the magnitude of relationships between theoretically and empirically derived factors and each type of label viewing. Overall, front-of-package nutrition labels were more likely to be viewed than Nutrition Facts labels; however, for all subgroups, higher rates of front-of-package nutrition label viewership occurred only when signage was present drawing attention to the presence and meaning of front-of-package nutrition labels. Consumers should receive education about the availability and use of new nutrition labels. Copyright © 2015 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Information Needs of Women: Addressing Diverse Factors in the Indian Context.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dasgupta, Kalpana

This paper addresses the diverse facts that influence the information seeking behavior of women in India, including: (1) the type of information women need; (2) social factors (i.e., caste, class, urban/rural, literate/illiterate, educated/uneducated); (3) economic factors (i.e., employed, unemployed, employed in organized sector, employed in the…

Traffic safety facts 1994 : speed

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1995-01-01

Speeding - exceeding the posted speed limit or driving too fast for conditions - is one of the most prevalent factors contributing to traffic crashes. In 1994, speed was a factor in 30 percent of all fatal crashes, and 12,480 lives were lost in speed...

Popular Ideas, Attitudes, and Value Patterns Affecting Participation in Adult Literacy Programs in Slum Communities of Turkey: The Case of Nato Yolu Neighborhood

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yildiz, Ahmet

2008-01-01

Despite the fact that there are nationwide literacy programs in Turkey in order to raise the literacy rate, the participation of illiterate individuals in these programs is not at a satisfactory level. This article is a study into the popular ideas, attitudes, and value patterns that negatively affect participation in literacy programs in a slum…

Population, environment and security: a new trinity.

PubMed

Hartmann, B

1998-10-01

This paper critically examines the literature on the interaction between population, the environment, and development. It posits that population pressure and resource scarcities are unfairly blamed for internal conflicts in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Internal conflicts are, in fact, affected by underlying economic and political causes (international companies, development assistance agencies, and military). This reasoning implies that the national security threats are environmental groups, poor women, and social change groups, which in fact should be integrated within solutions to poverty, environmental destruction, and violence. The US military's focus on "neutralizing environmental consequences that could lead to instability" and promoting sustainable development is misspecified and falls within the domain of civilian agencies. Use of military satellites by the US Central Intelligence Agency in environmental surveillance raises questions about the management of secret archives. The scarcity-conflict model has an indirect role in misshaping public opinion, legitimizes population control as a top priority, neglects gender issues, and dehumanizes refugees. Evidence indicates that the conflicts in Rwanda were the result of institutional failure and ethnic divisions. Homer-Dixon's model fails due to weak definitions of scarcity, ignorance of the role of colonial history and economic inequities, idealized views of the state, and neglect of external factors. The scarcity-conflict model is popular due to opportunism and political pragmatism. For the military, it provides new rationales for a huge budget.

How to Improve the Mastery of Students’ Concept on Photosynthesis Topic?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ulfa, K.; Anggraeni, S.; Supriatno, B.

2017-09-01

The PPDP learning strategy in this research is the acronym of Practicum method, Presentation-discussion method, Demonstration method, and Presentation-discussion method. This study aims to describe the effect of applying PPDP learning strategies to mastery of high school students’ concepts on photosynthesis topic. The research method is a weak experiment, with the research design “The One-Group Pretest-Postetst Design”. The implementation of the study involved 35 students in one of the high schools in the city of Palembang. The research instrument used is in the form of test equipment, assessment rubric and questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS 24 Program. The statistical result showed that PPDP learning strategy had an effect on improving conceptual and Effective on the achievement of the value on the minimum criteria set by the school. This is due to the transformation of knowledge from hands-on to minds-on through the discovery of facts about the concept of photosynthesis. This fact leads to the construction of further understanding through cognitive sharing when the activities of the discussions formed similarity and consolidation of the concept of photosynthesis intact. In addition, demonstration activities also cause students’ logic of thinking to develop through observation of factors that may affect the rate of photosynthesis. This PPDP learning strategy can be utilized by teachers in explaining photosynthetic topic.

Airborne particle emission of a commercial 3D printer: the effect of filament material and printing temperature.

PubMed

Stabile, L; Scungio, M; Buonanno, G; Arpino, F; Ficco, G

2017-03-01

The knowledge of exposure to the airborne particle emitted from three-dimensional (3D) printing activities is becoming a crucial issue due to the relevant spreading of such devices in recent years. To this end, a low-cost desktop 3D printer based on fused deposition modeling (FDM) principle was used. Particle number, alveolar-deposited surface area, and mass concentrations were measured continuously during printing processes to evaluate particle emission rates (ERs) and factors. Particle number distribution measurements were also performed to characterize the size of the emitted particles. Ten different materials and different extrusion temperatures were considered in the survey. Results showed that all the investigated materials emit particles in the ultrafine range (with a mode in the 10-30-nm range), whereas no emission of super-micron particles was detected for all the materials under investigation. The emission was affected strongly by the extrusion temperature. In fact, the ERs increase as the extrusion temperature increases. Emission rates up to 1×10 12  particles min -1 were calculated. Such high ERs were estimated to cause large alveolar surface area dose in workers when 3D activities run. In fact, a 40-min-long 3D printing was found to cause doses up to 200 mm 2 . © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

What causes alopecia areata?

PubMed Central

McElwee, K. J.; Gilhar, A.; Tobin, D. J.; Ramot, Y.; Sundberg, J. P.; Nakamura, M.; Bertolini, M.; Inui, S.; Tokura, Y.; Jr, L. E. King; Duque-Estrada, B.; Tosti, A; Keren, A.; Itami, S.; Shoenfeld, Y.; Zlotogorski, A.; Paus, R.

2014-01-01

The pathobiology of alopecia areata (AA), one of the most frequent autoimmune diseases and a major unsolved clinical problem, has intrigued dermatologists, hair biologists and immunologists for decades. Simultaneously, both affected patients and the physicians who take care of them are increasingly frustrated that there is still no fully satisfactory treatment. Much of this frustration results from the fact that the pathobiology of AA remains unclear, and no single AA pathogenesis concept can claim to be universally accepted. In fact, some investigators still harbour doubts whether this even is an autoimmune disease, and the relative importance of CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells and NKGD2+ NK or NKT cells and the exact role of genetic factors in AA pathogenesis remain bones of contention. Also, is AA one disease, a spectrum of distinct disease entities or only a response pattern of normal hair follicles to immunologically mediated damage? During the past decade, substantial progress has been made in basic AA-related research, in the development of new models for translationally relevant AA research and in the identification of new therapeutic agents and targets for future AA management. This calls for a re-evaluation and public debate of currently prevalent AA pathobiology concepts. The present Controversies feature takes on this challenge, hoping to attract more skin biologists, immunologists and professional autoimmunity experts to this biologically fascinating and clinically important model disease. PMID:23947678

Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein Is a Cell-Intrinsic Factor Inhibiting Parvovirus DNA Replication

PubMed Central

Mitchell, Angela M.; Hirsch, Matthew L.; Li, Chengwen

2014-01-01

Tripartite motif proteins are important viral restriction factors and affect processes ranging from uncoating to transcription to immune signaling. Specifically, the promyelocytic leukemia protein (TRIM19; also called PML) is a viral restriction factor inhibiting processes from uncoating to transcription to cell survival. Here we investigated PML's effect on adeno-associated virus (AAV), a parvovirus used for gene delivery. Although dependovirus (AAV) and autonomous parvovirus (minute virus of mice) replication centers can colocalize with PML, PML's functional effect on parvoviruses is unknown. Using PML knockout mice, we determined that PML knockout enhances recombinant AAV2 (rAAV2) transduction at a range of vector doses in both male and female mice. In fact, male and female PML knockout mice exhibited up to 56-fold and 28-fold increases in transduction, respectively. PML inhibited several rAAV serotypes, suggesting a conserved mechanism, and organ specificity correlated with PML expression. Mechanistically, PML inhibited rAAV second-strand DNA synthesis, precluding inhibition of self-complementary rAAV, and did not affect the prior steps in transduction. Furthermore, we confirmed the effect of human PML on rAAV transduction through small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown in HuH7 cells and determined that the highest level of inhibition was due to effects of PML isoform II (PMLII). Overexpression of PMLII resulted in inhibition of second-strand synthesis, vector production, and genome replication. Moreover, wild-type AAV2 production and infectivity were also inhibited by PMLII, demonstrating a PML interaction with wild-type AAV. These data have important implications for AAV-mediated gene therapy. Additionally, PMLII inhibition of AAV second-strand synthesis and replication, which are processes necessary for all parvoviruses, suggests implications for replication of other parvoviruses. PMID:24198403

Promyelocytic leukemia protein is a cell-intrinsic factor inhibiting parvovirus DNA replication.

PubMed

Mitchell, Angela M; Hirsch, Matthew L; Li, Chengwen; Samulski, R Jude

2014-01-01

Tripartite motif proteins are important viral restriction factors and affect processes ranging from uncoating to transcription to immune signaling. Specifically, the promyelocytic leukemia protein (TRIM19; also called PML) is a viral restriction factor inhibiting processes from uncoating to transcription to cell survival. Here we investigated PML's effect on adeno-associated virus (AAV), a parvovirus used for gene delivery. Although dependovirus (AAV) and autonomous parvovirus (minute virus of mice) replication centers can colocalize with PML, PML's functional effect on parvoviruses is unknown. Using PML knockout mice, we determined that PML knockout enhances recombinant AAV2 (rAAV2) transduction at a range of vector doses in both male and female mice. In fact, male and female PML knockout mice exhibited up to 56-fold and 28-fold increases in transduction, respectively. PML inhibited several rAAV serotypes, suggesting a conserved mechanism, and organ specificity correlated with PML expression. Mechanistically, PML inhibited rAAV second-strand DNA synthesis, precluding inhibition of self-complementary rAAV, and did not affect the prior steps in transduction. Furthermore, we confirmed the effect of human PML on rAAV transduction through small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown in HuH7 cells and determined that the highest level of inhibition was due to effects of PML isoform II (PMLII). Overexpression of PMLII resulted in inhibition of second-strand synthesis, vector production, and genome replication. Moreover, wild-type AAV2 production and infectivity were also inhibited by PMLII, demonstrating a PML interaction with wild-type AAV. These data have important implications for AAV-mediated gene therapy. Additionally, PMLII inhibition of AAV second-strand synthesis and replication, which are processes necessary for all parvoviruses, suggests implications for replication of other parvoviruses.

PAR1 activation affects the neurotrophic properties of Schwann cells.

PubMed

Pompili, Elena; Fabrizi, Cinzia; Somma, Francesca; Correani, Virginia; Maras, Bruno; Schininà, Maria Eugenia; Ciraci, Viviana; Artico, Marco; Fornai, Francesco; Fumagalli, Lorenzo

2017-03-01

Protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR1) is the prototypic member of a family of four G-protein-coupled receptors that signal in response to extracellular proteases. In the peripheral nervous system, the expression and/or the role of PARs are still poorly investigated. High PAR1 mRNA expression was found in the rat dorsal root ganglia and the signal intensity of PAR1 mRNA increased in response to sciatic nerve transection. In the sciatic nerve, functional PAR1 receptor was reported at the level of non-compacted Schwann cell myelin microvilli of the nodes of Ranvier. Schwann cells are the principal population of glial cells of the peripheral nervous system which myelinate axons playing an important role during axonal regeneration and remyelination. The present study was undertaken in order to determine if the activation of PAR1 affects the neurotrophic properties of Schwann cells. Our results suggest that the stimulation of PAR1 could potentiate the Schwann cell ability to favour nerve regeneration. In fact, the conditioned medium obtained from Schwann cell cultures challenged with a specific PAR1 activating peptide (PAR1 AP) displays increased neuroprotective and neurotrophic properties with respect to the culture medium from untreated Schwann cells. The proteomic analysis of secreted proteins in untreated and PAR1 AP-treated Schwann cells allowed the identification of factors differentially expressed in the two samples. Some of them (such as macrophage migration inhibitory factor, matrix metalloproteinase-2, decorin, syndecan 4, complement C1r subcomponent, angiogenic factor with G patch and FHA domains 1) appear to be transcriptionally regulated after PAR1 AP treatment as shown by RT-PCR. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Evaluating effect of symptoms heterogeneity on decision-making ability in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

PubMed

Martoni, Riccardo Maria; Brombin, Chiara; Nonis, Alessandro; Salgari, Giulia Carlotta; Buongiorno, Angela; Cavallini, Maria Cristina; Galimberti, Elisa; Bellodi, Laura

2015-07-01

Despite having a univocal definition, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) shows a remarkably phenotypic heterogeneity. The published reports show impaired decision-making in OCD patients, using tasks such as the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). We wanted to verify the hypothesis of an IGT worse performance in a large sample of OCD patients and healthy control (HC) subjects and to examine the relation between neuropsychological performance in IGT and the OCD symptoms heterogeneity. Binary data from the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale collected on a large sample of OCD patients were analyzed using a multidimensional item response theory model to explore the underlying structure of data, thus revealing latent factors. Factor scores were categorized into quartiles. Then, for each factor, we identified patients respectively with the highest versus lowest score. We evaluated whether symptom dimensions affect the probability of a correct answer over time generalized, during IGT performance, fitting a generalized linear mixed model. We found a general deficit in ambiguous decision-making in OCD compared to HC. Moreover, our findings suggested that OCD symptoms heterogeneity affects decision-making learning abilities during IGT. In fact, while 'Symmetry' and 'Washing' patients showed a learning curve during the task, other subgroups did not. Our study confirmed previous findings suggesting that OCD is characterized by a deficit in decision-making under uncertainty. Moreover, our study gave evidence about biological specificity for each symptom dimension in OCD. Data were discussed in the context of the somatic marker hypothesis, which was hypothesized to be reduced in OCD patients. © 2014 The Authors. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences © 2014 Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Human, donkey and cow milk differently affects energy efficiency and inflammatory state by modulating mitochondrial function and gut microbiota.

PubMed

Trinchese, Giovanna; Cavaliere, Gina; Canani, Roberto Berni; Matamoros, Sebastien; Bergamo, Paolo; De Filippo, Chiara; Aceto, Serena; Gaita, Marcello; Cerino, Pellegrino; Negri, Rossella; Greco, Luigi; Cani, Patrice D; Mollica, Maria Pina

2015-11-01

Different nutritional components are able, by modulating mitochondrial function and gut microbiota composition, to influence body composition, metabolic homeostasis and inflammatory state. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects produced by the supplementation of different milks on energy balance, inflammatory state, oxidative stress and antioxidant/detoxifying enzyme activities and to investigate the role of the mitochondrial efficiency and the gut microbiota in the regulation of metabolic functions in an animal model. We compared the intake of human milk, gold standard for infant nutrition, with equicaloric supplementation of donkey milk, the best substitute for newborns due to its nutritional properties, and cow milk, the primary marketed product. The results showed a hypolipidemic effect produced by donkey and human milk intake in parallel with enhanced mitochondrial activity/proton leakage. Reduced mitochondrial energy efficiency and proinflammatory signals (tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-1 and lipopolysaccharide levels) were associated with a significant increase of antioxidants (total thiols) and detoxifying enzyme activities (glutathione-S-transferase, NADH quinone oxidoreductase) in donkey- and human milk-treated animals. The beneficial effects were attributable, at least in part, to the activation of the nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor-2 pathway. Moreover, the metabolic benefits induced by human and donkey milk may be related to the modulation of gut microbiota. In fact, milk treatments uniquely affected the proportions of bacterial phyla and genera, and we hypothesized that the increased concentration of fecal butyrate in human and donkey milk-treated rats was related to the improved lipid and glucose metabolism and detoxifying activities. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Emotional aspects of hyperprolactinemia.

PubMed

Sobrinho, L G

1998-01-01

Patients with hyperprolactinemia often present with emotional difficulties. These occasionally persist even after successful treatment. Insight into the roots of their diseased state makes a difference in the handling of all cases, but becomes crucial in the not-so-rare situations in which the normalization of hormonal levels is not followed by a feeling of cure. This chapter attempts to provide details, discuss and situate in context the following blocks of pertinent information: (1) prolactin acts upon the central nervous system and variations in its concentrations do affect mood, emotions and behavior; (2) most actions of prolactin are directed to metabolical and behavioral adaptation to pregnancy and the care of the young; (3) even in the absence of pregnancy prolactin secretion responds to environmental stimuli under specific conditions. Whether adaptive, as in the case of surrogate maternity, or pathological, as in the case of pseudopregnancy, prolactin responds to a perceived need to take care of a child; (4) the facts that the clinical onset of prolactinomas often follows life-events and that these tumors occur preferentially in women brought up under specific conditions suggest the possibility that psychological factors may predispose to prolactinomas; (5) dealing with individual cases requires the perception that the relations between prolactin, emotions and feelings are circular, i.e., prolactin affects the brain and mood but, on the other hand, personality traits and environmental factors may stimulate the secretion of prolactin and may play a role in the genesis of the disease.

When Fiction Is Just as Real as Fact: No Differences in Reading Behavior between Stories Believed to be Based on True or Fictional Events.

PubMed

Hartung, Franziska; Withers, Peter; Hagoort, Peter; Willems, Roel M

2017-01-01

Experiments have shown that compared to fictional texts, readers read factual texts faster and have better memory for described situations. Reading fictional texts on the other hand seems to improve memory for exact wordings and expressions. Most of these studies used a "newspaper" vs. "literature" comparison. In the present study, we investigated the effect of reader's expectation to whether information is true or fictional with a subtler manipulation by labeling short stories as either based on true or fictional events. In addition, we tested whether narrative perspective or individual preference in perspective taking affects reading true or fictional stories differently. In an online experiment, participants (final N = 1,742) read one story which was introduced as based on true events or as fictional (factor fictionality ). The story could be narrated in either 1st or 3rd person perspective (factor perspective ). We measured immersion in and appreciation of the story, perspective taking, as well as memory for events. We found no evidence that knowing a story is fictional or based on true events influences reading behavior or experiential aspects of reading. We suggest that it is not whether a story is true or fictional, but rather expectations toward certain reading situations (e.g., reading newspaper or literature) which affect behavior by activating appropriate reading goals. Results further confirm that narrative perspective partially influences perspective taking and experiential aspects of reading.

A quality-of-life study of cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

PubMed

Batalla, A; García-Doval, I; Peón, G; de la Torre, C

2013-11-01

The study of quality of life in patients with skin disorders has become more important in recent decades. In the case of lupus erythematosus, most quality-of-life studies have focused on the systemic form of the disease, with less attention being paid to the cutaneous form. The main objective of this study was to evaluate quality of life in patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) using a dermatology-specific questionnaire: the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Our secondary objective was to investigate associations between DLQI scores and other aspects of the disease. Thirty-six patients with CLE completed the DLQI questionnaire. Other factors assessed were disease severity (measured using the Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index), time since diagnosis, body surface area affected, previous and current treatments, and the presence of criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). According to the DLQI, CLE had a moderate, very large, or extremely large effect on quality of life in 50% of the patients analyzed (18/36). No significant associations were found between DLQI scores and disease severity, time since diagnosis, body surface area affected, number, type, or duration of pharmacologic treatments, or the presence or absence of SLE criteria. CLE has a significant and lasting effect on patient quality of life. This effect is probably primarily due to multiple factors, including the chronic nature of the disease, the visibility of the lesions, and the fact that they can cause disfigurement. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier España, S.L. and AEDV. All rights reserved.

A comprehensive view of sex-specific issues related to cardiovascular disease

PubMed Central

Pilote, Louise; Dasgupta, Kaberi; Guru, Veena; Humphries, Karin H.; McGrath, Jennifer; Norris, Colleen; Rabi, Doreen; Tremblay, Johanne; Alamian, Arsham; Barnett, Tracie; Cox, Jafna; Ghali, William Amin; Grace, Sherry; Hamet, Pavel; Ho, Teresa; Kirkland, Susan; Lambert, Marie; Libersan, Danielle; O'Loughlin, Jennifer; Paradis, Gilles; Petrovich, Milan; Tagalakis, Vicky

2007-01-01

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in women. In fact, CVD is responsible for a third of all deaths of women worldwide and half of all deaths of women over 50 years of age in developing countries. The prevalence of CVD risk factor precursors is increasing in children. Retrospective analyses suggest that there are some clinically relevant differences between women and men in terms of prevalence, presentation, management and outcomes of the disease, but little is known about why CVD affects women and men differently. For instance, women with diabetes have a significantly higher CVD mortality rate than men with diabetes. Similarly, women with atrial fibrillation are at greater risk of stroke than men with atrial fibrillation. Historically, women have been underrepresented in clinical trials. The lack of good trial evidence concerning sex-specific outcomes has led to assumptions about CVD treatment in women, which in turn may have resulted in inadequate diagnoses and suboptimal management, greatly affecting outcomes. This knowledge gap may also explain why cardiovascular health in women is not improving as fast as that of men. Over the last decades, mortality rates in men have steadily declined, while those in women remained stable. It is also becoming increasingly evident that gender differences in cultural, behavioural, psychosocial and socioeconomic status are responsible, to various degrees, for the observed differences between women and men. However, the interaction between sex-and gender-related factors and CVD outcomes in women remains largely unknown. PMID:17353516

When Fiction Is Just as Real as Fact: No Differences in Reading Behavior between Stories Believed to be Based on True or Fictional Events

PubMed Central

Hartung, Franziska; Withers, Peter; Hagoort, Peter; Willems, Roel M.

2017-01-01

Experiments have shown that compared to fictional texts, readers read factual texts faster and have better memory for described situations. Reading fictional texts on the other hand seems to improve memory for exact wordings and expressions. Most of these studies used a “newspaper” vs. “literature” comparison. In the present study, we investigated the effect of reader's expectation to whether information is true or fictional with a subtler manipulation by labeling short stories as either based on true or fictional events. In addition, we tested whether narrative perspective or individual preference in perspective taking affects reading true or fictional stories differently. In an online experiment, participants (final N = 1,742) read one story which was introduced as based on true events or as fictional (factor fictionality). The story could be narrated in either 1st or 3rd person perspective (factor perspective). We measured immersion in and appreciation of the story, perspective taking, as well as memory for events. We found no evidence that knowing a story is fictional or based on true events influences reading behavior or experiential aspects of reading. We suggest that it is not whether a story is true or fictional, but rather expectations toward certain reading situations (e.g., reading newspaper or literature) which affect behavior by activating appropriate reading goals. Results further confirm that narrative perspective partially influences perspective taking and experiential aspects of reading. PMID:28983269

Comprehensive Case Analysis on Participatory Approaches, from Nexus Perspectives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Masuhara, N.; Baba, K.

2014-12-01

According to Messages from the Bonn2011 Conference, involving local communities fully and effectively in the planning and implementation processes related to water, energy and food nexus for local ownership and commitment should be strongly needed. The participatory approaches such as deliberative polling, "joint fact-finding" and so on have been applied so far to resolve various environmental disputes, however the drivers and barriers in such processes have not been necessarily enough analyzed in a comprehensive manner, especially in Japan. Our research aims to explore solutions for conflicts in the context of water-energy-food nexus in local communities. To achieve it, we clarify drivers and barriers of each approaches applied so far in water, energy and food policy, focusing on how to deal with scientific facts. We generate hypotheses primarily that multi-issue solutions through policy integration will be more effective for conflicts in the context of water-energy-food nexus than single issue solutions for each policy. One of the key factors to formulate effective solutions is to integrate "scientific fact (expert knowledge)" and "local knowledge". Given this primary hypothesis, more specifically, we assume that it is effective for building consensus to provide opportunities to resolve the disagreement of "framing" that stakeholders can offer experts the points for providing scientific facts and that experts can get common understanding of scientific facts in the early stage of the process. To verify the hypotheses, we develop a database of the cases which such participatory approaches have been applied so far to resolve various environmental disputes based on literature survey of journal articles and public documents of Japanese cases. At present, our database is constructing. But it's estimated that conditions of framing and providing scientific information are important driving factors for problem solving and consensus building. And it's important to refine the driving factors, evaluating if components of database are enough to present each process or not.

Genetics Home Reference: autosomal recessive axonal neuropathy with neuromyotonia

MedlinePlus

... with neuromyotonia is a rare form of inherited peripheral neuropathy. This group of conditions affects an estimated 1 ... Page National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Peripheral Neuropathy Fact Sheet Educational Resources (3 links) MalaCards: neuromyotonia ...

Henoch-Schonlein Purpura

MedlinePlus

... Types of Vasculitis / Henoch-Schönlein Purpura Henoch-Schönlein Purpura Fast Facts First Description Who gets Henoch-Schönlein ... to serious kidney involvement. Who gets Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (the “typical” patient)? Usually, HSP affects a child ...

Development and validation of an UPLC method for determination of content uniformity in low-dose solid drugs products using the design space approach.

PubMed

Oliva, Alexis; Fariña, José B; Llabrés, Matías

2013-10-15

A simple and reproducible UPLC method was developed and validated for the quantitative analysis of finasteride in low-dose drug products. Method validation demonstrated the reliability and consistency of analytical results. Due to the regulatory requirements of pharmaceutical analysis in particular, evaluation of robustness is vital to predict how small variations in operating conditions affect the responses. Response surface methodology as an optimization technique was used to evaluate the robustness. For this, a central composite design was implemented around the nominal conditions. Statistical treatment of the responses (retention factor and drug concentrations expressed as percentage of label claim) showed that methanol content in mobile-phase and flow rate were the most influential factors. In the optimization process, the compromise decision support problem (cDSP) strategy was used. Construction of the robust domain from response-surfaces provided tolerance windows for the factors affecting the effectiveness of the method. The specified limits for the USP uniformity of dosage units assay (98.5-101.5%) and the purely experimental variations based on the repeatability test for center points (nominal conditions repetitions) were used as criteria to establish the tolerance windows, which allowed definition design space (DS) of analytical method. Thus, the acceptance criteria values (AV) proposed by the USP-uniformity of assay only depend on the sampling error. If the variation in the responses corresponded to approximately twice the repeatability standard deviation, individual values for percentage label claim (%LC) response may lie outside the specified limits; this implies the data are not centered between the specified limits, and that this term plus the sampling error affects the AV value. To avoid this fact, the limits specified by the Uniformity of Dosage Form assay (i.e., 98.5-101.5%) must be taken into consideration to fix the tolerance windows for each factor. All these results were verified by the Monte Carlo simulation. In conclusion, the level of variability for different factors must be calculated for each case, and not arbitrary way, provided a variation is found higher than the repeatability for center points and secondly, the %LC response must lie inside the specified limits i.e., 98.5-101.5%. If not the UPLC method must be re-developed. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Experiment K-7-22: Growth Hormone Regulation Synthesis and Secretion in Microgravity. Part 2; Hypothalamic Growth Hormone-Releasing Factor, Somatostatin Immunoreactivity, and Messenger RNA Levels in Microgravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sawchenko, P. E.; Arias, C.; Krasnov, I.; Grindeland, R. E.; Vale, W.

1994-01-01

Immunohistochemical analyses of hypothalamic hormones carried out on tissue from rats flown on an earlier flight (Cosmos 1887) suggested preferential effects on hypophysiotropic principles involved in the regulation of growth hormone secretion and synthesis. We found that staining in the median eminence for peptides that provide both stimulatory (growth hormone-releasing factor, or GRF) and inhibitory (somatostatin, SS) influences on growth hormone secretion were depressed in flight animals relative to synchronous controls, while staining for other neuroendocrine peptides, cortocotropin-releasing factor and arginine vasopressin, were similar in these two groups. While this suggests some selective impact of weightlessness on the two principal central nervous system regulators of growth hormone dynamics, the fact that both GRF- and SS-immunoreactivity (IR) appeared affected in the same direction is somewhat problematic, and makes tentative any intimation that effects on CNS control mechanisms may be etiologically significant contributors to the sequelae of reduced growth hormone secretion seen in prolonged space flight. To provide an additional, and more penetrating, analysis we attempted in hypothalamic material harvested from animals flown on Cosmos 2044 to complement immunohistochemical analyses of GRF and SS staining with quantitative, in situ assessments of messenger RNAs encoding the precursors for both these hormones.

Bivalve immunity and response to infections: Are we looking at the right place?

PubMed

Allam, Bassem; Pales Espinosa, Emmanuelle

2016-06-01

Significant progress has been made in the understanding of cellular and molecular mediators of immunity in invertebrates in general and bivalve mollusks in particular. Despite this information, there is a lack of understanding of factors affecting animal resistance and specific responses to infections. This in part results from limited consideration of the spatial (and to some extent temporal) heterogeneity of immune responses and very limited information on host-pathogen (and microbes in general) interactions at initial encounter/colonization sites. Of great concern is the fact that most studies on molluscan immunity focus on the circulating hemocytes and the humoral defense factors in the plasma while most relevant host-microbe interactions occur at mucosal interfaces. This paper summarizes information available on the contrasting value of information available on focal and systemic immune responses in infected bivalves, and highlights the role of mucosal immune factors in host-pathogen interactions. Available information underlines the diversity of immune effectors at molluscan mucosal interfaces and highlights the tailored immune response to pathogen stimuli. This context raises fascinating basic research questions around host-microbe crosstalk and feedback controls of these interactions and may lead to novel disease mitigation strategies and improve the assessment of resistant crops or the screening of probiotic candidates. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Psychological gender in clinical depression. Preliminary study].

PubMed

Szpitalak, Malwina; Prochwicz, Katarzyna

2013-01-01

Psychosocial and social theories of mood disorders indicate that factors connected with women's gender roles could create a higher risk of depression. The fact that social role is an important factor associated with depressive disorders suggests that not only a biological but also a psychological gender influences the vulnerability to depression. Gender schema theory was applied to investigate a role of femininity in depressive disorders. It was predicted that patients who identify themselves with the traditional feminine gender role will be more depressed than androgynous and undifferentiated patients or individuals with high level of masculinity. Sixty one patients suffering from affective disorder participated in this research. The Polish adaptation of Bem Sex - Role Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory were used to investigate the association between psychological gender and symptoms of depression. The results indicated that there is a significant connection between the type of psychological gender and the level of depression. The highest level of depression was shown by undifferentiated patients, femininity was also found to be associated with a great number of depressive symptoms. These findings also suggest that androgynous individuals and patients with a high level of masculinity tend to be less depressed. Psychological gender is an important factor which interacts to create a higher depression risk in men and women.

Oxidative stress reduces levels of dysbindin-1A via its PEST domain.

PubMed

Yap, Mei-Yi Alicia; Lo, Yew-Long; Talbot, Konrad; Ong, Wei-Yi

2014-12-01

Oxidative stress resulting from the generation of reactive oxygen species has been proposed as an etiological factor in schizophrenia. The present study tests the hypothesis that oxidative stress can affect levels of dysbindin-1A, encoded by Dtnbp1, a genetic risk factor for schizophrenia, via its PEST domain. In vitro studies on SH-SY5Y cells indicate that oxidative stress triggers proteasomal degradation of dysbindin-1A, and that this requires interactions with its PEST domain, which may be a TRIM32 target. We specifically found (a) that oxidative stress induced in SH-SY5Y cells by 500 µM hydrogen peroxide reduced levels of full-length dysbindin-1, but did not reduce levels of that protein lacking its PEST domain and (b) that levels of full-length dysbindin-1, but not dysbindin-1 lacking its PEST domain, were higher in cells treated with the proteasome inhibitor MG132. Oxidative stress thus emerges as the first known cellular factor regulating dysbindin-1 isoforms with PEST domains. These findings are consistent with the previously noted fact that phosphorylation of PEST domains often marks proteins for proteasomal degradation, and raises the possibility that treatments reducing oxidative stress in the brain, especially during development, may lower schizophrenia risk. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Single-molecule manipulation reveals supercoiling-dependent modulation of lac repressor-mediated DNA looping

PubMed Central

Normanno, Davide; Vanzi, Francesco; Pavone, Francesco Saverio

2008-01-01

Gene expression regulation is a fundamental biological process which deploys specific sets of genomic information depending on physiological or environmental conditions. Several transcription factors (including lac repressor, LacI) are present in the cell at very low copy number and increase their local concentration by binding to multiple sites on DNA and looping the intervening sequence. In this work, we employ single-molecule manipulation to experimentally address the role of DNA supercoiling in the dynamics and stability of LacI-mediated DNA looping. We performed measurements over a range of degrees of supercoiling between −0.026 and +0.026, in the absence of axial stretching forces. A supercoiling-dependent modulation of the lifetimes of both the looped and unlooped states was observed. Our experiments also provide evidence for multiple structural conformations of the LacI–DNA complex, depending on torsional constraints. The supercoiling-dependent modulation demonstrated here adds an important element to the model of the lac operon. In fact, the complex network of proteins acting on the DNA in a living cell constantly modifies its topological and mechanical properties: our observations demonstrate the possibility of establishing a signaling pathway from factors affecting DNA supercoiling to transcription factors responsible for the regulation of specific sets of genes. PMID:18310101

Quantifying the Effect of Macroeconomic and Social Factors on Illegal E-Waste Trade

PubMed Central

Efthymiou, Loukia; Mavragani, Amaryllis; Tsagarakis, Konstantinos P.

2016-01-01

As illegal e-waste trade has been significantly growing over the course of the last few years, the consequences on human health and the environment demand immediate action on the part of the global community. Though it is argued that e-waste flows from developed to developing countries, this subject seems to be more complex than that, with a variety of studies suggesting that income per capita is not the only factor affecting the choice of regions that e-waste is illegally shipped to. How is a country’s economic and social development associated with illegal e-waste trade? Is legislation an important factor? This paper aims at quantifying macroeconomic (per capita income and openness of economy) and social (human development and social progress) aspects, based on qualitative data on illegal e-waste trade routes, by examining the percentage differences in scorings in selected indicators for all known and suspected routes. The results show that illegal e-waste trade occurs from economically and socially developed regions to countries with significantly lower levels of overall development, with few exceptions, which could be attributed to the fact that several countries have loose regulations on e-waste trade, thus deeming them attractive for potential illegal activities. PMID:27527200

Perceived social presence reduces fact-checking

PubMed Central

Jun, Youjung; Meng, Rachel; Johar, Gita Venkataramani

2017-01-01

Today’s media landscape affords people access to richer information than ever before, with many individuals opting to consume content through social channels rather than traditional news sources. Although people frequent social platforms for a variety of reasons, we understand little about the consequences of encountering new information in these contexts, particularly with respect to how content is scrutinized. This research tests how perceiving the presence of others (as on social media platforms) affects the way that individuals evaluate information—in particular, the extent to which they verify ambiguous claims. Eight experiments using incentivized real effort tasks found that people are less likely to fact-check statements when they feel that they are evaluating them in the presence of others compared with when they are evaluating them alone. Inducing vigilance immediately before evaluation increased fact-checking under social settings. PMID:28533396

Effects of information type on children's interrogative suggestibility: is Theory-of-Mind involved?

PubMed

Hünefeldt, Thomas; Rossi-Arnaud, Clelia; Furia, Augusta

2009-08-01

This research was aimed at learning more about the different psychological mechanisms underlying children's suggestibility to leading questions, on the one hand, and children's suggestibility to negative feedback, on the other, by distinguishing between interview questions concerning different types of information. Results showed that, unlike the developmental pattern of children's suggestibility to leading questions, the developmental pattern of children's suggestibility to negative feedback differed depending on whether the interview questions concerned external facts (physical states and events) or internal facts (mental states and events). This difference was not manifested in response to questions concerning central versus peripheral facts. Results are interpreted in terms of the hypothesis that children's suggestibility to negative feedback is differently affected by "Theory-of-Mind" abilities than children's suggestibility to leading questions. Further research is needed in order to test this hypothesis.

Perceived social presence reduces fact-checking.

PubMed

Jun, Youjung; Meng, Rachel; Johar, Gita Venkataramani

2017-06-06

Today's media landscape affords people access to richer information than ever before, with many individuals opting to consume content through social channels rather than traditional news sources. Although people frequent social platforms for a variety of reasons, we understand little about the consequences of encountering new information in these contexts, particularly with respect to how content is scrutinized. This research tests how perceiving the presence of others (as on social media platforms) affects the way that individuals evaluate information-in particular, the extent to which they verify ambiguous claims. Eight experiments using incentivized real effort tasks found that people are less likely to fact-check statements when they feel that they are evaluating them in the presence of others compared with when they are evaluating them alone. Inducing vigilance immediately before evaluation increased fact-checking under social settings.

DEVELOPMENTAL CHANGES IN FACT AND SOURCE RECALL: CONTRIBUTIONS FROM EXECUTIVE FUNCTION AND BRAIN ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY

PubMed Central

Rajan, Vinaya; Bell, Martha Ann

2014-01-01

Source memory involves recollecting the contextual details surrounding a memory episode. When source information is bound together, it makes a memory episodic in nature. Unfortunately, very little is known about the factors that contribute to its formation in early development. This study examined the development of source memory in middle childhood. Measures of executive function were examined as potential sources of variation in fact and source recall. Continuous electroencephalogram (EEG) measures were collected during baseline and fact and source retrieval in order to examine memory-related changes in EEG power. Six and 8-year-old children were taught 10 novel facts from two different sources and recall for fact and source information was later tested. Older children were better on fact recall, but both ages were comparable on source recall. However, source recall performance was poor at both ages, suggesting that this ability continues to develop beyond middle childhood. Regression analyses revealed that executive function uniquely predicted variance in source recall performance. Task-related increases in theta power were observed at frontal, temporal and parietal electrode sites during fact and source retrieval. This investigation contributes to our understanding of age-related differences in source memory processing in middle childhood. PMID:25459873

Investigation of the effect of ambient conditions on the performance of solid desiccant cooling cycles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panaras, G.; Mathioulakis, E.; Belessiotis, V.

2018-01-01

The operation of desiccant air-conditioning systems is characterised by processes implemented to the moist air of the environment; it is, thus, expected to be affected by ambient conditions. The present work aims at quantifying this influence on the basis of an easy-to-implement, steady-state model of the system, presenting an efficiency factors approach, which has been experimentally validated. The analysis examines the behaviour of the ventilation and the recirculation cycles, which constitute the marginal cases regarding the achieved values of the outside air fraction, given the ambient conditions, the desired regeneration temperature and the efficiency of the involved components. The fact of a desiccant cycle undergoing a set of changing ambient conditions by its actual operation is also considered in the analysis. The results provide useful information for the selection of the optimum configuration to the designer of a desiccant air-conditioning system.

Trace element zoning as a record of chemical disequilibrium during garnet growth

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chernoff, Carlotta B.; Carlson, William D.

1999-06-01

Trace element concentrations in pelitic garnets from the Picuris Range of New Mexico display precipitous changes coincident with abrupt variations in Ca concentration. These patterns probably arise from the transitory participation of different trace element enriched phases in the garnet forming reaction. Changes in the reactant and product assemblages occur at different times during the reaction history for crystals of different size, so they cannot be the result of any event affecting the entire rock, such as a change in pressure, temperature, or fluid composition. Instead, they reflect kinetic factors that cause Ca, Y, Yb, P, Ti, Sc, Zr, Hf, Sr, Na, and Li to fail to achieve chemical equilibrium during garnet growth. Caution is needed to avoid misinterpreting excursions in the concentration of these elements as event markers recording simultaneous rockwide changes in intensive parameters, when in fact they may record transient disequilibrium states that are local in scope, and not contemporaneous.

Managing the transcription revolution. Industry forces shape future of field.

PubMed

Faulkner, Scott D

2003-01-01

You may be struggling with contract issues with a vendor. Or maybe you're contemplating the pros and cons of working with outsource, at-home, or overseas transcriptionists. It's a fact: if transcription processes aren't working efficiently, the entire HIM department may be adversely affected. Factor in additional concerns such as data capture for electronic health records, compliance, and patient safety, and the importance of ensuring quality and cost-efficient transcription becomes even more apparent. To help you answer some of these questions, the Journal of AHIMA is launching a four-part series dedicated to transcription issues from the HIM professional's point of view. In this issue, we begin with MTIA president Scott Faulkner's overview of the industry and where it's going next. In upcoming issues, other experts will look at controlling cost and monitoring quality, navigating new technologies, and dealing with contract-related issues.

[Constitutional factors of resistance to the effects of local vibration].

PubMed

Shalaurov, A V; Shchedrina, A G

1989-01-01

The study directed at the improvement of vibration disease prevention shows that not only functional, but also constitutional and somatotypologic body characteristics should be taken into account in predicting resistance to the impact of local occupational vibration. Such approach is specified by the fact that the relation of the main body components affects the amount of the zone of tissues and organs involved into vibration process. The study of 300 assemblerriveters and metal workers engaged in mechanical assembly shows that workers with elevated content of fat tissue and relatively small amount of osteal and muscular tissue, i.e., representatives of the abdominal somatype, are most resistant to local vibration. When the content of osteal and muscular components increases and that of the fat one decreases (thoracic somatotype), resistance to local vibration experiences a significant decline. The dimensions of skin and fat folds of upper extremities are greatly correlated to local vibration resistance.

"Origin," "creation," and "origin of life" some conceptual considerations.

PubMed

Charpa, Ulrich

2012-01-01

This paper opens by drawing attention to the fact that there is some conceptual confusion with regard to "origin" and "creation." This has its historical roots in the beginnings of modern science and undoubtedly affects our positioning towards the evolutionism/creationism-debate. This article argues that there are relevant ontological, epistemological, thematic, methodological, and logical differences between "origin" and "creation." As a result, the analysis suggests keeping the usage of both concepts strictly quite separate. Creation is not simply another word for origin nor does it stand for an (from a rigid scientific point of view) awkward example of an origin. Irrespective of the apparent similarities as explanatory factors, origin and creation belong to fundamentally different types of concepts. Consequently, "origin of life" and those scientific projects connected to it present themselves as something distinct that neither competes nor meshes with thinking about creation.

Improving a workstation in an existing cab by means of a participatory approach: the case of subway operators' workstations.

PubMed

Bellemare, Marie; Beaugrand, Sylvie; Larue, Christian; Champoux, Danièle

2009-01-01

A study was conducted to identify possible solutions for redesigning a subway cab in order to improve the posture of drivers working in a restricted space. The approach used included the participation of a working group comprised of operations, maintenance, and engineering managers as well as several drivers. After 6 meetings in which different simulation techniques were used, the working group proposed changes for increasing the available space inside the cab and three seat designs. The involvement of the actors from the three departments affected by the changes, as well as the operators, throughout the process, was a determining factor in the advancement and acceptance of the projects. The fact that 400 cars are currently in service and must be modified means that it will take several years to implement the modifications in the entire fleet.

Thermochemical factors affecting the dehalogenation of aromatics.

PubMed

Sadowsky, Daniel; McNeill, Kristopher; Cramer, Christopher J

2013-12-17

Halogenated aromatics are one of the largest chemical classes of environmental contaminants, and dehalogenation remains one of the most important processes by which these compounds are degraded and detoxified. The thermodynamic constraints of aromatic dehalogenation reactions are thus important for understanding the feasibility of such reactions and the redox conditions necessary for promoting them. Accordingly, the thermochemical properties of the (poly)fluoro-, (poly)chloro-, and (poly)bromobenzenes, including standard enthalpies of formation, bond dissociation enthalpies, free energies of reaction, and the redox potentials of Ar-X/Ar-H couples, were investigated using a validated density functional protocol combined with continuum solvation calculations when appropriate. The results highlight the fact that fluorinated aromatics stand distinct from their chloro- and bromo- counterparts in terms of both their relative thermodynamic stability toward dehalogenation and how different substitution patterns give rise to relevant properties, such as bond strengths and reduction potentials.

Telomere- and Telomerase-Associated Proteins and Their Functions in the Plant Cell

PubMed Central

Procházková Schrumpfová, Petra; Schořová, Šárka; Fajkus, Jiří

2016-01-01

Telomeres, as physical ends of linear chromosomes, are targets of a number of specific proteins, including primarily telomerase reverse transcriptase. Access of proteins to the telomere may be affected by a number of diverse factors, e.g., protein interaction partners, local DNA or chromatin structures, subcellular localization/trafficking, or simply protein modification. Knowledge of composition of the functional nucleoprotein complex of plant telomeres is only fragmentary. Moreover, the plant telomeric repeat binding proteins that were characterized recently appear to also be involved in non-telomeric processes, e.g., ribosome biogenesis. This interesting finding was not totally unexpected since non-telomeric functions of yeast or animal telomeric proteins, as well as of telomerase subunits, have been reported for almost a decade. Here we summarize known facts about the architecture of plant telomeres and compare them with the well-described composition of telomeres in other organisms. PMID:27446102

Cardiovascular health in the Americas: facts, priorities and the UN high-level meeting on non-communicable diseases.

PubMed

Ordúñez, Pedro

2011-10-01

Population aging, smoking, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, in the context of globalization and unregulated urbanization, explain the high prevalences of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes in the Americas, making cardiovascular diseases the main cause of death. Moreover, cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors disproportionately affect the poorest people, obstructing antipoverty efforts and further deepening health and other inequities. The global crisis of chronic non-communicable diseases has reached such proportions that the UN General Assembly called a high-level meeting in September 2011 to address the issue as one of human development, aiming to stimulate political commitment to a concerted global effort to stem the pandemic. In reference to the Americas, this article reviews the burden of cardiovascular diseases and describes priorities for strategies and action in the region and their relation to the results of the UN meeting.

Parasites and poverty: the case of schistosomiasis.

PubMed

King, Charles H

2010-02-01

Simultaneous and sequential transmission of multiple parasites, and their resultant overlapping chronic infections, are facts of life in many underdeveloped rural areas. These represent significant but often poorly measured health and economic burdens for affected populations. For example, the chronic inflammatory process associated with long-term schistosomiasis contributes to anaemia and undernutrition, which, in turn, can lead to growth stunting, poor school performance, poor work productivity, and continued poverty. To date, most national and international programs aimed at parasite control have not considered the varied economic and ecological factors underlying multi-parasite transmission, but some are beginning to provide a coordinated approach to control. In addition, interest is emerging in new studies for the re-evaluation and recalibration of the health burden of helminthic parasite infection. Their results should highlight the strong potential of integrated parasite control in efforts for poverty reduction. Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Combining Charge Couple Devices and Rate Sensors for the Feedforward Control System of a Charge Coupled Device Tracking Loop.

PubMed

Tang, Tao; Tian, Jing; Zhong, Daijun; Fu, Chengyu

2016-06-25

A rate feed forward control-based sensor fusion is proposed to improve the closed-loop performance for a charge couple device (CCD) tracking loop. The target trajectory is recovered by combining line of sight (LOS) errors from the CCD and the angular rate from a fiber-optic gyroscope (FOG). A Kalman filter based on the Singer acceleration model utilizes the reconstructive target trajectory to estimate the target velocity. Different from classical feed forward control, additive feedback loops are inevitably added to the original control loops due to the fact some closed-loop information is used. The transfer function of the Kalman filter in the frequency domain is built for analyzing the closed loop stability. The bandwidth of the Kalman filter is the major factor affecting the control stability and close-loop performance. Both simulations and experiments are provided to demonstrate the benefits of the proposed algorithm.

Research on pathogens at Great Lakes beaches: sampling, influential factors, and potential sources

USGS Publications Warehouse

,

2013-01-01

The overall mission of this work is to provide science-based information and methods that will allow beach managers to more accurately make beach closure and advisory decisions, understand the sources and physical processes affecting beach contaminants, and understand how science-based information can be used to mitigate and restore beaches and protect the public. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in collaboration with many Federal, State, and local agencies and universities, has conducted research on beach health issues in the Great Lakes Region for more than a decade. The work consists of four science elements that align with the USGS Beach Health Initiative Mission: real-time assessments of water quality; coastal processes; pathogens and source tracking; and data analysis, interpretation, and communication. The ongoing or completed research for the pathogens and source tracking topic is described in this fact sheet.

Low-dose effects of hormones and endocrine disruptors.

PubMed

Vandenberg, Laura N

2014-01-01

Endogenous hormones have effects on tissue morphology, cell physiology, and behaviors at low doses. In fact, hormones are known to circulate in the part-per-trillion and part-per-billion concentrations, making them highly effective and potent signaling molecules. Many endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) mimic hormones, yet there is strong debate over whether these chemicals can also have effects at low doses. In the 1990s, scientists proposed the "low-dose hypothesis," which postulated that EDCs affect humans and animals at environmentally relevant doses. This chapter focuses on data that support and refute the low-dose hypothesis. A case study examining the highly controversial example of bisphenol A and its low-dose effects on the prostate is examined through the lens of endocrinology. Finally, the chapter concludes with a discussion of factors that can influence the ability of a study to detect and interpret low-dose effects appropriately. © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Undergraduate nursing students' attitudes towards smoking health promotion.

PubMed

McCann, Terence V; Clark, Eileen; Rowe, Kathy

2005-09-01

Despite the fact that nurses have a key role in health promotion, many continue to smoke at much the same rate as the general population. This paper investigates the influence of smoking status, gender, age, stage of education, and smoking duration on undergraduate nursing students' attitudes towards smoking health promotion. The study took place in one university's School of Nursing in Victoria, Australia. Respondents completed the Smoking and Health Promotion instrument. Researchers obtained ethics approval prior to commencing the study. Smoking status was the main factor that affected respondents' attitudes towards smoking health promotion, with age and education stage having a minor effect, and gender and smoking duration not significant. Nurses have an important role in modeling non-smoking behaviors for patients. There needs to be consistency between personal and professional beliefs for nurses to properly engage in smoking health promotion. The findings have implications for undergraduate nursing education curricula, nursing practice and research, and these are discussed.

Assessing Heat Stress and Health among Construction Workers in a Changing Climate: A Review

PubMed Central

Acharya, Payel; Boggess, Bethany

2018-01-01

Construction workers are at an elevated risk of heat stress, due to the strenuous nature of the work, high temperature work condition, and a changing climate. An increasing number of workers are at risk, as the industry’s growth has been fueled by high demand and vast numbers of immigrant workers entering into the U.S., the Middle East and Asia to meet the demand. The risk of heat-related illnesses is increased by the fact that little to no regulations are present and/or enforced to protect these workers. This review recognizes the issues by summarizing epidemiological studies both in the U.S. and internationally. These studies have assessed the severity with which construction workers are affected by heat stress, risk factors and co-morbidities associated with heat-related illnesses in the construction industry, vulnerable populations, and efforts in implementing preventive measures. PMID:29389908

Ethnicity and genetics are more important than diabetes mellitus and hypertension in producing cardiovascular events in patients with the metabolic syndrome: emphasis in the Puerto Rico population.

PubMed

Altieri, Pablo I; Marcial, José M; Banchs, Héctor; Escobales, Nelson; Crespo, María

2013-01-01

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors for cardiovascular disease that affects an estimated 50 million Americans. The present article reviews the metabolic syndrome with respect to its definition, epidemiology, pathophysiology and management. A primary focus in research has been to elucidate the processes determined to cause insulin resistance, the fundamental mechanism underlying the metabolic syndrome. Namely, the incidence, component characteristics and complications of the metabolic syndrome in the island of Puerto Rico are described alongside the fact that the metabolic syndrome may be milder in Puerto Rico than in the mainland United States because it is characterized by less aggressive coronary disease and a relatively normal lipid profile. This suggests that the cardiovascular complications are more influenced by genetics and culture than diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

Review of progress in magnetic particle inspection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eisenmann, David J.; Enyart, Darrel; Lo, Chester; Brasche, Lisa

2014-02-01

Magnetic particle inspection (MPI) has been widely utilized for decades, and sees considerable use in the aerospace industry with a majority of the steel parts being inspected with MPI at some point in the lifecycle. Typical aircraft locations inspected are landing gear, engine components, attachment hardware, and doors. In spite of its numerous applications the method remains poorly understood, and there are many aspects of that method which would benefit from in-depth study. This shortcoming is due to the fact that MPI combines the complicated nature of electromagnetics, metallurgical material effects, fluid-particle motion dynamics, and physiological human factors into a single inspection. To promote understanding of the intricate method issues that affect sensitivity, or to assist with the revision of industry specifications and standards, research studies will be prioritized through the guidance of a panel of industry experts, using an approach which has worked successfully in the past to guide fluorescent penetrant inspection (FPI) research efforts.

[Reproduction, endocrine disorders and celiac disease: risk factors of osteoporosis].

PubMed

Stazi, A V; Trinti, B

2006-04-01

In genetically predisposed individuals, celiac disease (CD) is permanent intolerance to gluten. Besides the overt enteropathy, there are clinical and subclinical forms which appear later in life; target organs include liver, thyroid, skin and reproductive systems. CD interference is related to the different concurrent genetic-environmental factors, showing multifactorial nature. CD induces malabsorption with consequent deficiencies of micronutrients essential for organogenesis, spermatogenesis and bone structure, such as vitamin D and calcium. In fact, among extraintestinal manifestations of CD, osteoporosis deserves attention because it can be a sign of silent CD. In celiac patients' serum, cytochinic imbalance related to bone loss is present; in vitro these sera act on the osteoblastic activity. The IL-1b is also present in celiac patients' relatives, confirming the genetic predisposition to its etiopathogenesis which is also regulated by endocrine-environmental factors. In females, CD acts indirectly on the bone, determining early menopause and amenorrhea. Even frequent pregnancies and long periods of lactation can bring to bone loss; in such periods, silent CD can appear, suggesting the presence of endocrine-immunology factors. In celiac males, osteoporosis presence, besides calcium and vitamin D deficiencies, is associated to growth hormone deficit and hypogonadism, which is related to hyperprolactinemia, endocrine factors which affect the reproduction. Osteoporosis is relevant among the elderly and vitamin D and calcium supplementations are important to people diagnosed with CD later in life. Thus, to prevent damages such as osteoporosis, early CD screening among people with reproductive problems is necessary.

Did the Arctic Ice Recover? Demographics of True and False Climate Facts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamilton, L.

2012-12-01

Beliefs about climate change divide the U.S. public along party lines more distinctly than hot social issues. Research finds that better educated or informed respondents are more likely to align with their parties on climate change. This information-elite polarization resembles a process of biased assimilation first described in psychological experiments. In nonexperimental settings, college graduates could be prone to biased assimilation if they more effectively acquire information that supports their beliefs. Recent national and statewide survey data show response patterns consistent with biased assimilation (and biased guessing) contributing to the correlation observed between climate beliefs and knowledge. The survey knowledge questions involve key, uncontroversial observations such as whether the area of late-summer Arctic sea ice has declined, increased, or declined and then recovered to what it was 30 years ago. Correct answers are predicted by education, and some wrong answers (e.g., more ice) have predictors that suggest lack of knowledge. Other wrong answers (e.g., ice recovered) are predicted by political and belief factors instead. Responses show indications of causality in both directions: science information affecting climate beliefs, but also beliefs affecting the assimilation of science information.; ;

Total pancreatectomy for recurrent acute and chronic pancreatitis: a critical review of patient selection criteria

PubMed Central

Faghih, Mahya; Gonzalez, Francisco Garcia; Makary, Martin A.; Singh, Vikesh K.

2018-01-01

Purpose of review Critical review of the indications for total pancreatectomy and highlight limitations in current diagnostic criteria for chronic pancreatitis. Recent findings The diagnosis of noncalcific chronic pancreatitis remains controversial because of an overreliance on nonspecific imaging and laboratories findings. Endoscopic ultrasound, s-magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, and/or endoscopic pancreatic function testing are often used to diagnose noncalcific chronic pancreatitis despite the fact that there is no gold standard for this condition. Abdominal pain is not specific for chronic pancreatitis and is more likely to be encountered in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders based on the high incidence of these conditions. The duration of pain and opioid analgesic use results in central sensitization that adversely affects pain outcomes after total pancreatectomy. An alcoholic cause is associated with poorer pain outcomes after total pancreatectomy. Summary The lack of a gold standard for noncalcific chronic pancreatitis limits the diagnostic accuracy of imaging and laboratory tests. The pain of chronic pancreatitis is nonspecific and is affected by duration, preoperative opioid use, and cause. These factors will need to be considered in the development of future selection criteria for this morbid surgery. PMID:28700371

Rift Valley fever virus NSs protein functions and the similarity to other bunyavirus NSs proteins.

PubMed

Ly, Hoai J; Ikegami, Tetsuro

2016-07-02

Rift Valley fever is a mosquito-borne zoonotic disease that affects both ruminants and humans. The nonstructural (NS) protein, which is a major virulence factor for Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), is encoded on the S-segment. Through the cullin 1-Skp1-Fbox E3 ligase complex, the NSs protein promotes the degradation of at least two host proteins, the TFIIH p62 and the PKR proteins. NSs protein bridges the Fbox protein with subsequent substrates, and facilitates the transfer of ubiquitin. The SAP30-YY1 complex also bridges the NSs protein with chromatin DNA, affecting cohesion and segregation of chromatin DNA as well as the activation of interferon-β promoter. The presence of NSs filaments in the nucleus induces DNA damage responses and causes cell-cycle arrest, p53 activation, and apoptosis. Despite the fact that NSs proteins have poor amino acid similarity among bunyaviruses, the strategy utilized to hijack host cells are similar. This review will provide and summarize an update of recent findings pertaining to the biological functions of the NSs protein of RVFV as well as the differences from those of other bunyaviruses.

Transcription Profiling of the mgrA Regulon in Staphylococcus aureus

PubMed Central

Luong, Thanh T.; Dunman, Paul M.; Murphy, Ellen; Projan, Steven J.; Lee, Chia Y.

2006-01-01

MgrA has been shown to affect multiple Staphylococcus aureus genes involved in virulence and antibiotic resistance. To comprehensively identify the target genes regulated by mgrA, we employed a microarray method to analyze the transcription profiles of S. aureus Newman, its isogeneic mgrA mutant, and an MgrA-overproducing derivative. We compared genes that were differentially expressed at exponential or early stationary growth phases. Our results showed that MgrA affected an impressive number of genes, 175 of which were positively regulated and 180 of which were negatively regulated in an mgrA-specific manner. The target genes included all functional categories. The microarray results were validated by real-time reverse transcription-PCR quantitation of a set of selected genes from different functional categories. Our data also indicate that mgrA regulates virulence factors in a fashion analogous to that of the accessory gene regulatory locus (agr). Accordingly, exoproteins are upregulated and surface proteins are downregulated by the regulator, suggesting that mgrA may function in concert with agr. The fact that a large number of genes are regulated by mgrA implies that MgrA is a major global regulator in S. aureus. PMID:16484201

3xTgAD mice exhibit altered behavior and elevated Aβ after chronic mild social stress

PubMed Central

Rothman, Sarah M.; Herdener, Nathan; Camandola, Simonetta; Texel, Sarah J.; Mughal, Mohamed R.; Cong, Wei-Na; Martin, Bronwen; Mattson, Mark P

2014-01-01

Chronic stress may be a risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but most studies of the effects of stress in models of AD utilize acute adverse stressors of questionable clinical relevance. The goal of this work was to determine how chronic psychosocial stress affects behavioral and pathological outcomes in an animal model of AD, and to elucidate underlying mechanisms. A triple-transgenic mouse model of AD (3xTgAD mice) and nontransgenic control mice were used to test for an affect of chronic mild social stress on blood glucose, plasma glucocorticoids, plasma insulin, anxiety and hippocampal Aβ, ptau and BDNF levels. Despite the fact that both control and 3xTgAD mice experienced rises in corticosterone during episodes of mild social stress, at the end of the 6 week stress period 3xTgAD mice displayed increased anxiety, elevated levels of Aβ oligomers and intraneuronal Aβ, and decreased BDNF levels, whereas control mice did not. Findings suggest 3xTgAD mice are more vulnerable than control mice to chronic psychosocial stress, and that such chronic stress exacerbates Aβ accumulation and impairs neurotrophic signaling. PMID:21855175

Struggling against suicide: the need for an integrative approach.

PubMed

De Leo, Diego

2002-01-01

Transcultural comparisons would be beneficial for both our understanding of suicide phenomena and the setting up of preventative strategies. Changes in attitude throughout history, gender and age differences, socio-economic factors, influence of race and ethnicity, and the impact of religion are among the aspects mentioned in this article. All of them can actually have a considerable effect on suicide rates, and all of them should be taken into account when interpreting suicide trends and designing antisuicide strategies. In fact, both risk and protective factors may vary remarkably in different cultures. The need for an integrative approach is evident today more than ever, and this fact calls for more concerted and coordinated, multidisciplinary approaches to suicide prevention.

A Factor Analytic Study of a Scale Designed to Measure Death Anxiety.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thorson, James A.; Perkins, Mark

A death anxiety scale developed in 1973 by Nehrke was administered to 655 adult subjects. Their responses were differentiated according to age, sex, race, and level of education. Data were also analyzed using the varimax rotated factor matrix procedure to determine significant factors that the scale was, in fact, measuring. Loadings on four…

Facts about Birth Defects

MedlinePlus

... Defects Language: English (US) Español (Spanish) Recommend on Facebook Tweet Share Compartir On This Page Birth Defects are Common Identifying Birth Defects Causes Prevention References Birth defects are common, costly, and critical conditions that affect 1 in every 33 babies born in the ...

Decision, 1980.

PubMed

1987-01-01

The Court ruled that the right of a woman to custody over her ward is not affected by the fact that she goes out to work if she leaves the ward in the care of a suitably diligent and qualified person during her absence. full text

RESEARCH IN SUPPORT OF CRITERIA FOR HABITAT ALTERATIONS

EPA Science Inventory

Many anthropogenic activities exert their influence on fish, shellfish and aquatic-dependent wildlife by affecting habitats. In fact, habitat alteration is one of the most important contributors to declines in ecological resources in North America. Habitat loss and degradation ar...

Stimulant Medication and the Hyperactive Adolescent: Myths and Facts.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clampit, M. K.; Pirkle, Jane B.

1983-01-01

Reviews literature that describes the rational and nonrational factors sustaining the myth that stimulant medication is ineffective for hyperactive adolescents. Discusses methodological problems and factors--such as increasing size, misbehavior and misattribution, and perceived relationship to drug abuse--that influence treatment decisions. (JAC)

The ultrasonic technique for in situ investigations on stones: suggestions for uses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bellopede, R.; Marini, P.

2012-04-01

The Ultrasound Pulse Velocity (UPV) is one of the main non destructive techniques to detect both in laboratory and in situ the stone decay and many international papers of the recent years deal with its application. This technique is often executed in laboratory, where the possibility to keep constant the environmental and test conditions are a guarantee of the reliability of the results. It is known in fact the UPV are mainly conditioned by the following factors: - the characteristics of the stone tested (not only petrographic properties such as texture and structure, but even specimen dimension and water content); - the transducers features such as frequency, divergence angle , near field and wavelength; - external climate factors such as environmental temperature, humidity. In spite of the many factors affecting the measurements, UPV performed in laboratory is well correlated with mechanical strength of the stone , with its porosity and, as consequence, it is a reliable technique to detect the durability of a stone. On the other side, for in situ UPV test it is important to take into account that the measurement uncertainty is affected by the unknown water content in the stone. From tests performed on different rocks (marble, limestones, travertines, granites, gneiss, schists , sandstones) , the ratios between UPV tested in dry and saturated conditions can be > 1 or < 1 depending on the porosity . On the base of the results obtained, in this paper suggestions for UPV measurements in situ have been advanced concerning: the importance of the petrographic characterization of the stone in order to choose the suitable measurement frequency; the correct choice of transducers frequencies; the use of a reference slab, with a known UPV in dry conditions, to be exposed in the investigated site some days before the in situ tests, in order to appreciate the UPV variation due to climate factors.

29 CFR 1604.9 - Fringe benefits.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... Relating to Labor (Continued) EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION GUIDELINES ON DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE... discriminate between men and women with regard to fringe benefits. (c) Where an employer conditions benefits... employees and their families. Due to the fact that such conditioning discriminatorily affects the rights of...

29 CFR 1604.9 - Fringe benefits.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Relating to Labor (Continued) EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION GUIDELINES ON DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE... discriminate between men and women with regard to fringe benefits. (c) Where an employer conditions benefits... employees and their families. Due to the fact that such conditioning discriminatorily affects the rights of...

29 CFR 1604.9 - Fringe benefits.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... Relating to Labor (Continued) EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION GUIDELINES ON DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE... discriminate between men and women with regard to fringe benefits. (c) Where an employer conditions benefits... employees and their families. Due to the fact that such conditioning discriminatorily affects the rights of...

29 CFR 1604.9 - Fringe benefits.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... Relating to Labor (Continued) EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION GUIDELINES ON DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE... discriminate between men and women with regard to fringe benefits. (c) Where an employer conditions benefits... employees and their families. Due to the fact that such conditioning discriminatorily affects the rights of...

"The Bell Curve": Getting the Facts Straight.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Feuerstein, Reuven; Kozulin, Alex

1995-01-01

Despite its failings, Herrnstein and Murray's "The Bell Curve" is valuable for emphasizing cognition as significantly affecting human performance and social achievement; acknowledging human differences; and offering a frightening depiction of contemporary American society. The authors err in reducing intelligence to a stable, immutable…

Patent databases and analytical tools for space technology commercialization (Part 2)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hulsey, William N., III

2002-07-01

A shift in the space industry has occurred that requires technology developers to understand the basics of the intellectual property laws; Global harmonization facilitates this understanding; internet-based tools enable knowledge of these rights and the facts affecting them.

Flicker

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

None

2013-03-01

Solid-state lighting program technology fact sheet that discusses flicker metrics, contributing factors, and consequences in addition to comparing the flicker attributes of a sample of conventional and LED sources.

Image quality in thoracic 4D cone-beam CT: A sensitivity analysis of respiratory signal, binning method, reconstruction algorithm, and projection angular spacing

PubMed Central

Shieh, Chun-Chien; Kipritidis, John; O’Brien, Ricky T.; Kuncic, Zdenka; Keall, Paul J.

2014-01-01

Purpose: Respiratory signal, binning method, and reconstruction algorithm are three major controllable factors affecting image quality in thoracic 4D cone-beam CT (4D-CBCT), which is widely used in image guided radiotherapy (IGRT). Previous studies have investigated each of these factors individually, but no integrated sensitivity analysis has been performed. In addition, projection angular spacing is also a key factor in reconstruction, but how it affects image quality is not obvious. An investigation of the impacts of these four factors on image quality can help determine the most effective strategy in improving 4D-CBCT for IGRT. Methods: Fourteen 4D-CBCT patient projection datasets with various respiratory motion features were reconstructed with the following controllable factors: (i) respiratory signal (real-time position management, projection image intensity analysis, or fiducial marker tracking), (ii) binning method (phase, displacement, or equal-projection-density displacement binning), and (iii) reconstruction algorithm [Feldkamp–Davis–Kress (FDK), McKinnon–Bates (MKB), or adaptive-steepest-descent projection-onto-convex-sets (ASD-POCS)]. The image quality was quantified using signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio, and edge-response width in order to assess noise/streaking and blur. The SNR values were also analyzed with respect to the maximum, mean, and root-mean-squared-error (RMSE) projection angular spacing to investigate how projection angular spacing affects image quality. Results: The choice of respiratory signals was found to have no significant impact on image quality. Displacement-based binning was found to be less prone to motion artifacts compared to phase binning in more than half of the cases, but was shown to suffer from large interbin image quality variation and large projection angular gaps. Both MKB and ASD-POCS resulted in noticeably improved image quality almost 100% of the time relative to FDK. In addition, SNR values were found to increase with decreasing RMSE values of projection angular gaps with strong correlations (r ≈ −0.7) regardless of the reconstruction algorithm used. Conclusions: Based on the authors’ results, displacement-based binning methods, better reconstruction algorithms, and the acquisition of even projection angular views are the most important factors to consider for improving thoracic 4D-CBCT image quality. In view of the practical issues with displacement-based binning and the fact that projection angular spacing is not currently directly controllable, development of better reconstruction algorithms represents the most effective strategy for improving image quality in thoracic 4D-CBCT for IGRT applications at the current stage. PMID:24694143

How Do Adolescents Process Advertisements? The Influence of Ad Characteristics, Processing Objective, and Gender.

PubMed

Edens; McCormick

2000-10-01

This study investigates the influences of print advertisements on the affective and cognitive responses of adolescents. Junior and senior high school males (n = 111) and females (n = 84) were randomly assigned to either a low- or high-elaboration condition to process primarily visual and primarily verbal print advertisements. The students then responded to questions measuring three dependent variables-memory of specific facts, inference, and emotional response. Three-way ANOVA results indicated that predominantly visual advertisements elicited memory of more facts, more inferencing, and more intense emotional responses than predominantly verbal ads. In addition, females remembered more facts, made more inferences, reported stronger emotional responses, and detected the explicit claim of the ad more frequently than males. Finally, students in the high-elaboration condition remembered more details than students in the low-elaboration condition. The results are discussed in terms of implications for advertising media literacy. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

Factor Analysis with EM Algorithm Never Gives Improper Solutions when Sample Covariance and Initial Parameter Matrices Are Proper

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Adachi, Kohei

2013-01-01

Rubin and Thayer ("Psychometrika," 47:69-76, 1982) proposed the EM algorithm for exploratory and confirmatory maximum likelihood factor analysis. In this paper, we prove the following fact: the EM algorithm always gives a proper solution with positive unique variances and factor correlations with absolute values that do not exceed one,…

Understanding health-related quality of life in adult women with metastatic cancer who have dependent children.

PubMed

Park, Eliza M; Deal, Allison M; Yopp, Justin M; Edwards, Teresa; Resnick, Samuel J; Song, Mi-Kyung; Nakamura, Zev M; Rosenstein, Donald L

2018-05-06

Cancer is a leading cause of death among women of parenting age in the United States. Women living with advanced or incurable cancer who have dependent children experience high rates of depression and anxiety as well as unique parenting challenges. To the authors' knowledge, few studies to date have examined the parenting factors associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in women with advanced cancer. The authors conducted a cross-sectional, Web-based survey of the psychosocial concerns of 224 women with a tumor-node-metastasis staging system of the AJCC stage IV solid tumor malignancy who had at least 1 child aged <18 years. Participants completed validated measures of HRQOL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General [FACT-G]); depression and anxiety symptom severity; functional status; parenting concerns; and investigator-designed questions to assess demographic, communication, and parenting characteristics. Multiple linear regression models were estimated to identify factors associated with FACT-G total and subscale scores. The mean FACT-G score was 66 (standard deviation, 16). The mean Emotional Well-Being subscale scores were particularly low (13; standard deviation, 5). In multivariable linear regression models, parenting variables explained nearly 40% of the HRQOL model variance. In the fully adjusted model, parenting concerns and the absence of parental prognostic communication with children both were found to be significantly associated with HRQOL scores. For each 1-point increase in parenting concern severity, FACT-G scores decreased by 4 points (P = .003). Women with metastatic cancer who are parents of dependent children are at risk of high psychological distress and low HRQOL. Parenting factors may have a negative influence on HRQOL in this patient population. Cancer 2018. © 2018 American Cancer Society. © 2018 American Cancer Society.

Widespread fear of dengue transmission but poor practices of dengue prevention: A study in the slums of Delhi, India.

PubMed

Daudé, Éric; Mazumdar, Sumit; Solanki, Vandana

2017-01-01

This study has been conducted to throw light on the knowledge and practices related to dengue fever among the poor population living in Delhi's slums. A household survey was conducted in 2013 among 3,350 households. The households were stratified by a number of variables related to socio-economic status and health events such as hospitalisation. The data collection was completed through face-to-face interviews conducted with the help of 25 field investigators. About 8% of the households had at least one diagnosed dengue case. In comparison to the population surveyed, teenagers (15-19 years) and adults (30-34 years) were more affected whereas children under four years of age were underrepresented. Housewives are more affected by dengue (24%) compared to their share of the population surveyed (17%). Despite the fact that 77% of the respondents are worried about mosquitoes, only 43% of them monitor environment to avoid the presence of breeding sites. One cannot exclude the possibility that though young children under the age of four years are exposed to the virus, either their cases were asymptomatic or family members infected during this period had potentially more serious symptoms leading to hospitalisation. This result could thus be explained by budget-related health choices made by this population which do not favour small children. Educational programs should target housewives to improve their impact, as they are the ones mostly responsible for water storage and cleanliness of the house and its neighbourhood. Even with a dengue experience and potentially an acute perception of the risk and its factors, a proper management of environmental conditions is lacking. This along with the fact that word-of-mouth is the main source of information quoted should be a message for municipality health workers to give door-to-door information on how to prevent breeding sites and dengue infection.

Efficacy of clobetasol spray: factors beyond patient compliance.

PubMed

Bhutani, Tina; Koo, John; Maibach, Howard I

2012-02-01

Clobetasol 0.05% spray, a topical clobetasol propionate, is a non-greasy formulation that has shown increased clinical efficacy in a head-to-head comparison with foam formulation. Moreover, available data from randomized, controlled, double-blind trials suggests that clobetasol spray is, in fact, slightly more effective than most, if not all, other preparations of clobetasol. The fact that clobetasol spray is exceptionally easy to comply with may have played a major role in this outcome; however, other factors must be considered. These include vehicle metamorphosis post-application as well as vehicle and excipient effects on stratum corneum permeability. Basic concepts in topical drug delivery and how they apply to this spray vehicle may further explain the greater efficacy of clobetasol spray.

[The hospital as space and as territory].

PubMed

Stiefel, Friedrich; Marion-Veyron, Régis; Englebert, Jérôme

2018-02-07

Space is lived individually and collectively and can become a source of existential affectation, especially when the lived experience is modified by disease. The fact that the hospital is also a place of territorialisation can potentiate this affectation, with at times surprising consequences. We aim - based on a reflection about the relationship patients and clinicians establish with the territory of the hospital- to identify some psychological and existential issues at stake with regard to space as a social construction.

Astrobiological stoichiometry.

PubMed

Young, Patrick A; Desch, Steven J; Anbar, Ariel D; Barnes, Rory; Hinkel, Natalie R; Kopparapu, Ravikumar; Madhusudhan, Nikku; Monga, Nikhil; Pagano, Michael D; Riner, Miriam A; Scannapieco, Evan; Shim, Sang-Heon; Truitt, Amanda

2014-07-01

Chemical composition affects virtually all aspects of astrobiology, from stellar astrophysics to molecular biology. We present a synopsis of the research results presented at the "Stellar Stoichiometry" Workshop Without Walls hosted at Arizona State University April 11-12, 2013, under the auspices of the NASA Astrobiology Institute. The results focus on the measurement of chemical abundances and the effects of composition on processes from stellar to planetary scales. Of particular interest were the scientific connections between processes in these normally disparate fields. Measuring the abundances of elements in stars and giant and terrestrial planets poses substantial difficulties in technique and interpretation. One of the motivations for this conference was the fact that determinations of the abundance of a given element in a single star by different groups can differ by more than their quoted errors. The problems affecting the reliability of abundance estimations and their inherent limitations are discussed. When these problems are taken into consideration, self-consistent surveys of stellar abundances show that there is still substantial variation (factors of ∼ 2) in the ratios of common elements (e.g., C, O, Na, Al, Mg, Si, Ca) important in rock-forming minerals, atmospheres, and biology. We consider how abundance variations arise through injection of supernova nucleosynthesis products into star-forming material and through photoevaporation of protoplanetary disks. The effects of composition on stellar evolution are substantial, and coupled with planetary atmosphere models can result in predicted habitable zone extents that vary by many tens of percent. Variations in the bulk composition of planets can affect rates of radiogenic heating and substantially change the mineralogy of planetary interiors, affecting properties such as convection and energy transport.

Mean wind speed persistence over China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Lei

2018-07-01

The wind speed persistence is an important factor in the assessment of wind energy potential. In this paper, we explore the persistence of Mean Wind Speed (MWS) with many years of record using Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (DFA) over China. The results illustrate that there exist irregular high-frequency fluctuations for daily MWS anomaly records. Long-term persistence of MWS is found for all meteorological observed sites. We also make some numerical tests in order to verify the significance of long-term persistence by shuffling the data records many times. These facts prove that the MWS anomaly records have long-term persistence over all the stations in China. The mean value 0.64 in DFA-exponents for all stations over China is also obviously higher than the value 0.53 according to interval threshold of 95% confidence level after shuffling the MWS records many times. In addition, the values of scaling exponent vary from station to station over China. Long-term persistence of MWS in spatial distributions seems to be downward trends from east to west China. Many factors may affect long-term persistence of MWS such as southwest monsoon, Tibetan Plateau landform and atmosphere-ocean-land interaction and so on. Possible physical mechanism need further analysis in the future.

Hypoxia Increases Sirtuin 1 Expression in a Hypoxia-inducible Factor-dependent Manner*

PubMed Central

Chen, Rui; Dioum, Elhadji M.; Hogg, Richard T.; Gerard, Robert D.; Garcia, Joseph A.

2011-01-01

Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are stress-responsive transcriptional regulators of cellular and physiological processes involved in oxygen metabolism. Although much is understood about the molecular machinery that confers HIF responsiveness to oxygen, far less is known about HIF isoform-specific mechanisms of regulation, despite the fact that HIF-1 and HIF-2 exhibit distinct biological roles. We recently determined that the stress-responsive genetic regulator sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) selectively augments HIF-2 signaling during hypoxia. However, the mechanism by which Sirt1 maintains activity during hypoxia is unknown. In this report, we demonstrate that Sirt1 gene expression increases in a HIF-dependent manner during hypoxia in Hep3B and in HT1080 cells. Impairment of HIF signaling affects Sirt1 deacetylase activity as decreased HIF-1 signaling results in the appearance of acetylated HIF-2α, which is detected without pharmacological inhibition of Sirt1. We also find that Sirt1 augments HIF-2 mediated, but not HIF-1 mediated, transcriptional activation of the isolated Sirt1 promoter. These data in summary reveal a bidirectional link of HIF and Sirt1 signaling during hypoxia. PMID:21345792

On the Ni-Ion release rate from surfaces of binary NiTi shape memory alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ševčíková, Jana; Bártková, Denisa; Goldbergová, Monika; Kuběnová, Monika; Čermák, Jiří; Frenzel, Jan; Weiser, Adam; Dlouhý, Antonín

2018-01-01

The study is focused on Ni-ion release rates from NiTi surfaces exposed in the cell culture media and human vascular endothelial cell (HUVEC) culture environments. The NiTi surface layers situated in the depth of 70 μm below a NiTi oxide scale are affected by interactions between the NiTi alloys and the bio-environments. The finding was proved with use of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and electron microscopy experiments. As the exclusive factor controlling the Ni-ion release rates was not only thicknesses of the oxide scale, but also the passivation depth, which was two-fold larger. Our experimental data strongly suggested that some other factors, in addition to the Ni concentration in the oxide scale, admittedly hydrogen soaking deep below the oxide scale, must be taken into account in order to rationalize the concentrations of Ni-ions released into the bio-environments. The suggested role of hydrogen as the surface passivation agent is also in line with the fact that the Ni-ion release rates considerably decrease in NiTi samples that were annealed in controlled hydrogen atmospheres prior to bio-environmental exposures.

How to Receive More Funding for Your Research? Get Connected to the Right People!

PubMed

Ebadi, Ashkan; Schiffauerova, Andrea

2015-01-01

Funding has been viewed in the literature as one of the main determinants of scientific activities. Also, at an individual level, securing funding is one of the most important factors for a researcher, enabling him/her to carry out research projects. However, not everyone is successful in obtaining the necessary funds. The main objective of this work is to measure the effect of several important factors such as past productivity, scientific collaboration or career age of researchers, on the amount of funding that is allocated to them. For this purpose, the paper estimates a temporal non-linear multiple regression model. According to the results, although past productivity of researchers positively affects the funding level, our findings highlight the significant role of networking and collaboration. It was observed that being a member of large scientific teams and getting connected to productive researchers who have also a good control over the collaboration network and the flow of information can increase the chances for securing more money. In fact, our results show that in the quest for the research money it is more important how researchers build their collaboration network than what publications they produce and whether they are cited.

How to Receive More Funding for Your Research? Get Connected to the Right People!

PubMed Central

Ebadi, Ashkan; Schiffauerova, Andrea

2015-01-01

Funding has been viewed in the literature as one of the main determinants of scientific activities. Also, at an individual level, securing funding is one of the most important factors for a researcher, enabling him/her to carry out research projects. However, not everyone is successful in obtaining the necessary funds. The main objective of this work is to measure the effect of several important factors such as past productivity, scientific collaboration or career age of researchers, on the amount of funding that is allocated to them. For this purpose, the paper estimates a temporal non-linear multiple regression model. According to the results, although past productivity of researchers positively affects the funding level, our findings highlight the significant role of networking and collaboration. It was observed that being a member of large scientific teams and getting connected to productive researchers who have also a good control over the collaboration network and the flow of information can increase the chances for securing more money. In fact, our results show that in the quest for the research money it is more important how researchers build their collaboration network than what publications they produce and whether they are cited. PMID:26222598

Media Use and the Cancer Communication Strategies of Cancer Survivors.

PubMed

Yoon, Heesoo; Sohn, Minsung; Jung, Minsoo

2016-09-01

Communication related to health not only substantially affects perceptions and behaviors related to health but is also positively associated with the extent of health-information seeking and the practice of preventive behavior. Despite the fact that the number of cancer survivors has increased dramatically, there are few studies of the lack of health information, factors which act as barriers, and the difficulties in follow-up care experienced by cancer survivors. Therefore, we reviewed media utilization and the types of media used by cancer survivors with regard to risk communication and suggested appropriate strategies for cancer communication. According to the results, health communication contributed to health promotion by providing health-related information, consolidating social support factors such as social solidarity and trust, and reducing anxiety. In particular, participatory health communication may establish preventive programs which reflect the needs of communities, expand accessibility to better quality healthcare, and intensify healthy living by reducing health inequalities. Therefore, when people do not have an intention to obtain cancer screening, we need to intervene to change their behavior, norms, and degrees of self-efficacy. The findings of this study may help those involved in building partnerships by assisting in their efforts to understand and communicate with the public.

Space Psychology and Psychiatry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kanas, N.; Manzey, D.

2003-09-01

This book deals with psychological, psychiatric, and psychosocial issues that affect people who live and work in space. Unlike other books that focus on anecdotal reports and ground-based simulation studies, this book emphasizes the findings from psychological research conducted during actual space missions. Both authors have been active in such research. What is presented in this readable text has previously been found only in scientific journal articles. Topics that are discussed include: behavioral adaptation to space; human performance and cognitive effects; crewmember interactions; psychiatric responses; psychological counter-measures related to habitability factors, work-design, selection, training, and in-flight monitoring and support; and the impact of expeditionary missions to Mars and beyond. People finding this book of interest will include: psychology and social science students and professors in universities; medical students and residents in psychiatry and aerospace medicine; human factors workers in space and aviation professions; individuals involved with isolated environments on Earth (e.g., the Antarctic, submarines); aerospace workers in businesses and space agencies such as NASA and ESA; and anyone who is interested in learning the facts about the human side of long-duration space missions. Link: http://www.wkap.nl/prod/b/1-4020-1341-8

Management of Fibrosis: The Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Breakthrough

PubMed Central

Usunier, Benoît; Benderitter, Marc; Tamarat, Radia; Chapel, Alain

2014-01-01

Fibrosis is the endpoint of many chronic inflammatory diseases and is defined by an abnormal accumulation of extracellular matrix components. Despite its slow progression, it leads to organ malfunction. Fibrosis can affect almost any tissue. Due to its high frequency, in particular in the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys, many studies have been conducted to find satisfactory treatments. Despite these efforts, current fibrosis management therapies either are insufficiently effective or induce severe adverse effects. In the light of these facts, innovative experimental therapies are being investigated. Among these, cell therapy is regarded as one of the best candidates. In particular, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have great potential in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. The value of their immunomodulatory effects and their ability to act on profibrotic factors such as oxidative stress, hypoxia, and the transforming growth factor-β1 pathway has already been highlighted in preclinical and clinical studies. Furthermore, their propensity to act depending on the microenvironment surrounding them enhances their curative properties. In this paper, we review a large range of studies addressing the use of MSCs in the treatment of fibrotic diseases. The results reported here suggest that MSCs have antifibrotic potential for several organs. PMID:25132856

Validation of the Scale of Preferences and Expectations in Close Interpersonal Relationships (EPERIC).

PubMed

Fontanil, Yolanda; Ezama, Esteban; Alonso, Yolanda

2013-01-01

The most commonly used instruments for assessing adult attachment have shown differing combinations of items and divergences in the resulting sub-scales. This study presents the Scale of Preferences and Expectations in Close Interpersonal Relationships ( Escala de Preferencias y Expectativas en las Relaciones Interpersonales Cercanas, EPERIC), made up of 22 items, and based upon the Relationship Scales Questionnaire (RSQ) of Griffin and Bartholomew. Exploratory and confirmatory factorial analyses (EFA and CFA) were undertaken using data from a sample of 594 people. Factor analysis distinguishes three sub-scales: Fear of rejection or abandonment , Desire for closeness and Preference for independence , which explains 42.78% of the total variance. The alpha coefficients reveal a high internal consistency of the instrument and its sub-scales. Regarding validity, CFA showed an adequate fit for the trifactorial solution, and the expected correlations with other instruments for assessing attachment style in adults were found. EPERIC is also suitable for predicting affective states and psychological well-being. The EPERIC is a potentially useful and valid instrument for research and clinical purposes. The discussion focuses on the fact that our results support a model of three factors rather than two, as is usual in studies on adult attachment.

Understanding Reckless Behavior in Adolescence.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arnett, Jeffrey

Briefly described is a theory of reckless behavior in adolescence that includes cognitive and biological factors. Discussion focuses on several factors: the adolescent's egocentric personal fable--the adolescent conviction that his/her thoughts and feelings are unique, the personality trait of sensation seeking, the fact that by their late 20s or…

Factors of Students' Intercultural Competence Development in the Context of Georgia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Malazonia, David; Maglakelidze, Shorena; Chiabrishvili, Nino; Gakheladze, Giorgi

2017-01-01

Research aims to define the impact of diverse cultural factors on formation of students' intercultural competences. Study revealed following negative tendencies: students have insufficient knowledge about different cultures, in fact, they do not have any experience of communicating with other cultural representatives, and they are reluctant to…

Sexist Language and the Competence/Performance Distinction.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Saporta, Sol

Sexist language provides a useful diagnostic symptom of how pervasively women's invisibility and degradation are manifested in modern society. In analyzing instances of sexist language usage, three types of factors may be considered: (1) linguistic facts related to the sexist usage; (2) cognitive factors--attitudes, values, perceptions--behind the…

Philosophy with Guts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sherman, Robert R.

2014-01-01

Western philosophy, from Plato on, has had the tendency to separate feeling and thought, affect and cognition. This article argues that a strong philosophy (metaphorically, with "guts") utilizes both in its work. In fact, a "complete act of thought" also will include action. Feeling motivates thought, which formulates ideas,…

28 CFR 104.33 - Hearing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... claimant believes is necessary to a full understanding of the claim. The claimant may request that the... spouse and dependents; the financial needs of the claimant; facts affecting noneconomic loss; and any... to submit any statements or reports in writing. The Special Master or his designee may require...

Insomnia among Adolescents: Implications for Counselors.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Morrison, Jack R.

Adolescent underachievers may be, in fact, victims of insomnia or other types of sleep disorders. Insomnia is a greatly overlooked affliction that affects approximately 13% of the adolescent population, creating daytime side-effects that could impair intellectual functioning, such as imposing learning constraints. Poor sleepers among the…

Atherosclerotic vascular disease in systemic lupus erythematosus.

PubMed

Liang, Matthew H; Mandl, Lisa A; Costenbader, Karen; Fox, Ervin; Karlson, Elizabeth

2002-09-01

In the United States, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disproportionately affects African Americans. It has become a chronic disease with long-term morbidity including chronic renal disease, osteoporosis, cataracts, psychosocial impairment, and importantly, atherosclerotic vascular disease (ASVD). The latter (myocardial infarction, angina, peripheral vascular disease and stroke) are strikingly accelerated, occurring in subjects who are predominantly premenopausal women at an age when ASVD is rare or unusual. Although much is known about the biology, risk factors, and the prevention of atherosclerosis in normal individuals, little work has been done in SLE. In fact, ASVD in people with SLE may be a different disease. Approximately 1.5% of SLE patients per year will have a myocardial infarction or equivalent; about 0.5% of SLE patients per year will have a stroke. The risk factors for ASVD in SLE are based on small, retrospective, single center studies. These suggest that the risk factors known for the general population (i.e., smoking, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, high LDL cholesterol, etc.) are also observed in SLE. The best study of risk factors shows that even accounting for the known factors, SLE and/or its treatment (glucocorticoids) is by far the most important. Our current management of cardiovascular risk factors in SLE patients with ASVD is substandard and our adherence to national guidelines for prevention is substandard. It is not known whether improving either will prevent these disastrous outcomes. Very little is known about the risk factors in African Americans with SLE, although there is data to suggest that they may not be identical to those seen in Caucasian populations. The study of the best and most effective means to prevent ASVD in SLE and in African Americans with SLE and in African Americans with SLE should be a major priority.

The bias of experimental design, including strain background, in the determination of critical Streptococcus suis serotype 2 virulence factors

PubMed Central

Auger, Jean-Philippe; Chuzeville, Sarah; Roy, David; Mathieu-Denoncourt, Annabelle; Xu, Jianguo; Grenier, Daniel

2017-01-01

Streptococcus suis serotype 2 is an important porcine bacterial pathogen and emerging zoonotic agent mainly responsible for sudden death, septic shock, and meningitis. However, serotype 2 strains are genotypically and phenotypically heterogeneous. Though a multitude of virulence factors have been described for S. suis serotype 2, the lack of a clear definition regarding which ones are truly “critical” has created inconsistencies that have only recently been highlighted. Herein, the involvement of two factors previously described as being critical for S. suis serotype 2 virulence, whether the dipeptidyl peptidase IV and autolysin, were evaluated with regards to different ascribed functions using prototype strains belonging to important sequence types. Results demonstrate a lack of reproducibility with previously published data. In fact, the role of the dipeptidyl peptidase IV and autolysin as critical virulence factors could not be confirmed. Though certain in vitro functions may be ascribed to these factors, their roles are not unique for S. suis, probably due to compensation by other factors. As such, variations and discrepancies in experimental design, including in vitro assays, cell lines, and animal models, are an important source of differences between results. Moreover, the use of different sequence types in this study demonstrates that the role attributed to a virulence factor may vary according to the S. suis serotype 2 strain background. Consequently, it is necessary to establish standard experimental designs according to the experiment and purpose in order to facilitate comparison between laboratories. Alongside, studies should include strains of diverse origins in order to prevent erroneous and biased conclusions that could affect future studies. PMID:28753679

Harmonic analysis of the precipitation in Greece

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nastos, P. T.; Zerefos, C. S.

2009-04-01

Greece is a country with a big variety of climates due to its geographical position, to the many mountain ranges and also to the multifarious and long coastline. The mountainous volumes are of such orientation that influences the distribution of the precipitation, having as a result, Western Greece to present great differentiations from Central and Eastern Greece. The application of harmonic analysis to the annual variability of precipitation is the goal of this study, so that the components, which compose the annual variability, be elicited. For this purpose, the mean monthly precipitation data from 30 meteorological stations of National Meteorological Service were used for the time period 1950-2000. The initial target is to reduce the number of variables and to detect structure in the relationships between variables. The most commonly used technique for this purpose is the application of Factor Analysis to a table having as columns the meteorological stations-variables and rows the monthly mean precipitation, so that 2 main factors were calculated, which explain the 98% of total variability of precipitation in Greece. Factor 1, representing the so-called uniform field and interpreting the most of the total variance, refers in fact to the Mediterranean depressions, affecting mainly the West of Greece and also the East Aegean and the Asia Minor coasts. In the process, the Fourier Analysis was applied to the factor scores extracted from the Factor Analysis, so that 2 harmonic components are resulted, which explain above the 98% of the total variability of each main factor, and are due to different synoptic and thermodynamic processes associated with Greece's precipitation construction. Finally, the calculation of the time of occurrence of the maximum precipitation, for each harmonic component of each one of the two main factors, gives the spatial distribution of appearance of the maximum precipitation in the Hellenic region.

Cool's Clams Casino

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cobey, Paul; Williams, David E.

1977-01-01

A mathematical game that reinforces basic multiplication facts, strengthens concepts of factors and multiples, and also provides arithmetic drill is described. Four variations of the game are also provided. (JT)

A Cross-sectional Study on the Symptom Burden of Patients With Spinal Tumor: Validation of the Chinese Version of the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory-Spine Tumor Module.

PubMed

Xu, Nanfang; Li, Zhehuang; Wei, Feng; Liu, Xiaoguang; Jiang, Liang; Meng, Na; Jiang, Ping; Yu, Miao; Wu, Fengliang; Dang, Lei; Zhou, Hua; Li, Yan; Liu, Zhongjun

2017-03-01

Tumors involving the spine are associated with unique symptoms affecting both patient survival and health-related quality of life. Currently, there is no disease-specific instrument in Chinese to assess the symptom burden of these patients. The objective of this study was to translate and validate a Chinese version of the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory-Spine Tumor Module (MDASI-SP-C) to assess the symptom burden of Chinese-speaking patients with spinal tumors. MDASI-SP-C was forward-and-backward translated according to standard protocols and administered to patients fulfilling study criteria at a major referral center of spine tumor between November 2014 and September 2015. The generic instruments of Short Form 36 Quality of Life Questionnaire (SF-36), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General Version (FACT-G), and Karnofsky Performance Scale were used along with MDASI-SP-C. Prevalence and severity distribution of each item were analyzed. Psychometric assessment and hierarchical cluster analysis were performed for the translated instrument. One hundred forty-two patients were enrolled. High interdependency and relatively low intra-cluster distances were identified. Cronbach's alpha of the entire instrument, the symptom severity subscale, and the interference subscale was 0.93, 0.91, and 0.92, respectively. Principal axis factoring resulted in a four-factor solution, which was reduced to a three-factor (general symptoms, spine-specific symptoms, and gastrointestinal symptoms) solution on account of clinical interpretation. Correlation coefficients between MDASI-SP-C items and their corresponding domains in SF-36 and/or FACT-G were all greater than 0.3. MDASI-SP-C was able to distinguish patients with different Karnofsky Performance Scale levels. MDASI-SP-C demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties and could be used to better assess the symptom burden of Chinese-speaking patients with spine tumors for improved management of their medical needs. Copyright © 2016 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Dissolved organic carbon modulates mercury concentrations in insect subsidies from streams to terrestrial consumers

PubMed Central

Chaves-Ulloa, Ramsa; Taylor, Brad W.; Broadley, Hannah J.; Cottingham, Kathryn L.; Baer, Nicholas A.; Weathers, Kathleen C.; Ewing, Holly A.; Chen, Celia Y.

2016-01-01

Mercury (Hg) concentrations in aquatic environments have increased globally, exposing consumers of aquatic organisms to high Hg levels. For both aquatic and terrestrial consumers, exposure to Hg depends on their food sources as well as environmental factors influencing Hg bioavailability. The majority of the research on the transfer of methylmercury (MeHg), a toxic and bioaccumulating form of Hg, between aquatic and terrestrial food webs has focused on terrestrial piscivores. However, a gap exists in our understanding of the factors regulating MeHg bioaccumulation by non-piscivorous terrestrial predators, specifically consumers of adult aquatic insects. Because dissolved organic carbon (DOC) binds tightly to MeHg, affecting its transport and availability in aquatic food webs, we hypothesized that DOC affects MeHg transfer from stream food webs to terrestrial predators feeding on emerging adult insects. We tested this hypothesis by collecting data over two years from 10 low-order streams spanning a broad DOC gradient in the Lake Sunapee watershed in New Hampshire. We found that streamwater MeHg concentration increased linearly with DOC concentration. However, streams with the highest DOC concentrations had emerging stream prey and spiders with lower MeHg concentrations than streams with intermediate DOC concentrations; a pattern that is similar to fish and larval aquatic insects. Furthermore, high MeHg concentrations found in spiders show that MeHg transfer in adult aquatic insects is an overlooked but potentially significant pathway of MeHg bioaccumulation in terrestrial food webs. Our results suggest that although MeHg in water increases with DOC, MeHg concentrations in stream and terrestrial consumers did not consistently increase with increases in streamwater MeHg concentrations. In fact, there was a change from a positive to a negative relationship between aqueous exposure and bioaccumulation at streamwater MeHg concentrations associated with DOC above around 5 mg/L. Thus, our study highlights the importance of stream DOC for MeHg dynamics beyond stream boundaries, and shows that factors modulating MeHg bioavailability in aquatic systems can affect the transfer of MeHg to terrestrial predators via aquatic subsidies. PMID:27755696

Dissolved organic carbon modulates mercury concentrations in insect subsidies from streams to terrestrial consumers.

PubMed

Chaves-Ulloa, Ramsa; Taylor, Brad W; Broadley, Hannah J; Cottingham, Kathryn L; Baer, Nicholas A; Weathers, Kathleen C; Ewing, Holly A; Chen, Celia Y

2016-09-01

Mercury (Hg) concentrations in aquatic environments have increased globally, exposing consumers of aquatic organisms to high Hg levels. For both aquatic and terrestrial consumers, exposure to Hg depends on their food sources as well as environmental factors influencing Hg bioavailability. The majority of the research on the transfer of methylmercury (MeHg), a toxic and bioaccumulating form of Hg, between aquatic and terrestrial food webs has focused on terrestrial piscivores. However, a gap exists in our understanding of the factors regulating MeHg bioaccumulation by non-piscivorous terrestrial predators, specifically consumers of adult aquatic insects. Because dissolved organic carbon (DOC) binds tightly to MeHg, affecting its transport and availability in aquatic food webs, we hypothesized that DOC affects MeHg transfer from stream food webs to terrestrial predators feeding on emerging adult insects. We tested this hypothesis by collecting data over 2 years from 10 low-order streams spanning a broad DOC gradient in the Lake Sunapee watershed in New Hampshire, USA. We found that streamwater MeHg concentration increased linearly with DOC concentration. However, streams with the highest DOC concentrations had emerging stream prey and spiders with lower MeHg concentrations than streams with intermediate DOC concentrations; a pattern that is similar to fish and larval aquatic insects. Furthermore, high MeHg concentrations found in spiders show that MeHg transfer in adult aquatic insects is an overlooked but potentially significant pathway of MeHg bioaccumulation in terrestrial food webs. Our results suggest that although MeHg in water increases with DOC, MeHg concentrations in stream and terrestrial consumers did not consistently increase with increases in streamwater MeHg concentrations. In fact, there was a change from a positive to a negative relationship between aqueous exposure and bioaccumulation at streamwater MeHg concentrations associated with DOC above ~5 mg/L. Thus, our study highlights the importance of stream DOC for MeHg dynamics beyond stream boundaries, and shows that factors modulating MeHg bioavailability in aquatic systems can affect the transfer of MeHg to terrestrial predators via aquatic subsidies. © 2016 by the Ecological Society of America.

Lessons learned from the application of a participatory evaluation methodology to healthy municipalities, cities and communities initiatives in selected countries of the Americas.

PubMed

Rice, Marilyn; Franceschini, Maria Cristina

2007-01-01

Health promotion has made significant strides in the past few decades in the Americas. Creating a healthy and supportive setting, also known as the settings approach, continues to be one of the most widely used health promotion strategies. Interest in evaluating the effectiveness of these strategies has been increasing greatly in the past few years. Participatory evaluation holds great promise for helping to generate this evidence and promote understanding of the factors that affect, positively or negatively, the advances of health promotion in the Region. During 2004-2006, a Participatory Evaluation methodology was introduced into several countries in the Americas through formal trainings conducted by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in collaboration with country partners. This article summarizes the main lessons learned from the application of the participatory evaluation methodology in various countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Factors affecting the evaluation of the initiatives were identified at multiple levels (individual, community, organizational, political, economic, etc.). Specific issues that were addressed included the political context, turnover of personnel in key institutions, concerns related to the effectiveness of participatory processes, and the existence of strong and sustained leadership at the country level. These factors are intertwined and affect each other in very complex ways, a fact that was reflected in the municipalities' experiences with participatory evaluation. Challenges included the ability to secure resources for the evaluation, the time needed to conclude the process, and working in an intersectoral manner. However, participating municipalities reported that the process of implementing a participatory evaluation and working with various stakeholders had an empowering effect: communities and stakeholders were more willing and interested in participating in health promotion initiatives in a sustained manner; alliances and intersectoral collaboration were strengthened; communication channels were opened; and municipalities were stimulated to review their planning and implementation processes in order to more appropriately incorporate health promotion principles. The article concludes with recommendations to improve the planning and implementation process of participatory evaluation efforts.

Landfill mining in Austria: foundations for an integrated ecological and economic assessment.

PubMed

Hermann, Robert; Baumgartner, Rupert J; Sarc, Renato; Ragossnig, Arne; Wolfsberger, Tanja; Eisenberger, Martin; Budischowsky, Andreas; Pomberger, Roland

2014-09-01

For the first time, basic technical and economic studies for landfill mining are being carried out in Austria on the basis of a pilot project. An important goal of these studies is the collection of elementary data as the basis for an integrated ecological and economic assessment of landfill mining projects with regard to their feasibility. For this purpose, economic, ecological, technical, organizational, as well as political and legal influencing factors are identified and extensively studied in the article. An important aspect is the mutual influence of the factors on each other, as this can significantly affect the development of an integrated assessment system. In addition to the influencing factors, the definition of the spatial and temporal system boundaries is crucial for further investigations. Among others, the quality and quantity of recovered waste materials, temporal fluctuations or developments in prices of secondary raw material and fuels attainable in the markets, and time and duration of dumping, play a crucial role. Based on the investigations, the spatial system boundary is defined in as much as all the necessary process steps, from landfill mining, preparing and sorting to providing a marketable material/product by the landfill operator, are taken into account. No general accepted definition can be made for the temporal system boundary because the different time-related influencing factors necessitate an individual project-specific determination and adaptation to the facts of the on-site landfill mining project. © The Author(s) 2014.

Evaluation of oral health status and influential factors in children with autism.

PubMed

Onol, S; Kırzıoğlu, Z

2018-04-01

The aim of the present study was to comparatively analyze oral health status and influential factors in children with autism living in the Western Mediterranean Region of Turkey. This cross-sectional study was conducted in two steps: 1 - questionnaire and 2 - interview. This study was conducted at the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey, within the period from March to July 2016. Although the questionnaire part involved 126 children with autism and 111 children without autism, 63 children who did not satisfy the inclusion criteria were excluded from the study in the interview part. The forms were sent to previously determined schools, and factors such as age, socioeconomic status, medical history, dental history, eating habits, bad habits, and treatment methods preferred by children's parents were analyzed. Later, interviews with the children were carried out by the same researcher and their oral health conditions were recorded. Children with autism often have nutritional problems, and early initiation of special education appears effective in preventing these conditions. Although children with autism apply for dental services, the rate for these children receiving dental services is considerably low and most of the services rendered are tooth extractions. It appears that the oral status of children with autism is affected negatively by many factors. Thus, the parents, the educators, and the dentists should be aware of this fact and encouraged to improve such children's oral hygiene and provide the dental care they need.

A fuzzy rumor spreading model based on transmission capacity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yi; Xu, Jiuping; Wu, Yue

This paper proposes a rumor spreading model that considers three main factors: the event importance, event ambiguity, and the publics critical sense, each of which are defined by decision makers using linguistic descriptions and then transformed into triangular fuzzy numbers. To calculate the resultant force of these three factors, the transmission capacity and a new parameter category with fuzzy variables are determined. A rumor spreading model is then proposed which has fuzzy parameters rather than the fixed parameters in traditional models. As the proposed model considers the comprehensive factors affecting rumors from three aspects rather than examining special factors from a particular aspect. The proposed rumor spreading model is tested using different parameters for several different conditions on BA networks and three special cases are simulated. The simulation results for all three cases suggested that events of low importance, those that are only clarifying facts, and those that are strongly critical do not result in rumors. Therefore, the model assessment results were proven to be in agreement with reality. Parameters for the model were then determined and applied to an analysis of the 7.23 Yong-Wen line major transportation accident (YWMTA). When the simulated data were compared with the real data from this accident, the results demonstrated that the interval for the rumor spreading key point in the model was accurate, and that the key point for the YWMTA rumor spread fell into the range estimated by the model.

Dissonance-based prevention of eating disorder risk factors in middle school girls: results from two pilot trials.

PubMed

Rohde, Paul; Auslander, Beth A; Shaw, Heather; Raineri, Kate M; Gau, Jeff M; Stice, Eric

2014-07-01

Although several eating disorder prevention programs reduce eating disorder risk factors and symptoms for female high school and college students, few efficacious prevention programs exist for female middle school students, despite the fact that body image and eating disturbances often emerge then. Two pilot trials evaluated a new dissonance-based eating disorder prevention program for middle school girls with body image concerns. Female middle school students with body dissatisfaction from two sites [Study 1: N = 81, M age = 12.1, standard deviation (SD) = 0.9; Study 2: N = 52, M age = 12.5, SD = 0.8] were randomized to a dissonance intervention (MS Body Project) or educational brochure control; Study 2 included a 3-month follow-up. Intervention participants showed significant post-test reductions in only one of the six variables with both Studies 1 and 2 (i.e., pressure to be thin and negative affect, respectively), though post-test effect sizes suggested medium reductions in eating disorder risk factors and symptoms (Study 1: M d = .40; Study 2: M d = .65); reductions at 3-month follow-up in Study 2 were not evident (M d = .19). Results suggest that this new middle school version of the Body Project is producing medium magnitude reductions in eating disorder risk factors at post-test but that effects are showing limited persistence. Continued refinement and evaluation of this intervention appears warranted to develop more effective prevention programs for this age group. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Anthropometric traits, blood pressure, and dietary and physical exercise habits in health sciences students; the obesity observatory project.

PubMed

Gutiérrez-Salmeán, Gabriela; Meaney, Alejandra; Ocharán, M Esther; Araujo, Juan M; Ramírez-Sánchez, Israel; Olivares-Corichi, Ivonne M; García-Sánchez, Rubén; Castillo, Guadalupe; Méndez-Bolaina, Enrique; Meaney, Eduardo; Ceballos, Guillermo

2013-01-01

Obesity and the metabolic syndrome affect a considerable segment of the population worldwide, including health professionals. In fact, several studies have reported that physicians tend to have more cardiovascular risk factors than their patients. The present cross-sectional study assessed whether the Health Sciences students had a healthier lifestyle, thus could have a more preventive attitude towards chronic diseases than the general population. Students of the medical-biological areas were surveyed by answering a questionnaire about familiar cardiovascular risk factors, personal smoking, alcohol drinking, dietary and exercise habits. Blood pressure was also measured, along with weight, height, and abdominal circumference. 23.4% of the participants were overweight and 10% obese. Parental obesity was the most frequent risk factor, followed by social drinking and smoking. We found high consumption of animal derived foods, breakfast- like cereals, pastries, white bread and sweetened beverages; while low intake of fruit and vegetables were reported. More than half the sample reported to practice very little or no exercise at all. We found similar or even higher rates of risk factors than the average population, that may eventually lead to the development of chronic cardiometabolic diseases. Thus we can infer that biomedical education is inefficient in inducing healthy lifestyles among biomedical students, which could have impact in their future practice as they will most probable become obese health-professionals, thus fail to effectively treat their own patients. Copyright © AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2013. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.

TFOS DEWS II Sex, Gender, and Hormones Report.

PubMed

Sullivan, David A; Rocha, Eduardo M; Aragona, Pasquale; Clayton, Janine A; Ding, Juan; Golebiowski, Blanka; Hampel, Ulrike; McDermott, Alison M; Schaumberg, Debra A; Srinivasan, Sruthi; Versura, Piera; Willcox, Mark D P

2017-07-01

One of the most compelling features of dry eye disease (DED) is that it occurs more frequently in women than men. In fact, the female sex is a significant risk factor for the development of DED. This sex-related difference in DED prevalence is attributed in large part to the effects of sex steroids (e.g. androgens, estrogens), hypothalamic-pituitary hormones, glucocorticoids, insulin, insulin-like growth factor 1 and thyroid hormones, as well as to the sex chromosome complement, sex-specific autosomal factors and epigenetics (e.g. microRNAs). In addition to sex, gender also appears to be a risk factor for DED. "Gender" and "sex" are words that are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings. "Gender" refers to a person's self-representation as a man or woman, whereas "sex" distinguishes males and females based on their biological characteristics. Both gender and sex affect DED risk, presentation of the disease, immune responses, pain, care-seeking behaviors, service utilization, and myriad other facets of eye health. Overall, sex, gender and hormones play a major role in the regulation of ocular surface and adnexal tissues, and in the difference in DED prevalence between women and men. The purpose of this Subcommittee report is to review and critique the nature of this role, as well as to recommend areas for future research to advance our understanding of the interrelationships between sex, gender, hormones and DED. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Factors motivating and affecting health information exchange usage

PubMed Central

Zhao, Hongwei; Jaspserson, 'Jon; Gamm, Larry D; Ohsfeldt, Robert L

2011-01-01

Objective Health information exchange (HIE) is the process of electronically sharing patient-level information between providers. However, where implemented, reports indicate HIE system usage is low. The aim of this study was to determine the factors associated with different types of HIE usage. Design Cross-sectional analysis of clinical data from emergency room encounters included in an operational HIE effort linked to system user logs using crossed random-intercept logistic regression. Measurements Independent variables included factors indicative of information needs. System usage was measured as none, basic usage, or a novel pattern of usage. Results The system was accessed for 2.3% of all encounters (6142 out of 271 305). Novel usage patterns were more likely for more complex patients. The odds of HIE usage were lower in the face of time constraints. In contrast to expectations, system usage was lower when the patient was unfamiliar to the facility. Limitations Because of differences between HIE efforts and the fact that not all types of HIE usage (ie, public health) could be included in the analysis, results are limited in terms of generalizablity. Conclusions This study of actual HIE system usage identifies patients and circumstances in which HIE is more likely to be used and factors that are likely to discourage usage. The paper explores the implications of the findings for system redesign, information integration across exchange partners, and for meaningful usage criteria emerging from provisions of the Health Information Technology for Economic & Clinical Health Act. PMID:21262919

Higher Education Marketing Strategies Based on Factors Impacting the Enrollees' Choice of a University and an Academic Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kalimullin, Aydar M.; Dobrotvorskaya, Svetlana G.

2016-01-01

The relevance of studying the stated problem is due to the fact that for increasing the efficiency of higher education marketing it is necessary to take into account several factors, namely, factors that impact the choice of a university and an academic program by enrollees, as well as socio-psychological characteristics of the latter, while…

Viscosity Determination of Molten Ash from Low-Grade US Coals

DOE PAGES

Zhu, Jingxi; Nakano, Jinichiro; Kaneko, Tetsuya Kenneth; ...

2012-10-01

In entrained slagging gasifiers, the fluidity of the molten ash is a critical factor for process control since it affects slag formation, the capture of inorganic constituents, refractory wear, and slag drainage along the gasification chamber walls. The use of western coal, or mixtures of eastern and western coals as gasifier feedstock, is likely to occur as western coals become available and technological issues that hinder their use are being resolved. In the present work, the viscosity of synthetic slags with ash chemistries simulating the western U.S. coals, was experimentally measured at a Po 2 = 10 - 8 atmmore » in the temperature range of 1773–1573 K (1500–1300 °C) using a rotating-bob viscometer. Alumina spindles and containment crucibles of both alumina and zirconia were used. Crystallization studies of this slag using a confocal scanning laser microscope found that a (Mg,Fe)Al 2O 4-based spinel precipitated at temperatures below 1723 K (1450 °C), and this agreed with FactSage equilibrium phase prediction. The same spinels were observed in the post-viscometry experiment slags when ZrO 2 crucibles were used and assumed to be in equilibrium with the slag at the higher temperatures. Zirconia dissolution resulted in a slight increase in the solid fraction present in slags at lower temperatures, compared to spinel fraction. Crystal precipitation changed the apparent activation energy and required a longer stabilization times for viscosity measurements. The viscosity results were used in predictive equations based on Veytsman and Einstein's models, with critical nucleation temperatures and the solid fraction calculated with FactSage. In the simulated eastern/western coal feedstock blends based on ash compositions, the fractions of the solid precipitates were also calculated using the thermodynamic program FactSage for each blend composition, and the plastic viscosity of each eastern/western coal slag blend was predicted using Veytsman's model and compared to available experimental data.« less

How job demands affect absenteeism? The mediating role of work-family conflict and exhaustion.

PubMed

Vignoli, Michela; Guglielmi, Dina; Bonfiglioli, Roberta; Violante, Francesco Saverio

2016-01-01

To investigate how psychosocial factors (such as job demands and work-family conflict) produce absenteeism in the workplace, using the health impairment process of the job demands-resources model. According to this model, job demands lead to burnout (often measured with the emotional exhaustion component), which in turn could lead to outcomes (such as absenteeism). Work-family conflict (WFC) was also studied, because of contradictory results collected in the existing literature on absenteeism in the workplace, regarding the role of WFC in causing absenteeism. Data were collected on 245 workers using both subjective (questionnaire on psychological risk factors and work-related health) and objective data (sickness leave frequency records). To test the hypothesis that job demands and WFC contribute to absenteeism in the workplace, a subsequent mediation analysis was used, which analysed both (a) the subsequent mediation of WFC and emotional exhaustion and (b) the separate roles played by the mediators proposed (WFC and emotional exhaustion). Job demands affect absenteeism through the subsequent mediation of WFC and emotional exhaustion. In addition, emotional exhaustion mediates the relationship between job demands and absenteeism, while WFC does not. In conclusion, subsequent mediation highlights the role of emotional exhaustion in causing absenteeism; in fact, when emotional exhaustion is included in the analysis, job demands are associated with higher levels of absenteeism. The results of this study suggest that without the concurrent contribution of emotional exhaustion, WFC does not influence absenteeism in the workplace. Our findings are useful for organizations that aim to reduce absenteeism.

[Population and crisis. Economic inflexibility or demographic subordination].

PubMed

Morelos, J B

1989-01-01

Much speculation, fact-based and subjective, has centered on the links between population and economic crisis, and between population and progress. In the past, famines directly affected the size and dynamics of population in affected regions, and such cycles inspired theories that regarded subsistence as the adjustment mechanism for demographic regimes. Population has alternatively been viewed as a crucial factor of production and a force for modernization and progress. After World War I and the Great Depression, many economists believed that population growth would be indispensable for renewing economic expansion. The favorable view of population growth in Mexico led to measures to repatriate emigrants, attract immigrants, and improve health conditions. The gross national product grew by around 6.0% annually on average between 1940 and 1960, and the per capita GNP by about 3%. Demographic dynamics acquired momentum by the 1960s, with high growth rates, a young age structure, considerable demographic inertia, and relative predominance of the urban population. Indications began to appear that a primarily economic solution to achieving full development would be unlikely. The polarization of development, distributive insufficiency, distortions in exchange relations for agricultural products, and incorporation of inappropriate technologies were factors decreasing the ability of the economy to respond adequately to population demands. National development was insufficient to meet growing demographic pressures in the labor market, educational system, housing, and urban services. The adjustment programs reduced even further the flexibility of the government to respond to pressures. Expectations for the future have been seriously compromised by the fall of real incomes.

Economy class syndrome: still a recurrent complication of long journeys.

PubMed

Feltracco, Paolo; Barbieri, Stefania; Bertamini, Francesca; Michieletto, Elisa; Ori, Carlo

2007-04-01

Economy class syndrome is a rare but still unavoidable complication of long haul flights, particularly in patients who carry various intrinsic risk factors. The tendency to affect even asymptomatic young people and the greater risk to fragment and propagate to the pulmonary circulation are the main characteristics of deep vein thrombosis of long-flight travelers. We report the clinical history of eight patients admitted to intensive care unit for confirmed or highly suspected economy class syndrome. Seven of them developed the syndrome within 72 h from a long return flight, one suffered from pulmonary embolism after a 12-h car trip. Two out of eight patients died, one because of extremely severe hemodynamic impairment, the other as a consequence of multiple organ failure caused by a concomitant myocardial infarction. Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism represent one of the main medical problems of air travel and cause almost 20% of deaths in people with no medical history. Although economy class syndrome occurs mostly in elderly, even the healthy young population can be affected and, in fact, three out of eight patients of our series were under 50 years of age. All our patients but one carried a well recognized risk factor for deep vein thrombosis. Clinical symptoms of deep vein thrombosis can sometimes be aspecific and confusing, so that a certain proportion of post-travel deep vein thrombosis, evolving favorably and not giving rise to pulmonary embolism, might effectively remain undiagnosed. Economy class syndrome is still quite difficult to deal with and controversial in terms of preventive strategies.

Ageing and inflammation in patients with HIV infection.

PubMed

Nasi, M; De Biasi, S; Gibellini, L; Bianchini, E; Pecorini, S; Bacca, V; Guaraldi, G; Mussini, C; Pinti, M; Cossarizza, A

2017-01-01

Nowadays, HIV + patients have an expected lifespan that is only slightly shorter than healthy individuals. For this reason, along with the fact that infection can be acquired at a relatively advanced age, the effects of ageing on HIV + people have begun to be evident. Successful anti-viral treatment is, on one hand, responsible for the development of side effects related to drug toxicity; on the other hand, it is not able to inhibit the onset of several complications caused by persistent immune activation and chronic inflammation. Therefore, patients with a relatively advanced age, i.e. aged more than 50 years, can experience pathologies that affect much older citizens. HIV + individuals with non-AIDS-related complications can thus come to the attention of clinicians because of the presence of neurocognitive disorders, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, bone abnormalities and non-HIV-associated cancers. Chronic inflammation and immune activation, observed typically in elderly people and defined as 'inflammaging', can be present in HIV + patients who experience a type of premature ageing, which affects the quality of life significantly. This relatively new condition is extremely complex, and important factors have been identified as well as the traditional behavioural risk factors, e.g. the toxicity of anti-retroviral treatments and the above-mentioned chronic inflammation leading to a functional decline and a vulnerability to injury or pathologies. Here, we discuss the role of inflammation and immune activation on the most important non-AIDS-related complications of chronic HIV infection, and the contribution of aging per se to this scenario. © 2016 British Society for Immunology.

Questions & Answers about...Marfan Syndrome.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Inst. of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIH), Bethesda, MD.

This fact sheet answers general questions about Marfan syndrome, a heritable condition that affects the connective tissue. It describes the characteristics of the disorder, the diagnostic process, and ways to manage symptoms. Characteristics include: (1) people with Marfan syndrome are typically very tall, slender, and loose jointed; (2) more than…

Benjamin Franklin and Shock-Induced Amnesia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Finger, Stanley; Zaromb, Franklin

2006-01-01

Shock-induced amnesia received considerable attention after Cerletti popularized electroconvulsive shock therapy in the late 1930s. Yet, often overlooked is the fact that Benjamin Franklin recognized that passing electricity through the head could affect memory for the traumatic event. Franklin described his findings on himself and others in…

Why History? Thinking about the Uses of the Past.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stricker, Frank

1992-01-01

Discusses reasons for studying history. Suggests that compelling arguments for historical study will affect students' attitudes throughout life. Evaluates common rationales for studying history. Includes history as fun, tradition, great ideas, human folly, escapism, and nationalist legitimation. Urges that students be taught history as facts that…

Student Suicide: A Guide for Intervention.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vidal, John A.

This monograph provides teachers, counselors, administrators, and other school staff members with a simple and practical guide to becoming "response-ready" when dealing with suicide. The first chapter discusses the fact that self-destructive behaviors are prevalent in students which affect their willingness to learn and the increasing incidences…

Granulosa cell cycle regulation and steroidogenesis in a high androstenedione follicular microenvironment

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Anovulatory infertility (either chronic or sporadic anovulation) affects up to 40% of infertile women. In fact, sporadic anovulation in humans may often go undetected. Recent literature has reported that 8-13% of normally menstruating women (250 total, two reproductive cycles) exhibit sporadic anovu...

Will Medical Technology Deskill Doctors?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lu, Jingyan

2016-01-01

This paper discusses the impact of medical technology on health care in light of the fact that doctors are becoming more reliant on technology for obtaining patient information, making diagnoses and in carrying out treatments. Evidence has shown that technology can negatively affect doctor-patient communications, physical examination skills, and…

Do You Know the Facts about Reye's Syndrome?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

PTA Today, 1993

1993-01-01

Presents information on Reye's syndrome, which affects all ages, both sexes, and every race, generally following viral illnesses (with or without a fever). Aspirin products increase the risk but are not a necessary element. Symptoms include persistent vomiting, listlessness, disorientation, personality changes, combativeness, and delirium. Early…

'Informed and uninformed decision making'--women's reasoning, experiences and perceptions with regard to advanced maternal age and delayed childbearing: a meta-synthesis.

PubMed

Cooke, Alison; Mills, Tracey A; Lavender, Tina

2010-10-01

To identify what factors affect women's decisions to delay childbearing, and to explore women's experiences and their perceptions of associated risks. Systematic procedures were used for search strategy, study selection, data extraction and analysis. Findings were synthesised using an approach developed from meta-ethnography. We included qualitative papers, not confined to geographical area (1980-2009). Databases included CINAHL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycInfo, ASSIA, MIDIRS, British Nursing Index and the National Research Register. We selected qualitative empirical studies exploring the views and experiences of women of advanced maternal age who were childless or primigravidae with a singleton pregnancy or primiparous. Twelve papers fulfilled the selection criteria and were included for synthesis. Women appear to face an issue of 'informed and uninformed decision making'; those who believe they are informed but may not be, those who are not informed and find out they are at risk once pregnant, and those who are well informed but choose to delay pregnancy anyway. Maternity services could provide information to enable informed choice regarding timing of childbearing. Health professionals need to be mindful of the fact that women delay childbearing for various reasons. A strategy of pre-conception education may be beneficial in informing childbearing decisions. Obstetricians and midwives should be sensitive to the fact that women may not be aware of all the risks associated with delayed childbearing. Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Factors influencing leaf litter decomposition: An intersite decomposition experiment across China

USGS Publications Warehouse

Zhou, G.; Guan, L.; Wei, X.; Tang, X.; Liu, S.; Liu, J.; Zhang, Dongxiao; Yan, J.

2008-01-01

The Long-Term Intersite Decomposition Experiment in China (hereafter referred to as LTIDE-China) was established in 2002 to study how substrate quality and macroclimate factors affect leaf litter decomposition. The LTIDE-China includes a wide variety of natural and managed ecosystems, consisting of 12 forest types (eight regional broadleaf forests, three needle-leaf plantations and one broadleaf plantation) at eight locations across China. Samples of mixed leaf litter from the south subtropical evergreen broadleaf forest in Dinghushan (referred to as the DHS sample) were translocated to all 12 forest types. The leaf litter from each of other 11 forest types was placed in its original forest to enable comparison of decomposition rates of DHS and local litters. The experiment lasted for 30 months, involving collection of litterbags from each site every 3 months. Our results show that annual decomposition rate-constants, as represented by regression fitted k-values, ranged from 0.169 to 1.454/year. Climatic factors control the decomposition rate, in which mean annual temperature and annual actual evapotranspiration are dominant and mean annual precipitation is subordinate. Initial C/N and N/P ratios were demonstrated to be important factors of regulating litter decomposition rate. Decomposition process may apparently be divided into two phases controlled by different factors. In our study, 0.75 years is believed to be the dividing line of the two phases. The fact that decomposition rates of DHS litters were slower than those of local litters may have been resulted from the acclimation of local decomposer communities to extraneous substrate. ?? 2008 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

i4OilSpill, an operational marine oil spill forecasting model for Bohai Sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Fangjie; Yao, Fuxin; Zhao, Yang; Wang, Guansuo; Chen, Ge

2016-10-01

Oil spill models can effectively simulate the trajectories and fate of oil slicks, which is an essential element in contingency planning and effective response strategies prepared for oil spill accidents. However, when applied to offshore areas such as the Bohai Sea, the trajectories and fate of oil slicks would be affected by time-varying factors in a regional scale, which are assumed to be constant in most of the present models. In fact, these factors in offshore regions show much more variation over time than in the deep sea, due to offshore bathymetric and climatic characteristics. In this paper, the challenge of parameterizing these offshore factors is tackled. The remote sensing data of the region are used to analyze the modification of wind-induced drift factors, and a well-suited solution is established in parameter correction mechanism for oil spill models. The novelty of the algorithm is the self-adaptive modification mechanism of the drift factors derived from the remote sensing data for the targeted sea region, in respect to empirical constants in the present models. Considering this situation, a new regional oil spill model (i4OilSpill) for the Bohai Sea is developed, which can simulate oil transformation and fate processes by Eulerian-Lagrangian methodology. The forecasting accuracy of the proposed model is proven by the validation results in the comparison between model simulation and subsequent satellite observations on the Penglai 19-3 oil spill accident. The performance of the model parameter correction mechanism is evaluated by comparing with the real spilled oil position extracted from ASAR images.

Colorectal (Colon) Cancer: What Are the Risk Factors?

MedlinePlus

... for Life Campaign Print Materials Fact Sheet Brochures Posters Postcards Public Service Announcements Personal Screening Stories Campaign Research Poster Presentation: Why Should I Get Screened? Colorectal Cancer ...

Facts, attitudes, and health reasoning about HIV and AIDS: explaining the education effect on condom use among adults in sub-Saharan Africa.

PubMed

Baker, David P; Leon, Juan; Collins, John M

2011-10-01

In contrast to earlier in the HIV/AIDS pandemic, net of other demographic factors, formal education acts as a preventative factor in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite this trend, there has been almost no research on the causal mechanisms behind the widely reported education effect. Consistent with the education effect, structural equation modeling of the influence of education attainment on condom use with Demographic Health Survey data from nine sub-Saharan Africa nations collected between 2003 and 2005 finds that net of control variables, there is a robust, positive influence of education on condom use among sexually risky adults. Information-transfer and attitude change, the two most commonly assumed educational influences on the use of condoms, are tested, and although education attainment increases acquisition of basic facts and the inculcation of positive attitudes about HIV/AIDS, these factors have only weak influence on condom use. Given this, a new hypothesis about education's enhancement of health reasoning is developed from neuro-developmental and decision-making research. Modeling finds that education robustly influences health reasoning ability and this factor mediates a significant proportion of the education effect on condom use. The results raise concern about the enormous effort by NGOs in the region to use mainly fact- and attitude-based educational programs to reduce future HIV infections. Future research on the causal mechanisms behind the association between education and HIV/AIDS prevention should focus how on schooling enhances the cognitive skills needed for health reasoning.

Do market components account for higher US prescription prices?

PubMed

Monaghan, M J; Monaghan, M S

1996-12-01

Although only 7-8% of US healthcare expenditures are spent on prescription drug products, the pharmaceutical industry's profitability and high cost of prescriptions to consumers make prescription drugs a visible target for reform. When compared with other products, it appears as if unfair pricing tactics are used. The pharmaceutical industry cites costs of research and development and a short patent life as justifiable grounds for high prices, but the reason why US drug prices appear to be so high has yet to be answered. To examine identified components of the pharmaceutical industry that allow US prescription drugs to appear to be highly priced and to review the apparent factors that affect pricing policies for pharmaceuticals. The literature was reviewed to identify current research regarding the pharmaceutical market. Sources included MEDLINE, Econolit, Business Periodical Index, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and the F-D-C Pink Sheet. Key factors account for the fact that US prescription drug prices are higher and that price discrimination occurs in the pharmaceutical industry within the US and among other countries. These factors include the unique market structure of the pharmaceutical industry, asymmetry of information, research and development costs, numerous channels of distribution and the differences among them, and government laws and regulations of prescription drugs. Pricing policies of pharmaceutical companies are based on manufacturing, promotion, and distribution costs; drug characteristics; and economic goals of the parent company.

Family doctors' views of pharmaceutical sales representatives: assessment scale development.

PubMed

Kersnik, Janko; Klemenc-Ketis, Zalika; Petek-Ster, Marija; Tusek-Bunc, Ksenija; Poplas-Susic, Tonka; Kolsek, Marko

2011-08-01

The prescribing patterns depend on the physicians' attitudes and their subjective norms towards prescribing a particular drug, as well as on their personal experience with a particular drug. The physicians are affected by their interactions with pharmaceutical industry. The objectives were to develop a scale for assessment of pharmaceutical sales representatives (PSRs) by the family doctors (FDs) and to determine factors for their evaluation. Cross-sectional anonymous postal study. We included a random sample of 250 Slovenian FDs. Settings. Slovenian FDs' surgeries. The score of various items regarding FDs' assessment of PSRs on a 7-point Likert scale. We got 163 responses (65.2% response rate). The most important characteristic of PSRs, as rated by respondents on the scale from 1 to 7, was the fact that they did not mislead when presenting products' information. The second most important characteristic was the ability to provide objective information about the product. The first three most important characteristics, as rated by the respondents by themselves, were 'Shows good knowledge on the promoted subject', 'Provides objective product information' and 'Makes brief and exact visits'. Cronbach's alpha of the composite scale was 0.844. Factor analysis revealed three PSRs' factors: selling skills, communicating skills and sense of trustworthiness. FDs evaluate PSRs mainly by their managerial skills and trustworthiness. The scale proved to be a reliable tool for assessing PSRs by FDs.

26 CFR 26.2651-2 - Individual assigned to more than 1 generation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... facts and circumstances. The most significant factor is whether there is a bona fide parent/child... assumed all significant responsibilities for the care and raising of the adopted child. Other factors may... treated as a member of the generation that is one generation below the adoptive parent for purposes of...

26 CFR 26.2651-2 - Individual assigned to more than 1 generation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... facts and circumstances. The most significant factor is whether there is a bona fide parent/child... assumed all significant responsibilities for the care and raising of the adopted child. Other factors may... treated as a member of the generation that is one generation below the adoptive parent for purposes of...

26 CFR 26.2651-2 - Individual assigned to more than 1 generation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... facts and circumstances. The most significant factor is whether there is a bona fide parent/child... assumed all significant responsibilities for the care and raising of the adopted child. Other factors may... treated as a member of the generation that is one generation below the adoptive parent for purposes of...

26 CFR 26.2651-2 - Individual assigned to more than 1 generation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... facts and circumstances. The most significant factor is whether there is a bona fide parent/child... assumed all significant responsibilities for the care and raising of the adopted child. Other factors may... treated as a member of the generation that is one generation below the adoptive parent for purposes of...

26 CFR 26.2651-2 - Individual assigned to more than 1 generation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... facts and circumstances. The most significant factor is whether there is a bona fide parent/child... assumed all significant responsibilities for the care and raising of the adopted child. Other factors may... treated as a member of the generation that is one generation below the adoptive parent for purposes of...

Bidirectional Associations in Multiplication Memory: Conditions of Negative and Positive Transfer

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Campbell, Jamie I. D.; Robert, Nicole D.

2008-01-01

A variety of experimental evidence indicates that the memory representation for multiplication facts (e.g., 6 [times] 9 = 54) incorporates bidirectional links with a forward association from factors to product and a reverse association from product to factors. Surprisingly, the authors did not find evidence in Experiment 1 of facilitative…

The Relationship Between Television Advertising and Drug Abuse Among Youth: Fancy and Fact

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Payne, Donald E.

1976-01-01

Television advertising of over-the-counter drugs has been suspected of being a contributing factor in drug abuse among youth. Recent research suggests that these suspicions are ill-founded. What is worse, they focus attention, effort and resources on a factor which is simple irrelevant to the problem. (Author)

Conflict minerals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo—Tin processing plants, a critical part of the tin supply chain

USGS Publications Warehouse

Anderson, Charles

2015-03-24

Post-beneficiation processing plants (generally called smelters and refineries) for 3TG mineral ores and concentrates were identified by company and industry association representatives as being a link in the 3TG mineral supply chain through which these minerals can be traced to their source of origin (mine). The determination of the source of origin is critical to the development of a complete and transparent conflict-free mineral supply chain. Tungsten processing plants were the subject of the first fact sheet in this series published by the USGS NMIC in August 2014. Background information about historical conditions and multinational stakeholders’ voluntary due diligence guidance for minerals from conflict-affected and high-risk areas was presented in the tungsten fact sheet. Tantalum processing plants were the subject of the second fact sheet in this series published by the USGS NMIC in December 2014. This fact sheet, the third in the series about 3TG minerals, focuses on the tin supply chain by listing selected processors that produced tin materials commercially worldwide during 2013–14. It does not provide any information regarding the sources of the material processed in these facilities.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Facts for Caregivers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Texas Child Care, 2000

2000-01-01

Presents risk factors and prevention measures related to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Offers infant sleep recommendations and five discussion questions to test knowledge of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. (DLH)

Strategies for Preventing Cognitive Decline in Healthy Older Adults

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Objective: Many advances have been made in the understanding of age-related changes in cognition. As research details the cognitive and neurobiological changes that occur in aging, there is increased interest in developing and understanding methods to prevent, slow, or reverse the cognitive decline that may occur in normal healthy older adults. The Institute of Medicine has recently recognized cognitive aging as having important financial and public health implications for society with the increasing older adult population worldwide. Cognitive aging is not dementia and does not result in the loss of neurons but rather changes in neurotransmission that affect brain functioning. The fact that neurons are structurally intact but may be functionally affected by increased age implies that there is potential for remediation. Method and Results: This review article presents recent work using medication-based strategies for slowing cognitive changes in aging. The primary method presented is a hormonal approach for affecting cognition in older women. In addition, a summary of the work examining modifiable lifestyle factors that have shown promise in benefiting cognition in both older men and women is described. Conclusions: Much work remains to be done so that evidence-based recommendations can be made for slowing cognitive decline in healthy older adults. The success of some of these methods thus far indicates that the brains of healthy older adults are plastic enough to be able to respond to these cognitive decline prevention strategies, and further work is needed to define the most beneficial methods. PMID:28703016

Rare RNF213 variants in the C-terminal region encompassing the RING-finger domain are associated with moyamoya angiopathy in Caucasians.

PubMed

Guey, Stéphanie; Kraemer, Markus; Hervé, Dominique; Ludwig, Thomas; Kossorotoff, Manoëlle; Bergametti, Françoise; Schwitalla, Jan Claudius; Choi, Simone; Broseus, Lucile; Callebaut, Isabelle; Genin, Emmanuelle; Tournier-Lasserve, Elisabeth

2017-08-01

Moyamoya angiopathy (MMA) is a cerebral angiopathy affecting the terminal part of internal carotid arteries. Its prevalence is 10 times higher in Japan and Korea than in Europe. In East Asian countries, moyamoya is strongly associated to the R4810K variant in the RNF213 gene that encodes for a protein containing a RING-finger and two AAA+ domains. This variant has never been detected in Caucasian MMA patients, but several rare RNF213 variants have been reported in Caucasian cases. Using a collapsing test based on exome data from 68 European MMA probands and 573 ethnically matched controls, we showed a significant association between rare missense RNF213 variants and MMA in European patients (odds ratio (OR)=2.24, 95% confidence interval (CI)=(1.19-4.11), P=0.01). Variants specific to cases had higher pathogenicity predictive scores (median of 24.2 in cases versus 9.4 in controls, P=0.029) and preferentially clustered in a C-terminal hotspot encompassing the RING-finger domain of RNF213 (P<10 -3 ). This association was even stronger when restricting the analysis to childhood-onset and familial cases (OR=4.54, 95% CI=(1.80-11.34), P=1.1 × 10 -3 ). All clinically affected relatives who were genotyped were carriers. However, the need for additional factors to develop MMA is strongly suggested by the fact that only 25% of mutation carrier relatives were clinically affected.

1984: The Outlook for Higher Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Frances, Carol

1983-01-01

Trends affecting higher education and prospects based on these facts are considered, with attention to enrollment, inflation, ability to pay for college, state and local support, basic research, and employment in higher education. It is claimed that the most serious problem higher education has faced in the last decade has been inflation, not…

Educating to Use Evidence in Thinking about Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Newcombe, Nora S.

2013-01-01

There is an increasing emphasis on evidence-based education, and the sciences of learning are progressing rapidly. But are reports, guidelines, and outreach enough to disseminate this knowledge and affect educational practice? In fact, policy makers and the public often resist evidence-based recommendations about education. This article suggests…

Loneliness among Elderly Widowers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vinick, Barbara H.

The fact that few researchers have studied loneliness in widowhood may be related to the concept itself which spans intellectual perspectives, incorporating elements of affect, cognition, and social structure. To examine loneliness among elderly widowers, 24 adult males (participants in a more comprehensive study of widowed men, aged 63 to 93…

22 CFR 128.15 - Orders containing probationary periods.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... to any person to be affected thereby, to the Administrative Law Judge for a recommendation on the... facts in support of the application will be presented to the Administrative Law Judge, who will report..., within the time specified in the notice, may file objections with the Administrative Law Judge. (2...

22 CFR 128.15 - Orders containing probationary periods.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... to any person to be affected thereby, to the Administrative Law Judge for a recommendation on the... facts in support of the application will be presented to the Administrative Law Judge, who will report..., within the time specified in the notice, may file objections with the Administrative Law Judge. (2...

Developing Cognition with Collaborative Robotic Activities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mitnik, Ruben; Nussbaum, Miguel; Recabarren, Matias

2009-01-01

Cognition, faculty related to perception, imagination, memory, and problem solving, refers to internal mental processes through which sensorial input is acquired, elaborated, used, and stored. One of its importances relies on the fact that it affects in a direct way the learning potential. It has been shown that, even thou cognitive processes…

Preventing Youth Violence: Opportunities for Action

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

David-Ferdon, Corinne; Simon, Thomas R.

2014-01-01

All forms of violence, including youth violence, suicidal behavior, child maltreatment, sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and elder abuse, negatively affect the health and well-being of this country. Youth violence, in particular, is a significant public health problem. Many young people and communities view the grim facts about youth…

Girls' High School Basketball Injury Study, 1986.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Athletic Trainers' Association, Inc., Greenville, NC.

These National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) newsletters contain information on injuries sustained by girls who participate in high school basketball. Types of injuries are listed with a breakdown of injuries during games and practice, and of the parts of the body affected. A fact sheet is included outlining the qualifications and…

Environmental Education in Wisconsin: What the Textbooks Teach.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sanera, Michael

1996-01-01

This report contains a study done at the request of the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, which studies public policy issues affecting the state of Wisconsin. Environmental education texts for Grades 6 through 10 were examined for scientific and economic accuracy, objectivity, and balance in accomplishing the following: 1) stating facts that…

The Story of Stuff: Increasing Environmental Citizenship

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nowak, Amy L. Versnik; Hale, Heidi; Lindholm, Jessica; Strausser, Elizabeth

2009-01-01

Objectives: After this lesson, students will be able to: (1) list the five stages of materials production, (2) report key facts related to the materials economy, (3) identify sustainable solutions that positively impact the environment, and (4) recognize how the environment affects health. Target Audience: This activity is designed for students in…

75 FR 28550 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Delivery Verification Procedure

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-21

... the commodities shipped to the U.S. were in fact received. This procedure increases the effectiveness... Review: Regular submission. Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations. Estimated Number.... Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0. IV. Request for Comments Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the...